December Filers

[DiZZyLoX 114]

that's it. I'm changing the "last touched" to "last fondled"

[wendie and sam 4]

Still no touches for me!

Blake and I are very seriously considering moving our wedding date, since we are at VSC and my local embassy is also known for being pretty slow (montreal). Of course there's a chance everything could be fine, but I don't want to take chances with the wedding. I suppose I should have listened to everyone saying not to plan anything until you have that visa in your hand, but its too late now! We'll probably move it to April or May 2012, which should be enough time. Blah, I like our current date Oh well, thats life and immigration.

Got back from Atlanta at 2am last night. It was super sad leaving, but also encouraging since its the last time I will be leaving Atlanta without Blake at my side!

April or May 2012??? Why so late?? is that your estimate of how long it will take you?

We have a pretty solid plan for 1/14/12 so I hope this won't make us miss our wedding too! yikes! Ohh well... nothing we can do now but wait and hope!

Although I don't think the London Embassy is as slow as Montreal, but still..... VSC needs to start padding their stats and move to December like CSC has started moving to Jan/Feb. hehe... It's only fair (to those of us in December!)

[Piefre 15]

For some reason neither CSC or VSC are padding stats by using December filers. It makes me a little nervous. Do we Decemberites smell bad or something?

[Christine + Blake 18]

April or May 2012??? Why so late?? is that your estimate of how long it will take you?

We have a pretty solid plan for 1/14/12 so I hope this won't make us miss our wedding too! yikes! Ohh well... nothing we can do now but wait and hope!

Although I don't think the London Embassy is as slow as Montreal, but still..... VSC needs to start padding their stats and move to December like CSC has started moving to Jan/Feb. hehe... It's only fair (to those of us in December!)

No, I'm hopeful that we will be approved much sooner than that, but I'm just so stressed out about how this date choice turned out (which we thought would be enough time) that I don't want to take ANY chances. Also, Atlanta is GORGEOUS at that time of year.

I'm sure we'll all be approved in time for your wedding, no worries!

Kristen - if I'm in Atlanta for 11-11-11 then we will do our 'legal' wedding then, yeah. I don't know which we'll count as our anniversary/wedding date though.

and good call on the wording change Dizzy!

[Bec_Dipu 103]

Also, Atlanta is GORGEOUS at that time of year.

Take some pictures on Emory's campus...gorgeous landscaping and beautiful marble buildings everywhere. check out Stone Mountain too!

I went to Emory my freshman year...love love love Atlanta (but hate the tuition cost lol)!

[kristen_maroc 126]

You know, I'm looking at jobs in the ATL. Maybe we can get married, like, in the same week

[Marcia&Danny 5]

So exciting all the touches. I had to update! FYI - this is now sorted first by Service Center, and then by NOA1 Date:

Dear Dizzy, can you add some information about us. Service Center: VSC, and Last Touched: 31/12/2010.

A huge thank you for such great work.

[KiwiBird 132]

Awww, I didn't make the list as an honorary Decemberite!?

[Derek and Callie 7]

Still no touches for me!

Blake and I are very seriously considering moving our wedding date, since we are at VSC and my local embassy is also known for being pretty slow (montreal). Of course there's a chance everything could be fine, but I don't want to take chances with the wedding. I suppose I should have listened to everyone saying not to plan anything until you have that visa in your hand, but its too late now! We'll probably move it to April or May 2012, which should be enough time. Blah, I like our current date Oh well, thats life and immigration.

Got back from Atlanta at 2am last night. It was super sad leaving, but also encouraging since its the last time I will be leaving Atlanta without Blake at my side!

Dont make me start to rethink as well haha

We have a wedding date for the 29th of October 2011, and a NOA1 of 30th of December 2010. It can't really move easily as well so I really hoping things go smoothly.

I have already changed the wedding date once and it seems the 29th is locked in, praying for fast processing!

[Christine + Blake 18]

Take some pictures on Emory's campus...gorgeous landscaping and beautiful marble buildings everywhere. check out Stone Mountain too!

I went to Emory my freshman year...love love love Atlanta (but hate the tuition cost lol)!

Oh thanks for the suggestion, we'll be getting engagement shots done as well so maybe Emory would be a good location for that! I looove Stone Mountain.

Kristen that would be the BEST!

Derek and Callie - I know, the one thing that was sort of reassuring to me about my date is the fact that other people also have weddings planned for around that date (or even the same date!) so it can't be that ridiculous to be having our wedding the day it is... I am SUCH a worrier though, so I know I'd be driving myself crazy the whole time, and I have the WORST luck, so you'd probably all get approved and I'd still have to wait! haha

We're going to be talking to our vendors and seeing what the latest is that we can push our date back, so we can wait and see how things are going by then.

[Derek and Callie 7]

Oh thanks for the suggestion, we'll be getting engagement shots done as well so maybe Emory would be a good location for that! I looove Stone Mountain.

Kristen that would be the BEST!

