The Vent

[Emancipation 2]

Not sure this is a rant, but I just don't understand the big horrahrah with removal of conditions.. once I get my extension letter and get my biometrics over with, i honestly don't care when the card comes. It's not like I can't work.. AOS was MUCH more stressful.. I just don't get the fuss? Am I strange?

[JillA 2]

Not sure this is a rant, but I just don't understand the big horrahrah with removal of conditions.. once I get my extension letter and get my biometrics over with, i honestly don't care when the card comes. It's not like I can't work.. AOS was MUCH more stressful.. I just don't get the fuss? Am I strange?

I think it's just the excitment of getting your 10 year GC and being done with bloody USCIS for 10 years wahoooo!!

[Emancipation 2]

Not sure this is a rant, but I just don't understand the big horrahrah with removal of conditions.. once I get my extension letter and get my biometrics over with, i honestly don't care when the card comes. It's not like I can't work.. AOS was MUCH more stressful.. I just don't get the fuss? Am I strange?

I think it's just the excitment of getting your 10 year GC and being done with bloody USCIS for 10 years wahoooo!!

But they are all talking over there about year 3 being the year they file for Naturalization? I'm like uh.. no way.. i'm waiting until my 9th year of my 10 yr card to apply for citizenship.. forget THAT!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The big horrahrah with the I-751 is that your status is less stable in the eyes of the world while you are waiting for your permanent green card. For example, if your driver's license expires some states refuse to accept the NOA as proof that you still have legal status in the US. USCIS does not consider that a valid reason to give the I-551 stamp so individuals are left unable to drive - and unable to get to work. Or, if they do accept it they will only renew your license until the date your NOA or I-551 expires. There have been cases where VJers were illegally fired from their jobs because the employer wouldn't accept the NOA and required an actual PR card before they would continue employment. Yes, it is illegal but it still happened and it caused a lot grief for the individuals involved. New employers don't want to accept the NOA and want a greencard so if you lose your job you have the concern that you might not be hired for a new job because your status is so 'intangible' to the employer. On top of that there is still that concern that maybe USCIS will decide that your evidence isn't sufficient and will deny you your permanent green card thus setting a whole other cascade of problems in place.

[Sprailenes 47]

I fell asleep.

I fell asleep at 7:00 and just woke up now. What sucks is now I feel wide awake and probably won't be able to sleep tonight. This sucks!

[Autumnchik 6]

Awww, that sucks Nev You can keep me company online .... since hubby and baby have been gone, I am not sleeping well. It is annoying as hell, because I am actually managing well during the day ... busy with work and taking time to enjoy solitude. It is just after I fall asleep, I keep waking up, very aware that hubby is not next to me and baby is not in his crib across the room. Argh!

[DeadPoolX 9]

Western society, in general, concentrates on many less-than-important facets of life.

But Americans are professionals. Tell me Deadpool, you have been in Canada several months, do you have any idea what Stephen Harper's wife looks like...what her name is even?

Hmm... it wouldn't be "Priscilla" would it?

Phil doesn't seem to be adjusting well to this depression medicine his doctor put him on. He's been complaining of dizziness since he started taking it last Wednesday. Yesterday, he even had a co-worker drive him home from work because he was too dizzy to drive. Of course, the stubborn man refuses to to call his doctor. He's determined to suffer until his appointment in two weeks.

Why is his general practictioner medicating him anyways? Is that normal here? In Bermuda, your doctor will send you to a psychiatrist if you need meds for any mental health condition.

~ Catherine

It depends on the GP. Some feel they have a handle on all types of conditions and medication needed. Others realize that there are specialists -- such as psychiatrists -- in the medical field who should handle these cases. Honestly, I'd suggest seeing another doctor -- if for no other reason, to gain a second opinion.

One reason a GP might dispense psychotropic medication is if the patient has seen (or is seeing) a psychologist. In this case, the psychologist would work with the GP in order to have medication prescribed based upon the psychologist's recommendation. For reference, psychologists have either a PhD or a PsyD and unless practicing in the states of New Mexico or Louisiana, cannot prescribe medication (and even then, they're restricted to psychotropic medicine). Psychiatrists have an MD, so they're allowed to prescribe medication of any type.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Depends on your insurance as well, but you can ask for your regular DR to refer you to a specialist. And if one is having probs with your medications, best to inform the Dr soonest, a simple phone call into the office may be all that is required, and he can say, ya that is a side effect, or thats bad, or take them at night before sleep, etc etc!! Start with a phone call into his office and explain the side effects.

