APRIL 2018 I-129F FILERS

[VegasJohn 29]

18 minutes ago, AmandaandChayne said:

So the DS160.  You can do ahead of time and save progress. If submitting within 40 days you can save it online, if longer you can download it then upload when submitting. 

 

I staeted mine last last night before crashing. 

You sound like us, we have a tonne of evidence and daren't leave anything out!!

 

i think I’ll be doing my day trips to London on my own. Usually our medicals here precede the interview by 2 weeks! 

 

I have a feeling time could drag but like you dont don’t want to be unprepared by thinking we have bags of time!!

Cool - good info to know on the DS160.  I might as well get the PDF saved now and save progress, seems safer than doing it online and if you can upload the saved one whenever submitting, that seems like a no-brainer!  Thanks 

[AmandaandChayne 734]

5 hours ago, pretendthisisfun said:

So interesting to hear your stories and learn more about each of you.  I meant to say what is one thing about your partner...not what is the one thing.  Still haven't learned to edit these.  I'm sure we will keep learning about each other and truly be like family in a few months.  

 

@AmandaandChayne  You sound so lucky to have found one another!  You are so fortunate to have the finances and employment situation that allows for so many visits.  I'm envious of those like you who can make such frequent visits.  It's easy for us to think of how easy those in the same zip code or area code have it when they complain about not having enough time to spend with their partner.  I truly feel for those who for various reasons are only able to visit their partner once a year or less, even.  It doesn't make it easier, but it makes you feel a bit grateful.  Good luck and congratulations.  As for the time difference, we have six hours difference also.  Because of our work situation, we have video calls at 2pm my time each day.  I am fortunate enough to be able to skip out of work for a couple of hours right before her sleep.  We started out at 4pm, then 3pm, and she was just always so tired from lack of sleep, like you.  We text throughout the day.  I send a voice note every night right before bed that she can wake up to, and she sends me the same when she can.  It works for us.  I think that's what everyone has to find.

 I truly appreciate we are lucky on the visit frequency and that we can video call as often as we do. 

I fit round his life, I have to he works over 80 hours most weeks and shares custody of the little ones so getting  up in the middle of the night is when we get most non busy time to talk. I’ve learnt the art of napping from him!!  I just need to manage sleep better!!

I’m happy you get call time every day.

we also make sure each other has something lovely to wake up to.

 

i feel lucky every day to have found him when neither of us were looking 

[AmandaandChayne 734]

6 hours ago, Kyle&Ana said:

Hey guys I'm came back to my home country without baby... I feel happy and sad at the same time... I wish u a good day my beloved aprilettes...

Awww hugs Ana 

[Kyle&Ana 718]

@AmandaandChayne I really miss u! Because in that way I don't feel alone! I'm lucky for have u all! Like today I'm not feeling so good...

[AmandaandChayne 734]

25 minutes ago, VegasJohn said:

Great point - it's definitely cool to see the differences in everyone's situation and background and to know that regardless of where we all come from and what situation we are in -- we are all in this wait together!

 

I definitely don't take it for granted how fortunate Kelly and I are to be able to spend time together fairly regularly - I guess it hasn't been exactly once a month but about one week every 4-6 weeks. I live in Las Vegas (in case the username wasn't obvious lol), and even though Colombia seems so far away, it's actually a pretty quick trip and flights can regularly be found for fairly cheap thanks to the huge international airport here (thank you tourists!).  My situation works out well because I can pick an entire week when I simply fly down there and I can work remotely from an office that I use there and do the exact same work for the same clients as I would be doing here,  so I don't need to take time off work or anything.... I recently left a job working for a law firm and started my own firm, which gives me great flexibility and freedom to work when and where I want, so we are lucky to have the luxury of just living a normal life together when I go visit here there. We both go to work for a full day M-F and I'll make sure to have a weekend there on either the front or back end of the trip so we can enjoy free time together.  But we are so accustomed to spending time together that after a while apart, it's really hard.  I know I'm preaching to the wrong choir, haha, but just know that even if you get to see your future spouse more often, it's never easy to be apart!   Everyone stay strong...the time will fly  

Like you I know Chayne and I are lucky only wish we had wished up to the me  working when he’s visiting thing sooner.

