August 2008 fillers

[Chris & Mara 0]

Grats Boof on the speedy interview, I am praying mine will be like that when I get to that step.

Hyena,

I'm Australian, I love my country, and I love our way of life but the one comment my Fiance made when he came to Australia for Xmas was "I can't believe how much like America Australia is" as sad as it is to say, we are trying to be the 51st state.

We fight in wars we have no part in because we follow the US, like the US we have put ourselves in billions of dollars of debt to climb out of the recession that has hurt our economy with unemployment now close to 7%. If you wish to work as an educated person in Australia you must have the piece of paper that matches it. My Fiance here is a IT Director earning a very decent wage, in Australia he wouldn't be considered for the position even though he has close on 5 years experience because his degree was in History. And even if he was considered for the position he would be considered in a pay bracket of about 1/3 of what he is currently earning. And yes in the bigger cities living costs are just as expensive. Not to forget that 3/4 of our country is experiencing serve drought and lives on constant water restrictions whilst the other 1/4 is currently so water logged that they are experiencing flooding (an area where my dad works received 5 inches of rainfall in an hour just before the weekend, 8 inches in 24 hours), generally because of this food is more expensive, as is electronic goods for some reason.

Immigration to Australia as a Educated person from 1st world country say England, Canada or the US is easy, however from a 3rd world country such as Thailand you will go through the same process as you have here just to get her to the US, if she is traveling on a Thai Passport any way. And I only know this because my uncle had to struggle through some issues to get his Thai bride to Australia, and whilst the process was not as long, it was considerably more expensive.

Australia is a lovely place, we have beautiful scenery, kind friendly people but the grass isn't greener and you are going to have to go through a hellish immigration process (I know an English couple who recently immigrated and theirs was a journey of 2 years, a boy who I went to school with his family (english too) had 3 years in the process) into an unstable society that won't crawl out of recession till the US does, where finding a full time job is fairly hopeless because companies will mostly only employ casuals or part time employees because its easier to fire them without the unions stepping in....

Just my two cents.

(And I honestly do love my country to bits)

Mara

[Fred N Emilia 0]

Letter from Embassy:

We have received your file and determined that you must do the following to continue and conclude the processing of your visa application.

Submit new NBI Clearance - Your NBI Clearance is only valid through the 13th of May 2009.

Sincerely,

Consular Officer

Immigrant Visa Branch

ONE MORE FREAKIN OBSTACLE

New NBI clearance will be released April 16th, 2009

[Hell0W0rld 10]

Letter from Embassy:

We have received your file and determined that you must do the following to continue and conclude the processing of your visa application.

Submit new NBI Clearance - Your NBI Clearance is only valid through the 13th of May 2009.

Sincerely,

Consular Officer

Immigrant Visa Branch

ONE MORE FREAKIN OBSTACLE

New NBI clearance will be released April 16th, 2009

#######??

[Fred N Emilia 0]

Yep, one more thing we need again! hahahaha, one more obstacle. I hope and pray this is it!

[Hell0W0rld 10]

Yep, one more thing we need again! hahahaha, one more obstacle. I hope and pray this is it!

damn, i think they are just messing with you right now..

[Fred N Emilia 0]

This is one more thing my attorney missed again. The USEM in the PI is big on NBI and Police Clearances especially when your name has hits.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

This is one more thing my attorney missed again. The USEM in the PI is big on NBI and Police Clearances especially when your name has hits.

good luck on your next NBI Clearence......

[Fred N Emilia 0]

THANKS HOMIE!

[Stinkerpotsam 6]

THANKS HOMIE!

Dude...I'm SO tired of all of this for you!!!

[HappyDancer 7]

Sorry for being absent most days people. I am swamped at work. I am overly stressed over so many people who just gossipy and nothing to do with their boring lives at work. It's annoying more than anything.

I will tender my resignation on Thursday, effective May 15.

Boof - congrats and wishing you a wonderful life ahead!

Cuchita - hang in there. I too have the same fears and fiance knows this. I showed him the thread for Steph and her story. I always tell him to be careful as he drives 45 mins one way to work every day and always pray to God to keep him and all our families to be safe all the time. I do struggle as well, leaving my family as my mom is still under meds for her kidney stones, adding to diabetes and an enlarged heart. It's not easy. I have been taking care of them for how many years now and I just can't have it in my heart to rest my mind. It is driving me insane. I never realized it was going to hurt this bad leaving them behind. Back a few months ago, all I could think about was how to be with fiance. Now, I thought it ends there. Life's a game. You win some, you lose some. Let's keep praying and keep the faith.

Fred - hang in there buddy. I keep praying for wonderful outcome soon. *hugs*

Mara - news on your refiling?

Miss you all! Have a great week everyone!

[Bulgarican 0]

Cuchita, many people think that...just enjoy everyday with your love and tell him you love him and you're happy

The rest is destiny...faith whatever they call it....if its meant to be it will happen no matter where you are.......

Boof, congratulations

And Fred............Much Much luck to you !!!! This should be over anytime

Edited April 14, 2009 by Leo and Lioness

[HYENA 4]

Grats Boof on the speedy interview, I am praying mine will be like that when I get to that step.

Hyena,

I'm Australian, I love my country, and I love our way of life but the one comment my Fiance made when he came to Australia for Xmas was "I can't believe how much like America Australia is" as sad as it is to say, we are trying to be the 51st state.

