onwa

I'm so, so sorry to hear this. I hope you find a real good lawyer--don't know any in that area--but you can have an immigration attorney from any state--so you might want to go online and see if anyone has some experience with the problem you are facing.Thoughts and prayers are with you.

Kia

"Who let the dogs out!"

Got the actual greencard in the mail yesterday. So it only took 9 days from the interview date. And all the info is correct and we are done for the next little bit!

Excellent news Onwa!!!

I might of used the information, but we're moving to Florida next week, so we'll have to deal with Orlando!

In a way I'm glad. I wasn't looking forward to having to fly to Honolulu everytime we needed to do something, like biometrics or the interview.

Anyway, contrats on your successful interview, and hope you get the GC soon!!

I'm looking for a job on the mainland too. We want to buy a house! Congrats on your move.

Well, our USCIS journey is over for the next year and 9 months. Nice for me. My husband did never worry too much about it.

Our interview was on the 14th and we got the actual greencard on the 23rd. It was an easy interview with lots of laughing and joking. Although I told my husband that joking about me imprisoning him was not the right time to joke (the standard questions have you ever been in jail, arrested, etc.)

OUr interview was on the day of our one year wedding anniversary! Kind of a nice way to round out our first year together-some reflections I have about this first year.

1) Waiting for work authorization sucks and puts strain on the relationship that most couples don't have to experience.

2) The first couple months were the hardest. There is the adjustment for the both of us. This is normal, but expounded by the fact that my husband had to adjust to a new place as well as me!

3) Having select people you can both talk to when things get real tough is great. We had our pastor.

4) I am so happy to be married a man who makes me laugh, gives 200% of himself to me and our relationship, and has the ambition and drive to go places in life.

That's all I guess. Cheers to everyone on their journeys.

WE went through SOuth Africa with a co-sponosor--and at least a year ago--it was fine. it was a great consulate to go through. We got our interviwe 10 days after faxing in the checklist--so as long as you have ALL your paper work in order you should be fine.

Congrats!

When my husband (Then fiance) and I were seperated we were once in a similar situation. He said if I didn't come by Christmas then it was over. Well, I didn't come by Christmas and by that time he had calmed down and was able to be more realistic. He's now been here over a year and he thanks me for having the patience for the both of us for that short period of time. However, I want to note that he did start exhibiting patience and did stop begging me to come and see him.

It looks lika and African bush dog! THought its probably not.

Good On Ye! Congrats on approval!

Honolulu My wife wants to move there, I told her we would look into it, but I hear it is very expensive to live in hawaii and the job market is not as good

It is very expensive to live here. We want to move. We both have good jobs though.

I forgot to add. I never sent in the vaccination supplement. He got his vaccines at his medical in SOuth Africa. I never got an RFE either. But it was right there in his folder the interviewing officer had.

We're approved! But we didn't expect anything less.

I will write how it goes for the sake of anyone else looking for Honolulu information since the only other written exerience (that I could find) was on the old boards which is now lost.

Our appointment was at 8:30. My husband deciedes to go into work for a bit before the interview. At 5 minutes to 8 he comes down and we drive to the district office. Yes, I was saying a paryer and pacing! We arrived at 8:10. Got throughthe security at 8:15 and was called for the interview at 8:35.

The lady was very nice and friendly. We swore to tell the truth. She asks my husband if he has been in jail, arrested, deported, etc.etc.. he says only what my wife puts me through. Ha ha. I told him nicely it was not the time for joking. She looked at our joint bank statements and took the following:

2005 tax retrn and W2

rental aggreement

car insurance

She verified all the personal data. The questions she asked us, were:

How did we meet?

When did we start dating?

When did we decide to get married?

What kind of wedding did we have?

How many people were there?

Why did we marry each other? (and this led to a whole conversation about finding and fulfilling one's purpose in life)

What common interests do we have?

We signed the paper saying we understand when to file for unconiditional residency. She told us we were approved--but she had to update the computer system and make sure the fbi checks were complete. So hopefully we will get the approval notice and greencard soon!

And that's it! Very happy to be done with.

Wow! Congrats Peggy! Amy your path be a little more smooth from here on out!

THanks, guys!

Good luck next week, onwa!!!

Thanks! I'm hoping to get a stamp like you!

Congrats! Your patience paid off!

Kids need to be taught kindness and to excel. Geez. Its quite possible to teach kids to be a member of a team and society and how to compete and excel. We can have both.

Since my fiance was from a place where condoms are the main form of birth control, I found it helpful to have the doctor discuss with both of us all the different forms and their pros and cons. I was already on the pill but needed to switch for various reasons. SOmetimes it is helpful to have your SO with you to discuss birth control, as in my case, the doctor could do a better job of explaining then I could.

Trying moving to an island starting with nothing and attempt to create wealth - it ain't going to happen.

whenever there is more than one person, there is going to be a vieing for wealth. Take one family who has 10 kids--move them to an island. Building of wealth starts with agriculture. Someone will want more land to have more coconut trees. The one with the most land is going to be the most wealthy. I love on an island. At one point of time it was empty. People came. Population grew. Tribes fought over land. It happens. There was definitely a class system. Wealth just isn't monetary.

i just cant imagine leaving hawaii for florida....are u going out of ur mind?

Its a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live here!

It could have been worse... it could have gotten cut off or bitten off!!!

I'm with Rich... ::shudders::

No what's worse is a 2nd degree burn. from Sun bathing nude or when doing kitchen work poorly clothed. And you get a burn on it when its mr softy. And then when you go from softy to woody um its like reliving the original injury all over again!

They make aprons and sun block for a reason!

Speaking from personal experience?

Ours is August 14th!

I played Yolanda's version of "I believe I can fly" as I walked down the aisle ( a path in the woods) at my wedding! Such a great artist.

Why did it go?

working for charities is fine. Setting up a household so you and your spouse can live 'sponge-free' is imperetive though. I have seen so many posts here about couples who have to live with in-laws or others to make ends meet--and they are not happy. I think the message is that a couple should do there upmost to be sustainable on their own and especially if they have kids. Its not about making a ton of money--its about having enough for housing, food, transportation, and other necesities.

I would use your in laws address, but that is just me.

Congrats! That's how ours came too. In fact, the online status says the EAD is still pending. We got the card back in November.

Happy job hunting.

I believe men and women are different. Equal, but different. I do believe there are broad generalizations that can be made, noting that there are always exceptions to the generalizations. I do not believe it is bad to make generalizations, I do believe its bad to make judgments because, as stated, that generalization may not apply to a particular case. Example: Generalization (Men do not like to stop and ask for directions)--My case---I the women, hate asking for directions but my husband will do so immediately)

But it is still helpful to have them. My friends that are married have been able to give me helpful advice based on behaviour that we can only call as 'typical guy behaviour'. To be more general, in every relationship each partner has a different set of needs. And one can then say--that typically, a woman might typically have these needs and a guy might typically have these needs. This is based on my observations.

Men and women have different bodies and different majorities of hormones. Baby boys and girls differ in their preferences starting at about 6 months. My nephews went straight for the trucks and my neices went for the dolls. Both are available to play with. From my personal observations, most women need to feel loved, beautiful, and important. Most men need to feel respected, appreciated, and wanted. I don't believe the differences in sexes has to do with 'roles'. But more in needs.

I will probably get flamed for this but I see nothing wrong with the Men are from Mars--Women are from Venus mentality. Its just darn helpful in trying to understand where the other is coming from. Not for making excuses of bad behaviour--but to see where we can be better spouses.