Congratulations!!!

Cecile, if you message me your address I'll forward on to you a whole packet of stuff (vows, proceedings, etc.) that you can look through and basically craft the type of wedding you want - it has contemporary/non religious options also. Might be fun to look at. And thanks for the word on the sequence of events for me. I hope we don't run into any issues.

I leave tomorrow on my European excursion that will end with my returning to the US with Olga and her son. I am so excited about bringing her back I can barely concentrate on anything else. It will be amazing when the CIS agent says "Welcome to the US" - something I've been dreaming about for over a year. I think I've got everything tied down at this point, except the invitations. I am going to hand deliver them when I get back - that's what happens when a man plans a wedding.

Sunny, Congratulations on getting that interview time - Gareth will do fine. This waiting thing is almost over for you, I'm so happy for you both.

Court - Congratulations on the Wedding!!!!!! Victory at last

You can always tell a Michigander - they don't appreciate St. Louis weather . July is brutal, only surpassed by August. Very hot and humid, so if you plan to have your hair "up" or curled or whatever, I recommend you shoot towards May or first half of June.

Well I'm off in a few hours to go to London, Prague and Kiev. When I return I will have Olga and her son with me. I am so excited I think I'll be a blur for the board meetings , so I hope they don't expect me to be very intelligent. Wish me luck and I'll write when we are all safely back home.

Have a good trip Blake! I am very happy for you and Olga

Hi everybody!

Well, I am finally back....
I missed a lot of news....so Congratulations to Sunny!! Interview date in less than a month!! You must be thrilled!!!
I am late for Blake, but I still wish him a good trip! he must be so so happy to bring Olga and her son back with him.
Court, congratulations too on your wedding!!
Cécile, I am sorry to hear that immigration messed up! I am really hoping you will get news soon...

Well, my sister and brother in law just left the usa. There were the only ones to be able to come to my wedding.
Our wedding was awesome!! That is the best day of my life so far....
A lot of stress 2 days before!!! but on the wedding day, I didn't care anymore on tiny details! I was just so happy! We almost had some rain on our wedding day, but it did turned all right (was pouring rain all morning long, but the wedding was at 3 pm).
For my other sister (she is 8 months pregnant), we had her throught Skype with a good webcam, and that way they were able to be there too!! It was just awesome, everybody loved that!!

I am now almost done with the AOS papers! I wanted to enjoy my sister being here, so I left those parers on the side.
I just need to do my TB test, and then I will send the form to Dr Arnold. I also need to translate my birth certificate, but I live "in the woods", and even in the closest big city (1h30 drive away), I couldn't find a french interpretor. I am guessing I will have a friend of mine sign it for me (she is Canadian), I hope I will not get an RFE just because of that!! After all, this is just my birth certificate!!!

Well, I thought I would share some pictures I have from the family. Still waiting the ones from the photographer.

....well, I don't know how to put some more...
I will try to put them on my page later on!

Pam u looked gorgeous!!! Cannot wait to see more! Maybe upload all into flickr or some site like that and then just share the link? CONGRATSSSS

Once again, congratulations to you Pam!
For the birth certificate, you can do it yourself as you speak both French and English. At least that is what a lot of people here on VJ said, and it is what I am going to do. So, what are you doing exactly on that picture, pouring sand in that vase? I don't know a lot about traditions... but I am curious!

Hello there!

Congrats to those who got their interview dates!! what a relief! you finally see the end of the dark dark tunnel !

Blake, have a safe trip!

Pam, you look gorgious! I hope to see more photos soon!

Here, I'm still working on AOS paperwork. everything is almost done. Exept I still don't really know what to do for the medical part, the vaccination? does anyone know? DO I need to see a doctor again?

I also worked a lot on the preparation of the wedding for next year! It's lots of work to do! but we finally managed to set a date for July 6th! the most difficult part was to find a catholic priest! there is only one catholic church in the area! The reception site was quite hard too! there are not that many around, and all the dates for next year were taken. Only 3 dates were left! phew! we were lucky on this one!

First of all, congrats to those for who congratulations are in place.. I haven't been here since a while and I'm too lazy to read it all back (sorry hehe).

Blake, a safe trip to you! (i did read that haha).

