Because the date is so close, worries about homesickness are beginning to concern her. I expect some degree is normal and healthy. Belgium is a nice place with many of the same opportunities as those here in the America. I think once the initial novelty of the U.S. wears off, longing for the customs of Belgium will come back. However, there are certain things that will help ease the transition:

• The weather here is now averaging a low of 14.4° C and high of 24.4° C. That’s 52 and 72° F, respectively. If anything reminds a Belgian of home, it’s got to be cold weather…and rain. I hear it rains in Florida, too.
• Phone calls to home are cheap. Using VoIP the cost to call Belgium is negligible. My service provider charges per-minute on international calls but it’s really cheap. When I travel to Belgium I’m taking the box so I can call the U.S. for free.
• Webcams are cheap and video conferencing software is free. I’m putting this on my shopping list as a must-have. As you can see on the Projects page of my site, the last webcam I owned was an egg.
• Belgian news VTM is available online the day it is recorded. The quality is very high. I just need something to stream it to my TV for convenient viewing.
• I have a Belgian waffle maker but it’s round. I was told by a real Belgian that they’re supposed to be rectangular. Tell Black & Decker they’re wrong.
• Having a great fiancé to say “everything will be alright” is really important. I hope it’s enough to ward off the homesickness blues.

What’s really nice is the local office locator. I’ll take a day off from work and go with Kristien so we can do this important step together. Welcome to America–here’s some paperwork!

The USCIS says: “All non-U.S. citizens (aliens) who are required to be registered are also required to keep the USCIS informed of their current address.” I’m not sure if this applies to Kristien now as she still hasn’t arrived for the first time. Another point: form DS-230, which is required prior to her interview at the embassy asks for the U.S. address where she “intends” to live. This leads me to believe she has to send the Form AR-11, Change of Address as soon as she arrives. Is it absolutely necessary? I think this is a good question to ask an officer at the Port of Entry.

Does the paperwork stop? No. As the sponsor, I must file Form I-865, Sponsor’s Notice of Change of Address. I believe all the bases are covered with these two forms.

What’s the feature every American car has that’s not so common in Europe? If you said air conditioning, you’d be right. Once again, I took this convenience for granted. I considered insurance, environmental standards, safety regulations, but forgot the one feature absolutely necessary to driving in Florida. I give Kristien full credit for thinking of A/C and for considering another potential problem: obtaining parts and service. That’s three big strikes against bringing her car here.

This all leads back to the original intent which is to get Kristien a Florida driver’s license. She’ll first have to review the basics from the driving handbook then make sure all the paperwork is in order. The requirements aren’t too bad according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. I would assume she is classified as an “immigrant” and so only needs to show the stamp on her I-94, passport, and possibly her Belgian identification card.

I’m sure it’s a question many women struggle to answer. How do I identify myself? What defines me? Shakespeare said, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” I never loved the name Kristien until the woman I know gave it meaning to me.

On our wedding day it will be 387 days since I applied for Kristien’s visa.

Scouting locations and arranging the details falls on my shoulders. So far the system has worked well. Back in January I checked out the Don Cesar’s hotel in St. Petersburg. I sent back photos to Kristien and detailed everything on the phone. I just recently contacted the Don’s wedding coordinator to find what dates are available; no response since it’s a holiday weekend. But this brings me to the important part. Back in January we were only beginning to organize for the visa petition. Now things are moving forward.

Our wedding is going to be held sometime between February 21—March 2, 2006. There are several possibilities at this point, none of which have been seriously pursued. I think we are both in the idea-generating phase. The most recent ideas are…

• Barefoot Weddings: This site offers many different photos and seems specific about pricing. I haven’t contacted them but it seems to be the best à la carte option. That could mean extra planning (for me) or getting exactly what we want. A reasonable restriction is that it’s only for Tampa-Clearwater-St. Petersburg beaches.
• Disney Weddings*: I nixed this idea before I even checked; bad decision on my part. Disney seems to offer a good package with their “Intimate Wedding”. Details are few and marketing hype is high, so I’ll have to drive there and take photos and talk to real people for the answers. They transition you too easily from the “Intimate Wedding” site to the “Custom Wedding” site; beware because the price difference is huge.
• The Don Cesar: They offer a convenient package for smaller weddings, which is great for us. We’d like to have a room reserved for after the wedding and enjoy the Don’s spa. Just how much they can customize the beach setting is still in question, not to mention if their services are available during the time we want.

* My first idea of a Disney wedding was something tasteless and crowded with Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the characters. This site has photos to disprove my theory. I lumped Disney into the category of a Las Vegas wedding or something on a cruise ship, but on first glance it seems I was wrong.

After verifying and signing several documents during the interview, Kristien waited only one hour for the visa to be issued. She says everyone was friendly and professional; overall a pleasant experience.

This journal is now (at most) mid-life. There are many more topics to write about: entering the US, getting married, completing more forms, changing immigration status, and the list continues.

We already have tentative plans to get married by February of next year. So, let the real planning begin!

We both continue to count the days since I sent the I-129F, which has reached 124 (or 17 weeks and 5 days).

A total of 74 days have passed since I mailed the I-129F petition packet.

1. Form DS-230 I, Biographic Data, Part I
2. Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application (2 each)
3. Form DS-156(K) Nonimmigrant Fiance(e) Visa Application
4. Form DS-167, Public Charge Evidence
5. Medical Examination Instructions

Because the United States government does not want Kristien to be an economic burden, I need to submit proof that I can support her. It’s time for more paperwork: Form I-134. More will follow on that subject.

Now back to the letter she received. Kristien sent me a scanned image and I was taken aback. The date is not typed, her name “Ms. Coninx” is hand written and there are check marks and scribbles on the directions. It’s the complete opposite of the forms I recieved from the USCIS and NVC–they all were clearly typed, uniquely identified, and printed on some form of security paper. Regardless, it arrived and we are both pleased.

A total of 58 days have passed since I mailed the petition packet.

No date of receipt is indicated but the letter is dated March 29, 2005. A total of 50 days have passed since I mailed the petition packet.

Received date: February 23, 2005. Notice date: March 14, 2005. A total of 39 days have passed since I mailed the petition packet.