~July 2007 K-1 Filers~

[rae_and_scott 1]

Rae - glad to know I might have some company - getting really itchy feet now and want to move!!!

Ha, I bet you are! I can't imagine having gone through a wedding ceremony and then having to be separated. I think that's why we didn't go the K3 route; being married and physically separated was just really unappealing to me. But then, I don't mean to say that with discouragement; at this point, we are all so much further in this process, it's not as bad I think.

Except that Scott still has not sent our P3.

[teachmehistory 0]

Hey Guys, just checking in to report that our AOS check (OUCH!) was cashed today so NOA's should be on the way soon!!! I am soooooo hoping for a smooth and hopefully quick process, but will keep posting with any little tidbits of advice that might be useful to others as I go!

@Aly - congrats on getting P3 off! hope your interview comes soon so you can just relax and get ready to move!

@Rae - am I reading your timeline right??? you've had P3 since December and its not been sent back yet??? everything okay or does Canada have some weird thing that has held you guys up??

@Debz - WELCOME HOME!!!! glad to hear flight went well will be looking to see how settling in goes for you. I hope you love it here!

@Julez and Gillian - have either of you filed AOS yet??? How's it going stateside?? I just saw on the March AOS files thread that DDKM (from the UK forum - was going thru interview same time as all of us) just filed too!

Update on my hubby: Matthew is doing really well. I thought for sure the homesickness would hit him something awful, but he is just really happy. Says that this is what he wanted and while he does miss some things from home, he would change nothing about his journey or his choices. He is a house project task-master while waiting for EAD. I already own a home here in Seattle (got lucky to buy at the right time several years ago and just rented out my basement to a roommate before until Matthew moved over) But we are getting it ready to sell this spring. So he is landscaping, painting, etc. to put it on the market and hopefully we will buy one that we pick out together this summer, to be our 'family home'!!! I am sooooo excited we went out looking last weekend and saw some lovely homes in our price range that just make me want to put up a Christmas Tree and set up a nursery I am 32 (just turned) and am feeling my clock ticking TICK TOCK (luckily hubby feels the same way!!!) We are so ready to try for a baby, but want to be completely settled and moved...............one more hurry up and wait! story of my life.......

Hope all is well with everyone and good luck on all of our continued journeys!!!!!

Sara

[Jeraly 4]

Hahah - yeah well I've been holding off but because I am not leaving until 30th June I am in no rush really - it will justb e nice to have it all dealt with so I can focus on the move and the UK reception.

It has definitely been hard going through the ceremony then having to leave my "husband" (hate using "" but know it is to "protect" me ) behind but I think that under our personal circumstances we have been very lucky and done everything we wanted with very little compromise considering our rocky and naive beginning!!

I think that when we started going through all this I wasn't ready to marry - I was freaking out about it all really and by the time I went out in February it just seemed so natural that it was the right thing to do I think the time apart has really helped us - I think with a K-3 you really do have to take a leap of faith - there are some who have spent a lot of time together before getting married and then K-3 but I am sure there are plenty of people who got married at very short notice as well!!

[rae_and_scott 1]

@Rae - am I reading your timeline right??? you've had P3 since December and its not been sent back yet??? everything okay or does Canada have some weird thing that has held you guys up??

Hey Sara,

You are reading it right. We have indeed had our P3 for 3 months. It was ready to be sent back 2 months ago but then we went through a major relationship crisis. Well, to be perfectly honest, we broke up. Now we are back together and have lost some time and need to get back on track. It's been a shitty winter.

Glad to hear your hubby is doing better though.

[Jeraly 4]

Sara - it sounds wonderful!! I can't wait to pick out a house - it's a pity we will have so much time on our hands when we *aren't* in our family homes that we will be in for a while so we can "nest" - we will be renting something small but I am hoping to make it a bit homey - I can practice for the real one

PM me your AOS details - I'll try and scrape them together from your timeline as well - am trying to be vigilant with our AOS spreadsheet but it is hard maintaining both!!!

[Jeraly 4]

Aww Rae - at least you managed to work things through though so every rose has a thorn

*hugs*

Let's hope spring is better

[teachmehistory 0]

@Rae - am I reading your timeline right??? you've had P3 since December and its not been sent back yet??? everything okay or does Canada have some weird thing that has held you guys up??

Hey Sara,

You are reading it right. We have indeed had our P3 for 3 months. It was ready to be sent back 2 months ago but then we went through a major relationship crisis. Well, to be perfectly honest, we broke up. Now we are back together and have lost some time and need to get back on track. It's been a shitty winter.

Glad to hear your hubby is doing better though.

