LAND DOWNUNDER

[Rings 10]

That will be good as long as you meet the poverty guidelines then you shouldn't have a problem. They do not care about anything except numbers that you can prove in black and white. If you meet guidlines then just follow the instructions closely on the I-134 and it will be okay.

The I-864 is the pain in the ####### one. Start looking at that right away when you can because that one sucks and requires more and you will have to do that for adjustment of status if you are a K1 or a K3

Now if you are going for CR1, then you will submit the I-864 to the NVC only, but do yourself a favor and make copies of it. One for your foreign spouse to take to the interview and one for you in case it gets lost or something crazy.

MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING ALWAYS - ESPECIALLY THE POLICE CLEARANCE AND MEDICAL (or else they may make you redo it when you adjust status)SAVE YOURSELF TIME BY HAVING IT ON HAND - BE READY TO ROCK AND ROLL!!!

YELLING ROCKS.. I SHOULD TOTALLY KEEP DOING IT

[Loke 0]

haha I wish I was packing. Trying to get rid of stuff by selling, giving or throwing away. It's amazing how much ####### you can accumulate in your time on this earth.

Can't stay, must keep working...hope all are well or at least manging to put a positive spin on a difficult time. My thoughts are with you all.

[jezz85 0]

I'm with you on that one LOKE! Heres me, leaving in 20 hours and still... ####### everywhere. At least I have the luxury of leaving stuff here for my loving family to deal with/send over to me (when I cry into the phone that I neeeeeed my X Y Z item of useless #######)

[Elle 0]

Just wanted to drop by...

Jezz - goodluck on the fun fun packing and the flight and the wedding!

Loke - goodluck on your trip too! I know you guys cant wait!!

For those who have their interviews pushed back - just think this is the final hurdle that stands between you and your loved one (and really, as long as you are organized, it really is as easy as they say it is). And just really make the use of that time to spend time w/ family & friends! Go to your fave pub and hangout and just really cherish it. I wish I had more down time in the crazy 2 weeks before I flew so I could have just chilled w/ f&f some more.

3 weeks of being here -- boy do I miss my family!! I love that there is no more timelimits on the hugs & kisses -- but I do miss seeing my family. I especially miss my mums home cooking! lol.

Still havent unpacked most of my stuff as we are still getting our house ready but at least we have the trip to Daytona Beach later this month to look forward to yAy

[SharynY 2]

2.5 months - not going fast enough............

[meowgirl 0]

Jezz and Loke- wishing you safe flights and magical reunions with the ones you love

[SharynY 2]

just thinking ahead.....

if you get married 3 days before your 3 month window is up.... how long do you have to file for the AOS?

....

i'm just gathering info........ to be ready...........

[Rings 10]

I'm with you on that one LOKE! Heres me, leaving in 20 hours and still... ####### everywhere. At least I have the luxury of leaving stuff here for my loving family to deal with/send over to me (when I cry into the phone that I neeeeeed my X Y Z item of useless #######)

Have a safe flight dear! Let us know about your point of entry!

Just wanted to drop by...

Jezz - goodluck on the fun fun packing and the flight and the wedding!

Loke - goodluck on your trip too! I know you guys cant wait!!

For those who have their interviews pushed back - just think this is the final hurdle that stands between you and your loved one (and really, as long as you are organized, it really is as easy as they say it is). And just really make the use of that time to spend time w/ family & friends! Go to your fave pub and hangout and just really cherish it. I wish I had more down time in the crazy 2 weeks before I flew so I could have just chilled w/ f&f some more.

3 weeks of being here -- boy do I miss my family!! I love that there is no more timelimits on the hugs & kisses -- but I do miss seeing my family. I especially miss my mums home cooking! lol.

Still havent unpacked most of my stuff as we are still getting our house ready but at least we have the trip to Daytona Beach later this month to look forward to yAy

So glad to see you settling in hun. I hope that you love it despite the homesickness. I worry so much about Loke getting homesick. Any pointers on how to make him feel any better are greatly appreciated.

Jezz and Loke- wishing you safe flights and magical reunions with the ones you love

Awe we wish the same for you too! *hugs* I hope your flight goes okay!

just thinking ahead.....

if you get married 3 days before your 3 month window is up.... how long do you have to file for the AOS?

....

i'm just gathering info........ to be ready...........

