Daly

Thanks for all the replies, really helpful.

I have a question on behalf of my fiance in US who doesn't want to go through "two weddings." (Legal then a nicely planned ceremony a few months later for our families to attend.)

Once we're approved for a K-1, if I enter the US, does the K-1 have to be activated for the trip right after it's issued? He wants me to enter to work out wedding plans for four months down the line, return to Canada to wait a bit, then fly back to US at a date closer to the wedding to finally activate the K-1.

Is that allowed, or does the K-1 have to be used right away?

I honestly hope the answer is that it has to be right away, because I hate the idea of having to be apart from him again and playing the waiting game again.

any recommendations for facial moisturizers??

I usually end up going to Lush and asking an employee for help. (Just make sure you get an employee who knows their stuff. I'm currently using Celestial moisturizer in the daytime and Almond Kisses moisturizer at night from there, good stuff especially during winters. Also, my skin is crazy sensitive (Dove sensitive hurts like crazy) and those are the only two so far that work really well without burning my face.

But, if it's dry skin you're worried about, they do have moisturizers that are made up of 40% butters & oils, and they try to use more natural ingredients.

And for your hands... Lemony Flutter also from Lush. It's some really rich butter that can be used everywhere. Hands, heels, elbows, lips. Crazy good especially if your hands are super dry, cracking or just feel like sandpaper. If you do have super bad hands though, ask them if they can show you their hand treatment. "Magic hands" they call it. ... or was it "Spirit fingers?" :3

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...isrc=newsletter

16 to 18 months for citizenship? ::faint:: Oh well, I just want in the door first.

Congratulations and best wishes for a speedy interview date!

How are others getting the time and money to visit for 30, 60 or even 90 days? I know legally UK and Canadians can visit easily for long periods of time legally, but how are people doing it time and money wise? Maybe this is too private of a subject but I'm wondering if people who can do the very long stays do not need to work (i.e. wealthy), are students between semesters, unemployed, working legally in the others country, student in the others country, etc.?

Well, early on in my relationship with my fiancee we only got to see each other once a year for usually 1-4 months during the summer when university's out. As for money, I just shopped around for cheap flights, signed up for frequent flyer stuff and also set up a "California or Bust" fund to accept as a gift instead of actual xmas or birthday gifts. XD. But, can't do that anymore since I'm not a desperate university student anymore, and that means less time. The last time I visited him was only for 1 1/2 weeks.

But I understand what you mean about being able to visit with jobs and life in general getting in the way. He has the full-time job and can't visit me until he gets enough for a week (february most likely...booo) and I'm almost certain I'm gonna get grilled again at the airport by US officials and this time possibly turned away, so it's all on him. I guess the best thing to do would be to save up some vacation time and piggy back it with a mandatory vacation period, like a july shutdown or xmas/new year's.

NOA1 came in the mail yesterday! WOOHOO!

Congrats!!!

Now for the NOA2 waiting game. *sulk* But still, it's reason to celebrate!

It does annoy me even now because those three weeks could have really helped as we have our wedding booked for 11th Feb!!! But at the end of the day like you say, it is all water under the bridge and we can't change anything - we just have to get on with things

Lol, I know what you mean. I want to plan stuff too, but I can't because I have no guarantees to get the visa by then. And then I think also "But that's ___ weeks more I have to spend without him!" ::resumes sulking::

Oh well, we'll all hang in there and cross our fingers.

TWO returns, Daly?! what on earth happened?!

The first time, they said there was no cheque attached which I found hard to believe since Matt made a fuss checking to see if he had enough funds before mailing it off. He got an attached letter stating what amount to pay. So he sent it off again.

Second time, they sent it back that it didn't follow the new increase in fees which wasn't mentioned in the letter attached before. :S But, now it's just water under the bridge, but still... a month lost because of both returns. *sulk*

Hello, hello! I think I count as as september filer. Originally sent August 3rd, received two returns (grrr!)

Resent on Aug 31st, cheque cashed on the Sept 15th and NOA1 received on the 18th.

Strangest thing is the letter states it was received and filed as of August 13th, but the online case check states September 13th. :S Either way though, it's received.

Let's all stay sane through this stressful process.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll ask him to use personal check so we can see when it's processed, and I'll keep my fingers crossed. Hopefully it goes through this time.

Ugh, so my fiancee returned back to California after visiting me for a week for my brother's wedding to find the K-1 application packet on his doorstep, returned again. Last time, they told him he didn't include the fee payment like he was supposed to (he did though) and the document stated he needs to include a cheque of $170 (we got that after the increase date) and now my fiance's flipping out because this is the second delay so far and it's been almost two months since we first tried filing.

It's difficult to not tear my hair out and I think you all can relate with your own rejections. I'm just irate that the document they'd send out with the first rejected pack says the fees are $170 and makes no mention of the increase. The couriers must be happy to have our service if we still haven't gotten the first packet read through entirely.

I'm just wondering if there's anything else to stop us from even getting the packet looked at. Do they accept personal checks, or is it supposed to be bank money orders?

Thanks in advance.