So, I went to the Doctor's office yesterday to get the results of the tests immigration requires and all the paperwork they request from a licensed Doctor stating I'm healthy, I don't have any infectious disease and that my husband didn't marry me because I'm dying or anything like that. The good thing was that as my tests came out negative for everything they tested me, we are now free to start the next step of the Green Card Process. We just need to wait for the lawyers to receive the paperwork from the Doctor's office and then we will be ready to go. As far as we are concerned, that's it for immigration Doctor's visits for us!
PS: All the info, the phone numbers and locations from the Doctors we went you will find in the "USCIS Doctor" post below! :)
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Mixed-Faith Wedding (Catholic-Jewish)
I had NO idea what kind of trouble I was getting myself into when I fell in love with a Jewish man. Me, a 27 year old, born and raised Catholic girl who went to a Catholic School her whole life and never even met a Jewish person (until 2008, THANKS to a very special friend of mine lol)! Anyway, we thought Immigration was gonna be the problem. WE WERE SO WRONG!!! The Church is giving us such a hard time!!! Let's start from the beginning...
I was active in my religion until I got accepted in College, after that, I REALLY didn't have much time to go to the Church (full time classes + internship at a hospital). I SWEAR I didn't have time, I didn't even had time to study or even see my boyfriend at that time. Anyway, after that I only went (and still go) to Church on special occasions (weddings, communions, baptisms, Christmas) but I do celebrate all Catholic holidays. My husband on the other hand, was never active in his faith. No temples, no holidays, no nothing.
So, for that end, we have decided to get married at the Catholic Church. I thought it would be a lot easier after we've decided which religion to "follow". WRONG AGAIN!!!
I have researched every single Catholic Church web site, Archdiocese and Youth Centers in the Tristate area, I've been to nearly 15 Churches and spoke to about 20 Priests and secretaries and only 2 people were able to "kinda" help us.
We've been told we will need for the Catholic part: Recent Baptism Certificate, Recent Confirmation Certificate, Letter Of Freedom from the Parish, Display Of Cult and Pre-Cana. For the Jewish Part, as he doesn't have either certificate, he'll need the Letter Of Freedom, the Display of Cult, the Pre-Cana AND an authorization from a Bishop to be able to get married in a Catholic Church.
Now, the problems we are having is only because as I don't attend to Church masses, I'm "technically" not considered in ANY parish. Apparently the Priest in charge of "my Parish" has the MORAL OBLIGATION to prepare my husband and I for our "upcoming marriage" and no one is willing to take us and help us with the paperwork. Which means we are still looking for a GOOD SOUL who will help us with the Catholic Church paperwork.
The Pre-Cana is a whole other story. Usually pretty expensive ($400-$600) and it's not very useful for people who are already in a long relationship (which is our case, almost 3 years). It can last from 1 to 15 days, it all depends if the Priest thinks you are ready to be married or not (worst case scenario, if he thinks you're not, sorry but you won't be getting married in a Catholic Church). These classes are pretty on demand and you need to start looking about a year before the "Big Day". We settled for the Pre-Cana from the "Church Of Our Savior" (on Park Av. we spoke with Peter McFadden (646) 341-0848 and it costs $250 for the classes only) and we will be starting our classes in april. even though we are very excited with the wedding prep and everything, we are still very worried about all the problems with the Church, we still have NO paperwork and NO ONE to help. I spoke with Father Joel (St. Patrick's Church) and Father George (St. James Church) but neither of them could "take" us as parish members and sent us to the Archdiocese. We were NOT well received there but I will try a second time this week and I also will try St. Raphael's Church, which is the last Church on my list, we've been to all others already.
Shouldn't they be happy my husband already agreed on having our future children baptized? Shouldn't they be happy he is putting his religion aside so I can have my dream wedding? Shouldn't they be happy we will raise our children Catholic? Shouldn't they be happy that even though he is Jewish, we still celebrate ALL Catholic holidays and NOT EVEN ONE Jewish? Maybe that's just me but, shouldn't they be JUST HAPPY FOR US? Hopefully, I'll come back with better news next week :(
PS: If you're getting married and you're also in a mixed-faith relationship, there are some very important DETAILS you should know. *Your partner does NOT need to be baptized. *There's NO need to convert. *You CANNOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCE have both CATHOLIC & JEWISH ceremony at a church. You CAN however, have your wedding elsewhere and only then have BOTH a PRIEST and a RABI present to bless your union. *Ask for the letters and authorizations I mentioned before and you should be fine to marry WHOEVER you want, WHEREVER you please.
