Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[kelKel]

Congrats Sunshine!

 

[ddobro2]

Hi, I'm a newbie. Application was dropped off at the post office on April 29, 2011 so I have nothing to report as of yet. I'm doing outland- Buffalo but currently in Montreal, QC on a student permit. That means I also have to deal with the CSQ aspect of the process.\. My details are that I'm being sponsored by my Moroccon-born Canadian citizen husband. I'm Russian-born but have been in the U.S. since a young age and am a U.S. citizen. Wedding took place late June 2010 in Arlington, VA but was a tiny civil affair. Most of the relationship was over the phone and internet (hours of daily communications) and we also met on the internet (chatroom). I visited him in Canada twice and he visited me once (just before marriage in Washington, DC area). I've been living with him in Canada since mid-August, 2010. Hoping we're all successfull with this process

 

[TreeLover]

Do you guys know how long is generally given to send in one's passport? That part of my email had a blank, a space, and no date. I didn't notice when I first read it and only realized it when I started trying to find the dates on the links included in the email and not finding a date anywhere. The I noticed the place in the email where the date should have been. I am out of the country at the moment, and I need my passport to get back in to Canada, so I am curious about how long I have to get it to them...

They gave me a month when they sent me my PPR.

 

[Stumpedmom]

This is getting REALLY frustrating. Last night I had my first real breakdown over this whole process. All this waiting & worrying is exhausting. :'(

I completely understand...I actually had to get the anti depressants doubled lately because of it....this week has been even worse due to the fact that my son's father passed away, then I have people telling me that I should be home not working, I was ready to hand my stack of bills including the nearly 200 a week grocery bill to the next person who told me that. My son is doing OK, he stayed with my parents for a couple of days while I worked, so he wasn't alone.

I am to the point where something has to give, and I'll be darned if I am the one who is going to break...thank goodness my hubs is the one with nerves of steel and knows when/how to calm me down even tho there are nearly 3000 miles between us...I am sure this would be much easier if he could be here to help us through all of this....

Patiently (or as patiently as I can) waiting to be reunited with my husband.....

 

[amaranth]

Stumpedmom, I'm really sorry about your loss. I hope your son will be ok.

I feel really bad for whining about it, because I know there are people in much harder situations than mine... I'm just frustrated, lonely, and feeling pretty useless. My life has been on hold for over 4 years now due to many setbacks, and just when we think things on the immigration front are moving everything grinds to a halt again. I just want to start my life again. As far as my little breakdown... I'm bipolar with some occasional bad anxiety, so I was pretty proud of myself for holding it together these past months... until last night. Now I just feel stupid. I don't know how my husband puts up with me. He's a champ!

Sorry everyone.

 

[jayde]

You know, we all have those moments where we get overwhelmed. You are allowed to feel sorry for yourself for a little while... I know I definitely have those moments, but I remind myself that I am lucky to have met my husband, and that this wait won't last forever... and those of us who have gone through this process will likely not take our spouses for granted the way many other husbands and wives do.

I KNOW that I am VERY lucky to be married to my husband, to share the life that we have (even though it is apart right now), and to know that my future is with him, that our family will flourish and that relatively speaking, it's not all that far off.

Yeah, some days it is MUCH harder than others to convince myself to snap out of it... but I've found that if I accept those moments, allow myself to feel sad, and break down, that it doesn't last as long as if I just put a fake smile on my face and keep it inside. You feel how you feel, when you feel it. End of story. Don't apologize, and don't worry about it so much.

There are always going to be ups and downs, good times and hard times... don't sweat it, feel sad when you need to, but truly enjoy those moments that deserve to be savoured.

Stumpedmom, I'm so sorry for your loss, and very sorry for your son's loss. There are so many moments where we feel it would be so much easier if our spouse was just here for us to deal with a situation together... but just because he isn't there physically, doesn't mean you can't draw strength from your relationship with him... don't despair... your marriage is the foundation on which you will persevere.

Yeah, I feel cheated out of my first year of marriage... we had our first wedding anniversary last week and have spent about 6 weeks of that year in eachother's presence, the rest we are 1800 miles apart. I feel like we've lost that first year, and then his plane arrives and I'm reminded that each moment we have together is that much more special... and for the two weeks at a time that he's here, life is comfortable, and loving, and warm... I can survive another three months waiting to see him again... holding my breath until he's here, and I can relax and breathe again.

Cry when you need to... and breathe... the wait won't last forever...

