j&js

My husband is scheduled to take his naturalization oath tomorrow in Boston and I was just wondering if there is anybody out there who had been to a ceremony there and could tell me what their experience was like?

The letter says the ceremony will take 3 hours, but there are no other specifics. I wouldn't really care, I've waited for this for so long I'd be happy to sit with him all day, but my parents want to come and then take us out for a celebration afterwards and I just wanted to plan the logistics of the whole thing. Thanks in advance!

I would hope that the IO could read the list of correct answers and accept anything that means the same thing. You would think that they would prefer people to understand the civics issues, not just memorize some canned answers, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Thanks so much for this post. I had thought we were all set as my husband has extensively studied American politics (and he's married to a history teacher!) and can answer all of the questions. Now I think we'll spend some more time making sure his answers match the study guide as closely as possible.

My husband got his letter scheduling the interview 6 weeks in advance, if that is a common trend, and maybe some other people can comment on their timing to see if it is, you would know before you left if there was going to be a problem and try to reschedule it. I can't imagine that if you left for 30 days you would miss getting the letter AND having the interview, but who knows.

Thanks everyone!

My husband is about to file for citizenship based on the 3 year exception for spouses of American citizens. On the form it asks how many days you have spent outside the US in the last 5 years. I know (think) that they really mean since becoming a resident, but that isn't how it's worded. We just wanted to know how other people handled that part of the application.

We were thinking of putting the total number of days including the 1st 2 years residence in Ireland and then in the chart below writing 'N/A' for Date Left US; the date he moved for Date Entered US; leaving the check marks blank for did the trip last more than 6 months ; writing 'Still residing in Ireland' for Countries Visited

Did anyone else do that the same way? Differently? What were the results?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

UserName............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date.......Biometrics......Approved

shahkr..............01/29/07..........02/--/07........03/01/07........--/--/-- (RFE)

A_C.................02/18/07..........02/21/07........03/15/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

moben...............02/26/07..........03/20/07........03/28/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

kn687...............02/27/07..........03/21/07........03/29/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

tweety..............03/06/07..........03/09/07........04/06/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

westy77.............03/10/07..........03/14/07........02/04/08........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

burs................03/15/07..........03/19/07........04/12/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

Boscouple...........03/16/07..........03/21/07........04/10/07........09/19/07

us1415..............04/09/07..........04/18/07........05/12/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

James...............04/18/07..........04/20/07........05/31/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

Angel7422...........04/20/07..........04/25/07........05/24/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

smartie.............??/??/07..........05/03/07........06/09/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

Gringa..............04/27/07..........05/24/07........06/22/07........10/24/07

Big Papi............04/30/07..........06/08/07........07/03/07........11/28/07

aussie girl.........05/02/07..........06/14/07........06/27/07........12/14/07

Cassie..............05/08/07..........05/09/07........06/04/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

baunzerbrudi........05/11/07..........05/19/07........06/14/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

USnoiva.............05/16/07..........06/08/07........06/29/07........11/28/07

rhenryv.............05/17/07..........05/30/07........06/18/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

mirax...............05/19/07..........06/11/07........06/29/07........11/30/07

imailin.............06/01/07..........06/07/07........08/??/07........--/--/-- (<TSC 01/31/08)

