ATTENTION JULY FILERS!

[Italy2LA 0]

Hey you guys! We filed at the end of June and it was received on July second (Can we be down?). We are waiting to get our packet from Naples. Currently I am sitting in my fiance's living room outside of Venice Italy going bananas because it seems we should have gotten something by now and from what I've read on these forums the folks at the Naples embassy are on a slow roll, Yikes! Any advice as to how we can at least get info from them about if they've received the Approval from NVC (which was mailed to them on DEC 14th) without calling their 1.50 Euro a minute hotline? I know how long I have had to wait in cue in the states and the thought of racking up a bill in Euros is...well...bananas.

Kind regards,

Sonia

[Jeraly 4]

Am I right in thinking you are going to be in SoCal? AND you have a FFVIII avvie?!?! What part of SoCal will you be in? Really properly LA? What part? I'm going to be about 90 mins away from LA but it's nice to know I won't be alone there!!!

[Bforbarree 4]

Hey you guys! We filed at the end of June and it was received on July second (Can we be down?). We are waiting to get our packet from Naples. Currently I am sitting in my fiance's living room outside of Venice Italy going bananas because it seems we should have gotten something by now and from what I've read on these forums the folks at the Naples embassy are on a slow roll, Yikes! Any advice as to how we can at least get info from them about if they've received the Approval from NVC (which was mailed to them on DEC 14th) without calling their 1.50 Euro a minute hotline? I know how long I have had to wait in cue in the states and the thought of racking up a bill in Euros is...well...bananas.

Kind regards,

Sonia

Yes, I believe you can call the Department of State 202-663-1225 x1 x0. I used Skype to call fom the UK.

[Bforbarree 4]

hi all!

@ christine: inlaws suck. period.

@ debz: it will be fine!!! you will pass the interview with glory!!!

@ all: i already shipped a good deal of my stuff with UPS. DHL ships 20kg for 62€ to the US. not bad. i will probably pack one more box with books and that's it!

i will have my medical in frankfurt on friday yai - yai!

abt JFK: here's the deal: i called several airlines, and it is crazy expensive to redirect a regular flight (for example with british airways, lufthansa or delta or united) via JFK. here are the numbers:

STR-TUS: € 700

STR-JFK-TUS: € 2000

STR-JFK: € 500 + JFK-TUS: 250€ = € 750

The sales-lady from lufthansa told me that the easiest way would be to buy 2 seperate tickets.

1) Germany --> JFK

2) JFK --> Arizona

That means that I will have to recheck-in my bags and stuff, and that i will have to pay overluggage for the second flight, as it will be a national flight with only ONE bag allowed, but even that will be €1000 cheaper!!!!

CRAZYNESS!!!! now i understand why so many people don't fly via JFK.

But for me, it seems worth it. even if one gets married right away, it will take 3 months to get the stupid EAD papers. with the stamp in the passport and a justice-of-the-peace-wedding the day after arrival, one should be able to work right away. we just really can't afford to live on one sallary for 3 months, plus the cost for moving and the AOS. plus: i want to be able to be active, to earn my own money, and to meet people!

hope things work out the way we plan....

That is quite an increase! I also hate not being able to work so I understand the impetus, but in my mind...if the permit is only good for 90 day and the additional costs are X...how may of those 90 days will it take to earn that additional cost back? How many of those 90 days to settle in? How many of the 90 days will it take to find the job you want? Say a week (or two)? Then there are your wedding/honeymoon plans. Really you might only be looking at 6 weeks of lost income (perhaps less) if you do not go thru JFK to get the work permit.

Just my thoughs....

[Jeraly 4]

We're still looking at all the options but that is well thoguht out - have just copied and pasted as dutiful gf to my OH so I can see what he makes of it I'm more concerned for my poor cat as well - I don't want her cramped up any more than she has to be

[*julez* 124]

We're still looking at all the options but that is well thoguht out - have just copied and pasted as dutiful gf to my OH so I can see what he makes of it I'm more concerned for my poor cat as well - I don't want her cramped up any more than she has to be

Speaking of poor cats, Aly, my poor Jasper became suddenly ill. I took him to get checked out Thursday and again Saturday and there was nothing that could be done for him. Needed some massive surgery and chance of susrvival was only 20%. So, I had to have him put to sleep. I am absolutely gutted. Even though I'd only had him just 2 weeks I loved that little guy so much. I'm really depressed.

[CBR 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!

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.

I second that statement . I think too many non-US citizens have the wrong impression of us "regular joe's" in the US. Don't believe what you read or hear in the media! We certainly don't all feel we are better than anyone else. I think you will find when you move here that Americans (in general) will be very excited to hear about your countries and lifestyles and cultures and welcome you!!

