Filing buddies

[RosaMystica7 0]

Air conditioning is NOT an option IMO.

Why not?

Winter is hit or miss, this is where location comes into play. I'm very near the mountains so I would get more than someone next to the beach. Blizzards are rare, quite honestly snow totaling more than 6 inches is a once or twice a year occurance..and if it happens make sure you have milk and bread..not because you won't be able to get out, but because everyone panics! We do get ice storms every couple of years and those can be pretty horrendous. Winter temperatures rarely go below the low 30's-high 20's(that's for daytime highs).

Okay, we'll just have to look into that more specifically when the time comes, I suppose. We don't want to live close enough to the beach to worry about evacuating from hurricanes, that's for sure. We'll see later.

So can you tell me more about this religious community? Did you mention somewhere that it was Catholic? Is it a community recognized by the Catholic Church or is it a breakaway group? I'm really curious. Sounds like you both have a really strong faith.

Yup it's Catholic - loyal to the Pope, not a breakaway group. Friars are like monks, the difference is that monks generally stay in their building and their task is to pray for the world. Friars leave their building reguarly and do other works. There's the same difference between the nuns (usually cloistered, meaning they don't leave their monastery) and sisters. Other than this one issue, their community is amazing. It's not really a fault of the community itself, any more than it's a fault of Catholicism or Christianity itself... it's human error. Even though they wear a habit they're still human beings with much to learn. Those who are open to learning will and they'll grow, the others, well, won't. SC was a friar for 3 years - he was in temporary vows, which meant that he still had the option to leave rather than renewing his vows.

I was waiting to enter their sisters, but the sisters considered me to be too young... they wanted me to get some life experience first, maybe some college or something. I disagreed, I had been dreaming of becoming a sister since I was 12 years old and it was all I wanted. But as it turned out... I was running. Growing up my parents had a horrible relationship, as did all of my friends parents. All I saw of marriage was fighting and abuse - I didn't see what it really COULD be. But last summer I did some volunteer work that was family-centered, and we stayed with host families as we travelled around the country. I saw what true marriage could be like and it triggered a healing process... it brought up things that I didn't even know I had in me. SC was my best friend and he had mentioned something similar when I had asked him why he left the friars. I asked him about it and it turned out that he left the friars because the same exact thing had happened with him. He was a huge help to me through the healing process.

I'll try to PM you later today. Seems like we should be talking more! I think we could be of great encouragement to one another.

I agree!

You asked about Laurent's age. He's 38...a year younger than me. Fortunately, none of Laurent's friends or family are opposed to our relationship. In fact, his mom and dad regularly express to me how much they love and miss me. They're down in Angoulême, actually, but we've spent time with them, and I talk with them on the phone fairly regularly.

That's wonderful! I wish I could see France! SC and I are going to work on my fear of flying together after he moves here, and then he's going to bring me to visit France with him once I'll be okay with the flight.

Like I said, he has many AMAZING qualities, but patience in the face of things he doesn't want to deal with is not his strong point. God's working on that, too, though.

Patience isn't either of our strong points either. We all have areas that we need to grow in, and the process takes a lifetime.

But I think we have it all over the French when it comes to higher ed. You couldn't pay me to go to school at a French university--for about a thousand reasons!! SC is making the right choice, IMO.

His family has told him, on numerous occasions, that he's basically worthless without a college degree, that he needs one ASAP, and that he needs to get it in France. I've been telling him the opposite. You're not worthless no matter what, you need to get your college degree when you're ready, and you can get it wherever the heck you want!

more than 6 inches a rarity? Yikes. Yep im guessing that will be one of the biggest differences in climate. 6 inches where I am, if we just get that we consider ourselves blessed with a light winter. I really need to learn the conversions

6 inches happens a lot where I am in NY... 12 inches isn't uncommon... and every now and then, we'll get a 3+ foot blizzard. I need to learn conversions too, just to help poor SC along with that.

[Thingee 0]

Alright, firsts things first...http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm for the conversions.

Air conditioning, for me, isn't an option because it's HOT and I don't like heat LOL. Cold I can handle no sweat (ha ha at my lame pun), but heat I turn into grumpy lady. You can be well away from the coast, and still be far enough from the mountains you won't see much snow. As I said before, I'm pretty close to the mountains..in the foothills technically, and it's about a 3 hour drive to the beach. You're also going to want to think about city vs. country living because you can definitely have both here.

[RosaMystica7 0]

Alright, firsts things first...http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm for the conversions.

Air conditioning, for me, isn't an option because it's HOT and I don't like heat LOL. Cold I can handle no sweat (ha ha at my lame pun), but heat I turn into grumpy lady. You can be well away from the coast, and still be far enough from the mountains you won't see much snow. As I said before, I'm pretty close to the mountains..in the foothills technically, and it's about a 3 hour drive to the beach. You're also going to want to think about city vs. country living because you can definitely have both here.

