pink_cloud

Do you have to wait till the 90 days are up before you can apply for an INFOPASS appointment or can I schedule an appointment now for when my 90 days are up? This whole procedure sucks and is really starting to get to me. I will fill out my timeline shortly.

I just wanted to vent my frustration at not having my EAD yet. I am reaching the 90 day mark. I started applying for jobs after my biometrics were taken and now I have to keep telling prospective employers that I am waiting on my card. UGH...we are running out of money and I need to start working now. It's so annoying that it takes so FREAKIN' long.

I know many of you guys will sympathise with me!

I went to the DMV last week to take my driving test (South Carolina) and they told me that I cannot take my test until I get my EAD. They said I could have taken my test before we got married, but now that I am adjusting status I need to wait till my EAD comes through. It is SO annoying, especially because when I look at other peoples timelines they dont seem to have had this issue.

Has anyone else had this problem?

I can only hope mine takes as little as 7 months - Charleston's average time for dealing with AOS is 526 days...it sucks! If they deal with mine in anything less than 2 years I'll be happy. I still have hope they may transfer it to another service center but I won't hold my breath.

I had only been here 3 weeks when I was told that. Now I have been here about 50 days. The SSA officer at Charleston, SC told me this. I even said "Is there no way you can give it to me" and she said NO! She said come back when I get my EAD because right now I am out of Status. It made no sense to me.

She mentioned something about me getting a letter from Immigration but I thought by the time I do that I might as well wait for my EAd. I have no idea what the hell is going on.

Wow you guys are lucky they even gave you the SSN. I went there with our marriage certificate, SS-5 form and passport with K1 visa and the woman said "Sorry, because you are married now your K1 visa is useless and you are out of status. If you had come here before you got married I could have given you the card, but now you have to wait to get your EAD."

It really sucks because I cant take my driving test, get loans etc without the SSN. They just seem so inconsistent to give some people SSN's after marriage and make others wait for the EAD. Oh well...such is the USCIS!!!

I filed for my AOS at the beginning of April and got my NOA1 on 10 April. have just received a Biometrics appointment for 22 May (Charleston, SC is notoriously slow). It says MSC is my service center for both my EAD and AOS applications - does this mean Charleston is not handling these at all? I looked at MSC processing times and it does not even list I485's on there. Can someone please help to explain this?

One more question - I just signed up for online case status and all it says is "Your application has been received". How do you all tell if you have been "touched" etc? It doesn't even tell me that my Biometrics appointment letter has been sent out. Thanks.

I'm moving to Charleston, SC in two days and from the time I have spent there I think it is great. The food is great if you know where to go, we have a wonderful new house - and as for bugs, well just get a screened porch!! I am moving from cold, expensive and grey England so to me Charleston seems wonderful. I went to Michigan in December and loved it there too - I would be happy to live in either location.

I think anywhere can be wonderful as long as you are in good company. Sure, I hate the bible thumpers in Charleston and would prefer it if there wasn't a church on every corner, but I saw just as many churches up north so I think that's just America for you. America is the most Christian country I have ever come across -and I find it totally insane that some people actually still believe in Creationism (my fiance included) It almost seems like those people missed a huge chunk of modern science and are living back in the dark ages.

I think living in the US will be a major adjustment for me regardless of what state we are in. I think I will be really happy to just be with my fiance and in a warm climate

Wow I must be really stupid, I had no idea Americans weren't allowed into Cuba I feel a bit gutted that I didnt go there while living in Europe.

Hey Britbird, Chris is military too so we'll also be apart a lot Sucks...I know what you mean about carrying your fiance around everywhere as a little rainbow on your finger. I love my ring.

Sorry guys but it DOESN'T make sense that you can be married to someone and yet have to wait up to a year before they can move to you. I can completely understand how other people might be shocked at that and not understand it. I don't think it's a stupid question to ask...logically you would think that if you are married to someone they can come and live with you.

Alas....if only it was that simple!!

Well engagement rings are not “important” as such…being with the one you love is important…but I certainly never complained about the diamond I was given And call me shallow but our engagement certainly felt more formal after he got me my ring and I love receiving comments about it…it feels nice that everyone, even strangers can see that I am taken. I really didn’t expect a ring at all and still don’t know how Chris managed to save up for it…I’m a lucky girl.

As for our wedding rings…we’ve both been saving money for the past year and have our money in a joint savings account…we just buy everything for the wedding from that joint account…I like to think he bought mine and I bought his but at the end of the day does it really matter? When you are starting out you just need to get what you can afford…and each pay for what you can.

