The Malaysian VJ Thread

[Bsze 50]

Yup, that's what I did. Chinese name as the middle name.

Also, good advice on the birth control pills Farah. I've been planning to stock up for a while. It's really annoying that even birth control pills are that heavily regulated there.

[NCWife 0]

I am glad to hear that you are adjusting well to the US Have you been getting plenty of snow there? We have not gotten a single flake of snow here in South Charlotte! Just rain and plenty of sunshine!

Anyways, where did you get your birth control pills??? $100 is crazy or was that including the first office visit? I went to Planned Parenthood and first visit is always more expensive and no Pap Smear is required as it is optional. I paid $80. Then the monthly refill is like $22 at Planned Parenthood itself. I once refilled at Wal-Mart pharmacy and it was like $33. Now, of course the price differs with the method you choose to use. Usually insurance does not cover Birth Control pills unless the prescription states that you use it for other medical problems such as acne etc. But then again, some insurance cover the regular birth control as well.

Cheers..........!!

Its strangely odd being married. It took me a few weeks to even remember I was. Sometimes, i caught myself (or my hubby caught me) referring to him still as my boyfriend

Sometimes, I will still have revelation moments where it would hit me and I would go "Woah, I'm married now, arent I?". I think it took a whole month or so for me to realize I was actually in US because everything is just such a flurry of new stuff it's overwhelming sometimes trying to take it all in. The first few days I was here, I got rushed around to buy clothes and food and stuff, I didnt or barely remembered the name of the stores or where we went to or ate. Two weeks later I would suddenly pause in some mundane activity such as watching tv and go "I'm in the US, arent I?"

Maybe thats just me. To be honest, being married is almost the same as how we were before we got married because we acted like we were married anyways for the past 5 years. We talked about financial stuff, argued over stuff like married couples do, the whole works.

The only difference really is calling him my hubby or husband now, introducing him as it and feeling a sense of pride when I look at him and go "Wow my hubby is sexy and he's all MINE". Haha.

Other than that, nothing really has changed but thats because of how close we already were prior to that. 5 years brings out the best and the worst in people especially in a long distance relationship, so nothing was new. Sharing living space was a new experience but it felt natural. Not the typical "Youre in my space. I dont like the way you do..." that most people feel when they move in together. We felt more like we complimented each others space rather than barged in on it. I suppose the cliche saying 'feeling complete' comes into play here as much as I hate to use it.

Trying to get the paperwork ready for AOS now. It seems to be a whole lot simpler than K1 was, more forms but less relationship proof and meeting in person past 2 years jargon.

So far we share the apartment lease, will open up a joint checking and savings bank account, debit card, credit card, joint car title, joint car insurance, joint utilities. Be warned for those that are gonna be using birth control: In US, they dont provide over the counter birth control and you need a prescription where they require you to have a pap smear as well. The prescription costs close to 100 USD and then and only then can you buy birth control at the pharmacies. So my advice is to stock up on birth control you use in Malaysia for a few months!

[beaulavie 0]

Hi fellow Malaysians!! so glad to know that there are quite a few of us here.

Congrats to Farah and those with successful stories. My fiance and I just started the process last month and hopefully, it won't be too long before it gets approved. They have cleared the check and we're just waiting for the tracking number at this point.

I have few questions - Can I start applying for Letter of Good Conduct now? Since it's gonna take a month/2 to be prepared? How long is that good for?

Thanks

[Bsze 50]

Yes, you can start now. I applied for mine a couple of weeks after we got the NOA1, and got it about 2 months later. It's good for a year, I believe.

[NCWife 0]

Welcome!!!

Yes, go ahead and apply now and it should be good for a year.

I remember the first time I applied for one back 2004, I needed the clearance within 3 weeks and I called the supervisor everyday to pester her and it got sent to me within 2 weeks! That was impressive knowing how M'sian goverment works. The second time I applied, it was just a renewal and took 3 weeks.

All the best in your journey...cheers.

Hi fellow Malaysians!! so glad to know that there are quite a few of us here.

Congrats to Farah and those with successful stories. My fiance and I just started the process last month and hopefully, it won't be too long before it gets approved. They have cleared the check and we're just waiting for the tracking number at this point.

I have few questions - Can I start applying for Letter of Good Conduct now? Since it's gonna take a month/2 to be prepared? How long is that good for?

Thanks

[f*x 1]

Hey girls,

Ok, so maybe this is a silly question but...

you know how Malaysia and US A4 paper sizes differ...

I'm just thinking how that will affect my documents because some docs are from him and some from me...

How did you do it?

I'm worrying the papers will look disorganized.

-J

[NCWife 0]

The usual printing paper size here in the US is Letter Size (8.5" x 11") We did not standardize the paper size when we sent in our package (both K-1 and AOS) so it's not really a problem if you have different sizes in yours as well.

Cheers..

Hey girls,

Ok, so maybe this is a silly question but...

you know how Malaysia and US A4 paper sizes differ...

I'm just thinking how that will affect my documents because some docs are from him and some from me...

How did you do it?

I'm worrying the papers will look disorganized.

-J

[beaulavie 0]

Thanks Bsze and NCWife!

[beaulavie 0]

One question, for the Letter of Good Conduct, should we complete the form in bahasa/english? Thanks!

[NCWife 0]

I think I did mine in English since my Bahasa was so rusty then, but I don't think it matters, either language is fine.

Cheers..

One question, for the Letter of Good Conduct, should we complete the form in bahasa/english? Thanks!

[Leo&Farah 0]

Omg, now I am overwhelmed with that list!

