Long time no see...

Hello there!!

I know its ages ago when I last posted something on here. Somehow, I kinda forgot about it but I promise I´ll try my best to post on here more often again.

Since my last post, a lot of things happend!!

I´m in the States for one month now...  Time flies, its crazy!!  

Eric and I got married on September 16th at the City Hall. It was such a beautiful day and I´m happily married to the most amazing man.

                              

On Tuesday we have sent the papers for the health insurance and I had my first appointment at the dentist!! So it feels more and more like home!! 

Right now I´m working on the forms for the AOS! We´ll try to send them out by next week, so we´re finally done with all the paperwork for a while.

Thats all the news for right now. I´m doing great over here and I still cant believe that I wont have to leave anymore and that we now can start our lifes together!

Thats it for now. I´ll talk to you very soon... I promise!

Laura

The holy Envelope...

Hey,

yesterday I picked up my Visa at the post office. On my way home I couldnt stop to stare at this big envelope. When I got home I opend it very carefully.

The first thing that I grabbed was my Passport. This Visa foil looks really cool. Of course I checked if all the info on there was correct and found a little mistake. Unfortunately, they spelled Erics middle name wrong, so I was worried a little. So I sent a email to the Consulate to make sure that I wont have any problems when arriving in the U.S. 

The Consulate answered back very quickly and told me that there will be no problem.

Then I took out the holy envelope aswell as a small white evelope. On both it says "DO NOT OPEN!" .

I checked the holy evelope, to make sure its not broken or anything. At the Consulate I was told that this evelope will have a missing corner... but mine is fully closed and sealed.

Now, both sealed evelopes are in my suitcase so it cant get damaged!!

On Sunday, I already started packing. 

I´m counting the days till I can leave. I cant put in words how excited I am to be with Eric so soon!!

I still have to do a couple of things till I´m leaving, so I keep myself busy, which is good cause the time goes by faster and soon I´ll be sitting on the plane!!

That´s all for now but I´ll be posting very soon!

Laura

The Interview!!

Hey Hey...

as you all know, I had my Interview on Friday.

I can tell you, I´ve never been so nervous and excited in my entire life as I was that morning. 

My stomach hurt so bad and my heart was pounding!! 

I actually had the appointment at 7.45 a.m. However, I arrived at the Consulate around 7 a.m.

So I waited in line. There werent a lot of people there, just one Lady was ahead of me!

At first I had to go to a Window, where I had to show my passport to a man! He checked if I was on the list and gave me a number. Then I had to pass a police officer. He asked me if I had a phone with me. You´re not allowed to bring any electronic things, such as phones, laptops, Ipods, Cameras etc. with you!

Then I had to go to the security. Its like the security at the airport. Then I had to go to another building! I walked through a lobby and into this huge hall! There was a little Info desk! I went there and showed my number to a young man. He was American but spoke awesome German. He told me to take a seat at the pink wall and then will be called by counter 23. 

There were 299 seats in the hall with 23 counters! All employees were behind windows. You had a microphone in front of you and a speaker hanging on the wall!

So I sat down next to the pink wall and was waiting. The wait seemed so long and the nervousness didnt want to dissapear. After a while I had to go to counter 23. A nice Lady was waiting for me. I had to give her the paper that we paid the visa fee, a passport picture and my passport. She also gave me a note that said how to bring in order my documents.

So I went back to my seat where I started to bring in order the documents, when I had to go back to counter 23. She forgot to ask me if I got the medical done and gave me back the passport picture cause they had too many of me.

After another wait, I had to go to counter 21! First I had to write down Erics name on a form, correct two forms cause I somehow forgot to put the city in Erics adress. Then I gave her the documents. I also had to write my adress on a big brown envelope and put the stamps on it.  Then we quickly checked back all my information and she explained everything about the visa. The visa is coming in a big, brown envelope, where my passport will be in and another envelope with a missing corner and a seal! She said I´m not allowed to open this evelope or damage it in any way! When I arrive in the U.S. I have to give it to an Immigration Officer, just they are allowed to open it! Then she gave me a Book called "Welcome to the United States - A Guide for new  Immigrants". It has alot of good info in it!