I was active in my religion until I got accepted in College, after that, I REALLY didn't have much time to go to the Church (full time classes + internship at a hospital). I SWEAR I didn't have time, I didn't even had time to study or even see my boyfriend at that time. Anyway, after that I only went (and still go) to Church on special occasions (weddings, communions, baptisms, Christmas) but I do celebrate all Catholic holidays. My husband on the other hand, was never active in his faith. No temples, no holidays, no nothing.
So, for that end, we have decided to get married at the Catholic Church. I thought it would be a lot easier after we've decided which religion to "follow". WRONG AGAIN!!!
I have researched every single Catholic Church web site, Archdiocese and Youth Centers in the Tristate area, I've been to nearly 15 Churches and spoke to about 20 Priests and secretaries and only 2 people were able to "kinda" help us.
We've been told we will need for the Catholic part: Recent Baptism Certificate, Recent Confirmation Certificate, Letter Of Freedom from the Parish, Display Of Cult and Pre-Cana. For the Jewish Part, as he doesn't have either certificate, he'll need the Letter Of Freedom, the Display of Cult, the Pre-Cana AND an authorization from a Bishop to be able to get married in a Catholic Church.
Now, the problems we are having is only because as I don't attend to Church masses, I'm "technically" not considered in ANY parish. Apparently the Priest in charge of "my Parish" has the MORAL OBLIGATION to prepare my husband and I for our "upcoming marriage" and no one is willing to take us and help us with the paperwork. Which means we are still looking for a GOOD SOUL who will help us with the Catholic Church paperwork.
The Pre-Cana is a whole other story. Usually pretty expensive ($400-$600) and it's not very useful for people who are already in a long relationship (which is our case, almost 3 years). It can last from 1 to 15 days, it all depends if the Priest thinks you are ready to be married or not (worst case scenario, if he thinks you're not, sorry but you won't be getting married in a Catholic Church). These classes are pretty on demand and you need to start looking about a year before the "Big Day". We settled for the Pre-Cana from the "Church Of Our Savior" (on Park Av. we spoke with Peter McFadden (646) 341-0848 and it costs $250 for the classes only) and we will be starting our classes in april. even though we are very excited with the wedding prep and everything, we are still very worried about all the problems with the Church, we still have NO paperwork and NO ONE to help. I spoke with Father Joel (St. Patrick's Church) and Father George (St. James Church) but neither of them could "take" us as parish members and sent us to the Archdiocese. We were NOT well received there but I will try a second time this week and I also will try St. Raphael's Church, which is the last Church on my list, we've been to all others already.
Shouldn't they be happy my husband already agreed on having our future children baptized? Shouldn't they be happy he is putting his religion aside so I can have my dream wedding? Shouldn't they be happy we will raise our children Catholic? Shouldn't they be happy that even though he is Jewish, we still celebrate ALL Catholic holidays and NOT EVEN ONE Jewish? Maybe that's just me but, shouldn't they be JUST HAPPY FOR US? Hopefully, I'll come back with better news next week :(
PS: If you're getting married and you're also in a mixed-faith relationship, there are some very important DETAILS you should know. *Your partner does NOT need to be baptized. *There's NO need to convert. *You CANNOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCE have both CATHOLIC & JEWISH ceremony at a church. You CAN however, have your wedding elsewhere and only then have BOTH a PRIEST and a RABI present to bless your union. *Ask for the letters and authorizations I mentioned before and you should be fine to marry WHOEVER you want, WHEREVER you please.
USCIS Doctor
I called every single Doctor's office in NYC and North Jersey that are in the Immigration website list. I researched every clinic and I also called the Immigration Hot Line (1800-375-5283). Be very careful when choosing your physician. Most of them only want your money, they charge outrageous fees and the consultation couldn't be simpler. If you have had any kind of illness in your childhood or if you got any kind of immunization in your country, have it mailed to you! It will help you A LOT, not mentioning it'll cut the cost of your MD in half.
I had my mother mail me my vaccination card from when I was a kid and I also asked her to get with a doctor a 'prescription' saying I had Chicken Pox (Varicella, Catapora) as a child. Even though I had the Vaccination card with me, I still had to take "Booster Shots" (apparently, you have to re-take the shots every 10 years; I DID NOT KNOW THAT!)
Anyway, the consultation costs $150 (Dr. Girish Patel - Ronak Medical Care -765 Amsterdam Av., New York, NY) they wanted to charge me an additional $200 for the vaccines but I've been living in NYC long enough and I know better than that. I told them I would take the vaccines at the NYC Health Clinic (303 W 9th Ave. Corner with 28th St.) because they don't charge for any immunization there, the secretary said it was fine as long as I show them my vaccination card with they "Booster Shots" when I go back to get my results and paperwork in 4 days.
