ATTENTION JULY FILERS!

[weedebz 0]

always here for a fellow scot...well anyone actually. This whole process is tough on us all. I am having a particularly bad day myself today and calling my fiance in Nebraska in about 5 mins. Chances are you have a better file than me so don't stress...leave that to me. I stress enough for every single VJ member on my own. For anyone else to stress is just a waste!!

[brooksmc 0]

I have been strong in staying away from here because it tends to wind me up. But today I couldn't stand it any longer so I peeked in.

And I shouldn't have. Because so many of us are in limbo. I checked online and nada-zip-zilch. It's very upsetting to see June approvals and then seen posts like from babblesgirl about October approvals.

I'm quite depressed. Need somehow to get spirits up before I talk to the boy. He's stressed enough as it is.

I'm sorry I have to start being more positive. Maybe this will be our week...

Don't apologize, I'm certainly not blaming you, LOL. I am mad at myself for not being stronger.

I just want it all to be done.

[Jeraly 4]

Hey we all have our low moments - CSC seems to have come to a complete standstill at the moment - it really sucks... I've been stressing tonight as well - teary about pretty much everything but putting a lot of it down to hormones and having so many changes all happening at once - I just want to move to Cali so I can settle down and get on with my life even though I know I will find it really hard at first :/

At least when I move I have a visit from my mum to look forward to - I am moving at the end of June and planning on having legal wedding in August - mum is going to come to it so that will be really nice

[bakofoil 27]

I have been strong in staying away from here because it tends to wind me up. But today I couldn't stand it any longer so I peeked in.

And I shouldn't have. Because so many of us are in limbo. I checked online and nada-zip-zilch. It's very upsetting to see June approvals and then seen posts like from babblesgirl about October approvals.

I'm quite depressed. Need somehow to get spirits up before I talk to the boy. He's stressed enough as it is.

I'm sorry I have to start being more positive. Maybe this will be our week...

Don't apologize, I'm certainly not blaming you, LOL. I am mad at myself for not being stronger.

I just want it all to be done.

I was mad at myself for not being stronger too. I'm depressing myself and others too . I just want to see the next hurdle really - NVC to embassy. When things are chopped down into smaller pieces they seem more manageable. We both should be hearing very soon, same NOA1 date, it really must be our time now!

[Jeraly 4]

Just to add to stupid stress though - my PS2 wants to keep sticking when I play a DVD and my 'puter doesn't seem to want to play them using Windows Medua Player at all... you think I can find a decent piece of software that will actually let me play a damn dvd?!?!?!?

Yay! I found one!!

[Seattle2Cebu 0]

odd system they have.. we sent ours in about the same time as you did, and the visa is at the foreign embassy now, we are waiting for my fiance to get her packet now.

I have been strong in staying away from here because it tends to wind me up. But today I couldn't stand it any longer so I peeked in.

And I shouldn't have. Because so many of us are in limbo. I checked online and nada-zip-zilch. It's very upsetting to see June approvals and then seen posts like from babblesgirl about October approvals.

I'm quite depressed. Need somehow to get spirits up before I talk to the boy. He's stressed enough as it is.

I'm sorry I have to start being more positive. Maybe this will be our week...

[weedebz 0]

just had my phonecall to the boy. Now sitting watching MIB2 and drinking a glass of...yes ou guessed it...californian Zinfandel. To lighten the mood, here's a wee story...

3years ago if someone had told me I'd be stressing over an application for entry to the US I would have laughed so hard. I hated all things American from the over enthusiastic customer service to the we are so much better than everyone else we don't even need to know about the world beyond our shores (unless of course there is oil). I was a Scot proud and happy, albeit a Scot diluted with viking ancestry. When I met Nick online in Feb 2006 when he told me he was from Nebraska I asked if that was a town or a state, I didn't even know New York was a state, i just thought it was a city. I explained I come from a Scottish village...his first response was, do you see sheep?...I laughed, there are more sheep in this village than people. He said he comes from a small town, 49k people...I said I come from a small village, 2k people which shoked him a tad. I explained I went through primary school with only 28 people in my year and in high school I "graduated" with 150 others. He tried to explain how flat Nebraska was, I tried to explain I can drive 20mins east and climb a mountain and drive 20mins west and end up on the coast, up until April I can see snow tipped peaks out of my bedroom window, and we have been known to have snow in May!! He said he'd never seen the sea and at that moment having only known him less than an hour..I told him I'd show him the sea one day. I told him I'd never been outside europe but i'd seen 10 countries, he told me he'd show me america one day. We both kept those promises, I have shown him the sea, he has shown me his wee corner of America. Now I'm still a proud scot taking my saltire that has been signed by friends I've met in 11 countries (a few famous sigs on there too) everywhere but now I also fly the stars and stripes (ok its only 1ft across and my saltire is 4ft) and although I know I'll never agree with alot of things that America currently stands for, I have learnt that alot of americans don't agree either...................(sorry STP) it is a place I am certainly looking forward to calling home!

[tucson_chick 0]

@ debz: that's so romantic!!!!!! *sigh*

isn't it amazing how much all of us grew up in the last year!!!!??? we became so much more mature and international and stuff.

crazy enough, we are already making vague plans about moving back to europe in 2 years....

[missingmykiwi 0]

when clearing immigration at JFK you can ask for EAD stamp that will allow temp work permit. This is however only valid for the 90 days. At least this is how I understand things, please someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Yes that is how I understood it as well and that when we get married we do the AOS thing and they grand him a 2 year work permit or lift the 90 day restriction or something like that.

I think that sounds right. Thank you !!!

