Aliengirl - Congratulations on the approval!!!!

I'm also thinking about going down for his interview but unsure about traveling with a young baby, baby is due 7/10 if he has a late august interview should I go down? I'll be on maternity leave and my son will be out of school. I told him I wouldn't bring the baby with us to kingston and he said his mom would keep the baby, I was at her house last week and she lives in the country and I was getting bitten by something even though I had sprayed myself with OFF, so unsure what to do. I wouldn't mind if she came to his house

any thoughts?

Now, funny thing is, was wondering if we could by any chance file for AOS since I get there 10 days before the new fees come in, and whether it's worth trying to.....

My due date is either Spet 14th or 16th lol.......

As for visiting, hmmmmm.....
Way I was brought up, if someone was in town, they'd stay with you. No matter how small your place was, you'd offer.
Well, I suggested to my finace that my sister could come and stay with us after I have the baby for two weeks, his reponse was that we don't have the space and two weeks is too long!!
I was pretty shocked, I regualarly visit friends in New York and Florida and often spend a MONTH with them!!
But how I'd do it is buy groceries, cook and clean while I stayed with them...They've never had a problem with that, in fact they are always cussing me for not coming more often....My girlfriend in Florida has 3 kids and last time I stayed for 3 weeks she had a two bed apartment, never thought anything of it, we had a BALL.
My fiance on the other hand has been brough up always having a guest room or two, kids all have their own rooms.
Again, he says his family would only come and spend a maximum of a week, and even that's kinda long....When his mom goes to visit his sister, she stays in a hotel, I would be SCANDALIZED for anyone to say they were coming to DC to see me and have to tell them they had to stay in a hotel....But he's pretty firm about this, so guess hotel it is
Really got to me though, because that's not how I grew up.....

So the end to that rant was that no, would be no point to my sister coming when I have the baby

Going to DC/MD...Will be weird at first not knowing anyone there, but I know a couple people from various messageboards that live nearby....I have 4 really good friends that I grew up with who live in NY, so that's comfort at least!!

Thank you

I would happily travel with a baby of a month old, only thing is worrying sometimes is the air pressure on the plane, but what you can do is breastfeed the baby while the plane is taking off and landing....
Why wouldn't you take the baby to Kingston with you??
As for mosquitoes biting the baby, it might make the baby uncomfrotable but would be extremely unlikely to be anything more than that...Again, you can get really good mosquito nets for babies, maybe one that would go over the baby's car seat and use that for the baby to sleep in.....

yes..Johnson & Johnson also make a bug repellant for babies it worked for my daughter i took her when she was about 2-3 months...but as she got older for some reason the same thing didn't work




Oh ok...not too far from Ny can still hook up with friends..I wish I had some of my really goor friends here with me from JA

I started traveling with son at six months and would just pop a bottle in his month during landing and takeoff

wouldn't travel with baby to kingston because I wouldn't want the baby around all those people while waiting for and during the interview. People have a tendancy to want to touch baby faces. and my son got a nasty eye infection when he was less than two weeks old which never went away and ended up in him having a blocked tear duct and needing surgey when he was 16 months old due to people touching his face. So now unless I have clean hands, I just look at babies and say how cute they are.

I dont' even want anyone coming to my house until this baby is a month old. I probably sound paranoid but I just remember mucus just coming out of my son's eye all the time. not a pretty sight.

I'll look into the johnson and johnson wipes and I saw a bouncer that has a net that zips up so bugs couldn't get in.

You know, most people in JA feel the same u do believe it or not..they do not touch baby faces, hold them w/o a blanket....don't bathe them certain times of the day...don't bring them out they r pretty good with that stuff...It is here in the US that i find complete STRANGERS wanting to touch ur baby. I had this one lady caught the biggest attitude b/c I told she can't put her hands in my daughters face..I have a phobia of dirt and I almost flipped on her touching my baby face..must be out of ur mind

And another thing the J&J thing is a liquid not a wipe...

thanks everyone!!! mike is a much happier camper that things are starting to roll along!!

just took Cham to the vet....he has gained a pound and the Dr. said he is very healthy..make me feel so proud

I will be soon going to the airport. It is so werid to see that he changed his myspace page and says he lives in IL now. My dad really wants to go with me to the airport. He said for me to call him so he can get out of his boring meeting at work and he will say that it is something urgent to come with me. I am amazed the flight is actually on time. Who would of thunk that for Air Jamaica.