I actually found the more I see him the harder it is to leave.

 

being strong because our love is and what choice do we have. I just find my quiet work times are the worst.

it will fly by!!

 

Trying to mitigate my risk of getting down by packing my diary full and planning an October visit!!

 

[Maham10 106]

6 hours ago, pretendthisisfun said:

So interesting to hear your stories and learn more about each of you.  I meant to say what is one thing about your partner...not what is the one thing.  Still haven't learned to edit these.  I'm sure we will keep learning about each other and truly be like family in a few months.  

 

@AmandaandChayne  You sound so lucky to have found one another!  You are so fortunate to have the finances and employment situation that allows for so many visits.  I'm envious of those like you who can make such frequent visits.  It's easy for us to think of how easy those in the same zip code or area code have it when they complain about not having enough time to spend with their partner.  I truly feel for those who for various reasons are only able to visit their partner once a year or less, even.  It doesn't make it easier, but it makes you feel a bit grateful.  Good luck and congratulations.  As for the time difference, we have six hours difference also.  Because of our work situation, we have video calls at 2pm my time each day.  I am fortunate enough to be able to skip out of work for a couple of hours right before her sleep.  We started out at 4pm, then 3pm, and she was just always so tired from lack of sleep, like you.  We text throughout the day.  I send a voice note every night right before bed that she can wake up to, and she sends me the same when she can.  It works for us.  I think that's what everyone has to find.

 

@Anna&eiad  Speaking of feeling for those who can't make frequent visits, I feel for you.  About the calls and texts situation...have you heard about VPN?  Virtual Private Networks allow people in places like UAE and other countries with less free internet to bypass those blocks.  You and your fiance should really look into them.  I use NordVPN but there are several.  He can even use the app on a cellphone and it is very, very simple.  https://www.bestvpn.com/best-vpns-for-uae/  I can't imagine life without WhatsApp and being able to have free video chat everyday.  Because data is so expensive in South Africa, we tried to find the lowest data video chat provider and had a lot of luck with Zangi.  But she finally let me buy her some data, so we are back to WhatsApp now.

 

@Larenn&Loda  Thank you so much for the comment on my username.  It was my username on OkCupid when we met.  I was pretending online dating was fun.  Now I'm pretending this process is fun.  I'm glad you are going to join me in the pretend world where this is fun and exciting.  Sorry to hear that you were denied.  I'm worried about my fiance's planned visit here, she is still waiting on her passport.  I read here that you could send in I-129F without a beneficiary passport, so that is what we did.  I figured a one month wait if they do an RFE is better than a two or three month delay in waiting for passport to come back before we submitted.  I feel for you on not being able to visit more often.  I hope you will be approved for a tourist visa.  I was oblivious to how difficult it is for others to travel to the US compared to how easily we can travel.  It seems so unfair that I can go to South Africa anytime without a visa or having to do anything but show up, and for her, she has to go through an interview and get a visa and whole big process.  Doesn't make sense.  

 

@Maham10  Video calls are the best.  What would we do without them?  I am right with you on waking up in October with a NOA2 approval.  But then we will have to wait some more for the NVC, but depending on the consulate that process seems to move much more quickly.

 

@VegasJohn  I do believe you win the award for Aprilite who has the most enviable visitation situation.  At least from what I have seen.  I'd love to be able to see my fiance every month.  I feel lucky for every three months.  I'll be taking all the information I can provide on my next visit.  I'm holding off a bit for suggesting when she get her documentation because of the timelines required.  

 

I think I replied to everyone who answered.  It's interesting to see so many of you from so many different places and walks of life.  We are all so different in so many ways, but we have one big thing in common and it unites us all for the next several months.  Good luck to you all and also congratulations for taking this step.  

