ATTENTION JULY FILERS!

[tucson_chick 0]

Next Thursday!!! I am nervous and excited - I just kinda want to get there now - I am fed up of worrying about immigration and things and I just want to be past all that so I can enjoy myself!!!

As for the fee - would it not be worth phoning up the embassy and seeing what they say? You might get more reliable info that way If you can take a cheque or cash or something with you as well then that might work at a push... I don't know how it is there - it seems that each embassy is completely different and that is pretty surprising!

they don't have a phone number but one that is €20 for 10 minutes. i paid the stupid fee!!!! and i have the receipt from my bank that the money was being transfered. that SHOULD be enough, shouldn't it? i will bring the piece of paper they sent with pack 3, so they can see the information they gave me.

you know, here on VJ there are people telling us that we will get declined if we do non-legal ceremonies, that we will get turned down at the POE for sure, and all kinds of stuff. and there are only a few people on the german board, so maybe they are just biased.

[Jeraly 4]

They dont' know what they are talking about - if you are not legally married then you are not committing visa fraud and so they can't deny you the visa (well they can but you can contest it ). I'm not even going to mention it - it is far too much hassle! They can check the register for births, deaths and marriages and your names will not be on there so how can you have got married?!

It sounds as though you will be fine - if you have all the info there that they sent you and a receipt from the bank then if they have a problem with it they should sort out their documentation - anyone but a moron should be fine with that - it is prolly cause you are nervous as well and it is one thing that isn't completely perfect - because they sent you a stupid letter!!!

[CBR 0]

CBR and babblesgirl - we must stick together. I can't believe it's 202 days today! This sucks BIG time. I feel for you both and know exactly how you feel. Another phone call to USCIS did nothing today. She just told me that if I have not heard from them by February 28th to feel free to call them.

Well, the 8 ball was not right - but then again they have until midnight to approve our case. Keeping fingers crossed but I understand how you feel with this wait. Patience is running very thin. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep it together.

That's just ridiculous...February 28th, sheesh! I wonder why it's taking so long after an RFE. I thought once they get the info they continue processing. Was the lady at least able to say they received your info?

I have until February 18th and then I can call the congressman again if we don't have an answer by then. It feels like living in limbo now. It's all I can think about even though I constantly try to distract myself and think positive about the future. I know it will be a distant memory some day, but I'm not so sure this waiting time will feel like it was nothing.

I do keep thinking that you're going to get approved any time now, Audrey. It's going to sneak up and surprise you. Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 8 ball!!!

Same for Babblesgirl. It's gonna be any time now! It's gooootttttaaaaa be!

[Jeraly 4]

Defo - you too CBR!! Although small comfort though it is, at least you know that another call is in order in a few weeks - it's a small marker but something to focus on that isn't too far away *hugs*

[a-jeanne 2]

Yes, she did say that my information was received - at least that's what the website says. She was of no help.

Some day this will all be a blurr.

It wouldn't be possible for me to move to the UK - I have two small girls that I cannot leave behind and their father would never allow me to leave the country with them. Our only option is for Phil to move here.

You're right Jeraly - I have until the end of the month. GO 8 BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I asked the question - will I get my NOA2 today - This is what it said...

I hope you can read it.

[a-jeanne 2]

More - more....

I asked the question - will I get my NOA2 today - This is what it said...

According to Laura, I'm getting my NOA2 today also!! What could go wrong? We should just make a joint announcement right now!

Ready when you are!!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

I asked the question - will I get my NOA2 today - This is what it said...

According to Laura, I'm getting my NOA2 today also!! What could go wrong? We should just make a joint announcement right now!

Kirk, it would seem that you're getting very close to an approval. You're over 4.5 months into the waiting. Good luck, should be anyday now.

[bakofoil 27]

CBR and babblesgirl - we must stick together. I can't believe it's 202 days today! This sucks BIG time. I feel for you both and know exactly how you feel. Another phone call to USCIS did nothing today. She just told me that if I have not heard from them by February 28th to feel free to call them.

Well, the 8 ball was not right - but then again they have until midnight to approve our case. Keeping fingers crossed but I understand how you feel with this wait. Patience is running very thin. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep it together.

That's just ridiculous...February 28th, sheesh! I wonder why it's taking so long after an RFE. I thought once they get the info they continue processing. Was the lady at least able to say they received your info?

I have until February 18th and then I can call the congressman again if we don't have an answer by then. It feels like living in limbo now. It's all I can think about even though I constantly try to distract myself and think positive about the future. I know it will be a distant memory some day, but I'm not so sure this waiting time will feel like it was nothing.

I do keep thinking that you're going to get approved any time now, Audrey. It's going to sneak up and surprise you. Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 8 ball!!!

Same for Babblesgirl. It's gonna be any time now! It's gooootttttaaaaa be!

We will stick together. I look every day to see if you've posted your approvals. I feel slightly fortuitous that I haven't been RFE'd (yet) because at least (I hope) if I was going to get RFE'd it would have happened by now. I can't imagine what it must be like to know your application has been looked at and still not approved. It totally feels like living in limbo. I personally think the hardest part for me is knowing that there are people within our timeframe who are days/weeks away from being with their SO permanently. For us it is still a matter of when and if . It's a horrible feeling that gets worse each day.

