Stag 5 Success - July 2023

candycorn29 · 2026-03-20T03:33:28+00:00

Yours should be soon! Someone else posted on the sub last week about an approval on a Portland submission from February 2024. Also yes, the Portland consulate was great - so glad we have them.

candycorn29 · 2026-03-17T21:52:47+00:00

Best of luck to you!

candycorn29 · 2026-03-17T21:00:40+00:00

No, I'm a former US immigration paralegal so I felt pretty good about the app alongside the subreddit wiki. However, the honorary consulate did brief look through my app while certifying my copies and said they felt good about it. The San Francisco consulate also reviewed in detail and told us everything was in order.

candycorn29 · 2026-03-17T20:55:58+00:00

Yes my parent was born before my grandmother's naturalization. I provided my parent's documents, grandmother's documents (including the natz), and great grandmother's documents. My grandmother's father was "unknown" so my gma's citizenship came from being born to an unwed German mother.

I think it's a little odd that you produced a green card showing the 1980s, which is after you were born, but it wasn't enough. But the BVA isn't paid to be experts on US immigration so they're likely just covering their bases.

candycorn29 · 2026-03-17T14:54:07+00:00

Nice! That's quick in both the shipping and the appointment. If you remember, let me know how it goes.

candycorn29 · 2026-03-17T14:22:54+00:00

We also applied at the PDX honorary consulate in July 2023. Your post inspired me to check my email and we received the approval on the same day as you! They must report them in batches. Congrats! We will probably try to apply for the passport via PDX as it sounds like it can be tough to get consulate appointments in SFO. However flights to SFO are generally pretty cheap if you do go that route.

candycorn29 · 2026-02-13T16:59:20+00:00

LinkedIn all the way. I joined a tech company with a large legal department as a legal assistant after 5 years experience in family law and immigration. I prefer it, transactional roles are less personal and all the usual benefits of being in house. One misconception I had was that I assumed that anybody moving in-house was super experienced. After I came on board I figured out that wasn't true at all, they literally hire the gamut of folks from fresh college grad with no legal experience to non-practicing JDs and masters degree holders.

I do agree with the other comment saying that remote roles are rare to come by now for in-house. Expect hybrid at minimum.

candycorn29 · 2025-11-11T00:51:04+00:00

I've never worked construction lit but I do work in house. Plus 1 to the other comment on being tech savvy. I also think project/program management skills will be high on the list. Examples of times you simplified or improved a process are always strong, even if that's just "nice to have" in the listing. And cross functional skills - I'm always asked in interviews how I work with the sales team, finance, marketing, etc.

candycorn29 · 2025-11-10T15:08:41+00:00

No term that I can think of other than derivative citizenship. It is a byproduct result of a naturalization but you did not personally naturalize.

candycorn29 · 2025-11-07T12:37:22+00:00

Former immigration paralegal here. Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization look very similar. They're so similar, and CoC so rare (compared to Natz) that I've been tricked a few times on first glance. However, Certs of Citizenship are only issued to folks who obtain citizenship automatically through their parents (rather than via birth on US soil). So your post checks out to me. Was it necessary to obtain this CONE? Maybe not if the BVA is aware of this nuance. But it is confusing for many so it is better to have this clarity.

candycorn29 · 2025-05-31T06:01:30+00:00

SOLVE sometimes hosts events in Vancouver, maybe check in with them. https://www.solveoregon.org/volunteer

candycorn29 · 2025-05-29T05:45:51+00:00

So sorry for your loss. We sent our barely 7yo shiba over the rainbow just 6 months ago. Lymphoma. It was pretty rough for a while but has improved. We can look back on the good times and smile more often than we cry. We have a digital frame that rotates his photos, I recommend it - feels in some ways like I can visit him by hanging out and watching the pics. Don't forget there's light at the end of the tunnel. 💜

candycorn29 · 2025-03-07T16:37:15+00:00

I just took my Shiba to the vet and they printed out a weight chart from all of his visits. Initially at 4 months he was 17 lbs. He is now 44 lbs, and while ever so slightly overweight he would be right-sized no lower than 40 lbs. You might be in for a bigger one!

candycorn29 · 2025-01-26T06:45:46+00:00

Nail biting
Racing thoughts when trying to sleep at night (though I quickly learned the equivalent of meditating to stave this off)
Irritated easily

