You've crossed the Rubicon, congratulations. And, if I might speak for all men out there, are you sure that losing an inch off your bust is really necessary? I mean, there's got to be a better option

Thanks Rachel!

Your dress sounds really pretty. Do you have pic?

I decided to design my own and have it made Still in progress.

On another note, I cannot wait to get to the point where you are right now: cancelling memberships n stuff!

Ha no kidding I cannot wait until Gareth is on an airplane here! (again!) He keeps saying no celebrating until he is here and has his arms around me! I am feeling the same even though I feel my excitement building!

Rachel you could also see about having some elastic put in with a new zipper! I bet that would do the trick and wouldn't even be noticeable! I loved Monsoon when I lived in England such pretty things in there!!!!

Anyone...as far as the police certificates go, packet 3 states that the beneficiary needs a police certificate from anywhere they have resided for more than 6 months. But, on many other sites, including the Dept. of State, I see that it is 6 months within the beneficiary's country and over 1 year for any other country. So which is it for the K-1? Other country, 6 months or 1 year? Does anyone have a definitive answer?

Hello Everyone!!!

Talking about dresses, we decided with Richard to first have as soon as possible a courthouse wedding, like that we can do AOS and Advance of Parole really quick. Because I want that my daughter will be able to go back in France to spend Christmas with her dad. As i have a court judgment who says that shes has to spend half of vacation with him, i think that an expedite case will work.

SO first a fast courthouse wedding and some weeks later a real nice wedding at the church, with my parents, Richard's parents, my big daughter, my brother etc...

But, i don't gonna to wear my great wedding dresses for the courthouse... i need to find something beautiful but really less expensive and also more simple for the courthouse. Any advice?

I'll be wearing my "I've made my choice - 666" Slayer T-Shirt, when I take my vows, Miss Yoko. Would you like me to get you one???

I am in the USA!!!
Minneapolis POE was a bliss, there was a 'new immigrant line', so it took me between 5 and 10 minutes to go through immigration. the officer was very friendly and smiling all the time. he asked how we met, and when we would get married.
Now I am in St. Louis, I didn't sleep very well (damn AC is too noisy) but it doesn't matter because we are now together

I'll come back later, I'm going back in his arms now

My other half is from St Louis; whereabouts you at?

Nope Damian, i don't want a 666 slayer T-shirt or yes, but not for the wedding, i need a small one




Wooohooo Cecile that's a great news!
I'm really happy for you
Be happy!

Hopefully it'll be an inch off my back and not the actual bust.

In other news I was properly measured for a bra for the first time in 7 years and WOW I can see why you're supposed to get measured frequently!


No picture unfortunately. I tried googling but nothing came up! I'll try and persuade my mother to take a photo of it and send it to me - it's gone home with her.

Designing your own dress sounds like a fantastic idea; both personal and unique!

I'm surprised I have a dress so soon, actually! It's not what I was looking for at all. But it was such beautiful material and such a bargain price that I had to try it on. My mother thinks it looked good on me and when she and my aunt returned to the store my aunt also liked it and persuaded my mother to buy it. It is not a 'dream dress' or anything but then I was never expecting to find my dream dress.

Next weekend my friend is coming up to visit and as she's an excellent shopper I'm planning to ask her help in finding me a jacket to wear with the dress.

I'm not leaving the UK for a while but I've started to cancel all my memberships already as I'm moving to live with my parents soon. Also many memberships require at least 30 days' cancellation notice.


I've always loved Monsoon but it's generally too expensive a shop for me. Fortunately it's sale season right now!

That is another good idea - hopefully I'll be able to do it up, though!

I'm going to be joining weightwatchers and my sister's gym (provided they allow guests/short-term memberships) when I move back to my home town, plus my mother will be watching my diet with a hawk eye, so here's to losing a little weight.

Argh I just visited the monsoon website!!! Oh god!!! its beautifull!!! and found the perfect dress for the courthouse!!! but ((( they don't do shipping in France (((

(( they are really too bad

Rachel- I do WW and just recently changed to trying their core program! I am loving it and it really is just an overall healthier way of eating and not just a diet! So I am hoping to lose off it as well!!!

Chantal-seriously look at Target online at their wedding section!!!! They have some simple yet pretty dresses for sure! In fact I got one of them to wear for our reception! As for shipping to France why not find a dress and have it sent to Richard and then have him forward onto you if you do not want to wait to get it???

Which dress were you interested in Miss Yoko?

This is that one is it yours?

http://www.monsoon.co.uk/invt/35202341

Ooh that one is way pretty Chantal! In fact I think I like all the ones they offer!!!

Ok I am on pins and needles as got a hold of a real nice lady at CSC today and she said she was going to fax over my RFE to me today!!!!!!!! So now I am praying it actually gets here before I go home haha! I told her what time I was leaving so let's hope and pray it shows up! I keep popping up and going to our office fax now to check LOL....

No; that's not mine! It is lovely, though.

If you can't find anything else and want to take a chance on sizes I could probably ship it to you!