Hmm I think I have a touch of OCD...I hate touching public door handles so I either have to have a tissue in my hand when I open them or I use this disinfectant hand gel I carry around in my handbag after I have touched them. I have been known to wait inside a public toilet until someone else opens the door so I can run out without touching the door

I am a lawyer....although nobody thinks I am old enough to be one including my clients (which is worrying )

I grew up in Africa....

And I have a real fear of gas masks. In fact most masks freak me out but even if I know there is a gas mask near me I start to panic. My heart just races.

I grew up in South Africa and when I went to visit my best friend in Texas I was asked:

Do you live in a mud hut?

How come you are white? I thought only black people lived in Africa.

Do you have roads?

Do you travel to school by zebra? (I replied "no, by Ostrich")

Do you have television?

I have now lived in the UK for 10 years so I sort of call myself British. Moving to the good old South I am sure I will get some interesting questions. A lot of Americans seem to think the rest of the world lives in the dark ages...it's quite sad an worrying really that some of our kids are gonna be educated with the same people who ask these sorts of questions

Which is why me and my husband are planning on moving far, far away from SC as soon as he's out of the military!!! Though i suppose ignorance is everywhere...

hey i am moving to charleston in 4 weekss...we should meet up sometime...

We met up in America twice, Spain about 5 times and England once...apart from that just messenger, telephone and lots of patience...Luckily my waiting is almost over

I grew up in South Africa and when I went to visit my best friend in Texas I was asked:

Do you live in a mud hut?

How come you are white? I thought only black people lived in Africa.

Do you have roads?

Do you travel to school by zebra? (I replied "no, by Ostrich")

Do you have television?

I have now lived in the UK for 10 years so I sort of call myself British. Moving to the good old South I am sure I will get some interesting questions. A lot of Americans seem to think the rest of the world lives in the dark ages...it's quite sad an worrying really that some of our kids are gonna be educated with the same people who ask these sorts of questions

I must be a bit retarded....I only got 6/16. I think I scored worse than anyone

I think its a really good idea to make it widely available. Here in England you can buy it at any pharmacy without a prescription...since some walmarts are open 24 hours it seems like a great idea to have them supply it.

1. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?

Actually just the newspaper each morning on the train to work

2. WHAT TIME IS IT?

1.35pm 9 Feb 06

3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSEMAT?

Optical mouse so no mousemat

4. FAVOURITE VIDEO / PC GAME

Vice City

5. YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?

Cosmo or any other ####### that doesn't involve the thought process

6. BABIES?

Not yet, not soon, but hopefully in about 6 years we'll start trying.

7. FAVOURITE SOUND?

Animal calls in the African wilderness

8. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?

Losing someone that I love

9. FIRST THING YOU THINK OF IN THE MORNING?

Oh ######, not morning already.

10. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE?

Depends who is calling and how close I am to the phone

11. FUTURE CHILDS NAME?

Natalie, Hailey, Isabella....still trying to find some decent boys names

12. FAVOURITE COLOUR?

Pink

13. WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE?

Being happy and making my fiance and future children happy.

14. FAVOURITE FOOD?

Pizza

15. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN(OTHER) INSTRUMENT PROPERLY, WHAT WOULD IT

BE?

I play piano and guitar - I'm terrible at both. I'd love to play guitar properly and join a band.

16. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST?

Yeah I love it but I need to stop because I have heard in the US they fine your ### big time. My fiance has a radar detector which totally rocks!

17. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?

yeah, a big bean bag dalmation dog from the Disney Store

18. STORMS - COOL OR SCARY?

I love them...but sometimes lightning freaks me out

19. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?

Ford KA

20. WHO IS THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK

AND TALK WITH?

I still talk to everyone from my past - fortunately. A close friend of mine recently died of cancer aged 25 but I said all I needed to say to him before he died.

21. FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK?

Malibu and pineapple

22. WHATS IN THE trunk/boot OF YOUR CAR?

I don't have a car

23. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?

Yes I love them

24. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB YOU WANTED, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Veterinarian

25. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THIS?

Probably anyone who has anything better to do with their time...I am so bored at work. Supposed to be drafting a witness statement right now (lawyer!)

26. EVER BEEN IN LOVE?

Oh yeah

27. IS THE GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?

Unfortunately sometimes the swimming pool is half empty...I am trying to see it half full and when I am in my fiance the glass is full even if its not... (ya know what I mean).

28. FAVOURITE FILM?

Legally Blonde, Gremlins, Clueless (I go for the deep and meaningful fims). I loved Narnia and a film by a Swedish Director called "Lilya 4-ever"...its the saddest film I have ever seen.

29. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS?