NO problems there, I left the office (Train 2 both ways from Penn Station is express and takes less than 10 minutes. Get off at 96th St. for the Doctor's office) after taking the blood tests and the check up and went straight to the clinic in Chelsea where it took them less than 15 minutes to give me the shots, sign my card and let me know I need to go back in 28 days to get the 2nd dose of one of the vaccines. Which means I just saved $200 (It might sounds cheap but you'll understand if you are a former Au Pair! lol).
PS: The staff at the Doctor's office was super nice and they won't try to give you something you don't need just to take your money. They were very professional and didn't have any problems with the fact that I wanted to go to the City Clinic for the Vaccines. It's all for now MD wise, I'll be back with the results next week :)
I had my mother mail me my vaccination card from when I was a kid and I also asked her to get with a doctor a 'prescription' saying I had Chicken Pox (Varicella, Catapora) as a child. Even though I had the Vaccination card with me, I still had to take "Booster Shots" (apparently, you have to re-take the shots every 10 years; I DID NOT KNOW THAT!)
Anyway, the consultation costs $150 (Dr. Girish Patel - Ronak Medical Care -765 Amsterdam Av., New York, NY) they wanted to charge me an additional $200 for the vaccines but I've been living in NYC long enough and I know better than that. I told them I would take the vaccines at the NYC Health Clinic (303 W 9th Ave. Corner with 28th St.) because they don't charge for any immunization there, the secretary said it was fine as long as I show them my vaccination card with they "Booster Shots" when I go back to get my results and paperwork in 4 days.
NO problems there, I left the office (Train 2 both ways from Penn Station is express and takes less than 10 minutes. Get off at 96th St. for the Doctor's office) after taking the blood tests and the check up and went straight to the clinic in Chelsea where it took them less than 15 minutes to give me the shots, sign my card and let me know I need to go back in 28 days to get the 2nd dose of one of the vaccines. Which means I just saved $200 (It might sounds cheap but you'll understand if you are a former Au Pair! lol).
PS: The staff at the Doctor's office was super nice and they won't try to give you something you don't need just to take your money. They were very professional and didn't have any problems with the fact that I wanted to go to the City Clinic for the Vaccines. It's all for now MD wise, I'll be back with the results next week :)
1st Things 1st
So, I've decided to start this blog after I realized how much work the Green Card process requires.
I wanna give the help I never had to all the Brides to be in the Tristate area.
I've been told "you can do it on your own", "lawyers only want your money", "it's not a big deal", "it's so easy, just fill out the paperwork and mail it", and many more... Well, it turns out, these people are OH SO WRONG!!! I DO NEED A LAWYER!!! It's so overwhelming, confusing and stressful that I'm working very hard to stay sane and that's because I have full support from my lawyer and my husband.
It's NOT just "fill in the blanks and mail it" it's way more than that.
I have been researching online and running around the city trying to get all my docs in order and then give them to my lawyer so he can start my process with immigration.
Enough about me, let's start. I had my 1st appointment with my lawyer (Which BTW has a 99.8% approval rate by Immigration and it's not as expensive as I expected) about a week ago. He asked me to get all the paperwork together and once we have it all, we should set up a second appointment so he would fill it all out with us and check if we have everything we need or if anything is missing. The paperwork for now pretty much consists in: bank statements (mine and my husband's), doctor's forms (vaccinations, blood test and check up), passport, DS2019, I-94, I-20 and whatever you and your husband have in common that are proof that you live together (health plan, costco card, joint accounts, utilities, rent...). After all that is done, we can go back to the lawyer's office (http://www.perezlawyers.com/) for the follow up.
I wanna give the help I never had to all the Brides to be in the Tristate area.
I've been told "you can do it on your own", "lawyers only want your money", "it's not a big deal", "it's so easy, just fill out the paperwork and mail it", and many more... Well, it turns out, these people are OH SO WRONG!!! I DO NEED A LAWYER!!! It's so overwhelming, confusing and stressful that I'm working very hard to stay sane and that's because I have full support from my lawyer and my husband.
It's NOT just "fill in the blanks and mail it" it's way more than that.
I have been researching online and running around the city trying to get all my docs in order and then give them to my lawyer so he can start my process with immigration.
Enough about me, let's start. I had my 1st appointment with my lawyer (Which BTW has a 99.8% approval rate by Immigration and it's not as expensive as I expected) about a week ago. He asked me to get all the paperwork together and once we have it all, we should set up a second appointment so he would fill it all out with us and check if we have everything we need or if anything is missing. The paperwork for now pretty much consists in: bank statements (mine and my husband's), doctor's forms (vaccinations, blood test and check up), passport, DS2019, I-94, I-20 and whatever you and your husband have in common that are proof that you live together (health plan, costco card, joint accounts, utilities, rent...). After all that is done, we can go back to the lawyer's office (http://www.perezlawyers.com/) for the follow up.
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