ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United KingdomWhat next?..
QUOTE (mrssmith @ Mar 2 2008, 03:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The vaccine is actually available in the UK as when i started my nurses training they were screening people for the immunity to chicken pox which i didn't have as never had chicken pox! Then those who weren't immune were given the vaccine, however i manage to catch chicken pox from my little girl before i was given the vaccine!! Sorry to butt into the thread. So unsure why they don't offer it to others? Perhaps its the costs? Probably cost the NHS more if i contracted the pox then passed it onto patients? Which i didn't by the way.


OK I'll rephrase what I said. As far as the list of required vaccinations given on the US Embassy web site is concerned it states the chickenpox vaccine is not available in the UK. That still seems to be their perspective so it isn't required.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-02 14:15:00
United KingdomWhat next?..
QUOTE (Poiteen @ Mar 1 2008, 05:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
you don't have to get the chicken pox vaccine, if you've had the chicken pox before. They seem to take people's word that they've had it or not in London, but not sure about the AOS process.


It's not a case of taking peoples word for it, if you are in the UK and said no you still wouldn't be given the vaccine. The vaccine is not available in the UK.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-01 13:24:00
United KingdomWhat next?..
QUOTE (Meg and Grae @ Feb 29 2008, 01:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for that.Im guessing that there is a list of everything in packet three that you have to take to the medical?.
What about immunizations?..is there a list?.

Cheers!.


Yep it's on the Embassy web site, but it takes some finding. I'm sure they thought it fun to design that site so everything was a game to find.

http://www.usembassy...ccinechart.html

It says you have to have chickenpox, and that is not available in the UK. So you don't have it before you go.

In some circumstances, not quite sure of those as it didn't effect me, when doing AOS I think is one you will need to get it done in the US. Hopefully someone who knows more will pop up and tell me I'm wrong or add the correct information.

Edited by Lansbury, 29 February 2008 - 04:02 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2008-02-29 15:59:00
United KingdomWhat next?..
QUOTE (greeneyedgirlfl @ Feb 28 2008, 07:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lansbury @ Feb 28 2008, 07:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The interview is normally around 4 - 6 weeks after you send back the checklist to say you have all the required documentation and are ready for the interview.

The checklist will be in the next packet of documents you receive from the London Embassy. This is a link to the checklist online so you can see what is needed and start preparing. http://www.usembassy...iv/docs169.html.

The packet will also contain instructions for booking the medical examination.


Pardon for cutting in....how quickly can a medical exam be booked? Darren is taking about 10 days off when I come to visit in a month...he hates taking time off, and we would like to get the medical out of the way...

Thanks!


It seems that the doctors office can fit you in within a week, sometimes if you are quite flexible quicker. I got mine within 4 days.

Edited by Lansbury, 29 February 2008 - 02:37 AM.

LansburyMaleEngland2008-02-29 02:36:00
United KingdomWhat next?..
The interview is normally around 4 - 6 weeks after you send back the checklist to say you have all the required documentation and are ready for the interview.

The checklist will be in the next packet of documents you receive from the London Embassy. This is a link to the checklist online so you can see what is needed and start preparing. http://www.usembassy...iv/docs169.html.

The packet will also contain instructions for booking the medical examination.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-02-28 19:07:00
United Kingdomnvc case number embassy case number
LND is the London case number and the London Embassy send details of how to book the medical to the visa applicant.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-02-29 18:57:00
United Kingdomlinks to official sites explaining the usa uk tax thingy.
Yes, we had ours done by an accountant as it was a bit more complicated than normal.

There is an earned foreign income exemption, changes each year ie goes up this year it is $85700. So the income I earned in the UK which I could claim the exemption for as an example would be $85000 divided by 365 multiplied by the number of days I lived in the UK for that year.

My wife a USC living in the UK of course had the same foreign income exemption.

The one proviso is that UK income tax was paid on those earnings. In the year we come over we paid no US income tax once the return was completed.

This will tell you which form to file to claim the foreign earned income exclusion. http://www.irs.gov/b...d=97131,00.html

Edited by Lansbury, 07 March 2008 - 12:59 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-07 12:54:00
United Kingdomlinks to official sites explaining the usa uk tax thingy.
US tax http://www.irs.gov/

UK tax http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/

All the information is contained in those websites
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-07 02:39:00
United KingdomQuestion about new ACPO police certificate requirement
It is another certificate and the only one they will now accept, it doubles for immigration and non immigration visas. It is probably better to write not known in the departure date, that way they know it hasn't been left blank by mistake.

