she's not quite bonafide yet.

so three calls to homey security, half an hour on hold for each (disconnected during "transfers" on the first two), and we finally have some answers.

miyuki doesn't have a green card yet. it'll cost $400 to get that. and take six months. and then eighteen months after that we need to pay another $200 to get her green card made permanent.

fortunately, we can file a $200 application at the same time and get her work permit within 90 days. just in time for her to get a job in a mall as an xmas elf. that will be a VERY welcome income, as we're currently living nearly $500 beyond my means and dipping into savings each month to cover the difference. throw in the extra $600 from avings, and we'll be screwed and homeless by february. if she can start working in december (or maybe even november) that will reverse the frightening trend and put us back in in black...

also got a call from GMAC telling me that the ex-wife's mother paid them $1200. money she doesn't have to be bailing out her crack-whore daughter with. I feel bad for her mom having to most likely draw on her retirement fund to pay it (or the ex-brother in law's college fund), but it's better her than me. worst part of all of this is how it's going to hurt miyuki too. she's attached to my credit, and my credit is attached to the ex's fuckups... we're gonna be renting for a LONG time. takes seven years for crap like that to fall off your credit report. we might be able to buy a house in 2013...