[Emancipation 2]

The big horrahrah with the I-751 is that your status is less stable in the eyes of the world while you are waiting for your permanent green card. For example, if your driver's license expires some states refuse to accept the NOA as proof that you still have legal status in the US. USCIS does not consider that a valid reason to give the I-551 stamp so individuals are left unable to drive - and unable to get to work. Or, if they do accept it they will only renew your license until the date your NOA or I-551 expires. There have been cases where VJers were illegally fired from their jobs because the employer wouldn't accept the NOA and required an actual PR card before they would continue employment. Yes, it is illegal but it still happened and it caused a lot grief for the individuals involved. New employers don't want to accept the NOA and want a greencard so if you lose your job you have the concern that you might not be hired for a new job because your status is so 'intangible' to the employer. On top of that there is still that concern that maybe USCIS will decide that your evidence isn't sufficient and will deny you your permanent green card thus setting a whole other cascade of problems in place.

Gotcha.. well that makes a little more sense. Neither of those situations applies to me (at least for now), but I guess I can see why that would be frustrating to the others.. it wasn't logical to me before.

[Carlawarla 1]

Phil doesn't seem to be adjusting well to this depression medicine his doctor put him on. He's been complaining of dizziness since he started taking it last Wednesday. Yesterday, he even had a co-worker drive him home from work because he was too dizzy to drive. Of course, the stubborn man refuses to to call his doctor. He's determined to suffer until his appointment in two weeks.

Why is his general practictioner medicating him anyways? Is that normal here? In Bermuda, your doctor will send you to a psychiatrist if you need meds for any mental health condition.

~ Catherine

You should really get a referral to a someone. Yes your MD can prescribe the medication, but medication alone is NOT the suggested treatment for depression without therapy at the same time. I personally, and depending on your situation, would recommend a Social Worker before a Psychologist, and both of those before a Psychiatrist.

Awww, that sucks Nev You can keep me company online .... since hubby and baby have been gone, I am not sleeping well. It is annoying as hell, because I am actually managing well during the day ... busy with work and taking time to enjoy solitude. It is just after I fall asleep, I keep waking up, very aware that hubby is not next to me and baby is not in his crib across the room. Argh!

autumnchik, was wondering how you were doing! Have you heard from your Husband? How are he and Declan doing on their visit? Happy?

[trailmix 77]

Western society, in general, concentrates on many less-than-important facets of life.

But Americans are professionals. Tell me Deadpool, you have been in Canada several months, do you have any idea what Stephen Harper's wife looks like...what her name is even?

Hmm... it wouldn't be "Priscilla" would it?

Did you have to look that up??

[Sprailenes 47]

Even if he did, he's wrong.

I only know he's wrong because I had to look it up.

[trailmix 77]

Even if he did, he's wrong.

I only know he's wrong because I had to look it up.

Yeah I don't know what her name is either

[BermyCat 1]

Depends on your insurance as well, but you can ask for your regular DR to refer you to a specialist. And if one is having probs with your medications, best to inform the Dr soonest, a simple phone call into the office may be all that is required, and he can say, ya that is a side effect, or thats bad, or take them at night before sleep, etc etc!! Start with a phone call into his office and explain the side effects.

We're lucky with the insurance. We can actually refer ourselves to certain types of doctors in the network without going through our primary care provider. Psychiatrists are on the list. I refered myself to one already and they've paid for it. I'm taking a medication that is used in Europe but not here. I found an approved psychiatrist that was originally trained in Ireland. It took six years to find the right meds for me and I don't trust a GP to recommend a good alternative to what I'm taking.

Phil is pretty stubborn however so I'm pretty sure he wouldn't get a second opinion just like he won't call to discuss the side effects he's having. We share the same GP so I'm going to mention his diziness to her when I see her for my physical this morning.

~ Catherine

[Flames9_RN 358]

U can also search the drugs side effects online, tel lyou right away if it is an expected side effect or not. Or you can call his Dr's office and tell them! Most likey you wil just talk to the secretary, who wil pass on the info! take all of 2 minutes out of ones time.