Pam, nice looking picture!! (I did see this too.. hmm now I wonder if I really am that lazy lol)



lol, its in the faq/guides There is no need to see a doctor in the US if you have been to a doctor in your own country for the K1

Hi all just a quick question that prob has been answered but of course skimmed over it as didn't feel I needed to know the answer at the time hahaha!

Anywayyyyyyyyy when do you get a SSN? Do we apply for that as soon as we get married and if so how long does it take to get? I am wondering as far as getting Gareth on my insurance and also for him to get a MI drivers license etc.....

Thanks!!!

VJ says that you should go to the SSN to weeks after the foreign fiance arrives in the USA (or later, of course). if you go before, Gareth will probably not be in the system yet. So it's better to wait.

If you are not married yet, you have to bring the passport+I-94, and maybe another piece of ID in case they ask for it and the form SS-5 from the SSA website, but I think that if you don't fill out prior to go there, they will make you fill it out while you are over there so it's no big deal. As you said that you would both change your name (I'm not sure how that works, I guess that you need to see that with the recorder of deeds first) I would guess that Gareth will need to go there after the wedding to change his name, he will need to bring the marriage certificate.

If you are already married, you need the same documents and the marriage certificate for the name change.

It usually takes 2 weeks to receive the SSN/card. If you are unlucky like me, it may take longer

Also, some people working at the SSN apparently have no idea what to do for K1 visa, so you may want to print the document RM 00203.500 to show them that he can get an SSN. (cf. the link below)

Everything is explained on this guide: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=ssn


We waited until we were married to go there, so we would not need to go back to change my name. So we went there a month after I arrived.

Thanks for your answer Cécile. I guess I will just translate my birth certificate on my own (saving myself time and money).
About the vase, it is something pretty new (so I don't think it is like a tradition here ), I saw that many times last year, as I was assisting the wedding coordinetor at the resort where I worked at.
Basicilly, you have- the unity ceremony:you have 2 candles and a bigger one in the middle. The bride and groom light together the middle one, symbol of being together as one. I never cared so much because the candle is not light "for ever", and if you do an outside wedding, you do need to be careful about the wind,etc.
- the sand ceremony: you have 2 vases of sand (who symbolise you as individual, with your past, your family, friends...), and a 3rd vase who symbolise the new couple. As you're pouring the sand, the judge is explaigning that :"The life that each of you have experienced until now, individually, will hereafter be inseparably united, for the two shall become one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be. "
When I first saw a sand ceremony, I thought it was really neat, and what I really like too, is, it is something you can keep all your life.Your flowers last usually for a week, your dress is going in a closet..... so I like have that vase with our wedding colors in our place. You also can engrave it, so on ours, there is our names and the date. On the 2 seperate vases, they is our name as well.

You can get an SSN before the wedding, as long as you wait 2 weeks after Gareth arrival's.
In my case, I waited to get married to apply for my SSN. Like Cécile, I didn't want to apply, receive my SS card, and one week later, to have to change the name and apply again.
Now, if for some good reason you need his SSN before the wedding (like for the insurance), it is a different story, and I would apply before. Me, I didn't need a SSN so badly except for the AOS papers, so I was able to wait for it.

That is really neat!!! thanks for the info, I think we will do something similar.

Thanks Jeroen!! I didn't see this tip before! it's weird that the USCIS asks for vaccination again in their AOS guide, but we actually don't need to !
I will ignore it then!

About SSN, I asked for it 2 and half weeks ago. and I still don't have it. They told me it will take 2 weeks for me to get the card in my mail, but in fact it's not true. I called like 3 days ago, and the lady told me that it doesn't take two weeks actually. It takes two weeks for a newborn american baby, but as I am an immigrant, it need to go to the homeland security office too, so it will takes 4 to 5 weeks!

I can't wait to have this SSN number, cause I want to start to take driving lessons! it 's quite hard to live in the US without a car! I'm just stuck at home!

You look wonderful Pam, how wonderful. Thanks for the well wishes.

