Kaalyx

How cool to be able to go through this with AllisonB and lauraxmarie! We've definitely got to keep each other updated. I already have a queasy stomach ... Otherwise, I feel great.

Thanks, noemij, for info about the article. I'm gonna search for it now. (And it's good to dialogue with you off the Italy board, too!) ...

Take care, all! Whatever stage of your baby journey you're at

Well......Ive joined the gang!

Me too! When are you due, lauraxmarie? My physician's estimate is about May 17 or 18.

I actually found my job on craigslist. i scan thru it all the time, the missed connections/rant & raves are funny, the barter/sale section is cool, I sold one of ,y 4 wedding gowns on there, and I scroll thru the jobs, most of them are stupid 'work from home' scams

But I came upon 'event coordinator for ew professional development center' and I applied for the hell of it.....Wo0o0o0oho0o0o0 I got the job. Been at it a few weeks now, and it rocks.

on another note, the day I started this job, i got a call from Charter One (I filled out an online application) and they wanted to hire me also...good money, great hours, holidays off etc, but Im more suited for the job I got.

So ya, doesnt hurt to try craigslist, hotjobs and monster. I actually got quite a few interviews for retail with monser and hotjobs, they werent management tho so I didnt take them. I was fortunately in a position to be selective.

Good luck tho!

Congrats on your landing a good job! I am the USC, but my husband started his job as an "International Business Coordinator" at a consulting firm 6 days after his GC interview. We used www.indeed.com to find the job. That site lets you search multiple job sites. Check it out. It's very easy to use and you don't need to sign up for the services. The interface is a lot like google's. ...

Best of luck, everyone, and don't get discouraged!

Your daughter is bellissima! Congrats to you and the family! ...

Scotty, I assume you're going through the Detroit office, but if not, you'll correct me. I applied for AOS on April 10, and we had our interview on August 23. We received the interview letter about a month before that. ... I haven't checked similar Detroit timelines here, but see what those say.

At the Infopass, did the officer say anything about your AOS application? Or make another InfoPass to inquire. ... Maybe the GC is not so urgent now that you have your EAD, but I still hope you hear something soon!

KarenL, your fiance is flying home today! You must be beside yourself with excitement. ... Actually, I still remember the day of Antonio's flight. I was calm all day, but when I got to the airport, I started crying uncontrollably. It was such a wonderful relief to see him walk through those pneumatic doors. Sigh. I wish you an unforgettable reunion later today.

To everyone on or going on vacation, have fun! I have no vacation plans, though my husband is going back to Italy in 2 weeks for a few days. He's going to recharge his batteries before his GC interview. Plus, I get some downtime. Everyone wins :-D

Hope you're all well,

Kaalyx

walii = saint. (Long yaa')

Now for a word beginning with yaa'

~K

Does other peoples reactions to your British accent drive anyone else mad??!! I can't even buy anything in a store without people saying stupid things to me! Just this weekend I got...

I have nothing to add to the accents conversation, but do understand your amused frustration, louandmikek3.

However, as for giving out your phone number to clerks, just politely decline to offer it, since it's rarely required to complete the sales transaction. I hate offering my number as well, and decline every single time.

Ooo, I'm slow to get around to this news, but a hearty congratulations to you and your husband. What a load off, and as others have mentioned. Your gift couldn't have been better. How fitting and touching!

A hearty welcome to the States! And I hope you won't be jumping off any more balconies in the near or distant future

guess they've never driven in Italy...where the horn is the most important essential feature..

Thats so true!! Thats one thing from my country I dont miss AT ALL

Yeah, my husband prefers the easier traffic and manual transmissions in America! ... I think I can answer for my husband that the most American thing he's done is shop regularly at 24-hour stores :-) and eat lots of donuts (his favorite American food).

I'd like to read the six pages of questions her lawyer gave her to study. I might try to contact her for them. If she sends them, I'll post them!

Some weirdness... So, my fiance's interview went well and they took his passport and told him to go at 4PM and pick it up. So, he went and everyone except him and three other guys all got their big sealed packets and passports with visas, but the consular officer told MY fiance' and the other three to return tomorrow morning to pick theirs up. But... here's the alarming part... the CO wrote a note that says my fiance's name, "K-1 visa," and "front of line" and "Pick up visa" on the 221g denial form! #######?!? The CO told Jeti that since there were so many people there today, Washington was unable to process everything in time and since the consulate was closing for the day, he'll need to come back tomorrow morning at 8:30am. I'm just worried because he wrote that "pick up visa" note on the 221g denial form. Under reasons why the visa was denied, nothing is written in, and my fiance' (not knowing English and not knowing what the form said until I told him) thought he just quickly grabbed the paper and scribbled on it because it was close at hand. But why use the DENIAL slip and write "front of line" and "pick up visa" on it? Did we get the visa? lol. I feel like we DID, but... he wrote it on the 221g! Could he have just been using that as scrap paper? My fiance' told me that EVERYONE got a visa today, even this one guy who'd done time in prison for selling drugs in Florence... how can Jeti be turned down and not him!? I feel like he was just using it as scrap paper or something and he just needed to quickly write Jeti a note so he could quickly get in and out tomorrow morning, but... why use the DENIAL slip!?? To scare the cr@p outta people!? lol

What do you guys think?

I would bet that everything is OK, but if your fiance gets to the consulate tomorrow and there are inconsistencies, call the State Dept's visa department. You can search the forums for the number. I don't have it at hand.

