Havana, Cuba

[Double Rainbow]

got to daisypath and create your handle then cut and paste into your profile under signature!!!

Thankyou KJG XO ;D

 

[Double Rainbow]

Sassy....you are an amazing woman!!!!! Well I am procrastinating right now.....two-thirds of the decorating done....my house is a mess...it's dark and gloomy out....so time to put on some Cuban music....pump myself up and finish the decorating!!!!

Feliz Domingo mis amigas!!!!!

Happy Sunday XO ;D

 

[Luvcuba]

Luvcuba.....stop fretting...if they gave you all that stuff back the visa will be in his hands soon.......if there was an inkling that there might be a refusal or a change of mind on their part they would not have given him any evidence....they need that for an appeal if you are denied and appeal the decision...so take that as a very very good sign. I know it is hard. I am keeping my self super busy this weekend...I am totally stressing about the PRE...what if we don't get it in time....I am having a hard time trusting the cuban government to be as good as their word.....I am dying for the 31st to come so Yoani can go and check what is going on.

You are probably suffering from emotional exhaustion because of all this but honestly Luvcuba....they would not give him a scrap of paper back if they were going to deny him the visa......and I know this because the two people I know who have been denied (one being my best friend) is that they were told no at the interview and they weren't given back anything...nada.....so try and be positive.....it will be fine

I'll try. I've made myself sick over this; keep thinking what am I to do if he doesnt get his visa. 25 trips has cost me lots of money; can't afford this much longer. Good thing I have a decent job but still I still have 2 of my sons living with me and no money from the ex. I've asked my hubby 3 times what did they give back; he told me all the proof. He's hoping to get this resolved this week. He said the officer was nice; but she accused him of wanting to go to Canada; he laughed at her. He has never had any desire to come here; only to be with me and he told her that. Once we retire 6 months there; 6 months here.
She also wanted to know why he wasn't working. He was one of 83 let go from a resort in 2011; he's had jobs since; but contract.

Did you friends appeal the decision? What was the outcome?

Positive thoughts; positive thougts

 

[sassylassie]

Sassy....you are an amazing woman!!!!! Well I am procrastinating right now.....two-thirds of the decorating done....my house is a mess...it's dark and gloomy out....so time to put on some Cuban music....pump myself up and finish the decorating!!!!

Feliz Domingo mis amigas!!!!!

Woot woot to that spirit KJG!
It IS friggin dark AND cold AND wet today

 

[sassylassie]

Good Day Everyone.

I took off last night and caught up on Grey's and Dexter..lol I needed to take my mind off all this. I needed to RELAX haha. I have had a good day though. Mind is in the right place. Sass, your PM helped, thanks for that. It great we all can empathize with eachother and get through this together. I'm so upset that I didn't pay that fee. So scared that they will pull the file if I send something (receipt) I'm thinking of holding onto it, until they call for interview. What do you think? I could provide it then and then they have a month to confirm it's paid if thats what they do.....

Found out more details about my friends parents.... 2 men and a woman. There was a safe in their living room, that had nothing in it really but documents was what they were after. They were tortured and beaten. The father lived bc he played dead, and he remembers them saying "lets go the old man is dead" I just can't believe this.... makes me realize that in wake of this attack and the damage to ppl's lives by this storm, that I am very lucky and fortunate my family are safe. Money is money right... I guess what's happened this week has helped to put things to perspective and be grateful.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Really sunny today on the coast. Warm, and flowers are still blooming. Calm before the storm? KJG ... way to go on the decorating, I can't get motivated enough to put clothes in the washer...lol I've turned up some Cuban music too and it's helped!!

That situation with your friends parents is really f-ing disturbing. And you are right money is just money. There will be more.

Hmmmm so you are getting the sunshine are you DDG?!?! Well enjoy it!! We are friggin' freezing wet and cold. This is the kind of day if hubby was here, I would keep him in bed all day, sleep, eat, movies and
WEEEEEEE!