I'm in England right now and will be leaving for the Ukraine on Friday morning. Theoretically, Olga arrives on Saturday and we fly out together at noon on saturday. I say theoretically because nasty ex has been spotted lurking about. I wouldn't have any concern about that, however, the border guards can disallow Olga from taking her son accross the border with her at their own discretion, even if the father has no legal rights by court order and all documentation is correct. He's probably looking for some cash, but I'm getting worried. I want the drama over, with and Olga and her son with me and safe. and I'm friggin stuck here in England for two more days before I can get over there. Aarrrrrggggghhhhh!

Say prayers, cross fingers and toes, count beads or whatever - Man, I hate drama.

Blake, I hope everything will be fine! Two more days of nightmare and then hopefully everything will only be a bad memory!

Don't worry Blake!

Only few more days and the drama will be over and you will finally start a brand great new life with Olga and her son!

Hey, I have a question:

We are about to fill out the AOS paperwork, and we are confused about whether to put the married name on the documents or the maiden name. What steps do we need to do to apply with my married name? Do I need to update my french passport? Do I need to update my visa? Or can I apply for my AOS with my SSN under my married name and with my old passport and visa?

I think that everytime they ask you your name, you put your married name. It doesn't matter what your passport and your visa say. It is how they did in the example forms on Visa Journey.

Congratulations to Boohbah on her fiancé's successful interview and to Pam and Josh on their wedding!

Blake, I shall cross my fingers and hope that you encounter no further problems in your visa journey. Here's to a safe entry and lovely wedding!

Hello after another long protracted absence.

Blake is going to be able to say 'I told you so' now. I was just speaking to my mother and she has finally come around to the idea of Alex and me having a small courtroom wedding as soon as possible; if only she'd said so earlier! I am very tempted to cancel my ticket and book an earlier flight. I'd lose money on the ticket but save money on the wedding. Anyway, I have yet to speak to my father, so we shall see.

Alex is finding it very hard what with me having limited internet access and not having seen my face or heard my voice in such a long while.


I missed this! Congratulations!

Aww cool Rachel hope you are able to get that earlier flight now!

Gareth and I also have decided against a formal ceremony and are pseudo-eloping at a nearby Bn'B that will also serve as a 3 night honeymoon for us. We are still having a party/reception on the Saturday after we get home though So far our dates are set for wedding on Nov 18th (this is darn near close to exactly 2 years from when we met! Also the 18th just has special meaning to us) then our reception will be on Nov 22nd. I am getting so darn excited and we are even sending out Save the Dates to warn people of short notice invites headed their way LOL. I will attach on here. I designed myself on a web program then had them printed onto postcards by vistaprint which they should arrive anyday now weeeeee

Things are coming together more and more but also makes us that much more nervous for upcoming interview and of course POE! We just pray and keep fingers crossed all goes smooth as possible!!! We have been through enough!

PS I did tweak the invite a tiny bit from this for example it no longer has the "http" at begining of web addy so there is a bit more white space

Wow Steph, this "save the date" postcard looks lovely!

Thanks took me maybe 10 minutes haha! I used scrapblog which I also use for digital scrapbooking! They have so many different styles to use for soooo many things! I also have used them to come up with different logos for us to use on some stuff at our reception (yeah I am a dork haha).

I'm not into scrapbooking, but if we can make nice things like that on Scrapblog, I'll definitely check it.

Blake and Olga (and her son) will be reunited in a few hours!!! I'm crossing my fingers for you Have a safe trip and please let us know how things went.

Yes! I really hope they have a good journey.

Sunny, I love the design of that card, too. And hurrah for finally being able to set a date! I'm a little envious that you have a date with meaning, but you deserve it after so much hassle!

I spoke to my dad after writing my last post and as he has forked out over £3,000 on plane tickets for my family to fly out there at Christmas he said he was jolly well expecting to see us get married for that price. Which is what I'd expected he'd say, and is fair enough! So I'm sticking to my original plans.

Very cool Rachel and so amazing they are all coming for you!!!! Gareth I think is quite sad that no one is coming from England but again that is why we decided to elope in a way and have it videoed (which we are doing ourselves as we just couldn't justify cost of videographer when we could buy our own cam to have and play with haha!). So hopefully we will figure it all out and be able to even post online for you all to see

I am getting soooo excited as more wedding supplies come in the mail each day it seems and each day brings us closer to the interview! under 20 days away now for that to happen!!! If all goes smooth he will buy his plane tickets night he gets home from interview!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Blake hope the reunion was just fantastical!!!