Christine

[rae_and_scott 1]

when clearing immigration at JFK you can ask for EAD stamp that will allow temp work permit. This is however only valid for the 90 days. At least this is how I understand things, please someone correct me if I'm wrong!

I think it is key to point this out, that you can ask for it, but I do not believe it is guaranteed that you will get it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong as well... but if you are counting on getting that EAD on arrival to the US, I would plan on having a back up plan, because I do not believe it is guaranteed that they will give it to you.

Debz, your other post was really nice to read. On the romantic side, of course, but also, thank you for realizing that not all Americans agree and are proud of what our image in the world is.

[Jeraly 4]

Hmmm - don't know if we will bother going through JFK if it isn't a guarantee... I know Jeremy is worried I am goign to sit around going stir-crazy but I think I might be swapping US phone numbers with some of my fellow filers and getting a distance phone plan so we can natter on the phone all day about how weird everything is

I don't know if it is the hormones or what but I am getting increasingly nervous about moving - thing is I am trying to put a brave face on it because I don't want it to be misconstrued as cold feet or not wanting to move. I do want top move but I am reeling really anxious and my tummy is turning over every time I think about it. I think now that a lot of us are moving forward I am just feeling the pressure a bit more - it is becoming more real now.

Anyone else feeling like this? I know it is prolly normal but knowing other people feel the same and finding out how you are all coping with it would be really helpful!!! I can add a "Top Ten Tips for surviving a move to the US" to my website... get submitting ideas!! We could have one for practical things and one for emotional things I'll get Jeremy to add another page and put a link up later

[English Muffin 59]

Hmmm - don't know if we will bother going through JFK if it isn't a guarantee... I know Jeremy is worried I am goign to sit around going stir-crazy but I think I might be swapping US phone numbers with some of my fellow filers and getting a distance phone plan so we can natter on the phone all day about how weird everything is

I don't know if it is the hormones or what but I am getting increasingly nervous about moving - thing is I am trying to put a brave face on it because I don't want it to be misconstrued as cold feet or not wanting to move. I do want top move but I am reeling really anxious and my tummy is turning over every time I think about it. I think now that a lot of us are moving forward I am just feeling the pressure a bit more - it is becoming more real now.

Anyone else feeling like this? I know it is prolly normal but knowing other people feel the same and finding out how you are all coping with it would be really helpful!!! I can add a "Top Ten Tips for surviving a move to the US" to my website... get submitting ideas!! We could have one for practical things and one for emotional things I'll get Jeremy to add another page and put a link up later

Strangely enough I've found that as the time gets nearer to moving the anxiety actually lessens. A few weeks ago I would barely allow myself to think about the move, I kept putting it to the back of my mind. Every time I thought about saying goodbye to my family I almost burst into tears. But now that I'm just a few days away from going all those feelings seem to have gone and now I'm just really excited.

I think the thought of moving is much worse than actually doing it, if you know what I mean!

Gillian

[Jeraly 4]

I can totally understand that - kinda like when you have to part company - the thought of it and the build up is worse than actually being apart. I think that is just it at the moment - I am worried about getting into the US next month - the wedding is creeping closer and I am nervous about that and when I get back I don't know where we will be living over there or anything... I think once we get a few of the basics covered it will be easier... I just don't want to feel this crappy for the next few months!! What happened to my taking thigns one day at a time?! I was doing so well and I just feel like I have back-tracked to how I used to be!!!

[tucson_chick 0]

Hmmm - don't know if we will bother going through JFK if it isn't a guarantee... I know Jeremy is worried I am goign to sit around going stir-crazy but I think I might be swapping US phone numbers with some of my fellow filers and getting a distance phone plan so we can natter on the phone all day about how weird everything is

I don't know if it is the hormones or what but I am getting increasingly nervous about moving - thing is I am trying to put a brave face on it because I don't want it to be misconstrued as cold feet or not wanting to move. I do want top move but I am reeling really anxious and my tummy is turning over every time I think about it. I think now that a lot of us are moving forward I am just feeling the pressure a bit more - it is becoming more real now.

Anyone else feeling like this? I know it is prolly normal but knowing other people feel the same and finding out how you are all coping with it would be really helpful!!! I can add a "Top Ten Tips for surviving a move to the US" to my website... get submitting ideas!! We could have one for practical things and one for emotional things I'll get Jeremy to add another page and put a link up later

about JFK: i aready made the experience that sitting at home, with a very tight budget, waiting for E. to come home from work, DOES NOT MAKE ME HAPPY. working makes me happy. i will take the hassel and the risk that they don't give the stamp. But as far as I know, they are pretty consistent in granting it. the swapping phone numbers sounds great though!

anybody who isn't nervous about moving must be a miracle!!! Com'on, for most people it is a big step to move into a new city, but within the same country. or to get married. or to quit a job. well, we are doing ALL OF THAT WITHIN 3 MONTHS!!! i would be worried if i wasn't nervous!

and being nervous and anxious DOES NOT MEAN that we have cold feet, honey! it means that we are human beings and that our lives will be upside-down for quite a while.

YES, i want to move

YES, i want to marry him

YES, I WANT.

YES, I AM NERVOUS.

YES, I AM HUMAN!

[Jeraly 4]

Lol - I know - sometimes it is nice to hear it though - you know how you feel and you *assume* everyone else is the same but unless I see people on here positively FREAKING I feel like maybe I am overreacting

Have added a thread in the "Moving Here..." forum about settling in - will add new thread for us July bunch when Gillian moves over She said she is going to have the net for a couple days when she first gets there but then will be laying low a bit as she gets her new house and things sorted w00t!!