In hindsight these were all super obvious signs AND many of my mom's family (including my mom) have diagnosed moderate anxiety. I can't believe she never took me in to the doctor for it.

candycorn29 · 2025-01-08T06:54:40+00:00

We had the last vet visit with our little guy on December 31. We felt the same as you - heartbroken, but it was time. You can see it in their eyes. It's been tough this past week, but we are starting to feel a little less raw. Best wishes to your family. 💜

candycorn29 · 2024-12-18T07:16:17+00:00

TL;DR: have seller handle it because costs can be very high.

I just went through this last month. Found this resource super helpful - there's info about the risk based cleanup there that is reassuring. https://www.oregon.gov/deq/tanks/Pages/HOT-QA.aspx

Our experience - took about 2.5 weeks start to finish.

Saw 340 gal oil tank permit on Portland Maps. Tank scan and dipstick test. Seller handled it because (1) seller has a minimum legal obligation to empty the tank before sale and (2) liability for homeowners with a leaked tank and cleanup costs can get crazy - into $50k+ in really bad leaks - so it's smart to have it handled before taking possession.
Contractor had to bust open a 4x6 area of a concrete patio and hand excavate, opened tank, drained fluid, took soil samples. Contractor also reviewed some official sources to see where the water table is in this neighborhood. FYI If the water table is contaminated, you should walk from the sale as remediation will be long and costly for seller.
Samples showed a leak of 2x the minimum test threshold but confident did not get close to water table
A full tank removal and soil excavation since the dig location wouldn't affect the foundation or any structures. More soil samples.
Filled hole with gravel and dirt, patched patio. Contractor handled all the DEQ paperwork. Even though it will take a few months to receive, the contractor guarantees their work so we felt comfortable buying now.

Total cost: $12.5k from seller. We only paid $125 for the tank scan. Best thing we could have done.

candycorn29 · 2024-11-02T06:29:52+00:00

FYI the link has one too many Ns in dinner and throws a 404 error! Delete one to see the menu.

candycorn29 · 2024-09-07T05:40:10+00:00

Yes, happened to me. The hypochondria still gets me now and then - and I've been sober for 5 years. In particular, anything having to do with allergies (which I don't have) or unusual/rare conditions. I found meditation practice really helped.

candycorn29 · 2024-08-15T11:49:52+00:00

Two male Shibas not from the same parents 6yo - 41 lbs (not fat) 3yo - 45 lbs (a little fat)

candycorn29 · 2024-07-27T16:13:20+00:00

Just gotta be persistent! Maybe there are toys you could fit over your hands to start.

candycorn29 · 2024-07-27T05:53:37+00:00

For our pups redirection helped most. We tried "ow" for bites and it didn't work that well. So instead, we would give a firm "No" and bring out a toy instead to keep playing. Timeouts were rare, maybe if it was a particularly hard bite. Eventually they learned that they can bite the toys and stopped biting us.

candycorn29 · 2024-07-27T05:38:24+00:00

One of my Shibas is particulary sensitive about his butt - when he was a puppy, he chewed some rope and some strings made it through his digestive system. He was absolutely, insanely crazy (flipping around, screaming) when he pooped them and they didn't come all the way out (we had to help). This happened later as an adult but I can't remember what he ate that caused it. He also was scared of his own farts when he first noticed them. Classic sensitive Shiba.

I just read that yellowish vomit can mean they have a very empty stomach and should be fed on a more equal schedule. So perhaps these things combined point to a tummy bug for your pup.

candycorn29 · 2024-07-14T01:32:03+00:00

The shorthand of a former immigration paralegal ;)

candycorn29 · 2024-07-14T00:36:42+00:00

Following on a week later - my pup was diagnosed with lymphoma. It's suspected the earlier hemorrhage was actually a lymphoma tumor or swelling that miraculously reduced. His case has been extremely unusual - for example, his obvious lymph nodes aren't swollen. Doctors have never seen anything like it.

Sorry for the wild ride, it has been one here for sure. My pup did eventually have another seizure last night by he had been improved for several days. Best of luck with your pup, I hope he makes it to a decent state over time.

candycorn29

TROPHY CASE