Thijs

I found a job about 2 weeks after I got my work permit. Seems OK, a job at a videostore (I like movies so that's a no-brainer) which is only 2 blocks away from my house (I don't have a car or even a DL yet so being nearby was important).

is it "beneath me"? I don't have any specialized skills so I wont say it's beneath me. Do I like it? No.

The company wants us to get 'excited' over pretty much everything that goes on, which is pretty hard if they're paying only $8.25 per hour (recently my wage got boosted up from $7.95, and so now my manager thinks I am forever in her debt), and while breaking numerous labor-laws in the process.

the co-workers are pretty cool, there's 2 other guys that I hang out with after work so that's good.

bad part (besides the shitty wage)? Customers and management. I'm starting to think there's something in the water here that messes with people's IQ's.

then again, I suppose videostores, libraries and gas-stations all have to deal with all the genetic debris that walks around.

seems the city of Belleville is having an opening for a custodian somewhere next month, I'm gonna see if I can apply there.

$20 an hour, benefits, health insurance AND the protection of a Union seems somewhat more attractive than having to deal with idiots and a sex-starved manager all day *shivers*.

I'm in Illinios, sorry.

Hi,

I'm getting married to a USC this friday (January 11th 2008).

After we're married (or right when getting married actually), I want to start using my wife's last name, instead of my wife using my last name.

Can this name change take place right there and then at the county clerk's office?

Also, after the name change, who all should I inform about it? I understand that the SSA and the USCIS need to know about it, but are there any other offices who need to know?

Can I keep my passport the way it is now (still has my old name in it)? The passport is valid until 2011, so if I can wait to change that one until it's expired, that would be nice.

Thanks in advance.

So tell me...

What's in that mysterious brown envelope? I've been holding on to it like it's the Holy Grail, and I am kinda curious.

Hey everyone,

Let me just say I am starting to get very overwhelmed. Especially looking at things financially. How do you guys do it? I am just a simple college student trying to get by. Luckily my parents have and can support me now with my own personal living costs, but when I get married, life is going to be completley different. I am currently trying to save up money and going to University part time. I am afraid that once I get married things will get too tough money wise, which could eliminate my college education. So I am just wondering, how do you guys make things happen? How do you make it work? How do you bear all these stressful times. Maybe I am worrying too much, maybe I need to learn that this is life. I really do not know. I need some support..

Just remember why you're doing it, it'll all be worth it. that's the only advice I can give you really.

*sigh*

I'll add it to the "list of costs"

About changing a name:

Does anyone know if it's possible in the state of Illinois for the man to change his last name right after the wedding ceremony, so before the AOS?

I have a Dutch last name which would cause some trouble for American to pronounce, so I wish to take my future wife's name. The sooner I have her name, the better. Changing it before the wedding would be kinda akward, since people might think we're brother and sister who are getting married.

Thank you all very much for the replies, at least I don't have to worry so much now (one of my fiancee's complaints about me )

If things are the same now. Stewie will give you an I-94 to fill out on the plane. IO will stamp it and stable in your PP.

It will expire 90 days after you arrive. After that you are in "Limbo" until you adjust status and get the GC.

So, in example, what would happen if I get into contact with the police and I need to show ID? If I show them my passport, it will not have any proof being a legal resident in it, right?

(assuming I don't have the greencard yet)

Hi all,

I'm about to leave for the US within a month.

I'm just curious:

Once me and my fiancee are married, do I get some kind of ID to proof that I'm no longer there as a fiancé? I know getting the greencard after the AOS is filed can take quite some time, so what do I have to carry on me to prove that's I'm in the US legally?

My Dutch passport only has the K-1 visa in it, so that doesn't prove anything beyond being a fiancé.

Thanks

*runs off to update his timeline*

I totally forgot to do so.

Well it's been a while, but I had my Visa-interview on September 6th.

The Visa has been aproved, and today I got it in the mail. Thanks for all the help everyone.

Well, I just had my medical done today, no questions asked

thanks everyone

Thanks for the replies. Here's some pictures of the scars.

As you can see they are not too big, but the story "I fell on a roll of barbed-wire once" (as I was thinking of telling) won't really work well.

Hi all,

I have my medical exam for the K-1 visa coming up on august 16th. Now there's not really anything I'm worried about, except on the form DS-3026 there is question 2, the physical examination.

There's a bunch of boxes for certain subjects that the physician needs to tick ("normal", "abnormal", and "not done").

One part in particularly worries me.

"Skin (Including hypopigmentation, anesthesia, findings consistent with self-inflicted injury or injections)"

The thing is, when I was about 17 or 18 I've cut myself on the arm on several occasions. Some scar tissue can be seen there, but it was never a cause for going to the hospital or for getting any kind of phyciatric help (psychiatrist, mental hospital etc.). Nor was it any attempt to end my life. After a while I just stopped doing it and didn't do it again.

Anyways, could this render me ineligible for a K-1 visa? I'm a bit in 2 minds about this, as telling the truth (when asked) might render me ineligible, while the risk of lying and being ineligible over that is simply unacceptable.

