France/America couples

[Cécy 44]

Champagne Angilla! Congratulations to the two of you and I hope you move to Florida goes smoothly. Enjoy starting your life together and being USCIS free for a while.

[RosaMystica7 0]

Thanks!

I have an interesting subject for us to talk about... I didn't think it'd be one that we'd run up against. Predjudice against French. SC and I have had to deal with nasty remarks about French a few times lately. Like at a garage sale we ran at mom's house, one guy rambled on for about a good 20 minutes about how the French didn't help Americans in the war however many years ago and all these other reasons that he hates French people... AFTER SC told him that he's from France! And today while driving the car in front of us had a bumper sticker that said "Boycott France" with a French flag with a line through it. I thought the days of the "freedom fries" instead of "french fries" were over but I guess not. Has anyone else run into this?

[Cécy 44]

Thanks!

I have an interesting subject for us to talk about... I didn't think it'd be one that we'd run up against. Predjudice against French. SC and I have had to deal with nasty remarks about French a few times lately. Like at a garage sale we ran at mom's house, one guy rambled on for about a good 20 minutes about how the French didn't help Americans in the war however many years ago and all these other reasons that he hates French people... AFTER SC told him that he's from France! And today while driving the car in front of us had a bumper sticker that said "Boycott France" with a French flag with a line through it. I thought the days of the "freedom fries" instead of "french fries" were over but I guess not. Has anyone else run into this?

Wow that's pretty 'racist' or whatever the correct name for it is.

No I haven't encountered anything like that, maybe because all the people are know are pretty open... So far all the people I meet and who hear I'm from France just think it's 'cool' and ask where I'm from in France.

You should tell SC to answer that yes, we know the US help us during WW2 and we are very happy about that, but if they want an history lesson do they remember how much Lafayette helped out during the American revolution? By the way the USA are celebrating his 250th birthday this year.

I hate it when people are like "our country helped you then so you should pay back for it."

Sorry, we're not the only one who choose not to help and I don't regret it

As far as the sticker... maybe it dates back from the 'freedom fries' time. Either way, it's narrow minded people who don't take time to think. I'm sorry he had to see that, there are so many people who are open minded and understand that every country is run it's own way.

I'll let you know if I see anything of the sort though. But then I live in one of those island of democratic & hippies in the South, so it's rather unlikely.

[bostonparis 0]

Wow, no, we haven't experienced that either. We're in Boston, and pretty multi-cultural around here, and everyone seems to love him and his accent!

[kittykatwoman 0]

Yes I did experience that, I'm used to it and just leave while the person speaks or just tell "oh don't get me wrong, I don't like you either but that's not cause you are American just cause you are an asswipe!".

I also yawn and ask "Are you done Mr, Mrs Hatemonger? cause I kinda have to go"

Anything that shows that first I don't give a ####### and second that they are retarded. It works pretty good!

[RhondaM 0]

Thanks!

I have an interesting subject for us to talk about... I didn't think it'd be one that we'd run up against. Predjudice against French. SC and I have had to deal with nasty remarks about French a few times lately. Like at a garage sale we ran at mom's house, one guy rambled on for about a good 20 minutes about how the French didn't help Americans in the war however many years ago and all these other reasons that he hates French people... AFTER SC told him that he's from France! And today while driving the car in front of us had a bumper sticker that said "Boycott France" with a French flag with a line through it. I thought the days of the "freedom fries" instead of "french fries" were over but I guess not. Has anyone else run into this?

I just saw your post. I think I saw the same bumper sticker on the same van of the same narrow-minded, monolingual American couple coming from a garage sale in my area! Wouldn't that be something if it were the same people! Truly there is a lot of that narrow-minded attitude especially in the mi-West where we are located. (I don't think you see that in larger cities.) I have to tell you that I waited to see who the owner of the vehicle was and I spoke to them in French just to see their reaction. I don't think they were bright enough to figure it out. I have taught French for more than 25 years and I spend a lot of time explaining things that my students have learned or perceived incorrectly about the French something from their own parents and grandparents. For the most part, Nicolas--my husband has not experienced that directly since his arrival. Everyone we know and have met thinks that it is great that he is here and that it is interesting that he is from another country. Anyway...hope things are going well for you both.