I think I can wait out the NVC haha, the Islamabad embassy isn't that slow I believe, I do know for a fact that they process the spouse and fiance visa on priority basis, so keeping fingers crossed

[AmandaandChayne 734]

8 minutes ago, Kyle&Ana said:

@AmandaandChayne I really miss u! Because in that way I don't feel alone! I'm lucky for have u all! Like today I'm not feeling so good...

Oh Ana you aren’t alone and it’s to be expected when you just left him.

 

[AmandaandChayne 734]

Oh and @pretendthisisfun @VegasJohn

 

Delta paid for my June visit after I changed at Atlanta in December the day it snowed cue 27.5 hr delay then to make it worse on the way home Atlanta had a total power out, they transferred me to a united flight, didn’t transfer the money, I got delayed 49.5 hrs and my case which made it to the United flight didn’t make it back to Oklahoma until after I left. It’s still there.

 

needless to say when they offered me $150 compensation initially I took it further.

 

I’m a pedestrian so I have to do 3.5 hour trains if I use Heathrow and spend the night in the airport before flying usually if I go from there. Manchester is easier but costs more quite often. 

Shortest time it takes to get to him 20 hours. Longest without delays 27.

[Kyle&Ana 718]

3 minutes ago, AmandaandChayne said:

Oh and @pretendthisisfun @VegasJohn

 

Delta paid for my June visit after I changed at Atlanta in December the day it snowed cue 27.5 hr delay then to make it worse on the way home Atlanta had a total power out, they transferred me to a united flight, didn’t transfer the money, I got delayed 49.5 hrs and my case which made it to the United flight didn’t make it back to Oklahoma until after I left. It’s still there.

 

needless to say when they offered me $150 compensation initially I took it further.

 

I’m a pedestrian so I have to do 3.5 hour trains if I use Heathrow and spend the night in the airport before flying usually if I go from there. Manchester is easier but costs more quite often. 

Shortest time it takes to get to him 20 hours. Longest without delays 27.

Omg girl! 20 hours between flights!!! What a beautiful couple! Aww Love! Love! Our countdown is for June! June is coming! Like you said before, i will try to be as busy as possible! And also I will know all his family in June! So I don't need the stress in my life! I hope I.somt forget the language in that moment (my native language is Spanish) omg girl thank u for ur helpful posts!!!

[VegasJohn 29]

36 minutes ago, AmandaandChayne said:

Oh and @pretendthisisfun @VegasJohn

 

Delta paid for my June visit after I changed at Atlanta in December the day it snowed cue 27.5 hr delay then to make it worse on the way home Atlanta had a total power out, they transferred me to a united flight, didn’t transfer the money, I got delayed 49.5 hrs and my case which made it to the United flight didn’t make it back to Oklahoma until after I left. It’s still there.

 

needless to say when they offered me $150 compensation initially I took it further.

 

I’m a pedestrian so I have to do 3.5 hour trains if I use Heathrow and spend the night in the airport before flying usually if I go from there. Manchester is easier but costs more quite often. 

Shortest time it takes to get to him 20 hours. Longest without delays 27.

Oh wow, that is true love right there to deal with that commute!  Haha, but of course we would all do it for our loved ones too  Glad you at least got a visit paid for, that's great!  

 

My only good travel story is that Aeromexico bumped me up to first class on my last flight back from Medellin to Mexico City - first time I've ever gotten that, I think they saw how many flights I've been taking and had lots of space available so they picked the one guy who flies that route nearly month, haha. (I usually fly Aeromexico from Vegas to Mex. City, then Mex. City to Medellin - it's only about a 4.5 hour flight from Vegas to Mexico, then another 4 hours from Mexico to Colombia).  The flights are not bad - the entire trip can be as short as 9-10 hours if I fly through Panama on Copa Airlines, and usually no more than 12-13 if I have a long layover in Mexico.  And I have a nice little 15-20 minute ride to the airport in Vegas. I'm so spoiled, sorry everyone! 

