Scandinavians

[CaptainPenguin 5]

thanks for the quick answer Freyja, I'm hopeing that I don't need one but I'll check with the embassy anyway to be sure like you said.

by the way...Do earlier visas to the states effect the k-1? I've lived in the states before for about 4 years but that was years ago.

SanDan: Thanks, voi olla et tulee jonkin verran kysyttävää paperisodan kanssa

Generally the only way a previous visa would affect you is you were denied or had any sort of problems. In all other cases, they should not slow down or speed up the process.

[BirdyGirl85 23]

Well I haven't posted here in quite a while, so I thought I'd give a little update. I finally got a job in September! Petteri came to the U.S. to visit me in December and stayed for 3 months. We worked on the I-129F Package together while he was visiting me. He flew home on March 6, but I put everything together for the package and I sent it on March 10! I'm so excited to finally start this process. I can't wait to finally have him move here, it's like a dream come true.

[cartaverde 12]

Howdy. Eipa ole huvittanut pariin vuoteen updateta mitaan taalla; ensinnakaan ei ollut mitaan updatea (alla lyhyesti), ja lisaksi useampi kuin yksi "vakiojasen" "lainasi" avatariani (pluraalissa) taalla joten totta kai piti poistaa kuvani jotta avatarvarkaat olisivat tyytyvaisia. No, se on historiaa, mutta eikohan nykyinen ole hieman hankalampi pohlia.

Paivityksia lyhyimmillan... USCIS hotline siis antoi puutaheinaa ohjeiksi 07 vuoden alussa. USC puolisko joutui silloin muuttamaan takaisin jenkkilaan tyon takia, joten paperit peliin ja odottamaan. Muutama kuukausihan siina piti menna, mutta EKA minkaansortin update (ja niitahan kyseltiin, congress edustajien ja lakimiesten kanssa) tuli niinkin pian kuin "jo" kesalla 2009. Ei mennyt kuin vahan yli pari vuotta... koo kolme paketti tuli sitten elokuussa viime vuonna, ja haastatettelu oli lokakuun lopussa. Koska aikanaan tuli mentya naimisiin Hesassa, tama tarkoitti kaytannossa minulla sita etta jouduin Suomeen laakarintarkastusta ja viisumia varten = 2 1/2 viikkoa Suomessa sen takia jumissa kun kotiinhan ei-Schengen-alueen-Eurooppaan ja takaisin toisinhan minulle ei ollut asiaa ilman passia. Eli viimeinkin sitten marraskuun lopusta 09 taalla, just ja just alle 1000 paivan rajaa k3 paperien lahettamisesta.

(Suomessa asuin siis viimeksi joskus kun vuodet alkoivat 1:lla, ja naimisissakin on tahan mennessa oltu jo yli 4 vuotta).

Mitas muille? Taalla on nakojaan muutama uusikin... hey y'all, sorry for the update in the language above but it's justified in this case.

By the way, for all of you folks wanting to learn e.g. Swedish, Finnish or another language (about 40 listed in total), FSI has released their language courses for free personal use in http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php. Yep, those are the ones the US government typically uses for training their own staff

[Mr and Mrs Bird 0]

Howdy. Eipa ole huvittanut pariin vuoteen updateta mitaan taalla; ensinnakaan ei ollut mitaan updatea (alla lyhyesti), ja lisaksi useampi kuin yksi "vakiojasen" "lainasi" avatariani (pluraalissa) taalla joten totta kai piti poistaa kuvani jotta avatarvarkaat olisivat tyytyvaisia. No, se on historiaa, mutta eikohan nykyinen ole hieman hankalampi pohlia.

Paivityksia lyhyimmillan... USCIS hotline siis antoi puutaheinaa ohjeiksi 07 vuoden alussa. USC puolisko joutui silloin muuttamaan takaisin jenkkilaan tyon takia, joten paperit peliin ja odottamaan. Muutama kuukausihan siina piti menna, mutta EKA minkaansortin update (ja niitahan kyseltiin, congress edustajien ja lakimiesten kanssa) tuli niinkin pian kuin "jo" kesalla 2009. Ei mennyt kuin vahan yli pari vuotta... koo kolme paketti tuli sitten elokuussa viime vuonna, ja haastatettelu oli lokakuun lopussa. Koska aikanaan tuli mentya naimisiin Hesassa, tama tarkoitti kaytannossa minulla sita etta jouduin Suomeen laakarintarkastusta ja viisumia varten = 2 1/2 viikkoa Suomessa sen takia jumissa kun kotiinhan ei-Schengen-alueen-Eurooppaan ja takaisin toisinhan minulle ei ollut asiaa ilman passia. Eli viimeinkin sitten marraskuun lopusta 09 taalla, just ja just alle 1000 paivan rajaa k3 paperien lahettamisesta.

