He did everything in the order I said he did above. He scheduled his appointment with the doctor FIRST for the 24th at 10:00am. Then he called up the x-ray clinic and they asked if he could even get to Amsterdam before his appointment. He said 'probably not', and they told him to come afterwards.

I've -told- him that this doesn't add up right and doesn't sound right, but his excuse is 'they have done this a thousand times before, they know what they're doing'. It doesn't put me at ease at all, especially as everyone else is telling me differently.

I've also told him to be well prepared for having to get his vaccinations done there. To be honest, he's being a bit of a snot about the whole thing, because I'm questioning what is going on and he doesn't want to change things.

*sigh*

Arazia.....he doesn't want to call the xray clininc again just te be sure? Well, maybe they are doing things differently now, but from all the stories I have read about people doing the same thing they all have to go to the xray clinic first and then an hour or so later they have the doctor's appointment.....then again, like I said, maybe they have changed a few things.....

Em&Ed... That is what the x-ray clinic told him. It's too late now to call them again as it's too late there and they aren't open and tomorrow is the appointment. I'd prefer if he'd come on and explain himself rather than me answering for him, but right now he's refusing to do so.

I don't know what to say or do. He has confidence that everything will be fine and that the doctors know what they're doing. I guess I'll update when I actually have information on how it goes.

Pieter went to the XRay appt first and to the medical after, and that was last month. When he called to schedule the medical exam for 9:30 AM, at the doctor's office they told him to call and schedule the XRay to be done at 8:30 AM (one hour before the exam)

Not to make you worry Arazia but, I would have him to double check that before going all the way to Amsterdam...

Good luck and hope everything goes fine!!

No way to do so. He has to leave for Amsterdam before they even open in the morning.

Arazia.....well, I do hope things will go ok for Harry tomorrow! Good luck!

Arazia,

Let's stay positive! Maybe they are not as strict as we may think about the order of appts.

I wish Harry good luck!

Well, just to update folks...

Harry had to re-schedule his medical due to a bad train accident. Essentially, the train right infront of his (note this: this is the train he -would- have been on had he had his x-ray prior to the medical... so at least that's one good thing to say for doing things out of order? Maybe things happen for a reason.) got into an accident and he was stuck on the train behind it for a few hours. He rescheduled the medical and the x-ray. X-ray is tomorrow at 9am, and medical is tomorrow at 10am. He's going to stay with his Aunt and Uncle who live near Amsterdam (I think?) for the night, so that hopefully there aren't more train issues tomorrow.

Arazia,

Wow... How amazing was that, good thing that he was not on that train! It's great that he could reschedule that quick his medical. But most important, thank God he's OK!

Good luck tomorrow!

Harry's re-scheduled medical went okay. He warned the doctor in advance that he had a fear of having blood drawn and of needles (as well as having a form of anemia), and asked to do the blood last. The doctor insisted on doing that first though. By the end of the exam, he was shaking and had really high blood pressure and heartrate because of it. The doctor apologized and said he should have listened and done it last.

Harry still isn't feeling well, but at least that part is over.
Eighteen days between now and the visa interview.

I talked with my parents about the schedule of things, and right now (pending everything goes okay) it looks like this:
First week of March - Harry Arrives
Third week of March - Get SSN
Early - Mid April - Courthouse wedding

I have to work out with my parents when to have a wedding reception, they are paying for it and actually know how to schedule things like that, I haven't a clue. My best friend wants to throw a wedding shower but I'm leaving organizing that up to her. I also have another relative getting married this spring, so we somewhat have to work around that, and my parents going on various trips. Gotta love your marriage playing second-fiddle to everyone else. Oh well. Bad timing.

Arazia.....good to hear Harry's medical went ok.

I just received an email that my AOS case has been transfered to California. Fingers crossed I am going to be one of the lucky ones who gets an approval without an interview!

Have a good weekend all. I am off to Daytona for the 24 hrs race there.....racecars....vroom vroom

Arazia & Harry,

Glad the medical went well and everything keeps on rolling. It's good that you guys already have plans for so soon!

Hey Em&Ed: Have fun with the vroom vroom!!

Pieter and I still don't know when he'll be arriving, therefore, no wedding date yet. I'm OK with that, we decided not to rush things because he has too much to do on NL yet.

Have a nice weekend everybody!!!!

