tucson_chick

Freaking out now - Spoke to Jeremy the last time before he gets here... next time I see him will be forever... and then I will be leaving...and I am so scared ><

why are you scared? aren't there a million things to look forward to? at least you don't have to fly by yourself!

calm down, take a deep breath and be HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(sais the right person.......)

HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think anyone is that concerned really because it is so expensive to go home that even with AP I might not be able to

yeah, but it is not only about going home, it is about honeymoons and travelling and stuff, too. we live really close to the boarder, so it would be nice if we could go to the beach in mexico for the weekends and stuff. plus, you never know when family emergencies happen. a girl in the germany forum couldn't get her emergency AP fast enough to say goodbye to her deadly ill father - because she didn't apply for AP and it took over a year for her GC to be approved.

so it's only ONE more piece of paper to put your name and SSC on, it's not that big a deal to fill it out, but in case of emergency it might be worth a million.

oh, and congrats to the EAD!

i felt so relieved when i was able to work and had a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quick Update : We received approval on May 29, and the greencard arrived in the mail on June 7.

Its a very cool card- all of the portraits of the presidents from Washington to Bush are on the magnetic stip on the back.

Now some peace for 2 years

no news here. it is driving me crazy. i get the feeling that my file got lost or something.

question: my case-status says that my file is at the national benefit center. (since.....04/13).

but when i look at the processing times for the national benefit center, there is no informationa for I-485.

are there any other filers whose papers are at the nationalal benefit center?

OMG guys - I'm moving in three weeks and I still can't get my head around it - it is soooo weird - I know I am moving and I can't wait to be there, but I am really dreading leaving if that makes sense - all the goodbyes and emotional BS and stuff... How did everyone else deal with that? I just want to be there now - if I could skip the good bye part I would be sooo much happier!!

well - for me it was so stressful, as i was working fulltime 4 weeks before i left in february, that i didn't have the time to really soak it in and to stress about it. but it's catching up to me. looking at the luggage tags brings tears to my eyes and i am trying to understand how i had the guts to do this.

but - aly, just like usual: IT WILL BE FINE!!!!!

oh, and i now know where i want to go for our belated honeymoon: BORABORA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! now we only need to win the lottery!!!!!

i am SOOO excited!!!!!

Yay!!! Now remember that and listen to yourself when you feel down!! Besides - I forbid you to move back to Germany - It'll b e much easier to visit you in Tucson

What you doing mid-August?! We'll be driving up to Sedona then for our legal shenanigans so...

mid-august? ah, i have to tell you, its this crazy story:

one day, i went to a bar, got drunk a lot, and met this guy. and, you know, i just had to marry him and then i just had to move to the US. but the visa stuff is really hardcore, so i joined a internet community. there, i met this funny girl from england, and i will meet her in sedona!!!!!

YAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG guys - I'm moving in three weeks and I still can't get my head around it - it is soooo weird - I know I am moving and I can't wait to be there, but I am really dreading leaving if that makes sense - all the goodbyes and emotional BS and stuff... How did everyone else deal with that? I just want to be there now - if I could skip the good bye part I would be sooo much happier!!

well - for me it was so stressful, as i was working fulltime 4 weeks before i left in february, that i didn't have the time to really soak it in and to stress about it. but it's catching up to me. looking at the luggage tags brings tears to my eyes and i am trying to understand how i had the guts to do this.

but - aly, just like usual: IT WILL BE FINE!!!!!

oh, and i now know where i want to go for our belated honeymoon: BORABORA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! now we only need to win the lottery!!!!!

i am SOOO excited!!!!!

massive babyfever right now.

oh, and my job is a major pain in the neck. i made a mistake that might be pretty bad, and i am kinda sure that they will fire me next week. they make me rush like crazy through things, so i don't have the time to double check for mistakes....

i guess i would be kinda relieved i they would fire me, as they are all micromanagers (i had to sign a memo on how to clean my desk on fridays, there are 3 steps with different detergents....). but on the other hand, i REALLY like my paychecks.

the financial insecurity resulting from being fired would suck, but man, this job is a pain....

hope everybody has a great weekend!!!!

