panterchen

I just got back home from my biometrics in Oklahoma City doing it three weeks earlier than my appointment letter said I should be there!!!! Everything was fine. I had no problems at all doing it earlier and no one even said anything about it. As long as you have your appointment letter, everything is easy. I was in and out in 30 minutes.

Great! Thank you so much for the info. I just went to the webpage of the German general consul in Houston. That would be closest for us. And it seems anyways that if I want to have a new passport I need to go there in person since they now require biometric ones. Then I can get the official name change etc done. Hopefully, we will make it to Houston some day...

As far as I read it you don't need the 'Abmeldebescheinigung' in the US for anything. It is just for German legal purposes and required by law. But I was just thinking that as long as I don't have the GC and thus a permanent resident I could technically want to go back any time.

I'll try tomorrow morning to have my biometrics taken earlier. Wish me luck!! I hope that it'll work out. I don't want to wait another 3 weeks for it to be done.

Nina+Matt: Thanks a lot! I didn't know. I am still registered in Germany as of now but plan to change that as soon as I have the GC. So I would have to register the marriage also at the German embassy?? I will need to read up on this.

As for my alcohol post: I have noticed two types of people here in the Midwest.

a) very very very religious aka non-drinkers and sometimes they are against alcohol completely

B) religious, yeah/neay...drinking every now and then

I just know that some of my husband's extended family didn't like us drinking so much at our wedding (but it wasn't too extreme like we couldn't walk straight anymore). Well, my family drinks a lot at special occasions like our wedding and everyone had a great time!

No I did not get our marriage nor my name officially changed yet in Germany. I guess we will do that around the end of the year when we visit.

I have never been baptized -neither have any of my friends in Berlin- and thus never had to pay church taxes. I think being religious in Germany depends very much on the region you come from.

Great posts on pointing out educational differences. Us and Germany are just very different in that.

Oh and also... we married in the US so I guess our marriage would be subject to US laws anyways. Or does anybody know how that would work?!

I am the German in our marriage!

Yes, I think technically my husband could sue my parents for financial support. But don't ask me about the details. I have no clue and I know that the German government is trying to change the respective laws. For a very long time it used to be the case that one partner was responsible for the other one even after that marriage has been terminated. The underlying principle was that the lifestyle of either one should never substantially change after a divorce than what it was before. Meaning, if my husband was super rich and I would be able to afford constant manicures, shopping etc. then I couldn't all of a sudden be super poor and not be able to afford an appartment even if I wasn't working. He would have to come up for that and the same works vice-versa.

As for the 24/7 shopping. Sure, I agree. Sunday shopping makes it easy for people to work while studying. The whole system here is very different though from the German one and I don't think it is really comparable in its nature. As a student in Germany, most people don't have to work as hard as people here, as tuition is generally very low, that is, in most cases students only have to come up with their living expenses. Also, it is very hard to get a part-time job in Germany as for every little BS job people need to have a certain experience or training or education. It is ridiculous in my opinion and as far as the job market is concerned I definitely prefer the US as it is more flexible. Also, sunday as a 'Ruhetag' stems from the power our labor unions have and they try to protect workers' rights. That means, unusual working hours (night shifts, sunday work etc.) underlie certain regulations. For example as I know it from Berlin, sunday work is only allowed under extraordinary circumstances like before christmas and such and the employers have to pay higher salaries per hour than would be normal in that job...

Yeah, I noticed that too. I like to drink a beer every now and then or a glass of wine with some good food. I always feel like an alcoholic in the US with the look people give me when we are going out. Oh well, my husband and I we love to share a good dinner and wine in the evening- and we are definitely no alcoholics.

As for the financial obligations of parents towards their kids in Germany: when we decided to get married my family also recommend a marriage contract (I know there is a specific term for this but I don't remember now) to make sure he couldn't ever sue them for financial support or the like. I refused. I hate the idea of anticipating a failure of marriage plus I mean...common'...I came here on a K1. Him and his family provided all the affidavit of supports for K1 and AOS. They would be far more obligated to support me while I am here... Oh well, Germans. I guess they just like to worry (or is it just my family?).