(Suomessa asuin siis viimeksi joskus kun vuodet alkoivat 1:lla, ja naimisissakin on tahan mennessa oltu jo yli 4 vuotta).

Mitas muille? Taalla on nakojaan muutama uusikin... hey y'all, sorry for the update in the language above but it's justified in this case.

By the way, for all of you folks wanting to learn e.g. Swedish, Finnish or another language (about 40 listed in total), FSI has released their language courses for free personal use in http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php. Yep, those are the ones the US government typically uses for training their own staff

Hey I am Danish. And I don't understand your language

Anette

[SanDan 0]

Howdy. Eipa ole huvittanut pariin vuoteen updateta mitaan taalla; ensinnakaan ei ollut mitaan updatea (alla lyhyesti), ja lisaksi useampi kuin yksi "vakiojasen" "lainasi" avatariani (pluraalissa) taalla joten totta kai piti poistaa kuvani jotta avatarvarkaat olisivat tyytyvaisia. No, se on historiaa, mutta eikohan nykyinen ole hieman hankalampi pohlia.

Paivityksia lyhyimmillan... USCIS hotline siis antoi puutaheinaa ohjeiksi 07 vuoden alussa. USC puolisko joutui silloin muuttamaan takaisin jenkkilaan tyon takia, joten paperit peliin ja odottamaan. Muutama kuukausihan siina piti menna, mutta EKA minkaansortin update (ja niitahan kyseltiin, congress edustajien ja lakimiesten kanssa) tuli niinkin pian kuin "jo" kesalla 2009. Ei mennyt kuin vahan yli pari vuotta... koo kolme paketti tuli sitten elokuussa viime vuonna, ja haastatettelu oli lokakuun lopussa. Koska aikanaan tuli mentya naimisiin Hesassa, tama tarkoitti kaytannossa minulla sita etta jouduin Suomeen laakarintarkastusta ja viisumia varten = 2 1/2 viikkoa Suomessa sen takia jumissa kun kotiinhan ei-Schengen-alueen-Eurooppaan ja takaisin toisinhan minulle ei ollut asiaa ilman passia. Eli viimeinkin sitten marraskuun lopusta 09 taalla, just ja just alle 1000 paivan rajaa k3 paperien lahettamisesta.

(Suomessa asuin siis viimeksi joskus kun vuodet alkoivat 1:lla, ja naimisissakin on tahan mennessa oltu jo yli 4 vuotta).

Mitas muille? Taalla on nakojaan muutama uusikin... hey y'all, sorry for the update in the language above but it's justified in this case.

By the way, for all of you folks wanting to learn e.g. Swedish, Finnish or another language (about 40 listed in total), FSI has released their language courses for free personal use in http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php. Yep, those are the ones the US government typically uses for training their own staff

cartaverde, no voi kiesus...johan on sun/teidän kärsivällisyyttä testattu! Toivottavasti asiat menee nyt sit paremmin putkeen Lykkyä vaan kovasti! Jätän kommentin lyhyeksi, kun jotkut ne vaan jaksaa marista muiden kielten käytöstä, vaikka selitys oli alla ja kommentteja löytyy myös tanskaksi, ruotsiksi jne. Ruotsalaiset taisivat olla fiksuja aloittaessaan oman triidin...

[BirdyGirl85 23]

Uh, I don't know what to say about the recent posts since I don't understand Finnish... But hey, my fiance Petteri received package 3 today! Exciting... It's all moving pretty fast now... I just wonder if they'll let us change the interview date if they give us one that is too soon. Just in case I need more time to send him paperwork and/or if I want to go to Finland to go with him to the interview.

[K & M 0]

Uh, I don't know what to say about the recent posts since I don't understand Finnish... But hey, my fiance Petteri received package 3 today! Exciting... It's all moving pretty fast now... I just wonder if they'll let us change the interview date if they give us one that is too soon. Just in case I need more time to send him paperwork and/or if I want to go to Finland to go with him to the interview.

One could argue that Finland is not a part of Scandinavia as it is defined by the Scands that run through Sweden, Norway and Denmark. However, since we're all intermixed I don't see the point why not

A good idea to understand the Finnish posts is to use Google Translate

Yey, passed my interview

[SanDan 0]

BirdyGirl85, if the interview date is not what you expected you can always ask them to reschedule. I haven't heard anyone saying their interview date in Helsinki was too soon though Have you though about studying Finnish btw? Not an easy task for sure but kind of fun (That's what my hubby says anyway. He might just be trying to be polite ).