I would personally file immediately. You have 90 days, but really you should marry and submit the AOS within that 90 day window. You are cutting it close there. I personally recommend that you do it sooner if you can (at least legally) by going to a justice of the peace and filing the paperwork in order to obtain the marriage certificate. You can have a ceremony any day, but filing the paperwork within that 90 window should be priority number 1.

This is just a personal opinion really.

[SharynY 2]

yeah we changed the date... so we have 1 month or so up our sleeve lol....

[vylex 0]

Have a safe flight Jezz.

Loke, back so soon? LOL awesome man. I know Rings will be more than happy to welcome you back.

Sharyna, time seems to slow down when you want it to speed up and at the same time, speeds up when you want it to slow down. Father time is a cruel man sometimes.

Elle, how are you liking this East coast heat wave? How does it compare to Oz?

NVC, hurry up and process our paperwork!

Hope everyone is else is doing well.

[Rings 10]

Oh I am all too happy to welcome him back lol... a month is still a month too long.

Anyone seen Kath? I am woried sick about her. I am going to send her a PM or something and see if she is okay.

[Katz 0]

Jezz and Loke, I hope you both have safe and wonderful flights! Lucky buggers!

[jodee 30]

Rings,..

ummmm Kath is on her camping holiday and said in one of her posts she probably wouldnt have much computer access,...I thought she left like around July !st,..Im sure shes gone for about a month,..

in fact i found this in her last post in July 1,..

well were off now on holidays...see you at the end of july if got connection down in them hills will check in on you's...

take care

kath

Jodee

Edited July 12, 2007 by jodee

[Loke 0]

I will check in with you all soon I promise. I am exhausted from working all day to try to be ready to leave on Sunday. Just wanted to let you all know that my thoughts are with you, particularly Sharyna and Kym - I know your time right now is difficult and the days ahead seem to drag on and last a week each. I know you will get there, and i also know that's not great consolation right at the moment. If I could speed your time up I would. Hang in there guys, you are closer to the end of the fight than the beginning and the result wil lbe worth the struggle.

I hope everyone is doing okay, and that you are all finding reasons to smile in your day.

[Elle 0]

So glad to see you settling in hun. I hope that you love it despite the homesickness. I worry so much about Loke getting homesick. Any pointers on how to make him feel any better are greatly appreciated.

From wenchie's FBI: re homesickness....

"1. The honeymoon period when all seems new and interesting; very exciting time.

2. A period of weariness from the adaptation to a new environment. During this phase you start to understand that you must work to adapt to a new life. You feel pressure, isolation, irritation, disorientation, and depression or apathy. You can start to eat and sleep too much. You can become upset over trifles. You, at times, feel ill.

3. Period of non-acceptance and resistance of the culture of the new country. You suddenly feel animosity to the USA and are surprised, how Americans can live how they live. You begin to question why you have come to America.

4. New culture starts to make sense; you acquire new knowledge and skills. As you gain confidence, you become more sociable. You start to feel satisfaction that you begin to understand the American culture.

5. Adaptation to new the culture. There is a feeling of comfort. You begin to feel and seek interaction with the new cultural environment. You accept life and conditions of American culture and take pleasure in making the distinctions between your new culture and the old.

The times spent in each stage varies widely among everyone. It has been said that stage 5 probably won't be reached for 5-7 years for most and that stages can overlap each other."

I think I am in stage 2... stage 1 didnt last long I guess cuz I have been here so many times before and for good lengths of time.

One of the things I would have loved is if Eric could have taken a week vacation from work so maybe then I wouldnt have felt so homesick right off the bat (circumstances prior to me leaving my fam didnt help any). Ive had a few bad nights of crying and stuff...I know it will take some time, and not to sound like a Kelly Clarkson song but...I miss my independence.

So if you can take a few days off work from when Loke first arrives, help him settle and maybe that will help some. Im sure Loke drives and it seems almost all Americans have at least two vehicles lol so maybe he wont feel so couped up in the house if he can be out and about when you are at work. Like Erics parents are really nice in taking me to stores but I wish I could go to the store without what I feel is pestering them. Eric works the 2nd shift so we dont really get much done before or after work and not like I expect him to either as he's on the 8th day of his 9 straight days of working. On his days off, Eric takes me to Filipino stores so I can buy snacks and stuff. So maybe look out for Aussie snacks and things of that nature? I know I'll be ordering stuff from http://www.simplyoz.com/ very soon

Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt trade being here w/ Eric for anything but for the USC, dont take it personal if your SO does feel some homesickness. Some ppl adjust very quickly, this has just been my experience thus far.