BlakeandOlha

AAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH! Avast ye maties, git ready for boarding o' the scow.........

Love the pic aravis.

Well..... Olga is due back home tomorrow...along with the application fromthe NVC. Geeze Louise, I sure am ready to talk to her. About time if I say so myself. it's been three weeks and it sucks. By this time tomorrow, however, all will be forgotten and I'll be smiling.......

Clear the decks, and prepare to fire.....

Small update about our life (nothing to do with the immigration process): Bryan moved in our new apartment yesterday. He took today off to finish unpacking everything

Congratulations Cecile - this really is going to be great for you two!

Is there anything I can do while waiting? what forms and documents are needed?.... very anxious about it!!...

Hope you'll get your interview soon! : )

Lucie, there's a tremendous amount you can do while you're waiting. All the forms required by the US government are basically the same - whether they are in something called an information packet, a packet 3 or 4. You can download all the forms either here or from the embassy website and complete them now. The USC can start on the Affidavit of Support and get additional support of an ongoing relationship together. There is a lot to do between now and the interview (police certificates take the longest) so it's best to get moving now......plus it takes your mind off waiting. Hope it's soon for everyone waiting.

Sunny - I really like that you got another touch......it sure underscores the "oops" theory.

So tempted to call CSC, must...wait...be...patient...

Has anyone seen a NOA2 take longer because of children? I am so flustered about that. We have a kid together, he's not on the birth certificate though. Since he couldn't be physically present at the time. She's with me though, so should I not wonder anymore about that subject?

Actually No, I really haven't seen any correlation between the length of processing time and the existence of children. Your child is a US citizen and should have her own passport already. Did you register witht he American embassy when she was born to notify them that she is the daughter of a USC?

Thanks Rachel...well someone on another thread said they also may have sent me that as an excuse instead of saying "oops we forgot about your case" and I REALLY hope that is the case! Anyway logged into USCIS and there was a touch yesterday finally after not being touched since January! So that feels good at least to know it is back on the radar with them!

I agree that it's good to know you're on the radar screen with the CSC - although one hopes they're not armed to shoot you down....

Anyway, I'm sure that this is a couple week setback at most - I prefer the "oops" charachterization. I think that your delay in approval and my not being able to tell Olga that we're approved is somehow tied up in the same parallel universe. Could be....... Have a great weekend!

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Anyways, stay strong in this sunnybear!! I am pretty sure Blake is right about these things.. fact is that England is pro USA and is actually seen as the 51st state by some so try not to worry too much.

Really? I thought Canada was that one......., oh yeah that's a suburb.....

OK get out your flamethrowers, I'm ready

Thank you Blake...I am so scared how long this is all going to take now Gareth told me to try and just forget about the whole process and take things day to day and just focus on us having long distance relationship and try to get the most out of it as we can ..... guess I shall have to make a new video to send Gareth this weekend hahaha.....

You are right, this is a scary process at times - but we all would never have made it this far without a tremendous amount of faith in the one's we love (and they in us as well). At this point everything is out of your hands so don't worry about what you can't control, and just worry about whether the lighting for your video tape is appropriately flatering...

It's all going to be OK, keep the faith.

Any word from Olga yet Blake?

I understand how it feels to not be able to share the good news for awhile. IT DRIVES YOU CRAZY!!! I was always comforted in knowing that at least the process is still moving forward, and like you said, by the time she returns home, the papers will probably be at the embassy already!

Grrrrrrrrrr!!

I checked the weather where she is and it was raining today and is expected to rain all weekend. So I'm not surprised that I didn't hear from her today and this means it will probably be Monday if the weather clears by then......Honestly this kinda sucks eggs. Great frigg'n time to go on vacation. I'll just have to celebrate solo till then.

Well good news and bad news...I got message from CRIS....so good news is our case is being worked on..BAD news is they are saying we are held up in security checks Ok neither of us have any record of any kind! The only thing we could think would be holding us up is the fact I was married to a military guy so I lived in Michigan,Utah, Okinawa Japan, and England over the past 10 years. That and the fact Gareth got turned away at customs in December (because they thought he was going to try and come and stay on a 6 month visa instead of going back at the end of it).

Soooo what do you all think? We are pretty dang down about all this as it says it could be another 180 days and also Gareth read an attachment (I cannot read it until I get home from work) saying something how people can be stuck for years in this!!!! UMMMMM #######?!?!?!?

