Are you glad you did it or would you do it differently?

[Captain Oates 911]

Edited to say -- is that Alan, everyone's favorite hedgehog, back in these parts?

Return of the hedgehog ! lock up your sensibilities !

I changed my name to protect the guilty but I am undone....

lock up your Continents - I am at the door once more !

What is the record for the number of petitions ? I am on 3 - actually the immigration lawyer I first went to said he had a client who had imported FIVE Russian fiancés !!!! I know he could not do that now, but that guy must know his way around a petition form ( and Russian ladies too)....

At least I am still on my first bird haha !

alan

Edited January 11, 2007 by saywhat

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Would not have changed anything! The hardships of the journey brought nothing but strength and determination. We look to it often and just smile.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

I think this has been the most amazing process. It's made me stronger and even more solidified in the strength of our relationship that I was when we first got engaged. This is all beyond the fact that we had to find the strength to sustain an LDR the whole time. I just feel like, after this start, we'll be able to take anything marriage, life, our children will hit us with.

If I had to do it again, in a heartbeat. I can't imagine life without Craig, and we always knew that me going to Canada just wasn't the right option. He was ready to leave his town/country, and I was ready to find some stability in mine.

That being said, I'm not even halfway through the whole thing yet, so ask me again when he has his 10-year green card.

Cass (bebop the great)

[Bootylicious!! 2]

Even with us filing a waiver and all that added to our journey, plus other non-related visa things that occurred while Javier was in Mexico, I wouldn't change anything. I don't know that I would do it again if something happened to myself and Javier but I wouldn't undo what we did. I think it made us stronger and it really made me realize what my life would be like without him in it. I might have moved to Mexico if his waiver had been denied but I wouldn't have chosen to do so instead of him being here. I definitely think we made the right decision in getting him a visa to live here.

[CarolineM 0]

As I was reading everyon'e responses I was thinking about what I would write...and then I read this:

I would do things over again *exactly* how we did them. Aside from the fact that I love my husband very much and would remarry him, this relationship has changed my life in many ways, all for the better, given me adventure and a home abroad, and I think the visa process was a great learning experience -- I feel like if I could organize the visa and greencard and pull that off successfully, I can probably pull off anything. Granted, our visa process was smoother than many other couples', but my POV is that tackling something as hard as a US visa is a confidence-booster and learning experience. Also, it's given me a new perspective on the government ...

And this sums it up EXACTLY for me.

Like Karen, my Visa Journey was VERY simple...finished in basically one day. Now, that doesn't mean that we weren't ever apart, or missing eachother...but everything happened just right. I wasn't READY for what we have when we first met...the timing was perfect...

EVERYTHING Karen said resonates with me!

[Thingee 0]

I haven't been on the via track that long, but we have been carrying on over 2 years long distance, and know we face about 6 more months apart.

No, I wouldn't change a bit of it. It's made me much stronger and more confident. It's made both of us much more mellow. Our communication skills are wonderful...well you get the idea. I wouldn't even move forward the 6 months much. He deserves the time to say good bye to people, places, and things he loves.

[Chris-n-Veronica 0]

Veronica and I have talked about this...

If something happened to us... I wouldn't look for another so far..

But for her and our Big Love as she calls it...I would wait another year... with visits of course..

I wouldn't change a thing... Not in this lifetime..

[Michaela_Hassan 1]

I'd have done it the same. Do I wish I had never met my husband and fallen in love with him BECAUSE he comes from another country? No way. What I have with him is very special. He is worth every second of frustration over the immigration process.

I'm with you on this one. I would do it again with Hassan any day.....but this time I'd get my own citizenship sooner so it doesn't delay the whole process...lol.

Michaela

[Ladylethal 12]

Appart from the anxiety or how long it took, the stress to gather everything, trips here and there to gather docs, the and fees (which are rather high) our journey went smoothly (putting behind the IMBRA fiasco that left us without knowing what was going on for so long). So it's not 'cus of the journey that I'd change things, but just 'cus I've recently arrived and I miss my family and sometimes wish we had done things the other way around, and stayed in Brasil instead. I miss my country very much.

[Mags 112]

Appart from the anxiety or how long it took, the stress to gather everything, trips here and there to gather docs, the and fees (which are rather high) our journey went smoothly (putting behind the IMBRA fiasco that left us without knowing what was going on for so long). So it's not 'cus of the journey that I'd change things, but just 'cus I've recently arrived and I miss my family and sometimes wish we had done things the other way around, and stayed in Brasil instead. I miss my country very much.

Damn, now I feel sad!

[irishgirl73 1]

I will admit that although most of our "journey" hasn't been a smooth one, I have never felt closer to my man. I go home now & just for a split second I think back to the days when I was hanging on by a thread, and realize that EVERY second of pain was worth it because I am with the greatest man ever.

Do I wish it could have been easier??HELL YES!!!!!!

I mean in reality-all of our lives are put on hold while some case worker decides if we are in legitimate relationships-it is a crazy process, but for me it has been completely worth it!

My man misses home-his friends & his family but for us-this was the best thing to do. I told him that I would move there in a heartbeat if he wanted me to-guess we'll see!

Edited January 11, 2007 by irishgirl73

[isleta521 5]

Wouldnt have changed a thing!!!! Oh I almost forgot, Yes, 86 the imm lawyer.

[Ladylethal 12]

Mags, are you saying you agree with me about missing our countries?

[dougyceci 0]

Interesting responses, all very personal. For me, have no issues. I have been traveling and dating in other parts of the world for over four years. I finallly fell in love and married. While my process has gone smoothly up until now, I know it is going to get much more difficult when my wife finally makes it here. She never had any desire to meet or marry a "gringo". But it happened. She never wanted to leave her country. I also know how much she will miss her country and family when she arrives here, this scares me. Ask me later, would I do it again? My feeling now is I would prepare myself financially and I would be the immigrant. Those are our plans for the future anyway. Would I fall in love again. IN A MINUTE. But it would be me leaving, not her. Good luck to all.

[MPGGPM 0]

Knowing what you know now (no matter where you are in the journey) would you do this again? Would you sponsor someone to come to the USA or would you do things differently?

I would have done it a hundred times over......and more so....if that's what it took to be with my wife.

I have no regrets.........even through all the ups and downs and burdens that we faced...and are still facing.....it was about the smartest decision I have ever made. (and there probably haven't been too many of those