That thought is the only thing keeping me warm

 

[sassylassie]

hello everyone; I've been MIA. I received an email questioning me on the one concern and that my husband said I knew everything about it. I responded being honest; now I'm worrying I gave too much info. Won't relax until the visa is in his hand. Spoke to hubby again this morning (another 45 mins; can't wait to get this month's bill LOL) I think I'm driving him soooo crazy. Officer did say everything is fine; just need the one piece of paper to prove something. Hopefully this week. She gave back all the cards, phone bills, pictures so I guess this is good. Who knows maybe my email will reassure them I knew. He's mad at immigration cuz they feel he was lying and that I didn't know. It's nothing criminal; just something that happened during the beginning of our relationship. He was honest and told me. When we met we had fun; we both never thought that 4 years later we be married. 2009 is when we committed ourselves to each other. First two years I was still married; living in the same house as my husband. The marriage was struggling; we were friends; but I was chicken sh*t to end it.


I've been second guessing everything this weekend; I'm driving myself crazy along with my friends. I guess we all have these days where everything seems impossible.

Great job on spreadsheet Sassy; please add my info. File transfer was July 31 according to the letter (AOR) i received Oct

Still in PJ's; going to veg and read. Hopefully the tears will stop.

Have a great day xoxo

You are now on the spreadsheet. Do you remember what day they called to request the intervew for Oct 25th? Also what day in October you received the AOR from Havana?

Also....I would take for gospel what KJG said about the the visa for sure being issued. She is like the mama bear on here who seems to magically know everything there is about this process. She knows of someone who has been through every possible scenario. If she says its all good I trust that it is all good. Go relax and think about what types of things you two will do together when he gets here. Think of all the FREE activities you can do together : ) Saving money always makes me feel better!

 

[sassylassie]

Ya, been missing the hubby to keep me warm too! I don't sleep good except for when I'm sleeping with him so my first week there I sleep so much!!! haha Nobody believes me I'm always sleeping

I took off with a friend today and drove 2 hours to see my Mom. Got out the city and into the country. Was a perfect day for it. The rain started on the way back though!

I have an interview tomorrow with VON for full time position, I work there casual now, however orientation is mid jan-mid feb, or mid march - mid april... this application and wondering when I'll have an interview is really interferring with what to do with my professional life....I feel like if they call when I'm there I just want to stay there, it's cheaper than flying home, and flying back 2-3 weeks later.... so .... think I'm not going to take the orientation in January.... what you ladies think...lol I have a job offer back at family new born when hubby is here, she wont let me have it now, until im finished traveling. If I take the VON job, they will let me leave for 4 days to go to interview...but i cant travel anymore. What if im waiting another year. I have a job with a company working at a lower pay, they let me come and go.... ohhh decisions...

I really sometimes just think...f* the money!! live there on nothing and at least I know I get the visa. I could have a great job and denied a visa bc I stopped traveling.....that would be the worst.

Sass, spreadsheet is awesome. I have 2 medical dates.... husband: March 2012, stepdaughter: October 2011

Everyone have a good weekend???

Luvcuba stop worrying, I know you have the visa too, but I know you need it in hand to finally have the big sigh of relief.....I can't wait for mine. I feel like I havn't been able to breathe since I started this....

Hmmm the employment thing. That is hard. One thing I will guess is that they are not going penalize you for not travelling so much when it is explained that you are working more. I mean you need to continue showing that you can support your new family. Honestly the easy thing would be to stay down there and come back with him after the visa is issued. But you have to maintain your life here too. So best case scenario - I think- is to go down mid December as planned come back mid January for orientation. When time comes for interview take the 4 days and book last min to try to save $$ go and be with him. Come back and keep working VON until he gets here dump it and go back to the better paying job ( the newborn one pays better right? ) Of course...if working at VON is just allowing you to live paycheck to paycheck and living with hubby in Cuba is not going to put you back financially because you have nothing to pay for here...then why put yourself through the stress stay down there. Does that make sense?!?

Oh good luck!!!

 

[KJG]

I'll try. I've made myself sick over this; keep thinking what am I to do if he doesnt get his visa. 25 trips has cost me lots of money; can't afford this much longer. Good thing I have a decent job but still I still have 2 of my sons living with me and no money from the ex. I've asked my hubby 3 times what did they give back; he told me all the proof. He's hoping to get this resolved this week. He said the officer was nice; but she accused him of wanting to go to Canada; he laughed at her. He has never had any desire to come here; only to be with me and he told her that. Once we retire 6 months there; 6 months here.
She also wanted to know why he wasn't working. He was one of 83 let go from a resort in 2011; he's had jobs since; but contract.