Anyone have positive words of wisdom for me? PLEASE

First of All.....Keep Breathing.

Now that we have the essential part taken care of, I've seen instances where security checks have taken a few weeks to months. The good news is that he is from England and does not originate from a country with a lot of conflict or anti-american activity so I don't think that this should take very long. Probably what's driving this is that he was turned away at customs in December. I'm so sorry Sunnybear, I know how much you miss Gareth and want him by your side. It's a lot to ask, but try to be a patient as you can, have a strongbow from time to time, and keep smiling. My prayers are with you.

I guess add me to the Jan group...even though it's more like February...but I am still trying to convince myself that I'm a Jan Filer!

No Worries, you are a January Filer according to the definition used. Welcome!!!! I'll add you to the listing and good luck

After 128 days of mind numbing torture, we get to ... take the next step.

Hope the next 5 months until the interview don't go by as slowly...

Get the pink Cadillac Elvis, Vegas, here we come, baby!

Hey hey!!! Congrats

And I doubt highly it'll be 5 months, shoot for 2, the CSC owes you one.

Good morning Blake!

Have you managed to inform Olga of your approval, by the way?

No! And it's driving me crazy! She is scheduled to make the trek into town tomorrow, however, and hopefully she'll be able to get to an internet cafe. For her to get from her Aunt's farm to a town is a good 2 hour walk minimum on some pretty nasty country roads- and towing a 6 year old behind her is difficult as you can imagine. This is the last family gathering before she comes over - she has a cousin and a bunch of nephews coming in from Siberia of all places - so I can't get tooooooo upset about the time away. But... I do have my moments of frustration.

By the time she's back home the application will already be at the embassy (I hope) and it'll be time to call and make the interview appointment. I hope she's got all her paperwork together and we can move very quickly. In the Ukraine you don't have to wait to receive a packet from the embassy, you can just call on a special line (with a special pin number from a special calling card purchased at a special bank) to set up your appointment (special, isn't it). Mariapoe called in and received an interview date one week later (this was a couple months ago) so it's a little erratic on how long you have to wait.

I'm lucky that the new job is keeping me so busy right now, or else I'd be a real head case.

Good Morning All - I agree with Rachel, tomorrow will probably be a good day. These things appear to come in waves these days rather than at a steady rate. Still, I'm disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm by the CSC. It is time to clear out us January folk so the CSC can move on to February (with a clear concience )

The friend is away for six weeks over the summer and would prefer if someone could house-sit for her. So I'm thinking the best solution would be for me to rent off friend, for cheaper (the room is smaller), sell/move my belongings, and clear the room in this house so boyfriend has somewhere to store his stuff. Hopefully a win-win situation all round!

Good news on the Cabana, certainly.

I think it's a great idea moving. First of all it would clear up a situation that will probably only prove more irritating as time goes on. Secondly, moving will force you to make the first "cut" of items you will not need nor bring with you to the US. It'll be nice to be able to make these decisions without the pressure of a departure date staring you in the face. I'm happy to see things falling into place.

Oh that's true! I forgot that most wedding have so many guests... since here we are all talking about how small the wedding will be, I forgot that usually people invite that many people

Here's the plan I have - small wedding party and guests, probably no more that 20 - 25 tops.

Chapel (including minister, music, and hall) $1,000

Receiption/dinner at a swinging Spanish rest. in Chicago including room & meal - $2,000

Flowers $300

Settings $300

Gown & frilly stuff $500

Photographer $500 (pay for the pictures later when cash returns to my account )

Misc. nonsense $500 (safety net for everything I've forgotten)

Total: $4,600 - $5,100

My whole idea is not to stage a broadway production, just to keep it simple, elegant, and intimate. As the groom I understand that this is for her (most guys honestly would be happy showing up at the justice of the peace or eloping) but with all the newness of a moving here, with new surroundings and all the other adaptations, a huge wedding might very well be overwhelming. I keep repeating to myself with every planning step....simple...elegant...intimate and I avoid a lot of expenses for things that I think, quite frankly, are not remembered anyway.

Oh yes, I'm not foolish..... I clear everything with Olga first

Gooooooo Sunny.........

Making friends at the CSC - a new approach that just might work. It's time.... Positive Energy is now focused on you!!

This is your week.

Good Morning All!

It's great having access again during the day - although unfortunately I will not be able to live on the site like I used to. Too much work and all.

