One Piece of Advice

[chelley]

Which leads to my next piece of advice, find a hobby or go work out doing something you enjoy other than immigration so you can have something in your life that helps alleviate the stress and makes you happy.

YES! when it is out of your hands, let it be out of your hands... there's nothing you can do to make it go faster or control it... enjoy your life and don't let immigration become your life... your husband and you survived before you submitted that form and you will continue to survive afterwards... enjoy your wait, plan, get excited, get your ducks in line, take a hobby, spend time with friends/family who you wont see much after the other half arrives Real life together begins once your other half gets here and you need to be prepared for that beginning rather than just focused on the end of the wait! (this obviously applies more to those who are separated )

 

[chess101]

I don't think you need a lawyer. I think unless your situation is really complicated, you don't need one. Just follow the instructions!
I agree though for the US , order federal and state records, that's what we did, it's better to send both at once.

 

[Baloo]

Sending in the application is like a being a pregnant mouse, eventually giving birth to a baby elephant.

You know it is "nearly there" (for months on end),
it is very painful to actually get it delivered,
and you are really happy when it is finally done......

After all that effort - have a rest from the process ;D

 

[Material]

Sending in the application is like a being a pregnant mouse, eventually giving birth to a baby elephant.

LOOOOOOOOL Balo good one

 

[chess101]

Sending in the application is like a being a pregnant mouse, eventually giving birth to a baby elephant.

You know it is "nearly there" (for months on end),
it is very painful to actually get it delivered,
and you are really happy when it is finally done......

After all that effort - have a rest from the process ;D

But then you wait in blindness, so it's like a blind mouse!

 

[Love_Young]

My pieces of advice would be:
1. Have faith in your relationship. If you are genuine it will show.
2. Don't over obsess about other problems people have occurred with. It will only make you stress about yours.
3. Unless you are literally given something to worry about then there is no reason to worry. (Hubby's advice)
4. Take the proof that people include with their application an inspiration for yours but don't use it as an absolute guideline.
No relationship is the same.
5. Take care of yourself during the process. It is okay to not think about immigration for a day and enjoy yourself.
6. Have a good sense of humor about this process or it will eat your alive.
7. Like others have said, try to find a hobby.
8. Study, read, and learn.
9. Don't send off the application unless it is complete and you feel comfortable with it.
10. Be open to making friends on here, they will keep you strong.
11. Try not to get envious when people get news before you, it doesn't mean anything is wrong with yours
12. Once it is sent off try not to worry and trust in the IO even though thats easier said than done.
13. Make a copy of your application and receipts.
14. Get tracking on the application.
15. But most importantly just stay strong. You can make it through it. You're never alone. :-*

Sorry for listing so many. I got out of hand with it. Lol.

 

[Material]

My pieces of advice would be:
1. Have faith in your relationship. If you are genuine it will show.
2. Don't over obsess about other problems people have occurred with. It will only make you stress about yours.
3. Unless you are literally given something to worry about then there is no reason to worry. (Hubby's advice)
4. Take the proof that people include with their application an inspiration for yours but don't use it as an absolute guideline.
No relationship is the same.
5. Take care of yourself during the process. It is okay to not think about immigration for a day and enjoy yourself.
6. Have a good sense of humor about this process or it will eat your alive.
7. Like others have said, try to find a hobby.
8. Study, read, and learn.
9. Don't send off the application unless it is complete and you feel comfortable with it.
10. Be open to making friends on here, they will keep you strong.
11. Try not to get envious when people get news before you, it doesn't mean anything is wrong with yours
12. Once it is sent off try not to worry and trust in the IO even though thats easier said than done.
13. Make a copy of your application and receipts.
14. Get tracking on the application.
15. But most importantly just stay strong. You can make it through it. You're never alone. :-*

Sorry for listing so many. I got out of hand with it. Lol.

