Catalina Cuqui

OMG, I agree with this 1,000%!! I hate the lack of public transportation. I feel so self-conscious when I walk around, because I'm ususally the only one walking down the street. Also, drivers tend not to look out for pedestrians because they aren't used to people walking around. 

I also dislike the lack of benefits, the work culture, the lack of free healthcare and vacation time... Work-life balance in Europe is SO MUCH better. In Europe, people work to live; in the USA people live to work. I don't understand how Americans pay the same percentage of taxes as Europeans do, but lack basic services like reliable public transportation or healthcare. Where does all that tax money go?

Another thing is that, as a historian and art-lover, I really miss the beauty and cultural-richness of Europe. In Europe, most places you go have buildings that are hundreds or thousands of years old. There's art and beauty everywhere. Every corner is worthy of a picture. There's a lot more visual variety. In America, most places look sort of the same, at least to the European eye. I also sometimes miss the hustle and bustle of European cities: they feel alive. American towns may seem a little boring to Europeans, because there aren't as many interesting places to visit.

Or course, you eventually sort of get used to all of this. But I cannot deny I would never have moved to the USA if it wasn't for love. And although I am happy here, my husband and I do not rule out the possibility of moving back to Spain one day.

To sum up, in your case I don't think I'd personally change Prague for the USA. Of course, it would always be an experience, and ultimately it's up to you.  

OMG, I agree with this 1,000%!! I hate the lack of public transportation. I feel so self-conscious when I walk around, because I'm ususally the only one walking down the street. Also, drivers tend not to look out for pedestrians because they aren't used to people walking around. 

I also dislike the lack of benefits, the work culture, the lack of free healthcare and vacation time... Work-life balance in Europe is SO MUCH better. In Europe, people work to live; in the USA people live to work. I don't understand how Americans pay the same percentage of taxes as Europeans do, but lack basic services like reliable public transportation or healthcare. Where does all that tax money go?

Another thing is that, as a historian and art-lover, I really miss the beauty and cultural-richness of Europe. In Europe, most places you go have buildings that are hundreds or thousands of years old. There's art and beauty everywhere. Every corner is worthy of a picture. There's a lot more visual variety. In America, most places look sort of the same, at least to the European eye. I also sometimes miss the hustle and bustle of European cities: they feel alive. American towns may seem a little boring to Europeans, because there aren't as many interesting places to visit.

Or course, you eventually sort of get used to all of this. But I cannot deny I would never have moved to the USA if it wasn't for love. And although I am happy here, my husband and I do not rule out the possibility of moving back to Spain one day.

To sum up, in your case I don't think I'd personally change Prague for the USA. Of course, it would always be an experience, and ultimately it's up to you.  

I'm from a European Union country. I moved here on a K1 visa to live with my American husband in December 2014.
 
My personal biggest issue was the lack of public transportation. Back in Europe, I lived in a big city of 2 million people and I had access to buses, trolleybuses, subways, trams, etc - even night service. Also, I used to walk a lot. Now I live in a big Midwestern city and even though there are a few bus lines, the whole metro is so spread out that it's very hard to get from point A to B without a car. A lot of people drive even for very short distances like a few blocks away. Many streets don't even have sidewalks and I find this to be quite disappointing. I still walk a lot but a lot of times cars have stopped next to me and people thought that I was lost or that I was thrown out of a car or something. I just like to walk, plus it is very healthy. Also, I take the bus to work and I hate this stereotype that only poor people use the public transit.  I use it mainly because it reminds me of Europe. I hope to live in a city with better public transit and more walkable areas one day. 
 
The other thing I will probably never understand is how Americans call everybody a "friend". Even people they barely know and the ones that are acquaintances at best. Basically to say that "you are not my friend" would mean that "you are my enemy". To me, a friend means someone very close that I have known for years and shared every secret with.
 
To sum it up, I enjoy living in the US but I doubt I will ever get used to the two things above.  

Sort of. I have been here for almost two years now, it was straightforward finding a good job in my field and my husband and I are building a life together. 
I enjoy all the different cultures and the great food here in NYC/NJ. I do not enjoy the high cost of living, the constant pressure from the job side (lack of worker's rights, decent vacation etc - and I have a very good contract by American standards), the rabid capitalism and of course the completely bonkers politics.
 
I still miss Europe like crazy, my work-life balance was way better, my family was close. If it wasn't for my husband, I would never ever have moved to the US. I would love to move back to Europe in a heart-beat, but my husband has zero job prospects there, so sadly, no dice. Those are the prices you have to pay in an international relationship.
 
If you have a good life together in Prague and you can see yourself living there long-term,  why not stay? Life in Europe is definitely easier than in the US, in my opinion. Alternatively, keep the door to return to Prague open and try stateside living for a few years.

I'm from Europe and what I personally find difficult is the work culture. I'm used to a more laid-back culture with lots of benefits and rights. Is hard to find in the US from what I've seen and experienced.

I totally get you. I am going through the same emotional process, although I don't have a job yet. But since I got my EAD, I've gone from bored to stressed. Like you said, I feel like I've gotten used to staying at home these past 7 months, and although at first it was hard not to work, now I feel like I am scared of working again, specially in a new country, new customs, different language. I also have social anxiety, and I feel like I'm not ready for the huge change. When I first arrived here I would have started wroking straightaway! But now, after 7 months of staying home, I feel like I've gotten even more introverted than usual and I am honestly not lookign forward to leaving my shell. It's so frustrating. lol

We will most likely live in California. 
I know people are friendly and everything. My fiance says I just need to know who is trustable and who isn't by just looking at what they wear and how they behave etc.
I never really grew up in ghetto environment and/or multicultural places. 
When I was in Cali, there're places he mentioned that wasn't safe. 
In Japan people can still walk alone outside at night, and usually nothing happens. 

