Visa papers...
So, last Friday I decided enough was enough: I would submit the paperwork for Ben's visa no matter what.
I had gathered everything I needed back in November, and sorted them into 2 stacks of papers: Copied and To be copied. So today I got up, grabed both piles, printed some other stuff I needed and left.
First stop: breakfast! It takes me forever to eat at home, plus I wanted time to sort through the documents and compare them to the check-list.
So there I am, going through them while sipping coffee:
- I-130 filled up and signed: check
- Ben's g-325A, filled and signed: check
- Mine: check
- Pictures (ugg!): check
- Marriage certificate: che--- wait. Wait. Nope, not here.
I double check everything and yes, that's missing. Along with a thick stack of "secondary evidence of proof of relationship". Ok, no biggy. I'll just go back home and grab that other binder. Why the hell did I make 3 piles of stuff in the first place??
Anyway.
So I'm back home, doublechecking the documents and all seems fine. I got some weird looks at the Office Depot where I went to get some copies. I kept on giving stacks of papers to the attendant as I bounced on my toes, going "and *bites tongue* yeah, this, and this other one, and OH YES THIS ONE! and only the first page of this and YES! I SO need this one!". The girl's smile would drop a bit more every time she came back.
But finally, FINALLY! I had all the copies done. I just needed to sort them. I decided that the secondary evidence had to go in chronological order, which meant even more shuffling, taking clipps off, putting them back on and whatnot.
I'm waiting for my turn at the post office. I'm so exited/relieved/nervous that I'm actually shaking, a device catches my eyes... Tape. I get the bright idea of sealing the envelope. The post-office lady smiles through my "I want to send it and I want to send it as fast as possible and this other box as slow as possible I actually don't care when it arrives but this one I would like it as fast as possible" and, taking advantage of my need to draw a breath, proceeds to explain that I sealed the envelop with "Priority" tape, which means it will take 3 days to get there.
Bummer.
I'm back in the car, driving home, and giggling in a nervous/exited way when I remember... The next thing out of my mouth is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn't add--- I didn't even print the bloody coverletter! (Which you would normally be fine since you don't need one, but I wanted to make sure we hit no snaggs).
I rush back home, print the letter and get back to the post office (after getting lost. Don't ask), where the lady that took care of me is out to lunch and the guy who I'm talking to has no idea where the envelope is. And he goes into the back room, comes back, goes away, comes back and no envelope.
Then the Korean lady beside him goes "I know which one it is, I'll take care of her". I jump to her side and, sure enough, she comes back with it.
Now, I can say the papers are GONE GONE GONE
And the waiting game is ON!
I had gathered everything I needed back in November, and sorted them into 2 stacks of papers: Copied and To be copied. So today I got up, grabed both piles, printed some other stuff I needed and left.
First stop: breakfast! It takes me forever to eat at home, plus I wanted time to sort through the documents and compare them to the check-list.
So there I am, going through them while sipping coffee:
- I-130 filled up and signed: check
- Ben's g-325A, filled and signed: check
- Mine: check
- Pictures (ugg!): check
- Marriage certificate: che--- wait. Wait. Nope, not here.
I double check everything and yes, that's missing. Along with a thick stack of "secondary evidence of proof of relationship". Ok, no biggy. I'll just go back home and grab that other binder. Why the hell did I make 3 piles of stuff in the first place??
Anyway.
So I'm back home, doublechecking the documents and all seems fine. I got some weird looks at the Office Depot where I went to get some copies. I kept on giving stacks of papers to the attendant as I bounced on my toes, going "and *bites tongue* yeah, this, and this other one, and OH YES THIS ONE! and only the first page of this and YES! I SO need this one!". The girl's smile would drop a bit more every time she came back.
But finally, FINALLY! I had all the copies done. I just needed to sort them. I decided that the secondary evidence had to go in chronological order, which meant even more shuffling, taking clipps off, putting them back on and whatnot.
I'm waiting for my turn at the post office. I'm so exited/relieved/nervous that I'm actually shaking, a device catches my eyes... Tape. I get the bright idea of sealing the envelope. The post-office lady smiles through my "I want to send it and I want to send it as fast as possible and this other box as slow as possible I actually don't care when it arrives but this one I would like it as fast as possible" and, taking advantage of my need to draw a breath, proceeds to explain that I sealed the envelop with "Priority" tape, which means it will take 3 days to get there.
Bummer.
I'm back in the car, driving home, and giggling in a nervous/exited way when I remember... The next thing out of my mouth is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn't add--- I didn't even print the bloody coverletter! (Which you would normally be fine since you don't need one, but I wanted to make sure we hit no snaggs).
I rush back home, print the letter and get back to the post office (after getting lost. Don't ask), where the lady that took care of me is out to lunch and the guy who I'm talking to has no idea where the envelope is. And he goes into the back room, comes back, goes away, comes back and no envelope.
Then the Korean lady beside him goes "I know which one it is, I'll take care of her". I jump to her side and, sure enough, she comes back with it.
Now, I can say the papers are GONE GONE GONE
And the waiting game is ON!