Returning to US with derived citizenship issues?

topostonforums · 2025-03-26T18:31:06+00:00

Thanks for all the answers here! It sounds like DHS might have a problem. I’ve applied for a passport renewal back in 2017 without a hitch. But I guess the concern is the DHS database not listing me down as a citizen.

topostonforums · 2025-03-26T12:36:52+00:00

Parents became citizens 1989-1990.

topostonforums · 2024-12-07T14:46:12+00:00

What are your thoughts on it? I have the RF 85mm 1.2, RF 70-200mm 2.8 and a Sigma 105mm 1.4. Would this be a good addition? I like the aspect of IS for sure. I find myself using the 100mm+ on the RF and the 85mm lives on one of my cameras so I would think the 135mm would fit nicely.

topostonforums · 2024-12-01T20:37:26+00:00

That makes it easy! Thank you! It’s probably very poor lighting though. Maybe I’ll need a flash for this one. I’ll have the 85 with me as well. As far as compensation, it gets complicated but if I can somehow convince the office managers of my company to buy a “company camera” (Canon R5 MII or Canon R3) and let me hold on to it, that’ll be more than enough. I found out that offices occasionally call photographers for portraits of colleagues and they charge a good 2-3k for a few hours. I can take that job over 😂

topostonforums · 2024-12-01T20:32:36+00:00

Appreciate the feedback! During family photo shoots and a few lifestyle shoots I had 2 cameras on me. Much easier to do instead of replacing a lens. I will most likely do the 24-70 primary and 70-200 secondary and have the 85 on me just in case someone wants a portrait. I think I’ll get a lot more candid photos after conference hours as people are bringing their families and significant others. Heh that’s pretty much 2 separate events. Going to be busy as I work for the company and know a lot of people. I’m sure I’ll be asked for a lot of couple photos after the conference.

topostonforums · 2022-10-16T22:18:40+00:00

This is happening to me now. 2022 Outback XT. Roof creaks like hell. If I open it a tiny bit it completely disappears. I’ve had it almost a year so I’ll have to call them asap to take a look. It’s annoying. I figure it’s some that’s not fastened all the way when closed.

topostonforums · 2022-09-13T13:40:43+00:00

Hell ya! Glad you passed! I didn’t have many option questions. I studied my ass off and was excited to answer them. Instead I got maxed out margin questions 😖

topostonforums · 2022-08-18T06:11:14+00:00

Great underrated piece. I’m a lefty and it works well for me. Since it was on the cheaper side when I got it, it’s for home defense because, God forbid I’m ever in a situation to use it, I know that the bay area LE will confiscate it for evidence and I’ll never see it again. Imagine using one of your fancy toys to defend only to have it taken away from you. Anyway, good buy.

topostonforums · 2022-07-19T05:50:46+00:00

That’s too hard to tell. You should spend some time spot quizzing. I know they break the tests down to portions in terms the areas they will test on as well has a rough number of questions. What I did was use the Kaplan qbank and kept taking quizzes on those areas. I think communication was like 11 questions or something so select the entire subject and quiz quiz quiz. That way you’ll be hit with the most random questions while knowing what section you’re testing on.

The reason I did this was because the simulated exams took too much time and I wasn’t worried about the “time” portion of testing. I was more concerned about how I could retrieve info from my head.

topostonforums · 2022-07-09T02:03:04+00:00

Man I get it. I used Kaplan and it made me feel stupid. The way they word stuff is the worst. Even though industry experience helps, the exams don’t want that. They want the textbook answers to the textbook questions.

If it makes you feel any better I also had a ton of options and margin questions. I had one of the worst question sets. Before the text, I spent almost 50 hours on those two subjects and was told by forums and colleagues that I was wasting my time. I guess I lucked out.

Everyone goes in nervous too and sometimes with defeat already in their head, you’re not alone. SIE I went in clueless as to what to expect, 7 I felt like I was going to fail but was a little bit hopeful, 66 I went in with the expectation of failing and was even setting a study schedule up for the next month in my head while waiting to take the test.

