If you could do it all again...

[charly73 0]

It took us over 9 months to get the NOA 2, and I really wasted that time with panicking instead of enjoying being with my family and friends!

Considering how fast and smooth everything went for us once we were out of NSC, I should have spent much less time worrying... but I guess this advice is wasted on everybody out there still waiting for NOA2...

Other than that, no complaints or regrets!

I shipped only really personal stuff, to have a little bit of "home" in my new home. Since my soon-to-be-husband has a complete household already, I didn't really need anything practical. I just packed my dishes (which I got from my Grandma) and some clothes and lots and lots of books (in German! ). We'll see what I'll miss in a few months....

[Scott & Lai 12]

I'd have remembered to kiss the bride at our wedding I'd have had our three amateur photographers take their pictures one at a time, instead of simultaneously, so everyone in the pictures would be looking in the same direction

If I'd known about VJ, I probably would not have used a lawyer; could have saved $1,800 doing everything myself.

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

As far as the actual process goes, maybe would have considered going the CR1 route but it all worked out in the end, really. No point fussing about it now.

Probably would have looked into moving to Belgium instead of moving here myself. Although, I think getting a job has helped me adjust a bit more, I still miss Belgium

I think I would have shipped more of my belongings as well instead of selling it off cheaply or giving it away to a friend. Definitely should have brought along more Dutch books, I love reading and I still haven't been able to find any Dutch books online. If anyone knows where I can order online, please let me know!!

[Marilyn. 340]

books in Dutch or books written by dutch people?

not sure if this is what you are looking for.... Best Book Buys

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

books in Dutch or books written by dutch people?

not sure if this is what you are looking for.... Best Book Buys

Books in Dutch. I feel like I'm getting worse and worse speaking my mother tongue. E-mailing people in Dutch is becoming a hassle Nah, it's not that bad, I just miss reading Dutch books I guess. Thanks for the link, M. I'll check it out now.

[daisy16 0]

Wow! What a great mom you are already!

I will say, for those who are bringing in a child or children on a K-2: every minute that I spent preparing for the arrival of my stepson (talking to his school, lining up other kids for him to meet and possibly make friends with, researching extra-curricular activities that are available and other ideas for trips, reading about the experiences of other immigrant kids and kids in general, etc...) has paid off in spades. So far, his transition has been amazingly smooth (knock on wood). Some experienced moms may do all this instinctively, but I felt like I really needed to be prepared for instant step-motherhood, and I am so glad I took the time... not just for his sake, but for the sake of our new marriage and my husband's transition as well.

Hey swirly, what about going to the Dutch bookstores online? If I want to order a book that is only available in Canada, I can go to a bookstore's website. Could you not do that? I know shipping would be expensive, but it's worth it.

[purplesneakers 0]

i would have saved in australia for more than a plane ticket so i could have brought some money over with me. I'd stash it and save it for valentine's day or his birthday the week after. the thought of asking him for some money and then to drive me to the mall so i can go buy him something with it is depressing. also i should have kidnapped my sister when she was here for the wedding so i could keep her here with me always. i miss my little sis.

[amal 4]

To those who said they might've chosen the CR-1 route instead of the K-1...may I ask why?

We have not yet decided which route to pursue :/ and any insight would be greatly appreciated.

We did CR-1 and it took much much much longer than the people doing K-1... It also seems that K-3 visas are taking the most time now. I wouldn't have done anything differently since CR-1 made him legal in the states within 2 weeks of his arrival.. We have had a blast so far!!!

amal

[Anastassia 0]

We made two mistakes:

1. we wanted to get married in Poland and do DCF, everything looked great and promising if not this lawyer.... ..... long story short we needed the court decision to get married in Poland (we are not very young people, how stupid is this ?). The lawyer told us it will take up to two months for the court to decide, after two months it turned out that another court had to legalize finace's american divorce decree and this would take up to a year

So we ended up starting K-1 delayed by about three months of misleading cooperation with this lawyer.

2. we took our time applying for AOS & EAD after the wedding. We didn't see the problem back then, but due to this I ended up very depressed for a long time not having anything to do and it affected our financial situation as well. We could have cut the time of me not being able to work in half if we applied immediately after the wedding.

other than that all is good.

Ana

[john_and_marlene 162]

I think I might take an extra nap

[thndrdancr 0]

The only things I would have done differently are we would have waited a few days to get those stupid vaccinations til after the chickenpox blood test came back in, so that we could have gotten them all together, that set the AOS interview back by a month and a half waiting to send the RFE in.

Also wouldnt have bothered with the EAD, it just cost a lot of extra money and we will have the interview by the time he is able to get a job anyway. Waste of money for us. Or if I had waited a bit to file, I would have known the medical needed to be done BEFORE filing for AOS in our situation.

Cant complain tho, our case has gone pretty fast anyhow, knock on wood, even with the 1 1/2 month delay.

[almaty 19]

i would have went to the interview

[shakysgirl 1]

I'd have done several things differently- probably wouldn't have married in the UK and gotten a British visa if we'd known a year later we would need to move back to the US for family reasons. We'd have just filed for HIS K-1 visa and/or gotten married in the US and adjusted status at that time. I wish we had filed for his visas when we first started realizing we may need to move back (in April- May 2005) instead of waiting until the end of August to file. I just want all this stuff DONE and OVER as I am FED UP with visa stuff and we still have to do EAD and AOS.

[Hazel 0]

To those who said they might've chosen the CR-1 route instead of the K-1...may I ask why?

We have not yet decided which route to pursue :/ and any insight would be greatly appreciated.

There was a point in time, when I was starting the AOS process and trying to get all her documents done with DMV and SSA, that I thought I would have rather done CR1 and not K1. But not any more. It took a little effort, but what doesn't?

Not to hijack this thread...but I'm assuming you do the cr1, you don't need AP, AOS, or EAD because it encompasses them all...but it's a longer wait time to get your honey here?

if i could do it all over again ,,i shoud've think about his mother living with us and i shoud've ask first how bad his mother is.....

[nayalamb 0]

i wouldn't change the fact that we chose to do K-1, but i would have:

1) sent it in a few days sooner (or a couple of weeks later) to avoid the 'black hole' that alot of august '05 approvees fell into when vsc sent our cases to the frickin' archives instead of the visa center. we lost about 2 months because of that.

2) would have done my meds in the capital instead of in my hometown. my meds got RFE'd on a technicality whereas the dude from the capital breezed through because his doc was a bit more precise on the forms.

3) would have saved more money. or at least tried to... feel guilty that he has to bear the financial burden for the next few months till i am able to work.

4) would have cried less and slept more. the stress was bad, but if i could have known what was coming, i would have had alot less rants and crying jags.

if i could do it all over again ,,i shoud've think about his mother living with us and i shoud've ask first how bad his mother is.....

you have my prayers! chin up!