November 2018 AOS Filers

[RambaCat 643]

Just now, Az&Br said:

The bank added me to husband’s account (not credit one though) without SSN but i drive with my foreign license ... because i cannot change it still to american one at least here in Colorado without SSN. 

 

Navy Federal won't even add me to the account, even with the marriage certificate etc. I can't drive on my license 'cause Florida has a law that means you can't drive on your license past 30 days of residency 😕 

[SalishSea 17,839]

3 hours ago, RambaCat said:

Anyone else starting to find the lack of independence hard? It's probably just because it's a bad day, but I feel like I'm stuck without the ability to leave or do anything in the nearby towns. Can't even open a bank account because my husband's bank requires me to have an SSN.

My husband is definitely bored.  He got his SSN and driver's license (Washington is lenient to immigrant drivers), but our FO (Seattle) is currently on the "forever" track for GCs, and it is still looking like March or April for EAD/AP.

 

BUT - his oldest daughter flies in from Auckland tomorrow, and she will be here for three weeks, so that will be an excellently timed distraction.   ❤️

[Derlon 121]

6 hours ago, RambaCat said:

Anyone else starting to find the lack of independence hard? It's probably just because it's a bad day, but I feel like I'm stuck without the ability to leave or do anything in the nearby towns. Can't even open a bank account because my husband's bank requires me to have an SSN.

 

I hate being so dependent on everyone else. My husband is deployed and I can't legally drive right now, so whenever I need something on base I have to ask his squadron buddies for help, who are basically complete strangers to me. 

 

To be honest I've cancelled doctor appointments and let my military ID expire because I'm sick and tired of asking random people for help 🤷‍♀️

 

Being stuck at home all day alone is not what I thought this would be like. 

[RambaCat 643]

9 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

My husband is definitely bored.  He got his SSN and driver's license (Washington is lenient to immigrant drivers), but our FO (Seattle) is currently on the "forever" track for GCs, and it is still looking like March or April for EAD/AP.

 

BUT - his oldest daughter flies in from Auckland tomorrow, and she will be here for three weeks, so that will be an excellently timed distraction.   ❤️

That's good! Hopefully she has a good visit - and hopefully good news will follow her visit pretty quickly!  I think boredom is the main issue I have right now - and seeing the same few faces every day without the ability to escape on my own.

 

6 hours ago, Derlon said:

 

I hate being so dependent on everyone else. My husband is deployed and I can't legally drive right now, so whenever I need something on base I have to ask his squadron buddies for help, who are basically complete strangers to me. 

 

To be honest I've cancelled doctor appointments and let my military ID expire because I'm sick and tired of asking random people for help 🤷‍♀️

 

Being stuck at home all day alone is not what I thought this would be like. 

I'm sorry I think they should honestly make it easier for military spouses - especially when their partners are deployed.

The whole being dependent on everyone else is an issue; I struggle to ask even friends to help with things I can't imagine what it would be like to rely on complete strangers.

 

If I'd known that it was unlikely that I'd get even a work visa before April, I'd probably have done a CR1 instead of all of this!

[jakejon 1,197]

I completely get all of the above posts. I really struggled with my adjustment and decided to get a lovely mommy counselor to help with my adjustment and come up with strategies of what to do. She has been amazing and it's really helped with immigration frustrations/home sickness etc. My husband works solely from home and we live in a one bed apartment (so always in each others company 24/7). It's got gorgeous views of SW Vegas although you gotta drive if you want to get anywhere.

 

In regards to driving, I was so frustrated with DMV after like 5 phone calls/emails with varying responses... I took my British backside down to the DMV with a sassy accent after having conflicting info on whether I could drive/sit driving test. So they said ok, you've got 2 days left valid on your I-94 (01/07) and technically in Nevada you could sit your written test before your I-94 expiring allowing you to get an instruction permit to sit your test regardless of whether your I-94 has expired. I said ok, I'll sit it now (the UK theory test is much more difficult). Luckily I passed and got my special, desirable instruction permit LMAO!!. It is technically a DAC card which I don't think all states do (not quite sure) but I think I can upgrade it to a full state licence once I get my EAD. In my defence, I argued that it makes sense for me to pass my drive test and get comfortable with driving in Vegas prior to my EAD. Right??!!!! Plus, I want to get out cruising around Vegas and maybe the Strip if I'm daring some day  