Joel'sWife..........06/08/07..........06/08/07........07/07/07........12/06/07

thea................06/09/07..........06/25/07........07/06/07........01/04/08

alice_awaa..........06/18/07..........07/03/07........07/26/07........12/19/07

aussie girl (son)...07/16/07..........07/30/07........09/07/07........--/--/--

ForYou..............07/20/07..........08/06/07....... 09/08/07........--/--/--

gadgetfreak.........07/25/07..........08/07/07....... 09/30/07........02/10/08

gwsmith01...........08/03/07..........08/22/07........09/07/07........--/--/--

Gemma12nEl..........08/07/07..........08/07/07........10/02/07........--/--/--

sheepnfish..........08/17/07..........08/23/07........09/04/07........--/--/--

Kez.................08/24/07..........09/01/07........10/02/07........--/--/--

DougandNancy........09/04/07..........09/06/07........10/03/07........--/--/--

mlspyl..............09/06/07..........09/11/07........10/11/07........--/--/--

Whodat..............09/10/07..........09/19/07........10/16/07........--/--/--

Aussielad...........09/11/07..........09/12/07........10/10/07........--/--/--

Nina C..............09/13/07..........10/04/07........11/01/07........--/--/--

littlebear..........09/20/07..........10/09/07........11/03/07........--/--/--

rrp.................09/27/07..........10/14/07........11/09/07........--/--/--

supersonic..........10/09/07..........10/10/07........11/29/07........--/--/--

RS330...............10/13/07..........10/19/07........12/07/07........--/--/--

arijit..............10/18/07..........10/23/07........12/18/07........--/--/--

tdegrenier..........10/29/07..........11/02/07........12/20/07........--/--/--

noone...............10/30/07..........11/05/07........01/15/08........--/--/--

gatorubio...........10/31/07..........11/05/07........12/13/07........--/--/--

derekkj.............11/05/07..........11/07/07........01/10/08........--/--/--

ashleyernesto.......11/26/07..........12/10/07........01/10/08........--/--/--

missmariemc.........12/01/07..........12/07/07........01/12/08........--/--/--

bettenan............12/10/07..........12/14/07........01/30/08........--/--/--

tnh9479.............12/10/07..........12/26/07........02/14/08........--/--/-- (<TSC)

jodyangel...........12/12/07..........12/23/07........--/--/--........--/--/--

minha_raposa........12/13/07..........01/03/08........02/13/08........--/--/-- (<TSC)

Bootylicious........12/14/07..........12/27/07........02/08/08........--/--/-- (<TSC)

NigerLa.............12/21/07..........01/02/07........--/--/--........--/--/--

skoopie.............12/24/07..........01/03/08........02/22/08........--/--/--

krysia..............12/26/07..........01/09/08........02/02/08........--/--/--

Linda&Dave..........01/02/08..........01/23/08........02/29/08........--/--/--

awaterlily..........01/04/08..........01/15/08........02/14/08........--/--/--

ChuckandKim.........01/07/08..........01/14/08........02/14/08........--/--/--

CarolineM...........01/08/08..........01/31/08........02/22/08........--/--/-- (<TSC)

ianletz.............01/25/08..........--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/-- (<TSC)

j&js................05/25/08..........06/09/08........07/26/08........--/--/--

I'm sure you are right that it is just the company trying to scare us into getting insurance. The only place I saw that requirement was on the form they sent us. The actual consulate website and visa application doesn't mention it. But to be on the safe side, I'm going to do one of those $15 travel insurance programs. The tour company clearly states that if you aren't allowed into the country for any reason you get no refund, so I'd rather have something than not just in case its true and they check every once in awhile. Plus, if something did happen to us, I'm sure it would make things easier!

Thanks for the help

We are going to St Petersburg and Moscow. We're actually going on an 'easy pace' tour, so we've got a lot of free time, but are already scheduled to see some of the bigger attractions.

I will look into the travel insurance, I would rather spend the extra $30 and know it would be accepted. The one offered with the tour group was over $100 each, so I assumed others would be too. Thanks for telling me otherwise!

I have looked at the visa applications and the one for US citizens I found was in English, the one my EU-citizen husband will have to fill out is in Russian, but has the English translation in all the boxes he needs to write in.

Hey guys

I've never posted on this forum before because my husband is from Ireland, but I was hoping you guys could help us out with something. We are planning a trip to Russia this summer. For non-citizens going into Russia, I know you need some kind of medical insurance to cross the border. For those of you who are non-Russian citizens who have visited there, how does this work? Does my usual HMO cover it? Do we need letters of proof? Do they really check this out? Any and all advice about travelling to Russia would be appreciated! TIA!

James has always said that he doesn't want to spend all his vacation time visiting home because it won't be a real vacation. Our plan is to mix in visits to Ireland with other vacations. When we do visit Ireland we plan on going for a week or 2, spending a few days, then traveling to other parts of Europe, then spending the last few vacation days with the family again.