Anyway Rachel, I've actually read that it's actually a good idea not to have the honeymoon right after the wedding, but rather at some point later. So much of the focus of the wedding week is placed on the wedding, and certainly by the time the blessed event comes around everyone is probably a little exhausted and frazzled. For these reasons the honeymoon often falls short of the "romantic" expectations and become more of an occasion for sleeping and recouperating rather than on getting the full enjoyment of starting a life off together (it's no longer about introducing one's partner to the joys of is it now.... ). So don't fret if you can't take a "moon" right away, because when you and Alex do so, you will be well rested and ready to have a wonderful time!

Personally, I think the huge mega weddings that cost $30- $45k are kinda rediculous and not about the importance of making a committment to one another - at that level it's more about keeping up with the Jones' rather than making a committment before God and family. Just me though.

Hmm.. guess this is going to be one of the weirdest experiences for me so far... winter while it feels as summer with similar temperatures Can't wait

In more ways than one. CA is a beautiful place and quite temperate. When I lived in San Diego it was short sleeved shirts year round. Winter is actually the rainy season and when things are greenest in the south - but in the north I think it's green year round, very pretty. Anyway, sorry to have been off for a while, but I didn't remember my password so I couldn't chime in from work.....but I'm back......

Work is very busy and I'm trying to absorb everything that comes my way - and generally putting in 12 hour days to do so. I need to get this thing totally under control before the end of the summer and with Olga's arrival - cause I will not be a work-a-holic anymoe....promise

Back to it then.....

Happy Sunday everyone and also a shameless Happy 30th Birthday to me! hahaha

Happy B-Day Sunny!!!!

Hi Everyone, I know the CSC kinda ended with a fizzle last week but let's keep our fingers and toes crossed for a very active week this week. All those touches had to mean something.

LOL well I already have emails being forwarded to Gareth as well since he is 5 hours ahead so if it comes during the night he shall get it before me haha! I swear that would be the best birthday gift ever though if we got our approval before Sunday! Trying not to get hopes up though as seems we filed in the unlucky week or something haha. We must have the adjuicator that is still on holiday or something haha! Oh well trying to change my attitude again here and think positive and just focus on that it WILL happen someday haha!

Great attitude! That's gonna carry you accross the finish line time and time again. I'm really hoping to see something soon for you Steph.

ME TOO, ME TOO, ME TOO! I am sending you happy thoughts, and hope for some great news within a few more days! Stay strong girl, it's coming!!!

Thanks so much! I seriously am so thankful to have you guys here as you really help me stay positive and it is just so good to see others going through the same thing! It is a HARD journey that nobody truly understands unless they have been through it themselves! Full of so many ups and downs!

Ok and Blake why is the numbering off on your list? Hahaha sorry stuff like that gets to me and thought it was for a reason maybe like since people before and after me have been approved or sumpin but then looked at rest of the numbering and all the rest seems fine haha....you know I want to see Gareth and I move up on that list and we have been stuck at number 13/14 for a while now hahaha!

Just my own personal way of tormenting you

Remaining 40.7%......... Approved 59.3%

Well, the 1812 Overture seems to have finished playing for the evening. Those of you who are not USC's will learn what this means in time. Anyway, here is the upated list..... I'm hoping to see more activity overnight.

Remaining 42.0%......... Approved 58.0%

Name……………. Filing Date

Remaining

1 Ayako & Nathan 01-01

2 Belen & Tim 01-02

3 Thanh & Cao 01-04

4 Ajay & Komal 01-07

5 Matt & Robin 01-08

6 Judee Anne & Reynaldo 01-09

7 Irina & Zubzare 01-10

8 Hazel & Ben 01-10

9 Sarah & Rudi 01-12

10 jj & sh 01-15

11 Liberty & Phillip 01-15

14 Steph & Gareth 01-17

15 Myriam & Gary 01-17

16 Agatha & Robert 01-17

17 VRP & SK 01-18

18 Busch & Eric 01-22

19 nr123 & nm123 01-23

20 Joanna & Dale 01-23

21 Lean & Emil 01-23

22 Nick & Sarah 01-23

23 yan & isa 01-24

24 R & M 01-24

25 a & o 01-24

26 Lucie & Damon 01-24

27 jennie & matthew 01-25

28 Paul & Joanna 01-25

29 Rymma & Vadim 01-25

30 WE & CE 01-25

31 Supida & Supida 01-25

32 Lena & Val 01-29

33 Susan & Chris 01-30

34 Ersila & Ilir 01-30

35 Mary & Carl 01-30

36 Ge & Haibo 01-31

37 Richel & Michael 01-31

*Mailed in Dec.