Hugs,

edi

stress is getting me more and more. Saterday I had a meating of a meilinglist and it was a goodbye thing for me as well. Not that we meet each other often, but they specialy did it for me. They made me a beautifull scrapbook with pics of one of my creations and pics of our first meeting. And everybody wrote something. And of course I started to cry. I started to cry by looking at the cover only.

Yesterday I had a realy bad day. Saterday was emotional and such and I had a party in the evening as well, so it was all a bit to much. I payed the price for that yesterday. But today I am still emotional and such. It was my last morning at work. (only worked 2 mornings a week)
This afternoon was the last time I had tea with one of my friends. And I am realizing for a lot of things that it is the last time I will be doing them here, and with my friends and that makes me sad and emotional.

Sure I am looking forward to be with Andrew and I know what I am doing it for, but still it doesnt make it any easier.

So 10 days and counting. Saterday Andrew will arive here and next week will be crazy.

Jac

Em gives Jacky a -kom op he- hug! I know these are tough days, but in the end it will all be worth it! I went through the same things, doing stuff and realizing that it was the last time I would be doing them with friends or family or go the places for the last time etc. Just enjoy the last 10 days, don't be down about it (too much), but just enjoy it!

Hello! How is everyone?
Jac.... I know this must be very difficult for you. I am sorry you are struggling with those emotions. I know this is not an easy adjustment. Hang in there. When it is all said and done things will work out fine. My thoughts are with you.

Edi and Pieter....any dates set yet?

Em and Ed........any news yet from the CSC? I hope things get through there speedily for you!!

Arazia and Harry...... wow! It is amazing how things worked out the day of his "first" medical. I am glad everything worked out the way it did. Good luck with the upcoming interview. If I am not mistaken it is about a week or so after René has his interview.

René and I are counting the last 7 days down until he goes for his interview on February 6th. I am so nervous. You wait and wait all of these months for that day and when it approaches all sorts of things begin to pass through your mind. I think I am more nervous than he is. We have everything ready though!

Best wishes to everyone!

Mel

Hi all .....Just a quick update from me. Finally some good news again..... my EAD has been approved! Yippieeeee!!!!! Hopefully CSC will move quickly on my AOS case as well, but for now I am just glad that I will reveive my EAD card and that I can finally start working!

Jac,

I hope you are feeling better, I can imagine how you feel.... But a new life awaits you, and please don't think is the last time you'll be doing things with your friends, there are the holidays to reunite! Wow a couple of days left before you arrive so enjoy those days. I wish you the best!

Em,

Congrats on your EAD, that's grrrreat!

Mel,

Wooooo René is almost there for his interview! 5 more days! (Nervous, eh?) I remember when Pieter was having his interview I was more nervous than he was

We still have no dates, Pieter still has a ton of stuff to do! We are considering if I go to NL so we can share some time before his move and maybe travel together to the USA... More suitcases for him to use... But we are still thinking about it...

Hope everybody is doing fine!

hugs,

edi

hi edi,

I am doing kind of ok. Tomorrow andrew will arive so the last and hardest day we will spent together. And 6 more days till we fly home.

-hugs-

Jac

It's really nice and soothing that Andrew arrives tomorrow to be with you on these days. Pieter asked me to go to NL so we can spent the last days with his family and then fly together. I really want to go.

Good luck Jac, I hope everything goes fine!!!

hugs,

edi

What is stopping you then.

Hope he gets everything rounded up quickly here so you can be together.

-hugs-
Jac

Just a quick update.....I received my EAD card in the mail today and to my big relieve, my first name was spelled correctly on it.

I got a letter from MSC last week saying my case had been send to CSC and on that letter my first name was still spelled wrong. I called the service number once again to tell them that they are still spelling my first name wrong even though I called them about it straight away after getting the NOA1's in November. The guy I talked to told me he didn't understand why no action was taken after my phonecall cause he could see I had called and all and he told me he would send them an 'urgent' email about it to finally correct their mistake and woohoo, they finally did (and it onl took them about 2 months to do so.....)

Hello all! Tomorrow is the BIG day! René has his interview at 1.30pm his time, early in the morning for me. Less than 10 hours away. I hope I can sleep tonight. I am so nervous!! I will post tomorrow with news.

Arazia, Henry's interview is coming up soon isnt it?
I hope everyone is doing well. Wish us luck!

