kimandfred

I just found a lot where you can make reservations that's pretty close to the airport and they have a shuttle to and from the airport, so I booked that. I'd rather not have to depend on friends for a ride because I live an hour and a half from O'hare.

Limo?

Hello,

My husband and I are going back to France for the holidays and I'm wondering about long-term parking at O'hare. We're leaving on December 23rd (probably the worst day to travel ever) and I heard that it could be so busy there on this day that the first-come, first-serve options of the economy lots may fill up. I've been searching for off-site parking as well, and I'm just bombarded with so many options and reviews (both good and bad) that I don't know what to do. I was wondering what others' experiences were parking long-term either at O'hare or the surrounding lots, especially using them during this busy traveling time.

Thanks.

-Kim

In 2007 my husband (then fiancé) used the VWP 4 times for a total of 75 days during the 4 visits and never had a single issue. He even got the same POE officer a couple times and the guy seemed to remember him, but still waived him through with no problems.

My fiancee has just booked his tickets to the US for christmas (we're both ecstatic!) and I'm just wondering if it will be a problem as he has previously visited 3 times this year... Once in February for 10 days, once in April for another 10 days and just recently in August for a month... He's coming for a month this December and he's worried that there will be an issue with customs!

We understand about bringing all ties to your home country and he has a letter from his employer available after discussing it with him as well as some bank statements and vehicle documents. Hoping to get some advice from people in a similar situation!

Hello Ferline,

Welcome.

To answer your questions, first, about the wedding, it wasn't an issue for us. We did the K-1 fiancé visa route, so when my fiancé finally came with the visa, we weren't married yet, so this didn't come up. We had a small civil wedding about 3 weeks after his arrival and sent out AOS papers and he was approved for his green card 7 months later with no interview, so in our case, immigration didn't care that we got married at the court house. It really shouldn't be an issue, not everyone dreams of a huge wedding with 200 guests and a big white dress.

My husband told his parents right away of his intentions to move to the US and while they said that they would miss him tremendously, they were very supportive and told him that his happiness was the most important thing. They were sad to see him leave, and he still misses them and France very much, but they really encouraged him to do what he needed to be happy. They are really great, and I couldn't have asked for better in-laws. However, at one point during the process, the waiting was getting too much and we were thinking of having me come and move to France and when I told my parents, to put it nicely, they were the complete opposite and were completely unsupportive and thought that they would never see me again if I moved there. (I should note that I hardly see them anyway, I live in WI and they live in OH and are used to living far from me.) So, it really depends on your relationship with your parents. I don't have a very good one with mine, so they just didn't understand where I was coming from and bascially had a fit, but my husband has a very good relationship with his, and they were very supportive.

Hello Wootstine,

It's hard, but definitely not impossible. Our story started over 10 years ago. We met when Fred came to the US to be an exchange student. We had a class together and became friends and I quickly developed a huge crush on him, but never said a word. He had to go home that summer, but we kept in touch through the years just through email and an occasional snail-mail letter. Then, in the summer of 2006 we got to talking via email about how unhappy we were with our current relationships and how we felt they weren't going anywhere. A few months later (after we ended our respective relationships) we decided to meet each other again for the first time in over 8 years in New York City and from then we knew we had to be together and we had to figure out how to do it. He came to WI to visit me again in Jan. 2007 and from there we decided that we wanted to get married and began our research into immigration. During the 8-month wait for our K-1, we were able to visit each other every 7-10 weeks (thank goodness you have 5 weeks of vacation in France, cause we sure don't!!!!!) and we emailed, talked on skype, called each other every single day. I don't know what we would have done without skype, it really helped make this work. However, at one point, I was really considering abandoning the K-1 and moving to France, but the more I thought about it, we decided to continue the K-1 since we were already 4 months into it.

I guess we just knew for sure that we wanted to be together and have made it work no matter what. Everyone is different, but if you really love each other, then you can make anything work.

I (the USC wife) do most of the cooking, but that's mainly because I get home from work at 4pm and can plan and prepare things beforehand, while he comes home anywhere from 6-7pm. The dishes are mainly done by him, but sometimes I do the dishes I use to cook with before we even eat (we're weird like that). However, before my husband could work, we split the cooking quite a bit and he did most of the cleaning. I like to cook, and he likes to eat my cooking so it works for us. Since I do most of the cooking now, I keep things healthy even though my husband has the metabolism of a hyperactive 5-year-old and never gains a pound, but we just look and feel better when we eat healthy.

