December 2009 Filers - CSC!

[MeggyMo 4]

Wow, congratulations Terri! Now you can relax for, oh, a day before getting your SSN, driver's license, filing your AOS, EAD... But for now, enjoy you've earned it!

Meggy - Funny, I was thumbing through the channels the other night (it's a guy thing) and came across "Say yes to the Dress!" So, now that I had a recommendation I had to look at it. Mistake! First up is this young couple with a $5k(?!) dress budget but the bride can't find anything she likes until they come across some designer dress for $10,500!!! The owner made then a 'deal' at $8,800 but the whole thing scared me so much I couldn't watch to see if they bought it and just went back to the SyFy channel and watched Stargate SG-1. Much better! I just hope Diana doesn't find that dress channel before we marry. Thank god she doesn't watch much TV!

Hahahah oh man that is hilarious! Believe me Casper that isn't even the worst. Some of them have unlimited budgets. The most I seen a girl spend was 54,000. She was such a spoiled brat too. But yea I couldn't possibly imagine spending more than 500 on a dress and even that sounds ridiculous! Some of those women lose sight of what is really important but it is a super entertaining show!

Hahahah that is just so funny though I but your jaw just dropped LOL. I don't think you will have to worry about that. I think most of us VJ girls aren't too concerned with the dress just mostly us getting there and being with our guys

[Y&E 12]

Congrats on the approval Emma -- so happy for you both :dance:

A little update from me -- married yesterday YAY!

Thanks Terri and congratulations. You both look wonderful and very happy.

We have decided to delay our blessing ceremony until April next year as this will give us time to actually plan and book things and it will give my parents plenty of notice (the only dates in summer they weren't travelling for work were 2 weeks in Sept and one in Oct!) and some of my Kiwi friends should be able to attend then. We also need to save up - moving into an apartment and purchasing a car are expensive! Not to mention all of the rest of the AOS costs etc.

I hope that the AOS process goes smoothly for you. From the looks of things on the UK forum a lot of people get through without having to interview, so that's great. I hope that happens for you.

Caspar - don't worry about the dress programme, as Meggy said, most VJ girls are more interested in actually getting to be with their SO than in spending $$$ on the dress. Mine came in at just under £300 ($250) and my registry office dress was less than $100. I'm sure Diana will be nice to your bank balance!

Meggy, it sounds like you have things all planned out for your interview / medical so no stressing! You'll be fine and it isn't as scary as we think! I'm flying out on the 29th of June, so I just make it I still found that some flights had gone up to over £1000 though and return was cheaper than 1 way!

[TerriandEric 4]

Wow, congratulations Terri! Now you can relax for, oh, a day before getting your SSN, driver's license, filing your AOS, EAD... But for now, enjoy you've earned it!

Thanks everyone -- we are blissfully happy & planning a trip away next month YAY!

I already have my SSN & Drivers License for Ohio -- sending off our AOS package next week so we can relax a little this week *phew*

[MeggyMo 4]

Thanks Terri and congratulations. You both look wonderful and very happy.

We have decided to delay our blessing ceremony until April next year as this will give us time to actually plan and book things and it will give my parents plenty of notice (the only dates in summer they weren't travelling for work were 2 weeks in Sept and one in Oct!) and some of my Kiwi friends should be able to attend then. We also need to save up - moving into an apartment and purchasing a car are expensive! Not to mention all of the rest of the AOS costs etc.

I hope that the AOS process goes smoothly for you. From the looks of things on the UK forum a lot of people get through without having to interview, so that's great. I hope that happens for you.

Caspar - don't worry about the dress programme, as Meggy said, most VJ girls are more interested in actually getting to be with their SO than in spending $$$ on the dress. Mine came in at just under £300 ($250) and my registry office dress was less than $100. I'm sure Diana will be nice to your bank balance!

Meggy, it sounds like you have things all planned out for your interview / medical so no stressing! You'll be fine and it isn't as scary as we think! I'm flying out on the 29th of June, so I just make it I still found that some flights had gone up to over £1000 though and return was cheaper than 1 way!

That sounds like a real good idea Emma! Like you said the more notice you give people the more that will actually be able to come! I wish some of my Canadian friends could make it. We have decided to have a second ceremony after we finish everything in the states and I can go back and visit. My friends were buggin me to do it so we decided we would.

