December 2009 Archives

As the local DNA collector in New Jersey, I meet so many people during the year, from so many walks of life.  We all have a need, at some point, to confirm knowledge of ourselves and our family, whether it is through a DNA test or through private soul searching.  Most times I do a DNA test, deliver the results and that is the end of my interaction with a customer.

I often wonder - did that new young dad take up his responsibility or was that lady able to create a relationship with her newly confirmed father?  I always hope that having peace of mind through a DNA test, helps families to strengthen their bonds and move on to bigger and better things in life.  I believe that we all have good days ahead of us - that hope and faith are powerful tools in our lives.  You have to use these tools everyday to make them work and seem real. 

There are always a handful of customers, who for whatever reason, we feel a stronger connection.  Perhaps they were able to share their stories with me in such a way that I feel part of the solution.  Perhaps they called me months later and told me how things have worked out for them, whether it was through a regular Paternity test, or through a DNA test for purposes of immigration and now have their family reunited here.  Those customers continue to send me cards of thanks and baskets of encouragement.  I am sincere in my efforts to help them resolve questions in their life through the use of today's most up to date human identification technology - the DNA test. 

One such customer sent a wonderful basket of chocolates and cookies and proclaimed - THE JUDGE RULED IN OUR FAVOR.  What better Christmas gift then to know that a mother was so pleased with our tests and my extra efforts on her behalf that she remembered me at Christmas - months after her case was over.  Everyone now knows that her son is who she says he is - she is triumphant and her son gains an extended family.  I pray that the extended family will open their hearts to this little boy.  

Another gentleman, who perhaps didn't get the results he wanted from our tests, but nevertheless, now knows that he has more searching to do - sent me the below list of Christmas greetings in over 50 different languages and from various regions of the world - but all carrying the same message - Joy, Happiness, Peace, Prosperity.  You see no matter where you are from or where you are going - we all want the same thing for each other - it just takes a holiday to remind us.