[Jeraly 4]

I'm itching to find people from here that will live near me when I move now... I wish there was an easy way of developing some kind of social network while I am still here - would be so much better!!

[CBR 0]

We're still looking at all the options but that is well thoguht out - have just copied and pasted as dutiful gf to my OH so I can see what he makes of it I'm more concerned for my poor cat as well - I don't want her cramped up any more than she has to be

Speaking of poor cats, Aly, my poor Jasper became suddenly ill. I took him to get checked out Thursday and again Saturday and there was nothing that could be done for him. Needed some massive surgery and chance of susrvival was only 20%. So, I had to have him put to sleep. I am absolutely gutted. Even though I'd only had him just 2 weeks I loved that little guy so much. I'm really depressed.

I'm so sorry to hear that julezabelle. Poor kitty .

Note to everyone else bringing pets: do we have the same pet food your pet is used to at home? Just a thought that just occured to me.

[Jeraly 4]

We're still looking at all the options but that is well thoguht out - have just copied and pasted as dutiful gf to my OH so I can see what he makes of it I'm more concerned for my poor cat as well - I don't want her cramped up any more than she has to be

Speaking of poor cats, Aly, my poor Jasper became suddenly ill. I took him to get checked out Thursday and again Saturday and there was nothing that could be done for him. Needed some massive surgery and chance of susrvival was only 20%. So, I had to have him put to sleep. I am absolutely gutted. Even though I'd only had him just 2 weeks I loved that little guy so much. I'm really depressed.

Ohhhh Julez *hugs* You can call your next one Jasper II That is so sad - what was wrong? I want to cry now but I better not cause I am in work...

As for food - my cat changes her mind as to what she decides she likes or not on a weekly basis so it will be interesting trying her on the new stuff

[*julez* 124]

We're still looking at all the options but that is well thoguht out - have just copied and pasted as dutiful gf to my OH so I can see what he makes of it I'm more concerned for my poor cat as well - I don't want her cramped up any more than she has to be

Speaking of poor cats, Aly, my poor Jasper became suddenly ill. I took him to get checked out Thursday and again Saturday and there was nothing that could be done for him. Needed some massive surgery and chance of susrvival was only 20%. So, I had to have him put to sleep. I am absolutely gutted. Even though I'd only had him just 2 weeks I loved that little guy so much. I'm really depressed.

Ohhhh Julez *hugs* You can call your next one Jasper II That is so sad - what was wrong? I want to cry now but I better not cause I am in work...

As for food - my cat changes her mind as to what she decides she likes or not on a weekly basis so it will be interesting trying her on the new stuff

Thanks Aly.

The adoption center siad we could adopt another cat at no cost, or have our adoption fee back. We have decided to get another kitty in a few weeks. But Jasper was special, so we won't name the next one Jasper. He had some massive freak blockage in his intestines, but they couldn't tell what was causing it. Nothing we did or fed him and he didn't eat anything he shouldn't have from what the xrays showed. Guess he was just meant to get some love before he had to go. He is sorely missed. I have cried on and off the last 3 days. I feel so bad that we couldn't save him.

[Jeraly 4]

Aww... I know how you feel - when my Jasper died I was inconsolable... now I feel like crying cause I jinxed your jasper or something with the name We'll have to think of a new name though - so when you get piccies then post them up and we can have a bit of a naming session.. I never did find those piccies of your Jasper but at least you have some *hugs*

[*julez* 124]

Aww... I know how you feel - when my Jasper died I was inconsolable... now I feel like crying cause I jinxed your jasper or something with the name We'll have to think of a new name though - so when you get piccies then post them up and we can have a bit of a naming session.. I never did find those piccies of your Jasper but at least you have some *hugs*

You didn't jinx him at all! Like I said, it was just freak thing. *hugs*

On a positive note, I did book the location for our ceremony. Found a dress for my daughter to wear to be flower girl, and only $18!!! Still looking for a dress for me to wear though. Freaking out about that!

[Jeraly 4]

You'll be fine!! I found my bridesmaid dresses on eBay - there is a great guy on there (at least on the .co.uk site - check it out) who owns a shop called Cherlone - he sent me swatches so I could pick the colour and then had the dresses made and sent to me from Hong Kong - took three days to do that - it might be worth looking him up. I was a bit worried about doing it all outside of eBay but he was brilliant and even replied to all of my panicked e-mails!!!

[weedebz 0]

oh julez..so sorry to hear about Jasper. I'm not looking forward to leaving my girl behind but it's the best for her.