Reasons why we got married in Jamaica

1) His mom could be there
2) His friends could be there
3) The paper work is over when he gets here and we can concentrate on just us
4) I could also plan the date I wanted to get married and I always had wanted to get married on my birthday. Yes call me crazy.
5) I could get my dress ordered in time and my bridesmaids gown


We rented Summerhill villa that had 9 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms near Rose Hall in Saint James parish. 17 guest flew down to stay at the villa for the whole week. We had 14 newbies to JA so they had a blast and did the tourist thing. We had a small wedding of 50 people. I did hardly any planning for the big day. Thanks to Elizabethhenrey for giving me a wedding corridantor. The best 500 dollars we ever spent. She did everything and it was wonderful. You can tell that Mrs. Barrett reall enjoys her job. I wouldn't change the way I went about my wedding

My dad was wonderful and paid for the whole thing. I am blessed to have the best dad on earth. That is cause he is mine and treats Dwain like his own son.

We will have a USA reception on August 11th renewing the vows. A pig roast on my aunts farm. We will have a dj and at night we will have a bom fire. I have everything prepared so far but the cake and minster. My friend is a minster so he said he would do it. I just need to call. It wont be as pretty as Jamaica but this is are cheap 2nd wedding. We will have around 300 guest and Dwain is suprised I know that many people. It should be a blast.


Pam save travels on the way down to pick up your man and congrats again on finally recieving the visa

Good God! 300 guests! Girl thats like a wedding for the rich and famous. It sounds absolutely wonderful though.

Your reasons for the JA wedding are pretty much the same as mine, sans the birthday thing. I want to have a US celebration too, just wasnt sure if it would make sense being a year off the first wedding date. But after hearing your idea it sounds pretty good to me now. I'm not planning much, this time around either cause the JA fam is doing all the work. God bless them. Just gotta get my dress and show up. LOL!

Hello Ladies,

Wow, was it quiet in here today Where is everyone? I'm just at work as usual. Same s***, different day

Still hard to believe I'm really preggo Am I supposed to feel different? I don't feel anything!

Hey Guys!
We are finally about to file out I129F!!!
I am glad we waited.
ANYWAY, My real question is I am a teacher and have about 8 weeks off this summer. I am planning on visiting my fiancee for at least one week and realized that the flight is the most expensive part so..why not make it worth it???!
Well, I know that I read somewhere that you are only allowed to visit so long without a visitors Visa..so, does anyone know how long I can legally visit him?
I have looked and cant find it, but I am sure it is somewhere!
Thanks guys!

Well, whenever I visited JA they would stamp my passport with a date about a month from when I arrived. That dates tell me how long I can legally stay in Jamaica. I think if you need to stay long you may need a visa. I sure the USCIS website has all visa information for US citizens traveling to other countries.

Six months without a visa.

Ironically, it is 6 months at a time. I know someone who sometimes flies back to Miami, just to touch American soil, and then flies back to Jamaica.

I am getting married in the hometown of my SO, actually i'm getting married in Sav la Mar, but I want to have some sort of ceremony when he gets to the States, so I am looking for examples of what others have done.
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I got married in JA in Oct but it was very small. It was in front of two witnesses (Javon's sister and his brother-in-law). No one knows we are married except for them and my sister and her husband. We decided to keep it low key b/c of the drama that surrounded us when out I-129f petition was denied. We're going to have a bashment/reception in JA before he leaves for both our family and friends that are still in JA. Once he arrives we're going to do the "dream wedding" here in front of family and friends. It's hard keeping it a secret esp when my mom is asking me daily what's going on, but we figure this was the best way for us. Our first priority is immigration right now so once that is done we can plan anything we like.
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We got married at the State park about 3 minutes from where we live. If you can get on our group yahoo site, I have pictures posted on there. It was absolutely beautiful and VERY romantic.........small and quiet just the way we wanted it.
It was just me, Craig, my son, my friend that performed the wedding, her boyfriend and then another friend who took pictures.

We were planning on going back this July (that's the only month "off" from soccer -due to my sons crazy travel schedule) to do a big bash. We're beach folks....so that's where we want to renew our vows....right on the beach at the hotel where we met. It won't be happening this July since we haven't filed for our AOS yet. We're going to *try* for next July.

I am getting married in the hometown of my SO, actually i'm getting married in Sav la Mar, but I want to have some sort of ceremony when he gets to the States, so I am looking for examples of what others have done.
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My husband is from Bluefields.....is your SO from Sav ?

It was to expensive compared to normal USA weddings here with the church and reception hall.

The USA one on my aunts farm is free. My cousin is free to cook the pig. All we need to do it buy one pig. I have a friend who is a cater for half price. I know a farm boy who is a dj so we get a deal. My friend does cakes so its half off. Minster is free he is my friend. My flowers will be cheap my parents use to be florist. It is really about who you know and finding great deals. I am all about bargains. It will be like a college reunion for me and then add some of Dwain's friends he met through my college after I graduated we should have at least 10 year spand of EC college alumni and students.

