A thousand words.. nah... some photos instead

[mobob]

I gotta ask, what's the deal with the bedsheets still in plastic? Although it just dawned upon me I might have a clue, I still need to ask.

[calmissile]

Congrats!!!

[ML]

Dave, the very best to the two of you.

Bedsheets still in plastic would indicate they have never been used . . . by anyone!!

[mobob]

Aha! That's what I was thinking, but wanted to make sure. Guess I'll be buying new sheets next weekend. Thanks!

[ML]

Aha! That's what I was thinking, but wanted to make sure. Guess I'll be buying new sheets next weekend. Thanks!

And, since winter is coming on . . . spend some extra and get the very best flannel sheets and pillow cases.  The flannel feels extra cozy and comfy, and can lead to extra sex.

[Daveman]

Thanks y'all!. Latest update.. tickets in hand so to speak, she, along with our daughter: (http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=15191.0) will arrive the evening of Dec 4th just in time for the holiday spirit.

Congrats Daveman!
 
Just a reminder.... I don't know if this is still relevant today, but I learned from the old RWG forum about the bed sheet thingy.
 
Remember, brand new bed sheets still wrapped in store plastic for the RW's arrival?
 
GOB
 
PS.... Wifey was impressed. 

Got 'em!     And I've given up on the house and now searching for the Metro Atlanta Cuban Connection.. or maybe Anotherkiwi's Mum.. what? you didn't mean YOUR Mum??? Heh!

Dave, you are handsome and she is beautiful!!!
Btw,I didn't know she is still in Ukraine.

Why thank you.  Finally getting close!  Been living as a "bachelor" for long enough now that I'm kinda nervous about how my daily rituals will be discombobulated! 

Daveman,
 
Fantastic.  I too did not know that you are still living alone.  I should have put 2+2 together knowing that a CR-1 can take a long time dependent upon the backlog and agency resources assigned to it.
 
Your single life will soon change and I guess we will see less of you for a while as you help her adjustment.  It is challenging but fun.
 
Wishing the two of you the best.
 
 

Yeah, the CR-1 is running slightly longer than the K-1 at the moment, but we had a couple of delays from our (her) side as well - finishing up projects, transferring clients, etc..  we've always had a very relaxed process, whether taking time with the relationship, doing the documents, whatever. Very little pressure or stress.  I've mentioned before that she's somewhat (cough) of a firecracker but really very easy to be with.


The good thing is that she had two internships about a year apart in the USA several years ago so she has lived here.  That should make her adjustment a little easier and perhaps more about adjusting to having an idiot in the house all the time as opposed to having to cope with the strangeness of the surroundings. 


Anyway,  we'll see how it plays out.      

[Vaughn]

....about adjusting to having an idiot in the house all the time

That summarizes the highest hurdle my own wife had to clear.
 
Best of luck, Daveman. Gonna be a warm and jolly Christmas my friend.

[Patagonie]

Congrats!  I wish you both an happy marriage.

[ML]

So Dave; I guess you can soon cut down on the volume of hand lotion you have been buying!!  ??

And cancel those porn channel subscriptions.

[Anotherkiwi]

...And I've given up on the house and now searching for the Metro Atlanta Cuban Connection.. or maybe Anotherkiwi's Mum.. what? you didn't mean YOUR Mum??? Heh!

Let's see - cheapest return flight from Auckland to Atlanta is around $2,100 US, plus however many hours it takes at (say) $40 an hour (a steal - remember, she's a world-leading specialist in this field  ), plus accommodation, meals, transport...or she can just stay at your place for a week until it meets her standards! 
 
I'll PM you the Post Office Box number in Lagos Auckland...
 
So long as she's back here in time to host a friend's 90th birthday party (18th December) we should have a deal!  She's also been in the USA much more often than my one and only visit in 1987 (latest was last Christmas in San Diego - loved it!).

[Shadow]

Well that will give you 17 days before we know if the Maya's were right....

[Daveman]

That summarizes the highest hurdle my own wife had to clear.
 
Best of luck, Daveman. Gonna be a warm and jolly Christmas my friend.

   I hope so.. unless of course...

Well that will give you 17 days before we know if the Maya's were right....

[Daveman]

So Dave; I guess you can soon cut down on the volume of hand lotion you have been buying!!  ??

And cancel those porn channel subscriptions.

I believe I addressed this concern rather eloquently if I do say so myself:

...Been living as a "bachelor" for long enough now that I'm kinda nervous about how my daily rituals will be discombobulated! 

and

Let's see - cheapest return flight from Auckland to Atlanta is around $2,100 US, plus however many hours it takes at (say) $40 an hour (a steal - remember, she's a world-leading specialist in this field  ), plus accommodation, meals, transport...or she can just stay at your place for a week until it meets her standards! 
 
I'll PM you the Post Office Box number in Lagos Auckland...
 
So long as she's back here in time to host a friend's 90th birthday party (18th December) we should have a deal!  She's also been in the USA much more often than my one and only visit in 1987 (latest was last Christmas in San Diego - loved it!).

Ya know, we may be on to great business idea here with these tough world economic conditions..


Rent -a- Mum!  (all deposits cleared through Bank of Nigeria)   
---


And thanks for all the warm wishes everyone...    I guess now I need to figure out what must be done document-wise after she arrives.  With the CR-1, most everything was *supposed* to be handled during the process so that she hits the ground running (though a smooth landing would probably be preferable)... I have a sneakin' suspicion that it can't be that easy where the gov't is concerned.

