Yardies, at home and a farrin' (Part 3)

[jlvr 1]

hhhmm mike thought money didn't grow on trees either in JA.....until he came here....then his eyes got very big and wanted EVERYTHING....

on another note....got our NOA1 for the AOS....

Exactly. I read someone's post on here about how his girl loved the simple things and wasn't like the US women he knew all about material things. My first thought was.....yah, right.......wait till she gets here and exactly what was said above happens.

Beautiful picture.

I agree.

[morantbaygirl 0]

hhhmm mike thought money didn't grow on trees either in JA.....until he came here....then his eyes got very big and wanted EVERYTHING....

on another note....got our NOA1 for the AOS....

Exactly. I read someone's post on here about how his girl loved the simple things and wasn't like the US women he knew all about material things. My first thought was.....yah, right.......wait till she gets here and exactly what was said above happens.

Beautiful picture.

Thank you. I've been trying for a while to get one posted on here somewhere. I'm a little computer challenged most days.

Hi everyone I am by know means a Vet I am somewhere in between

I wanted to add my two cents into the adjustment process theirs and ours.

I totally agree with whom ever said that you really don't know your love one untill they are here.

My husband arrived before Christmas we have had alot of hurdles to overcome because we did not know each other. It is real easy to be nice and easy going for a week or two at a time when you are on vacation because most of that time you are making up for lost time . When they are here 7 days a 24 hrs a day it gets to be more then a challege . You get up and go to work and he's still in the bed drives me wacko!!! And I know he would work if he could . Finding out that he has to get a GED "WHAT YOU DIDN"T FINISH HIGH SCHOOL"!! That never came up in our conversations . You have to be very prepared like the Vets say don't take anything for granted and know yourself. If you are not PATENT you are in for a hard road. I love my husband very much and i would do it again but please be prepared to raise a 5th grader at first!!! Then they start getting cocky when they think they have learned something . Take it day by day and know the road is not easy . LET the love help you through the hard times.

[finesse 3]

I already know my fiance is in for a rude awakening....he thinks it is a piece of cake to just have whatever you want here..house, car, nice clothes, electronics. I'm like, duh i have to work my a** off for those "nice" things....and you will too! He always says my son is a rich kid because he has an xbox 360 and an ipod and nice sneakers. I get very offended when he says that and have tried to set him straight many times by telling him the sacrifices i make for my son to have those things....he does not GET it! i know this will be a challenge!!!!!

[Minfay 0]

It is a challenge. Every day is a challenge. But every day it gets a bit easier. You have to keep an open mind, have lots of patience and most importantly -- YOU ARE NOT ON VACATION ANYMORE!! This is real life with real issues that you are going to deal with. Keep the lines of communication open and when the going gets tough -- remember we are here and you are not alone!!

[morantbaygirl 0]

I already know my fiance is in for a rude awakening....he thinks it is a piece of cake to just have whatever you want here..house, car, nice clothes, electronics. I'm like, duh i have to work my a** off for those "nice" things....and you will too! He always says my son is a rich kid because he has an xbox 360 and an ipod and nice sneakers. I get very offended when he says that and have tried to set him straight many times by telling him the sacrifices i make for my son to have those things....he does not GET it! i know this will be a challenge!!!!!

You are right !!! He is in for a wake up call. My husband didn't understand until he saw I got up every morning. Whether i felt like it or not because bills have to be paid. If you want nice things you have to work for them. Yeah America is the place to be if you want to work hard to have something.

[nyseness 0]

I wouldn't consider myself a vet. I've been around since the beginning of this thread but still waiting to be w/my love one. I already know we're going to have problems but I think we will be able to overcome them. I'm the frugal one in the relationship and he loves the greatest and latest of everything!!! My husband used to live in Cayman and their $$ is worth more then US. He was able to maintain a pension fund and his lifestyle but since he moved back to JA that pension fund went from a nice size to nothing!!! It has been hard for him to get a job w/the pay he's used to. He has family everywhere from FL to here in Chicago, also in Cuba (on the military base) so he has access to pretty much anything he desires. Of course he doesn't ask me b/c he says I'm "too cheap" I'll help but mostly for my step-son. I work too hard to spend money on foolishness. My daughter goes to school in a diverse city but most of her friends are caucasion and of course they have the latest ipod, cell phone, etc.....she asks me daily for that stuff but I just find it sooooo hard to give it to her. I just can't see myself paying all that money for a gadget. I rather see my bank acct grow.

