France/America couples

[MIDUVIL 34]

I received my "livret de famille", was all excited till i realized that they mispelled my dad's first name, they wrote "Jean, Claude" instead of "Jean-Claude".

I am not sure if it matters or not but will call the Consulate on Monday.

Hello,

I'm curious, i would like to know what they replied you when you called.

I have the same problem with my new name, i chose to hyphen my maiden name and my husband name, but they just add the 2 names without the hyphen, when we called USCIS, they said us, that it is not a big problem, that they receive a lot of calls concerning that and they added that i can write my new name with the hyphen.

I'm a little disturb about the fact that USCIS removed the hyphen.

Thank you

USCIS and the Consulat of France are two different things.

For USCIS I wouldn't worry about it too much. They tend to get rid of hiphens and usually skip also the middle name. As long as the social security has it right it's not a problem.

Plus you haven't had an interview yet and it will be a while anyway. When comes the interview, talk with the immigration officer and see if they can put the hyphen on your green card.

With the French Consulate it's a bit different because the livret de famille is also were you write down the name of the children and if the last name is not done write it could mess things up with the children's (not sure though).

Thank you,

I didn't think when i send this post, yes USCIS is different from the French Consulate.

Thank you for the advice, when i will go for my interview, i will ask the immigration officer to add the hyphen.

[Lili 3]

For information, the lady working for l'etat civil at the San Francisco consulate is just plain rude.

I told her about the issue and she started litterally screaming and telling me she has to double check my application. She saw my birth certificate and she said there was nothing she could do as it was written that way. I know it is written Jean Claude not Jean, Claude.

Anyhow, i decided to let it slide. The only way for having her change anything would be to rectify my birth certificate, it seems. I don't think, i can do that from here.

I am bummed, she was just so mean, like i was bugging her or something.

[Pam&Josh 0]

For information, the lady working for l'etat civil at the San Francisco consulate is just plain rude.

I told her about the issue and she started litterally screaming and telling me she has to double check my application. She saw my birth certificate and she said there was nothing she could do as it was written that way. I know it is written Jean Claude not Jean, Claude.

Anyhow, i decided to let it slide. The only way for having her change anything would be to rectify my birth certificate, it seems. I don't think, i can do that from here.

I am bummed, she was just so mean, like i was bugging her or something.

I am sorry for you Lili.

It sucks to see that some persons can be so rude, and it begins to be really frustrating to realise that it is actually their work to help you out!

[Lili 3]

For information, the lady working for l'etat civil at the San Francisco consulate is just plain rude.

I told her about the issue and she started litterally screaming and telling me she has to double check my application. She saw my birth certificate and she said there was nothing she could do as it was written that way. I know it is written Jean Claude not Jean, Claude.

Anyhow, i decided to let it slide. The only way for having her change anything would be to rectify my birth certificate, it seems. I don't think, i can do that from here.

I am bummed, she was just so mean, like i was bugging her or something.

I am sorry for you Lili.

It sucks to see that some persons can be so rude, and it begins to be really frustrating to realise that it is actually their work to help you out!

And the fact that she is a government employee! Oh well, thanks for the message.

[Lili 3]

Hi!

I am so happy to read other couples' stories! Angilla, creating this forum was a great idea!

I agree, welcome to all frenchies in here ! My husband is american and I am a french citizen (well actually I am also French-Russian) But i am more French in my heart now, than russian, even if I am by birth.

I'd like to meet some other french too, who got married to americans, I would never think of that ever, that my true love would be american, since I really disliked this country, but now i made peace, and I am glad we found each other ! The world should be more open to all cultures !

Welcome here, Polis!

I saw your topic on the K-3 forum and hope you find a way to come on VWP.

How is everyone doing? It saddens me to see our thread dying!

Here, nothing new. I have made peace with the "mispelled" first name of my father on my "livret de famille". Maybe I will bring this to my dad and see if he can go fix the mistake on my BC.

I made an infopass with USCIS for August 18th to make sure no important paperwork was lost. AOS has been going on for 6 months. A little frustrating but my local office is so behind.

I am leaving my current job and starting a job for the State in September. I am excited and definitely need the change.

Oh and I am taking 2 weeks of vacation in between, way needed after a year without a day off!

So what is up with everyone?

I know Cecy finally received her GC! Miduvil just recently started her AOS but what about everyone else?

[Lili 3]

Hi!

I am so happy to read other couples' stories! Angilla, creating this forum was a great idea!

I agree, welcome to all frenchies in here ! My husband is american and I am a french citizen (well actually I am also French-Russian) But i am more French in my heart now, than russian, even if I am by birth.

I'd like to meet some other french too, who got married to americans, I would never think of that ever, that my true love would be american, since I really disliked this country, but now i made peace, and I am glad we found each other ! The world should be more open to all cultures !

Welcome here, Polis!

I saw your topic on the K-3 forum and hope you find a way to come on VWP.

How is everyone doing? It saddens me to see our thread dying!

Hello Lili,

Yes the beginning of a long process, finally i got some flight tickets for the 18th of august to come and visit my beloved husband for 10 days, I hope everything will be fine because we made some reservations for some holidays, so... I was in the states for the last time a month ago, I hope the PEO will be nice with me, I am dying to see my husband again..... and he si too...

so, just if you have any advice, how you go visit your husband in the states, and how it's happening, etc... just don't hesitate to give them to me, I don't want to have any problem, since I don't intent to over stay, i just want to be with my love while we wait for this visa... and then be together forever !!!

I heard there is a pre-clearance US immigration in Dublin. Basically, they tell you whether or not you will be accepted in the US. It can save you a lot of headaches if you have the opportunity to change your flight tickets. But you might want to double check in one of subforums.