Wish I was rich and famous



Dwain's best friend is from Sav. Wish we could go to his wedding but it is the same day as out USA wedding.

Yes 6 months is the max. I am a teacher and the longest I stayed in the summer was a month. The heat was killer. Have fun and pack a little fan in your suitcase !! My hubby hogs the fan so I brought my own small battery operated box fan it can also use a cord. He kept it when I left and uses it. His mother can't wait to have his fans when he leaves.

Thanks for the encouragement, the waiting is more painful that I imagined, plus the phone bills argh!!

Maybe the slow down is due a flood of applications caused by the rumored raise in the processing fees.

No not yet....it's still really soon. You may start feeling tired and if you are "oh so lucky" to have morning aka all day sickness...you will "feel" pregnant...trust me! From then on it really gets rolling. Just relax, get as much rest as possible and enjoy your pregnancy! I enjoyed every minute of each of mine!

I never knew there were a timeframe. My daughter stayed for a few years and my sister stayed for 3 yrs until she returned and got married.

Definitely bring a fan...and bug spray At least where I was the bugs got 100x worse in the summer months.

If you are staying for longer than a couple of weeks be prepared for some *interogation* through customs/immigration. I stayed for 5 months and they grilled me pretty good. I stood my ground and was truthful but they definitely asked me TONS of questions and I had to give them a name and number of who would be my *care provider* while in JA. I think they had a hard time cause I was younger and single, a girl and I wasn't staying in a resort. Just be prepared...oh and be prepared to show that you have the financial means to stay for your length of time...that was a HUGE one for them. They even told me if I hadn't printed out my savings records and gotten a written statement from my bank that they wouldn't have granted me so much time. Again I don't know if they were just having a bad day or if that was the norm...but it did happen every time I stayed for more than a couple of weeks.

Wow the longest I ever stayed was almost a year and I didn't have to proof anything, but then again my tickets always says 2 wks. We would buy tickets for two wks but can stay as long as we want (up to a year) and pay $100 to come back on stand by. We always flew on Charter so maybe that's why.

Do they have any sort of JA citizenship/residency? How long ago was that? Maybe things have changed since then...I don't know but I do know that 6 months is the max and it has been that way since 2002'ish.

Don't they stamp a time frame in your passport? Like "granted 1 month" or "granted 2 weeks"? I was always given a stamp with my *allowed* time. If I needed an extension I would have to go to the embassy or somewhere to extend my stay. I never had to do that but I have heard of others doing that. I know they checked that stamp as I was leaving. I once had an agent do the math because I stayed til the last day possible and she told me I was "lucky I didn't stay later"...hmmm wonder what makes it such a difference between our experiences

I stayed past my alloted time stamp one time and had no issues.

I know a gal who lives in JA for 6 months of the year and in Connecticut for the other 6 months. She has never done anything but travelled. She cannot work in JA. That is her limitation.

I had another friend live in JA for 4 years. She had to get a visa from the embassy.

No I don't I'm a USC. For me it was a while back but for my sister is was the other day. She lived in JA from 2000-2003. Came back for a month then went back and stayed for another year. One she came back in 2004 then her husband came up on a visitor visa and they got married. I think it was different for her b/c she was at family and my parents home. She just had to provide both addresses but didn't have to proof any financials. She wasn't working and only went down there w/$100.

ok..so now I am confused
Is it 6 months that I can stay? or not that long?
The date in the passport says like a month later or something and I want to stay 6 weeks. does anyone know where I can find the "official" information? a website or something and I cant find it on ther USCIS website either.
I just need to start making preparations and want to plan accordingly.
Thanks!

They have been just doing that recently (within the last few yrs) and a lot of times they won't fill that part in. And if they did we overstayed anyway. I really think it's b/c we have family there. They don't really trouble us but who really knows.

You can stay for 6 weeks



I stayed for 5 months without any *real* problems...I was just saying be prepared for some extra questioning if staying for long amts of time...You should have no problems at all with staying 6 weeks

Thanks so much!
I think we will be renting a little house there, so what would I tell them the address is?
Marsh actually lives at his work (manages an inn) and that just wouldnt be appropriate to stay there and renting a house is cheaper.
Last time we did that I just said on the paper that I had reservations @ the inn he works at, but I think if it were for 6 weeks that they would question that b/c it would seem to be fairly expensive? I dont know. what do you think?
Thanks!

Hey family!!!!

I don't know if anyone has tried this (mobilecaller.com) but i got 541 mins for $20.00. You can register your house phone and cell phone. My hubby has alot of friends and fam back in the yard and this really cut my bill 75%.
Hope everyone's having a good day.

I went to JA last July...NEVER had they given me a time frame but now the rules have changed. They stamped 3 months in my passport and said if I needed more time I would have to go to the embassy

I'm not sure on the website but 6 wks is fine. You won't have any problems.

