Green Card Update: Interview appointment

So as it turns out the package that the joint supporter sent from the US got lost.  EVEN THOUGH, the postal tracking documented that it had been delivered to the correct address.  Its been 3 weeks and there is no sign of it.  After emailing the embassy 14 times, they told me that it may have been delivered to the Customs Department, which is located at the same address.  I then proceeded to call that office all throughout the next day.  I never got an answer.  Which might explain why are package is stuck there...maybe no one actually works there!

This week I got really antsy and decided to take matters into my own hands.  We re-sent the package from Germany instead of the US with DHL-express.  DHL-express ships domestically in 1 day.  I watched the tracking all morning (refreshing the page every 10-15 mins!).  It arrived in the Currier station at 5pm on the day I sent it.  By 9:40am the following day it was delivered.   At 10:05am I received an email from the embassy with our interview appointment scheduled for the exactly a week later!  What a RELIEF!!!

The Frankfurt embassy is actually pretty reasonable and willing to help.  They just depend on you and the postal service to send them all of the required documents.  This takes a lot of diligence on your part and a fair amount of trust towards the postal service.

Well the interview appointment is next week.  I will be in California by then...J will take the train to Frankfurt Tuesday night, sleep over, attend the interview in the morning and take the train back before the end of the day.  Its all going to work out :)

New Job

So far, May has been very eventful and awesome.

While on a long weekend trip to Norway, I got the email we had been waiting for: Subject: Offer Letter. (!!!!)  After three long weeks, I finally got the good news.

Start date: June 24th

Salary: Way more than I was expecting, but just enough for J and I to live comfortably if he doesn't get a job immediately.

I am extremely relieved at how easy it was to get a job from abroad.  It really solved a lot of the questions that J and I had, like what city do we want to move to, when do we want to move, how are we going to support ourselves in the new city...etc.  

Since meeting J and starting our life collaboration, we have successfully achieved every goal we aimed for.  He may not entirely agree...but its true.

Green Card Update: Waiting for interview date

One month after we sent the I-864,supporting tax forms, and medical exam results we expected to hear something from the embassy.  Really anything.  Best case: you have submitted everything necessary. your interview date is June 1st.  Worst case: we also need these 25342 more documents from you.  But we didn't hear anything.

J and I were getting antsy, to put it mildly.  So I emailed them point blank:
We sent all of our documents a month ago.  We have not received an interview date.  Please provide details about the status of our application.

I got a surprisingly fast email back stating that we sent in a form without a signature and we needed to send the I-864A with the signed I-864.  After about 8 more emails back and forth, our sponsor, my dad, and I finally agreed on what we needed to send and why we needed to send it.  The I-864A must be signed by my mother because she is also responsible for the financial support of J.  It was confusing and frustrating. But we got the papers in the mail with tracking.

Tracking is a double edged sword.  Its good when you see that the package is moving, but its super frustrating when you see that the package has sat in NY State sorting facility for 1 week.

Anyway, finally the package is in Germany.  My advice is: even if you think you are being annoying, contact the Frankfurt US Embassy via email anyway and ask what the status of your application is.  They do not provide a phone number...so email is the only way and, luckily, they actually do respond to emails.

Final Steps of Green Card Application...

We are a little over 3 months into the process of getting a Green Card for Joaco.  So far we have received approval of the I-130 petition and confirmation that they have received the DS-230 and supporting documents. The only thing left is for Joaco to complete a medical exam and mail in a few odds and ends including a checklist and a pre-paid postage sticker. 

We are thinking the whole thing could potentially be complete in May.  However, here in Germany there are 4 national holidays in the month of May.  Which makes it the least productive month of the year.  I would be 100% content if we get the visa sometime in June.  In all honesty, I'm not in a giant rush to leave here.  Don't get me wrong. I desperately want to leave, but there are a few things that need to happen before we take off.

First, I need to get a J-O-B.  I know it will happen eventually.  I have plenty of experience and lots of good contacts.  Its just a matter of one company having money in their budget to say yes.