Derek and Callie - I know, the one thing that was sort of reassuring to me about my date is the fact that other people also have weddings planned for around that date (or even the same date!) so it can't be that ridiculous to be having our wedding the day it is... I am SUCH a worrier though, so I know I'd be driving myself crazy the whole time, and I have the WORST luck, so you'd probably all get approved and I'd still have to wait! haha

We're going to be talking to our vendors and seeing what the latest is that we can push our date back, so we can wait and see how things are going by then.

hahaha yeah its abit like that.

We originally had our date for mid August, but then VSC started to really slow up, we changed it to October 29th thinking we wouldn't have to even worry about it, but I am starting to, we have like 250+ people coming and my family from Australia coming etc. I am just hoping things get done in the estimated time.

I have 300 days from NOA1 till I really need to be in the states, that seems like a LONG time, do you think that it is a big risk having a wedding then?

Has it taken more than 300 days for the entire process for many people in the past?

[kiria&daniel 23]

Still no touches this makes me sad and depressed!!!! We are number 1 on the december list- but still NOTHING

mY wedding date is planned for oct. 13th this year, please tell me I will definately have my visa by then....im hoping ill have it by mid june- is this wishful thinking??? I havnt seen my fiance since nov. last year and we are both starting to get on edge- maybe I should just fly over to america for a week??? but flight prices are just soooo high from sydney to louisiana!!! Should I just wait it out?? do you think it will all start happening soon? stupid VSC!!!! Please someone give me some hope

xx kiria - sorry for the down email

[Derek and Callie 7]

Still no touches this makes me sad and depressed!!!! We are number 1 on the december list- but still NOTHING

mY wedding date is planned for oct. 13th this year, please tell me I will definately have my visa by then....im hoping ill have it by mid june- is this wishful thinking??? I havnt seen my fiance since nov. last year and we are both starting to get on edge- maybe I should just fly over to america for a week??? but flight prices are just soooo high from sydney to louisiana!!! Should I just wait it out?? do you think it will all start happening soon? stupid VSC!!!! Please someone give me some hope

xx kiria - sorry for the down email

Well having a quick look at days from NOA1 to Interview lately they are around 200-250, you have allowed over 300 days so I think you will be ok. I am saying this because I have allowed similar if not less time for visa it would seem. But for it to go over 300 days without visa inhand doesn't seem that likely, there aren't that many people waiting longer than 300 days, and I think processing times will get quicker, they cant afford to keep on processing this slow and I mean june/july last year it was taking 3-4 months, so lets keep praying that the times get faster, but yeah considering most people are getting the entire process time in under 250 days we should be ok with allowing 300, just hope everything goes smoothly, be prepared as much as you can with packet 3, keep praying and hope things don't get even slower. My wedding date is set pretty solid so I am in the same boat as you, but I feel confident.

[Shawn-n-Sonoko 9]

OK Shawn.. calm down.. deep breaths....

So, after the disappointments yesterday about not being fondled (and Mari, I kept the fondling myself to myself.. but now everyone knows thanks to you!), and bored at work a few times I logged into USCIS just to see the same old thing and I STILL wasn't fondled. So I come home, and open up my e-mail and guess what!?! I WON THE LOTTERY!! Well, not millions of dollars but my petition was APPROVED! With that, the earlier approval and all these touches, I hope these are signs that the CSC Decemberites are moving! For all our Vermonters, I'm rooting, hoping, and preying you get some action soon also! Wow, I still can't believe it but I will when I get my official NOA2 in the mail!

OK.. recipes are coming tomorrow. Sonoko will e-mail me one and then I will add one of my favs from Okinawa (it's Okinawa soul food!)

To the replies!

I'm so tired from work today and then I read that... lol Shawn, I thought you were going to say you were going to fondle yourself! I need to eat, I'm losing my mind I think. lol

Ok Mari.. see my comment above... now everyone knows! Don't feel bad about work.. I really don't want to work anymore!! Too tired!

I've been playing with this site for invitations, I'm not sure if I'll order the invite pockets from them or just do something really plain but it's the cheapest site I've found for these damn things. (literally just cardstock folded with a pocket!)

cards and pockets invites

I've been trying to figure out how I want to do invites also and if I want to make my own or order them. Since Sonoko and I will have a small crowd probably order them, but thanks for another site to look at!! You would think it would be reasonably easy to choose, but at least for me it hasn't been!

I have a feeling things are about to get exciting here!!

-Shawn

[Lise+Michael 13]

Still no touches for me!

Blake and I are very seriously considering moving our wedding date, since we are at VSC and my local embassy is also known for being pretty slow (montreal). Of course there's a chance everything could be fine, but I don't want to take chances with the wedding. I suppose I should have listened to everyone saying not to plan anything until you have that visa in your hand, but its too late now! We'll probably move it to April or May 2012, which should be enough time. Blah, I like our current date Oh well, thats life and immigration.

Got back from Atlanta at 2am last night. It was super sad leaving, but also encouraging since its the last time I will be leaving Atlanta without Blake at my side!

Michael and I are not giving up hope...there is still time!

I am trying super hard to have faith in CVS & Montreal!

Have a nice evening,

Lise