Hubby was saying he was going to crash and die today on the plane. Because they have an air Jamaica crew but not an Air Jamaica plane and he really wanted to fly Air JA. I asked him what kind of plane he siad he didn't know how to say it. He calmed down and relaxed. I can't imagine my first big plane ride at my age. I have been a world traveler since 6 yrs of age. So we are off to buy Crispy Creams for his arrival. My mom wanted me to stop by her house tonight but we have a full schedule so we will see. I think Dad wanted to take him to IHOP since that is the first place he wants to eat at in America.

Have a wonderful Thursday night everyone!!!

OMG! Have a wonderful evening and eat some Krispy Kremes for me! Be sure to tell hubby welcome home from all of us!

Welcome home Dwain!!

OMG!!..welcome home...I can't wait for the day !!..I am so tired now....he's doesn't understand how mad I am at him for the one thing I asked him to do (quit smoking) thought drug test was a joke..but enough a dat >>.

WELCOME DWAIN !!!

I am thankful that Dwain doesn't smoke and takes me very seriously. It took a while to understand how serious but we were just kids at the time. Now my mom called and she wants to go to the airport too. Were all three going to get him wow I can't believe my parents want to go pick him up What a wonderful support team they are for us showing us true love. They have been married 35 years. Alright its time to hope on the road. Thanks for all the welcomes I will let him know.

Not that my husband doesn't take me and our marriage seriously..he very much does...we had no idea of a date and he thought that he could have used "cleansers" to pass his test if he had gotten "time". When u don't realise u have an addiction it's not easy. Most Jamaicans think that they are not addicted or cannot be addicted to weed. Herein lies the "PROBLEM" It has nothing to do with being taken seriously.

Welcome Dwain!!

Welcome Dwain!!



congrats!!!

I would at least wait until after your 6 week check-up to make sure you and baby are ok according to the doc. I'm not sure when and how many vaccines they have to get when they're born. Would it be safe to travel out of the country before baby gets all required vaccines?

That's really crappy. I would be really upset if my hubby told me my own family couldn't stay with us in our home while visiting When I go to Florida, I usually stay with my cousins - last time it was for 10 days. When I go visit my girlfriend in Kansas, I stay with her at her apartment. Her and her husband and baby are coming here in July for 10 days and staying with us. When my aunt & uncle come to Michigan, they stay with my parents. It is definately not a cultural thing. I guess it depends on how you were brought up.

When my friend had her baby, anyone who came over had to wash their hands with soap and rub on an anti-bacterial hand sanitizer before touching the baby. At the time I thought it was weird, but now that I'm pregnant with my own, I'm sure I'm going to be just as protective

Oh, I am sooooo excited for you!!! I hope he had a safe flight and everying is irie. Don't be a stranger now that he's here - we want to know how it goes!!

O.K.

Good morning all. TIGF

Welcome home Dwain.

Good morning and happy friday family!

Jax I'm so happy for you and Dwain!

CONGRATS

jax....so how was his flight???? how does he like things

Hey guys! Such great news with everyone getting to come HOME!! woo hoo!!!
I have some questions. I am getting married in JA in a couple of weeks and applying for the CR-1 VISA. After the wedding I will be in JA about 5 weeks and if at all possible would like to send off the application with my family when they return to the states while I am still in JA. Only, I will not have the opportunity to change any bills or anything and am not sure exactly the best way to prove its a true marriage..any suggestions? We will add my name to his banking account there, but thats about all we will have.
My second question is how long do you have to stay in Ja before you can have a legal marriage (24 hours or 48 hours?)
Thanks guys!!

Getting married in JA all the best. 24 hours until you can get married but I had to file for my marriage certificate 60 days prior to my wedding. You don't need to change any bank accounts to send in your I-130 packet. You just need a certified cashiers check from your bank to send in. For evidence all you need to do is send in a copy of some photos for proof of the wedding and a copy of the marriage certificate that you got that day at your wedding. Change your accounts when you get home. You can use your married name on all the I-130 forms. I still haven't changed my name with Soc Sec. and many other important documents you will be ok.