Rhonda

[kimandfred 0]

Finally, we have some good news to report! We got our NOA 2 in early September, while Fred was visiting which was so nice so we could celebrate together. However, it seemed to take forever between CSC and NVC. I think this wait was worse than waiting for the approval. However, I found out that our papers made it safely to NVC and then off to the embassy on October 11th. I really hope Fred gets packet 3 soon. Anyone have an estimate on how soon he should expect it? Thanks!

-Kim

[kimandfred 0]

hi everyone,

on my interview date letter someone handwrote "+ 80€ mandat compte (bureau de poste) 2006L( N° de compte ambassade)" Can someone tell me what is it please?

Thanks,

Fred

[bostonparis 0]

My husband just told me this happened to him.

Bring the paper to the post office, show it to the clerk, and tell him/her you need EXACTLY what is written. If they try and give you something else, do not listen! Make sure it is exactly what is written on the letter.

That is what happened to my husband, and he listed to the clerk, and had to go back to the post office after the interview before they would approve his visa.

Bonne chance!

Also, see my signature for timelines in Paris.

Edited October 28, 2007 by bostonparis

[kimandfred 0]

OK I guess I'll do that. One more question. I've heard stories about having to bring a chronopost envelop but there wasn't any instructions about that in the papers i received from the embassy. Shall I bring one anyway? Any kind of envelop?

[bostonparis 0]

I'm pretty sure that's what you're getting at the post office. When my husband gets home from work I'll ask him to confirm.

[Cécy 44]

Yes bring a Chronopost envelop or they'll ask you to buy one at the Embassy itself. They use it to send you the passeport with your visa in it. Back when I had to get one I think it was around 22 Euros, not sure which one it is though, you might need to check.

As for us , I had my work permit approved and I now work two part time jobs. It's great to have things to do.

Still no news whatsoever about the AOS or I-130, the first isn't even online, the second has had no update since they first put it there. I know that my local office (Charlotte NC) is busy, but it gets a bit frustrating, I'm considering giving a call to the misinformation line just to feel like I'm doing something and see if it's just waiting for an available date in Charlotte. I'll probably loose my time, but oh well.

Hopefully we'll get an interview sometimes in December of January. We have a joint checking bank account (+just opened a joint saving one), I'm on his health insurance, on the lease and the water bill is in both our names (we ask for other, they took it in consideration but it's not written on the bills)... We'll see what else we can gather up

A friend at work never received the interview letter and had to reopen her husband's case (we have the same local office). That scares me. We have our names inside the mailbox but that doesn't prevent mistakes from happening.

I'm pretty busy with work, hopefully I'll be able to update with some news soon (a girl can dream).

[bostonparis 0]

I hope you're enjoying your jobs, Cecy!

I'm sorry you haven't heard any more about your AOS. I think it's been long enough that you can call. Good luck, keep us posted.

[Cécy 44]

So I just called... as expected not much "oh don't worry it's normal"

I know it's normal, so I told her about the fact that I know a lot of people who sent their case around the same time and have already had their interview "I'a blabal officer and I never heard of such a thing, people who filed around your time haven't had interview yet." whatever! Maybe i should have given her the july filer thread address

Oh yeah and she said that since it hasn't been 3 months since the biometrics it's completely normal that I hear nothing from them and that it takes 2 to 4 months.

Anyway she said that the case is still at the NSC (at least I know that) and when I asked when I should call back if I don't hear from them she said (oh surprise) 30 days.

So if you have to call, instead of having to listen to all the ####### you dial: 1-800-375-5283 press 1 and then press 5.

I'll give it 30 days, although I bet they would tell me the exact same thing then.

And yes I like my 2 jobs

Edited November 1, 2007 by Cécy

[kimandfred 0]

Hello everyone,

Well, not that anyone really care about this but I have my interview at the embassy schedule for December 11th. I am spending thanksgiving with my fiancee in the US so that's good. The turkey is in the oven and football is on, ahahah!

I have a couple questions for those who made it through the VISA journey:

- Did you take a one way ticket when you came to finally move in with your fiance? I am getting confused because I found one way ticket for like 3000 euros and round trip tickets are like around 500 euros so I don't know what to do.

- Is it really worth it to try to go through JFK to have that temporary work stamp that I heard about? Did anyone do that? Are companies willing to hire you with that stamp?

Oh and I would also like to know how hard it was to find a job for you. I know we all have different backgrounds, skills etc and that the jobmarket depends on where you are but I'd still like to know.

Well, happy thanksgiving to all of you!

Fred