[AmandaandChayne 734]

1 hour ago, Kyle&Ana said:

Omg girl! 20 hours between flights!!! What a beautiful couple! Aww Love! Love! Our countdown is for June! June is coming! Like you said before, i will try to be as busy as possible! And also I will know all his family in June! So I don't need the stress in my life! I hope I.somt forget the language in that moment (my native language is Spanish) omg girl thank u for ur helpful posts!!!

Thanks!! I find comfort in researching stuff and helping you all as we’ve said time and time again we are in this together!

[AmandaandChayne 734]

49 minutes ago, VegasJohn said:

Oh wow, that is true love right there to deal with that commute!  Haha, but of course we would all do it for our loved ones too  Glad you at least got a visit paid for, that's great!  

 

My only good travel story is that Aeromexico bumped me up to first class on my last flight back from Medellin to Mexico City - first time I've ever gotten that, I think they saw how many flights I've been taking and had lots of space available so they picked the one guy who flies that route nearly month, haha. (I usually fly Aeromexico from Vegas to Mex. City, then Mex. City to Medellin - it's only about a 4.5 hour flight from Vegas to Mexico, then another 4 hours from Mexico to Colombia).  The flights are not bad - the entire trip can be as short as 9-10 hours if I fly through Panama on Copa Airlines, and usually no more than 12-13 if I have a long layover in Mexico.  And I have a nice little 15-20 minute ride to the airport in Vegas. I'm so spoiled, sorry everyone! 

Nothing wrong with being spoiled occasionally.  To be fair I threatened Delta with losing customers over our combined flights.

 

Once I get to OKC its an hour drive to Seminole.

 

Atlanta, Chicago or Dallas are my usual change airports. Atlanta quickest, Chicago most horrid customs and Dallas is a dream usually. Not so concerned about my June visit ( not been there since December, Chayne's done two visits here) but my August visit changing at Chicago has me a little twitchy,  pushing the 2 month tolerance of customs when travelling on an ESTA. hopefully the 4 hours layover built in should be enough if they decide to stick me in a back room for further questions!!

 

Needless to say, I'll be over prepared to try and head that scenario off.

[AmandaandChayne 734]

So to answer @pretendthisisfun original question and hoping others answer too.

 

One thing ( there are many but one) about my fiancé that makes him worth all this and more is he is patient and understanding with my need for plans and dislike of uncertainty ( nightmare in this process) and helps me manage that by planning the things I can do so I can chill about the things I cant. In his job he can't plan much its very reactionary so we complement each other now I'm finally used to doctors minutes.

 

He may have to remind me of the serenity prayer occasionally,

 

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference."
 

Whether you pray or not I think we may need a bunch of this over the coming months!!
 

[Kyle&Ana 718]

Good morning my Aprilettes!! 

 

I hope u all have a good day!

I want to share this ...one of my daily task now is finding jobs! Obviously I'm not applying, but i'm making a list with Skills that i see is required in almost every job's post in my field!

 

As per that list.. now i have to get like 3 more international certifications(That will help me with my waiting game! and not go crazy and also have better chances to get a job quickly after EAD(Employment Authorization)).... web pages like indeed, Glassdoor post a lot of opportunities...

 

So if u have found a way for make this waiting game less painful and u think can give creative ideas to any of us, Please Share it!

 

Kisses my  AprilBros Virtual Family

Edited May 2, 2018 by Kyle&Ana
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[AmandaandChayne 734]

@Kyle&Ana kisses even if you only kissed the bros in our virtual family 🙈

good for you that’s a great thing to do. 

 

Today so far I updated my fiancée letter of intent with a November date on it so it’ll just need the date updating and signing and printed out proof of paying my littering fine 😱🙈 with a uk gov explanation of fixed penalty fines 3 times for the file.