Then I had to wait again. This time it felt like I waited for hours. I knew this is the most important part! I couldnt sit still. After a while I saw a Lady on counter 17 and they called my number.

So I went to counter 17. A nice, older lady was saying hi to me and then she already started her questions.

She asked: Where is your fiance right now, when did we meet, when did we meet in person, how long did I stay,  has he ever been to germany, has he met my family yet, have I met his family, are his parents still alive, how many sisters does he have, are they still living at home, does he have any kids, do I have any kids, how do we want to get married. Then she asked me how I learned such good english and I told her that I basically taught it myself. After all the asking she went through all the documents, especially Erics Bankstatements and employment letter. Then she said "Well we´re just waiting for your medical record and you´ll have your visa in 7 to 14 days. Good luck"

That´s it... I did it. On the way out I took a deep breath and there it was.... the smile on my face. As I came outside to my mom I was jumping around and started crying. I was so relieved. Actually it wasnt that bad. The whole staff was so nice and made me feel very comfortable!

Now, two day later I feel great. I´m just really relieved and I´m looking forward to be with Eric in 3 weeks. The whole waiting was worth it cause now I´m just happy to be with him soon and to get married to the most awesome man!! 

So right now I´ll try to enjoy the last weeks here in Germany as much as I can and try not to be too sad about me leaving, cause I know what I´ll do this for!! 

Talk to you soon!

Laura

The medical!

This morning I left around 9 a.m. to get my medical done. When I arrived at the doctors office it was around 9.30 a.m. 

The nurse gave me a number and told me to go upstairs and wait there. After 5 minutes another Lady and gave me a Form to fill out. After a while I had to go into an office. The Lady explained to me that I have to come back in after I´m done with everything cause I need to pick up some paper that I´ll need for the AOS process later. She also told me that I´m going to get a disc with an xray picture of my lung! After that I gave her my passport, my vaccination record, a passport picture and paid. Then I had to go downstairs to pee in a cup, my blood was taken and the xray of my lung. When I was done I went back upstairs. A very nice doctor was waiting for me. She asked me some questions, checked if I´m healthy, and if my eyes are okay and thats it. I went back to the office to get the paper and the disc. Everyone wished me all the best!! So I was done after about half an hour. 

I also met a girl there. She first talked to my mom while I talked to the doctor! When I came back I asked her what Visa she applied for. She said K1, so I asked where she´s going to go and she said she´s moving to the Boston area. So I found a new neighbor today :)

Tomorrow is the big day! The Interview! 

So right now I´m going to take a shower, check all the documents once again and then go to bed. The night will be over by 5 a.m.

So I´ll talk to you after the Interview!

Laura

...in 5 days!

Hey,

so in 5 days, on August 5th I will have my Interview for the Visa.

Wednesday I´ll go to Frankfurt. Thursday I will be doing my medical, which is needed for the Visa. And then on Friday is the big day.

Right now my mood is changing every minute. It goes from serenity to happiness, to nervousness and anxiety...

However, two very nice girls, I´ve met through a Forum, calmed me down the past few days. They´ve answered  all my questions, they described to me how the whole Interview process works, and especially encouraged me repeatedly that I´ll make it and at the end can walk out of the Consulate quite proud. 

So I want to say thank you to Jenny and Sina! :) 

Actually, I´m prepared really well! I go through all the questions they could ask and I´m checking all the documents. 

I can tell you I´m so happy when this Interview is over. Eric is at least as nervous as I am!! So you all have to cross your fingers for me, on Friday, August 5th at 7.45 a.m., german time :)

I´ll post you a report after the Interview!

Laura