Rae,

I am sooooo sorry you have had a rough time. Glad to hear things are looking up for you, but there is no shame in admitting when things are tough - it happens in every relationship, whether they have to endure USCIS or not. Not to mention that moving country and starting over completely is a HUGE sacrifice for both people, and can really be scary and add stress. Marriage is wonderful and crazy at the same time. Kudos to you for taking the time to figure it all out. Remember that you have a judgment free support network here if you need it

Sara

[rae_and_scott 1]

Aww Rae - at least you managed to work things through though so every rose has a thorn

*hugs*

Let's hope spring is better

Thanks Aly. Things couldn't get any worse than they did, so yeah, spring should definitely be better.

Rae,

I am sooooo sorry you have had a rough time. Glad to hear things are looking up for you, but there is no shame in admitting when things are tough - it happens in every relationship, whether they have to endure USCIS or not. Not to mention that moving country and starting over completely is a HUGE sacrifice for both people, and can really be scary and add stress. Marriage is wonderful and crazy at the same time. Kudos to you for taking the time to figure it all out. Remember that you have a judgment free support network here if you need it

Sara

Thanks for your words too Sara, they really help. It does help to know there is support here; I guess that's why even when things were horrible I kept lurking here.

But hey... provided our P3 gets sent (!!!) we are actually looking at being together in just a few short months. That is a very positive thought.

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

I need more, dammit!

I´m not sure but I think in Oregon they might have more

[teachmehistory 0]

I think that when we started going through all this I wasn't ready to marry - I was freaking out about it all really and by the time I went out in February it just seemed so natural that it was the right thing to do I think the time apart has really helped us - I think with a K-3 you really do have to take a leap of faith - there are some who have spent a lot of time together before getting married and then K-3 but I am sure there are plenty of people who got married at very short notice as well!!

Jeraly,

Just remember to listen to your heart ALWAYS! take it from someone who didn't for a long time (too long)!!! but then when I finally did, it was the best thing ever and totally changed my life. I literally turned my life upside down when I met Matthew (on a fluke, while waiting for a taxi) with nothing to go but a feeling in my heart and gut that he was meant to be my life partner. I took a lot of flack from a lot of people for having the courage to follow my heart - even had some friendships get rough for a while because people thought that I was crazy to leave my comfortable little life and move abroad on a wing and a prayer! I took 6 months off work, rented out my house, finally finalized my divorce from my ex-husband that I had married in College - too young, never truly loved, and had been separated from for 2 years - but many thought we should have 'worked it out' - we were both so relieved to just be done with it. Still are good friends today and are both soooooo much happier now. We were always trying to shove a square peg in a round hole, so to speak, to make our personalities, lifestyles, wants, needs, etc work together. We had just been dating so long that getting married seemed the right thing to do back then. The scariest part is that I knew, somewhere deep down while walking down the aisle that I was making a huge mistage - even then. I just wish I had had the courage to admit it outloud, but I was so caught up in everything I couldn't bear facing my doubts in public. It upsets people when you act out of character. I do honestly believe we know deep down inside of us when something is right or wrong - we just don't always want to listen

Hopefully by June you will be feeling nothing but excitement and confidence. There are always scary parts, but if you know the path you are on is the right one for you, then you can take on anything and work it out. I want you to know that I have always been grateful to you for being able to admit on this forum that things aren't always perfect in relationships. I think people feel a lot of pressure to pretend everything is just great when going through this process because it is such a huge undertaking and commitment. But at the end of the day, we are all just human, trying our best to make the most out of our lives.

Sara

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Where abouts are you?

I´m almost half way between L.A. and San Francisco. Visited San Diego last year - it didn´t rain there, it was hot

[rae_and_scott 1]

Sara your words are so right on!

And yes, I've also appreciated any time people admit things are not perfect. Another instance that pops into my head is StP talking about how this is a country she doesn't even want to live in, b/c that's how Scott feels too.

I appreciate all that all of you guys have to say!

*hugs the July bunch*

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Yay!!! I just got an e-mail from Debz

I'M HERE!!!!!!! The journey wasn't altogether horrendous. POE at chicago took 35mins from landing to clearing customs. Spending today sorting stuff out. Nick at work just now. Does feel great to finally be here.

Debz

I am so jealous/excited/happy/hyper/mad

So come on - who is hanging back til the end of June with me!?

Glad to hear you made it Debz

Btw, why don´t you wanna get here earlier than June. I mean, now your interview is gonna be pretty soon me thinks so why not fly out earlier?

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

I may very well be. No clue how long Montreal will take.

So why does it take so long in Canada anyways? Are there just that many applicants that they can´t process people faster? In Prague, they sent me Packet 3, I received it and called them back (since we don´t even receive Packet 4 so that one will always be a mystery to me) and I got an interview in a week from then. So that was fast...

I need more, dammit!

When are you flyyyyyyyying?

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Well, to be perfectly honest, we broke up. Now we are back together and have lost some time and need to get back on track.

Sorry to hear that (F) Glad you got back together though Stay happy