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Everything posted by mam521
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Canada Orders Toronto Blue Jays Players Euthanized
mam521 replied to TBoneTX's topic in Current Events and Hot Social Topics
I'm sad the Jays lost, but the friendly bet between Newsom and Ford was cute. Waiting to see what comes about with the "pay up"! -
This was a catastrophic event, no question. However, that plane veering left was the best case scenario, given the circumstance. Additionally, the time of day helped immensely. There could have been so many more lives lost, especially had that aircraft hit the Ford Assembly Plant or the nearby restaurant and bar that was full of patrons at the time. Godspeed to the pilots who did lose their lives and sincerest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. I will be interested to watch the Air Crash Investigation episode when it comes out.
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That is an antiquated form. It's been replaced with ETA form 9089. Through your MyUSCIS account, if you have one. If not, the Case Status page. I'd also sign up for USPS Informed Delivery. I actually knew our greencards were in the mail by this app before it even registered in our MyUSCIS accounts.
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That's going to depend what the laws are in your state in Brazil. Like I said, in the province my kids were born in and where we resided, informal (non-court ordered) parenting agreements are recognized and encouraged, so we have an informal, written parenting plan agreement. It is written in a fashion such that if something did happen and we were spending too much time disagreeing about the kids, that we could file it with the Provincial courts to formalize it. If we came from a different province, that was unlikely to be the case. Because it was the case, having the lawyer notarized letter from the children's father very directly acknowledging we were immigrating on a permanent basis in conjunction with that parenting plan agreement, it was accepted. Canada also isn't a high fraud country, so that likely played into the acceptance decision. So, check your local laws on parenting plans. Also check the local laws on taking your child internationally. If you are required to have a parenting agreement, find out if you and your child's father can write it, following a template and submit it to the courts yourselves. That route is typically pretty inexpensive because no lawyer is involved. If your state doesn't require it, you'll still have to sit down and write an agreement between the 2 of you to present with a letter of consent for US immigration. Make sure you understand the legal wording in both Brazil and New Mexico. For us, there were slight differences between our home province and Texas, so I included verbiage that covered both places. For example, you can have joint custody, but defining yourself as the primary, custodial guardian who has sole decision making authority for things like healthcare in the US are important. Back home, "guardianship" is defined, but "custodial" isn't a legal term used. In Texas, courts use "custodial parent and not "guardian". We make sure to include the equivalent legal defined name for the terms from both countries. You should also define your fiance's role as a step parent in the agreement. The Hague Convention exists for a reason - too many parental kidnappings, so informed, parental consent is paramount in any immigration case. Its hard because those individuals who can't get along and coparent effectively ruin it for the rest of us who can peacefully do so. I understand how important permission is when it involves taking a child internationally, but it's still pretty astounding how many people really aren't looking in the best interests of their kids! I'm happy to hear you are another co parent who stands beside me in making peaceful decisions in the best interest of our children.
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Hey Nathan. Welcome to the forum! First and foremost, you need to work out what your faith is (or isn't - entirely for you to decide) and how that relationship works. Irrespective of what your parents want, you're an adult and you have every right to make those decisions about what you believe and how. Secondly, it sounds like you need to set some boundaries with your parents. Not sure what your relationship is or your living situation, but again, you're an adult. Maybe this requires heading to some counselling or therapy to learn how to manage all of that; I can't judge, I'm not in your shoes. How much time have you spent with your fiancé and how, if she doesn't know the language, do you communicate? Are you fluent in Mandarin? Why would she want to move to the USA? Would you move to her country? All questions you need to ask yourself. This sounds more like you need to do some soul searching on who you are as a person and what your values are and then evaluate how these other people fit into that structure. Yes, parents typically want what's best for their kids, but it doesn't mean their approach is always ideal. Maybe they are scrutinizing your partner somewhat emphatically, but do you have rose colored glasses on when it comes to this person and they are just trying to protect you? Yes, people who are in a relationship typically tell one another they'll never leave. The hard truth is people change, relationships change and sometimes things just don't work. So, deep down inside, are you prepared for that reality, be it happily ever after OR not so happily ever after? You have to take a pragmatic approach before making major life decisions, but that requires a bit of a philosophical visit to know yourself.
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I moved with my kids on IR-2's. I was required to submit custody documentation and because their father and I are not required to have a court ordered custody agreement in the jurisdiction where the kids were born and where we resided, I did require an additional lawyer notarized letter from their father stating he was 100% aware that the children were immigrating to the USA and that he was in support of the move. Had I not had that letter, our case would have been denied. I worry that what you've mentioned above is not in direct agreement with what is required. You need to be the custodial parent if your child is to immigrate. Simply having court ordered, shared custody is not going to suffice. The child's father needs to agree to allow the child to move permanently to the US. Provisionally, the agreement can include visitation rights, but the primary legal decision maker needs to be you and the father needs to agree to allow that child to immigrate.
