March 2009 K1 Filer

[Danu 19]

Thank you guys so much. It was a really hard night last night. We've decided that if the paperwork comes through sometime soon we will try to speed up the interview if we can so I can get there faster, and get my parents to ship my stuff down later. I would hop on a plane right now to go down to the states to see him but theres one big problem. He has already been pulled into secondary for proof he wasnt going to stay in canada, and I'm afraid that the same will happen to me. The only thing I really have tying me here at the moment is my car payments. I was hoping to maybe be able to do a trip later on in the year with a letter from my boss saying I was expected back on X date, but I'm afraid of being turned away now and I dont want anything to possibly screw up our chances with the visa.

So for now, I'm getting paperwork ready for my employment insurance and working on cleaning, packing and maybe finding a part time job if I can....and praying even harder that the paperwork comes through and that we dont get denied.

Edited June 4, 2009 by Danu

[viknkam 0]

Thank you guys so much. It was a really hard night last night. We've decided that if the paperwork comes through sometime soon we will try to speed up the interview if we can so I can get there faster, and get my parents to ship my stuff down later. I would hop on a plane right now to go down to the states to see him but theres one big problem. He has already been pulled into secondary for proof he wasnt going to stay in canada, and I'm afraid that the same will happen to me. The only thing I really have tying me here at the moment is my car payments. I was hoping to maybe be able to do a trip later on in the year with a letter from my boss saying I was expected back on X date, but I'm afraid of being turned away now and I dont want anything to possibly screw up our chances with the visa.

So for now, I'm getting paperwork ready for my employment insurance and working on cleaning, packing and maybe finding a part time job if I can....and praying even harder that the paperwork comes through and that we dont get denied.

I see what you mean... Well, we are here for you at the very least. I don't think there should be any problems...

[FranziskaS 0]

I am sorry about your job loss, Danu. Maybe you can find something part time. That's what I am doing right now, but I also don't have any expenses living with my parents.

Mat and I never talk on skype, he thinks the whole video thing is weired. From germany I can dial certain numbers that I can find online. Right now I am calling for 1,8 cent the minute to the US.

welcome, viknkam

[Danu 19]

Thank you darlin! Yeah I'm thinking about finding something part time. I will start the search on Monday, I've decided to take these few days off to veg. At least I seem to be in a much more positive mood today. Now to make a trip to the mall to get my prescriptions renewed before my plan runs out, and go take photos with my sister. Its going to be a fun day! Its so pretty outside!

[FrostyMist 1]

Mat and I never talk on skype, he thinks the whole video thing is weired. From germany I can dial certain numbers that I can find online. Right now I am calling for 1,8 cent the minute to the US.

I don't know what we'd do without Skype. Not just because of having the use of the webcam, which has made a big difference to dealing with distance, but also because of the call costs being free.

In the few instances where we've had to pay for calls, it's been somewhat stressful for us. Not knowing quite how much the call is going to end up costing, and having the knowledge always in the back of your mind that every minute is money. My guy usually buys phonecards if we need to use the phone, since at least he knows he can't spend over a certain amount.

Come tomorrow, there'll be less than two weeks to go until I see my guy again. I can't wait.

Edited June 5, 2009 by FrostyMist

[Wyld Blu 35]

Mat and I never talk on skype, he thinks the whole video thing is weired. From germany I can dial certain numbers that I can find online. Right now I am calling for 1,8 cent the minute to the US.

I don't know what we'd do without Skype. Not just because of having the use of the webcam, which has made a big difference to dealing with distance, but also because of the call costs being free.

In the few instances where we've had to pay for calls, it's been somewhat stressful for us. Not knowing quite how much the call is going to end up costing, and having the knowledge always in the back of your mind that every minute is money. My guy usually buys phonecards if we need to use the phone, since at least he knows he can't spend over a certain amount.

Come tomorrow, there'll be less than two weeks to go until I see my guy again. I can't wait.

The video thing takes some people time to get use to if you haven't used it before. But, first off, it's free. It also helps when John wants to show me something he bought, or painted, or whatever. He plays guitar too, and will play for me on Skype.

It's easier to get what the other person is saying, being able to read facial expressions and such. It can be comforting when you feel very lonely and there is your partner, just through the screen. We both have laptops. So on a nice day, we can "take" each other outside in the sun and spend time together. Hell, we have even watched a tv show together that way.

There is nothing weird about it if it is the only way you can to spend time together. There is no time limit, other than self imposed, because of costs. Neither of us feels "pressure" because the call will be too expensive if we spend a long time together.

If we didn't have webcam and Skype, really, the distance would be MUCH harder than it already is. If you don't like Skype, there is Yahoo Chat, Oovoo, Gmail Chat, and probably a varitey of other services that are free as well.

If you are looking at spending a long time apart while the immigration process creeps along, consider trying it out. You may find it isn't as weird as you think, and that it can even bring you closer together.

-Blu-(Smile for the camera!)

[endoftheroad 1]

Skype video calls are your friend. Think The Jetsons.

[FrostyMist 1]

The video thing takes some people time to get use to if you haven't used it before. But, first off, it's free. It also helps when John wants to show me something he bought, or painted, or whatever. He plays guitar too, and will play for me on Skype.

It's easier to get what the other person is saying, being able to read facial expressions and such. It can be comforting when you feel very lonely and there is your partner, just through the screen. We both have laptops. So on a nice day, we can "take" each other outside in the sun and spend time together. Hell, we have even watched a tv show together that way.

There is nothing weird about it if it is the only way you can to spend time together. There is no time limit, other than self imposed, because of costs. Neither of us feels "pressure" because the call will be too expensive if we spend a long time together.

I completely agree.