Edited by Lansbury, 08 March 2008 - 04:58 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-08 16:56:00
United KingdomDCF in London - Recent Timeline (start to finish...almost)
QUOTE (Myssie @ Mar 7 2008, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
18 February - Re-Sent D230 and D2001 (just in case) - this time we sent it to the PO Box at the London Immigration Visa Unit - I would advise against this as the Royal Mail still claim that the packet was been delivered to the PO Box and is still awaiting collection, better to send the paperwork to the street address.


Sending to the PO Box as instructed on the form is the correct thing to do.

The Embassy has several post boxes for specific departments and the mail is presorted before it reaches the Embassy. If you send it to the Embassy address it goes into the general post box and is delivered to the Embassy mail room. It has been known for visa applications to take several days to reach the visa section from the mail room. I believe one report on here from someone who sent it that way said theirs took a week.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-08 17:08:00
United Kingdommedical
If the web site is the Embassy page on medicals http://www.usembassy...iv/medexam.html , it does say there that:-

Detailed information on the location of the medical centers and scheduling the medical appointment will be provided to the applicant when he or she receives notification of the date and time of the formal visa interview.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-02-29 18:55:00
United Kingdommedical
QUOTE (tonyt @ Feb 29 2008, 03:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
All i got was a packet with the interview date and time and a list telling me what to bring to the interview, is does not say to send any check list back. I thaink thats becouse they have all my documents. it does have a web site that says it has information about the medical but so far i cant find anything on it.


I suddenly thought, happens at my advanced age, that you may have not had a packet3 if you filed originally in the US.

In that case I think the details for booking the medical should have been in the envelope the interview details came in. The only thing that makes me think that might not now be the way it is done is your reference to a web site. Care to post the website details so I or someone can look see if that is the case.

If your interview is not until April there is plenty of time to sort this out and book the medical. Normally appointments are available with a week.

Edited by Lansbury, 29 February 2008 - 06:51 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2008-02-29 18:47:00
United Kingdommedical
How did you arrange your interview, presumably by sending back the checklist. If so the instructions for arranging the medical should have been in the same packet (packet3) that the checklist came in.

If they were not in that packet I would suggest you need to bite the bullet and call the premium rate helpline and get them sent out. If you have your London case number, the telephone number for the doctors office is on VJ somewhere, you could call and book a medical. There are forms to fill out before you go, again they should have been in packet3, but the doctors office has copies of those and you could fill them out there.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-02-29 16:56:00
United KingdomBest American banks
QUOTE (govols @ Mar 12 2008, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I had an account with Natwest in the UK and never got any charges for cheques or overdrafts. In the UK if the overdraft is agreed there is no charge or at least there wasn't for me with Natwest. Here in the US even if the overdraft is agreed they still charge you a ridiculous amount for every transaction that goes into overdraft.

Tony


We had a line of credit with the credit union we use and realised even though we had never used the line of credit at any time they were charging for it. It's like paying for an overdraft when you don't use it.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-12 18:26:00
United KingdomBest American banks
QUOTE (TracyTN @ Mar 12 2008, 06:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I find the comparisons about UK banks interesting - Chas HATED UK banks and all their many and complicated charges. He much prefers the experience we've had with Bank of America.


Who did he bank with. My UK bank had no charges, in fact I haven't paid them a charge for so long I can't even remember when it was.

Wells Fargo, I have to remember which checking account we have, how much I have to keep in it to get free checking, argue every month my pension comes over because they charge me a wire transfer fee. Tell Moneycorp I've been charged a wire transfer fee when I shouldn't have and they have to get Wells Fargo to refund it.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-12 12:12:00
United KingdomBest American banks
The US banking system makes the UK one look positively progressive.

We have bank mainly with Wells Fargo and they are on a par service wise with any big UK bank. We also use a local credit union as their savings rates are better. The credit union has poor customer service and we stopped using them at one time because of it, but their interest rates are too good to ignore.

Online banking in the US doesn't even come close to comparing with the ease of use and lack of restrictions I'm used to with NatWest.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-10 12:16:00
United KingdomNew & waiting
Don't worry about the traffic violation it isn't going to effect the outcome, might be as you have found out a complication and require a bit of extra work, but if they gave people hassle over every traffic offence they would need more staff.