Approved

1 Gerald & Vinera___________01-04----04-22

2 Bing & John______________01-12----05-02

3 Shirley & Steven___________01-07----05-02

4 J & Paulie________________01-04----05-02

5 Rosi & Chuck_____________01-04----05-02

6 Hesham & Tanya__________01-14----05-02

7 Pamela & Joshua___________01-11----05-05

8 Eliciana & Benjamin________01-11----05-05

9 Robe & Victoria___________01-09----05-06

10 Wayne & Nueng*_________01-01----05-06

11 Yuliya & Brian___________01-03----05-10

12 Rachel & Alex____________01-11----05-07

13 Relyn & Patrick*__________01-01----05-06

14 Plami & Krasi____________01-01----05-07

15 WW & MM______________01-12----05-07

16 Paola & Chris____________01-04----05-06

17 Zrinka & Eric____________01-05----05-07

18 Badr & Aimee*___________01-01----05-08

19 Stacy & Jonathan*________01-01----05-09

20 Erica & Scott_____________01-12----05-12

21 Cecile & Bryan___________01-02----05-13

22 Portia & Tony*___________01-01----05-14

23 Bryant & Aliona*_________01-01----05-14

24 Stephan & Alissa_________01-04----05-13

25 Raghu & Swathi*_________01-01----05-12

26 Shaun & Angie___________01-15----05-19

27 Ali & Natalie_____________01-09----05-15

28 Ten & DJ________________01-03----05-07

29 Russell & Dakotah________01-14----05-22

30 Laura & Scott____________01-23----05-27

31 Lili & Matt_______________01-05----05-27

32 Bruno & Carol____________01-12----05-27

33 Elena & Sergey___________01-15----05-28

34 Greivin & Courtney________01-24----05-28

35 M&J____________________01-16----05-27

36 Maria Ameliza & Eric_______01-09----05-29

37 Hilda & Chris_____________01-16----05-27

38 Oscar & Joselyn___________01-17----05-29

39 Benny & Cassi____________01-31----05-29

40 Chris & Therese___________01-23----05-29

41 PT & J___________________01-07----05-30

42 jen & jay_________________01-16----05-30

43 Lea & Ron________________01-25----05-30

44 gabbie & erv______________01-22----05-31

45 Mitchell & Joy_____________01-16----06-03

46 Levi & Heather_____________01-19----06-03

47 Olga & Blake______________01-25----06-03

48 Marina & Eugene___________01-17----06-04

49 Alet & Cesar_______________01-21----06-04

50 Jeroen & Michelle__________01-24----06-04

51 Thomas & Michelle_________01-29----06-04

LOL well I already have emails being forwarded to Gareth as well since he is 5 hours ahead so if it comes during the night he shall get it before me haha! I swear that would be the best birthday gift ever though if we got our approval before Sunday! Trying not to get hopes up though as seems we filed in the unlucky week or something haha. We must have the adjuicator that is still on holiday or something haha! Oh well trying to change my attitude again here and think positive and just focus on that it WILL happen someday haha!

Great attitude! That's gonna carry you accross the finish line time and time again. I'm really hoping to see something soon for you Steph.

Ooh more exciting news not sure if any of you remember that interview I went to a couple weeks ago...well got told today I have a second interview on Tuesday! EEEEK! What is kinda funny is I really don't know what this job I am even applying is for LMAO! My boss kinda put me up to it as she thinks I would be good at whatever it is LOL. It has some fancy title like "Vocational Assessment Director" and I would be working at a Rehabilitative Services place. All I know is MORE money!!! Always good! My boss also gave me tips for interview as I guess the guy interviewing me is known to be kinda a sneaky jerk in interviews but otherwise is a cool guy. So well if it is meant to be it is meant to be I say!

Great news Sunnybear - good news travels in threes you know, so keep checking your e-mail. Actually, even better, if you use yahoo you can set it up to have your cell phone text'd if you receive an e-mail from the USCIS. That way you wouldn't have to hover around the computer (as spoken by a former helecopter man himself).

Thomas and I just got approved!!! yay yay

CSC is starting to speed up!!

HEY HEY - CONGRATS

Now I can't sign off unless the CSC stops sending out approvals