akdiver

Why not just buy one when she gets to JFK?

I agree. But the OP seemed to want to her to have something to use the microsecond she steps off the plane.

Cheers!

AKDiver

My fiancee went to DHL and paid 1060 rubiles for this air bill I guess..How would she know its express or whatever? I am trying to track it on the site, anyone was able to track it before, or see it on dhl site before dhl picked up from the embassy?

Thanks!

This make no sense. You're missing some important conent here. You say, "this airbill" - well, WHAT airbill? Did you send her something? Did she send you something? What the hell are you talking about?

DHL's tracking system SUCKS by the way. I've had stuff delivered for 2 days before it shows up on DHL's system as having been delivered. I've never sent a package that had good tracking via DHL, no matter where I was sending it to or from, compared to FedEx. If you want to know where your package is, use FedEx. Everyone else sucks compared to them.

Good luck!

AKDiver

DHL her some Paxil.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Your best bet is to buy one locally and send it to her. The odds of her being able to buy one there and use it here are very, very low. Even if she could, she needs a tri or quad band phone.

My fiancee had no problem using her existing sim card in Egypt, but that's a different market, etc. Her phone didn't work in the U.S (not tri-band or better) and we sent it home with her parents.

Your best bet would be to DHL her a phone to use when she arrives, all set and ready to go. Probably not really necessary though.

Good luck!

AKDiver

Hi every body! I am living in raleigh,North carolina(NC) .Pls if someone knows where to file I-751?

The form and USCIS website clearly state the answer to this trivial question. Honestly man, you're far better off taking this easy to find, fully dependable answer from USCIS rather than on here. The people on here do their best, but there is no substitute for the official source of information, esp. when the answer you seek is so easy to find.

Good luck.

Cheers!

AKDiver

The circumstances and details of the arrest and subsequent events are largely irrelevant in terms of whether or not to reveal the info to the USCIS on any applications you send them. I know that wasn't your question, but I wanted to point it out. One of the questions on the I-751 is:

"Since becoming a conditional resident, have you ever been arrested, cited, charged, indicted, convicted,fined or imprisoned for breaking or violating any law or ordinance (excluding traffic regulations), or committed any crime for which you were not arrested?"

Your answer to that question must be "yes", regardless of whether or not the charges have been dismissed after proceedings. They want you to answer "yes" even if you got away with the shoplifting without getting caught.

Note that by answering yes, you will need to comply with their request, "If you answered "Yes" to any of the above, provide a detailed explanation on a separate sheet(s) of paper. Place your name and Alien Registration Number (A#) at the top of each sheet and give the number of the item that refers to your response."

Strongly advise not trying to hide ANYTHING. Getting busted for shoplifting is not likely to be seen as a big deal. Lying about it and submitting fraudulent paperwork is likely to be seen as a VERY big deal. Don't play games with them.

Also note that on the application for citizenship, which I assume you will apply for eventually, are questions in section D pertaining to Good Moral Character as they say. "For the purposes of this application, you must answer ''Yes'' to the following questions, if applicable, even if your records were sealed or otherwise cleared or if anyone, including a judge, law enforcement officer or attorney, told you that you no longer have a record."

• Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?
  
• Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any law enforcement officer
  (including USCIS or former INS and military officers) for any reason?
  
• Have you ever been charged with committing any crime or offense?
  
• Have you ever been convicted of a crime or offense?
  
• Have you ever been placed in an alternative sentencing or a rehabilitative program
  (for example: diversion, deferred prosecution, withheld adjudication, deferred adjudication)?
  
• Have you ever received a suspended sentence, been placed on probation or been paroled?
  
• Have you ever been in jail or prison?
  

Based on your post, I think your answers are: YES, YES, YES, NO, YES, NO, YES

Last but not least, the citizenship application also has these questions:

• Have you ever given false or misleading information to any U.S. government official
  while applying for any immigration benefit or to prevent deportation, exclusion or removal?
  
• Have you ever lied to any U.S. government official to gain entry or admission into the
  United States?
  