Moving on to Skype voice chat (from simple IM texts) was a natural and necessary part of our relationship. It was a little strange for us to begin with, but that was more because it was unfamiliar to us and we hadn't really "spoken" to each other all that much.

We discovered webcam almost purely by chance. My guy brought himself a new laptop to bring with him on his England trips, and as he was trialling it out before he left, we discovered it had an integrated webcam with it.

Seeing how much it benefited me to be able to see him on the webcam, I was eager to buy one myself so that he could see me.

Having the webcam helps us to stay closer. We can see each other, and know when the other is down or unhappy. I can also nag at my guy when he needs to get a shave, since there's no escaping me being able to keep an eye on him now!

It was never really weird for us, although sometimes having the webcam can feel like an insquisite sort of torture, when the other is there crying and you can see them so sad but be unable to do anything other than offer words.

[FranziskaS 0]

three late feb filers got their noa2. now I am telling myself it is a matter of time until the first march filer.

:) :)

[Danu 19]

oooooh I really hope so!

[Lisa and Ian 7]

Hi everyone. I have been around, but posting to the VSC threads. I apologize for jumping ship, but all of this terminology and getting acquainted with the process and various branches has been a bit overwhelming.

About us: We met online and immediately started talking online. On day 1 we talked, on day 2 he told me he was going to marry me, and on day three he told me he loved me. I met him 2 months later in England, and the attraction, comfortable feeling of having met "the one" and an overall complete feeling took over both of us. We talk everyday whether it is for a few minutes or for hours. We talk on our cellphones so we use Skype-to-go (UK to US calling) and a calling card from Nobelcom.com (US to UK and India). If anyone knows of anything cheaper please let me know. This man was made for me, and I for him... but this long process makes me feel like something is wrong with me, and that this isn't real. That I really haven't found the most perfect person for me because I am being punished by God having to wait. We are both losing morale, and just overall- losing hope. It is very hard....

Please give me hope... today my lawyer sent me an email to contact INS because the NVC does not have any record of our case. I called USCIS 2 weeks ago and was told and have a receipt of our case. So, are things okay and my lawyer a lame duck? I just need to get our NO2 because we are getting desperate.

Don't lose hope yet. You only received your NOA1 a couple of days after me. I still haven't even got a "touch" on the USCIS website. In fact it has said the same date all along, March 3rd. But if you check Igor's list, you will see most people who received their NOA1 in March are still waiting. I am hoping to see the NOA2 by the end of this month, but it can take a LOT longer. My fiance and I use the webcam on Skype to chat free. It isn't perfect by any means, especially with my slow connection, but it works for us. It is VERY hard to wait and not be side by side with the one you love, but you are in good company here on VJ.

-Blu- (sighing heavily)

Have you tried going to Starbucks? I have actually had to do that in the past or even a public library. The Skype-to-go feature is great for europeans. You set it up once and pay for it, then when they call you from europe it costs them a local fee and it is a domestic call for you on your cellphone. i would look into whether it is available for you. At the very least this costs 10-15$ and that is per month... think of the savings! i sound like I'm being paid for this. But in all honesty, when money and convenience is an issue, its worth looking into. I don't mind researching this for you... I will work on it today.

We use Skype Out and it's great. With Skype Out, you're able to choose a local phone number. Ian joined, picked an Omaha phone number as his local number, and I can call him all I want, from any phone, (when he is on Skype on his computer) for no per minute charge. Or he can call my landline or cell from his PC.

People able to use the 3 mobile network can purchase a Skype Cell Phone, which makes it possible for the person having to use the PC all the time, to use Skype over their Skype Cell Phone instead.

We talk at the cost of his Skype Out subscription, which I think is around $12.

http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscript...SubscriptionTab

[Lisa and Ian 7]

So I decided today I needed to get myself out of this funk I have been in. I'm feeling pretty good now! Instead of focusing on the visa for now which I can't control I went through some listings with Wes today as he mentioned one of the towns he would like to move. Checked out prices and whats available and it was an incredible feeling. We won't be able to move to a house for a couple years but we were talking about what we should be able to afford once I'm down there and working and the big wedding is over, decided we will try to get a place thats big enough that his sister can move in during her schooling so that she doesn't have to live with their mom in her cramped little place with their 2 brothers and their grandparents. The whole idea of finding a house for some reason put me in a whole different kind of mood. It was amazing to think of more long term goals and put the focus back on the fact that I will get to have him forever and this is just a small step in our lives.

It's great that you've found something positive to think about. It is a great idea to think and plan for the things you CAN control, rather than worrying about the things that you can't. I've done that a bit with my fiance, and it's a great feeling. I remember we've looked at houses, furniture, and talked about our financial situation in the future. We've even talked about what we'll do for coming back to England to visit my family. I remember doing so would always put me in a very positive mood whenever we talked about the future past visa applications.

We've done something to take our mind off things. We booked a B&B in October, hopefully for our wedding night. It was nice to have a date set for something (even though we know the date will probably change... we're just ignoring that for now!)

[CF&CZ 0]

three late feb filers got their noa2. now I am telling myself it is a matter of time until the first march filer.

:) :)

I hope so too! I checked my account on the USCIS website a few days ago, and when I logged in, I was prompted to change my password. So, I thought, wow, maybe I've been touched or received some sort of status. Well, it was nothing because the date hasn't changed and it stills says pending as of my NOA1 date.

C'mon CSC, make this month a good one for us March filers!

[malamu 0]

three late feb filers got their noa2. now I am telling myself it is a matter of time until the first march filer.

Sounds good!

[FrostyMist 1]

Just checked the status of our case online at the USCIS website. No change.

Ah well, I wasn't expecting one. But here's hoping that June sees us March filers approved!