I am sitting here in Kiev and wondering if Moses had the same thoughts. WTF!!! I received an e-mail from Olga (through her sister). She is in the country at her aunt's house (no cell coverage) saying that she has a "problem" and cannot make her flight. I told her to go to her aunts because of her ex's appearance on the scean again. This was last Thursday. I received word from Olga on Weds that she was essentially freaking out. I am still in Kiev, this is sunday, and I honestly don't know what to do. I cannot talk to her nor receive real e-mails - just disjointed words. She said she will be back on Monday/Tuesday, but I can only stay so long. I moved my tickets to Tuesday when she said she would be back from her Aunts. After all this time, worry and effort.....time to go get a beer I think.

Anyway, I am addressing this with patience, hope, and love. The same things that got me through the last nine months. Cecile, Rachel, Chantal and evey one who's ever had to leave their homes, families and friends to journey to a new land knows that this is not an easy thing to do. Patience, love and hope. My new mantra, along with pass the nuts.....

Knock, knock. Please may I come in?

Your prayers and wishes are all appreciated.

Hi Blake,

I am so sorry to hear that! I was so hoping to hear great news from you...
I hope you're still holding yourself together!
Yes, leaving your home country with family and friends is not such an easy and simple thing to do.
Maybe, it was easier for me because I already spent 2 years in the USA and almost one with my husband before our wedding. I cannot imagine what it would be to meet someone in my home country and coming in his country knowing I don't know anything about it!
I am not in her head, but I think love will let her do the right move... She probably never left her country, and also bring her son in a total different culture with different traditions...it must be a huge transition in her life!
She must be "nerve wracking" (if I say it right!), and need a little more time to make sure it is the right choice to leave everything she knew since she was a little girl...
At the same time you did travel a long way to bring her in her new life with you. You must be very frustrated right now, and I know that not being able to talk to her is not helping at all!!
I don't know what else to say instead that I am truly hoping that she will follow her heart, and understand that she will have such a wonderful future with you.That moving with you will bring her so much! (and you said she will be back on tuesday,isn't it?)
I don't believe in God, but I have many many thoughts for you! and I hope that we will hear from you soon!
Like you said, keep faith!
I sincerely hope the best for you Blake!!

Wow Blake, that's a big shocker to say the least. I was hoping to see a post about how great the reunion was and how immigration would have greeted her into the States but this is a bit the opposite.

The hardest thing to understand for me is that she didn't come to see you wherever you two were supposed to meet so you could fly to the States but that she is in some place with no cell coverage and no real emails. You have no idea of how she is at the moment, she basically left you in the dark as for now. I seriously hope she is ok and that she will come tomorrow or tuesday (better be tomorrow). I can seriously not imagine how this must make you feel, all I can do is hope and pray for the best for you and her.

It is indeed a very hard thing to do, to leave your country, everything you know, your family and friends and so on, for a complete new environment, sometimes even at the other end of the world. I hope she will turn around and that she will be with you real soon.

I wish you all the best Blake!

Blake, I hope this problem will be solved soon! I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Thank you, and thanks for the PM's. I'm more concerned about Olga at this point and hope she has been able to calm herself and reach some clarity. We were just together a couple of weeks ago for the interview so I know this isn't about a change of heart, it's about a change in home. I am positive that all will work out fine, and I've been able to keep my frustrations in check.

Whether it be tomorrow or next week or the week after, she will come and we will be together. I will probably move the wedding back, however, as it is just getting to be too much for me to deal with alone at this point and my focus should be here instead. We've had enough stress around these parts as it is.

Oh wow Blake thinking of you both and hoping she does make peace with her decision and go into your loving arms!!! I cannot imagine what is going through both of your minds! HUGS

Hmm.. tuesday... two more days and I'm actually in the plane towards Michelle.... gawd, I'm sooooo nervous right now, I'm actually seriously scared for a lot of things right now and am wondering if I made the right choice and all that... bleh, I don't like this feeling and then on top of that is it a gloomy day today so that makes everything double as depressed :S



Also, I was wondering Blake, did you get any news from your fiancé yet? (and yeah, it's a bit weird to ask this now while I just described how I feel but yah, I am kinda curious).

