7/2002
Let's see .... We began the immigration process in January as soon as I returned home. It took about 3 weeks to research, download,
get all of the necessary documentation, and complete all of the paperwork. We then had to wait 70-100 days for the American INS to
process it. Through all of the research, we had a very good idea of how long it would be until we received the final visa. Planning on
the worst scenerios, America would take 100 days to process their part. Holland would receive the papers 30 days later. It would then
take 70 days for Marco to do his part and for Holland to approve the final visa. Using this information, we assumed he would get his
visa in mid-late September.
We both wanted the same thing. A small, simple wedding but with a big party afterwards with lots of people. However, we chose not to
invite anyone - just on the basis that we were getting married in Flordia and could not expect people to take time off of work and have
the extra expense of traveling. Besides, the INS said that we must be married in America - which meant that his friends could not
attend. So in all fairness, my friends should not attend either. When we told people of our plans however, they had something different
in mind. Peter, Marco's best friend, said that he would not allow Marco to marry unless he was there to stand up for him. I thought that
was awesome! And Conny had asked us from the beginning to please not ever get married unless she was able to be there with us.
Well, we still have not invited anyone, and won't. However, we will not tell anyone no. If someone asks us if they can attend, then by
all means, yes they may. This way we do not have to feel guilty about asking people to travel. We made wedding announcements, in
Dutch and English, to send out. Marco is all excited because he just wants his family to all send him presents! hahaha (He's so cute
when he acts like a kid) But it is also a way to let them all know that he is moving to America.
Anyway, while we waited our 70-100 days, we now had to make plans for travel arrangements, accomodations, and the wedding itself.
We spent a long time trying to find a date that would work for everyone. We finally decided on November 14th. I know Thursday is a
strange day to have a wedding, but we really did not have a choice. It was the only way to be sure that his family and Peter could
attend. Marco also in the process of this time, sold his house 2 days after he put it up for sale. He will turn it over to the new owner on
October 1st. So there it was, everything was set. The beach-house was reserved, the plane tickets were purchased, the announcements
were made, Marco's home was sold, and all that was left to do was wait for the visa.
The only way to check on the current progress of our paperwork with the American INS was through an automated phone system. I
called that number on a weekly basis to see if anything had changed. I was told the same thing every time: We received your
paperwork, we sent you notification, and this type of visa request is currently taking 70-100 days to process. Sigh, we could do nothing
but patiently wait. One week before the 100 day wait was finished, I went to the local INS office to ask about a form we needed in the
next step. While I was there I decided to ask if they could call the Nebraska Service Center (where our paperwork was) to tell me what
the progress was. She then told me that everything had been delayed a minimum of 6 weeks due to a new computer system that the
government installed, yet neglected to train anyone how to use it. WHAT?!?! Needless to say I was NOT a happy camper as she
explained the rest of this to me. She said that in mid-January this system was implemented. So for the remainder of January, February,
and most of March, nobody was able to do anything with any old, current, or new visa requests. And this was the reason that every
case currently in the system was delayed a minimum of 6 weeks. She did however, call the Nebraska center to see if they could give
her any information on my case. They said they could not tell her anything except that my case was in an adjuster's office. She even
asked if there was some way of getting in touch with that adjuster so she could ask them. The other person said no.
By the time I got home that night I was incredibly upset. Calculating the additional 6 weeks into the schedule would mean that Marco
would not even know if he was approved for a visa until the first week in November. There was NO WAY IN HELL I was gonna sit
back and accept this. This was just wrong. If they knew there were going to be delays, then they should have informed us! I wrote 2
separate letters expressing my disbelief and disapproval on how this new system implementation was handled. One was sent to the INS
and one was sent to the Governor of Missouri. I was semi-nice in both letters, but did not mince words on how I felt about the situation
they had now put me in. Marco was now officially worried for the first time since we began this process. He said that nobody would
read the letters, that they do not care about us. I totally agreed with him. But, if I sat and did nothing, then I had no right to complain.
We received approval from the American INS 10 days later (with only a 4 day delay, rather than a 6 week delay). And 7 days later
Marco receieved a letter from the Consular's Office in Amsterdam stating that they had received his papers from America (23 days
sooner than they normally do) and could begin the process of his visa application. How this all happend, I don't know - but I also don't
care - just as long as it's finally happening!! We had already researched everything that would be needed for this part of the process and
had it all prepared and ready to go. The only thing that was different is they said that 2 of the forms I sent Marco to use for this part,
needed to be notorized. So I got them notorized and re-mailed them to him. He mailed his first packet of papers and as soon as he
receives my 2 notorized forms, he can send them the checklist saying that he has everything prepared and is ready for his medical exam
and final interview. They will then schedule a full medical exam for him. The results of the exam take 10 days to reach the Consular's
office. When they receive them, they will contact Marco and set an appointment for his interview. When he walks out of his interview,
he will have his approved visa in his hand. =))))
So here we are ........ sitting, and waiting. But now at least we are happy, and not worried.