[ML]

Quote from: ML on Yesterday at 05:02:46 PM

So Dave; I guess you can soon cut down on the volume of hand lotion you have been buying!!  ??

And cancel those porn channel subscriptions.

- - - - - - -

I believe I addressed this concern rather eloquently if I do say so myself:


Quote from: Daveman on November 11, 2012, 07:59:21 PM

...Been living as a "bachelor" for long enough now that I'm kinda nervous about how my daily rituals will be discombobulated! 

- - - - - - -


Ah yes, I see.  You answered the question before I asked it.
I had actually forgotten what discombobulated meant until you reminded.

[Wayne]

When your wife gets here, regardless of what they tell her at the airport, go to your local social security office and apply for a social security number right away.
 
Also, most states will issue an identification card for someone who does not have a driver's license for that state. That would be done at the secretary of state office. While there, you can find out the requirements for getting a driver's license, study guides, regulations, driver education classes etc.
 
Depending upon your wife's English level, you might find ESL classes available. If she has a school age child, of course, you will need to enroll them in school. If a child needs shots, you might be able to find a clinic that offers them to children for free. The school would probably require them.
 
If you are putting her on your health insurance, you should check into your policy and you might have only 30 days to do that.
 
Good luck!

[Gator]

When your wife gets here, regardless of what they tell her at the airport, go to your local social security office and apply for a social security number right away.
 

Unless she plans to enter the workplace immediately, I see no need to rush this.

During the administrative processing of her CR-1, on one form (can't remember now) my wife checked the box requesting a SS# be issued.  Subsequent instructions stated that the SS card should arrive within 60 days, and if not to call a specified number.  We waited, it did not arrive, so we called.    They said to wait another 30 days, and then apply at the SS office.
 
So we went to the SS office.   The waiting room offers a glimpse into a slice of America that she probably has not encountered in her 90 days here.  While we were waiting, one woman was arrested for carrying a weapon through the security check.  That raised the eyebrows of my 13-yo stepson.
 
 

[Gator]

Dave,
 
How are you handling the surname change, if she elects to change it?
 
Also, make sure her UA driver's license does not expire soon.  In our state, my wife can drive on it for a year.  It will take her that long to pass the English written test.

[Faux Pas]

Dave
If you don't already have a hand held nozzle that connects to the shower. Go ahead and get one installed before she arrives

[ML]

Unless she plans to enter the workplace immediately, I see no need to rush this.

I say to get it as soon as possible.

One never knows when a sudden (perhaps lucrative or very exciting) opportunity to work will arise, or some other need for SS number.

In many states, a SS number is needed to get a driver's license.
Sure, in some states (like ours), you can go to SS office and get a sheet of paper saying they won't give you SS number, and then driver's license place will do an alternative procedure.  But since you have to go get this paper from SS office, why not just apply for the SS number instead of applying for this piece of paper?

Another bit of info.

For those on Student Visas, the SS office will NOT give a SS number unless they are shown an offer of employment on a standard form.   AND this employment offer must be from the school, unless some other exceptions are granted.

For married gals (or guys) arriving, apparently this restriction does not apply, according to what others are posting here.

[Vaughn]

....... or some other need for SS number.

Like adding her as a dependent on the 1040...
 

[Daveman]

Thanks for the info guys...


She has an SSN already from her internships (we put her existing number on her app, and requested a new card).  I had no idea she could possibly use her Ukrainian license for up to a year.  I'll have to check GA regulations to see if that'll work here.  Certainly would make things easier.


So what about other K-1 hassles such as AOS, Advance Parole, GC, etc?  Are these handled automatically via the CR-1 (my, possibly erroneous, understanding)? or do we, in reality, need to make an appointment and jump through some more hoops?

[calmissile]

Like adding her as a dependent on the 1040...

You can add an adult as a dependent?

[Vaughn]

You can add an adult as a dependent?

Ouch, you caught me. I meant claim as an exemption.

[mobob]

So, the advice is to apply for a SS card even though we checked the box on the CR1 application asking for them to be issued... What happens when those cross paths in the system? Two cards? More problems in the future? As in "why did you do this when you already applied?" from some government official. Yeah, I know it's supposed to work, since we're supposed to get the green cards approximately 10 days after arrival, and the ss cards should be automatically issued since we checked that box on the CR1 application, but after all, it is a government system.

Yes, you can claim an adult (spouse, dependent) as an exemption on your W4, and then at tax return filing time. You just have to have a SS number or a TIN - Taxpayer Identification Number. A TIN can be issued to a non resident but may not be worth the hassle. Filing an extension to wait for the person(s) that will be included on the tax return and then waiting for ss cards may be easier.

[Daveman]

Dave,
 
How are you handling the surname change, if she elects to change it?
 
Also, make sure her UA driver's license does not expire soon.  In our state, my wife can drive on it for a year.  It will take her that long to pass the English written test.

Ooops, sorry Gator, forgot this one...


We changed her surname in Ukraine prior to petition.  So, her new surname was on all of the required CR-1 docs, and of course is already on her passports, DL, etc..  Had to wait for the new PP, but everything went smoothly after that.