Hi Shaunna,
He said the flight was long. He liked Subway and love playing the piano last. Besides that we were really tired and I had to get up for work this morning. He got up when I was leaving. I left him my cell phone to call his friends. He called his guy friends here in Elmhurst last night and they asked how the foreign country was. Dwain said great so far. Mom and Dad got a picture of us at the airport and emailed it to everyone that instant with their cell phone. It drives my mom nuts that my dad is connected to the internet 24/7. Dwain was like you emailed it already and to who ahah. Then my mom and dad almost blew the suprise party for him this Sunday. Saying you better rest up for all the parties you are going through but he didn't get luckily because we have 2 to attend this evening.

He has about 100 staff members to meet tonight at the two school parties. One might get canceled it suppose to rain and no free movie either if it rains. I guess we will just explore NIU if that happens.

FYI: Oh just let everyone know you get the marriage licenses and birth certificate back at the airport it was in the envelope. So you don't need to get 3 copies.

you had to apply 60 days before? uh-oh. why?
We didnt know this. We are just going through a local minister. What did you do?
thanks for all the great info!!

When we got married we had to take the certificate the minister gave is after the wedding and then had take it up to RGD and request the official marriage certificate..this was in Portmore...didn't apply for anything prior to our wedding...

I have a question about an item in the packet 3 info that nannygirl82 posted this past Wednesday. I am divorced. Does the embassy require a certified copy of that marriage certificate in addition to the certified divorce decree? Why would they need both? Do I need to get back up to the courthouse for a certified marriage certificate?

whew!!! that was close!! Thanks so much! Thats good news!!


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When we got married we had to take the certificate the minister gave is after the wedding and then had take it up to RGD and request the official marriage certificate..this was in Portmore...didn't apply for anything prior to our wedding...
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I'm not sure about your last question. I asked our pastor when I first arrived and he said that doesn't apply to me b/c I'm using a local address to get married. You dont' have to worry about the name change until you reach back in the states. I haven't changed my name and don't plan to until next year. You can give your family all the necessary documents along w/the marriage cert and a personal check for $190. I used that instead of a money order to obtain the receipt # off the cancelled checks esp since CSC is having problems sending out the NOA1's. All you need at this point is the marriage cert and a couple of wedding pics. I know on the currect I-130 form it's asking for bonafide proof of relationship. Some ppl send and some don't but to be on the safe side have a couple family and/or friends draft up a quick letter from both sides of the family. The pastor in JA can even notarize if for you if he's a JP.

You can also ask the bank for a letter stating both names on the acct. We too have a joint acct @ JNBS and I paid $200 JD for that letter. It's good proof for the interview.

Congrat again on your upcoming wedding!!

Oh yea, I didn't apply for anything before hand as well. I think it's different when you get married at a resort vs a church. Our pastor did everything for us..it was quick and simple.

hey everyone. congrats to alienukgirl, nannygirl, and welcome dwain!

belwin you are so lucky to have such supportive parents! my father is not accepting my relationship and my mother is ambivalent.

i've been reading back on the last few day's worth of posts and i just found out about mega fone too. man i wish it was around sooner. my fiance has borrowed his friends' mega fones to "try it out". he's also heard about how it might be hard to get connected but so far everytime he's used it it's worked just fine. he's going to get one, and then when he moves here he's going to pass it on to his family. i'd MUCH rather pay that fee instead of dealing with long distance.

sjb- to answer your question, my fiance's family is adventist. now they must go to a more contemporary church because she told me they are allowed to wear pants (although i've never seen her wear pants! lol). the issue that sticks out the most with us is the "no pork" issue. they don't endorse eating pork, shellfish, etc. and my filipino heritage is all about pork and seafood! i know of several churches that don't approve of jewelry so i'm not surprised that SDA is like that also.

hhhmmm i am not sure...i know some people on here have been divorced as well so i am sure they can give you a better answer...but i would think they would just need the divorce decree to make sure it is over so you can marry again....but again i am not sure...maybe ask in the K-1 section someone might know there as well

I remember someone saying the previous marrage cert is required at the KNG Embassy (I think it was Texas Bound or maybe not). I'm not completely sure try doing a search on this thread. I dont' think the other K1 forum would help you at this point since you're dealing w/the Embassy. Every Consulate has different standards and requirements.

i did some searching and it looks like other embassys required both...so i would say it is safe then to be sorry and i would take both just incase they ask for it!!!! and i am sure if you post this in either the k-1 section or the embassy section other people would say the same!