That is great that you got a trip in June hun! I was planning on being there for June too but we are gunna wait a couple extra days for July 2nd so I can spend Canada day (July 1st) here .

Thanks for the good thoughts Emma yea I have kind of calmed down about the whole thing and now I am just really looking forward to it!

[Casper&Diana 0]

Thanks Ladies! I'm sure Diana is NOT one to spend crazy money on a dress. She's actually pretty conservative with money. I don't know if that is because she grew up in Ukraine and Russia where money is tight or because she has a PhD in Finance and audits other people's books and sees what kind of trouble they are in!

Terri, you have a great honeymoon! (As if you need me to tell you. )

Emma, if you marry next year do you have to worry about your visa expiring? I think the visa is good for 6 months but can be renewed. Once in the US you only have 90 days to marry and I don't think that can be extended. Or, is a "Marriage Ceremony" different than the legal marriage which you'll do sooner? Anyway, I'm sure you already have the whole program dialed in but I just wanted to check.

[MeggyMo 4]

Thanks Ladies! I'm sure Diana is NOT one to spend crazy money on a dress. She's actually pretty conservative with money. I don't know if that is because she grew up in Ukraine and Russia where money is tight or because she has a PhD in Finance and audits other people's books and sees what kind of trouble they are in!

Terri, you have a great honeymoon! (As if you need me to tell you. )

Emma, if you marry next year do you have to worry about your visa expiring? I think the visa is good for 6 months but can be renewed. Once in the US you only have 90 days to marry and I don't think that can be extended. Or, is a "Marriage Ceremony" different than the legal marriage which you'll do sooner? Anyway, I'm sure you already have the whole program dialed in but I just wanted to check.

I think Emma said before they are getting married right away but then after they were going to have a blessing ceremony with all their family. So they will be married within the allotted time frame given but they will be doing the blessing ceremony later on!

[Casper&Diana 0]

I think Emma said before they are getting married right away but then after they were going to have a blessing ceremony with all their family. So they will be married within the allotted time frame given but they will be doing the blessing ceremony later on!

Yeah, I think I remember that now too. Alas, with 11 days before I go to Ukraine and the interview that follows my brain is a lot like jello--quivers a lot and not good for much!

[MeggyMo 4]

You guys will do great! I know my mind is all wonky too. So many things to go over even though I know I already have everything I look over my checklist at least once a day LOL. Talk about paranoid!

Oh well itll be done soon! Thank goodness

[Y&E 12]

Dear jelly-brained people! Don't worry, yes Caspar, Meggy is right. We have it sorted (sort of), a registry office thing within the 90 days and then a blessing ceremony (cause Yuri's more religious than me) early next year. Do not worry and don't stress about our stuff, you've got more than enough to handle for your own visa process.

Good luck, good luck. Sorry, I'm not on much at the mo cause we're staying at a hotel this week so internet only at work.

I found that as long as I was organised and had everything in the folders in and easy to find manner it was all a breeze and not too stressful. Collecting everything was the most stressful part. If you haven't already I suggest getting a file folder and using sticky notes or dividers to separate things into groups, like Financial, BC / Police Cert etc, additional evidence. That's what I did and it took away the stress and then when you get to see the CO they don't think you're useless and you can get away quickly. I saw a lot of people who took ages because they were obviously really disorganised!

And so, dear jelly-brains, you'll be fine

[MeggyMo 4]

Dear jelly-brained people! Don't worry, yes Caspar, Meggy is right. We have it sorted (sort of), a registry office thing within the 90 days and then a blessing ceremony (cause Yuri's more religious than me) early next year. Do not worry and don't stress about our stuff, you've got more than enough to handle for your own visa process.

Good luck, good luck. Sorry, I'm not on much at the mo cause we're staying at a hotel this week so internet only at work.

I found that as long as I was organised and had everything in the folders in and easy to find manner it was all a breeze and not too stressful. Collecting everything was the most stressful part. If you haven't already I suggest getting a file folder and using sticky notes or dividers to separate things into groups, like Financial, BC / Police Cert etc, additional evidence. That's what I did and it took away the stress and then when you get to see the CO they don't think you're useless and you can get away quickly. I saw a lot of people who took ages because they were obviously really disorganised!