 

Anyways, that said...I'd still do a K1 again if I had the choice as I would be no where ready to start working. I'm very into cooking, working out, hitting Happy Hours (hahaha) and following World News (LOVE politics), reading etct. 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2019 by jakejon

[rrobin0609 387]

I'm not the beneficiary, but this has been quite an adjustment for me. I've pretty much lived alone since mid 2012 when I started college so suddenly never being by myself is really weird, but in a good way. I'm so used to things being a particular way that I'll get annoyed if they are slightly different. After he puts away dishes and stuff I'll have a hard time finding what I need or even just getting it out. About a week after we got married he bought a desk. I knew he wanted one, but I was not prepared for him to move my bookcase into the bedroom and put his desk where the bookcase had previously been especially without me also being there at the time of the action.

 

I don't work from home, but I consider that a blessing. I love Matt so much but I know we do need a break from each other every now and then. He gets to hang out at home, run errands, play games, go back to sleep, etc. I just get to work 😂 He lets me decide what we're gonna do on the weekends through which is nice (usually its me going on a run and then doing laundry at my parents because they let me do it for free). My mom plays Bunco once a month with her friends and she's invited me when they are low on participants prior to Matt moving. I'm kinda looking forward to the next time I get invited to play because instead of being quite, I can talk about my joys of married life.

 

Really the only thing I haven't liked is he can't work. I'll put it like this- I would still be above the 125% requirement if I had a household of eight instead of two. I panic when it comes to money. I had some unexpected car work come up and I'm suddenly crying down the phone at Matt "How will we afford going to the UK, or a house, or kids if I can't keep making progress on my savings". I may or may not have told him that eating out is out of the question the next few months unless its our every-other-friday date night. Once he's working I should be able to relax about it because its extra income and Matt knows he can do whatever with his money that he wants which will make me less stressed.

[jakejon 1,197]

Yeah, totally!! I mean Jake must have found it quite hard with me moving in. He's lived by himself for a while. It's quite an adjustment for everyone. Our savings are pretty much out the window- really takes it toll especially with one person not working. I hope we can get to the UK this year at least once but then I would unfold my selfish needs and think maybe its better when things are paid off. Who knows how things will look September time (which is when we were initially thinking). I do miss the UK massively.  

 

Hoping we all get our EAD's by April/May. My timeline is predicting May 5th (last time I looked). Where are the good old days where get EAD/AP mostly get processed by 90 day mark...

Edited January 29, 2019 by jakejon

[RambaCat 643]

This whole process has taken longer than it did in the past, starting with the K1 😧 Thankfully my husband and I had friends willing to rent with us for a year, so by the time we are looking to move around August/September time we should have enough money to put a downpayment on a house....but I won't have much of a credit rating so ??? on that! My husband has been a saint through this. He doesn't seem to have any issues with how I do things, but then again - we aren't exactly on our own here either. 

[Az&Br 83]

On 1/25/2019 at 5:22 PM, Az&Br said:

Hi everyone! 

My timeline is below: 

11/13/2018-Filed AOS and EAD (did not file for AP) 

11/19/2018- Received status

12/12/2018-Biometrics

12/15/2018-requested To expedite my EAD but it was ignored

01/02/2019- Requested to expedite my EAD again and got email the same day requesting to fax the evidence

01/07/2019- Faxed evidence as per their request to fax 

called multiple times last week 

yesterday 01/24/2019- AOS status changed to “Case is ready to be Scheduled for an interview” 

 

EAD status is still “received” and never changed since November 

 

01/22/2019 case history shows that assigned to an officer and that they sent a response and request is completed. 

 

Have to wait couple of weeks i guess... 

 

Today status of my I-485 changed to “Interview was scheduled”. 

 

Still no update on EAD 🤪

 

 

 

[Gibus 202]

So far we can live on only one salary, but I feel dependent on the way that each time I need something I have to wonder what my wife thinks about it, because ultimately she's the one working for that money. I hurt my back and I have to think twice to know if a second appointment at the chiropractor is really necessary. It sometimes leads to some arguments. Fortunately I was able to get a DL and that makes a huge difference, being able to go run some errands and even attend a EMT training makes me feel better. I'm really looking forward to get the EAD or the GC, I see fire departments job openings and it drives me crazy to not be able to apply because these offers are pretty rare!