Thank you for searching. I knew I would have to come up with this document. The visa journey is an endless paper trail. I am willing to go through this and much more to have my fiancee here with me. Over preparing is a good rule to follow before an interview.

yes that is very true!!

Hi yardies!! We are having a great weekend. Dwain drove today and he is a really good driver. He is trying to memorize the streets. He figured out his surprise party. He kept asking Jason when he was going to get to see him and Jason kept saying he was to busy. He knew something was instantly up so he asked what was going on. Everything is good so far. He just misses his barber and hair hairstyles. He is thinking about shaving his head. We found someone in our town but he thinks 35 dollars is a little to much. I told him not to get it done every week maybe every other week. He called the barber back home to ask what shears he uses and we found them online so we will call the company on Monday. We had one of his Elmhurst college friends stop by today and we played board games. Dwain wants to build a dominoes table. He was already talking about getting a part time job anywhere like Dairy Queen. I told him we could find something better and he said it was not a dream job but he could have a part time job because he starts school in the fall.

We were planning to get married the weekend after I get there anyway, I need to get on his insurance ASAP, and they require you to be married first lol....Have an appointment on the 30th with an Oby/Gyn and need to be insured by then....
I've juat downloaded the forms, will have them all filled out and ready by the time I get there, if the worst comes to the worst, they can keep sending me RFEs!!

Fantastic that he's driving already, that means he'll be able to have some independence!!

Pity about his hair, must have taken him a while to grow it and then to have to cut it off sucks

I feel the same about a part time job, just want ANYTHING to be working and being able to give SOMETHING!!

That's great! Does it seem like a dream that he's actually here now? I know it did for me when Tony first got here. If he's a really good driver, he must be the exception Tony still scares me and he's been driving here for about 2 years now!

It may work! I know they tell you to send the "certified" marriage certificate but we didn't. We sent the one our pastor gave us right after the ceremony and it was not a problem. No RFE or anything. Are you applying for the AP and EAD as well?

Yes its surreal. He needs his independence so we are planning on a car at the end of August right before he goes to school. He wants to be on the soccer team so it will be tough with one car. He eww and ahhs over how Americans have nice cars. He played soccer with my best friends husband last night and Cody said oh boy he is kicking my butt. Anyways its fun so far. I think going to work also gives us some space and were we live he can walk to all the shops and he doesn't understand how our friends spent 6 hours in Walmart. He said wife swap is a werid show who the hell would swap their wife. He wouldn't swap any day .
Right now I am trying to figure out how we can keep his hair. It will probably need to be shaved in 5 years when he graduates because he has decided to study music ed . This is great compared to a police officer. Fewww.

Anyways I rambling . So Everyone have a wonderful Sunday

Good morning VJ family. I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

Damien and I went to see Capleton last night....it was a nice concert. Gyptian is coming in two weeks.

Jax - Damien has hair also. It took forever to find someone to cornrow his hair to his standards but no one will ever compare to his hairstylist in JA.

gyptian is coming! man i'd take a road trip to go see him. he's one of my favorite artists. i've noticed that capleton doesn't get a lot of love when he performs. he was the last performer at sumfest the year before last and everyone left during his performance. and last year everyone was walking around and talking. my fiance says this happens because he teaches too much. i hope he got a better reception where you were sjb.

Jax...glad to hear things are going well...mike said that when her first got here about all the nice cars

I love Gyptian. Damien said his performance was good at the Sumfest last summer.

We didn't plan on seeing Capleton last night. One of my friends gave me a free ticket and Damien decided to go at the last minute. We both enjoyed his performance...we were surprised.

Still dying to hear about your trip!!!

Not sure what everyone else's reasons are, but I don't mind his music, but what turns me off is his lack of integrity...Shouldn't really affect how I feel about him as an entertainer, but for whatever reason it does...
Years ago, he was well up there in the 'slackness' stakes, but then suddenly 'repented' and proceeded to 'bun out' everyone for singing slackness....
Everytime I see him on stage and see him perform, I just see him as a fraud....