Ooooh, by air conditioning isn't an option I thought you meant you wouldn't consider getting it. Heat I get sick, so air conditioning is a must for me too. What I've thought with city vs. country is... I'd like a big property and to be somewhat out in the sticks, BUT, if for some reason we need to get to a hospital, we can easily get to one! If I'm pregnant and something goes wrong, if one of our kids falls and cracks his head open, whatever... I don't wanna be so far out into the country that we have trouble getting to a hospital in time.

And thanks for the conversions link!

Edited August 5, 2006 by aselano

[Smitty91 0]

Greetings all. First post on this site I do believe and I'm glad to see this thread. I, too, like many others here am in the process of filing for a K1 visa for my beloved in the Philippines. I am at the very, very early stages as I'm just trying to figure out what needs to be filed, filled out and sent in. I work in engineering and like to think of myself as an intelligent guy, but this is not an "easy-to-follow" process!

At any rate, I'm hoping to get the paperwork out the door and in the mail sometime early September. Mahal ko (my love in her Tagalog language) is working on what she needs to get to me to send in with the I-129F. It's funny because I've been reading and doing research on the process and it seems she knows more about it than I do just by talking to one of her friends that is going through the process!

So I'm guessing this thread will be used to post any/all questions or comments about the process? If so, I have a couple questions already...

1- What is an A#?

2- In the image below, am I suppose to put my birth certificate number in the space provided just below where "Birth in the US" is checked? Or is that provided if the "Naturalization" box is checked?

If it's for a birth certificate, which number do I enter? Because I have three different numbers on my BC. A District Number, Registration Number and some numbers and letters below a bar code towards the top of my BC.

Many thanks! (More questions to come I'm sure!)

[Thingee 0]

Oh good heavens no! I had issues for the longest time because I want a house with central air! Sadly, houses with that are out of my price range really. A lot of older homes here(I'm in the thick of the Civil War battlegrounds area) and very few of them have central air, geez some of them don't have modernized heat. You should have no trouble finding something like that. There are a lot of areas that are farming based and actually have huge limits on building lots. A neighboring county insists on a minimum of 2 acres for example...which to a New Yorker may sound ridiculously expensive, but the places that have the minimums like that are actually dirt cheap. 3 bedroom house on 2 acres would go for oh, 220,000 in that particular county. (Orange County Virginia)

[RosaMystica7 0]

justjoeny91:

I see NY in your name, are you from NY?

Welcome to VJ. At the bottom of the K1 forum you'll see "search forum" - as questions arise, search the forums to see if they've already been asked. Also read the guides and, as you're filling out your forms, open the example forms to see what is suggested to do.

Personally, I think you should make new posts for any questions that you have about the process or paperwork. By making a new post for each question you'll help others who have this question both now and in the future. It will also get more attention - all of us who will frequent here have not gone through the process yet so we're not very knowledgable, other than what we've been able to read. But if you make a new post with your question, the experienced people will find it and answer it. We even have a former border control officer that hangs around the forums!

What I had in mind for this thread (although I definately don't mind it taking on a life of its own ) is a place for all of us who are planning to file, or who have just filed, to introduce ourselves and our situations and find friends to accompany on the process.

Oh good heavens no! I had issues for the longest time because I want a house with central air! Sadly, houses with that are out of my price range really. A lot of older homes here(I'm in the thick of the Civil War battlegrounds area) and very few of them have central air, geez some of them don't have modernized heat.

I got confused when I read that you didn't want AC, the sentence makes more sense now though. I'd love central air, but I'll take any working air conditioning that I can get!

You should have no trouble finding something like that. There are a lot of areas that are farming based and actually have huge limits on building lots. A neighboring county insists on a minimum of 2 acres for example...which to a New Yorker may sound ridiculously expensive, but the places that have the minimums like that are actually dirt cheap. 3 bedroom house on 2 acres would go for oh, 220,000 in that particular county. (Orange County Virginia)

Wow, that's awesome! In my area a normal house on an 80 x 100 ft. plot of land starts at $300,000! I would love to have gardens and fruit trees... And a hammock! In Orange County, what sort of distance would there be to the nearest hospital with good health care? Just an idea, don't worry about getting it exact or anything.

Edited August 5, 2006 by aselano

[VetsWife328 7]

Hi there,

we will hopefully finally put the papers in by November 1st.I'm from Germany and my man is living in Washington (State).

Nat

[Smitty91 0]

Thank you aselano for the warm welcome! I am originally from Rochester (actually just east of there), NY, but currently live in Colorado Springs, CO. Thanks for the "search" insight. That never even dawned on me to look there!

[RosaMystica7 0]

Hi there,

we will hopefully finally put the papers in by November 1st.I'm from Germany and my man is living in Washington (State).

Nat

Hi Nat! November 1st... if I may ask, why so long of a wait?

Thank you aselano for the warm welcome! I am originally from Rochester (actually just east of there), NY, but currently live in Colorado Springs, CO. Thanks for the "search" insight. That never even dawned on me to look there!

Okay, I live on Long Island. I've met two other New Yorkers here, I always jump at the chance to meet more, so that's why I asked.