K & M, we've had this discussion in the thread (as well as the previous original thread) many times before. The subject line is Scandinavians rather than Nordic countries or Nordic people etc. because the term is better known and more simple. The original thread as well as this second thread was started by Finns The purpose of the thread was to give anyone from the 5 Nordic countries the opportunity to post questions, comments etc. even in their own language which might sometimes be easier to use. I don't personally mind reading Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or Icelandic posts. I find it interesting. Then again, most Finns know at least some Swedish which really comes in handy.

[cartaverde 12]

BirdyGirl85, ask them for a new time if the one they give don't suit you or your love.

They seem quite flexible in Hellsinki and reply fast (in 2 days) to the emails (never mind my low score for it - that's for the whole process taking nearly 3 years, NOT thanks to them but something that had to affect the whole scoring anyway).

If you want to go there for the interview, you should. The place reeks of East Germany for all the office style etc, but what mattes is being with your love when they need it. And I hope you can stay 3-4 extra days after that to make sure you can have a proper party after he gets his passport back with the visa!

[BirdyGirl85 23]

BirdyGirl85, if the interview date is not what you expected you can always ask them to reschedule. I haven't heard anyone saying their interview date in Helsinki was too soon though Have you though about studying Finnish btw? Not an easy task for sure but kind of fun (That's what my hubby says anyway. He might just be trying to be polite ).

Actually, I didn't need to worry about having enough time to get everything ready. The Helsinki Embassy wont schedule his interview until he sends back the signed checklist. I just got a letter from my employer today! I'm still waiting on my tax return transcripts though. No I haven't thought about studying Finnish. I guess I feel like I am too old to learn a new language plus the fact I have never been taught to speak another language before so I'm thinking it would probably be too difficult for me. I don't know. But it would be nice to able to have a conversation with his family since some of his family doesn't speak English too well or they just don't want to speak English with me...

Anyways, back to getting the documents together that we need for my fiance's interview, I would like to ask some advice from some people who were interviewed in Finland. How many pay check stubs should I provide for my fiance? Going back 3 months or more seems like a lot. I don't know if I should get a letter from my bank confirming my bank account, or will a recent bank statement be fine? I guess I'm wondering how much they want for evidence of support. I know more is always better, but I would like to hear advice from people who were actually interviewed at the Helsinki Embassy, how much evidence did you have for support?

[SanDan 0]

Actually, I didn't need to worry about having enough time to get everything ready. The Helsinki Embassy wont schedule his interview until he sends back the signed checklist. I just got a letter from my employer today! I'm still waiting on my tax return transcripts though. No I haven't thought about studying Finnish. I guess I feel like I am too old to learn a new language plus the fact I have never been taught to speak another language before so I'm thinking it would probably be too difficult for me. I don't know. But it would be nice to able to have a conversation with his family since some of his family doesn't speak English too well or they just don't want to speak English with me...

There's no such thing as too old I doubt you're older than me actually. Some of the older people in my family (including my dad) don't speak English well or at all. Perhaps your future hubby's family members feel a little insecure about their language skills?

Anyways, back to getting the documents together that we need for my fiance's interview, I would like to ask some advice from some people who were interviewed in Finland. How many pay check stubs should I provide for my fiance? Going back 3 months or more seems like a lot. I don't know if I should get a letter from my bank confirming my bank account, or will a recent bank statement be fine? I guess I'm wondering how much they want for evidence of support. I know more is always better, but I would like to hear advice from people who were actually interviewed at the Helsinki Embassy, how much evidence did you have for support?

My interview was back in spring of 2005 but my hubby says he provided a few of his actual pay check stubs (maybe couple of months worth) and then a notarized bank statement showing all the deposits from his work to his account from about 6 months or so. The Helsinki embassy seemed to want to see as many things as possible as far as the evidence goes. The interview itself was easy and the interviewer was super nice though. I'd provide them all the required stuff and then some so you don't have to worry about it. That's just my two cents

[BirdyGirl85 23]

There's no such thing as too old I doubt you're older than me actually. Some of the older people in my family (including my dad) don't speak English well or at all. Perhaps your future hubby's family members feel a little insecure about their language skills?

I know it's stupid to think that way. I guess because I have heard that Finnish is hard to learn. And I know the older you get the harder it is to learn another language. I do know a few words and even I have surprised my fiance when I was in Finland, I would reply to something a family member would say in Finnish, even though I was speaking English, or know a word or two I heard on the television, and Petteri would say, "Wow how did you know that?" Haha. I do have a CD-Rom Petteri's mother bought for me when we first got together that teaches you basic Finnish words. I did use it a bit, it was kind of fun. I should use it more though, I haven't used it in years and I kind of forgot the things I did learn. And Petteri's mother actually does make a lot of effort to speak with me in English even though it's really hard for her at times. But that is really sweet she does that, she is trying to make me feel comfortable and I really appreciate it that she does that for me. So I feel I should try to do the same for her. Although I don't think I'll ever be able to speak Finnish even at the same level she speaks English. I don't know. *shrugs* It's hard for me to say words in Finnish because then Petteri has this huge grin on his face when I try, I know I must sound so funny! Haha.