Mel

Mel,

Congrats, I remember that day, when Pieter called me to tell me he was approved, I was @ work and just wanted to run & leave!!! Good luck, it will be a breeeeeze....

Keep us posted please!!!


Em&Ed,

Congrats on receiving your EAD card! Glad it had your name spelled OK, I am hoping they don't change Pieter's first & last name to something else

Hugs,

edi

Mel .....how did Rene's interview go? Kept my fingers crossed for you guys so hopefully it helped.....lol

How did I miss this thread?! My fiance Thijs is in the Netherlands so I hope you guys and gals don't mind us pulling up a seat in this thread. We just got our NOA1 in the mail this week so now the waiting begins.

Give us some good news Mel!



Hello Elena & Thijs!

Welcome to the Netherlands thread! Hope you have a speedy process

Hi all!

I am Dutch, my husband is American and we received our firts NOA last week. It appears we now 'just' have to be patient

I spend last weekend reading this entire thread and enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks to everyone in this thread, specifically, for sharing their stories. It already helped me LOTS!

Hello everyone!!! I am SOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!!! Our visa has been approved!!! Oh my gosh I can hardly believe it. We are so happy. Now we can finally be reunited and not have to say another dreadful goodbye. Thank you all for your well wishes and support. I am so excited I am having trouble typing this!

René said the officer that was assigned to his interview was very nice and asked only 4 questions. He did not ask to see any of the evidence that he took with him. That was it and he was approved!

Mel

Mel!

OMG that's wonderful!!! Congrats!!

He must got the same officer as Pieter did, he said that he was a very nice guy, just a couple of q's and no evidence was asked for. Very easy.

Now to the next step, and no more goodbyes!!!

hugs,

edi

It seems like the US embassy in the Netherlands is one of the 'easiest' embassies when it comes to interviews (yes, I've read some of the embassy-reviews). All the better I'd say!

Right, as Elena said, just got the NOA1, so it'll be a while until I can see for myself.

I think it is indeed one of the easiest consulates to go through. I didn't get any questions at all, I got more questions from a talkative securityguard than from the interviewer lol.

Congrats on all the newly approved, I'm free of paperwork for another year when I start the lifting of conditions/citizenship process.

Yay!! Congrats!! I hope you can be together soon!

Mel and Rene ..... Congrats on the approval!!!!!

Elena and Thys & Erica .....Welcome to this thread!

BUMP

Hi all! So much good news!!!!!
Congratulations, Em on your EAD!

WHOO-OO Mel Congratulations on the Visa approval

Great news on Harry's medical, Arazia--not long now!

Welcome to this little piece of the Netherlands Erica, Thijs and Elena ! Hope your "journeys" are speedy and hassle free!

As for us-we have been very busy since the wedding in December. We completed the AOS stuff in Dallas for DORA. Mark bought a truck- ( all he needs now is a cowboy hat and gun rack in the back window and the "Dutchman to Cowboy" transformation is almost complete ).
He also negotiated a contract pending with his new employer ( to start as soon as he has the EAD in his hands), running around doing various administrative stuff like health insurance, bank accounts...etc AND he is also building a patio on the back of our house!!!!!!! BUSY BUSY BUSY but very happy!

Well I must sign off now--
Good Luck / take care / and congratulations all round! It's so great to read so much good news!

Keep on keeping on, all!

Michele & Mark

Hi Michele ..... Good to hear that you guys are busy! Has Mark received his greencard yet? I was wondering about that since you said he is waiting for his EAD, but I thought that once you have a greencard you no longer need the EAD. Or maybe I am just mixing things up here.

Me, I am having a nasty cold right now, but I did manage to go to a few temp job agencies around town. Hopefully they will give me a call back sometime next week!

Hi Michele!

It's great that things are going so good for you and Mark! Did he already buy a cowboy hat?

Jac,

How's everything? I hope you had a good flight and everything is going OK

Arazia & Harry,

Good luck on the interview! It's pretty easy and the CO is great

Erica,

Welcome to the NL thread!

Em&Ed,

Sorry about your cold, get well soon!

I hope everybody is doing well and stay warm. It's really cold here in Missouri brrrr...

Hugs,

edi

hi edi,

flight was long and exausting. I still trying to adjust here, but things will be ok.
I am happy to be with my guy and he is a big suport.

-hugs-
Jac

Welcome to America--Jac!!!!!