I know where Brodhead is, I had to drive through it last weekend to go to a cheese festival (which was boring...). We live in Fort Atkinson, (another boring town) which is about 40 minutes east of Madison. We would both like to live in a larger city, Fred is having a bit of trouble adjusting to small towns cause he lived very close to Paris, and I'm originally from a larger town near Cleveland, Ohio, where you didn't have to drive through farm land to get from one town to the next.

Hi there,

This is my first post ever on this forum, even though I've been lurking here for months now...

Well, my fiancé and I just got approved and I needed to share the good news. I am so happy, I can't believe it finally happened!

I am the French one and my fiancé lives in Wisconsin, near Fond du Lac.

Good luck if your application is still being processed, I hope you won't wait too long.

Joy

What town? I live in WI too and sometimes have to travel near Fond du Lac for work. Not too much happens there though....

I highly recommend Panera. It's very good, and you will get a good satisfying meal that won't make you feel completely full and gross after eating, like a lot of other American chain restaurants make you feel.

I have a funny story about food though. It seems like when my husband first came here, we would go to visity friends or my family, and they all wanted to try and cook french food for him. We went to a friends house, and they made us fondue, crèpes, and french onion soup. Then, on a visit with my family, my grandma had to make french toast, and then asked my husband how his mother made it for him. Ahahaha! She didn't know that it's really not french. She really wanted to make some other kinds of french food, but I told her don't, he knows what french food tastes like and suggested she make some slovak food (which is her heritage.) Then, I visited France last summer, and Fred took me to one of his friends house, and they tried to have an American barbeque, with this sauce called 'American sauce' which was nothing like anything we have. Most of the meat ended up being burned....

I wonder if anyone has similar stories like this, I find them really funny.

We just ate at a restaurant called Panera Bread. I'm sure you could find one in your area since it's a chain restaurant. You can get very good sandwiches and soups there, as well as some very good pastries and the closest thing to a real french baguette you'll find. Miam, miam!

We tried that. It was messy and a lot of work, and while it tasted good, it in no way resembled french baguettes at all!

I found a good way to fake pain au chocolat and Fred loves it and says it's the closest thing we have unless we find a french bakery. Get a package of frozen puff pastry (pepperidge farm brand, you'll find it in the frozen dessert aisle of the grocery store) and semi-sweet chocolate chips. The pastry comes in two sheets, cut each sheet in fours after it thaws. Put some chocolate chips on each end and roll them up together so them meet in the middle, and place them on a greased cookie sheet seam side down. Brush with egg yolks and bake for about 25 minutes at 400° F or until golden brown. Not exactly the same, but very very close.

I got to try all the good foods when I was in Paris last summer and I really miss the good bread! There's really nothing like it here, ours are too soft, but no American will go to the store everyday for bread so they have to be softer so they don't go stale in a day.

I have to wonder if those worried that this experiment will blow up the world are more concerned that it will further disprove creationism and are using it as a cover.

Felicitations Cecile!

For the birth certificate, it's the date of the copy, it's a certified copy, with a raised seal, not an original. However, I sent in one that was a year old, and had no problems. I wasn't about to go about getting another one anyway, I live in WI, but was born in OH so that would have been a hassle. When we got married, we got extra certified copies of our marriage certificate because we knew we'd need them. You have to figure you'll need one for AOS, one to get your SS card and driver's license, one to send away to get your passport name changed, and one for the publication des bans, and one just to have I guess. I think we have about 5 total. Oh, we needed an extra one cause USCIS said we didn't include it in our AOS packet, but I'm sure they lost it, so it was good to have backups on hand.

Well, I did send them a photocopy of the birth certificate he's had for years for the "publication des bans" and had no problems. I just sent them an email to know if I need to send them other copies of these birth certificates, as they already have it, we will see what they answer.

Alright so I'm definitely going to need more certified copies soon. Do they keep them for the SS card and driver's license, or do they just want to see it?

For me, they just wanted to see it. I don't know if you've heard this yet, but it's a good idea to wait a couple weeks to get your SS card since it takes that long to get you in the systems, otherwise, you'll probably have to go back. You do have to send it away to change your passport, but you will get it back when they are finished. I had to send one with my passport, one to the state capital for the special seal, then that same one to the consulate, then two for AOS.