You really do not want to have to answer "yes" to those questions, or answer "no" and get caught. Would be bad mojo in the worst way.

Given that the purpose of I-751 is more about verifying your marriage is "real" than concerning itself with your lack of respect for other people's property rights, it is unlikely your application will be denied because of this incident. However, if you hide anything or are not completely forthcoming, then it will likely be a different story.

In any event, I dunno it you will get an "automatic interview", but even if you do, I don't think it is anything to worry about as long as you can prove the validity of your marriage, which is what the interview is all about. Best advise for you is to get several copies (at least 3), certified and/or notarized from the court, indicating the actual charges and disposition of the case. You will likely need these for your applications and so forth. If i were you, I would include a certified copy of these things with the I-751 and the 400 when you apply. By giving them as much info up front as you can, I think you will reduce the odds of them deciding to interview you. In other words, give them as little reason to ask questions as possible. I would highly recommend providing certified/notarized copies rather than just regular ones. Also I would get this stuff ASAP while the paperwork is still fresh, before it gets lost or otherwise unattainable for some reason.

Good luck!

AKDiver

Sent in our paperwork - return receipt card indicated it was received on October 12th. Waited, waited, waited. Finally called last week. They confirmed it was received on October 12th, and said NOA-1 was mailed on November 7th. Waited, waited, waited, still nothing. Called this week, lady said they didn't mail anything, gave a LIN#, and said that's all she knew. If we didn't hear something in a month then to make an INFOPASS appointment.

Given these conflicting statements - did they mail something on November 7th or not - we immediately made an INFOPASS appointment at the local joint, for about an hour and a half later. We got there - I dunno why we bothered to make an appointment, there wasn't anyone there and they still called us 15 minutes late. Anyway, lady said we are in the computer, confirmed the LIN #, confirmed no NOA had been sent, had no idea what that November 7th date was about, and said they are REALLY SLOW due to some new system. Said we would probably get that NOA-1 and the biometrics letter at more or less the same time. Also said that wife's card didn't expire until mid-January and that is how much time they give to send out the NOA-1, et. al. Advised us not to bother them for another month.

In the process of all of this, I noticed that I had not gotten the "condition" removed from my wife's SS card. I could have SWORN that I did this, but I guess not. So, after we left USCIS, we went to social security. After waiting in line 2 hours, they called us, told us their computer was down. Ugh!! They made copies of my wife's documents and said that if everything was in order, she would get a new card in 2 weeks. Yeah, like I have any confidence in these people.

Came home, looked on line, saw that the check I sent USCIS posted on 13 November - and noticed the LIN# on the back is the same as we had been given. So I guess it's just sit and wait, sit and wait. If we don't hear back from them in 2 weeks, we plan to call the 800# again (which by the way, carried an hour wait time each time we called).

The next day, we got a letter from local social security office, stating she had applied for a new card and it should come in two weeks or so.

So there is stands - stuff is slow because they went to some new system. That's their official story.

Cheers!

AKDiver

It's the same as changing a child's last name to the parents' new last name when adopting him/her.

I dunno why anyone would do that either.

Cheers!

AKDiver

I did my maiden name and then my husband's last name so it wouldnt be a crazy name change...

I will never understand why people change their name just because they get married. That said, it has nothing to do with this form, they are different activities.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Given some of the past conversation on here, I chuckled a bit when I found something in the paper today about census figures for Alaska. Besides the fact that 2/3rds of the people living here were not born here, of new residents in the past 10 years, their point of origin (i.e. the state they moved here from), breaks down like this:

#1 Washington: 114K people

#2 California: 102K people

#3 Texas: 63K people

#4 Oregon: 57K people

#5 Florida: 33K people

#6 Colorado: 32K people

#1 and #4 are straight-forward. It's #2 and #3 that made me chuckle. #5 was surprising mostly, and I dunno what to think about #6. (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

I've traveled quite extensively for the last 10 years and have found that it's almost impossible to use those FF miles. Or you have to use so many it's not even worth it. The two free flights that I got to go to Russia were the most screwed up routes I have ever taken. About 4 connections on each one. The flights are usually only $1000 which is well worth it for me to get there sooner. I've still got 250k miles and dont even try to use them. Loyalty will get you nowhere.