I'd love to be of more help but my case is different. I was here on a F-1 visa when I met my hubby, so all my travels were interstate not international.

[Lili 3]

AOS=adjustment of status, basically the paperwork you will have to fill out once married.

Here is a good link about pre-clearance.

I know some people in Europe who wants to visit their fiances while K-1 is in process go through Dublin. That way, if they are rejected they do not suffer 8+ hours of flight times 2.

Maybe the UK forum has more information on that subject.

[Lili 3]

I know, it sucks. Border Patrols are not always the nicest people, i have had my fair share.

I wish you good luck and only provide information that is asked. Do not overtalk, just a concise answer is needed.

Oh, you might want to bring a copy of your K-1 NOA to prove that you know the immigration laws and want to do things the right way.

[Lili 3]

I know, it sucks. Border Patrols are not always the nicest people, i have had my fair share.

I wish you good luck and only provide information that is asked. Do not overtalk, just a concise answer is needed.

Oh, you might want to bring a copy of your K-1 NOA to prove that you know the immigration laws and want to do things the right way.

Thank you, i'll take everything, i am filling for a K-3, so I just think if they ask me the purpose of my visit, do you think i'd rather say like tourism and visit family? Or go into the "details" and say "visit my husband" ... and then they can ask more informations?

I'll take everything i can though, a friend in the states who works for the senator of the state, even wants to help me and find out if she can make a letter for me in case, i don't know it's great if it could help as a proove i am in good hands and very doing things legally

I would just say vacation and if they request more details, then give more. But do not disclose what is not asked, wait for them to ask for it.

I hope it all works out for you!

[Koakland 0]

I know this thread has been around awhile but I just discovered it. :)My fiance (male) is from France and lives in Paris. I am American. We met in California. And as much as I love Paris and visiting France I'll be so happy when we can be together every day. We just started the K1 process. Oh, despite taking many many classes... I still don't speak French. I know, I'm awful.

[Lili 3]

I know this thread has been around awhile but I just discovered it. :)My fiance (male) is from France and lives in Paris. I am American. We met in California. And as much as I love Paris and visiting France I'll be so happy when we can be together every day. We just started the K1 process. Oh, despite taking many many classes... I still don't speak French. I know, I'm awful.

Welcome Koakland!

Don't feel bad about the not speaking french. It is such an hard language to learn. It will take time and perseverance.

Have you tried joining a french association or something? It can be a fun way to keep the exposure to the french language to a maximum.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Welcome Koakland and Polis!

[Koakland 0]

I know this thread has been around awhile but I just discovered it. :)My fiance (male) is from France and lives in Paris. I am American. We met in California. And as much as I love Paris and visiting France I'll be so happy when we can be together every day. We just started the K1 process. Oh, despite taking many many classes... I still don't speak French. I know, I'm awful.

Yes it takes time and motivation, you know, i understand your situation, after all, even if you want to learn, then you'll have to practice it. I see in my situation, my husband is really good in languages, and started french very seriously, but at home we speak english, even if he understands, i don't feel myself to speak french, it's more natural to speak french between the two of us, so even if you have the best conditions, then you'll have to see if it's "comfortable" for you guys.

I am sure you can find a way to start though:p

I definitely need to make more of an effort. I've taken classes in high school, in college and in a junior college after college. Whenever I'm in a french speaking environment (in France or in a class) my comprehension improves. I don't really feel very comfortable speaking french in France because I've had some embarrassing public moments when french speakers are obviously annoyed with my french speaking attempts. In a classroom setting I feel more comfortable. My fiance is nearly fluent in english so it's easier for us to communicate in english. He says that its cute when I try to speak and write in french. hahhaha. but I definitely will make more of an effort. He's leaving his friends, job, country and everything to be in the US with me so I think I should try harder to learn his language and show him that I appreciate his sacrifices.

Edited August 8, 2008 by Koakland

[Cécy 44]

Hi everyone and welcome to the newcomers to this thread. It's nice to see it a bit more active.

As someone mentionned before I got my green card. Yeah! 1 year to get it but so worth it. I'm still not sure when we'll go visit France. Sometimes in 2009, maybe in September because one of my cousins is getting married then.

It's been tough to be without AP and unable to go back to my home country, I guess to know you can't go makes it even worth. But I'm excited, some of my family members are coming in the fall to witness our family wedding.

Anyone else planning a second wedding? If so where are you doing it? France or the US?

Polis If you are employed take a letter from your employer with you saying at which date you are due back to work on top of everything else you mentioned.

Stick to the truth as much as possible without telling too much: visiting familly is a good idea. It all depends on the immigration officer.

Koakland I wish my husband was like that. With the help of my family I bought him Rosetta Stone last Christmas. Let's say that if he finds the time and the motivation to do it once a month it's great.

I don't know how to teach him French. I am not a French teacher and the fact that his foreign language capacities are low does not help either. Some people say: speak to him in French only. Err, hi, we're a couple we kind of need to communicate and understand each other...

I guess there is no magic way to do things, but I sure look forward to the day when I'll be able to discuss with my husband in my mother tongue.

Anyone else having trouble getting their spouse/fiance to learn French? Any solution?

[Lili 3]

Hey Cecy, nice to hear back from you!!

When are you planning your second wedding? If you have one in France, be careful that it is not official or you will need it to have it annulled (Consulate lady told me that!)

I'd like to have one too and most likely in France, somewhere beautiful like a vineyard or something. But money, vacation and planning is tough.

In regard to learning French, my hubby like you has the Rosetta Stone but it is hard to learn without practicing it. And it feels really odd trying to speak french with my hubby.

I think, in the long run, we need to move in a francophone country for a little while. It really will be the easiest way.

Polis That letter sounds like a good idea. Anything that can prove your intent to return to France will be an asset.