1. How did you print Skype history? I use that too.

2. How did you organize your documents? I read that they said put in a "plastic bag" like for photos or boarding passes. Is that like a clear sheet holder? Did you use a binder? Or just staple relevant docs together. How did you label them? Do you have any pictures of your compiled docs?

3. Did you e-mail me the template?

Omg, I didn't count on needing that much evidence! I will take your advice about frontloading. Do you think Malaysia is a "hard" embassy?

Thanks,

Jeanette

1. Log onto skype.com with your username and password and look a your account. There is call history somewhere there and they go by month. Best to start printing them and saving the html file ASAP as they only keep a record of 6 months on skpe and then wipe it. It is called 'Call History' and is categorized by month.

2. Our photos were done as in the template with thumbnails on the pages with description, name, date, place and then the actual photos were attached in a small envelope behind those thumbnails. What you are talking about putting photos in a clear plastic bag are the passport photos which can be left in the small clear plastic slip they come in. Just write your FULL name on the back of the plastic bag/slip. This is only so they know who is who as some names don't immediately show gender. Our boarding passes/tickets/visa stamps on passport page were all scanned and attached to the actual template I sent you. KEEP THE ORIGINALS. Never send any original evidence to them. The only 'original' you will have to send as far as I remember are the forms which are signed and any evidence to support the affidavit of support which comes at the interview later. They will ask for the originals at the interview and return it to you then. We used an ACCO fastener with a two punch hole on the top of the whole petition as per guidelines from USCIS. If you look at the guides on VJ, they will tell you how to assemble the whole petition. USCIS dont want binders, paper clips etc as they want to be able to take apart your petition easier so do it their way so you dont piss them off. No I dont have any pics of what I compiled but if you do a search on the forums there was a thread where some people did take pics as to how it was assembled. I do not have the link with me.

3. Yes, I did.

No, I dont think Malaysia is a hard embassy or high fraud but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Better to have everything in hand.

[Leo&Farah 0]

I am glad to hear that you are adjusting well to the US Have you been getting plenty of snow there? We have not gotten a single flake of snow here in South Charlotte! Just rain and plenty of sunshine!

Anyways, where did you get your birth control pills??? $100 is crazy or was that including the first office visit? I went to Planned Parenthood and first visit is always more expensive and no Pap Smear is required as it is optional. I paid $80. Then the monthly refill is like $22 at Planned Parenthood itself. I once refilled at Wal-Mart pharmacy and it was like $33. Now, of course the price differs with the method you choose to use. Usually insurance does not cover Birth Control pills unless the prescription states that you use it for other medical problems such as acne etc. But then again, some insurance cover the regular birth control as well.

Cheers..........!!

We got snow like two days and thats about it as far as I can tell. It was pretty fun after not having seen snow for close to 20 years. The weather here now is sometimes as far down as 29 F, which is below 0 celcius. Its pretty damn cooold.

I havent gotten birth control pills here yet. Next week, heading over to Asheville to Planned Parenthood for a normal visit which they said costs about 85 bucks or so and getting the prescription. The 100 bucks I stated earlier was from a Women's Health Group quote for just a visit to get the prescription. Probably will Wallmart of CVS the pills later as Asheville is 1 hour away from Morganton, where we are. Wow, its crazy how booked up they are on appointments. In Malaysia, you could just walk into a doc's office. Over here, when I called the earliest I could be scheduled at the woman health clinic was 2 weeks away.

I'm probably gonna go for the patch since the pill is getting to be a hassle, remembering everyday. No way am I trying Nuvoring or whatever it is. Not comfortable with the idea of something being in there permanently.

[NCWife 0]

Yeah, the weather here has been crappy too. Teens in the morning and not higher than freezing temp in the afternoon. I can't wait for next week where things will hopefully go back to normal.

I did think about patch as well but read a lot of negative reviews about it so I decided on getting the traditional pills instead. Walmart charged me $10 extra for the same pills so I transferred my prescription back to Planned Parenthood. At Planned Parenthood, you should be able to get up 3 months of refills or perhaps more, I can't remember. The more you get, the cheaper it is. They are also able to send the refills to you. I think they use UPS and perhaps you would like to ask them about it.

Cheers..

We got snow like two days and thats about it as far as I can tell. It was pretty fun after not having seen snow for close to 20 years. The weather here now is sometimes as far down as 29 F, which is below 0 celcius. Its pretty damn cooold.

I havent gotten birth control pills here yet. Next week, heading over to Asheville to Planned Parenthood for a normal visit which they said costs about 85 bucks or so and getting the prescription. The 100 bucks I stated earlier was from a Women's Health Group quote for just a visit to get the prescription. Probably will Wallmart of CVS the pills later as Asheville is 1 hour away from Morganton, where we are. Wow, its crazy how booked up they are on appointments. In Malaysia, you could just walk into a doc's office. Over here, when I called the earliest I could be scheduled at the woman health clinic was 2 weeks away.

I'm probably gonna go for the patch since the pill is getting to be a hassle, remembering everyday. No way am I trying Nuvoring or whatever it is. Not comfortable with the idea of something being in there permanently.

[f*x 1]

Hi,

For the certificate of Good Conduct, they ask for

"Certified" copies of IC and Passport.... What does "certified" mean? I have access to a copied at work. Will that do? Or do I have to go to an official government copier place... like at the IC/Passport department.

How did you do it?

Thanks! :-)

[Bsze 50]

You need to bring the originals, photocopies and the completed forms to a Commissioner of Oaths, he/she will certify it. There's a charge for each certification.