As for safety...
I am from Japan, lived in Netherlands in the past. Both places were safer compared to US. 
If I get visa and move to US, I think my fiance's insurance can cover me as well until I get a job.
Hearing him getting huge amount of bills just make me worry. (10mins of hospital visit cost 200 usd, dental cost 2000usd etc)
As Japanese who been to Europe, I've never seen this kind of system nowhere and its insane...
He recently had kidney stone, costed 6000usd (insurance covered..) and it already went to collection...
 

hey y'all!
 
Hope you had an awesome 4th of July!
 
Feeling "fresh meat", will be starting work in a couple of weeks. I feel like I've somehow become used to staying at home for the past half year waiting for my papers and all, that I'm not used to dealing and meeting with new people let alone be in a new environment. Don't get me wrong, I feel lucky (blessed, ecstatic) to have a job just a month after getting my green card but I feel so freakin nervous (have social phobia). There were times that I felt bored, sad during the "wait" period these past months but now that everything seems to be falling into place I feel like I'm not ready yet. lol.  Anyone who was, or is in the same boat? haha

You can call me Dido, I prefer.

Yep, cannot get the annotation removed until you have your green card.

This link is helpful: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#a0=2
"We issue three types of Social Security cards. All cards show your name and Social Security number.
-The first type of card shows your name and Social Security number and lets you work without restriction. We issue it to:
U.S. citizens; and
People lawfully admitted to the United States on a permanent basis.
-The second type of card shows your name and number and notes, “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.” We issue this type of card to people lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis who have DHS authorization to work.
[...]"
EAD is a temporary work authorization so the annotation will still be on the card. When you become a permanent resident, the annotation disappears (so you need to go back to the SS office to let them know your change of status, see here: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#a0=6).

OP, would you rather be safe, or treat the issue casually and be sorry?
CBP agents can be encountered anywhere, including at airports. In my extensive experience, they never have a sense of humor, and usually they're looking to nail somebody.
When Mrs. T-B. was going through the process, I had her carry the following with her at ALL times:
-- passport + I-94 and marriage certificate; then
-- copy of AOS application cover-letter and marriage certificate; then
-- NOA1 from AOS and marriage certificate; then
-- AP card and marriage certificate; then
-- green card.
And yes, these were officially needed more than once.
I can't believe that members here would recommend treating the situation casually. Keep unquestionable proof of your legal status with you at all times.

Bob, JimVaPhuong has noted that ICE agents have stood at the TSA posts in the San Francisco airport, for example. Federal agents are everywhere; the government has unlimited time and resources to make our lives miserable; and I believe that our beneficiaries should keep the newest paperwork or documentation that they have with them at all times until the next step of the immigration process produces new paperwork or documentation.

Awesome!

lol freeeee like Dobby!  

Getting it sent off IS an amazing feeling! Keeping fingers crossed that you get smooth sailing and NO rfe's! 

No need for police certificates in the aos packet

I got my NOA'1 on November 5 and my biometrics letter on November 10 scheduled for the 21st of that month also. You might want to wait out the biometrics appointment and then make concrete plans of leaving town.

We had are Biometrics letter within a few weeks at both the AOS and ROC stages.  I agree that it can be a pain when scheduling trips if you are waiting for USCIS responses, but as Scandi said, you can try for an early walk-in, or even possibly a later walk-in.  As to making plans, maybe research timelines to see, but that is up to you.
 
Good Luck!  

Well, I agree on that!! I just meant that you can't freely go on holidays, or have a honeymoon... because you need to be checking the mailbox. 
But definitely, AOS is so much better than the whole visa process: you're finally together!! Having to say goodbye after spending months together, the big time difference, his absence... it was heartbreaking. Now I can see him every day.  

Not really, this process is very easy since I get to be with my man through every step of it. The visa process was way worse, one of the absolute hardest things I've ever done. AOS is a breeze this far. 

Awesome. Thanks!!!  

Thanks Scandi!!  I will then just send a photocopy of the DS3025 the embassy nurse gave me.

Also, I asked my husband to do his taxes this weekend before I file.

 
 
Thanks Suss&Camm!  

I got my visa in late December, flought here in early January, and we got married on February 14th.  

Yes, she finally filled my vaccines and marked them as complete, but only after the embassy told her to do so. LOL I do know though, that thanks to the hassle I made , other people who came after me got theirs done no worries, so yay!

First, I'm sorry to hear that.
 
Second..when was your case denied? If you got married in Oct. 2016 and got denied recently, then it's probably because you are not eligible. A K-1 visa is only for fiances...you cannot be married to anybody.
 
You can file a CR-1 for him, but I would wait to know for sure why your K-1 was denied first. Without correcting that, they aren't likely to approve a CR-1. Ghana is an extremely strict embassy because Ghana is a very high fraud country for US immigration. You need to show very strong evidence of a bona fide relationship, and lots of face time. I don't know your case, but for example, getting engaged or married after your first in-person visit raises red flags. Previously denied visas raises flags. Age discrepancies are more likely to raise a flag (relative to many other countries).
 
The form you need is I-130 to petition for him so he can later file for a CR-1.

It is just sad that we have to rely on an incompetent lying doctor in hopes that she properly filled out the form. Which I'm doubting she did it the correct way now that she's revealed her work ethic.