If you get married and apply for a spouse visa I believe overall it works out to be less expensive as you do not have the cost of adjusting status once in the USA. Not sure at the moment time wise one is quicker than the other.

The police certificate does say on it valid for 6 months, but the US London Embassy web site says the Embassy accepts them as being valid for 12 months.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-12 12:06:00
United KingdomTesco's Fresh and Easy Stores
Tesco said from the outset that they were not going to be the UK store in the US and the stores and goods would be tailor for the US market.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-09 12:03:00
United KingdomWaiting and Worrying
Have you sent the checklist back yet?, you will not get an interview date until you do that. You should hear about 4 weeks after you return the checklist.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-17 13:05:00
United KingdomAdvice anyone? Please!
QUOTE (Lady Pinder @ Mar 13 2008, 09:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It's something we're going to have to talk about when I'm over there.. What Im not sure about is shall I start applying for a fiance visa as soon as I get back? Or should I wait a while? I just really don't want to mess this up >.<


You don't start the ball rolling it is something the USC has to do. In your case they file the I-129F in the USA, and eventually after more form filling etc you attend the Embassy for a visa interview.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-13 13:45:00
United KingdomAdvice anyone? Please!
I didn't think you needed to have been to the US, I thought it was required you had meet a number of times. The location of such meetings not being so important.

If he wants to start the ball rolling for the fiance visa I don't see that being a problem as things stand now. However I'm no expert of fiance visas as we were married when I got my visa.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-10 13:03:00
United KingdomAdvice anyone? Please!
QUOTE (Lady Pinder @ Mar 10 2008, 02:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yeah Ive been telling him that Im going to tell them the truth about us and everything when I go to the embassy.. He's paranoid cause of him being refused entry to England and is scared I wont be granted a visa because of it as well..


Don't worry about what happened at Gatwick. I had the same thing happen to a friend of our family at Gatwick and that after they phoned me to check everything was as they were being told and I was sponsoring the visit. At the time I was working alongside immigration officers at Heathrow and the idiot at Gatwick still sent the person back to the US.

The fact your other half got refused entry to the UK shouldn't in anyway effect your visa. Take with you proof of your job, and rent agreement to show you have strong ties to the UK.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-10 11:23:00
United KingdomAdvice anyone? Please!
The simple advice is always tell the truth to immigration. If you don't it may well come back to bite you sometime in the future and in a big way.

It could be you will apply at sometime for an immigration visa and this application will be on record. Part of the evidence you have to give for immigration purposes is how long your relationship has been. As you can see lie now and that may come to attention later.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-09 17:55:00
United KingdomLondon Medical Questions
This will give you all you need to know http://www.visamedicals.info/us.asp, and is from the doctors office
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-18 12:32:00
United Kingdomlondon interview - reporting back :)
Congratulations at least you have done all that needs doing and you just have to wait for your birthday. You'll be with the rest of us over here.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-18 17:51:00
United KingdomWhat a great way to wake up...
As you say it does take a longer time than DCF but at least you are moving down the road. Congratulations
LansburyMaleEngland2007-10-26 13:44:00
United KingdomAfter 16 months looking
It is at the junction of MLK Jr Blvd and SE Oak Street about three blocks east of I-5 leaving at the Morrison Bridge off ramp
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-25 13:58:00
United KingdomAfter 16 months looking
QUOTE (marstorr @ Mar 24 2008, 10:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What's the name of the shop? My husband and I live in Seattle, and I think he'd just resigned himself to no bangers while he was here. My family lives in Oregon, so we drive down regularly, and something that good would be worth the trip for him! Thanks in advance!


Sheridan Fruit Company
409 S.E. MLK Jr. Blvd
Portland, OR 97214

They are twice as long as what you get in the UK but the look and texture is spot on. The taste is almost spot on I'd say they are 99%
as good as the real thing.