But it has to be soon for all three of us, surely?

[CBR 0]

I can't move to Canada either, I also have 2 kids (boy and girl) and my ex would have none of it. I'd also have to take boards there I would think (RN) and with all this stress I don't think I could deal with it. Not at this point anyway. Luckily Jeremy doesn't have kids so it makes it a little easier for him.

Babblesgirl: am I correct in thinking that you are the one moving to the US? I seem to remember a post you wrote in that regard but I'm not sure if I'm confusing you with someone else. If so, are you ready for it? Excited? Scared? I'm trying to put the shoe on the other foot and think about what might be going through Jeremy's head about moving here.

[bakofoil 27]

Babblesgirl: am I correct in thinking that you are the one moving to the US? I seem to remember a post you wrote in that regard but I'm not sure if I'm confusing you with someone else. If so, are you ready for it? Excited? Scared? I'm trying to put the shoe on the other foot and think about what might be going through Jeremy's head about moving here.

Yep, I'm the angloid! I'm really ready, really excited... I can't wait to get out there. Even with approval I wouldn't be able to go until the end of March - well I could because I don't have any kind of contract at the place I work. If they chose to, they could drop me tomorrow but it's unlikely as I'm covering a maternity leave. I really don't want to go back to day-to-day supply teaching. It sucks. But, whatever I need to do I'll do.

I can't say I'm scared about moving out there. Maybe it's because it doesn't seem imminent. I am even looking forward to the interview I just want to get out there. I barely think about anything else. Maybe the nerves will come when it all happens.

How do you feel about it? Have you asked Jeremy how he feels?

[StillThePrettiest 4]

well, I for one am scared

I recently ordered some books off Amazon, about Houston and Texas and so on, trying to get enthused about things and get a head start on knowing something about the places... well, I can't find much at ALL to get excited about :s

I'm not trying to be rude; I really enjoyed my visit there in 2006, and I know there'll be all manner of things that we discover, that aren't mentioned in guidebooks, but it was something that really backfired on me... and in the meantime I just love London as much as ever

*sigh*

I really want to be with my SO, and that's the thing, in the end... I can accept that my life will just have a different focus, and maybe that's even a good thing: the whole POINT is the relationship, and being together, and so on... but I get scared at what else I'm giving up, and what else I'm leaving behind - this is the SECOND time I've interrupted a career that was actually moving in an upwards direction, just to start all over again, and having already done a major international move I've never been all that eager to do it again - as well as being worried that all of this just puts too much pressure on the relationship, for all we recognise that danger and try to take active steps to counter it

in the end, I just don't see myself loving America; I love Australia because it's my home, and I love England for all the reasons I love England, but I'm scrambling for much I'm going to love about the States

sorry, I'm being unaccustomedly sombre... regular programming will resume shortly

[Rob & Jin 0]

well, I for one am scared

I recently ordered some books off Amazon, about Houston and Texas and so on, trying to get enthused about things and get a head start on knowing something about the places... well, I can't find much at ALL to get excited about :s

I'm not trying to be rude; I really enjoyed my visit there in 2006, and I know there'll be all manner of things that we discover, that aren't mentioned in guidebooks, but it was something that really backfired on me... and in the meantime I just love London as much as ever

*sigh*

I really want to be with my SO, and that's the thing, in the end... I can accept that my life will just have a different focus, and maybe that's even a good thing: the whole POINT is the relationship, and being together, and so on... but I get scared at what else I'm giving up, and what else I'm leaving behind - this is the SECOND time I've interrupted a career that was actually moving in an upwards direction, just to start all over again, and having already done a major international move I've never been all that eager to do it again - as well as being worried that all of this just puts too much pressure on the relationship, for all we recognise that danger and try to take active steps to counter it

in the end, I just don't see myself loving America; I love Australia because it's my home, and I love England for all the reasons I love England, but I'm scrambling for much I'm going to love about the States

sorry, I'm being unaccustomedly sombre... regular programming will resume shortly

Texas- its big, flat, hot, they like to drive big pickup trucks and drink very cold beer.

You will love it

[StillThePrettiest 4]

thanks man, you're really helping

[bakofoil 27]

I've tried replying to your post twice now and I can't find the words to describe how I feel or how to respond adequately. I'm not even sure I'm excited anymore. I just don't feel anything except wanting it to happen. I'm just so tired of wanting and waiting and checking for an update.

I do understand how you feel though. I left a good job too and am not looking forward to not being able to work for a while. And starting over career wise. I would imagine that having had to settle in a new country already that doing it again would be daunting. We've discussed before the subtle cultural differences. I spose when I think about it, I'm not looking forward to not having a clue about how things work - bureaucratic, financial and practical things. I'm pretty self-sufficient here and will have to rely on others for a long while until I get used to the way things work.

I do feel though that meeting and getting to know him has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am happiest when I'm with him. I am happy alone but knowing he is there. When I focus on being with him rather than being in this unpredictable system I do feel genuinely excited about the prospect of starting over with someone who fits me so well. I am sure when an interview and moving date is tangible I might start to feel jittery.

I'm sorry. The solemnity overcame me too

[bakofoil 27]

You should write fluffy speeches for Obama!

(Was that a sneaky attempt to get you back on the list?)