No

30. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?

I don't even want to look under it

31. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE NUMBER?

6

32. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT TO WATCH?

I don't like watching sport - but if I had to choose I'd go with gymnastics or ice skating

33. SAY AT LEAST ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO POSTED THIS?

I don't know her but she wants to be a vet like me so she must love animals - and that's a great thing. And she is doing pretty well with her merging into traffic

34. IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?

We are building a house in Charleston, SC....but if money was no object, definitely somewhere like Beverly Hills or Hawaii

35. WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?

Jeans

36. BEACH, MOUNTAINS OR CITY?

Can I have them all? I think beach comes first, then mountains then city. I prefer suburbia to the city - as long as it has shopping malls.

37. TECHNOLOGY OR ART?

Technology...Art is #######.

38. COMEDY OR HORROR?

In my old age I find I can no longer watch horror films. I definitely prefer comedies.

39. FAVOURITE PHYSICAL FEATURE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?

Eyes and teeth. Nothing like a good set of choppers.

40. FAVOURITE TIME OF DAY?

The time I go home from work...or on weekends probably around 2pm.

41. THE LAST ALBUM/CD YOU BOUGHT?

I don't buy CD's...who needs cd's when you have Bearshare.

42. WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO BE MASSAGED?

heehee...no seriously I love a head massage...

43. WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU. STRONG IN MIND OR STRONG IN BODY?

Definitely mind. Although a few muscles wouldn't go amiss...

44. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?

7am weekdays and 11am on weekends. This can vary depending on Friday/saturday night activities.

45. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE KITCHEN ITEM?

I'm still trying to convince someone to get me a pink kitchenaid mixer as a wedding present. I love to bake.

46. WHAT MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY?

People who hunt for fun or hurt animals. It angers me how people come from overseas countries to poach wildlife in africa and asia...

47. CONVERTIBLE, SUV or 4X4?

Convertible for style, but an SUV is more practical for family/pets.

48. DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE AFTERLIFE?

Nope

49. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SEASON?

Summer for sure....and winter if it snows so I can snowboard!

50. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

To fly

51. IF YOU HAVE OR COULD HAVE A TATTOO, WHERE WOULD IT BE?

I would never get a tattoo

52. CAN YOU JUGGLE?

I juggle my job with my life...good enough?

53. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE DAY?

Saturday

54. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?

I'm a vegetarian so I wouldn't eat either....unless its a Portobello mushroom burger...mmmmm

55. FROM THE PEOPLE YOU POST THIS TO, WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND

FIRST?

I have no idea

56. WHO DID YOU RECEIVE THIS FROM?

Sharon

57. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE CARTOON?

Southpark

58. FAVOURITE MEAL?

Didnt we already have this question??

59. IF YOU COULD TAKE A VACATION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD

IT BE?

Maldives

60. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

I used to have 5 snakes....sold them to move to the US. We are getting a pug puppy in April We're gonna call him/her Piglet

I had to ask the Consulate to delay my K1 interview because I was contractually bound to my employer until March 06. I went through London and just sent a letter with all my documents asking them to schedule an interview after ### date for the following reasons....blahblah. They granted my request with no difficulties. Good luck.

I know everyone on here is trying to get the process sped up so the few of us who ask for delays seem like freaks I wish I could be with my fiance now but unfortunately I'm stuck here for another month. I have had my visa since October and it breaks my heart not to be able to use it

We're getting married in Vegas and then spending our honeymoon there - and going on a tour of the Grand Canyon. All my friends are coming over from the UK and my family is coming from South Africa so we have 39 people coming. Not bad for a destination wedding

We'll then return to Charleston, SC which is where we just bought a house Only 28 days till I move over....

gimygirl Posted Yesterday, 11:11 PM

QUOTE(ILIKEALLCAPS @ Feb 6 2006, 08:55 PM)

Personally, I don't want religion thrust upon me. For me, religion/spirituality is a personal choice, and a personal process. I won't force my beliefs upon you, and I expect the same courtesy in return.

As Karl Marx said: "Religion is the opiate of the masses." Unless I ask for some, I don't want your religion, your heroin, your cigarettes, your moonshine, your marijuana, your serial romance novels, your spam, or whatever else it is you're trying to convince me is the bestest thing ever and will change my life and shine my shoes and buy me a puppy.

Now, that being said, unless I'm asked and feel like sharing, I'll keep my personal supply of spifftastic propaganda to myself as well. If what you have works for you, more power to you, just leave me out of it in any way, shape, or form.

i nominate this for bestest post ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I second that

I've been using this site for about 5 months now and I can still work the freakin' quote buttons