Any February 2012 filers?

[Shezi 108]

... We just got me a debit card and that's it haha. Still need drivers, SSN etc. and we just sent out our AOS last Friday :s let's just say we're kinda comfortable : o)

We haven't done bank or drivers' license yet but I have my SSN and we got me a car last weekend! It isn't quite the Alfa Romeo I sold in the UK but it's sweet. I have my biometrics appointment on the 25th - how's everyone else getting on?

[Michel and Kim 4]

We haven't done bank or drivers' license yet but I have my SSN and we got me a car last weekend! It isn't quite the Alfa Romeo I sold in the UK but it's sweet. I have my biometrics appointment on the 25th - how's everyone else getting on?

Ai, I haven't seen any Alfa Romeo in this neighborhood : o) just driving around in inefficient, big cars haha.

[Gavin + Heather 7]

Things are going well here, just in that waiting process now. I got a credit card the other day, so I'll use that for everything I'm buying instead of my debit card,as it's so important to start building up a credit rating. Apparently you should only use 70% of your credit limit and pay the credit card off in full each month, all of which helps the rating.

[Shezi 108]

Things are going well here, just in that waiting process now. I got a credit card the other day, so I'll use that for everything I'm buying instead of my debit card,as it's so important to start building up a credit rating. Apparently you should only use 70% of your credit limit and pay the credit card off in full each month, all of which helps the rating.

That's exactly the advice we got at the car dealer - we put my name on the financing too to get some credit history going. Little by little it all helps to establish us here, right?

Ai, I haven't seen any Alfa Romeo in this neighborhood : o) just driving around in inefficient, big cars haha.

I haven't seen a single Alfa since I landed in the States - I got a Toyota Love driving myself around though.

[MissK 5]

Darkmoonfaerie: So sorry to hear about all you are going through, such a though ride for you. wish you all the best!

Mary: so happy to hear things are finally moving along for you!

KT : congratulations on your wedding!

Update from me; got married last week on a beautiful cermony on the beach! Finally got my SSN after 5(!!!) weeks. Getting ready to start on the AOS papers. But do I have to order a certified copy of the marriage certificate? Did not do that, so we will probably get just an original? I will have to call them on Tuesday. I do have an bank account and a debit card. Gavin: how did you get the credit card? No drivers licenese yet as I have to have NOA1 from AOS I think.

Edited January 18, 2013 by MissK

[KTandTommy 31]

Thanks! Congrats on your wedding too! Got pictures yet?

I just got my SSN in the mail yesterday. AOS paperwork is pretty much ready to go, just have to take the passport photos and print it all up.

Tom added me to his bank account last week, so now I have a credit/debit card, though it's a joint account, so I'm not sure if it does anything at all for my credit rating. I may go try and open myself up a Target credit card LOL... I love that store.

We did our registry at Target yesterday for the big wedding... SO much fun!

I have to wait for the NOA1 from the AOS to get my driver's license, so I'm still driving around on an Ontario license for now. We're looking into a new car, but haven't decided on one yet!

My wedding venue is annoying me right now... feels like they're nickel-and-diming us over every little thing. I love the venue itself, but I can't stand a lot of the girls that work there LOL.

I guess that's a lot of what I've been up to lately!

[OrderofProtection 42]

Waiting for the visa after it's been issued feels like another eternity! Issued on the 16th and each day is TORTURE. Hoping this week we get it via DX. Seriously feels like forever

Wedding is on February 8th!

[Cori and Rob 55]

Mary!! That's great news!!! The visa wait goes fast, much faster than any other part of this process. Let us know when it comes in. Congrats!!

[Gavin + Heather 7]

Darkmoonfaerie: So sorry to hear about all you are going through, such a though ride for you. wish you all the best!

Mary: so happy to hear things are finally moving along for you!

KT : congratulations on your wedding!

Update from me; got married last week on a beautiful cermony on the beach! Finally got my SSN after 5(!!!) weeks. Getting ready to start on the AOS papers. But do I have to order a certified copy of the marriage certificate? Did not do that, so we will probably get just an original? I will have to call them on Tuesday. I do have an bank account and a debit card. Gavin: how did you get the credit card? No drivers licenese yet as I have to have NOA1 from AOS I think.

