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Miranda&James

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    Finally a Citizen! - Interview & Ceremony experience, Atlanta

    in US Citizenship General Discussion

    Posted

    I had my interview yesterday in Atlanta and passed. Now finally a citizen! woohoo.

    We drove up from Alabama the day before and stayed at a hotel down the street from USCIS to be sure there were no delays and we got there on time. They don't let you check-in earlier than 30 minutes from your appointment, but you can go inside and clear security and wait if you like., They have vending area and restrooms etc.

    Interview took less than 10 minutes. Aced the test, didn't have to provide any evidence (I filed based on 5 year residency) and he marked my case as approved. I was booked in for the same day oath ceremony later that day. The ceremony was quite brief, they were expediting it as there was 100 people taking the oath! We swore allegiance, watched a video from the president and accepted our naturalization certificates. Glad it's all over, what a ride. Now to update SSN, driver's license, get a passport, register to vote... :)

    Good luck to everyone else!

    RALg7Ys.jpg

    Can anyone recommend these places for honeymoon?

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    We did a cabin near Gatlinburg - http://www.bearlyrustic.com/ is the company we used and my parents have used for years. The prices are very reasonable in my opinion. It was beautiful but there wasn't a ton to do nearby and Gatlinburg was a bit of a drive (maybe an hour? I can't remember) away. Each cabin is in a different area and I believe are privately owned and just rented out through this company so some may be closer to Gatlinburg. The area is gorgeous though. Asheville is also really beautiful but it has been years since I've visited.

    Have You Received your tax Rebates

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    We did direct deposit (although it was close to April 15th so probably awhile till we get our money) but we also just moved. I assume since the check is direct deposit, our different address shouldn't really matter? I have the form filled out to change the address, just haven't mailed it yet.

    Student Aid Question

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    She has applied for several scholarships, and we are waiting to hear if she got any of them.

    If you are awarded scholarships, doesn't that just take away any financial aid you were offered? So, we'd lose the $4,500 subsidized Stafford loan if she gets any scholarships, right?

    Well, I don't know. I don't know a lot about the whole deal beyond what I did. I had a full tuition scholarship, plus another half tuition scholarship (given to me as a check), and I also had student loans to help cover my housing costs. My student loans are from Direct Loans.

    More homeowners mailing keys to lenders instead of payments

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    And more than likely in the 20-30 years it takes to pay off the mortgage the market will go up and down a few more times and hopefully by the end of it your house will most likely have appreciated even if right now it has not. I never understand why people cannot see things in the long term and insist on freaking out when things get bad, as if things will always be bad. Things go up, things go down.

    Edit - We just bought a house and close on Friday :P

    I believe the average time a homeowner owns a house is less than 10 years.

    Congrats on the house!

    We still have a long way to go *sigh*.

    Congrats, Miranda!

    Thanks! I am still terrified and wondering what have we done, how can we afford this, etc! :P

    "We paid $585,000. It was the peak of the market, but no one told us," said Shaffer, a real-estate agent from Colorado. "We would probably have to spend the next 20 years trying to get right on the mortgage. That's crazy."

    Do your own research buddy. Or at least take an Econ 101 class.

    Besides, you never know you're at peak until after it gets established as a peak, which means after sustained downward movement has begun. Same goes for buying at the bottom.

    But you can't assume the market will keep growing, especially at the rates it has been in the last few years.

    Yeah but in general over long term the market has always grown so the best we can do is assume that over the long term it will grow and after this dip there will be another peak, and another dip, and another peak, etc etc, with some dips and some peaks bigger than others but hopefully more peaks than dips!

    More homeowners mailing keys to lenders instead of payments

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    And more than likely in the 20-30 years it takes to pay off the mortgage the market will go up and down a few more times and hopefully by the end of it your house will most likely have appreciated even if right now it has not. I never understand why people cannot see things in the long term and insist on freaking out when things get bad, as if things will always be bad. Things go up, things go down.

    Edit - We just bought a house and close on Friday :P

    I believe the average time a homeowner owns a house is less than 10 years.

    Congrats on the house!

    True, I guess some people may end up needing to stay in the house longer to see an improvement/appreciation but skipping out on a loan is just irresponsible and stupid! And thanks! :)

    More homeowners mailing keys to lenders instead of payments

    in Off Topic

    Posted · Edited by Miranda&James

    "We paid $585,000. It was the peak of the market, but no one told us," said Shaffer, a real-estate agent from Colorado. "We would probably have to spend the next 20 years trying to get right on the mortgage. That's crazy."

    Do your own research buddy. Or at least take an Econ 101 class.

    Besides, you never know you're at peak until after it gets established as a peak, which means after sustained downward movement has begun. Same goes for buying at the bottom.

    And more than likely in the 20-30 years it takes to pay off the mortgage the market will go up and down a few more times and hopefully by the end of it your house will most likely have appreciated even if right now it has not. I never understand why people cannot see things in the long term and insist on freaking out when things get bad, as if things will always be bad. Things go up, things go down.

    Edit - We just bought a house and close on Friday :P

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