On a sidenote - I work with a woman who brought her now ex-husband to the US on a K1 years ago from England. She gave me the advice NOT to go 'back home' for every holiday, that she did that for years and while it was nice to visit, especially once they had kids and everything, not getting to visit anywhere else started to bother her eventually.

Ours was in Boston in July, wicked easy. We waited for a long time in the waiting room and when we went in the woman said, "Sorry you had to wait so long, I was looking over your case and the good thing is, I'm approving you." Right off the bat, no questions or anything! Then she just went through some forms with us, asked James some questions right off a sheet like "Do you plan to commit acts of terrorism?" but it was clear from her tone of voice that it was all formality. Then she stamped his passport and said you can expect your GC in the mail soon.

Good luck! Hope you get one like ours!

I think it all depends on who you deal with. I have dropped a friend off at the airport who had to pay at least $50 for extra weight.

I went to Ireland this summer and brought a ton of stuff back, my bags were almost double the weight allowed and the Aer Lingus lady just put a heavy tag on my bags and never asked for payment, although the e-ticket said something about it costing for extra weight.

T Mobile is great in the US. If you ever plan on calling outside of the states on it DON'T! If you have a contract calling Ireland is $0.34 a minute; if you have pay-as-you-go its $1.60 a minute!!

If you have to do it this way, I think you'd be ok with a notation of your name change. I recently went to Ireland with a bunch of girls and 1 got her own and her cousin's ticket. She spelt her cousin's name wrong!! We were so nervous that Katie wouldn't be able to get on the flight while we were in line, then the guy just said thats fine, go to the desk over there to have them switch it in the computer. This was Aer Lingus, who are pretty easy about things, but it did work. Just make sure to bring documentation of the name change to the airport in case there are any problems.

Good Luck!

We had a real small wedding in my house (parents and siblings only) and are now planning a church one for next summer.

If you don't necessarily want the court house, you can get a JP to come to your house. It cost $75, we got dressed up, but not wedding dressed up, then had a nice dinner. Oh and I got a mini wedding cake for desert.

Don't feel guilty about whatever choice you make!

To the OP:

Thank you for clarifying things for me. I have (mistakenly, as I know understand it thanks to you) been grateful to my mother for doing many things in order to pay for most of my college education including but not limited to: working 2 jobs, wearing the same suits to work for the last 15 years instead of buying new, and taking a loan against her retirement plan. I now realize that I should think of her as 'disgusting and rich' since she has been able to be so good to me. And I must be 'privileged and rich' after having so much done for me, despite the fact that I too have worked since I was 14 years old, mostly at 2 jobs at the same time, taken out my own loans and paid for everything I could. Glad I read this post and was set straight.

Originally I felt sorry for you. Loans are tricky and I could see where one could get lulled into a false sense of security when signing on for a school loan. However since then I have read a lot that makes me think that you got yourself into this situation in some ways. If you truly feel cheated - find out what happened to all that extra money the loan is for. You as the borrower need to be checking up on these things and making sure that you are getting a fair deal. If a mistake was made somewhere you should have the paperwork to back up your story, go to the proper authorities and get it corrected. Whatever situation you are in and even if you were completely cheated, that in no way, shape or form gives you the right to beat up on people who are able to provide for their children. Whether they inherited money, worked hard and saved for every dime, have a cushy job or won the lottery it doesn't make a difference. Other things one might do with their money might give you cause to call them names, but sending their kids to college? I think that is an amazing sacrifice that many parents choose to make and it should be applauded.

I think one of the reasons it looks so daunting is that there are long lists of all the evidence you must supply. However, if you really break it down its not that bad and the actual application forms are fairly short. At least in my experience, all the evidence was easily found. It all fell into a few categories: stuff around my house, stuff around his house he had to mail to me and stuff one of us had to go to our respective town halls to acquire. Just make sure to get and maintain multiple copies of everything. Once you get to AOS you'll find that you are just pulling things out of the file you already have for some of the paperwork anyways.