FREE HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

Can I be an auntie too - even if it is only for a short while!?

Once an Auntie, always an Auntie But that can´t stop you from becoming a Mommy too

CONGRATULATIONS; MARTA!!!!!!!

Here too! And I am so freaking tired right now. We are still not done getting my house reawdy for sale and I am just tired of doing work in it.

The good news is that the home inspection for the new house went well on Saturday, so we are all systems go this time around!! Plus, since Griff's green card is approved he can be on the mortgage as a co-borrower!! I guess there were a few good reasons why that other house didn't work out!!

oh wow, i envy you about your greencard progress. i didn't get any touches or anything so far. it#s about to drive me NUTS.

@chris: yeah, i can imagine that it's a lot for you guys, just having moved, still adjusting, newly wed and preggo. but i'm sure that you guys can handle it.

i have crazy babyfeever, but i don't allow myself to follow it, as i feel that we first need more time for us, to become closer and a better team. plus, i want to have some savings before we start a family, especially as i want to be SHM.

homesickness is hitting me hard this week, especially as eric as a staph infection in the finger he broke recently. the medication is really strong and he's not really enjoyable....... ohwell.

but work is becoming easier and more enjoyable, so that's something, and the pay isn't that bad after all

@ stp: i didn't do anything but yardwork for a week after i arrived here. but it was good for my spirits and the yard.....

@ debz: CONGRATULATIONS!!!! i want to see pics!!!!!! eric nearly forgot his wedding vows and was running late......

@ stp: i would most defo go for lindt, but it's the most expensive, too. ritter is my second choice, milka the third. but at the moment i would even kill for milka *g*

@ all: last weekend we were travelling through the national parks in utah, and i had to get my suitcase out of the closet where it was sitting since i arrived. the luggage tags of the airlines were still on them, and it completely puzzled me that i really had the guts to get on that airplane, or, first of all, to pack all my stuff, to plan the whole move and weddign and stuff, and then, to really walk up to the counter of the airline and check in ...... do you know what i mean? looking back today, i can hardly believe that i really had the guts to do it. and if it was worth it. i really question it. i feel like a bad person. but i really do. i spent about 3h crying just about the luggage tags.

i don't question marrying, i question if i will be happy here longterm. and i try to figure out what i need to do to become more happy longterm and shortterm. i try to be realistic about things, and i try to be positive about things. but man, its hard.

I'm sorry you feel homesick

wenn ich in der Nähe wäre, könnten wir zusammen Kaffee trinken und Heimweh diskutieren

und ganz viel Schokolade essen

*hug*

the budgie's name is Pippin

hs is GORGEOUS

aaaaah, i didn't know that your german was so perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm homesick. i want to go home.

off for comfort shopping now.

So it´s May 17 already. Our timeline says AP news should arrive May 22 and EAD May 28 Hope it´s right. Not feeling like waiting too much longer right now It´s not like it´s an annoying wait or anything, but just wanna put this paperwork behind me for now already I know it´s still gonna take a while for the AOS though

the VJ estimated dates for my AP and EAD was exactly correct.

but still no news at all on the AOS. ohwell....

i'm so ready for this paperwork to be over.

but then, there will still be the paperwork in 2 years....

hope everybody has a great weekend!

Yay!! Kevin!! I am sooo happy for you guys

How are Natasha and Vika settling in? How is Vika at her new school? Did you get that math thing sorted out!?

*dashes off to look at piccies and things*

Vika is doing excellent in school, which she loves (most days). Her progress in English is just amazing. Natasha is ready to look for a job, but we still have to wait for AOS and EAD. She comes to work with me 9 days out of 10 and plays on the computer. Next up is SSN name change, then submit all the docs for AOS. Given the cost of the application and the recent wedding expenditures, I imagine we'll be filing just prior to the visa expiration!

CONGRATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

don't tell me about finances... i started teaching german to make some money until i had a job.

basically, i ant to go throught jfk and then on to minneapolis international airport. how do you book flighs so that you can go through jfk first then to minnesota?