Em--Sorry you have a cold
Mark has not received his GC yet--even through the DORA program it seems to take a while. Anyway, just as a type of "insurance", we also applied and paid for EAD at the same time as AOS ( just in case our AOS got stuck in name checks or whatever mess USCIS makes of it), so Mark would at least be able to work. The EAD should be here any day now and as far as the DORA AOS they say within 90 days of the interview ( yeh riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight )--either way as frustrating as it is we are well within the processing times....so I guess it's wait wait wait again!
Good Luck with the job applications!

Edi--I don't think I could PAY Mark to put a cowboy hat on!!!!

Hope everyone else is well-take care!

Michele.

Harry's visa was approved!

Here's a write up he made for me of what happened (slightly edited):

Anyhow! So I go the the Museum-plaza, like... one hour ahead of time. (Before this I had started to get anxious as hell, thinking I forgot something. Did not of course, I 100-checked my checklist thingy)
Anyhow, I did three rounds around it (Plaza), as there was nobody at the Embassy gate yet. But after 15 minutes, I decided to go there anyhow. 45 minutes to wait. Someone else walked up to me, some lady, who apparently also had to be there. And then... people started to arrive. And with that, THE WHINING! People from KLM whining that they can't go inside before their appointment (2 'O Clock) Whine whine... Americans this.... whine whine... Americans that.
Let's fast forward to 2 minutes pre! A girl came who also came for K-1, and rang the bell. People would come up. So we wait... wait... wait.... yep, they arrive at 13:30, just at the right time! So I take off my precious phone and MP3 player, and get to go on to another door (still outside! They detected for metal under a 'tent')

Then I go into a room where they ONCE AGAIN detect for metal. This time I have to give up on my MP3 player and phone, I get a receipt to get them back. Number 18. Okay, cool. Whatever.

So I go inside and have to wait in a comfy warm room. There's a TV with CNN on. I sit in a chair and talk to the girl a little. She doesn't give much away. I talk too much. XD
I wait, soon I get called to a little window with the number 5. A guy checks stuff with me. Afedavid (I never write that right) stuff, sign this please, birth certificate, proof of money-transfer. Okay, you done. Wait till you get called.
So I sit back, same room. I thought that the interview would be in like an office, seperate room or anything.
A little later I get called for, I walk up to the little window next to number 5... number 6 thus.
A guy talks to me. Where'd you meet? Internet. A lot of people meet through the internet these days huh? Yeah. So what made you want to marry with her. *blabs for 3 minutes why me and Arazia are perfect for eachother...* Okay... I can see you really love her. Okay. Oh, what's that necklace? "Arazia?" It's my fiance's nickname. "Okay... right... well, I'll be glad to tell you that you are approved" (Then some boring yadayada about what I should and should not do. Things I already knew. And Zia too.

Then the hard part starts..................
GETTING MY STUFF BACK!
There was a freaking line outside twice as long as a bus!
So I wait for an ungodly time, get my stuff, and leave.

Congrats Arazia and Harry!

I am so happy for you both, that must be such a big relief to finally get the approval! Yaaay! The NL interviews are really easy, it's just awesome.

Congrats again!!

edi

Arazia and Harry .....Congrats on the visa!

Harry , gratz on your visa

Thankies ^^

YAY!

Another happy story!





On a related note: has anyone seen the announcement for the new Net 5 show Grenzeloos Verliefd?

Dun watch Net 5 that much. Soooo.... nope.

Congratulations on the visa, Arazia and Ranmaru!!!!!!

congrats, congrats, congrats!!!!!!!! its a great feeling, isnt it???


soon, all of yall will get to feel it!

UP

How's everyone doing?

Congrats Harry and Arazia!!!! It is an awesome feeling!

René and I have been busy with wedding plans etc. My mom and I have been busy planning the details! His parents will be flying in for the wedding and staying for 2 weeks. It will be there first trip to the USA. We are all very excited about the upcoming wedding. I hope everything is great for all of you.

Mel

Hoi!

Mel,

That's awesome that René's parents are coming to the wedding! When is he arriving to the US? Pieter thinks that his mom and bro might come too and also stay for two weeks, but's still on the talks.... He's still @ NL taking care of everything, still so much to do!!!

It seems like our wedding will be on early June, I'll let you guys know when we have a real date Woo!

Hope everybody is doing fine!

Hugs,

edi