tdaxp

Sean was kind enough to give us congratulations from his blog. Thanks!

Today got off to a bang. Last night we devised a list of questions to ask our lawyer first thing in the morning... and this morning we got the answers

Q. Do we have to fill out the G-325A Biographical information, or do they?
A: The law office will, and they sent out draft forms yesterday .
Result: Updated drafts will be hand delivered backto the lawyer tomorrow.

Q. Where to get I-693.
A. Instructions were provided.
Result: Appointment set up for July 5.

Q. What is "Police Clearance? (If applicable)" requirement about?
A: It's not applicable.
Result: The issue's mute!

Then went to Walgreens to print up pictures of us for the "bona fide" relationship requirement. Got them back this afternoon, wrote a summary and date on the back of each, and now their in the envelope with the updated drafts. Forms and paperwork took long enough, but eventually that we set out for today was finished.

So yesterday I got married and today I'm blogging. What's up with that?

We have our very own passive-aggressive matchmaker: the federal government..

Our preferred wedding date was August 8, 2008, in Lady of tdaxp's hometown, when the Olympics come there. However, Lady of tdaxp's student visa lasts only a year from her graduation, which is either August or December, depending on when her thesis is accepted. Worse, our lawyer inforemd us that an oversees wedding would involve approval by the State Department, who make the DHS look like a model of efficiency.

So that means that the Beijing ceremony will be a "reception," and not the wedding itself.

So the question becomes: when will the American wedding be? This time Homelan Security steps forward, proudly doubling the fees for just about everything at the end of July. Compounded by the rule that the wedding has to happen before the application is begun, we now have an American wedding, an American reception, and a Chinese reception.

In the end, these adventures add to the awesomeness of yesterday. How many newlyweds get to here any of the following, let alone all three in only a few hours

• "I never married anyone while wearing shorts before!


• "I never opened a checking account on anyone's wedding day before!


• "I never heard a presentaiton on the speaker's wedding day before!

Well, we did. We got an absolustely unique wedding. Yesterday was pure cool.

Today is too.

Reception is planned for next summer. Better start saving up!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of returning to Tianjin to attend a wedding.

The wedding was great, and included everything you wouldn't expect, from a caravan of red cars to the Imperial March.