I don't mean to make it sound as if I thought the process has been easy up to now, because it hasn't been! But part of that has been me worrying over everything I worked hard to organize and reorganize and at least quadruple check everything and then until we got approval notice at each step, I was sooo scared that we had missed something. The attention to detail must have paid off because everything has gone very smoothly for us so far and I've spent a lot of time worrying for no reason.

My advice would be to go through each step very careully and thoroughly, and while you are waiting for approval, read up on the next step and get yourself ready to go through it. Also, I agree that doing the research on your own is very important, but one of the things on this site that I would say is invaluable is the persoanl experience. Make sure to read things like the list of common RFEs for K1s. Seeing what got other people in trouble will help you to avoid their pitfalls.

I don't know... we sent ours in March 2006 and downloaded it directly beforehand, and I know it had to be notarized...

We had our interview about a month ago in Boston and are also living with my parents as we save for a house, so I was really worried about not having enough evidence of merged lives. It ended up being totally fine. The lady did not ask for a thing, until she approved us and took away James's EAD card. We had a huge file folder with the kind of stuff you listed, and didn't even open it. If you have a chance to bring an updated, notarized affidavit of support, I think it would be a good thing to bring, but in our case, we weren't asked for one, the one we had sent in originally was fine.

Good luck

I originally had my education loans with Sallie Mae as well and I did end up pretty angry about the way I was treated there and have since closed out the loan by borrowing from a home equity line and am paying that off instead. However, I would have to agree with some that if you read the contract carefully before borrowing your money, you should know what you are getting into.

My issue with Sallie Mae was that they charged me some bogus insurance fee of almost $400. I started to repay my loans while still in school to try and keep them manageable. By the August after I graduated I had paid over $1000 and still owed more then I originally borrowed, then I got notification of the insurance fee they were adding. I tried contacting them and they never really explained what that was all about and made it sound as if they could do a similiar thing in the future, so I got out. The loan never actually got to the repayment stage with me so I can't speak to them upping the rates or changing terms of the contract, but if they didn't do that, they didn't do anything wrong...

James didn't have a SSN yet when I put him on my health insurance. Come to think of it, I believe I promised to go tell them what it was when he got it, but I haven't done that yet and they are covering him...

How long have you been married? At my place of employment you can only put someone on the health insurance for 1 month after a qualifying event. I didn't realize that until I went to add James and luckily it was within 1 month of our marriage...

Thanks for all the info!! Read stuff over this morning before we left, but had no time to respond.

Anyways, we went to the church one town over, a very Jewish town, and the priest is on vacation but it looked good. James will join the parish, although not attend too often, and they are really accepting of interfaith marriages due to the town they are located in, The woman there said we had to meet with the priest when he gets home but that the date we want is open and it should be fine. Hopefully she's right! The place we want to have the reception is really near by and we want to book it before we lose it... I think we'll just do it and cross our fingers!

Thanks again for everyone sharing their experiences, it makes me feel better! I think we'll be all set now.

Hey guys, James and I are planning our bigger, church wedding at the moment and I had a few questions for anyone who knows anything about the Catholic Church.

I am Jewish, although not really practicing, I have heard that this isn't really a problem as long as you agree to raise your children Catholic (which I have always told James I would be fine with as he is much more religious than I) Does anyone have any experiences with this?

Our other, we think bigger question is do we need to belong to a parish to have our wedding there? Some people told us that and now we're a little worried... If we have had nothing to do with any catholic church in America, are we going to have trouble getting someone to marry us in one??

We are going to churches in the next few days to do some research, but I was hoping to get an idea of what to expect. Plus I have heard that the answers to these sort of questions can vary depending on the priest, so I'd like to hear as many experiences as possible.

Thanks!

just about a week for us as well

I was actually in Ireland and flew back to the states on the 10th, the day the craziness started. Luckily I had left Scotland the day before and didn't have UK restrictions while flying, but my friends who I spent part of the vacation with were not so lucky. They were taking an early flight that am from Edinburgh to Dublin, then meeting me to fly back home. They went through the whole plastic bag only carry-on, it wasn't a whole lot of fun, but they had the stuff they really needed and survived. We all made our flights fine. It was a longer day then usual, more intensity at the airports all around, but it was fine. Just tell him to get there super early, and pack smartly.