Well the apartment hunt is over Application was approved this morning I have never lived in an apt in the city so it will definitely be a new experience

Congrats on the new apt!!

congrats! It's good to change things up.....try the city for a while

Thanks guys! It is such a great feeling Move date is May 4...anyone want to help me pack

Good evening....i'll help you if you help me

Congrats

I didn't know you were moving...when? where to? I bet you have TONS more to pack since you have kids...I will have to think about this one

We are moving to our house May 1 so you help us and we will help you!

We plan on moving this summer...maybe we can help out each other....if we didn't live in 4 different states

You are moving too?!? Where are you moving too? Got any pics?


Where are you moving too?

You know I have been thinking about this for a while...go with me on this one...

We should create a VJ community...acreage we can all build our houses on near enough to each other that all the men can do their guy things and us girls can be friends in person...what do ya think Now if we can only agree on a location

Congrats on all new pending moves. I still haven't fully unpacked since my move last summer .
Downsizing- ugh

Congrats on all the moves!

Nobody has replied to my last post yet

Well, I sent an email to the Kingston Embassy and they told me I only need to submit the I-134, my W2's from 2006, my filed taxes for 2006, and an employer letter.

That seems too easy!

Input?

Wow..we only need 2006 one year? That would be wonderful!! I'm not worried about the income part of this file.

That is all that is needed from you. The other forms, DS156, DS 157, DS230 all need to come from Marlon. Plus all the other information he has to provide, ie..police record, non-impediment, medical, passport pictures new letter of intent, from you also. If I were you I would have your 2005 and 2004 tax copies with you. Better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks!
I am confused though about the sponsor thing. Does my sponsor need to submit the same that I do? And I remember from not too long ago on this forum about a K1 interviewee being required to submit an I-864????
Man I am confused!

No he's actually from Negril, but the church his family found is in Sav. Its larger than their negril Church.

Congrats to all those moving I know what it's like to pack and I hate it

No work for me tomorrow *yay* so hubby and I can finally have two days together and start the planning for the baby. I have a feeling it's gonna be a girl (or maybe that's just wishful thinking ) and he says boy...I'll keep ya'll posted.

Questions:

Interview???

1) Do I need 2006 tax forms? We had to file an extension due to getting Dwain and ITTN number. Should I email my tax guy and see if he can send me the records he filed for us? Or will I be okay with 03,04 and 05. All 3 years I have made well above the 125 percent poverty line.

2) Do we need to dress nice we are a T-shirt and jeans couple and don't really like dressing up and I hate to wear make up in JA cause it just melts off.

3) For all past interviewers how long did the interview take?

4) If our interview is at 12:15pm how early do we need to show up at the Embassy.

5) The most important question of all where is the best place to celebrate and get dinner after he is approved?

I am praying he will be here for my nieces Birthday party on May 26th. Hoping that this is a realistic goal.

Thanks for all the support and help along the way.

Jax

1. I would definitely try to get some sort of tax info for 2006 - it's better to have at least your W2s for 2006 than nothing at all.

2. I didn't attend in Kingston with hubby, but he wore a button down shirt, tie, slacks, and "shine shoes"

3. His first interview was under an hour, the second one was even faster because he just had to show birth certificate to get approval (if you go to Embassy Reviews, I believe a lot of Yardies - myself included - have posted our interview experiences there)

4. Not sure what the standard is now - hubby was there about 1.5 hours early (from what I remember him telling me)

5. In the bedroom!

Thanks Joneise Nice bedroom LOL I am an

Okay I just emailed my tax guy for my W2's and extension letter let me pray that he has time to get them to me next week.

I have read everyone's wonderful interviews and am prepared. Sometimes I forget the time frame because I have been on here so long. My brain is popping a few fuses at this moment. This is happening at the end of the school year were everything is on over load.
Good luck with all of the moves coming up. All the best with packing. I can really say moving is so tough.

I am fretting about moving one music room from the fourth floor of the school to the mobile unit outside. Worrying about are we going to have enough storage if not I need to organize the garage with work items.

In the US maybe we could start our own base like the military and have jobs for all of us on the base. Wishfull thinking and instead of little China town it could be called Yardie village.

Wouldn't that be nice or maybe a vaction village in JA and we could go once a year.

Rhonda have a great night at work . Did you watch that show I think it is called "Notes from the underbelly"? I thought it was funny last night. A good show to tape and watch if your prego. So are you going to find out what it is before hand or have the baby be a suprise?

To all the preg ladies will you choose to breast feed your child?

Everyone have a fantastic night and TGIF soon thank goodness.

Take Care

Thanks Myisha So far I'm just really moody and emotional And I have to make frequent trips to the bathroom And sore mammaries. Ok, yeah I guess I do have some symptoms

You will also need the DS-230, DS-156, DS-156k, and DS -157. You'll also need a few weeks worth of check stubs from your job. And of course, the police certificate, medical completed, his long form birth certificate, and non-impediment to marriage form.

I hope this answers your question

My opinion is YES It always looks more professional and like you actually made an effort. We didn't dress up too formal - I wore a sundress and sandals and Tony wore dress pants and a polo shirt. "Dress for Success"


Maybe Jax will be the next one to end up Preggo