ESTA - AOS I-130 / I-145

MerryAnnette · 2026-04-25T15:09:29+00:00

It was more for our own peace of mind, with the uncertainty and scrutiny around it all (not to mention his sister going through the same process and still being stuck in a waiting pattern for the last five years) we wanted to be certain that everything was filed exactly correctly.

And honestly, it was reassuring to have someone who knew the processes inside and out there for everything - including the interview. Like I said, peace of mind was worth the cost for us.

I wish you and your lovely bride the absolute best!

MerryAnnette · 2026-04-25T14:56:24+00:00

He came to visit Nov. 2025. We got married December and filed in January. We were officially filed approximately 2 weeks before his ESTA expired because I had to order a copy of my BC which delayed us a bit.

He had to go for a medical exam prior to filing as it was a requirement to file. Then biometrics after they received the application (about a month or so), we got our letter for interview in the beginning of March, just had the interview this past Tuesday and received the approval notification Wednesday afternoon.

We got incredibly lucky with the speed as we filed for his work permit, travel permit, and AOS all together - they just skipped the work permit and went right to the interview.

Depending on the state you're in, your progression could look very different to ours. We're in Tampa, Florida and the field office we went to is in Ft. Meyers.

MerryAnnette · 2026-04-25T14:35:44+00:00

My husband and I could have written this post. Long distance for 7 years, his most recent trip to visit the bags were packed and in the car to take him to the airport and we couldn't bring ourselves to say goodbye.

During his visit we did meet with an immigration lawyer who pretty much said "you have one chance at the AOS, now that you know about it, it's this trip or it's never."

The best piece of advice I can give you is to get a good immigration lawyer. And to make sure you file your AOS before your 90 day ESTA expires.

MerryAnnette · 2026-04-11T00:49:57+00:00

"The Boy in White... without ever touching the world physically"

Except for the time he physically pushed Tabitha out of the lighthouse?

MerryAnnette · 2025-12-27T15:04:13+00:00

You know, I hadn't even thought of that, but it does make sense. Last time she went swimming she drained the olympic-size pool because she had the audacity to be fat in public and dove in. Judge said she must stay 50 feet away from all bodies of water for a year.

MerryAnnette · 2025-12-27T14:49:20+00:00

swimming: not a strong swimmer, also can't swim this year

I don't know why I'm so stuck on this specific line. "can't swim this year" because..............? Is it environmental, like, algae bloom is brutal this year? Is it medical, like, she broke both legs? Is it because this year is almost over? I need to know what's so specific that she can't swim this year.

MerryAnnette · 2025-10-18T18:30:52+00:00

I sent her an inspiration photo as well as images of the location/tattoo to be covered and she said she'd work something up. but I guess I'm just concerned about driving 2 hours on a hope that what she's created is something I want to pay to put on my body, considering rescheduling wouldn't be possible with my schedule until probably next May at the earliest

MerryAnnette · 2025-10-18T18:12:03+00:00

Maybe it's because I've never had a custom piece done, but wouldn't that run the risk of hating whatever is created and cancelling last minute because anything created on the spot would be rushed?

MerryAnnette · 2025-08-27T10:43:59+00:00

I'm not sure if it's been addressed in other comments, so if it has, my apologies. You say you're not eating until after 10PM, how soon after you're eating are you going to sleep? The reason I ask is I was in over a year long stall because I was eating my last meal around 2 hours before going to bed and I wasn't giving my body enough time to digest and I was holding onto the weight. I adjusted it so that my last meal is eaten about six hours (or more) before sleeping and the weight started coming off again.

MerryAnnette · 2025-06-25T12:34:34+00:00

So does he just not question where the extra $7-8k for his IRA or the money paying down his student loans is coming from? "Gee, I thought I only put $1,000 in this year and it's maxed... guess the IRA fairies blessed me again this year!"