I've had better experience here. I used 70K Alaska Airlines miles to fly on British Airways from Seattle to Moscow. It was a reasonable flight, ANC-SEA, SEA-Heathrow, change planes, Heathrow-DME. On the return flight I had to overnight in London. Overall, 70K miles to get from Anchorage to Moscow and back was pretty good I thought, esp. considering I had a one-classs-ove-coach ride on the BA flights.

I also recently used Alaska Airlines FF miles to fliy free, two tickets from Anchorage to DC and back for $40K miles. Over the summer, we got two tickets to LA and back, for 40K miles. You just have to be flexible.

The best use of airlines miles I've ever when I (long story here) was in Boston and had to walk up to the counter and buy a same-day round-trip ticket from Boston to Anchorage and back. The price was $1700, but I was able to use 40,000 Alaska Airlines FF miles intstead. (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

My situation is a little diffferent - I signed up for Russian III first. Spoke with the professor, and she thought it was reasonable to stay there (since I knew the alphabet, could write in script, had decent vocabulary, and wasn't studying anything else, etc). I crammed the month before the class started by studying grammar. (I tend to learn better being in over my head - it gives me some incentive to study every day, instead of slacking off)

Well, I'm also working toward a second master's degree (M.S. Global Supply Chain Management), so time for Russian courses is more limited than it would otherwise be. I also didn't know any Russian, and I have no aptitude for foreign languages...so starting with 101 was a good move. Now I am in 102, it is still going OK. I'll be lost when they start teaching everything only in Russian. (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

(1) Would she have needed to deliver anything to the embassy in advance of the interview date?

No.

(2) Should she go ahead and complete the signature blocks on the Forms DS-230 and DS-156 prior to the interview?

Yes.

Cheers!

AKDiver

I just had my second exam in Russian 2201 (Russian III). I don't know that I got an 'A', but I did understand everything on the test. My answers may have actually had some relavence to the questions asked as well. Which is a good sign I guess. My spelling is still absolutely horribe. One more exam to go, and then on to Russian IV next semester. I'm in trouble after that -- all subsequent courses are entirely in Russian!

Hey, good job (:

I will complete Russian II at the end of this semester. Russian III is not offered until next fall ): Some of us are trying to get it offered for this coming Spring, but I doubt it will happen. So, that really sucks. I was hoping to finish 3 years of Russian by Summer 2008 when I might relocate, now the best I can do is 2. Ugh.

Also, I've been considering spending a summer in Moscow studying (Lomonosov MSU). Does anyone have any experience with this?

I would love to do it. The local university here (Alaska) has an exchange program with Magadan. I would do it in a heartbeat, but the problem is that even if I COULD get 4 months or whatever off from work (incredibly doubtful), by the time you figure in fees ($10K?) and lost wages for four months ($23K), it would be pretty damned expensive. For that kind of money, I'd probably be better off jut quitting my job, selling all my stuff, and relocating there for a year or two. (: Unfortunately, I've got bills to pay.

I would also miss my sweetie too much during those 4 months or so (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

The more stringent English requirement is a good idea. Then the US government can do away with those ridiculous bi-lingual ballots. Only in Spanish and Vietnamese here in Houston. Everyone else is out of luck. It is kind of retarded...do it for everybody or do it for nobody. The ballots really should be in English only. It is PC to the extreme.

I think all ballots in the U.S. should be only in Russian. That way, a lot less people would vote and perhaps we wouldn't have so many idiots running the country.

Cheers!

AKDiver

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/specia...on/4291295.html

Cheers!

AKDiver

Yeah, this is old news. We discussed it a while ago (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

But you know... do you know why the three immigrants couldn't run across the border??Because the sign said: No Tres-Passing!