Oh god sunny!!! Thats a really good news! Tell us what is it as soon as you know!

I'll try to check again.
I was to the Galerie Lafayette after my work and I don't found something enough nice and enough simple at the same time.
So I will tell you what next week, 'cause i really love that one

If you can help me for that and if you have a paypal account it will be great.

Oh you guys know you will be first to know what is for right after Gareth and I of course haha

for you Sunny!!! I hope it's a box you just forgot to check... Part C... Q 2 perhaps?

LOL yeah hope that is all it is!!!

Yeah! I am really happy for you Cécile!!
and it is nice to hear that the immigration part was easy!I am going to be over there in a little bit more than 3 days!!!



That is a really nice and elegant dress Miss Yoko!!




I cannot wait to know what is your RFE. Everybody is hoping it would be something simple and that way you can sent it back in no time!


About me, I finished work on last thursday!!
I sold out my car yesterday night, and I am pretty much all packed!
Some of my family is coming over for my last days in France.....and on thursday I will be back with my baby! Everything is going the way I wanted it, so it is great!!

Ok got the RFE hardcopy in mail today....it says first at top "Foreign document" in bold and underlined and then it says to include english translation with any of this

OK ummm he is from England everything we sent is in ENGLISH lol?!

Then next thing it says is "Last Meeting" also in bold print and underlined then goes on to explain all that stuff we can send as proof that we have met preceding application....ok AGAIN I sent passport copies, and photos of us together?! What else could they need LOL? I have no ticket stubs so am out of luck there.....

So far just planning on printing out a bunch more pics of us together and the passport pages of mine again.....how do I prove Gareth was there in any other way since well he LIVES there ha ha ha???

Thanks I will be sending it all out Monday and overnighting it!

Sorry to bump into Jan filer thread. I had my RFE on Jun 30 and they have asked me tons of stuff back including the evidence for our last meeting. I have copied my passport for the stamp, photos and indicated the date and location on the back of photos, even better if you have more pics of u 2 with ur friends or family. Hotel receipt or shopping receipt by credit card which has my name or his name and date on it. I hope u guys can get as many as evidence you can for the approval. For me more is better than not enough so I put up tons of stuff even they said its not necessary. They should able to give u an approval right after they got ur RFE response. I hope it helps and I'm looking forward to see you guys to have a happy dance soon!!! Keep us updated and good luck!!

Glo

Thanks Glo and Cole! We sadly don't have any group shots that include BOTH of us with friends But do have plenty of us together so sending in like 12 more pics of us together, then my passport stamps again and military stuff stating I was there as well!

So....basically there are asking you again if you met in person, and more proofs!!
It is good you have more pictures to send. What about sending them proofs of ongoing relationship as well? like phone bills or e-mails between you guys.
I mean, I am sure you will pretty much send some stuff they already have, so I would just show them you are "strongly" in touch during that huge wait there doing to you two!!
Good luck to you Sunny!!! I hope everything will go fine after that!!!

Thanks Pam! Yeah it says not to send phone bills and letters and such but I think I will include some extras anyway! So far I have the 12 pics, mapquest of the distance we lived apart when I was there LOL, military orders stating my being there (with ex hubby haha naughty naughty), a paper of me setting up an account over there at the military base dated the month him and i started dating, color copies of my military id card and also UK drivers license I had while there, and Gareth is sending over some bills dated around that time so they know he was living in the UK too at that time LMAO....I think I will also make copies of a letter I wrote him on my last day there and similar things like that. We have concert ticket stubs but none have our names on them so how could we prove we went together ya know? Gareth and I were talking as I was getting things together and I mean honestly any and all "proof" they want can be made up ya know? I mean if people REALLY wanted to....so it is silly to have to keep sending this stuff but oh well I shall do whatever I can to be with my love!!!!!

Ok added in copies of cards Gareth sent me for Christmas,Valentines, and my Birthday (June) as well as copy of our wedding reception rental agreement, copy of engagement ring receipt and engagement ring appraisal I had done here since we bought it online, and receipt for my wedding dress............that should be MORE than enough stuff I would think LOL!!!

Sunny maybe you can prove also that Gareth tried to visit you and he was denied at the POE! no?

Yeah I think I am gonna let Gareth share that info when they ask for proof of ongoing relationship haha!

Ok here's a question....does Gareth pay another fee when he goes to visa interview? We know he pays for police record (he has to get new one now argh) and medical but he wasn't sure if he pays a visa fee as well? Thanks!!

Yep, another $131

Thanks they sure do make money off of us huh? Oy

No kidding

These are good.

Do you have any receipts from British stores? Those could also be useful.

Did you book plane tickets online? Even if you do not have the stubs you might still be able to acquire a copy of your itinerary.

Sunny I hope things will go very smooth after the RFE. With all these things you are sending them, there should not be any more problems.

Damian, we live in south St. Louis. There seems to be several people from this area on visa journey!