Did you friends appeal the decision? What was the outcome?

Positive thoughts; positive thougts

Luvcuba.....positive thoughts all the way.......seriously it will be fine....my husband had a woman immigration officer as well....he said he will never forget her face......she was not rude but very forceful.....and she kept pressing him about my former marriages (yes....marriages...plural)...and the same thing......he said he has to go to Canada because I cannot live and work and support myself in Cuba.....he told her how I hated winter and would love to live in Cuba.......one friend one the appeal....one lost....then she took to federal court of appeal and lost there....they have been together 5 years come April.....she is currently seeking employment in the Caymens and her husband can live there with her and work there as well.....she says after a year or two there she will reapply but she was badly burned by CIC....but again her husband was told at the day of the interview he was not accepted.......CIC is not mean to the extent were they say yes and then the say no.....honestly with them giving all the proof back it will be okay........

 

[KJG]

lol..oh what dilemma. No, the VON pays same as Hospital, but I get to write off my car and house on taxes bc my office is at home bc I'm a feild nurse. I'm working for 8 dollars less an hour in home care, not registered, to have the freedom to come and go. I can go back to my reg pay if i take the job with VON but it's deciding that over other imp things. I have my exspenses here paid for. I have 2 roomates paying all the bills...brilliant right. I could go and only need to pay my student loan 350 month... I just need to have all the fees saved before I go... which... I could do....I'm feeling positive tonight. I'm going to that interview and telling them the truth. If I get a job with the freedom to go to interview and go to fly back with him, then I'll think about it....but what a waste of money for all them flights right... I know if I come back after interview I'll be in same boat as KJG and not able to go back again to fly back with him. I'm thinking of bringing his stepdaughter right away now.... get the child tax rolling....lol is that a bad reason to change my mind and bring her now?? lol im thinking flights too !! and routine. I sooooooo want ROUTINE in my life again.

DDG I think that is the best idea...go for the job interview.......tell them when you husband get's called you need to go for the interview....you are hoping it is before orientation but it might not be.....be truthful up front.........it is so hard not to be with your husband for every step of the way but I think it is more important to be there for the interview then the flight to Canada.......as much as I want to share his first airplane ride with him he is a grown man and hundreds do it all the time....everyday....so I have to suck it up and just be at the airport waiting for him when he walks through that door!!!! If I knew ahead of time that it was interview or flight to Canada with my husband....I would still chose the interview everytime.

Yes...I have been feeling lately that I have been stuck in my job because of my Cuba issues...now that Yoani is coming I can't tell you how good it feels to know I am going to have options again......my job has not been the greatest the last little while but now I know I can investigage new places to work and it feels good!!!

 

[KJG]

So I am done. My tree is up and decorated...the house is fully Christmatized and my teenage son thinks I certifably nuts!!!! But it looks good and kept me busy all weekend.

I even switched the bed around and cleaned out the nightstand for Yoani's side of the bed....cleaned the bathroom drawers out for his sink and vanity and have a new toothbrush..paste...floss waiting for him!!! So now just the closet and the dresser!!! I did clean out the closet in the spare room downstairs so I can start sorting and moving stuff out but I will do that next weekend.

I can't wait for the 31st but also am scared to death. I really really hope the PRE is ready or still on schedule for November 5th!!!

Hoping for a productive week in Havana and some phone calls!!!!!!! Honestly though...has anyone gone on the Kingston thread....Havana is mighty quick compared to Kingston.....those ladies have been waiting and waiting and waiting But they stick together and lift each other up...just like us here!!!

 

[Luvcuba]

You are now on the spreadsheet. Do you remember what day they called to request the intervew for Oct 25th? Also what day in October you received the AOR from Havana?

Also....I would take for gospel what KJG said about the the visa for sure being issued. She is like the mama bear on here who seems to magically know everything there is about this process. She knows of someone who has been through every possible scenario. If she says its all good I trust that it is all good. Go relax and think about what types of things you two will do together when he gets here. Think of all the FREE activities you can do together : ) Saving money always makes me feel better!