Does anyone have any idea what might be the outcome of this?

Thank you.

Hey all,

I received packet 4 in the mail yesterday, and I had a question about the payment of the application fee for my interview.

In the letter it states the following:

FIRST: TRANSFER €80,- VISA PROCESSING FEE PER APPLICANT INTO OUR BANK ACCOUNT XX.XX.XX.XXX, WITH ABN-AMRO BANK. PLEASE MENTION YOUR PASSPORT NUMER AND NAME. THE BANK STATEMENT SHOWING THIS TRANSFER MUST BE PRESENTED ON THE FINAL INTERVIEW DATE AS PROOF OF PAYMENT. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO PAY THIS VISA APPLICATION FEE.

My question is:

Do I HAVE to use the ABN-AMRO bank to make the payment? The thing is, I have my account with the RABO-bank. Can I just use my own bank to transfer the fee to the Consulate's account number, or am I restricted to using the ABN-AMRO bank to make the transfer?

The sentence they use can mean 2 things: Either the Consulate has it's account with the ABN-AMRO bank, OR they demand that the applicant uses the ABN-AMRO bank to make the transfer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I want to do this as soon as possible.

Thanks in advance.

It sounds like that is the bank they have an account with. Just transfer the fee to their account and keep the receipt as proof of payment.

Thanks a bunch.

Hey all,

I received packet 4 in the mail yesterday, and I had a question about the payment of the application fee for my interview.

In the letter it states the following:

FIRST: TRANSFER €80,- VISA PROCESSING FEE PER APPLICANT INTO OUR BANK ACCOUNT XX.XX.XX.XXX, WITH ABN-AMRO BANK. PLEASE MENTION YOUR PASSPORT NUMER AND NAME. THE BANK STATEMENT SHOWING THIS TRANSFER MUST BE PRESENTED ON THE FINAL INTERVIEW DATE AS PROOF OF PAYMENT. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO PAY THIS VISA APPLICATION FEE.

My question is:

Do I HAVE to use the ABN-AMRO bank to make the payment? The thing is, I have my account with the RABO-bank. Can I just use my own bank to transfer the fee to the Consulate's account number, or am I restricted to using the ABN-AMRO bank to make the transfer?

The sentence they use can mean 2 things: Either the Consulate has it's account with the ABN-AMRO bank, OR they demand that the applicant uses the ABN-AMRO bank to make the transfer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I want to do this as soon as possible.

Thanks in advance.

No point taking most my DVD's due to region difference, eletrical appliances getting sold off to friends and family. Much nearer time I'll be transfering all essential files to my laptop to carry over and selling my PC.

Same here, except I'll just throw away my computer (it's from 2003 anyway), plus I used Yahoo to send over all the GB's of pirated music

Last time we trusted an airline with a guitar as a checked item it got stolen by aer lingus who have refused to compensate and basically just told us 'tough luck'!!

This caught my eye. I'm currently in the process of looking at a flightcase for a guitar since I want to take it along as check-in luggage. What airline did you fly with? Did you have your guitars insured? How did it all turn out, did you get any type of compensation from anyone (airline or insurance company)?

I always like sending these around to the right people

no problem...also...i dont know if you pay for the service you use to chat with you SO, but you can always print out bank statements if necessary...thats another thing that i did, which i left out in my previous post...bank statements showing many many many charges to that same international calling card...

dont forget tho...dont JUST rely on the chat logs...theyre good to have, but definitely copy your passport stamps/visas, plane tickets, bank statements with purchases in SO's country, photos of you two together, receipts receipts receipts, etc

=)

good luck!

Oh, I have pics, stubs, passport stamps, bank statements, so that's no worry

thanks again!

once again, thank you!

Thanks a lot

And just to be sure, who should send the letter? The U.S. petitioner or the alien beneficiary?

Is there a time frame wherein the letter must be sent, or can we just send it now?

Hello,

The NOA2 my fiancee (she's the USC who filed the I-129f) and me (I'm the Dutch benificianary) received will expire on September 2, 2007. Now, from what we understand, the interview has to be done before that date.

I'm still in the process of gathering all the information to fill out Packet 3, and I still need to get a Birth certificate and photographs.

My fiancee has just sent out the entire I-129f package to me, it should arrive somewhere around friday July 6th.

However, there is no telling as to when exactly I have gathered all information for Packet 3 or when I have the Birth certificate and Photographs.

Now, from the K1 timelines, it seems that there is appr. 4-6 weeks between the moment they give you an interview date and the actual interview (In the Netherlands). This might get very tight for us, since right now there is 8-9 weeks left until the NOA2 expires.

Is it useful for us to file for a "Request to Extend Approval of I-129f"?

I've looked at the example Request letter, and it seems simlpe to do. Are there any specific things we should know about when filing this request?

Thanks

Thijs

Thanks babybluesusie.

My lady and I don't have any phone records at all since we never call eachother. Plenty of chat logs though, hope that will suffice.