They sell them as British Bangers
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-25 13:37:00
United KingdomAfter 16 months looking
Found somewhere local that sells British bangers that are so close to the real thing they are just as good. good.gif good.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-24 20:21:00
United KingdomNew Police certificate
What is worrying is that a body which is nothing more than a staff association like any other union and is not subject to police regulations has access to criminal records. They have no doubt an employee carrying out these checks and it makes you wonder just how secure that information will be.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-27 12:52:00
United KingdomUrgent question- point of entry question for NY
QUOTE (StillThePrettiest @ Mar 25 2008, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lansbury @ Mar 24 2008, 06:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You need the sealed envelope you cannot open and your passport of course. They will not ask for the x-rays or anything else.

what do you base this on? I was given my x-ray at the embassy and told to hand it over at immigration, along with the brown envelope...?



I base it on the fact that 99.9% of the people posting here were not asked for their x-rays. Also the London Embassy instructions when I had my interview were that they could be packed in the hold bags as they would not be required at POE.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-26 12:37:00
United KingdomUrgent question- point of entry question for NY
QUOTE (minnietheminx @ Mar 24 2008, 04:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Youre right- you dont fill out the green I-94w (the visa waiver that you used to use). Instead, you fill out the white I-94. The airline might insist you take the green one, but tell them that its the white one you need.


Thanks I knew someone would pop up with the correct information. As I was typing my reply I couldn't for the life of me remember which one was white and which was green unsure.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-24 20:19:00
United KingdomUrgent question- point of entry question for NY
You need the sealed envelope you cannot open and your passport of course. They will not ask for the x-rays or anything else.

There is what is called secondary inspection at immigration they will direct you there from the normal immigration desk. There are no extra forms to fill out just the usual fingerprints etc to be done. You don't fill out the Visa Waiver I-94 but the other one if I remember correctly. Sure someone will pop up to clarify that for you.

As to the customs form not been through JFK but if it is just one form per family it doesn't really matter who fills it out my wife you USC did ours.

Edited by Lansbury, 24 March 2008 - 01:14 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-24 13:11:00
United KingdomI just noticed something today....
Certainly Scottish criminal records are not normally list on the PNC, that is only England and Wales. So I wonder how they are getting the NI certificates covered, perhaps they have a similar system in place for Scottish ones.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-31 12:16:00
United KingdomPayment at the Embassy?
QUOTE (StillThePrettiest @ Mar 31 2008, 11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
the letter says the courier will take cash only... admittedly I only tried to pay cash, so I don't know if that's true smile.gif


When I was there, admittedly some time ago no-one in front of me paid with cash and neither did I.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-04-01 12:33:00
United KingdomPayment at the Embassy?
and both the Embassy and courier take cash or credit/debit card
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-31 17:17:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
QUOTE (StillThePrettiest @ Apr 4 2008, 08:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Allied Pickfords is WAY cheaper than everyone else; half the price of the most expensive! ohmy.gif

now I don't know what to do...



We used Allied Pickfords for our move. They did all the packing and unpacking.

We cannot speak highly enough of them. They did what they promised to do when they said, including the stuff arriving at our house well within the time frame they said.

If we were doing such a move again I'd go straight to them for it.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-04-04 12:35:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
QUOTE (StillThePrettiest @ Apr 2 2008, 10:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't know whether they'll let me pack stuff under other stuff (eg under the legs of the sideboard which is, unusually, quite high off the ground) or whatever...


You can do that, our packers most certainly did. If you put stuff inside pieces of furniture just make sure the doors/drawers are not locked as customs will break them open if they want to see inside and can't find the key.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-04-02 15:28:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
QUOTE (StillThePrettiest @ Mar 30 2008, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
one of the things I've found most frustrating with trying to research shipping companies, Jeraly, is their complete inability to provide anything as simple as a price per cubic foot...


That is strange as it would depend on if you want to send your item by sea, in which case the price is normal by volume ie cubic feet or by air in which case cost is dependant on the weight.

All the movers we talk to price our load by how many cubic feet it would need. Having worked out the cubic feet they all just immediately gave the cost of the actual shipping, and all were very close. Where the difference came in was on the other services being provided, such as packing and unpacking etc.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-04-02 11:57:00
United Kingdombest shipping company to use - UK to US
QUOTE (StillThePrettiest @ Mar 25 2008, 06:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I was also told that if I shipped early, in my name, and then wasn't yet present in the US to receive the goods, the shipment would be counted as an 'import' - ie for business purposes - and not a private domestic thing... again, not making great claims about the veracity of that; just putting it out there for consideration wink.gif


Yes you do have to be in the USA when the shipment arrives, it cannot arrive before you if you want to ship as personal property duty free.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-03-25 14:15:00