So, I've been in the USA for 4 days now, it is VERY hot right now, I knew it was hot but I had forgotten it would be that bad I'll get used to it. the good thing is I don't need to blow my hair after the shower: two minutes outside and it's done!
I have been exhausted the entire weekend from the jet lag. I have opened a bank account at NationalCity, they only needed my passport and another ID (I showed them my French driver license). No SSN needed. Now I'm waiting for my bank in France to set the wire transfers via the Internet.
It is nice to be here again, and together. I have met some new people and some old ones too, so nice to see them again I feel quite overwhelmed by the many things I will have to learn (all the conversion things, getting used to new products at the grocery stores, driving, etc.) but as long as I do all this step by step it should be ok.
Today is my first day completely alone, Bryan went back to work this morning. And when he comes back, we will go to a restaurant because today is my birthday we can finally celebrate together.
We will probably get married by the end of August.

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cecile!!!!

Well have all stuff posted off so here's hoping it was enough evidence for them!!! I can track it as sent it overnight so it should be in their hands tomorrow by 3pm Michigan time so by noon I would think there! Cannot wait to see that they received it!!! UGH onto the next step already pleaseeeeee!!!!

Good luck, good luck, good luck!!!

And happy birthday Cecile! Mine was Thursday, WAHOO FOR LEO'S!!

Happy birthday Cecile!

Ooh, it must be so good to be celebrating it with Bryan. I completely forgot that you'd be in the US already.

I'm so glad you are settling in - and remember, I warned you about the heat in St. Louis I think you have the right attitude - one step at a time...... After all the hype and anxiety and waiting the sudden silence has to be a little deafening. It will be nice for you to get into a routine again that will keep you busy. If you two ever get buggy, Chicago isn't that far away.....


OH YES, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Sunnybear,

What exatly did you send them? If you sent the same information as proof of having met as last time then you might have the same problem. There is a big distinction in the minds of these people between evidence that proves an on going relationship and evidence that proves that you have met within the right time period before the application was sent in. This is the issue that is causing your problem. The cards and phone records, etc. are good for showing an ongoing relationship, but they do not answer the question of having met in person within the two year period prior to submitting the application.

You can prove you were in England through passport stamps and military ID's, but I can see how the adjudicators are confused by the circumstances because if I read it right you were there with your husband at the time. So it is not as if you flew to England to specifically meet Gareth, but met him while you were already there. In your "Circumstances of Having Met" memo in your application did you give dates and details? The documentation you give to prove that you two have met has to conform with this.

This is where purchase receipts, train tickets, hotel receipts, bank transactions (atm receipts) are important - they all place you in England at the time you and Gareth met (according to your circumstances memo). You don't need to prove that Gareth was in England, that is assumed by the adjudicator. You, as the applicant, have to prove you were there at that time.

You've got the on-going relationship thing nailed, I worry that it's in the proving of having met that you might still run into a problem God, I have my fingers crossed for you two.

Beautiful dress, wow.

Hey Blake well I sent them.......

12 photos of us (a couple I think were same but lots of new ones including ones of me with his friends then him with his friends that you can tell were all taken same night, I also made sure to waterstamp photos in program with the dates taken and then wrote on each page who were in pics (me and Gareth etc..) and then also address of location where each pic was...some of these were intimate pics of us in bed together clearly umm undressed with sheet pulled up covering bits haha)...

Color copies of my passport pages with arrows and writing pointing out when I was in UK and when I entered US

A copy of me opening my own bank account in April (when Gareth and I technically started dating even though I was still legally married) in the UK

Copy of military orders, UK drivers license, and military id card showing again that I was there BEFORE Gareth and I filed our petition

Copies of Gareths lease and bills showing his address at our time of meeting

Copy of mapquest showing that we lived 8 miles apart (haha)

Then also sent the stuff to prove ongoing just in case
cards, engagement ring stuff, wedding dress stuff, reception hall stuff

So yeah hopefully that does the trick!!! I was in the Uk as of 2004 but met Gareth November 2006 through a friend which we put in intitial package...

Happy birthday Cecile!! So cool to hear you started the beginning of your new life.. sounds really exciting

Chicago is definitely a place where I want to go soon! I will let you know if (and when) we decide to go!

Thanks everyone for wishing me happy birthday so far everything is just perfect (well ok, if it could be less than 80F outside when I wake up at 7am, it would be even more perfect, but what can we do...)

So Cecile what did you guys end up doing for your birthday? Where did you go to eat? Details lady!!! Also what all have you done since getting there? Again details....well maybe not all...well unless u wanna share for those of us a bit hard up at the moment that we have to live vicariously through others heehee.....

Whose special someone arrives to the US next?! Or should I say who on here goes next?

Well I finally got plane ticket number 1 for the interview in Kiev - great price on Luftansa, only problem is I arrive at 1:30 am. Not much to do in Kiev at that time of night but wait for O.'s train to arrive at 6 am. My new office looks out over O'hare airport and every afternoon I see the big international jets land and take off. Soon I'll be on one of those. Can't wait.

Can't believe that I've got the ticket and the apartment all set, time is moving fast. Wedding planning is moving ahead, this is definitely the last time I do this!

I heard a lot of talk about August 8 weddings - anyone got one?