Thanks Sassy; The AOR is dated September 24. He received his call for interview Oct 5.

I'm trying ladies; but this is soooo hard. Scares me even more when KJG said one won the appeal and the other lost. But as she said they were told at the interview. I sure hope they had grounds for denial...

Have a great night ladies. I'm off to bed; feeling very sick to the tummy......xoxo

 

[sassylassie]

Luvcuba.....positive thoughts all the way.......seriously it will be fine....my husband had a woman immigration officer as well....he said he will never forget her face......she was not rude but very forceful.....and she kept pressing him about my former marriages (yes....marriages...plural)...and the same thing......he said he has to go to Canada because I cannot live and work and support myself in Cuba.....he told her how I hated winter and would love to live in Cuba.......one friend one the appeal....one lost....then she took to federal court of appeal and lost there....they have been together 5 years come April.....she is currently seeking employment in the Caymens and her husband can live there with her and work there as well.....she says after a year or two there she will reapply but she was badly burned by CIC....but again her husband was told at the day of the interview he was not accepted.......CIC is not mean to the extent were they say yes and then the say no.....honestly with them giving all the proof back it will be okay........

KJG without giving away personal details. can you generalize the reasons why your friend whay denied an then lost 2 appeals? If not it is ok...but this is a learning experience for all of us.

 

[KJG]

KJG without giving away personal details. can you generalize the reasons why your friend whay denied an then lost 2 appeals? If not it is ok...but this is a learning experience for all of us.

most of it was naivity.....they met fell in love and got married within 4 months....her husband then got a very fast interview and was totally unprepared for the questions they asked....he couldn't remember if his wife had a brother and sister and if they were married....he knew about her daughters but didn't know there birth dates and what they were taking in school.......so it was all in all bad for them.......they just had no clue about this process and if it wasn't for their horrible time I probably wouldn't be so well schooled in it either but I learned from her......and her mistakes...also she did not get a lawyer for her appeal...if she would have she probably would have won but again...she thought she could represent herself but the cic lawyer tore her apart...I was a witness and it was not good......they will have been together 5 years this coming April.....and if he had just married her for the visa like they said he would have been long gone but they have stuck together and working on a different plan before applying to cic again.......

 

[sassylassie]

most of it was naivity.....they met fell in love and got married within 4 months....her husband then got a very fast interview and was totally unprepared for the questions they asked....he couldn't remember if his wife had a brother and sister and if they were married....he knew about her daughters but didn't know there birth dates and what they were taking in school.......so it was all in all bad for them.......they just had no clue about this process and if it wasn't for their horrible time I probably wouldn't be so well schooled in it either but I learned from her......and her mistakes...also she did not get a lawyer for her appeal...if she would have she probably would have won but again...she thought she could represent herself but the cic lawyer tore her apart...I was a witness and it was not good......they will have been together 5 years this coming April.....and if he had just married her for the visa like they said he would have been long gone but they have stuck together and working on a different plan before applying to cic again.......

Wow that is a very sad situation. It is a good lesson for all of us....and for spouses...make sure to pay attention when we talk about ourselves : )

 

[Double Rainbow]

So I am done. My tree is up and decorated...the house is fully Christmatized and my teenage son thinks I certifably nuts!!!! But it looks good and kept me busy all weekend.

I even switched the bed around and cleaned out the nightstand for Yoani's side of the bed....cleaned the bathroom drawers out for his sink and vanity and have a new toothbrush..paste...floss waiting for him!!! So now just the closet and the dresser!!! I did clean out the closet in the spare room downstairs so I can start sorting and moving stuff out but I will do that next weekend.

I can't wait for the 31st but also am scared to death. I really really hope the PRE is ready or still on schedule for November 5th!!!

Hoping for a productive week in Havana and some phone calls!!!!!!! Honestly though...has anyone gone on the Kingston thread....Havana is mighty quick compared to Kingston.....those ladies have been waiting and waiting and waiting But they stick together and lift each other up...just like us here!!!



Wow KJG You have accomplished a ton. Way to go girl. I am impressed. I look at all of what I have to do to get ready for my husband and I get exhausted just thinking about it all. lol I have to get on it. you have just inspired me. Thankyou XO