Immigration is so FUNNNNNN

Everyone seems to think that as soon as a non-US citizen gets married to a US citizen, they are suddenly allowed all the rights of the US citizen. I am here to say that is not true. I wish.

Let's start at the beginning of this process.
First, you have to petition with the government that your fiance should be allowed to come to the US to marry you. This is where you pay your first chunk of money, which is currently $455. This petition is a huge packet of confusing forms to fill out which most people screw up and get a notice that they need to re-do something. Luckily, we were able to figure it out with the help of this website (which is the best website EVARR!)
Next, you wait to get a notice that they actually approved it. If they suspect that you are trying to get them to the US for the wrong reasons, they can deny it. And yes, they keep that money. Jerks.

After it is approved, you fill out more confusing forms. This is also where you prove that you have enough money to bring them in or know someone who does that is willing to co-sponsor. What is "enough money"? 125% over the poverty line. I am not even close but luckily I have parents that kind of are. They also look into your assets so it helps if they own a house or something.
The non-US citizen then sets up a medical and an interview. The medical can't be done by just any doctor, it is chosen for them. Sometimes people have to travel by plane to get to where their medical and interview is done (equaling MORE MONEY!) but if they are lucky, they can get there easier. The interview may be difficult or easy, depending on what country it is in. They may hound you with questions or just ask basic ones.
At this stage, they can deny them the visa. Wouldn't that be fun?

If things go well, they are approved and will get their visa.
The k-1 fiance visa allows for 3 months from their arrival to the US to marry the US citizen. If they do not marry before the 3 months is up, they will be kicked out of the US and not allowed in for quite some time. So just get married, dang it!

Ok, you're married. It's over.

NOTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Now you have to apply for the Adjustment of Status (AoS) and the Employment Authorization Document (EAD). If you do the EAD first, you have to pay something like $325 but if you apply with or after the AoS, they drop the fees for that but you still have to pay the $1,010 (!!!!!!!!!!!!) for the AoS. What is the AoS? Basically a green card, I believe. If you need to leave the US before getting the AoS, you may not be allowed back in. You are pretty much in a limbo state before having this. The AoS can take anywhere from a few months to a COUPLE YEARS to process. And yes, it's another huge packet of forms to fill out. And yes, they can deny you can keep your money.

It's pretty much a never ending process. We are not allowed to have a "normal" marriage, we have to worry about all of this on top of every thing else. But I never question whether it's worth it. It's totally worth it.

Wedding pictures + an update

I've kind of abandoned my blog. VEDA, Isaac, wedding, etc. has kept me very busy and I hadn't even thought about blogging! We even said we were going to do VEWM (Vlog Every Week May), I completely gave up on that idea just a few days into May. I had too much on my plate.

Well, enough excuses. Here are some pictures from our wedding day! You can click them to make them larger.
Photography by Laura Nelson

Soy un perdedor...

With the way things are going, this may be a one-post-a-month kind of year. Wow.
Things have stayed pretty much the same since last month's post. I'm getting more and more impatient with how time is moving and how bland my life is at the moment. Only now I can at least say that Isaac will be coming THIS MONTH.
F I N A L L Y.

Today has been like many days I've been having. My only thoughts are:
"I don't want to be here."
"How much closer until he gets here?"
"Oh I know what to do! ... Nevermind, I will do it later."
"Is it time for bed yet?"

Lame loser.

Also, I keep getting reminded about how awkward I am around people. This makes me feel sick.

Same shit...

I just realized I have only blogged once so far this year and it was on January 1st.
I can't really explain what it is. My head is so full of thoughts and stress that I just don't know what to SAY anymore. I'm afraid it will all come out as, "IDidiof dsif asop hoad aoisjdoi cnduivnfvyf vudfuivfndsnmoi!"

I was excited for this year AND I STILL AM but part of me forgot earlier that the cool stuff doesn't start until a few months into the year. Plus, this cool stuff will be combined with a lot of stress so I'm not sure I will always see how awesome it really is.

