Close
Rowland Ballard Atascocita - Gymnastics, Dance & Cheer

Another life update

Another life update
Go to top of page
Message Menu
sandman Top Forum Contributor18.8 yrs
~ 2 weeks, 0 days ago    
Another life update
I'm about to leave Sweden after spending seven weeks with my fiancée here. It's been wonderful having this time together, but we still have no word on when the State Department will tell US embassies to resume K-1 and other immigrant visa interviews. Sucks!
 
We've decided to keep the US option open as long as we can, but we aren't going to wait indefinitely. Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agebcy) should issue our marriage approval by the end of October, and it should be valid through the end of February. So, we will get married in Sweden before the approval expires.
 
In the meantime, I'm moving out of Alaska and making plans to move to Panama. My fiancée will join me in mid-December. I've already sold my winter bike, the Harley trike. I'll sell one of my Alaska Harleys, ride the other down to Texas next spring, and store it in the Houston area. The Harley I have in Arizona will make its way down to Panama and stay there permanently.
 
This isn't exactly the plan we had two months ago, but we're good with it. We're looking forward to starting a new chapter in a familiar place. She left Panama 20 years ago, and I left almost 40 years ago, so it'll be fun to get reacquainted with the country, reconnect with old friends and family and meet new friends along the way. I've already contacted the local HOG Chapter and the Barça fan club.
 
And eventually, we'd like to get a condo near Lake Conroe and spend a few months each year in Texas.
 
One step at a time… we're looking forward to what comes next.
TortieMama, Vinbert and West-Tex + 12 more reacted
FASTLANE: This "Fastlane" discussion may cover sensitive, inflammatory, or controversial topics. See Fastlane guidelines »
Replies:
Message Menu
Smokeybear Top Forum Contributor11 yrs
~ 2 weeks, 0 days ago    
Wishing you the best…..
MooMaw, sandman and justanirishgirl reacted
Message Menu
Daiquiri Top Forum Contributor4.3 yrs
~ 2 weeks, 0 days ago    
sandman :
I am glad you found love. ❤️
God bless!
MooMaw, Luckysis and sandman + 1 more reacted
Message Menu
Maxsmom Top Forum Contributor7.9 yrs
~ 2 weeks, 0 days ago    
#msg2207992Another life update I'm about to leave Sweden after spending seven weeks with my fiancée here. It's been wonderful having this time together, but we still have no word on when the State Department will tell US embassies to resume K-1 and other immigrant visa interviews. Sucks! We've decided to keep the US option open as long as we can, but we aren't going to wait indefinitely. Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agebcy) should issue our marriage approval by the end of October, and it should be valid through the end of February. So, we will get married in Sweden before the approval expires. In the meantime, I'm moving out of Alaska and making plans to move to Panama. My fiancée will join me in mid-December. I've already sold my winter bike, the Harley trike. I'll sell one of my Alaska Harleys, ride the other down to Texas next spring, and store it in the Houston area. The Harley I have in Arizona will make its way down to Panama and stay there permanently. This isn't exactly the plan we had two months ago, but we're good with it. We're looking forward to starting a new chapter in a familiar place. She left Panama 20 years ago, and I left almost 40 years ago, so it'll be fun to get reacquainted with the country, reconnect with old friends and family and meet new friends along the way. I've already contacted the local HOG Chapter and the Barça fan club. And eventually, we'd like to get a condo near Lake Conroe and spend a few months each year in Texas. One step at a time… we're looking forward to what comes next.
 
sandman : congrats to you two. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and good health. Enjoy Panama . Enjoy your next chapter in life.
MooMaw, Daiquiri and Luckysis + 2 more reacted
Message Menu
Luckysis Online Top Forum Contributor10.6 yrs
~ 2 weeks, 0 days ago    
sandman :
You're a good person and I'm glad you're happy.
sandman, MooMaw and Daiquiri reacted
Message Menu
CarolS Top Forum Contributor7.3 yrs
~ 1 week, 6 days ago    
sandman :
Wow! That's quite a climate change from Alaska to Panama. Like going from an igloo to a grass hut. Hope everything turns out great for you.
sandman, Luckysis and MooMaw + 1 more reacted
Message Menu
MooMaw Top Forum Contributor14.9 yrs
~ 1 week, 6 days ago    
sandman :
Thanks for updating your journey…I love how you embrace each step, each challenge. Keep us posted. We always have the Light on here🫶
sandman, Catmae and Luckysis reacted
Message Menu
rocket1 Online Top Forum Contributor1.3 yrs
~ 1 week, 6 days ago    
#msg2207992It's been wonderful having this time together, but we still have no word on when the State Department will tell US embassies to resume K-1 and other immigrant visa interviews. Sucks!
 
sandman :
Sorry you and your fiancé are having trouble with this. As you may be aware, the current administration has taken a hardline stance on immigration in general. So, the approval process for K-1 and other types of visas have been slowed considerably.
 
That said, hopefully your issue is resolved sooner rather than later. However, for some others, resolution may not come until a new president is in office.
sandman reacted
Message Menu
sandman Top Forum Contributor18.8 yrs
~ 1 week, 6 days ago    
rocket1 :
Thank you. We knew the process would be slow. What we weren't prepared for was having everything canceled at the last minute, with no indication of when it would resume.
 