+1

 

[Love_Young]

+1

Aww thank you, you are so very kind. ;D

 

[Iamrobot85]

I think it's really good advice to look at your application objectively. It's hard to do though since it is such a big part of your life. That's why a consultant or a lawyer is good. At least it's someone to look objectively at your application before you send it off. And usually they know the little things about the offices like whether or not they prefer 6 pages of IMs or 60, things like that.

 

[QCSunshine]

I agree with the suggestions on here. And I think Love_Young's note about making a copy of your application is particularly important. If your whole application or certain parts of your application gets "lost" along the way in the mail or by immigration, it is your only way to avoid doing all the work again. I actually made two copies and have one stored in our home and one stored in someone else's home, as an off-site back-up. I hated using all that paper, but didn't have the time to scan every page, and I knew having two copies in two separate locations would make me feel much more relaxed during the waiting months.

 

[JustandDaph]

My pieces of advice would be:
1. Have faith in your relationship. If you are genuine it will show.
2. Don't over obsess about other problems people have occurred with. It will only make you stress about yours.
3. Unless you are literally given something to worry about then there is no reason to worry. (Hubby's advice)
4. Take the proof that people include with their application an inspiration for yours but don't use it as an absolute guideline.
No relationship is the same.
5. Take care of yourself during the process. It is okay to not think about immigration for a day and enjoy yourself.
6. Have a good sense of humor about this process or it will eat your alive.
7. Like others have said, try to find a hobby.
8. Study, read, and learn.
9. Don't send off the application unless it is complete and you feel comfortable with it.
10. Be open to making friends on here, they will keep you strong.
11. Try not to get envious when people get news before you, it doesn't mean anything is wrong with yours
12. Once it is sent off try not to worry and trust in the IO even though thats easier said than done.
13. Make a copy of your application and receipts.
14. Get tracking on the application.
15. But most importantly just stay strong. You can make it through it. You're never alone. :-*

Sorry for listing so many. I got out of hand with it. Lol.

+1 as well!

 

[Love_Young]

I agree with the suggestions on here. And I think Love_Young's note about making a copy of your application is particularly important. If your whole application or certain parts of your application gets "lost" along the way in the mail or by immigration, it is your only way to avoid doing all the work again. I actually made two copies and have one stored in our home and one stored in someone else's home, as an off-site back-up. I hated using all that paper, but didn't have the time to scan every page, and I knew having two copies in two separate locations would make me feel much more relaxed during the waiting months.

Yeah but if your anything like me, its hard not to look at it during the wait wondering if you filled it out right. Lol.
I got mine in a box with the rest of the immigration stuff. I wasn't able to make a copy of all the evidence we included (I still have all that with me anyway) but I manage to make copies of the actual application forms themselves, receipt for application, receipt for medical, copy of envelope I put PR pictures in, and police clearances.

+1 as well!

Aww thank you! :-* I appreciate it!

 

[bobshynoswife]

I agree with the suggestions on here. And I think Love_Young's note about making a copy of your application is particularly important. If your whole application or certain parts of your application gets "lost" along the way in the mail or by immigration, it is your only way to avoid doing all the work again. I actually made two copies and have one stored in our home and one stored in someone else's home, as an off-site back-up. I hated using all that paper, but didn't have the time to scan every page, and I knew having two copies in two separate locations would make me feel much more relaxed during the waiting months.

Making a copy is a good point. I put the application together here in Canada while my husband was in Africa. I copied the entire application and sent it to him, and he studied every single page of it (640 pages!) in the 7 weeks leading up to his interview. He wanted to make sure he knew every piece of information the IO knew about us, so that included which emails I sent, which facebook screen captures etc.

 

[fleo]

(640 pages!)

You glorious, magnificent woman <3 Someone should make you President of the World or something

As for advice - read the OP manual. Then read it again. Even things that don't concern you, just to get the hang of it. Then go through all the forms and see if things are starting to make sense. If not, read the manual again Double-check for signatures, make copies of everything, and try your best to help others going through the same process.

 

[angtao]

Don't procrastinate. I did that and my process has not even begun yet. It took 10 months just to get the paperwork together for us.