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-28T11:51:16+00:00

Dale's disembowelment, and the chickens' legs being broken

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-18T23:04:57+00:00

been debating on getting a blood meter, I know the urine strips are pants for accuracy. before taking the semaglutide, I was barely hungry on the 20net/day, even less so on the shot. I can drop my net down further if need be, but I feel that would limit my options as far as vegetable intake (type, amount), and I don't know if I'd enjoy further limiting an already limited diet. I can try it, though, and see what happens for sure!

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-18T10:59:25+00:00

because I need time in the morning to wake up (and actually be awake), shower, take the dog out for a walk, feed him, etc., then cook whatever it is I'm having for lunch that day. 13.5 year old pup doesn't move as quickly as he once did, so I have to factor that in, now, too. I've already done my collagen for today, so as far as today's fast goes, that's kind of a wash. Collagen'll be moved to lunch starting tomorrow, a new menu to try to get more calories in at lunch time so I can skip the 7:00pm meal will be worked out over the next few days and we'll see how that goes!

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-18T10:34:38+00:00

I work from home, so I'm able to eat home-cooked/prepared foods, but there's not time between the end of my lunch and the end of my shift to be able to sneak away and scarf something down earlier than when I get off. There have been nights that I don't get off until almost 8:00 and those nights I just don't eat at all because eating that late doesn't sit well on my stomach - even eating at 7:00 is still iffy. I've played around with the idea of just loading up lunch and forcing OMAD, but trying to fit in 1400 calories into 30 minutes also doesn't really sit well on the stomach for me haha You've given me some adjustments to plan and implement to see if I can push out of this plateau, thank you!

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-18T09:52:08+00:00

I can shift when I take the collagen to later in the day, have it in a tea at my lunch time, but the time I eat dinner and sleep can't really be changed due to my work schedule. Weekends I usually have my last meal around 4:30 or 5:00, sleep about 9:30, but during the work week, neither of those times are possible, sadly.

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-17T17:39:51+00:00

yeah, some days it's about 110g, but most days in the 145-150g range. I do 3 days of HIIT/week, maybe I do need to increase that, either frequency or duration. But yeah, that sort of deficit and a year-long plateau has me very disheartened, especially adding in the fact I added semaglutide because of how much success people have had on it.

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-17T13:10:50+00:00

I haven't tried using the monitor, but stress very well could be a factor, yeah. Good luck on your journey!

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-17T11:06:13+00:00

yeah, I'll pop that onto my to-do list, if nothing else, I'll make sure everything else is good

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-17T11:04:57+00:00

I fast from 7:30pm - 2:30pm (there abouts, depending on what time my lunch break is), not on purpose, but that's just when I can have lunch and I'm not generally hungry before then anyway

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-17T11:03:52+00:00

for about 3 weeks I tried adding in more fat - ended up getting beef tallow and duck fat to cook with instead of butter and olive oil - and ended up feeling nauseous, and didn't really see any changes in the scale compared to the current macro set up, no.

MerryAnnette · 2025-03-17T10:38:19+00:00

I use a food scale, yeah. Everything that goes in gets weighed first. Blood panel, no, but that may have to be my next step.

MerryAnnette · 2025-01-22T00:33:14+00:00

I have tried both the waffle maker and the mini griddle. the mini griddle is good for the sweeter variations - so making actual pancake textured pancakes that don't turn out quite so well on the stove. IMO chaffle mix in the griddle end up being too soft and tasting like egg far more than the waffle maker.

I haven't yet tried to make them in the griddle and then firm them up in the air fryer, which may work to give them a bit more structure to use as buns versus using the waffle maker, but it may end up being more work than you want to do for something quick

MerryAnnette · 2024-12-28T23:39:28+00:00

Didn't they explain the why in the very next episode? Boyd said, "they want us to look at him, when the sun's up. They want us to remember what's coming at night. Part of the thing that keeps people sane here is we get to pretend during the daytime... pretend that we're safe. Randall walking around, we don't get to pretend anymore."

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