[*JG* 2]

I already know my fiance is in for a rude awakening....he thinks it is a piece of cake to just have whatever you want here..house, car, nice clothes, electronics. I'm like, duh i have to work my a** off for those "nice" things....and you will too! He always says my son is a rich kid because he has an xbox 360 and an ipod and nice sneakers. I get very offended when he says that and have tried to set him straight many times by telling him the sacrifices i make for my son to have those things....he does not GET it! i know this will be a challenge!!!!!

You are right !!! He is in for a wake up call. My husband didn't understand until he saw I got up every morning. Whether i felt like it or not because bills have to be paid. If you want nice things you have to work for them. Yeah America is the place to be if you want to work hard to have something.

Exactly. Andre was telling me all the stereotypical things Jamaicans think of Americans. Now, that he sees how hard we both have to work for things, he gets easily angered at all his friends and family who call asking him for money. He's to the point where he stops answering any JA calls for days on end.

Yes, it can be a rude awakening.

[Ricardo 0]

No, us veterans are not being mean Just trying to prepare you!

.....but you will never truly be able to be prepared until it actually happens to you. It is a very tough adjustment for these guys. They are like 10 year old boys and you are their mother. Everything is new and exciting -- UNTIL it hits them that they don't know the area, can't work, don't have any money, have no freedom and have to rely on you 100% for EVERYTHING while you trot off to work everyday and leave them in the house to watch TV, cook and clean.

There are many people who used to frequent this board who have "disappeared." Some are busy with their new lives (and will be back when it's time to "adjust") but many, many, many more are no longer together with the man they were, "Madly in love with" and "Couldn't wait to get here" and don't forget -- "Oh no, that won't happen to us." Those are the stories that you don't hear about. It would be really nice if these people would come back here to tell their stories so that "you" can be prepared.....but, their privacy is much more important. And I respect that.

Like Rhonda said -- we are not trying to be mean.......

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

For the honesty and reality check. I was wondering how many of our "holiday romances" actually survive. Personally, I am grateful for these last few posts and I THANK YOU for sharing. Anyone who thinks that this transition will be easy and not wraught with problems is in denial. As Ricardo and I have discussed, the past year's aggravations are just a preview for what is to come..Keep the honesty flowing.

[Ricardo 0]

holy moly ricardo! that was definitely the interview from hell. your interviewer tried every thing she could to get a denial. i'm glad you guys got approved. she woulda had me sweating and crying! lol

You!! I would have done the same thing...crying like a little girl. Glad everything went thru Ricardo.

Thanks for the neverending support and war stories. I was too scared to cry!!!!

[Texas Bound 0]

holy moly ricardo! that was definitely the interview from hell. your interviewer tried every thing she could to get a denial. i'm glad you guys got approved. she woulda had me sweating and crying! lol

You!! I would have done the same thing...crying like a little girl. Glad everything went thru Ricardo.

Thanks for the neverending support and war stories. I was too scared to cry!!!!

Ricardo, Ditto that.

I appreciate the honesty. I do feel that God will always give you a way if you stay strong & believe in Him. I’m more settled now that I’m not in my twenties anymore & am stronger in my faith. I know it will be hard & quite a challenge. I will still take my Jamaican man 10x over some of these loser busters walking around any day. Truly a lot also depends on your choice of mate & their qualities. I pray that we can build a good strong foundation together. Im not blind & am sure that I will be tested time & time again. No regrets here. I accept this blessing that has been brought to me & will continue to learn patience daily. Ladies keep strong we are & have always been the stronger force in this world. One day at a time, sometimes one moment at a time.