I bought to seperate tickets, one from germany to JFK, and one from JFK to arizona. i had to change terminals and re-checkin and everything, but it was well worth it.

(at least for me as I already had a SSN).

oh, that's great, thanks so much for telling me that!

now i only need to win the lottery to afford the honeymoon in the carribean !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

going to bed now.

have a great sunday night!

@chris: oh, it's great that her grandma lives in kansas! i wish i had relatives here! it makes it so much easier!

Dave's here!!

we had a lovely day yesterday, meeting family, and are planning a day out in the city together today

we NEVER have to do the big goodbye thing again

ah, i'm so happy for you!

:)

i received my EAD and AP yesterday, turns out, they give you 2 APs, meaning you can leave and reenter twice. (that's at least how I understandt it). it's a piece of paper with a ton of security-thingy's like holograms and stuff, and a color picture and next to the color picture is a field for a stamp and signature of the immigration-officer that paroles you into the country.

ohwell, the only trip we planned so far is to go home for christmas, and i hope to have my greencard by then.

the most important is the EAD.

so i went yesterday to have my DL renewed :)

anyway: i hope that everybody is having a great weekend.

no hugs, i'm feeling sick and don't want to contaminate the VJ-family.

Chris - the pics are wonderful - you look so happy and Gretchen looks so beautiful - what a fantastic dress!! I think my favourite piccie is number 12 though

Lol, you would pick the one pic where im crying and trying to stop, and she cant look at me or she will cry. Once we got to listening to the reverend, we got it under control and were able to get thru it and enjoy the moments.

She was so breathtaking coming down the isle, as every bride should be to her husband.

I am such a lucky man

Chris

BEAUTIFUL! the dress is amazing! is the lady on her side her mum?

how old is gretchen? i have a hard time guessing the age of asians somehow.

ah, sorry about the RFE, that stinks. but at least it can be fixed easily. i did the paperwork myself, but it took eric 10 days to give me the W2 forms.......

oh, but good news (sorry for making you envious) MY EAD AND AP GOT APPROVED (basically the last one of the february filers who got approved though....).

yai-hay! now i only need my EAD card before thursday (that's when my EAD stamp expires....)

EAD got approved today, AP on 5/1. finally.

:)

now i just want them to send me the damn card ASAP and to approve the AOS.

this whole immigrations process is a pain in the neck.

well, if you already have a SSN due to a J1 visa or F1 visa, the POE JFK might be worth it.

I already had a SSN, got married and filed for EAD right away. flew in via JFK, and found a job 7 weeks after arrival. my EAD was approved yesterday, so there should be no gap between the working authorizations.

but if you don't have a SSN yet, it might not be worth it. but it is REALLY worth to get married and file for AOS right away.

aly, sweetheart, i understand SO well how you're feeling. the weeks before I left, i was a mess. I needed constant reassurance that he still loved me, i even asked him if he washed the sheets and if he had a toothbrush, and not only once.

i was just going completely crazy, and eric started to withdraw because he couldn't stand my insecurity.

in the first weeks here, it was really rough. but somehow i made it through that time.

there is no question: it is hard. but there is is NOTHING better in the world than sitting in front of the TV on a saturday noon, in your pj's all cuddled up with each other, just being close. Or a random tuesday evening after work with a glass of cheap wine and a pizza. those are the moments to recharge for the next homesickness crisis.

you WILL make it, there will be days when you will be crying a lot, but there will be more moments of 1000% happiness than sad moments. you have to try to pull yourself through it. it is hard work (at least it was for me).

everybody is anxious and nervous about even moving into a new apartment in the same city, but you are moving half around the world!

you will be fine, sweetheart!! you will grow, and so will jeremy

our AP was approved may 1st, i didn't see it until today, as it wasn't online as case status until that date.

*sigh*

i REALLY need my EAD.....common, please.........

my EAD card was ordered again yesterday, i recieved the email from Cris, thats odd... i thought they ordered it like 5 days ago... hmmmmmm juz wondering

nothing new here. i WANT MY STUPID EAD.