For whoever might need it in the future for no matter what, this is where you can reach me alexcrv76@yahoo.com.

Take care & good luck.

A.

did she leave the forum?Did I miss something??

I'm sad to see Alex go (her account is disabled), but she did seem busy recently with her new son and new responsibilities. Understandably so! I will miss her warmth and good spirit. ... I've been haunting the forums, but not typing much. Not much is going on in my neck of the woods. Just enjoying the summer with my husband. ... I hope everyone else is doing well! ~K

From one Michigan girl to another, wishing you all the best tomorrow! Relax a bit and get some fresh air : walk around Greektown or head to Campus Martius (near the Hard Rock Cafe) before your hearing. You're in everyone's thoughts.

I think both games are on ABC HD. (If not ABC, then ESPN, or if you're really lucky, Univision! They're so much more exciting in Spanish!)

I wonder how many others watch the Spanish station too! My husband and I much prefer Univision. The ESPN broadcasters are so boring, especially when there's a goal. Anyway, hope everyone enjoys these last games.

Include a copy of your original birth certificate, along with the copy of the translation.

Also, include proof that your sponsor (your wife) is an American citizen. A copy of her birth certificate or her passport identity page should suffice.

Great suggestion. It would definitely give us more power over the AOS process.

Our biometrics appt in Detroit wasn't done at a government facility, but at a place with contract (non-gov't) workers. So maybe these private companies have greater scheduling flexibility -- which is good for us!

ILLEGAL AT PRINCETON

by Miriam Jordan

April 15, 2006, Page A1

Dan-el Padilla Peralta, a 21-year-old classics major at Princeton University, has risen from a childhood in homeless shelters and blighted apartments to maintain a 3.9 grade-point average. He has won prize after prize, often taking twice the typical course load. One faculty member, writing a recommendation, predicted "he will be one of the best classicists to emerge in his generation."

Mr. Padilla stands out at Princeton for another reason: He's an illegal immigrant. And two weeks ago, he did something few people in his shoes ever do. He turned himself in.

Mr. Padilla recently won a two-year scholarship to Oxford University in the United Kingdom. But according to longstanding immigration law, if he leaves, he can't return to the U.S. -- his home since the age of 4 -- for at least 10 years.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114...I_20060519.html

Yeah, hubby and I could both hear it. We're 26 and 30. ... Funny that it was used to keep kids from loitering.

Hi Richi, I just wanted to say I hope things work out for the best -- whatever that entails for you and your wife. I remember going through the visa process with you around the same time. I remember your positivity and wanted to send some more your way as you go through this.

All best, K.

I was never a regular lottery player until my husband came over in February. We play biweekly (buying a single $1 ticket each time), but our biggest payday has been only $2 "What a waste of effort," you say? Boy do I know!

I was just wondering if anyone here has ever won anything besides chump change and/or how often you play. ... I've never knowingly met a lottery winner, but maybe I've been corresponding with some lucky VJ members who've hit it big

~kristina

Hi Karen,

I would suggest continuing to contact the embassy. Don't use the toll number, but call the regular line to the Naples embassy. I'm pasting below what I wrote in another thread about contacting them. I was persistent, but eventually got through. Maybe this will help you? Best of luck!!

-------------------------------------

"As for contacting Naples, I called between 2:00 and 3:00pm (Naples time). ... I spoke in English the entire time. The 1st time I called, the operator told me that it was impossible to speak with someone in the visa department, even when I insisted that I had spoken with someone the day before. He just kept saying "That's impossible!", then hung up on me.

The 2nd time (which was immediately after the 1st time), I got him again and asked him not to hang up again before hearing me out. He did, then gave me the 899 number. I told him I didn't want to speak with anyone at that number; I wanted to speak with someone at the consulate who processes applications, but he just sighed and hung up on me. LOL!

The 3rd time (again, just after the 2nd time), I got him again, but I asked to speak with someone whom he said no longer worked there. Then he hung up on me. The 4th time, the phone rang for 5.5 minutes and no one picked up. At this point, I asked my husband to call and speak with the Italian operator. He did, but that person would not allow him to speak with anyone either.

The 5th time, I connected with the procurement dept (I think) and requested the person who answered there to transfer me to the visa unit because "I had accidentally keyed the wrong extension", and he did. Once I reached the visa department, everything was hunky-dory. The woman was sympathetic and efficient and did the name check on the phone while I waited (I requested that she process the application while I wait)."

Tanti auguri, Alex, per la Festa della mamma! I hope everyone is enjoying the Sunday.

Daniel, how was your trip over to NY? I hope you're doing well

Breezy, your move sounds exciting. What made you decide on Napoli?

Well, I have to get ready: Antonio and I are driving to my mom's to meet my sister and have a small "gathering" of watching NBA and eating a mix of American and Italian foods

Ciao a tutti,

K

Hi guys im in italy again...My mom died 2days ago (the day before my bday ) so i had to come back. I didnt even make it for the funeral! I feel so guilty that i moved to the states and she was already sick...

I feel so bad

Dear Paola, As hard a time as this must be, at least you were able to go back to Italy for a visit earlier this year. I am so sorry for your loss , but I'm sure your mother knew (and knows!) just how much you loved her and that you would have liked to be with her in her last moments. ... Remember her with gratitude. You and your family are in my thoughts. ~K