Cecile and Bryan

I read that the discovery health national challenge (or whatever it is called) gives free memberships at a gym for a month. So I went on the website to sign up because it would definitely be good to do some kind of exercise... and apparently you can only subscribe if you are a US Citizen!!!

I can understand that some jobs are only for US citizens, national security and all that, but seriously, why shouldn't we be able to get that free membership?!

Welcome ABENITEZ!

We are the January filers of last year, there doesn't seem to be a new one this year. But you are all welcome in this thread

5 foot....275

three times my weight for the same height... crazy

yes they should have MRI machines that fit everybody but maybe everybody should make an effort to maintain a somewhat normal weight...

Congratulations Pam!!!

In St. Louis, the Planned Parenthood got a grant to do HPV vaccines for free last year, so I have done two shots there already (next one in three months). I didn't really want to do it because I don't like the fact that they make us do the vaccine but they don't make US citizens have it mandatory, but since I know we have to do it, I took that occasion. At least this way I got it for free!

What I did: I didn't fill it out but I think I will get a RFE (and it's strange that I haven't gotten one yet) At that time I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do so I figured I wouldn't do anything and see what they say in the RFE.

What I think we have to do: have the vaccination part of the form filled out by a civil surgeon, but only the vaccination part because K1 holders don't have to do the other ones. That's what is written in the official instructions for the I-693.

Mes parents avaient juste écrit "Cadeaux". Mais mon colis a été ouvert (ils ont un peu abîmé la boîte de chocolats)

C'est ce que mes parents ont fait!

Le moins de details que tu mets, le mieux que tu te portes!

Desolee pour ton colie, Cecile! Esperons que les chocolats etaient toujours bons!!

Oui oui, ils etaient toujours bons, donc ce n'est pas trop grave !

Mes parents avaient juste écrit "Cadeaux". Mais mon colis a été ouvert (ils ont un peu abîmé la boîte de chocolats)

I got news from Blake, I forwarded his email to most of you so you know what happened. If I forgot someone, just tell me and I'll send you a PM too.

Congratulations Courtney!

OK, I just sent him an email. Hopefully he's OK!

I have Blake's private email address (he sent me some stuff for marriage vows once). Do you think I should send him an email? I have been thinking about it a lot recently, but at the same time, if he doesn't come on VJ anymore maybe he doesn't want us to contact him either. I don't know what to do! I really hope he is OK!

On another note, my parents have a boxer too, he's almost 10 years old now (near the end of his life). Those dogs stay playful their entire life!

Thank you for the recipe I think I am going to try the international stores to see if they have almond powder. They definitely don't have it at the normal grocery store.

It doesn't matter if the shape of your galette was square, as long as it was good!

There is a January 2009 K1 thread but it's people who filed at Vermont, not CSC.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=170489

Miam, j'ai teste la recette de galette des rois qui avait ete postee il y a quelques semaines + 1/3 de creme patissiere pour en faire une frangipane. Un vrai regal. Comme a la maison

Merci pour la recette

Did you grind almonds yourself to make the "poudre d'amande"?

And did you follow the recipe of the "creme patissiere" that was linked to the galette des rois recipe? Did you use the same amounts? they say it's for 6 servings but I wonder if that is the amount needed for the galette.

i don't like it. it's like a cactus between my legs.

that's what I was trying to keep from saying. you know my resolution and all.

If it's really short (1 or 2 millimeters), yes that's like cactus. But once it grows longer it doesn't feel bad anymore

We spend 50-60 dollars on grocery for the two of us (just food, not including detergents, shampoo, and other stuff for the house). That's three meals a day, he brings what is left from dinner at lunch the next day. I buy a lot of vegetables and fruits, we buy the meat (mostly for him) in 'family size' and freeze it.

We rarely go out for dinner more than once a week and usually it costs us less than 30 dollars for two. Unless that is for a special event, like a birthday or his 1 month without smoking.

edit: I forgot to say that no, we don't try to skimp on food. it's just that I try to buy veggies that are in season, and we don't buy already-prepared meals that cost 10 dollars each.

I kind of forgot about the Galette des rois! So if I do it, it will not be this weekend. As for the feve, I have no idea...

I said "other". I don't care either way, some people with beard look nice, some without beard look nice too, no preference really.

My husband has a beard (not too bushy either, I usually make him trim it before it gets too big), I think he looks better when his facial hair is half an inch long. When he shaves it it's a little too short, then he lets it grow a little too much unless I remind him to trim it once a month, but in between it's perfect

Wow Rachel, this is bad timing. I hope they will manage to find another job soon. Good luck!

My AOS file is somewhere in there... No way they are going to find it!

That's impressive!

Hello again

small technical questions for you about French taxes and marriage

I don't have the answers but just want to hint on the questions

1) at some point we need to wrap up our taxes situation and clear it before leaving

anybody clear on when it is

obviously varies depending on visa K1 K3 etc...

2) when you get married in the US you may check on your "regime matrimonial" . Regime will apply either by default depending maybe of the state you are getting married, or will be established by a contract. careful about consequences for the future

3) before getting married, should you get registered at the French consulate and ask them for guidance about registering your marriage in France? I have a cousin married in las vegas and I think her country does not have the info (not sure it matters)

1) I am not completely sure so far, from what I have read, the year after you arrive in the USA you still have to pay taxes in France. If someone else could tell us exactly what we are supposed to do that would be nice!

2) Are you talking about a "prenuptial"? each state has its own 'regime matrimonial', usually it's "everything that you or your husband get while married belongs to both of you, things from before the marriage stay separate. You have to check for your state. As for doing a prenuptial contract, I read that you have to have two lawyers (one for each of you) and yours should be bilingual to insure that you are well aware of what is in the contract.

3) You can check the website of the French Consulate closer to where you will live in the USA. They usually explain how to do things. The 'normal' way to do it is to do the "publication des bans" before to get married, and then after the marriage you do the "transcription du mariage". If you skip the publication des bans, the transcription may take longer and they may ask you to come for an interview to the consulate (but I never read of anyone who had to do that here). That is what I did for the K1, things may be different for a K3.

I translated my birth certificate myself. So far, no RFE.

Happy New Year!

Rachel, the sunset, the flowers and the cake look wonderful!

CourtAndGrey, I have noticed two trends: some people receive their EAD/AP several months before the green card, and for some other people they seem to receive the green card before (or at the same time!). My guess would be that you will have news about the AOS soon, since they have already been working on it. But that is only a guess, maybe I am wrong.

However, since you sent your packet in the middle of October, they should approve you EAD and AP within the next two weeks (that is assuming that they do work according to the timelines.