You're welcome! I've found a lot of good answers by searching, and the rest by posting. Sometimes I worry that people will get annoyed by all the questions I ask... actually, sometimes I think I DID annoy people with all my questions ... but really, that's what we're all here for - to ask and to help each other. So don't worry about annoying anyone. I know your A# question has been asked before, but I don't remember the answer, so try searching for that... if you can't find it, post and ask. I have absolutely no clue about your birth certificate question, so definately make a new post for that, I think.

Edited August 5, 2006 by aselano

[Smitty91 0]

Good idea about moving my questions out of this thread. I don't want to hijack the thread. Besides, questions would be difficult to find imbedded in a thread rather than starting a new one! I'll go back and edit my previous post.

OK. I guess one can't go back and edit previous posts. Live and learn! lol

Edited August 5, 2006 by justjoeny91

[RosaMystica7 0]

Good idea about moving my questions out of this thread. I don't want to hijack the thread. Besides, questions would be difficult to find imbedded in a thread rather than starting a new one! I'll go back and edit my previous post.

OK. I guess one can't go back and edit previous posts. Live and learn! lol

Pfft - you know how many threads I'VE hijacked in my VJ lifetime? :lol: Many! So I don't mind hijacking.

It's just that I want you, and others, to get the answers that you need. Like you said, questions embedded in a thread will be hard to find. The forum search won't find them when others after you look to see if the question that you asked has been answered. If you make a new post, they'll search and find it, maybe months later or something, and your question will have helped them. Plus, this post is for people who haven't filed yet... many people here have the knowledge that they do because they've been through the whole process already, and that's something that we don't have. So here you'd be less likely to get answers from people who have been through this already.

I don't think you can edit a post after someone else comments...it's okay, it doesn't matter.

[Thingee 0]

Aselano-Ok, Orange Va is a long skinny county, depending on which end your on you'd be looking at 20 minutes, or 30 minutes. That quote involves 3 or 4 different hospitals..4 I think.

justjoeny91-I think it was more concern about your question getting lost in the shuffle than hijacking. I know I've posted questions in related ongoing threads to no avail.

Hi back to all poking in to say hi, and welcome!

Edit: Stop typing and posting so fast you people!

Edited August 5, 2006 by Thingee

[RosaMystica7 0]

Aselano-Ok, Orange Va is a long skinny county, depending on which end your on you'd be looking at 20 minutes, or 30 minutes. That quote involves 3 or 4 different hospitals..4 I think.

justjoeny91-I think it was more concern about your question getting lost in the shuffle than hijacking. I know I've posted questions in related ongoing threads to no avail.

Hi back to all poking in to say hi, and welcome!

Edit: Stop typing and posting so fast you people!

Okay, that's like what it is here, with traffic and whatnot anyway. Cool! We want to stay here on LI to get over the immigration hurdles and save up money. After AOS is completed and we have enough money in the bank, we'd like to move to VA. We'll look into specifics then. Thanks for all the answers!

Teehee I'm a fast typer. Actually, I shouldn't be proud of that, it means I spend too much time online talking to people.

[Kirsten L 0]

Other than this one issue, their community is amazing. It's not really a fault of the community itself, any more than it's a fault of Catholicism or Christianity itself... it's human error. Even though they wear a habit they're still human beings with much to learn. Those who are open to learning will and they'll grow, the others, well, won't.

Absolutely right, Angilla. Well said.

I'm fairly familiar with Catholicism and understand sisterhoods and brotherhoods. I know that there are some breakaway groups and wondered where your and SC's community fit. Thanks for filling me in!

His family has told him, on numerous occasions, that he's basically worthless without a college degree, that he needs one ASAP, and that he needs to get it in France. I've been telling him the opposite. You're not worthless no matter what, you need to get your college degree when you're ready, and you can get it wherever the heck you want!

Oh boy...SC's parents sound like real downers. Guess they need our prayers, too. Not born encouragers or flexible thinkers, are they? So sorry. Laurent doesn't have a formal degree either. Long story. He finished lycée but left home pretty early to play in punk and rock bands. Now he composes electronically-aided music. Certainly doesn't mean he's stupid or worthless, though. He's one of the smartest men I know and a brilliant conversationalist, to boot! You're right to support SC in the way that you are. The things you've said to him are right on target!

LOL! So you and SC have problems with the patience thing, too! That's hilarious. I'm mostly doing better on that score in the last year or two. Another long story. I still have my moments, but I'm definitely the grounded one in the relationship. I have my own failings, though, believe me! And yes, it is a lifetime process. Truer words have rarely been spoken!

A PM is on its way to you later today...

Edited August 5, 2006 by Kirsten L

[Amanda-Lise 0]

Yes. Air conditioning a definite must. When all this is over, we want to start looking for a house, but he isn't keen on going too far out as he works in Richmond. I grew up in the country and I dont make a very good city girl. Hopefully we will find an area that we can compromise on .

Welcome to all the other newcomers preparing to file! Its nice to not feel so alone in embarking on this process