 

[Rinnerz]

I'm just frustrated, lonely, and feeling pretty useless. My life has been on hold for over 4 years now due to many setbacks, and just when we think things on the immigration front are moving everything grinds to a halt again. I just want to start my life again.

Reading this was as if I was reading something I, myself, had typed. This is me, almost to the "t". I'm about to hit 5 years, due to innumerable setbacks -- whether it be finances, my persistent health problems, or immigration (usually combinations of all 3). I can relate all too well to this. The best I can say is: hey, you've made it this far. And you're not alone. There are so many others going through this (and much worse). Admittedly getting yourself to realize this more often is easier said than done, especially after years of accumulated stress from various sources... But y'know.

Now I just feel stupid. I don't know how my husband puts up with me. He's a champ!

Sorry everyone.

Don't be sorry.

 

[Jeff]

I feel really bad for whining about it, because I know there are people in much harder situations than mine... I'm just frustrated, lonely, and feeling pretty useless. My life has been on hold for over 4 years now due to many setbacks, and just when we think things on the immigration front are moving everything grinds to a halt again. I just want to start my life again.

Don't feel bad for venting...many of us are in the same situation and like you said, there are many in much worse as well. I think the forums are a good little support group for each other as it's a difficult process. I'm right there with you and the frustration

 

[sparkle]

Congrats QCSunshine!! I've updated the spreadsheet.

Reading everyone's post makes me feel sad to know so many of us are suffering all because of this immigration !! Me and my husband still don't live together, approaching our first anniversary soon But we are still lucky enough to be able to see each other every weekend. We just live 1 hour away, but unfortunately on the opposite sides of the border! Who knew it could be this complicated... He can't come here, and I can't go there for more than just visits

I pray for all of us here, and hope the Buffalo office gets back to speed soon!

Good luck to everyone !

 

[Rinnerz]

I pray for all of us here, and hope the Buffalo office gets back to speed soon!

Good luck to everyone !

Indeed .

Great job on the spreadsheet, btw. Although, I think SouthenNewEnglander got PPR back last month sometime. Yep, looks like it was on April 11 .

 

[sparkle]

Ooopss ! I may have missed that ! Thank you

 

[Rinnerz]

Ooopss ! I may have missed that ! Thank you

No worries. I think they only posted about it in the November thread, so that's probably why it was overlooked.

 

[Love-Buf-Wings]

Hi guys,

I've got good and bad news to share. The good news is that the visa office in Buffalo looked at our application forwarded in March (not sure if they would have given us AOR if they had not found an issue), so perhaps they are making some progress. The bad news is that my husband worked for the US government while in the Peace Corps. program and he lived in Swaziland (South Africa) for three years. He did not think he would be asked for a clearance from Swaziland since he worked for the US government and he thought that the FBI clearance would be sufficient. Unfortunately, they want a police background check from Swaziland which will take time, within 60 days or else we will be forced to reapply. Luckily, my husband has contacts in Swaziland that will help him with this. Not sure how long all of this will take. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Tiggilicious]

Hi guys,

I've got good and bad news to share. The good news is that the visa office in Buffalo looked at our application forwarded in March (not sure if they would have given us AOR if they had not found an issue), so perhaps they are making some progress. The bad news is that my husband worked for the US government while in the Peace Corps. program and he lived in Swaziland (South Africa) for three years. He did not think he would be asked for a clearance from Swaziland since he worked for the US government and he thought that the FBI clearance would be sufficient. Unfortunately, they want a police background check from Swaziland which will take time, within 60 days or else we will be forced to reapply. Luckily, my husband has contacts in Swaziland that will help him with this. Not sure how long all of this will take. Any advice is appreciated.

Hopefully that wont cause a lot of delays! We were worried about that when he was on a USAF tour for one year in South Korea, but since he lived on the base were hoping they dont need one from South Korea.
Did they contact you by mail, or email?
They received our application in Buffalo March 10th, and have been thinking that its going to be a few more weeks before they even look at the file so it gave me a little hope!

 

[Love-Buf-Wings]

Hopefully that wont cause a lot of delays! We were worried about that when he was on a USAF tour for one year in South Korea, but since he lived on the base were hoping they dont need one from South Korea.
Did they contact you by mail, or email?
They received our application in Buffalo March 10th, and have been thinking that its going to be a few more weeks before they even look at the file so it gave me a little hope!

Hi Tiggilicious,

We wondered about whether Swaziland would be an issue. Not sure why an FBI clearance isn't sufficient since Peace Corps is governed by federal public law. I also thought our file wouldn't be examined until a few weeks later. Happy to know of this sooner than later. Our application was forwarded March 17th. Thanks!