I also don't like the 24/7 shopping system here. Sunday is just supposed to be a 'Ruhetag' where cashiers should also enjoy their time off with their family/friends. Oh and yeah...I think streets and especially highways are terrible here. I never speed or anything since I worry about my car. lol.

I don't know maybe we are just different because we have had tons of misunderstandings which we figured were mainly cultural. Something like either one of us has an expectations on how something works (be it how to hang a picture or how to behave towards people we just get to know) and since those are different a lot of times we talk past each other or get confused. It is hard to explain but we kind of got the feeling that yes American and German culture seem to be pretty similar from the outside but that once you dig deeper (traditions, customs, habits, behavior) they are really on opposite spectrums, e.g. Germans being pessimistic most of the times and Americans being so overly optimistic (my point of view ). Sometimes that just frustrates me because I feel he is taking things not seriously enough and he feels I am just a big worrier. Lol.

You guys mentioned visits to Germany and homesickness. I just got here in February but I hope that we will be able to spend Christmas at home with my family in Germany and hopefully we will be able to travel there once a year in the future. I really miss home, my family and my friends. But I am sure this homesickness will eventually fade once my life here gets started. We just moved to another city away from where he used to be and so it is just natural that we will have to establish some social networks (friends) and get into jobs before we really start feeling at 'home'.

OMG, I already got my biometrics letter in the mail today. That was fast! However, my biometrics appointment will be May 13 which is a little late. I thought this might be sooner...

Does anyone know how long after the biometrics I can get my EAD?

I would also like to join this thread for the reasons mentioned earlier by Philo...!

I just got married to 'MY' American about 4 weeks ago and always think it is interesting to read what can go 'wrong' in German-American relationships. We have so many misunderstandings just because of different cultural interpretations even though my English is not really any barrier to communication between us.

I would love to see my husband speak German one day. After all, I will try to teach our kids (that don't exist yet) my mother tongue. And I would love to see him talk to my dad without my translation in between them. I know they would have a lot to say to each other. Unfortunately, my dad doesn't speak any English and my mom can get along but it is not enough to carry on a fluent conversation.

We are playing with the idea of maybe one day moving 'back' to Germany. Not just because it is my home but also because he liked it a lot! What about you guys? Was it always clear that you would want to live in the US together with your fiancés/spouses?

Hahaha...my thoughts exactly when I first saw that.

It is probably some illegal mexican immigrant working at USCIS to sort out the paperwork.

Our check finally showed up today. Guess we should receive NOA 1 then soon. Hopefully.

USCIS (chicago lockbox) received our AOS packet April 6th. No NOA 1 yet, check didn't get cashed yet either. Is that normal?

I just did some research again on this I-6xx(don't remember exactly) that you should use for AOS instead of teh vaccination worksheet that they handed to you for the K1 Medical and found this in the visajourney FAQ:

Q: Why are K non-immigrant visa holders asked to include a vaccination supplement when filing Form I-485 to adjust status?

Some countries allow K non-immigrant visa applicants to defer their vaccinations until after they arrive in the U.S. If the beneficiary's vaccinations were not completed as part of the visa process, it is necessary to include form I-693- part 1, part 2-vaccination section, and part 5 in the application.

If the beneficiary's vaccinations were COMPLETED as part of the visa process, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO INCLUDE FORM I-693 IN THE AOS SUBMISSION. All your medical information is enclosed in the brown envelope which was handed in at the POE. The envelope is then forwarded on to USCIS where it will be consolidated with the I-485 submission, once received. If you received a copy of the Vaccination Documentation Worksheet (Form DS-3025) from your Panel Physician, you may include a copy of that form in your AOS submission in place of Form I-693.

So actually, I guess I should be ok since I had all my vaccinations completed for the medical...But who knows...

