Home Sweet Home
Feb 18th 2005, 2:06 am
#1
YIPPEEEEEEEEE :)
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Almost Lake Ozark Missouri.
Posts: 140
Home Sweet Home
WOW.....what an adventure this has been.
As we are sure some of you are aware, it's been an looooong two years for us in getting our I-601 approved but here I sit, in front of my computer in our home in Missouri, surrounded by our friends and most importantly our family. We arrived two weeks ago after the most stress free flight from Brisbane Australia and a stress free POE.
We boarded our flight - my USC hubby, myself and our four children - and as we were taking off and I was watching the immigration procedure upon arrival in LAX on the little seat back TV, I started to get emotional and tears just rolled down my cheeks. I looked at Lar and he looked at me and all we could do was smile. Nothing needed to be said between us. SIGH.
So anyway, take a US visa, 4 kids and a quarter full Qantas 747 direct to LAX and you have a comfy, spread out, whole row to yourself stress free flight! Things were looking good.
We arrived into LAX about 20 minutes ahead of schedule - wow - everything seemed to be to good to be true. Well, I had read some horror POE stories so was prepared for about anything. We disembarked and went straight down to immigration. We were first in line with another couple being seen to. After about 1 minute, we were called upon. I handed over all six of our passports (3 USA and 3 Aussie) and our three yellow immigration packets. He thanked me, took my finger prints (did not take the kids) and suggested that we go and get our luggage and meet back there. He was extremely pleasant. SO off we went, collected our baggage that took all of ten minutes, came back and he was ready for us, handed me back our stamped (employment authorized) passports with a smile and said welcome to the United States. To think I allowed 4 hours in between flights to get through immigration and customs and it took all of 15 minutes if that!!!!
So that was our POE experience - almost non exsistent, but STRESS FREE YAY. Didn't ever imagine that stress free and immigration could be used in the same conversation (although it is a first - hahaha)
To all fellow aliens and their families - good luck, have faith, it will all work out how it is meant to in the end. Cry if you need to, scream if you must, rant, rave and vent - it won't help any, but it sure does ease some of the pressure, lol - been there done that a million times this past two years.
Our biggest thanks goes out to our attorney - she was awesome.
HUGS
Sue
As we are sure some of you are aware, it's been an looooong two years for us in getting our I-601 approved but here I sit, in front of my computer in our home in Missouri, surrounded by our friends and most importantly our family. We arrived two weeks ago after the most stress free flight from Brisbane Australia and a stress free POE.
We boarded our flight - my USC hubby, myself and our four children - and as we were taking off and I was watching the immigration procedure upon arrival in LAX on the little seat back TV, I started to get emotional and tears just rolled down my cheeks. I looked at Lar and he looked at me and all we could do was smile. Nothing needed to be said between us. SIGH.
So anyway, take a US visa, 4 kids and a quarter full Qantas 747 direct to LAX and you have a comfy, spread out, whole row to yourself stress free flight! Things were looking good.
We arrived into LAX about 20 minutes ahead of schedule - wow - everything seemed to be to good to be true. Well, I had read some horror POE stories so was prepared for about anything. We disembarked and went straight down to immigration. We were first in line with another couple being seen to. After about 1 minute, we were called upon. I handed over all six of our passports (3 USA and 3 Aussie) and our three yellow immigration packets. He thanked me, took my finger prints (did not take the kids) and suggested that we go and get our luggage and meet back there. He was extremely pleasant. SO off we went, collected our baggage that took all of ten minutes, came back and he was ready for us, handed me back our stamped (employment authorized) passports with a smile and said welcome to the United States. To think I allowed 4 hours in between flights to get through immigration and customs and it took all of 15 minutes if that!!!!
So that was our POE experience - almost non exsistent, but STRESS FREE YAY. Didn't ever imagine that stress free and immigration could be used in the same conversation (although it is a first - hahaha)
To all fellow aliens and their families - good luck, have faith, it will all work out how it is meant to in the end. Cry if you need to, scream if you must, rant, rave and vent - it won't help any, but it sure does ease some of the pressure, lol - been there done that a million times this past two years.
Our biggest thanks goes out to our attorney - she was awesome.
HUGS
Sue
Feb 18th 2005, 2:15 am
#2
YIPPEEEEEEEEE :)
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Almost Lake Ozark Missouri.
Posts: 140
Re: Home Sweet Home
Oh, and can you believe, I already have my SSN!!!! I applied last Monday and had it a week later! I am finally a real person in this country!!!!
Feb 18th 2005, 2:29 am
#3
YIPPEEEEEEEEE :)
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Almost Lake Ozark Missouri.
Posts: 140
Re: Home Sweet Home
Hiya Debs, I overstayed 18 months between 2000 and 2001 in MO. Yes, it was a loooong fight, but we had to get home so we couldn't give up - wanted to give up plenty of times though, lol.
Feb 18th 2005, 2:29 am
#4
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,679
Re: Home Sweet Home
Congratulations, and welcome to America! 
Rene
Rene
Feb 18th 2005, 2:47 am
#5
waiting for 4 years
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 116
Re: Home Sweet Home
Originally Posted by Noorah101
Congratulations, and welcome to America!
Rene
Rene
Feb 18th 2005, 7:20 am
#6
~ Mr & Mrs ~
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: SW Atlanta
Posts: 125
Re: Home Sweet Home
Originally Posted by hwarang
- and as we were taking off and I was watching the immigration procedure upon arrival in LAX on the little seat back TV, I started to get emotional and tears just rolled down my cheeks. I looked at Lar and he looked at me and all we could do was smile. Nothing needed to be said between us. SIGH.
Congrats to you and your family!!
Feb 18th 2005, 2:19 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,033
Re: Home Sweet Home
Congratulations! I'm sitting here with a great big smile for you guys.
