vandh

Thank you everyone for your posts, sharing your opinions and experience. You're right - age shouldn't be an issue. It's not a very common thing in our country of origin. But people there aren't too concerned with stuff like that either.

To answer the question in regards to my DH's visa: He was here on an H1B. His last employer decided that he longer needed him at work and fired him out of the blue, without prior notification or anything in writing. He overstayed his "welcome" in the country, but... just because he had a house that he put on the market for sale (along with his ex.) He was also divorcing her at the time. And he applied for documents/jobs in Australia (he also got approved.) The sale of his house was under contract. And he was living separately from his ex. That's when we met at my work.

Haha DualityOneness I never thought we'd end up together when I met him. But it turned out that we have a lot in common and we complement each other nicely. I wouldn't say that either one of us is "the catch." We do different things that seem to work wonderfully together. For example: I absolutely love to cook. And he isn't a cook, but doesn't mind one bit to go grocery shopping and dish washing (which I've always dreaded.) He likes to plan family activities and find "deals" for us, while I've been more of a go-in-the-last minute gal. And so on. It works out very well.

His parents... It's not that they don't "approve" of it. It's that they don't necessarily understand it.

@ tekogremista: The main thing that I am worried about is that stupid lease. Do I tell the landlord that I got married and have her raise our rent? She will raise it, no question, especially once she finds out what it is that my husband does. People in NYC hear that someone's a physician and they immediately think $$$$. She won't care that he's unemployed at the moment, etc. Or do I keep quiet about it and have us go to our interview without a lease? That piece of paper seems to be placed on top of all "evidence" articles and posts we've been reading. I'm not sure if it's THAT important, provided how many other things we have together. It's a sticky situation. Ideally, we'd be able to move in the future...

Last summer, we were contemplating moving to NJ and started looking for a suitable place there. It's cheaper. And there were some good apartments. I would've gladly commuted to upper Manhattan for work. But then I got promoted... Not only did my hours change, but I now work in Brooklyn on Monday and Wednesday. I start at 10 a.m. and getting to work would've been no problem. But I finish at 7 p.m. on those days. And going back to NJ would've taken me at least 2 hours. Then the next 2 mornings (Tuesday and Thursday), I have to be at work at 8 a.m. which would've meant leaving home at 6:30 a.m. and so on. So NJ was no longer a suitable option.

I've never had the displeasure of hearing the "cougar" comments. But then again, we've only been together for about a year and 4 months. It would be unpleasant to say the least. I like

What happened to MouadsWife with the apartment is horrible!

@ robinanis: That's hilarious!

We're waiting for the interview notification at any point now. I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks again!

I applied for a permanent residency for my husband. He received his EAD 3 weeks ago. But now we're slightly worried about the upcoming interview.

We're both in the medical field. I'm a medical assistant and he's a podiatrist. (We met in the hospital where I work.)

We're both originally from the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia.

We're both Christians.

However... we have 15 years age difference with me being the older one. (I just turned 50.)

Also, I have 2 children (ages 23 and 13.) While my husband gets along great with both of his stepsons, he doesn't want any babies. In fact, that's one of the main reasons why he had split up with his ex wife.

We've been married since November. We dated for about 10 months before we got married.

Also, my husband's divorce from his ex wife only became final in September. But they had been living separately for one and a half years prior to that...

We had a small ceremony at City Hall in NY with just 2 of our friends as witnesses. My husband's parents and my mom reside in Europe. My younger son was at school. And my older one was at work. We went to a restaurant afterwards. But we have yet to go on a honeymoon (to Boston.)

Here's the evidence we have gathered for the interview:

- Joint tax filing documents.

- Joint medical & dental insurance (through my work.)

- Cable/Internet bill.

- Electricity bill.

- 2 Joint bank accounts.

- Joint credit card accounts.

- Renters insurance. NOTE: Unfortunately, I am unable to put my husband on the lease... My landlord and I don't have a written contract. I know, I know... that's very bad. At some point, the landlord had given me a hand-written note that had her name and address, the property's address and the amount I was to pay every month (I needed it for my work.) But I've been living in her place for over 2 years without any problems now. Apartments in NYC are crazy expensive. And we only pay $1,200 for a large 2 bedroom... My landlord lives out of state and has no idea that I'm married. She took pity on me when I rented the place because I was a single mother. If I were to tell that I married a doctor... well, she'd definitely increase my rent. There's a young couple living right below us. They pay $300 more each month for a smaller 1 bedroom apartment! My husband doesn't work yet... and I can't afford to have the landlord increase our rent. So, I can't put my husband on the lease for the time being. I'm not sure how I can explain this to the officer who's going to interview us...

- Hotel and other receipts from a week-long trip with my younger son to Chicago in the spring of 2014.

- Pictures from our engagement (which was very romantic - on a boat cruise on the Hudson River )

- E-mails, dating all the way back to February of 2014.

- Pictures with various friends, my father and my 2 sons + my older son's gf. These include pictures from our wedding day, my birthday, our dating and every day life, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.

- E-mails exchanged with wedding vendors. (We had a professional photographer. I had a very nice floral bouquet. I had also e-mailed a few officiants, because we wanted to do a fall wedding. But then I got very sick for a few weeks, so we had to postpone it.)

- Copies of greeting cards that we've given each other. I have a few holiday cards from our friends saved somewhere.

- Pictures of a wedding gift from my in-laws (who reside in Bulgaria) and a greeting card from them.

- Receipts from gifts that we've given each other.

I guess I'm primarily worried due to the fact that we have a significant age difference. Also, my husband's brother & his wife live in NJ. But he hasn't been having a good relationship with them for years now. I have never met them. They don't speak... at all.

What are your opinions on our case? I will greatly appreciate hearing them.