You must have made this up because we have already established that illegal immigrants cant read English.

Cheers!

AKDiver

(:

Well, my wife has been using one phone card or another to chat with folks back in Russia. From here at least, the best rate she was getting was maybe 20 cents/minute, with a wide range on what you could get with different cards.

I had looked at VOIP, but Vonage refused to state whether or not its service would work landlines where I wanted to call. After repeated attempts at getting info, I finally told them off in the worst sort of way.

I had looked at Skype before, but they had always wanted a social security number (or fragment thereof) to take a credit card to pay for the optional "Skype Out" service. Obviously I was not amused at this and they got told off much more quickly than the folks at Vonage did.

So, I gave up for a while, and she just used phone cards with the 20 cent/minute rate. Well, recently, I bought a Logitech USB headset, for recording my audio exams for my Russian class. This got me inspired to see what the current state of being with Skype is. Well, they no longer require a SSN or fragment thereof to pay for their services. At 2 cents/minute for Moscow & St. Petersburg, with 5 cents/minutes where she wants to call in Russia, it's pretty cheap. With the Logitech® Premium USB Headset 350 headset and Skype, she reports excellent communications quality. You guys might want to check it out.

That is all!

Cheers!

AKDiver

You're the one bringint sterotypes into this.

Some people you just can't reach.

Cheers!

AKDiver

How do you explain all the other communities? How about other major cities like Chicago, Miami, New York, etc? Plenty of ethnic communities get along just fine without speaking a word of English.

I didn't say it was impossible to get along. Not by a long shot. My point was merely that if one wants to have a fulfilling professional career of some kind and be a lifelong resident, fluency in English is highly useful. I can tell you that if I planned to live in any foreign country, I would fully expect to learn the local language...but that's just me.

If it was so bad here, they'd be running to Alaska right?

Oh gawd, I hope not! Even so, most of them would never make it through the first winter anyway.

If by "showed up" you mean how we basically took most of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and California from the country of Mexico because we thought it should belong to ~us~...

Yes, that was exactly my point. What comes around goes around.

Cheers!

AKDiver

There is little point in living here if one has no intention of learning English.

I wish that was true. It sure would reduce the incentive of illegal immigration. But here in San Francisco you can pretty much get by in your native tongue as long as it belongs to one of the big native enclaves that are already established here. Even the Russian community has their own grocery stores, lawyers, doctors, electricians, etc. We have our own yellow pages. You can take the DMV exam in Russian. Now imagine what the Hispanic or Chinese community has. It sure doesn't look like it is pointless for these people to live here.

But you have to live in California (:

Besides, let's face it, California was populated by Mexicans long before the White Man showed up. They're just moving back in (:

Cheers!

AKDiver

It's important that she find something to do that makes her feel valued and useful, and English fluency is a means to that end.

I agree. There is little point in living here if one has no intention of learning English.

Speaking of learning languages, I got an "A" on my RUS102 test #2 this week. (:

Anyway - I don't think I saw taking classes at the local university on your list. They may have ESL in addition to remedial English, depending on what is more appropriate in your case.

Also, and this is really directed at Slim, don't forget about volunteering opportunities. It's a chance to learn or practice English, get out of the house, and start to build references. My wife spoke great English upon arrival, but she wanted to do something to get out, and also practice English. She volunteered at the local library, doing whatever they wanted her to do - they ended up putting her in front of the register at their gift shop, having her shelve books, and more or less be an assistant to some manager. She did maybe 15-20 hours a week for 3 or 4 months. By then, she had her EAD, had no problem getting a real job, and had a solid local reference to help her out - in addition to avoiding being bored at home. Anyway, it did well for her, I highly recommend it for your gal Slim, and for any other new arrival who is not working.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Interesting... so why do you like them so much then?

How so?

Cheers!

AKDiver

No, they're not very nice. Your attempt to "teach" me a lesson didn't work, sowy.

I'm not surprised. Some people really like their stereotypes.

Cheers!

AKDiver