And so, dear jelly-brains, you'll be fine

Ahh and there is Emma right on schedule to come be the mediator for us crazy people left waiting LOL

Yea I figured I had remembered right. So a blessing ceremony what is that exactly? Im sorry I am not religious what so ever. I am not sure what religion that is.

Yea I have this little binder/suitcase dealy and I have everything separated in the order they will ask for it and it is all put together in these little clear dividers. I am gunna look super professional walkin in there.

The one thing I am nervous about is having a pleasant CO. I really hope they are in a great mood and are super nice. I have heard fantastic things about the Vancouver consulate so fingers crossed

[Y&E 12]

Hope that Vancouver is nice to you, Meggy.

I am waiting for my visa to arrive. I'm very impatient but they said 3 - 5 working days and this is the 5th. The online tracking system doesn't even seem to recognise my tracking number so now I'm getting stressed about that! Just when you think that the stress is over along comes some more!

[MeggyMo 4]

Hope that Vancouver is nice to you, Meggy.

I am waiting for my visa to arrive. I'm very impatient but they said 3 - 5 working days and this is the 5th. The online tracking system doesn't even seem to recognise my tracking number so now I'm getting stressed about that! Just when you think that the stress is over along comes some more!

Awe hun I wouldnt stress too much about that. Sometimes it takes the embassy a little longer to send stuff off if they are busy AND sometimes post offices are lame and they don't scan the package so the tracking starts on the computer (I work for a post office so I know we are dumb sometimes and forget)

[Y&E 12]

Awe hun I wouldnt stress too much about that. Sometimes it takes the embassy a little longer to send stuff off if they are busy AND sometimes post offices are lame and they don't scan the package so the tracking starts on the computer (I work for a post office so I know we are dumb sometimes and forget)

Thanks Meggy, I talked to someone on the UK forum and the courier company doesn't register the tracking until they have the parcel in-hand so that's why it's not showing up yet. Hopefully today or tomorrow!

What sort of job do you think you'll look for in the US, Meggy? I don't want to stay in publishing (not that Indy has any I expect) but I will need something to do or I'll go out of my mind with boredom. No idea what I want to do though.

What are you going to do when you can work, Terri? Will Diana contiue with her accounting, Caspar?

[MeggyMo 4]

Thanks Meggy, I talked to someone on the UK forum and the courier company doesn't register the tracking until they have the parcel in-hand so that's why it's not showing up yet. Hopefully today or tomorrow!

What sort of job do you think you'll look for in the US, Meggy? I don't want to stay in publishing (not that Indy has any I expect) but I will need something to do or I'll go out of my mind with boredom. No idea what I want to do though.

What are you going to do when you can work, Terri? Will Diana contiue with her accounting, Caspar?

Oh ok well then everything is all good. It should be soon then for you

Umm as for work I am probably going to end up working where Angelo works for a little bit. He works at Verizon. And then as soon as I save up a little bit of cash I plan on going back to school for animal health technology! It is only a 2 year course not very long but I have always been interested in animals so I thought I would finally do that!

[Casper&Diana 0]

G'Day Ladies (and any Gentlemen still around!) Still moving forward here. I called Diana this morning and she was just getting on the night train from Kiev back to Donetsk (ugh, 12 hrs) after her and Denys' medical exam. Passed! She was also supposed to pick up her Police Report but when reading it she found an error so they are supposed to fix it and courier it to her by Monday. That made me hold my breath given the reputation of all things mail related in Ukraine! She seemed confident though so I am trying to relax. I leave a week from tomorrow for UA and our interview is on the 24th. Not much time left to get all our ducks in a row if one of them should step out of line. (How's that for a mixed metaphor?!)

As to working, yes, Diana CAN'T WAIT to get a job. I don't know what but likely it will be in something accounting/finance related. I told her that we don't need the money and this is an opportunity for her to consider anything she might have had a secret dream to do. We'll see. The first thing will be to get an SSN and then the EAD while filing the AOS while taking classes in ESL. (Don't you just love all the new acronyms we've gotten to learn in the last 6 months!)

Right now I have a daughter graduating from high school. Class is over, ceremony tonight, family party tomorow, then nephew's BD party on Saturday. So I am playing airport shuttle and hosting family at the house from around the country!

I bes' go make breakfast for the boarders...