Hello

We got married yesterday!

I have a question for the ones who did the "transcription". Apparently they ask for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Can I just send a photocopy of that certified copy? I suppose that I can't but figured I should ask first. We only have one certified copy so if I need to send it, I'll have to request another one.

Congratulation on your wedding!!

The marriage certificate must have the apostille. In order to get it, you need to send your certified copy of the marriage certificate to the secretary of State who in exchange of a small fee ($10 or less, depends on your state) will attach an apostille to it. Without it, the French Consulate will reject your application.

Just a little FYI, your birth certificate cannot be older than 3 months and your US spouse's one cannot be older than 6 months.

You did the "publication des bans" right?

I am not sure if birth certificates are needed if you did things the right way.

yes we did the "publication des bans". I don't see how the birth certificate of my husband cannot be older than six months since they only get one. I mean, it's not like in France. What we get in France is a copy of our BC. Here they don't give a copy but an original. I had sent a photocopy of it for the publication des bans (along with mine, that was less than 3 months old - or 6 - can't remember). Maybe I'll send them an email to ask if we need to send BC again.

So since it needs the apostille I will really need to request another certified copy just for the French paperwork then.

Oh and we are dependant of the Consulate in Chicago, not Boston.

Felicitations Cecile!

For the birth certificate, it's the date of the copy, it's a certified copy, with a raised seal, not an original. However, I sent in one that was a year old, and had no problems. I wasn't about to go about getting another one anyway, I live in WI, but was born in OH so that would have been a hassle. When we got married, we got extra certified copies of our marriage certificate because we knew we'd need them. You have to figure you'll need one for AOS, one to get your SS card and driver's license, one to send away to get your passport name changed, and one for the publication des bans, and one just to have I guess. I think we have about 5 total. Oh, we needed an extra one cause USCIS said we didn't include it in our AOS packet, but I'm sure they lost it, so it was good to have backups on hand.

Yesterday our case was updated with 'Card production ordered.' I'm assuming that means we got approved with no interview. I hope at least, I want to be done with USCIS for a while!

Similiar thing happened to us. My husband's medical papers were lost by the embassy in Paris. They didn't include them in the magic packet that can't be opened until POE. They took him back to the room and made him wait forever, then someone said he was okay and could enter. He asked if it would affect his green card application, they said no. Within the next week, he contacted the embassy in Paris and they scrambled around trying to see what went wrong, but couldn't come up with the papers. He was able to get in touch with the doctor who did the exam and she sent us two certified copies of the documents. We sent this in with our i-485 packet back in January with a supplement explaining what happened. Fast forward to today, we got AP in March, then the EAD in April (although the EAD took forever and had to have a little push from our Senator because they took their sweet time scheduling him for biometrics) but then we got an RFE for the greencard a couple weeks ago. My husband was sure it was for the medical papers, or my 2007 tax information (I couldn't file beforehand because I didn't have my W2s), but no, they said we didn't include our marriage certificate, but I'm sure they lost it cause we checked and rechecked the packet a million times and we wouldn't forget the single most import document that allows a K-1 holder to apply for a greencard. It's been touched every single day since they received our reply almost two weeks ago, so I have no idea what they're doing with it. I just hope they aren't going to decide to send us more RFEs for these other things.

I didn't see this post earlier, otherwise I would have replied sooner. Here's what happened for us. Fred transfered a very large sum of money to an account here that he set up at the same bank as mine. Once his account was set up, he had to be in contact with his old bank (LCL, do you use them? They were a pain, but eventually did what he requested.)to transfer the money. They needed the bank rounting number and account number etc. They charged a small fee, but nothing too extreme. My bank assured us that the IRS can do nothing about it, they have no right to tax any of it, because it's not income. They just have the right to tax the interest that he'll earn while it's here. I think the red flag from $10,000 is when it's cash, because that could like like laundering, but if it's a wire transfer from a bank, or a cashiers check, they said it's fine. More than 6 months have passed, and everything continues to be good.

When looking at jobs especially during phone interviews, we are usually at the mercy of the interviewer. So its best to just explain the immigration situation. To point out that its illegal may make the applicants ego high but does not guarantee a job. So use the best judgement.