Let's see .... We began the immigration process in January as soon as I returned home. It took about 3 weeks to research, download,
get all of the necessary documentation, and complete all of the paperwork. We then had to wait 70-100 days for the American INS to
process it. Through all of the research, we had a very good idea of how long it would be until we received the final visa. Planning on
the worst scenerios, America would take 100 days to process their part. Holland would receive the papers 30 days later. It would then
take 70 days for Marco to do his part and for Holland to approve the final visa. Using this information, we assumed he would get his
visa in mid-late September.
We both wanted the same thing. A small, simple wedding but with a big party afterwards with lots of people. However, we chose not to
invite anyone - just on the basis that we were getting married in Flordia and could not expect people to take time off of work and have
the extra expense of traveling. Besides, the INS said that we must be married in America - which meant that his friends could not
attend. So in all fairness, my friends should not attend either. When we told people of our plans however, they had something different
in mind. Peter, Marco's best friend, said that he would not allow Marco to marry unless he was there to stand up for him. I thought that
was awesome! And Conny had asked us from the beginning to please not ever get married unless she was able to be there with us.
Well, we still have not invited anyone, and won't. However, we will not tell anyone no. If someone asks us if they can attend, then by
all means, yes they may. This way we do not have to feel guilty about asking people to travel. We made wedding announcements, in
Dutch and English, to send out. Marco is all excited because he just wants his family to all send him presents! hahaha (He's so cute
when he acts like a kid) But it is also a way to let them all know that he is moving to America.
Anyway, while we waited our 70-100 days, we now had to make plans for travel arrangements, accomodations, and the wedding itself.
We spent a long time trying to find a date that would work for everyone. We finally decided on November 14th. I know Thursday is a
strange day to have a wedding, but we really did not have a choice. It was the only way to be sure that his family and Peter could
attend. Marco also in the process of this time, sold his house 2 days after he put it up for sale. He will turn it over to the new owner on
October 1st. So there it was, everything was set. The beach-house was reserved, the plane tickets were purchased, the announcements
were made, Marco's home was sold, and all that was left to do was wait for the visa.
The only way to check on the current progress of our paperwork with the American INS was through an automated phone system. I
called that number on a weekly basis to see if anything had changed. I was told the same thing every time: We received your
paperwork, we sent you notification, and this type of visa request is currently taking 70-100 days to process. Sigh, we could do nothing
but patiently wait. One week before the 100 day wait was finished, I went to the local INS office to ask about a form we needed in the
next step. While I was there I decided to ask if they could call the Nebraska Service Center (where our paperwork was) to tell me what
the progress was. She then told me that everything had been delayed a minimum of 6 weeks due to a new computer system that the
government installed, yet neglected to train anyone how to use it. WHAT?!?! Needless to say I was NOT a happy camper as she
explained the rest of this to me. She said that in mid-January this system was implemented. So for the remainder of January, February,
and most of March, nobody was able to do anything with any old, current, or new visa requests. And this was the reason that every
case currently in the system was delayed a minimum of 6 weeks. She did however, call the Nebraska center to see if they could give
her any information on my case. They said they could not tell her anything except that my case was in an adjuster's office. She even
asked if there was some way of getting in touch with that adjuster so she could ask them. The other person said no.
By the time I got home that night I was incredibly upset. Calculating the additional 6 weeks into the schedule would mean that Marco
would not even know if he was approved for a visa until the first week in November. There was NO WAY IN HELL I was gonna sit
back and accept this. This was just wrong. If they knew there were going to be delays, then they should have informed us! I wrote 2
separate letters expressing my disbelief and disapproval on how this new system implementation was handled. One was sent to the INS
and one was sent to the Governor of Missouri. I was semi-nice in both letters, but did not mince words on how I felt about the situation
they had now put me in. Marco was now officially worried for the first time since we began this process. He said that nobody would
read the letters, that they do not care about us. I totally agreed with him. But, if I sat and did nothing, then I had no right to complain.
We received approval from the American INS 10 days later (with only a 4 day delay, rather than a 6 week delay). And 7 days later
Marco receieved a letter from the Consular's Office in Amsterdam stating that they had received his papers from America (23 days
sooner than they normally do) and could begin the process of his visa application. How this all happend, I don't know - but I also don't
care - just as long as it's finally happening!! We had already researched everything that would be needed for this part of the process and
had it all prepared and ready to go. The only thing that was different is they said that 2 of the forms I sent Marco to use for this part,
needed to be notorized. So I got them notorized and re-mailed them to him. He mailed his first packet of papers and as soon as he
receives my 2 notorized forms, he can send them the checklist saying that he has everything prepared and is ready for his medical exam
and final interview. They will then schedule a full medical exam for him. The results of the exam take 10 days to reach the Consular's
office. When they receive them, they will contact Marco and set an appointment for his interview. When he walks out of his interview,
he will have his approved visa in his hand. =))))
So here we are ........ sitting, and waiting. But now at least we are happy, and not worried.
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