We fight in wars we have no part in because we follow the US, like the US we have put ourselves in billions of dollars of debt to climb out of the recession that has hurt our economy with unemployment now close to 7%. If you wish to work as an educated person in Australia you must have the piece of paper that matches it. My Fiance here is a IT Director earning a very decent wage, in Australia he wouldn't be considered for the position even though he has close on 5 years experience because his degree was in History. And even if he was considered for the position he would be considered in a pay bracket of about 1/3 of what he is currently earning. And yes in the bigger cities living costs are just as expensive. Not to forget that 3/4 of our country is experiencing serve drought and lives on constant water restrictions whilst the other 1/4 is currently so water logged that they are experiencing flooding (an area where my dad works received 5 inches of rainfall in an hour just before the weekend, 8 inches in 24 hours), generally because of this food is more expensive, as is electronic goods for some reason.

Immigration to Australia as a Educated person from 1st world country say England, Canada or the US is easy, however from a 3rd world country such as Thailand you will go through the same process as you have here just to get her to the US, if she is traveling on a Thai Passport any way. And I only know this because my uncle had to struggle through some issues to get his Thai bride to Australia, and whilst the process was not as long, it was considerably more expensive.

Australia is a lovely place, we have beautiful scenery, kind friendly people but the grass isn't greener and you are going to have to go through a hellish immigration process (I know an English couple who recently immigrated and theirs was a journey of 2 years, a boy who I went to school with his family (english too) had 3 years in the process) into an unstable society that won't crawl out of recession till the US does, where finding a full time job is fairly hopeless because companies will mostly only employ casuals or part time employees because its easier to fire them without the unions stepping in....

Just my two cents.

(And I honestly do love my country to bits)

Mara

Thanks for your thoughts, Mara!

I guess one, when lost is always looking for greener grass. She's got a 5th grade education (although I told her she must finish high school equiv once she gets here to at least make minimum wage but opening a small business is our mutual way out. I'm a Registered Nurse by education but importing is doing better these days (and I suspect nurse salaries are lower there since the US has lobbyists from Doctors and drug companies to keep the prices unreasonable; we have no chance of real socialized medicine given the bribes the big companies sneak to the president all the way down. It's just the self serving of politicians here that irks me. At least Thailand you know it's happening and it's expected; the US has many evils that unfortunately cost lives of hundreds of thousands only to keep the dollar strong. I know the economy is bad everywhere but invading places and destroying lives and countries isn't the right thing to do (our propaganda leads us to believe we're honorable people, though). Fair elections and they elect a communist or a socialist and we try to overthrow them again...we have to have the world our way then we make up the words to make it sound nice.

I did hear your unemployment plans are nice, though. Here you basically starve. I don't love my own country as much as I used to. The arrogance of the past decade seems to have lost our respect worldwide (that's sooooo evident when i travel). It's sad when one has to say they're from Canada to avoid confrontation abroad. I'm afraid if our current president isn't able to fix things, the next one is sure to mess it all up again. The reckless spending of the last decade is what brought it all on (with the greed of the UK and US housing market) although I benefited from it, we're all paying now. I only want a chance to raise my kids so they have a good chance at all the education they can while at the same time trying to pull my wife's family out of abject poverty (were talking NO food 2 years ago- poor). I could have found a doctor or an engineer in Thailand looking to get out but if I could do it all over again, I'd do it the same way because my life will have been worthwhile being able to singlehandedly change the lives of an entire family and give their next generation a chance they never would have had only because they're a shade darker than the rest of the Thais (hence all the trouble and overthrowing of govt in Thailand right now...there's a major class/prejudice struggle that will only get worse). I was lucky to have been born here and I feel (apart from being madly in love) it's my duty to help as may people as I can in a real and tangible way before I pass.

meanwhile, I'm disappointed with our system...seeing people who filed a full 4 months after I have and their fiancees are here already while they won't give me the time of day and keep tacking on 60 days just to respond to a "where in the hell is my file" question. I'd love to have another child with her but money is the only factor and if I'm to bring someone into the world, I'd like them to have full opportunity that a good education and quality time can only provide (which costs dearly now....$80,000 for 4 year college expensive in my area while Thailand is $2,000 a year). If my kids weren't so young, I'd go to Thailand and go to the Catholic English speaking univeristy there and get it all finished...get a university teaching degree! Oh well, if I become Buddhist, then I'll be able to to that in my next life!

I'm just feeling lonely, frustrated, madly in love and there's nothing I can do but pet my puppies and hope she navigates the nasty embassy harassment she apparently weill become a victim of and the point of entry harassment by over paranoid gestapo customs officers (varies greatly depending on the airport) and finally come here to marry (on paper...though we did one ceremony there) and live happily ever after!

I'm now thinking it will be a full year 'till she's able to come here. i wrote the president since senators are getting canned leters now, as well. It seems the government is above all ( I used to work for them but we listened to people every time...rater better than private agencies but I see it's all changed)

So I have no choice but to wait and wish this upon no one!

[shefellfromheaven 18]

Congrats Boof!!

[Cuchita 1]

Thank you sisters!. I'll hang in there, we all have the same kind of issues, tough decisions to make!. I really hope all this family related issues don't ruin our relationships with our soon to be husbands.

XOXO,

[MARM 7]

Hello fellow Aug 08 filers!!!

Well, we are still in the game...waiting for one thing or another. As you can see from our siggy, we have tons of things to wait for and stress about (look at the timeline for our crazy journey so far)...and we though getting our NAO2 in 170 days was the worst of it...but no, ...this K-1 journey is driving us insane...and we are also expecting AP/AR for my fiance...since he is on a student visa in the UK and everyone we know so far who were on student visas in their visa issuing country were all put on AP for some amount of time. So...we have all of this waiting+ more waiting to look forward to...but we are hanging in there and going strong!

Good luck to everyone on whatever step you are taking in this journey.

Will check in to give an update next time...

-MARM