The bank I'm with for checking, Wells Fargo, offer a secured credit card (https://www.wellsfargo.com/credit_cards/secured/). The way this works, is that you decide your credit limit. The amount you decided, say $500, is taken from your bank account when they approve the card. This they keep as security while you have this particular card. Then you use the card as a normal credit card, clearing off the balance each month. When you have built up enough of a credit rating they will move you over to a proper credit card. When you cancel the card or get moved on to a proper credit card you get the $500 (or whatever amount you decided on) put back into your bank account.

I'm sure other banks offer this type of card, so if you have a bank account, ask them about it and about building up your credit.

Congrats on the marriage. You do need have certified copies, I'm not sure if you'd need to order them or if you could collect from the court house. For us, we took the paperwork after we got married to the court house and they gave us our certified marriage certificate and the copies we asked for there and then.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Gavin + Heather

[Gavin + Heather 7]

Waiting for the visa after it's been issued feels like another eternity! Issued on the 16th and each day is TORTURE. Hoping this week we get it via DX. Seriously feels like forever

Wedding is on February 8th!

Awesome news Mary. I would expect it to delivered this week Finally you'll be together!

[afoyoswa 178]

Hi everyone: long time, no see! Need to get a moment one of these days to catch up on all of the new posts!

We made it through our wedding, although things still have not settled back to something resembling normality: really excited for that day to come. Getting documents together for AOS and trying my best to enjoy the last few days of my new mother-in-law staying with us (3 weeks!) in our 450 square feet that's barely enough space for 2. <breathe>

The wedding was so, so, so great, though. Worth every penny, hour of missed sleep, new gray hair, etc. etc. We don't have too many photos yet (grrr pro photographer promising to give us teasers in 3-5 days and it's now been 10!), but here's one I like [of ME. Bonus shot of the back of Aaron's head...].

Edited January 22, 2013 by afoyoswa

[soheil 9]

Hi everyone: long time, no see! Need to get a moment one of these days to catch up on all of the new posts!

We made it through our wedding, although things still have not settled back to something resembling normality: really excited for that day to come. Getting documents together for AOS and trying my best to enjoy the last few days of my new mother-in-law staying with us (3 weeks!) in our 450 square feet that's barely enough space for 2. <breathe>

The wedding was so, so, so great, though. Worth every penny, hour of missed sleep, new gray hair, etc. etc. We don't have too many photos yet (grrr pro photographer promising to give us teasers in 3-5 days and it's now been 10!), but here's one I like [of ME. Bonus shot of the back of Aaron's head...].

That picture IS lovely so happy that everything worked out well for you guys

[Cori and Rob 55]

Joy, your dress is absolutely stunning! Congratulations to you two! Even though things haven't totally settled down yet, it's soooo much easier to deal with everything when your loved one is with you.

[Gavin + Heather 7]

Hi everyone: long time, no see! Need to get a moment one of these days to catch up on all of the new posts!

We made it through our wedding, although things still have not settled back to something resembling normality: really excited for that day to come. Getting documents together for AOS and trying my best to enjoy the last few days of my new mother-in-law staying with us (3 weeks!) in our 450 square feet that's barely enough space for 2. <breathe>

The wedding was so, so, so great, though. Worth every penny, hour of missed sleep, new gray hair, etc. etc. We don't have too many photos yet (grrr pro photographer promising to give us teasers in 3-5 days and it's now been 10!), but here's one I like [of ME. Bonus shot of the back of Aaron's head...].

Congrats We had to wait awhile for our pictures too, but worth the wait in the end

Joy, your dress is absolutely stunning! Congratulations to you two! Even though things haven't totally settled down yet, it's soooo much easier to deal with everything when your loved one is with you.

Couldn't agree more

[Shezi 108]

Hi everyone: long time, no see! Need to get a moment one of these days to catch up on all of the new posts!

We made it through our wedding, although things still have not settled back to something resembling normality: really excited for that day to come. Getting documents together for AOS and trying my best to enjoy the last few days of my new mother-in-law staying with us (3 weeks!) in our 450 square feet that's barely enough space for 2. <breathe>

The wedding was so, so, so great, though. Worth every penny, hour of missed sleep, new gray hair, etc. etc. We don't have too many photos yet (grrr pro photographer promising to give us teasers in 3-5 days and it's now been 10!), but here's one I like [of ME. Bonus shot of the back of Aaron's head...].

What a happy day - you look great!

Finally got around to opening a bank account yesterday - first foreign bank account ever! Biometrics on Friday this week... feels great to be doing something!