As of right now, my life is the same. It seems that the closer I am getting to seeing Isaac again, the more impatient and lonely I feel. It's really exciting, the thought of having him here with me, but I can't help wondering why we have to be so far apart. It actually makes me angry and sick to see happy couples walking around. It's as though I think that if I can't be with my love now, everyone has to feel this pain. I still have to go through my life on my own just waiting. Go to work, come home, eat, sleep, go online. It seems as though that's all I do. Well, throw in some mindless walks around stores just to waste time and you pretty much have my life.

I have a list of things I could do or should do during this time but I end up putting them all off. Writing and re-writing the same shit on my to-do list over and over again. Like my life is on hold, except the few things I have to do every day.

Where did my day go?

Welcome to 2010

My room is completely silent other than the sound of Peter and Ziggy shuffling around in their cage. I need music.

OK GOT MUSIC.

2009 was pretty lame for me.

Isaac and I didn't see each other the WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR. I mean in person, of course. We still saw each other a bunch on Skype. My whole year seemed to be a waste. There is so much I would like to do but rather do it with Isaac so I didn't really bother doing much at all. I have just been WAITING for 2010 to come. I hardly even saw any friends this year. It has been pretty lonely for me.
Loneliness just leaves me to think about everything and that begins to really stress me out.
I am wondering if all that has anything to do with the fact that I have a bunch of grey hairs that started growing in the beginning of the year. I didn't have any that I knew of in 2008!

2010 just looks nice and friendly and all I can look forward to is awesome stuff now. Isaac gets here in March (!!!!!!!) and we marry in May (!!) then I can finally stop spending so much time waiting for life to start and actually get to it.

Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on...

I will try to be less whiny this year.
Ok, additions to my new years wish list:

• Be less whiny in 2010.
• Get clothes I actually like and will wear and get rid of all the stuff I don't even like.
  
• Get more girlish clothes, like dresses. WEAR THEM. Stop settling for tshirts and jeans just because it's all I can find.
  
• Stop buying fabric until I use at least 1/2 of what I already have.

New years

I never make resolutions but maybe I'll just make a list of things I would LIKE to do in 2010. Yes.

• Really teach myself how to sew, then sew lots of stuff.
• Try to stay stress-free around our wedding date. I always told myself I wouldn't turn into Bridezilla, if something goes wrong then it's ok. Just as long as Isaac is there, I am there, and we get married. :)
• Organize my closet and the closet in the office.
• Get rid of craft items and fabric I always think I will use but never do. (Craigslist?)
• Wake up at extremely early and view the sunrise from a place with a nice view.
• Limit my Human Bean coffee spending. >_<
• Make more stuff and sell on Etsy again. Better stuff.
• Move out.
  
• Plan a reasonable budget that I can actually stick to.
• Make a video I can actually say I like.
• Find a job I'm actually happy with and earn more than minimum wage.
  
• Take on Yoga again.
• Get or make a thread spool holder. Whatever they are called.
• Go camping with Isaac.
• Hike Table Rock for the first time.
• Blog more.
  

That's all I can think of off the top of my head at the moment. I will probably periodically post updates on my list.

Not an update.

I just felt like doing it. Got a problem?

Put your iTunes on shuffle. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?
When I'm Sixty-Four - The Beatles

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family - David Bowie

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Shapes of Things - Bowie

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Me by the Sea - Edie Brickell

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
Eight Line Poem - Bowie

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Let It Be - Beatles

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
The Wedding Song - David Bowie

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - Arcade Fire

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
You Learn - Alanis Morissette

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Telling Lies - Bowie

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
One After 909 - Beatles

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Hand of Doom - Black Sabbath

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
TVC 15 - Bowie

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Dead Finks Don't Talk - Brian Eno

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Lady Stardust - Bowie

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST
Word on a Wing - Bowie

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Dancing Machine - Jackson 5

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
I'm Finding It Harder to be a Gentleman - White Stripes

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
A New Career in a New Town - Bowie

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Blow the House Down - Siouxie and the Banshees

--------

Some of those came out kind of interesting to me. I might do another. Get over it loserface. Haha.