It also depends from job to job. I know in some position which require international travel, they like people who are willing to become USC because of the all the visa issues for people going to EU nations for third world countries.

I'm not suggesting at all that someone should point out that questions about citizenship status are illegal, because that could make you seem confrontational, but I just think everyone should be more aware of what is okay and what's not okay, in any setting. It's just as inappropriate for an employer to ask me if I'm married, or have children. Just be smart about answering these questions, for example, if you are applying for a job where you do not have to be a citizen, and they ask, just say that you are authorized for work in the US.

I had an interview not long after I got my EAD, before I knew what they should or shouldn't be asking. During the interview and this was with a local government agency they asked a number of questions about my "citizenship" my status and if I'd have trouble with immigration. At the time I didn't know they couldn't ask this and told them the truth, I had an EAD and would have a GC interview shortly and shouldn't have any problems becoming a resident... The said they hired someone before that had problems with his citizenship and he had to go home.

They didn't hire me.. maybe I didn't put up a good interview, maybe they didn't want to hire someone that might get kicked out of the country in a few months. Although I should mention this happened at the height of the demonstrations by undocumented immigrants. I don't think that did many favors for me either.

A month or so later I had my GC interview and about a week later I went for another interview with another department with the same government agency and got hired.

Geeez....it's too bad you didn't know that what they asked was out of line. I'm really wondering if people know that they are asking questions they shouldn't be asking and just don't care, or if they have no idea that they can't ask these questions. Either way, it's pretty sad. After all the stuff you have to go through just to come here and be with the person you love, you now have to deal with this sort of discrimination. I hope this post will at least make people more aware of these kinds of questions so they're better prepared, because I'm sure it's something that no one thinks about until it happens.

This wasn't a job that required US Citizenship at all, he wouldn't be applying for jobs that required citizenship (although an acquaintance stupidly suggested he try the CIA, because they need multi-lingual people, and insisted it would be okay, but we did the research and found you do indeed have to be a citizen for this, but that's another story.) I will check out the handbook link and pass the info on to him. We've had enough problems getting him his driver's license, getting his work permit, and now employers are asking these ridiculous questions. Another HR department from a different employer thought that he wouldn't be able to get a GC because the quota for work-based GCs has been met, they don't know anything about family based GCs and how there's no limits so he had to find the info for them.

However, I told him that if someone asks these questions again, to first say that he is legally authorized for work in the US and if they insist on his status, I told him to ask how such a question is related to the duties of the job. We are thinking about at least notifying the HR department of this company.

Hello everyone. Yesterday, my husband had a phone interview for a job and he was asked a very innapropriate and possibly 'illegal' interview question. The woman asked if he ever planned on becomming a U. S. citizen. The fact that this was a completely innapropriate question never crossed his mind, but he answered it anyway and said, no. She then said that she didn't want to hire someone who would then turn around and go home in 6 months or a year, but he said he had no intention of moving back home. (Again, something else that she had no business saying.) I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this where interviewers have asked questions that they aren't supposed to ask and how you've handled it. Has anyone ever bothered to do anything about it whether notifying HR of the company or legally? Just curious. Thanks.

We used a service in California that was about $40. Translation companies in France wanted twice that. I don't think doing it yourself is 'good enough' for what immigration wants unfortunately.

I'm french too. The international driving license is issued by the prefecture and it's free. As other people said, in some state you can drive on it in some other you can't. But if you can't then you should be able to get a state license. Don't let the DMV tell you that you can't drive while waiting for AOS. That's what happened to me, I had to find, call, send email to finally get what I wanted. Like Bob would say, you have to fight for your rights, ahahaha!

I can't answer because we both signed the lease with my wife but I'm sure a letter by your fiance will be absolutely fine. Are you seriously going to live in Wisconsin???? Where to? Lucky you, you missed the most horrible winter of all time....

Fred

Hi

I've got a question about the "Publications des Bans"

My fiancé and I intend to ask for it as soon as we arrive in the USA (he comes in France to spend a couple weeks and then we leave together to the USA). However they ask for an proof of residence and until we get married, everything is at my fiance's name (lease, bills...). Is it ok if my fiancé writes a letter attesting I'm living with him?

What have you all done regarding this matter?

My consulate in the Chicago consulate. I'm going to live in Wisconsin.