Our lawyer walked us through the different routes, and we chose the K-1 fiancé visa as the best fit for our situation. The estimates we were given were six to nine months for the petition, followed by roughly three months for the embassy interview. After entering the U.S., we would marry within 90 days and apply for adjustment of status. Marrying overseas and pursuing a spousal immigrant visa was estimated to take about two years.
 
Initially, things moved reasonably close to those expectations. Our K-1 petition was approved seven months after we submitted it. Getting the case transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm then took another four months.
 
My fiancée completed her medical exam and obtained police certificates from the three countries where she had lived, along with the necessary supporting paperwork. We scheduled her interview, which at that point meant another two-month wait.
 
Then, 15 hours before the interview, it was canceled, with no new date and no indication of when it would be rescheduled.
 
Between attorney fees, government fees, medical exams, documents, translations, apostilles, photographs and everything else, I'm close to $10,000 into this process. Some of those items have limited validity, so further delays could mean repeating appointments, obtaining updated documents and paying again. We're concerned that if this stretches beyond January 1, some of that work will have to be redone. With the existing backlog and additional cases piling up during the pause, that's a real concern.
 
This also appears to be much broader than our particular case or the Stockholm embassy. After a federal court struck down the administration's immigrant-visa processing freeze affecting 75 countries, the State Department reportedly paused immigrant-visa interviews while implementing updated "public charge" guidance.
 
The timing makes me question whether this is simply another way to restrict legal immigration after the earlier policy was struck down. But regardless of the motivation, the consequences for couples like us are very real.
 
My biggest frustration is the lack of clear communication. We followed the process, paid the fees, gathered the documents and waited our turn. Now we're left trying to plan our lives without knowing when the next step will even be possible. We haven't been given a clear explanation of what happens next or a realistic timeline.
 
Fortunately, we have other options for being together outside the US. Many other couples or families don't. Leaves a real sour taste in my mouth.
rocket1, Smokeybear and Luckysis reacted
Message Menu
West-Tex Top Forum Contributor15.5 yrs
~ 1 week, 6 days ago    
sandman :
 
Wow sandman…that is definitely a LIFE update! ❤️ Sounds like the original plan took a detour…but honestly…this new adventure sounds pretty exciting!
 
Seven weeks in Sweden…a future wedding in Panama…Harleys making their way across multiple states and countries…and eventually a few months near Lake Conroe…I'm exhausted just reading all that! 😂
 
Sometimes the best chapters are the ones we didn't plan! Wishing you and your fiancée safe travels…lots of happiness…and an amazing new beginning together! I hope everything falls into place with the visa situation…but it sounds like you two are ready to make the most of whatever comes your way!
 
And…when you finally make it to the Lake Conroe area…we will be here waiting to welcome you back!
 
Wishing you the best! God bless! ❤️
Smokeybear, Luckysis and sandman reacted
Message Menu
sandman Top Forum Contributor18.8 yrs
~ 1 week, 6 days ago    
West-Tex :
Getting married in Sweden, not Panama...
 
Thanks... definitively looking forward to spend time in Texas again and make it our base for riding a few months in the US. I'll keep you posted so you can have the red carpet ready to roll... Emoticon
Message Menu
TortieMama Top Forum Contributor1.5 yrs
~ 1 week, 6 days ago    
#msg2207992Another life update I'm about to leave Sweden after spending seven weeks with my fiancée here. It's been wonderful having this time together, but we still have no word on when the State Department will tell US embassies to resume K-1 and other immigrant visa interviews. Sucks! We've decided to keep the US option open as long as we can, but we aren't going to wait indefinitely. Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agebcy) should issue our marriage approval by the end of October, and it should be valid through the end of February. So, we will get married in Sweden before the approval expires. In the meantime, I'm moving out of Alaska and making plans to move to Panama. My fiancée will join me in mid-December. I've already sold my winter bike, the Harley trike. I'll sell one of my Alaska Harleys, ride the other down to Texas next spring, and store it in the Houston area. The Harley I have in Arizona will make its way down to Panama and stay there permanently. This isn't exactly the plan we had two months ago, but we're good with it. We're looking forward to starting a new chapter in a familiar place. She left Panama 20 years ago, and I left almost 40 years ago, so it'll be fun to get reacquainted with the country, reconnect with old friends and family and meet new friends along the way. I've already contacted the local HOG Chapter and the Barça fan club. And eventually, we'd like to get a condo near Lake Conroe and spend a few months each year in Texas. One step at a time… we're looking forward to what comes next.
 
sandman : Thanks for checking in and updating us. Wishing y'all the very best!
sandman reacted
Message Menu
lynnsgirl Top Forum Contributor14.9 yrs
~ 1 week, 5 days ago    
WHO ARE YOU?
Post a comment »

FASTLANE: This "Fastlane" discussion may cover sensitive, inflammatory, or controversial topics. See Fastlane guidelines »
« Back to Chat
Views: 221
# Replies: 12