My friend has already told me “Remember, you will need to train him into shape, just as any other man”. She was right.

Ps I have a 4 year old, so hopefully this will help me adjust to the temperaments.

Silent prayer: Lord help me to learn patience & to hold my tongue.

[BelwinMills 0]

I wouldn't consider myself a vet. I've been around since the beginning of this thread but still waiting to be w/my love one. I already know we're going to have problems but I think we will be able to overcome them. I'm the frugal one in the relationship and he loves the greatest and latest of everything!!! My husband used to live in Cayman and their $$ is worth more then US. He was able to maintain a pension fund and his lifestyle but since he moved back to JA that pension fund went from a nice size to nothing!!! It has been hard for him to get a job w/the pay he's used to. He has family everywhere from FL to here in Chicago, also in Cuba (on the military base) so he has access to pretty much anything he desires. Of course he doesn't ask me b/c he says I'm "too cheap" I'll help but mostly for my step-son. I work too hard to spend money on foolishness. My daughter goes to school in a diverse city but most of her friends are caucasion and of course they have the latest ipod, cell phone, etc.....she asks me daily for that stuff but I just find it sooooo hard to give it to her. I just can't see myself paying all that money for a gadget. I rather see my bank acct grow.

I agree with Anna. I have been around here for awhile but still waiting on my husband to come. I run a tight budget and a tight ship. He knows that after years a decade of dating. Any relationship has its ups and downs.

Go back to the first time you went to Jamaica where you in culture shock?

I was at 19 on my first trip. First of all I didn't stay at a nice resort our professor wanted us to stay in a true mom and pops Jamaican hotel. At first I was like why do we have to provide the sheets for our hotel to have and so on. I remember running out and telling my professor why don't we have hot water and then in the night screaming cause I saw a cockroach in my room. Then I was very shy still new to the college I was going to and I would have to find a teaching assignment.

We started touring schools our first week to find a teaching place. Our first stop would be Cheat wood Primary and it was raining so hard 4 teachers that day did not show up to work. The principal asked us if we would each teach a class until lunch. I was like okay and pushed into a room of 50 4th graders. They finished up their math work and I asked them what they new about US music and they shared plenty we ended up singing for the rest of the morning Jamaican Folk songs to USA pop songs. I have a journal of all of my 7 trips. We visited 5 schools and one college. First I was assigned to the all girls high school MoBay high until the band kids at Herbert Morrison came up and we got acquainted. My professor decided to switch my assignment to Herbert Morrison to teach. I had to teach high school students who were big than me and half who I couldn't understand but it all worked out in the end. I feel in love with teaching and to be honest I don't remember teaching my hubby back then.

Take a look back at your journey to Jamaica where any of you out of place at first? Remember they will have culture shock too.

Here is a bad story from my adventures. A pass student at HM high school was secretly in love with me but this was not my husband. My hubby just knew and this guy would always want to take me out when I was down even when I came to see my hubby. I didn't find it odd because he had been on that trip I talked about where I hosted 6 Sam Sharpe students at my college for 2 weeks. He had visited me another time when he came to see his dad in Michigan. He came to visit me one July for a whole month. Then he proceeded to dump my hubby and be with him. We were fine for 2 weeks and I finally couldn't take it and said you are my friend I will never love u and he had a panic attack and called 911. My mom had to save the day because he didn't want to speak to me so he went with her that night. She then flew him to Michigan to be with his dad for the rest of the trip. This friend I also suspected was what they call funny in JA which is not aloud there. Anyway I always panic that something bad will happen like this when hubby comes but he says it won't he is different. Plus he loves the story and laughs so hard when I tell it.

My professor always said be careful no one uses you to come up to the states. Make sure that they love you she had seen and heard to many stories of this happening. I take advice from the old lady who has taught in Jamaica and been bring college kids since 1978 before I was born. Many men will try to do it so I understand why that lady drilled you guys so hard Ricardo. She was trying to help you out even though it seemed mean. Just my 2 cents.

36 more days until the interview keep the days flying.