• Gëzuar Krishtlindjen dhe Vitin e Ri - Albanian, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"
• Mīlād Majīd ميلاد مجيد - Arabic for "Merry Christmas" as used in Lebanon and several other countries
• Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand Eastern Armenian
• "Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Soorp Dzuhnoont" Western Armenian
• Zorionak eta Urte Berri On! Basque for Merry Christmas
• Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat in Breton
• Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo in Bulgarian
• Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou! in Catalan
• Bon Nadal - Catalan for Happy Christmas
• Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth Happy Christmas and Happy New Year in Cornish
• Sretan Božić - Croatian for Happy Christmas
• Veselé Vánoce a šťastný nový rok - Czech language, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"
• Glædelig jul - Danish
• God jul - Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, lit. "Good Yule"
• Gleðilig Jól og gott Nýggjár - Faroese - Merry Christmas and happy New Year
• Vrolijk Kerstfeest or Zalig Kerstfeest with en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar - Dutch, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"
• Gajan Kristnaskon "Merry Christmas" in Esperanto
• Häid jõule - Estonian
• Maligayang Pasko - Filipino word, a Common Christmas Greeting in the Philippines which was Merry Christmas in English Translation.
• Hyvää joulua - Finnish
• Joyeux Noël - French for "Happy Christmas" used in France, French Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Louisiana, Switzerland, the Lebanon and Francophone Africa
• Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier! in Frisian
• Frohe Weihnachten/Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches/gutes Neues Jahr - German for Merry Christmas/Merry Christmas and a Happy/Good New Year
• Καλά Χριστούγεννα (Kala Christougenna) - Greek for Merry Christmas, also used in non-Greek many Eastern Orthodox nations, as the first Christian masses were celebrated in Greek.
• Mele Kalikimaka - Hawaiian
• Boldog karácsonyt/Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket : Merry Christmas/Pleasant Christmas Holidays in Hungarian
• Selamat Natal: "Christmas best wishes" Indonesian
• Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah in Iraq
• Nollaig Shona Duit - Ireland, (Irish Language), Gaeilge, lit. "You have a happy Christmas".
• Buon Natale - Italian for Happy Christmas
• Natale hilare et Annum Faustum! in Latin
• Linksmų Šv. Kalėdų ir Laimingų Naujųjų Metų - Lithuanian "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"
• Schèine Chreschtdaag an e gudde Rutsch in Luxembourg dialect
• Среќен Божиќ, (Sreḱen Božiḱ) - Macedonian for Happy Christmas
• Il-Milied u s-Sena t-Tajba - Malta - "Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year"
• Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa in Manx Gallic
• Meri Kirihimete in Maori
• کریسمس مبارک - Persian "Merry Christmas"
• Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia in Polish
• Feliz Natal in Portuguese
• Crăciun Fericit! Romanian for Merry Christmas
• S'Rozhdestvóm Khristóvym! (С Рождеством Христовым!) or, more commonly, simply С Рождеством (S Rozhdestvóm!) for the informal Christmas greeting, while the traditional religious greeting is Khristós rozhdáyetsya! (Христос рождается, meaning "Christ is born!") and the traditional response is Slávite! (Cлавите!, meaning "Let us glorify him!"); С Новым годом! ( S Nóvym gódom!) - Happy New Year! in Russian.
• Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar in Low Saxon
• Nollaig chridheil huibh in Scottish Gaelic
• "Христос се роди!" answer: "Воистину се роди!" or: "Srećan Božić" (Serbian) "Merry Christmas" also Hristos se rodi.
• Veselé Vianoce a Šťastný Nový rok - Slovak language, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"
• Vesele Božične Pražnike Srečno Novo Leto or Vesel Božič in srečno Novo leto in Slovene
• Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo - Spanish lit. "Happy Nativity and prosperous New Year"
• God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År in Sweden
• Sawadee Pee Mai or Souksan wan Christmas in Thai
• Mutlu Noeller - Turkish - "Happy Christmas"
• З Різдвом Христовим (Z Rizdvom Khrystovym) or, when meeting in person, Христос народився! - Славімо Його! ("Khrystos narodyvsya! - Slavimo yoho!", lit. "Christ was born! - Praise be with Him!") in Ukrainian.
• Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda - Wales (by Welsh speakers), "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"
• Boldog karácsonyt! in Hungary
• 聖誕節快樂 / 圣诞节快乐 (Shèngdànjié kuàilè) - Merry Christmas!, 新年快樂 / 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè) - Happy New Year! in Chinese
• メリークリスマス (Meri Kurisumasu) - Merry Christmas!, よいお年を (Yoi o-toshi-o) (before), 明けましておめでとう (after) - Happy New Year! in Japanese

I even received my very first Happy Kwanzaa card this year.  I am flattered to be a part of someone else's celebration of  "Royal Greetings".  I once thought that I worked in a global environment, but it wasn't until I started offering private DNA testing that I truly began to learn how universal it is for a mom will fight for her child, how a dad will work for his family and although we are all different people, we are truly alike. We want a family, we want safety and we want to be together. 

No matter how you celebrate this season and no matter who you celebrate it with - make it a good one, make it special for someone else - it comes back to you twofold.

Family of Permanent Residents

As a permanent resident (green card holder), you may petition for certain family members to immigrate to the United States as permanent residents.

You May Petition For The Following Family Members:

·         Spouse (husband or wife) 

·         Unmarried children under 21 

·         Unmarried son or daughter of any age

Application Process

To obtain a green card for your family member, you must:

·         File Form I-130

·          Provide proof of your status to demonstrate that you are a permanent resident.

·         Submit evidence of the qualifying relationship such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc. See the form instructions for specific documents required.

·         Submit proof of any legal name change for you or your family member (the beneficiary).

See the instructions for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for detailed instructions.

If you or a member of your family is in the U.S. military special conditions may apply to your situation. For information and additional resources, see the "Information for Members of the Military and their Families" link to the right.