[jakejon 1,197]

1 hour ago, Gibus said:

So far we can live on only one salary, but I feel dependent on the way that each time I need something I have to wonder what my wife thinks about it, because ultimately she's the one working for that money. I hurt my back and I have to think twice to know if a second appointment at the chiropractor is really necessary. It sometimes leads to some arguments. Fortunately I was able to get a DL and that makes a huge difference, being able to go run some errands and even attend a EMT training makes me feel better. I'm really looking forward to get the EAD or the GC, I see fire departments job openings and it drives me crazy to not be able to apply because these offers are pretty rare!

I totally get this!! I went to my chiropractor every 4 months or so. I hurt my back over 2 years ago. When I was pushing jars into the trash a month ago-I felt that shooting pain on my lower back and thought omg I know that pain too well. I wished I could have picked up the phone to my old chiropractor in the UK. I already use my husbands health insurance for counselling to help with my transition and tried to avoid a chiropractor to avoid extra costs (even though the pain wouldn't shift for over 2 weeks). I think generally it's nice having a thread to share the common thoughts and experiences. I'm sure many people going through this are experiencing some similar things. Good to know I/we are not on our own ❤️ 

Edited January 30, 2019 by jakejon

[RambaCat 643]

1 hour ago, jakejon said:

I totally get this!! I went to my chiropractor every 4 months or so. I hurt my back over 2 years ago. When I was pushing jars into the trash a month ago-I felt that shooting pain on my lower back and thought omg I know that pain too well. I wished I could have picked up the phone to my old chiropractor in the UK. I already use my husbands health insurance for counselling to help with my transition and tried to avoid a chiropractor to avoid extra costs (even though the pain wouldn't shift for over 2 weeks). I think generally it's nice having a thread to share the common thoughts and experiences. I'm sure many people going through this are experiencing some similar things. Good to know I/we are not on our own ❤️ 

It definitely helps! I definitely miss UK healthcare...but perhaps not the 3+ weeks wait to see a GP. I've been lucky enough not to have to deal with healthcare here just yet, but my husband's insurance requires me to have a medical exam before they will add me so I had better do that soonish. Sorry to hear about your back problems! Are you missing other things from the UK? I don't know if they have a Publix or Aldi where you are but I found some very familiar looking snack food in the international sections in the former...

 

Not going to lie, though - definitely appreciating the Florida weather a bit more than the UK. My husband thinks it is cold here at the moment and I'm debating shorts! 

[jakejon 1,197]

1 hour ago, RambaCat said:

It definitely helps! I definitely miss UK healthcare...but perhaps not the 3+ weeks wait to see a GP. I've been lucky enough not to have to deal with healthcare here just yet, but my husband's insurance requires me to have a medical exam before they will add me so I had better do that soonish. Sorry to hear about your back problems! Are you missing other things from the UK? I don't know if they have a Publix or Aldi where you are but I found some very familiar looking snack food in the international sections in the former...

 

Not going to lie, though - definitely appreciating the Florida weather a bit more than the UK. My husband thinks it is cold here at the moment and I'm debating shorts! 

Oh I've been meaning to go to an International supermarket they have here. I just miss the things like family, and friends more than anything. I do miss driving my stick and actually understanding the road markings- slowly getting used to an automatic which is easier. In Vegas, the roads are generally so poorly marked, getting used to left turns, centre lanes, feeling naughty turning right on a red (haha)...

 

I'll have to look up Public/Aldi for sure. Vegas weather is hitting 60's at moment but think it's due to go down into 50's next week. I guess we are luckier than some other states at the moment who are having horrible weather. 

Edited January 30, 2019 by jakejon

[jakejon 1,197]

Vegas drivers I find aren't generally the greatest/best drivers I've ever seen (not meaning to sound disrespectful to any Nevadans). Many do illegal maneuvers and are super aggressive in comparison of what I'm used too. Haven't even had the nerve yet to use the highways. They petrify me. 

Edited January 30, 2019 by jakejon

[SalishSea 17,839]

For you British ex-pats:  Cost Plus/World Market has loads of British foods, tea, chocolate etc.  Also:  Amazon.  I have ordered jaffa cakes and English crisps, and it is my source for Yorkshire Gold tea and vegemite for my kiwi spouse.