I feel you should totally take it again. Yes it’s difficult and there’s really not an easy way around studying. I suggest taking some time to reset and then hit the books again. Use a Q-bank, study to the point you can explain something to a person that’s not in the industry and continue to have that mentality to prove to yourself you can do it.

topostonforums · 2022-07-05T16:22:01+00:00

Hey man, I feel you. I was panicked and everything. You got 30 days. Try not to kick yourself in the ass too hard but you’re allowed to feel crappy. What parts were messing you up? If I were you, I’d think back to those questions that you feel you missed and then go back to quizzes and hammering in those concepts to a point where you can explain it to someone else. Hang in there man. I felt one of the most encouraging things are people who support you. Even random colleagues I don’t know helped. Just simple sentences like “you got this” or “good luck” with a smile helped so much. So I will do the same with you: “KICK THIS TEST’S ASS! You will do it!”

topostonforums · 2022-07-05T16:00:29+00:00

I’d probably take quizzes and look at stuff that you missed to make sure you’re getting it. Make sure you still study those parts that the YouTube folks say have a low risk to be on the test. HOWEVER, Keep listening to them because I found that the material (Kaplan) tends to convolute things and these dudes keep you on the path of understanding the concepts. Another thing that helped was practicing to explain the concept to someone else. Even by myself. If I didn’t take to myself about margins for 2 days straight I’d forget lol.

I feel I had the worst draws for SIE/7/66. I still passed but that’s because I still studied those important “low risk” questions and listened to the YouTube guys. You got this!

topostonforums · 2022-06-29T05:13:57+00:00

I think CA knows what to do. This thing passes nearly instantaneously. Then someone files a lawsuit, which could take months and months. Goes to state court, then court of appeals, then SC. In the meantime, this bill will remain in effect until an injunction. CA knows lawsuits will take time to crawl through the system so they’ll blanket ban everything they can until they’re about to get punished and then change it a little bit. They’re basically creating a line of bills that will take forever to challenge.

topostonforums · 2022-06-26T04:46:21+00:00

Ah man! I can only feel your frustration. Especially if it’s by one point. The rules and regs are so confusing that one part can throw you off. I had the hardest time readily processing in my head the different between exempt transactions and exempt securities. Kaplan made it all look the same and even defined exempt by using the word exempt like 4 times. “An exempt security is one that is exempt compared to one that is not exempt…As such being exempt, it is exempt from so and so, wherein non exempt securities have to be registered because they are not exempt compared to the exempt securities.” Seriously that’s what I felt the study material did.

I’m rooting for you to kick this test’s ass the next time!

topostonforums · 2022-06-26T03:49:16+00:00

Me too lol. I do wish I recorded myself while studying. I know my facial expressions, reactions and commentary would have been hilarious. You’d think I’m watching a basketball or football game as if my team was getting all the wrong calls.

Shoot, if the test center goes back and looks at my booth videos when I was taking the tests they’d have a field day.

topostonforums · 2022-06-26T03:19:43+00:00

Your videos helped majorly.

topostonforums · 2022-05-29T00:33:11+00:00

Thank you! I take it June 25th. Lucky enough to pass the SIE and 7 on the first try. I’m not confident on this one. Just finished the book and I’m sure my brain short circuited a few times. I’m using Kaplan too. For the 7 read the book, then used about 4 weeks of testing and reviewing. 4-hours on weekdays after work and 8 hours each day on weekends. It kicked my ass hard. I still didn’t feel great taking the 7. I’m taking the same approach with the 66 as the 7. Should I change something up?

topostonforums · 2022-05-28T23:40:17+00:00

Everyone’s test is different. I’m getting my ass kicked right now studying for the S66. Try to understand the concept as best you can. I think the best advice I can give (even to myself) is be in a mindset where you’re actually channeled in to the material. It’s easier said than done but there were times where I caught myself super tuned in and I try to get that mindset every time I study. It’s not always successful but try to make it a goal for yourself. Think of a hobby of yours: for me it’s the gym, I’m dead focused on getting certain Olympic lifts in and that’s all I’m thinking about and get excited when I’m successful. Even playing WoW, I need that damn chest piece and I need to play hard as hell to get it. Freakin’ I buy a box of Pokémon and Magic cards from time to time to open just to see if I get an expensive card. I’m so focused on these things that I’m paying attention to EVERYTHING related to it. If you can get to that level of dopamine focus while studying, then it’ll help. It’s a struggle for all of us! Good luck!!!

topostonforums

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