Hi Everyone.....
Just an update to let you know that I have nothing yet to update. :(
Hopefully I will get my approval confirmation this week. It's been 3.5 weeks so far. Maybe that time frame is normal, I have no idea. It's such a helpless feeling to be in limbo, ya know? Someone I am in contact with had to wait 6 months for her answer!! But she had special circumstances in her case, as she was a returning resident. I'm hoping I won't have to wait that long.
Every day that passes is one day closer to the end of one process and the beginning of another, no matter what they decide.
Sending out positive energy in the form of prayers..... :)
I'll be in touch!
All the best,
Ali
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Interview With My Shaliach
Here are the details of my experience. Your mileage may vary! :)
Well, I survived! I can happily say that navigating the streets of San Francisco was more intimidating than the interview!
Parking was the hardest issue of the appointment. *IF* you can find a spot on the street, it runs $5 an hour. Or you can squeeze into a sardine like underground parking garage where the attendant must be a whiz at Tetris. Crazy. Proximity comes with a price, though. $28 for 2 hours. Not to mention toll bridge charges there and back.
All in all, it was a positive experience. After being buzzed in to the building and walking through the metal detectors, I went up to my Shaliach's office. He met me in the hallway with a warm smile and a handshake. I sat across from his desk, where had all of my information on his computer screen. First question came out of the blue: Do I have a criminal record? It was such an unexpected question and it kinda startled me. In retrospect, I guess that's the point. I said, "No, just a speeding ticket from about 20 years ago!" to which he replied, "Join the crowd!"
From there, it began with questions about my childhood-where I was born, where I grew up, and then employment history. Jewish background, level of observance, medical questions, marriage/divorce/child custody questions, and then it led into travel to Israel, what are my plans after making Aliyah (housing/job opportunities/schooling) and the last question, WHY do you want to make Aliyah?
He took notes in Hebrew, recording my answers to forward on to their office in Jerusalem. Then one by one, he asked for the hard copies of the documents that I had uploaded online. I watched as he held my birth certificate, passport, letter from my Rabbi, etc., against what he was seeing on his screen.
The only thing he asked for me to provide additionally, are statements from my doctors explaining what my medications are, how they work/what they are used for, and that they are aware that I am moving out of the country.
He said the "investigation" (background check? Wire taps? E-files? :) should take 2-3 weeks and that he would call me personally with a "Mazal Tov" if I get the A-OK. Then I will be able to book my NBN flight immediately. I will have an additional meeting with him before my flight for the processing of my Israeli Visa/Israeli ID card. THAT'S when they want your passport photos, not at the initial interview. I have the option of having it mailed to me (a 3 week wait) or making my appointment on a Wednesday, and then walking over to the Israeli Consulate, where they will process it right then and there. I think I will choose Door #2.
That was it! The whole meeting lasted about 35 minutes.
I will post again after I receive his phone call. Think positive, right? ;)
Aliana
Well, I survived! I can happily say that navigating the streets of San Francisco was more intimidating than the interview!
Parking was the hardest issue of the appointment. *IF* you can find a spot on the street, it runs $5 an hour. Or you can squeeze into a sardine like underground parking garage where the attendant must be a whiz at Tetris. Crazy. Proximity comes with a price, though. $28 for 2 hours. Not to mention toll bridge charges there and back.
All in all, it was a positive experience. After being buzzed in to the building and walking through the metal detectors, I went up to my Shaliach's office. He met me in the hallway with a warm smile and a handshake. I sat across from his desk, where had all of my information on his computer screen. First question came out of the blue: Do I have a criminal record? It was such an unexpected question and it kinda startled me. In retrospect, I guess that's the point. I said, "No, just a speeding ticket from about 20 years ago!" to which he replied, "Join the crowd!"
From there, it began with questions about my childhood-where I was born, where I grew up, and then employment history. Jewish background, level of observance, medical questions, marriage/divorce/child custody questions, and then it led into travel to Israel, what are my plans after making Aliyah (housing/job opportunities/schooling) and the last question, WHY do you want to make Aliyah?
He took notes in Hebrew, recording my answers to forward on to their office in Jerusalem. Then one by one, he asked for the hard copies of the documents that I had uploaded online. I watched as he held my birth certificate, passport, letter from my Rabbi, etc., against what he was seeing on his screen.
The only thing he asked for me to provide additionally, are statements from my doctors explaining what my medications are, how they work/what they are used for, and that they are aware that I am moving out of the country.
He said the "investigation" (background check? Wire taps? E-files? :) should take 2-3 weeks and that he would call me personally with a "Mazal Tov" if I get the A-OK. Then I will be able to book my NBN flight immediately. I will have an additional meeting with him before my flight for the processing of my Israeli Visa/Israeli ID card. THAT'S when they want your passport photos, not at the initial interview. I have the option of having it mailed to me (a 3 week wait) or making my appointment on a Wednesday, and then walking over to the Israeli Consulate, where they will process it right then and there. I think I will choose Door #2.
That was it! The whole meeting lasted about 35 minutes.
I will post again after I receive his phone call. Think positive, right? ;)
Aliana
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Interview Day!
Tomorrow (Thursday) will be my interview with the Jewish Agency. It's the last step in my process to make Aliyah. The buck stops with them. I have no idea what to expect. NBN has been most helpful with all of the required paperwork that has been submitted thus far....almost all of which has been scanned and emailed to them. Now I need to take the originals to the appointment with my Shaliach to look over and verify. I have heard that you get the "yes" or "no" answer in the mail within a few weeks of the interview.
I am sure they will ask WHY I want to make Aliyah. It's the most common question I get. But I wonder if they will ask me to recite the V'ahavta or Kaddish or sing something in Hebrew. :)
As I type this, I am not nervous. But earlier today, I did have visions of Ben Gurion Airport Security Personnel and their interrogation techniques. I hope it's not that kind of an environment. : / That's enough to rattle anyone's nerves!
I will have an update in a few days.
Aliana
I am sure they will ask WHY I want to make Aliyah. It's the most common question I get. But I wonder if they will ask me to recite the V'ahavta or Kaddish or sing something in Hebrew. :)
As I type this, I am not nervous. But earlier today, I did have visions of Ben Gurion Airport Security Personnel and their interrogation techniques. I hope it's not that kind of an environment. : / That's enough to rattle anyone's nerves!
I will have an update in a few days.
Aliana
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