Preference Categories

When petitioning for your relative, the following preference categories apply: 

·         First preference: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. (Adult means 21 or older)

·         Second Preference (2A): Spouses of green card holders, unmarried children (under 21) of permanent residents

·         Second Preference (2B):  Unmarried adult sons and daughters of permanent residents

·         Third Preference: Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens

·         Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens

A visa becomes available to a preference category according to the priority date (the date the I-130 was properly filed). For more information on priority dates, see the "Visa Availability and Priority Dates" link to the right.

What happens next?

·         If your relative is already in the United States legally, he or she may apply to adjust status to become a permanent resident after a visa number becomes available using Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. 

·         If your relative is outside the United States, your petition will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will forward your petition to the appropriate U.S. consulate when a visa becomes available and your relative will be notified about how to proceed. This process is referred to as "Consular Processing."

·         Your family member's preference category will determine how long he or she will have to wait for an immigrant visa number. Once you have filed a petition, you can check its progress on "My Case Status" in the links to the right. For visa availability information, see the "Visa Bulletin" link to the right.

For more information on becoming a permanent resident, see the "Adjustment of Status" (for processing within the United States) and "Consular Processing" (for processing overseas) links to the right. For more information on green cards, see the "Green Card" link to the right. For more information on each benefit type and the steps to take to help your relative immigrate, see the links to the left.

Note: A visa petition (Form I-130) is only used to demonstrate a qualifying relationship. An approved petition DOES NOT grant any benefit except to create a place in line for visa processing. For more information on green cards, see the "Green Card" link to the right. For more information on relatives and green cards, see the link to the left.

The DNA Lady owns a DNA Testing facility in Metuchen, NJ  732-632-8820.  Call for questions on how to set up DNA tests for yourself and your beneficiaries at home.  DNA Testing is often part of the non-documentation form of confirming a biological relationship to someone in another country and also one of the fastest methods.  Rather than searching for old birth certificates, marriage certificates a non-invasive DNA test performed at an Embassy approved facility and analyzed at an AABB accredited laboratory can help expedite the immigration process. 

 

New moms, pregnant moms, doubtful dads - Here's a useful link to determine when you most probably became pregnant.  If you have a doubt about the paternity of your baby, whether prior to baby's birth or after baby's birth, use the calculator to determine the date(s) you most probably became pregnant and then test the man who you were with on that day or in that short window of fertility.  The calculator which is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, is a great tool to also see the progress of your baby as he/she grows inside you.

http://www.babycenter.com/tools.htm

If you perform a Chain of Custody DNA Paternity Test on the man you think is the father, and if that test returns with a negative results or 0% Probability of Paternity, most DNA collection sites will offer extended analysis of another man, for half the price of the original test.  Check with your local DNA collections expert, on their options and time frame for testing additional men for paternity.  Remember, that each child deserves to have knowledge of his/her biological parents, irrespective of the parents relationship in the present and going forward.  Depending on the number of weeks you are pregnant, you can also have a PreNatal Paternity Test performed, so that for the remainder of the pregnancy the new dad has the chance to get comfortable and prepare for his new role as a dad. It is important for everyone involved to know the risks associated with PreNatal Paternity tests, please speak directly to your OB/GYN for that information.    

With today's convenient and affordable, private DNA testing centers opening up in so many States, it is also important to understand what accreditation your testing center carries and how the test are performed at the laboratory level.  When you call for information ask questions and get the name of the person you are speaking to - ask them if they will be the one performing the test and discussing the DNA test results with you.  As with any test, with such an important outcome, it is always best to work with someone locally so that you have someone to return to and not just an 800 number to call.  Your local DNA collections expert will know your personal circumstances, know the people involved with the test and will handle all follow up questions specifically related to your test  The local DNA colledtions expert will also accompany you to the OB/GYN's office on the day or your Prenatal Paternity Test sample collection rather than just delivering a kit to the OB/GYN staff.

   The DNA Lady owns a DNA collection franchise in Metuchen, NJ and offers DNA tests to confirm maternity, paternity, grand parentage, siblingship and avuncular testing.  DNA tests are affordable and convenient and are also used in infidelity and forensic analysis.