Hope all went smooth Jeroen and Blake I am thinking of you as well!!!!

Both of you update asap!

yup I'm waiting for the updates as well.

Thank you for your thoughts Sunny.

Everything is coming together. I will update everyone when I can as I am just back in the US and very busy and very tired. It'll all be ok, of that I am confident.

Jeroen - congratulations man, I'm so happy for you. JUST DON'T MISS YOUR FLIGHT

*hugs* Blake! So sorry to hear of your problems. I hope it all ends happily and I'm glad to see you're remaining so positive! You've been a rock for many of us.

Jeroen - you'll be fine! Hope the flight is not too stressful.

I think, well, the worst that could possibly happen is that it doesn't work out and then you're back at square one, but you'd kick yourself forever if you didn't give it your best chance!

One good thing about living with my parents...it's making me jolly well determined to get through things with Alex, because there is no way in hell I want to come back to this!

Hiya ppl.. just a quick note to say goodbye for now.. its 6am atm *yawn* and in about 45 minutes ill be leaving for the airport.. cya all again when I am at the other end at the world

Have a safe flight!

Oooh Safe Travels Jeroen!!!!!

Have a safe flight Jeroen!

And Blake, I hope to hear good news from you soon!

I finally sent all the AOS paperwork to immigration last Tuesday. I hope to get a NOA soon, so I can start taking driving classes and be able to go wherever I want by myself!

Thanks, flights are being rebooked and a new wedding date is being set. I don't want to go into too much detail as this channel may be monitored. When Olga is safely here I will tell the long version.

Ugh, sounds like a real nightmare! I hope it ends for you soon.

Jeroen, I hope you had/are having a safe flight.

Looks like it is a long, long journey for you Blake!
Well, I am really happy everything will be all right. Can't wait to hear your story, and I hope you will be able to be with Olga real soon.

Jeroen, I hope you had a nice flight! and that you enjoy being with Michelle!!


I am hoping that I should be able to send my AOS packet next week or so...
I went with Dr Arnold to fill my I-693, and I am waiting to get it back so I can send everything.
I will be sending the government a nice check! it is crazy to think how much money we put into that process!
Is it a crime to be in love with an american person?
Well, don't pay attention to me, just needed to vent here.

Hiya pplz!

Well, I'm here writing this on the first morning from warm and sunny Hawaii with my fiance Michelle next to me

The flight went pretty well, we had turbulence over the North Sea for about 15-20 minutes, it was pretty heavy but oh well, after that the flight went pretty smooth towards Minneapolis/st Paul.

When I arrived at MSP, I was within 5 minutes through the immigration, she only asked two real questions: How come it says on the petition you dont have any kids (remember I told you guys that we made an error on that? She actually noticed it haha), I explained and since I wasn't going to file for her it was all ok, and the other question was when we would marry, well since it is the 20th of October, it was no problem. I told her she must have been a fast reader since she was going through it so quickly on which she had to laugh, all she basically did was to make sure it was all there, no other questions were asked and I was welcomed in the US... great experience and fun to see all other passengers standing in the customs lines still while I was already waiting for my luggage haha.

I grabbed a bit on the airport and made my way towards the gate for Seattle and Honolulu, we had a nice smooth flight to Seattle, I met some people there whove been to the Netherlands and actually spoke some Dutch too, amazing.. we arrived an half hour too early at Seattle so I had to wait there 30 minutes longer (duh) for the stopover to Honolulu (it is like getting out of the plane, wait till they cleaned it and get into the same plane again lol), after about 10-15 minutes of take off we experienced some turbulence over the pacific which lasted for a long time, I am unsure how long it was but it was very long.. then I got off the plane in Honolulu and found out there were actually two other Dutch guys on my flight lol, can't get rid of the dutchies haha and then it was on to my fiance

I can tell you, it was very very good to see her finally again after such a long time

I am really happy you are back together!!
I also remenber how good it was to just wake up next to your loved one, after such a long time apart.....and knowing that you don't have to worry about being apart again!!
Well, congratulations! one part of that long process is over for you guys now!!