Elaine
Elaine
Feb 18th 2005, 2:47 pm
#8
YIPPEEEEEEEEE :)
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Almost Lake Ozark Missouri.
Posts: 140
Re: Home Sweet Home
Originally Posted by mvjenno
I teared up just reading that bit!! Only 7 more days til we fly HOME...and I'm sure the tears will flow for me too. Congrats to you and your family!!
Congrats to you and your family!! Thank you so much everyone for your kind words - HUGS goes out to you all and we are glad to be home.
Rete, I tired to post our time line and adventures on that website you suggested and couldn't find somewhere to post (maybe my eyes just don't want to work anymore, lol.
Feb 18th 2005, 3:40 pm
#9
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Home Sweet Home
Originally Posted by hwarang
WOW.....what an adventure this has been.
Ian
Feb 18th 2005, 6:35 pm
#10
Overworked and exhausted
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 1,111
Re: Home Sweet Home
Bravo!!!!!! A million congrats to you! I've been feeling very bad for you for a long time, so this is fantastic news. My huband's case is pretty much in a black hole right now, but you've given me hope that time and patience will fix everything.
I've been feeling very bad for you for a long time, so this is fantastic news. My huband's case is pretty much in a black hole right now, but you've given me hope that time and patience will fix everything.
Feb 19th 2005, 3:35 am
#11
SUPER CRUNCHY BALCONY COW
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,476
Re: Home Sweet Home
Originally Posted by hwarang
WOW.....what an adventure this has been.
As we are sure some of you are aware, it's been an looooong two years for us in getting our I-601 approved but here I sit, in front of my computer in our home in Missouri, surrounded by our friends and most importantly our family. We arrived two weeks ago after the most stress free flight from Brisbane Australia and a stress free POE.
We boarded our flight - my USC hubby, myself and our four children - and as we were taking off and I was watching the immigration procedure upon arrival in LAX on the little seat back TV, I started to get emotional and tears just rolled down my cheeks. I looked at Lar and he looked at me and all we could do was smile. Nothing needed to be said between us. SIGH.
So anyway, take a US visa, 4 kids and a quarter full Qantas 747 direct to LAX and you have a comfy, spread out, whole row to yourself stress free flight! Things were looking good.
We arrived into LAX about 20 minutes ahead of schedule - wow - everything seemed to be to good to be true. Well, I had read some horror POE stories so was prepared for about anything. We disembarked and went straight down to immigration. We were first in line with another couple being seen to. After about 1 minute, we were called upon. I handed over all six of our passports (3 USA and 3 Aussie) and our three yellow immigration packets. He thanked me, took my finger prints (did not take the kids) and suggested that we go and get our luggage and meet back there. He was extremely pleasant. SO off we went, collected our baggage that took all of ten minutes, came back and he was ready for us, handed me back our stamped (employment authorized) passports with a smile and said welcome to the United States. To think I allowed 4 hours in between flights to get through immigration and customs and it took all of 15 minutes if that!!!!
So that was our POE experience - almost non exsistent, but STRESS FREE YAY. Didn't ever imagine that stress free and immigration could be used in the same conversation (although it is a first - hahaha)
To all fellow aliens and their families - good luck, have faith, it will all work out how it is meant to in the end. Cry if you need to, scream if you must, rant, rave and vent - it won't help any, but it sure does ease some of the pressure, lol - been there done that a million times this past two years.
Our biggest thanks goes out to our attorney - she was awesome.
HUGS
Sue
As we are sure some of you are aware, it's been an looooong two years for us in getting our I-601 approved but here I sit, in front of my computer in our home in Missouri, surrounded by our friends and most importantly our family. We arrived two weeks ago after the most stress free flight from Brisbane Australia and a stress free POE.
We boarded our flight - my USC hubby, myself and our four children - and as we were taking off and I was watching the immigration procedure upon arrival in LAX on the little seat back TV, I started to get emotional and tears just rolled down my cheeks. I looked at Lar and he looked at me and all we could do was smile. Nothing needed to be said between us. SIGH.
So anyway, take a US visa, 4 kids and a quarter full Qantas 747 direct to LAX and you have a comfy, spread out, whole row to yourself stress free flight! Things were looking good.
We arrived into LAX about 20 minutes ahead of schedule - wow - everything seemed to be to good to be true. Well, I had read some horror POE stories so was prepared for about anything. We disembarked and went straight down to immigration. We were first in line with another couple being seen to. After about 1 minute, we were called upon. I handed over all six of our passports (3 USA and 3 Aussie) and our three yellow immigration packets. He thanked me, took my finger prints (did not take the kids) and suggested that we go and get our luggage and meet back there. He was extremely pleasant. SO off we went, collected our baggage that took all of ten minutes, came back and he was ready for us, handed me back our stamped (employment authorized) passports with a smile and said welcome to the United States. To think I allowed 4 hours in between flights to get through immigration and customs and it took all of 15 minutes if that!!!!
So that was our POE experience - almost non exsistent, but STRESS FREE YAY. Didn't ever imagine that stress free and immigration could be used in the same conversation (although it is a first - hahaha)
To all fellow aliens and their families - good luck, have faith, it will all work out how it is meant to in the end. Cry if you need to, scream if you must, rant, rave and vent - it won't help any, but it sure does ease some of the pressure, lol - been there done that a million times this past two years.
Our biggest thanks goes out to our attorney - she was awesome.
HUGS
Sue
Hey Sue!! I remember you!!
I am so happy to hear you made it!!, When I saw hwarang.. I knew your icon was a froggie without even looking!
CONGRATULATIONS!!
We don't have party smilies anymore but oh well: PARTY PARTY PARTY!