Second, we need to sell/pack/toss our whole home in Deutschland.  I'm not looking forward to that nightmare.  We spent about 2,000 euros buying all of the stuff in our house just last year.  One of my favorite things to do is NOT throw away a bunch of lightly used relatively expensive items in one country and then go re-buy them in a different country.  So silly.  We will have to figure out some way to salvage are shit.

Third, we need to quit our jobs (with 3 months notice (theres no way I'm doing that shit)), give a 3 month notice on our lease, and cancel our internet and electricity.

Lastly, we have to drive from Bremerhaven, Deutschland to Alicante, Spain to return the car that we borrowed from Joaco's lovely parentals.  This last one could be awesome fun....unfortunately I just don't think its going to fit in my schedule with getting a job and all before moving and giving the 3 months notice. 

Back in Deutschland

Bondi Beach, Sydney

After almost 4 weeks in Australia Joaquin and I are back in cold rainy lovely Germany.

Australia was fantastic.  Its like a different planet down there including...wild fires, cyclones, and massive floods along with sharks, deadly jellyfish, crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas, emus, snakes, spiders, bird-like mosquitoes and leeches.

As far as I was concerned, humans were far, far from the top of the food chain.

Aside from all of the obvious drawbacks that come from all of those scary animals, the beaches and landscapes were amazing.  Also, the general attitude of the people I would describes as relaxed, happy, and adventurous.

Ok let's do a quick German vs. Australian comparison.

German: feels most comfortable in a durable high tech hiking boot regardless of the weather or how much time they plan to spend outside in the elements.  The most important thing is to be prepared.  There is always a chance you will be forced to walk through a smoldering bed of coals or climb a icy wall at some point during your day.

Australian: feels most comfortable barefoot. And not just on the beach, everywhere...blacktop, gas stations, even the airport.  What are shoes?!

aaaah! I just love walking barefoot.  Sometime about it is so liberating.  I still remember the looks of shock the Germans give me when I wear my flip flops in the rain....

Cape Tribulation at dawn

Vamos a Australia!

So, 2 more days until Joaquin and I leave for The Land Down Under!!

I can easily count the number of times that I have seen blue sky and/or sun in 2013.  They fit on one hand.  Unfortunately the northern latitude (53.5° N) and the proximity to the Nord See join forces to create a persistent, stubborn grey sky with regular precipitation and hurricane-like winds.  Last year was tough. This year I know what to expect.  Spring won't come until May.  And summer won't come until August. If we are lucky.

Our trip plan!!

I can't wait to leave this all behind and hop on a plane to another world!  The plan is to fly into Sydney and spent 3 days: recovering from any jet-lag (that most definitely will affect us), spending time with Joaquin's friend from elementary school who requested that we bring him 4 packs of cigarettes (weird? yes, definitely. but apparently they are $20 a pack in Australia), and then fly up to Cairns.  In Cairns we will rent a Camper Van and drive back down to Sydney with lots of stops along the way.

Hoping we don't kill each other in this thing...(!)

Which part might I be looking forward to the most you ask....4 days exploring the Whitsunday Islands...aka paradise!!! I can't wait. They will have to drag my kicking and screaming body off these white sands and out of these crystal clear waters.  Its going to be amazzzingg!

Green Card Application: Step 2

Just yesterday (January 31, 2013) we got the letter of approval of the I-130 package that we send in December!!

That letter is suppose to come within 1-3 months, so it came early/on-time.  We are thrilled!

The next step is to submit the SD-230 with a laundry list of additional documents.  The ones that apply to us are here:

1. Joaquin's birth certificate in English
2. Police certificates from Germany and Spain
3. Marriage certificate
4. Passport photos of Joaquin and I (again)
5. Additional photos (i need to look into exactly what the mean by this...)

Because we are headed to Australia for our long awaited HONEYMOON!! and we need to request the Spanish police report, we won't be able to send this second package until we get back (March 7th).  This isn't really a big deal because everything else is ready and it won't be a stressful month delay.

The approval letter also requires that we request a Move-to-the-US date.  Joaquin and I are going to discuss what makes the most sense for us as far as this is concerned over breakfast Saturday morning...as per usual.  All great plans are made with a pen, paper, and a croissant.  I'm convinced.

hopefully we'll be here this time next year!!