My interview was back in spring of 2005 but my hubby says he provided a few of his actual pay check stubs (maybe couple of months worth) and then a notarized bank statement showing all the deposits from his work to his account from about 6 months or so. The Helsinki embassy seemed to want to see as many things as possible as far as the evidence goes. The interview itself was easy and the interviewer was super nice though. I'd provide them all the required stuff and then some so you don't have to worry about it. That's just my two cents

Oh hmm, thanks for your advice. It's nice to hear from someone who went through this who is from Finland. It seems hard to find active members here from Finland. I'm a little worried about the evidence of support though. I don't make enough and I don't have a co-sponsor. But I own a house and it's 100% paid off. So I'm hoping that with my assets, plus what's in my bank, we will be ok. (Plus Petteri will have around $20,000 saved up by then) But I know that's totally up to the person who interviews Petteri, whether or not to accept the assets. Petteri doesn't seem worried about the issue at all and thinks we will be fine. I hope he's right. I think I worry too much in about things in general.

Edited June 13, 2010 by BirdyGirl85

[cartaverde 12]

You're correct, Finnish isn't one of the easy ones to learn.

Hey, I learned it as a kid in the country itself, but I struggle sometimes when reading something online or considering some translations. When all the words aren't composed as in other languages but conjoined there isn't always a clear indication of what is the root of the word... (example: pöydillekö? = 'to the tables?' where pöytä = table)

But if you consider one day learning it - even some basics as saying hi and thank you and ordering a beer and telling you don't speak Finnish, I'd recommend this course

http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php?page=Finnish

It's from Foreign Service Insitute, so all US gov people who needed to learn the language for work used that. Fortunately it's now available for free for own use, so grab the PDF and mp3 and get started.

Also recommended for anyone else interested and there are around 40 other languages too.

Trying to be short (so apologies for the ones getting frustrated with the impossible language... mine isn't machine translatable for sure): kun ulkosuomalaisia pitaisi olla Ruotsin jalkeen eniten taalla Jenkkilassa niin kas kun ei koskaan loytynyt niille omaa 'paikkaa' netissa... saksassakin asuville sellaisille kun kerta sellainen oli. Joku kyseli sellaisen peraan jokin aikaa sitten (muualla netissa tosin) ja kun ei siltikaan loytynyt mistaan niin nyt on sellainen, USAn Suomalaisten Foorumi jos sellaiselle vaikka loytyisi kayttoa niiden maahan/maastamuutotjen jalkeen.

Loppu paperisota talla hetkella menossa eli sormenjalkiskannauksia ja vihreaa korttia odotellaan... kun se aikanaan saapuu, ennen kuin laitan sen lompakkoon, teen ensimmaiseksi sille faraday cagen, eli otan kontrollit omiin kasiin kuka sita paasee lukemaan miltaan etaisyydelta. Nuo RFID:t liippaa sen verran lahelta omaa alaa etta en voisi kuvitellakaan pitavani minkaanlaisia henkilollisyystodistuksia tms mukana suojaamatta niita mekaanisesti etalukemiselta. Passi on onneksi "vanhaa" 10-vuotista mallia ja voimassa 2016 asti...

I think I won't be the only one complaining about the weather and hte temperatures in this country, buuut... it hasn't properly hit 100 yet that's my complaint. Steady 92-98 for ages, and dry so my plants in the balcony are practically camels... It's not fair it's 100+ elsewhere

[SanDan 0]

cartaverde,

You actually want it to be warmer??? I can't wait until the temperature drops into the 70's again....It'll be a long wait though The hot dry weather is one of the things I hate about the summers here...

Kiitos myös linkistä. Monia foorumeita on aikanaan tullut kokeiltua, mutta niissä oli niin vähän aktiivisia jäseniä, että touhu alkoi lähinnä ärsyttää. Josko tuo uusi foorumi toimisi paremmin. Expatriumia käyn vielä lukemassa lähes viikottain.

Birdygirl85,

Learning a new language is all about motivation. You can definitely do it if you really want to. It may not be easy but there are materials and online resources available. Good luck

[cartaverde 12]

Yea, I don't mind the warm weather

At least this week it should hit the 100s - though now that I'd love to go out and enjoy it at the pool got sort of a logistical problem with swimming as I need to keep a finger (which is all stitched up and healing after some bad kitchen karma last week) dry. Sigh...