No need to wait after you are married with sending in the paperwork. In most cases collecting it just takes some time.

Yes, you need a copy of the non USC's birth certificate.

Thank you so much for all of you who wrote your experiences here!!

I just got here a little over a month ago on a K1, we got married, now hve our own new apartment but I recently get really homesick and b!tchy with my husband and I see that I usually don't get upset about anything that has to do with him but that I carry out other things on him. Reading these posts relieved me terribly and now I know that all of this is normal and that I am not alone with this. Thank you.

You guys have great pictures too, TerriandSeb!!! Congrats!!

Kiwie, nice to see you here again as well!! I am so glad both of us made our weddings on time. What a hussle!!!

No evidence of relationship required for AOS after K1. That will only be the case for the interview.

By the way, guys: How is your adjusting to the American culture going? I have to admit that I have some trouble even though I have been here before. I mean, it is normal I guess after moving to a new country, a new apartment where there is not much of 'my' things in here. I get frustrated since I seem to drop a brick constantly somehow whether it is driving in the wrong direction since I can't deal with this block system yet or not being able to open a can properly in 5 seconds as this is different too. And I am still a little afraid to go out there and search for a job in a few weeks...baaahhh...sometimes this just seems overwhelming.

Oh yeah! How was your wedding guys? Where and when did you get married? Was it a big party or a small private ceremony?

We got married March 7, 2009 in Tulsa. It was a big party and tons of fun. We had alcohol for free for everybody so everyone was on the dancefloor grooving until midnight when we had to leave the mansion that we booked that day.

Unfortunately, Dan and me ended up a little too drunk. We shared that place right next to the toilet that night and one of his friends who was too drunk to drive home anymore shared our hotel room with us that night....hahaha....So far our story, which is a little different from what one could expect from a wedding night I guess. Here are some pictures too.

I was a K1'ler a few months ago. We filed in June 2008 after dating for 8 months, got approved Jan 2009, Visa in hand and US entry end of February 2009. We have been married for not yet one month. I can't tell you how happy we are. of course, it is not always easy to integrate- sometimes I notice myself thinking how some of the things are really strange here and that even though I have been living in the US before. I know I will miss my home- Germany- in the long run. But I also know that I wouldn't be happy without the greatest man of all in Germany.

We just moved into our new and first mutual apartment this past week

Wish all of you much strengths during the K1. For us, it was a torture. We waited more than 6 months having placed our lives on hold. When NOA 2 finally came, we were shocked and I was crying for an hour in disbelief. For almost all of us this wait is just a matter of time. So enjoy the time left in Germany with your family. Because these times might not be coming back soon enough.

Thanks, Chibby!!

Nevertheless we sent of my AOS package today to get the ball rolling ;-)

I really just want to get the EAD asap. The rest could be delayed by a few weeks now that I am here lol.

So we basically count on a RFE for having sent just the vacination supplement but it seems some people are lucky and get by by doing this. We will see. If not, I will contact Dr. Arnold.

Ok, I think we just send it all in to get the EAD application going.

If we get an RFE for the vaccination supplement, then I can still get a copy from that doctor Arnold in Texas (why him?? Is he the only one? Do I have to go there or is it enough to send it in? Copy or original?).

Ok, wait!! I need your help!

I just went through the entire package and thought I had everything and I could send it off today but then I read about this thing with the doc from texas and the vaccination supplement. What is that all about??? I mean, in the instructions I did not read anything about sending the supplement to Texas. It just said to include it, right? I am confused.

Hey guys,

while we do not have April yet I am already opening htis topic now since I will send my AOS package probably in the first week of April. I have just collected my paperwork. A few things are still missing but hopefully that will get done soon too.

So, who else will join me ????

No it doesnt matter whether you book a round trip. The planes are overbooked all the times anyways because the airlines know about people doing that or simply missing their flights. ;-)

Hey guys!! Great to hear everything moves along. We got married last weekend and it was a dream come true!!