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K-1 Online Marriage
mam521 replied to VB100901's topic in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports
On paper or not, this could invalidate that K1. Please provide more detail. USCIS are well aware of ceremonial traditions and what they mean in other cultures. You may well be "too married" to be attempting this route. -
Hi and welcome to the forum. Please fill out your timeline: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=492865 If you've filed to adjust status, you can't leave the country. You now have to sit tight and wait for your EAD to be approved. You're in that weird bubble of authorized stay but no status. Start putting together everything you're going to need to prove to USCIS that you've entered into a legitimate marriage.
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Having to replace a thermostat because Duracells ruined it would tick me off something fierce. Happy to hear the leak didn't ruin it and you were able to recover it. I lost my camera flash for one of my dSLR's to Duracells. Lesson learned not to forget to take the batteries out. We've also lost some kids' toys over the years. I wasn't that sad when it was discovered that the Furbys were toast.
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Duracell batteries are complete and utter trash. They've ruined so many items. They are banned from our household. Energizer are fine. The biggest challenge has been finding lithium Energizers for non-extortionate prices!
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When are you coming to do mine for me? 🤣 Did you check your fire alarms, too? Time change transitions are apparently good times to check this. Personally, I just wait until the stupid thing starts beeping in the middle of the night and drives the dog nuts and I'm so beyond annoyed that I pull the stupid thing down until morning. Efficient? Probably not.
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Hallowe'en 2025 -- Our Plans & Stories
mam521 replied to TBoneTX's topic in Current Events and Hot Social Topics
I ran outta "cheaps" by 7:45pm! I probably should have grabbed another pair of boxes but usually I only get about I dunno...80 kids? As for the bags, they fit in the pumpkins and I had all but one kiddo say "Lays! Awesome!" or "this house has chips!" or "Cheetos...my favourite!" Halloween is a big deal in our neighborhood. There's a couple of houses that go ridiculously all out. It's pretty fun if you're with the kids. Very different to the Halloweens we had in Canada where you pretty typically had to choose something that fit over layers because it was anyone's guess as to whether there would be snow on the ground or not! Those cold Halloweens separated the wimps from the champs and typically, if you stuck it out, you came out loaded with goods. -
Hallowe'en 2025 -- Our Plans & Stories
mam521 replied to TBoneTX's topic in Current Events and Hot Social Topics
We've opted for the common "Canadian" thing of handing out potato chips. There's a Gordon Food Store not far away, so we grabbed a couple of 50 count boxes of Lays. It's a nice alternative to candy. Kid2 used to be severely dairy intolerant so doesn't care for chocolate and is old enough to know it's not worth the door to door effort when you can simply go to Kroger tomorrow and buy exactly what you want for massive discount. A couple of years ago, I used to grab the Costco Halloween Playdoh packs. Kids actually loved it. I just haven't paid enough attention when at Costco to grab said packs, so chips it is. -
Questions about I-130
mam521 replied to Asker19's topic in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures
Hello and welcome Please take a minute and fill out your timeline: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=493709 The RFE is asking for proof that your marriage is real and legitimate. Nigeria is a high fraud country, so they want to see things like spouses listed as beneficiaries on each other's investments (life insurance, retirement accounts, etc), joint accounts for things like banking, that you've filed your income taxes in the US as married, any trips you've taken together (airline tickets with your names on them, reservations in both names), etc. Think of it from the perspective of someone looking in - just because someone is married on paper doesn't mean the marriage is for the right reasons, and that's what USCIS are looking at. No one here is going to doubt that it's legitimate from what you've said, but, USCIS needs to scrutinize all cases. -
Some peeps in our hood have no power at present because of the wind. We were serenaded off and on all morning by the moans and groans of unhappy transformers. Centerpoint - the pinnacle of reliability!!!
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Please help out the VJ community by filling out your timeline: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=456318
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NVC is asking us to move our case from Abu-Dhabi to Islamabad
mam521 replied to ofa917's topic in Asia: East and Pacific
Additionally, just because Islamabad is potentially working on cases from that date doesn't mean visas are being issued immediately. Extensive AP is not uncommon in Pakistan. Attempting to move it guarantees nothing. -
Know what I hate more? Time change. Guess what's coming on the weekend? Time change. Enjoy those clocks for the couple of days they'll have the correct time for!!
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I-129F fiancee child to immigrate later
mam521 replied to MichaelMechieME2's topic in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures
You can be doing all of the research now. Your first decision is public, private or charter school and then go from there. I suggest using Great Schools ratings as a starting point. If you are planning to move somewhere within the Houston Metro, look at the districts, how they rate and taxes in the areas you hope to live. The higher the taxes, typically the better the school district, unfortunately. -
IR1 Category Question - CEAC Portal
mam521 replied to jiggaman97's topic in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures
Please fill out your timeline here: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=493368 Knowing what consulate you'll be dealing with may help others tailor their answers to suit your needs. There will be a list provided of what your partner is required to bring to the interview and whether it has to be original or can be a copy. Your divorce decree will definitely be required, so you might as well upload it to CEAC. -
Who said there's not still time?
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The tread TBoneTX listed would definitely be helpful to you. But before proceeding, please fill out your timeline: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=493461