Do you guys have any special traditions you do at Easter. Do you eat bun and cheese for Easter?

[Marlita 0]

Hello All,

I'm back to the questioning again. Since my last visit to Jamaica, I have been proposed to. Didn't think it would happen this fast, but I knew it would happen. Guess I wasn't jumping the gun afterall when I began writing on here, asking all kinds of questions.

Well now I am trying to figure out which process is best for Evan and I. I see I can either go for the K1 and not get married til after this one arrives, or I can do the K3 and get married prior.

Questions:

If i do the K3, which is stated as having the same processing times as the K1, what would be my advantage over the K1 exactly.

Does the K3 allow Evan to travel back Jamaica for visits, before we adjust status?

If I do the K1, when exactly will Evan be able to travel back to Jamaica?

I wonder about the travel back to JA so much because, I know this will be a huge adjustment for him to come to the states and I would like to know that we have the option to go back to Jamaica for a family visit every once in awhile. I would hate to get him here on the wrong visa and he becomes home sick without an option to visit home for a bit.

I also noticed that the K3 visa requires a I-129F AND a I-130 to process. Is this correct? Seems like a lot of money. Why would I need the I-129F if he is my spouse and not my fiance?

Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

The K1 is the fastest visa, but if you choose to get married in JA then you will have to apply for the CR-1 (I-130) first. Once you get your NOA1 then you can apply for the K3 (I-129f). The K3 was created to reunite familes together so they wouldn't have to wait out the CR1, but lately seems like they both have been running the same time frame.

I see that you did the CR1. I am starting to figure out that for the K3 visa you must apply for the CR1 also. Thats 2 sets of fees right? But I have to 2 years to get an AOS.

With the K1 I pay 1 fee, but have to immediately get married an apply for AOS, which is another fee. Is this cheaper?

[Texas Bound 0]

Hey, I love your story. Im sure the Visa to US Question will forever be in the back of all of our minds--maybe even just for a little bit. It is the same for all VJers from all countries. Fact.

[nyseness 0]

36 more days until the interview keep the days flying.

Do you guys have any special traditions you do at Easter. Do you eat bun and cheese for Easter?

We eat bun & cheese and fry fish all weekend long!! My favorite!!!

[BelwinMills 0]

Hello All,

I'm back to the questioning again. Since my last visit to Jamaica, I have been proposed to. Didn't think it would happen this fast, but I knew it would happen. Guess I wasn't jumping the gun afterall when I began writing on here, asking all kinds of questions.

Well now I am trying to figure out which process is best for Evan and I. I see I can either go for the K1 and not get married til after this one arrives, or I can do the K3 and get married prior.

Questions:

If i do the K3, which is stated as having the same processing times as the K1, what would be my advantage over the K1 exactly.

Does the K3 allow Evan to travel back Jamaica for visits, before we adjust status?

If I do the K1, when exactly will Evan be able to travel back to Jamaica?

I wonder about the travel back to JA so much because, I know this will be a huge adjustment for him to come to the states and I would like to know that we have the option to go back to Jamaica for a family visit every once in awhile. I would hate to get him here on the wrong visa and he becomes home sick without an option to visit home for a bit.

I also noticed that the K3 visa requires a I-129F AND a I-130 to process. Is this correct? Seems like a lot of money. Why would I need the I-129F if he is my spouse and not my fiance?

Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

The K1 is the fastest visa, but if you choose to get married in JA then you will have to apply for the CR-1 (I-130) first. Once you get your NOA1 then you can apply for the K3 (I-129f). The K3 was created to reunite familes together so they wouldn't have to wait out the CR1, but lately seems like they both have been running the same time frame.

I see that you did the CR1. I am starting to figure out that for the K3 visa you must apply for the CR1 also. Thats 2 sets of fees right? But I have to 2 years to get an AOS.

With the K1 I pay 1 fee, but have to immediately get married an apply for AOS, which is another fee. Is this cheaper?

please check out this guide it will tell you about all the different process CR1 cheapest K3 file afterwords if you want to spend one more free. K-1 shortest

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides