ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
Right! The month and day are backwards from America! Well, I think when my dad was in the Air Force they did it day/month/year also, which actually makes sense going from smaller date unit to larger but oh well, America is dafty about some things or as Twinkles would say "crazy Americans".

It was a long wait for sure. I updated my post in the general K1 section also. Muchas Gracias!

Yes, I'm pinching myself too!
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-11-02 13:12:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
Oh my, looks like I need to update my siggy - busted!

Oh the clock ticks so slowly!

Hey twinks! <3
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-16 11:45:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

The checklist asks for "the original documents or certified copies listed in Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants". They want the originals OR A CERTIFIED COPY of all the documents for the person applying for the visa, not the petitioner. USCIS has already said that they believe the relationship to be genuine, and the CO at the embassy is much more concerned about the evidence your fiance is bringing, such as HER birth certificate (which can be a certified copy), HER police certificate, and your support for the I-134, which can all be certified copies. The London embassy doesn't care about your original birth certificate or divorce decree.


Ok, thank you! That clears things up and makes sense. Thats good. I went ahead and sent a color scan of my birth certificate in leui of the original, and one of my two photocopies of the I-129F since it had never been sent with my Fiancee, along with the I-134 and supporting documents. Its away and winging to the UK.
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-16 11:04:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
Hi,

I'm sending my info to England for my fiancee's interview coming up at the end of the month. The checklist of what to send after the I-129F is approved says send all originals of documentary proof submitted for the I-129F. I PDF'd and sent the entire copy of the I-129 packet and will send a hard copy of one of the photocopies. But the original I-129F went to the USCIS naturally.

The items I used as evidence were birth certificate, photocopies of our passports, first 3 pages of my divorce decree showing the dates, judgement by the judge, his signature etc and also itinerary, photo's and some plane ticket boarding passes. All that was accepted by the USCIS. Here is the thing, if I send my original birth certificate, it would be difficult to replace that should it be lost in the mail or later, and my passport obviously I need that here. I can send a color photocopy of my birth certificate as I need it to replace my missing social security card here in northern Virginia. I just hate to send my only copy of my original birth certificate that some how I have managed to never lose in my 51 years! Is it really critical to send the original birth certificate? Also my divorce decree is like 25 pages and it looks no different than a photocopy other than a colored court clerk stamp on the back side of the 3rd page signed by the judge. Comments?
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-15 19:03:00
United KingdomTravelling to UK
Not another Geordie! My fiancee Twinks is a Geordie and she has been educating me in their ways and speech! A favorite phrase is "kick off Geordie style" and when she gets really going she starts to revert into the lingo and says things like "divint de that man" and as Dr. McCoy on Star Trek might say "he's deed Jim".

I flew into Newcastle when I first came to visit her back in Dec 2008. Of course I got to ride across the bridge that is on the label of New Castle brown ale, which btw is in just about every store I walk into! Even Target has it in the beer refrigerator! So does Wegmans supermarket.

I've already found a few possible places we can get some British essentials like HP brown sauce etc, like the British Pantry in northern Virginia or a grocery store here in the Washington DC area that has about everything

=P Oh my, I'm in the shed now! :)
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-11-08 14:23:00
United KingdomUK B!tches Unite!

You'd find a job quite easily here. Oklahoma has a major task force working toward cleaning up old, abandoned well sites. I work in oil and gas, so I've got lots of contacts in the industry if you're interested. Send me a PM if you like.


Dodi,

Are you on LinkedIn? As it is I am not quite ready to think about re-locating since I'm in the middle of the K1 process and hopefully early next year doing the AOS. I have gotten a contract to hire job right now with Hewlett Packard on a DOD contract doing PC support work, been vetted (public trust clearance) and am now working there. Not only am I a geologist but I also earned my MCSE/MCP certificates in 2000 and have about 5 years experience as a network analyst and deskside support. Since I didn't have recent experience I've had to get back into it this year thus pay isn't great. After 6+ months of temping this contract to hire is a step up and looks to be decent for the time being and I have family in northern Virginia. Its always good to network so I'll send you a PM and do appeciate the leads.

Edited by CoffeeMuse, 22 November 2010 - 07:39 PM.

CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-11-22 19:37:00
United KingdomUK B!tches Unite!

Congratulations on your Liverpudlian status, si man! Seriously, if Syracuse and most of upstate New York could be transported into a warmer climate, I'd consider living there, si man.


Supposedly Liverpool NY is considered a sister city of the original Liverpool England. Upstate NY, Syracuse and Liverpool were very nice area's to live from May to October. The summers are nice, the landscape is pretty, there are some nice state parks in the area. I took my fiancee to Beaver Lake several times to hike and enjoy the nature trails. We saw some deer up close, fed some chipmonks and enjoyed the 3 mile hike around the lake. I used to go there alone just to hike the trails for exercise and relaxation. Syracuse was a nice place in many ways, little traffic and compact etc. Of course the bitter long winters and the poor job market, well and high property taxes are a major bummer.
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-11-22 19:32:00
United KingdomUK B!tches Unite!
Yes, I lived in Liverpool, suburb of Syracuse for about 15 years. Lovely summers, a great park to roller blade but the winters were, well... for the penguins and polar bears! Hard on cars too!
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-11-19 06:46:00
United KingdomUK B!tches Unite!
Good job, thats decent I guess for four tires and a muffler. I was looking at mine recently. The Toyota RAV4 was bought new in 2006 and there is significant rust on the bottom. Gotta love central NY winters. My brakes wore out early due to the salt also. Good riddence Syracuse!
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-11-17 18:10:00
United KingdomUK B!tches Unite!
I did sent my resume to a contact at ExxonMobile but nothing came of it. My background has primarily been in environmental consulting any the last major client I worked with was Shell Oil Products US (SOPUS) as division of Royal Dutch Shell. They were based in Houston but all of my work was in northwest Pennsylvania and southwest New York state. I helped them close out old liablities, mainly properties which had abandoned oil wells on them so I had to go to courthouses to verify the lease history, go out with a GPS and locate the old abandoned wells, arrange for cable tool drill rigs to come clean out and plug the wells, and then have a PADEP Dept of Oil and Gas inspector inspect the lease and then provide a no further action letter to our client. That job was winding down and I was laid off nearly 2 years ago. Since I also have an MCSE certificate and there is more work in that field, thats what I've been getting back into. Also looking for govt work as a geologist but its tough getting an interview.

As for tires, I have a Toyota RAV4 so hopefully one of the lower priced SUV's to get new tires for. I bought it in 2006 because I wanted an SUV but one that got decent gas mileage.
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-11-13 15:37:00
United KingdomUK B!tches Unite!
Its been a tough road for me after losing my consulting job. Been doing piecemeal contract work since April but recently found contract to hire with a major company who does work for the DOD, and a public trust clearance to boot. Pay isn't great either but inching slowly back up. And of course the famous Washington DC metro area commute is fun every day. I have a masters degree in science (geology) but it isn't the right field to be looking for work. IT has more opportunities.

Speaking of tire, I'm gonna need at least 2 soon, plus rear brakes. Joy.
CoffeeMuseMaleUnited Kingdom2010-11-12 20:09:00
VietnamBlue today
According to the IRS "Order a Transcript" page, the correct phone number to call is 1-800-908-9946. If you do manage to get a hold of a person, you should be able to get faxed transcripts within an hour.

Just FYI, the reason they prefer transcripts is because it proves that the return was filed with the IRS.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2012-10-22 16:43:00
K-3 Spousal Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsI 130 touched
Timeline indicates that the OP is filing for the K-3, so moving this to the K-3 Progress Reports forum...
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-10-27 12:25:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Help: Parents Visit
QUOTE (Englander @ Nov 1 2009, 09:50 AM) I don't understand this new ESTA thing, is it to do with VWP and do you already have to have a trip booked to use it? I'd like to see if my father-in-law could use the VWP through ESTA?
You don't have to have a trip booked. You do have to have a qualifying passport.

Also, be aware that it's possible to be pre-approved through ESTA and still be denied entry at POE. Even after receiving pre-authorization through ESTA, the visitor has to fill out an I-94W (green form) and go through immigration inspection. He'll have to answer "Yes" to some of the questions on that form (see http://www.***remove...isas/i-94w.html) which is going to lead to some further questions.

Edited by Kathryn41, 06 December 2011 - 08:33 PM.

Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-11-01 10:12:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)MUST READ!!!! Married outside 90 days
With all due respect, this response is generally unhelpful and incorrect in at least one respect.

QUOTE (baron555 @ Nov 10 2009, 04:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Based on no legal experience concerning this matter but what I've read and making some personal conclusions, this is how I would rule:

You violated the terms of the K-1 by not marrying within 90 days, so your AOS (regardless of what forms you sent) would be denied. Incorrect. It is a clearly settled point that K-1 holders who fail to marry within 90 days are still able to adjust status as long as they married the petitioner, but they must file an I-130 concurrently with the I-485 in order to do so. The USCIS states as much on their website: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00048f3d6a1RCRD This is likewise confirmed by numerous cases of people who have done this successfully.

Since you do have a legal I-94, your length of overstay would commence once that expiration date is reached. True enough, and this is the question that has everyone (including DOS) flummoxed. What controls: the 90-day validity that should have been stamped on the I-94, or the year-plus that was actually stamped on it? The answer to this question determines whether a bar to admissibility attached to her unlawful presence or not.

She is now back in Brazil. You are married to her. You now have the K-3 or CR-1 paths to follow. Which is what they are doing. Your point here?

I would just move on with my life and not try to undo the past. Which is what they are doing. The foreign spouse interviewed for her CR-1, but DOS can't figure out how to calculate her unlawful presence and hence whether or not she incurred a ban.


All this nonsense was started by you two not following the rules that you knew you had to, marrying within 90 days.
So to try to make this someone else's problem is just a smokescreen.

How are they trying to make this someone else's problem? Yes, they made mistakes. They are trying to move forward with the immigrant spouse visa. But they have a complicated immigration law quandary, which will either require a lengthy, expensive waiver process to resolve or not. It all depends on what governs the authorized period of stay in this case, and consequently when unlawful presence began to accrue. And the answer to that question lies in the past, at least in part: at the POE where the I-94 was stamped.

Edited by Stephen + Elisha, 11 November 2009 - 04:32 PM.

Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-11-11 16:29:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)MUST READ!!!! Married outside 90 days
Just a quick followup: the reference cited by rebeccajo's AILA link regarding the I-94 governing the period of authorized stay (footnote 20 of the linked article) is the State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual at 9 FAM 40.92 N1(f). Also worthwhile is N1(b)(1).

http://www.state.gov...ation/87120.pdf

Edited by Stephen + Elisha, 10 November 2009 - 02:14 PM.

Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-11-10 14:14:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)MUST READ!!!! Married outside 90 days
Take a look at the I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status.

In Part 2, you check the "Application Type." This part states, "I am filing for an adjustment to permanent resident status because:"

Option C is the K-1 option. Read the text carefully: "I entered as a K-1 fiance(e) of a U.S. citizen whom I married within 90 days of entry, or I am the K-2 child of such a fiance(e). (Attach a copy of the fiance(e) petition approval notice and the marriage certificate.)" This option is clearly not available to a K-1 entrant who failed to marry within 90 days of entry. Based on what we know, the OP filed the I-485 on this basis and was correctly denied and placed into removal proceedings.

Your wife's I-485 application should have utilized Option A: "An immigrant petition giving me an immediately available immigrant visa number that has been approved. (Attach a copy of the approval notice, or a relative, special immigrant juvenile, or special immigrant military visa petition filed with this application that will give you an immediately available visa number, if approved." The I-485 should have been filed on this basis, and with an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, in order to successfully adjust status.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-10-30 10:50:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)MUST READ!!!! Married outside 90 days
QUOTE (klicristina @ Oct 29 2009, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Guys,

I want to post a question to everyone. We now know that the CBP at the airport made a human error by writing the wrong date on my wife's I-94, giving her 1 year and 3 months.

This is unfortunate, but even when the government makes mistakes, you are responsible for knowing the law and following it. The old axiom "Ignorance of the law does not excuse" is absolutely true.

QUOTE
In the USCIS system, the date is 3 months.

If this is in fact the case, you will have to file for a waiver (I-601) as well as for permission to reapply for entry after removal (I-212).

QUOTE
Why should my wife suffer the consequences for this mistake? My wife didnt know what an I-94 was and neither did I. Is it reasonable to expect my wife to know that the I-94 should be only for 3 months?

Once again, ignorance of the law does not excuse.

QUOTE
My argument is this. Why the law doesn't state this fact explically? Do you feel that it is fair? Maybe the K-1 law does state the expiration of the I-94 clearly in the law book somewhere.

The law does state it explicitly. belinda quoted the State Department Foreign Affairs Manual, which in turn was quoting Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 101(a)(15)(K) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(K)) and INA 214(d) (8 U.S.C. 1184(d)), the statutory basis for the K visa. Likewise, the DS-156K that your wife (then-fiancee) signed before the consular officer at her visa interview stated: "I hereby certify that I am legally free to marry and intend to marry (your name), a U.S. citizen, within 90 days of my admission into the United States."

Not to be harsh, but all your problems stem from your failure to inform yourselves of the applicable laws and regulations at every step of the process. You failed to marry within 90 days as required by your wife's visa. By doing so, she lost the basis upon which to file for adjustment of status. Consequently, when she filed the I-485, she had no basis on which to adjust. You could have remedied this at that point by filing an I-130 at the same time to provide a basis upon which to adjust status, but you did not. Hence, the I-485 application was denied in accordance with the law and she was placed into removal proceedings, at which point you could no longer remedy the series of mistakes by filing an I-130 and I-485. The time to file the I-130 was at the same time as the first I-485, not after that I-485 was denied and she was placed into removal proceedings. Once those proceedings began, it was too late.

Many mistakes were made. The government is not blameless here, but neither are you, and ultimately the responsibility rests upon you to know the law and comply with its requirements. What's done is done, though; what remains is for you to deal with the consequences. And those consequences are that your wife will be denied at the interview pending approval of an I-212 and (quite likely) an I-601 waiver. I hope you have a good lawyer who specializes in family-based (not employment-based) immigration. Good luck to you.

Edited by Stephen + Elisha, 30 October 2009 - 10:18 AM.

Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-10-30 10:15:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)MUST READ!!!! Married outside 90 days
QUOTE (belinda63 @ Oct 29 2009, 07:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Side remark. If you had married within 90 days, total cost about $20-$100 you would not be in this situation now.


Comments like this are wastes of server space. They contribute nothing to the discussion nor toward helping the OP. The situation is what it is.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-10-29 18:45:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)MUST READ!!!! Married outside 90 days
QUOTE (emt103c @ Oct 29 2009, 05:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The 485 wasn't even filed until there was already an overstay of greater than 180 days.

You continue to insist that this is the case, but the immigration judge with jurisdiction over the case said differently.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-10-29 16:50:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)MUST READ!!!! Married outside 90 days
QUOTE (emt103c @ Oct 29 2009, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I would say he went by the I-94 and that you need to ask one of the attorneys that I recommended or one that is equally as experienced. From my reading (I'm not an attorney) the overstay started as soon as the 90 days was up and the bar was incurred upon exit from the U.S. He was counting from the erroneous I-94 markings not from the visa entry date. As far as I know, Consular officers must follow the law as written.

Considering that waiver applications are adjudicated by USCIS and not DOS, I would think that an immigration judge's finding that no ban was incurred will carry significant weight at the consulate.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-10-29 14:17:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g):o AP 221g and Visa Interview
QUOTE (wellmux @ Nov 1 2009, 01:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Senior Members,
Do u all think its positive thing that they have made my case status as Post-Decision Activity instead of Decision do u all think that they have already made a Decision on my case,
5: Decision
6: Post-Decision Activity
these days i am too much tense and because of this my hairs are falling off lol.

You are confusing USCIS (which approves petitions) with the Department of State (which approves and issues visas).

Once USCIS issued your NOA2 (notice of approval), they forwarded it to NVC. From that point on, it was out of USCIS hands. "Post-decision activity" probably constitutes sending the approved package to NVC. You will no longer receive any case status updates from USCIS, because from their perspective your case is finished.

You said you've already had your interview, which means you are in AR/AP at the consulate. You can only receive status updates from the consulate or from the Department of State visa office in Washington now.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2009-11-05 11:30:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)k-1 221g administrative processing
What does the blue slip actually say? What did they check as the reason for the denial/AP?
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2012-02-18 14:38:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Does Overstay Apply for this?
How long was the overstay?

What exactly do you mean by "being reported by US government employee for overstay"?

You need to provide more details if you want to receive meaningful answers to your questions.
Stephen + ElishaMaleSouth Korea2012-02-18 13:32:00
United KingdomP85 - Claiming back UK tax when leaving UK permanently

I filed my P85 myself.



I didnt even know I had to file a P85 when I moved to the US. I have been resident here since November 2006 (came in under K-1), but took a redundancy in the UK in March 2006, and havent worked since then. Im assuming I wont have any tax rebate as I was made redundant at the end of the tax year 2005/06 but should I still file a P85?
thanks
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-04-15 08:26:00
United KingdomLondon interview on 31st January
forgot to add that you should allow at least 10 mins to walk to the embassy from Bryanston Hotel.

Leave your hotel, walk down to Oxford Street, turn left and then take the third (i think!) right onto North Audley Street. North Audley leads you right outside the embassy.
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-01-27 22:53:00
United KingdomLondon interview on 31st January
Hi all,

as a native Londoner I can confirm that the Bryanston isnt the Ritz or the Mandarin Oriental but it is fine for one night. I actually lived in Essex in the UK but my parents lived (still do) about 15 mins by car from Marble Arch so I stayed with them and got my father to drop me to the embassy on the morning of my appointment.

Im sure you all know what to expect but I didnt (hadnt found Visa Journey at that time), but I was very pleasantly surprised with the whole experience.

As its cold in London right now, make sure you wear something warm as you will have to queue outside the embassy for about 30 - 40 minutes. They have two lines and you are sent in according to your appointment time. They do prefer you to get there half an hour early too so everyone is lined up and ready to go in. They send you into the embassy in single file and you pass through a few security checks before you actually enter the main room.

People told me to expect to wait about 4 or so hours to be seen and have my interview - this is the reality:

0800 arrive at embassy
0830 enter embassy
0845 called to interview window
0900 called to second interview window
0902 asked two very simple questions and then informed "approved"
0905 booked visa delivery with inhouse couriers
0910 left embassy and went and had a celebratory coffee at Starbacks on Oxford Street!

I hope you all have an experience similar to mine and good luck to you all. They are very nice at the embassy so dont be frightened or nervous. If all is good with your paperwork then you should all be fine.
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-01-27 22:42:00
United KingdomMedical Today

It wasn't the medical itself that got me nervous, it was waiting for the results. No idea why, I had no reason to think there was anything wrong with my health. I guess it's just part of the process.

Glad it went ok though, good luck with the rest of your journey :)



LOL - I was exactly the same.... they were great at the medical and everything went smoothly. The doctor was lovely and the nurse was fantastic. I am needle phobic and started to sniffle when I saw the needle so she had me turn my head and honestly I didnt feel a thing. We talked about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie while she did the injections so I had something else to concentrate on. It was only when I left that I started thinking "what if I have something that I dont know about?", and "what if I have something incurable". I dont know why I worried about it at all because like Purple Hibiscus, I had no reason whatsoever to think there was anything wrong with me. I was so relieved when I got to the embassy interview and got the approval. I have to say though that I did wonder later on "what if something came up on the medical which the embassy weren't bothered about or think I already know about!?". How ridiculous is that?
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-01-28 10:24:00
United KingdomWondering which is faster?
You only send the checklist back - at least thats what my instructions told me to do. Then you gather all the relevant extra info, make your medical appt etc. I received my interview letter 2 weeks after checklist was returned, and the interview date was 2 weeks after that (1 month in total from sending checklist back).
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-01-29 20:29:00
United KingdomFav. all time food and drink in the UK
UPDATE ON WHOLE FOODS STORE !!!!

They are now doing Kerrygold, Lurpak and St Ivel butters !!!! I was in there today and spotted it in the "international cuisine" section. The Kerrygold was $3.00 but it tasted like heaven when I spread it on some Italian Semolina bread (also from Whole Foods - I have to say its the only bread that actually tastes like bread and that can make a decent sandwich - give it a go - really Ive tried them all and this is the best so far).

I also bought a jar of Branston Pickle, a jar of pickled onions, a tube of mcvities choccie digestives, olde english marmalade, and a tin of Batchelor Chip Shop Mushy Peas. Ive been chatting to a UK guy that works at this particular store and he said that he has been influencing the orders for more British food stock and it sells really well. When hula hoops are finally on the shelves, then I will truly have settled here.

Also, in case anyone doesnt know, Target has a Boots aisle. It sells No 7 mainly and Boots own brands, but great for all those little things that you were used to in the UK and didnt think you could get here. Also not too expensive either.

Oh and if anyone lives near Alexandria VA, there is a curry house called Taj Palace which does a very decent curry and very very good nan bread.
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-01-29 23:19:00
United KingdomFav. all time food and drink in the UK

Am I limited to just one? :lol:

ANYthing chocolate, preferably Galaxy. Fish and chips, Yorkshire pudding are both particularly tasty. Wish we had something like Ribena here too.

Their damn loaf bread is even better than ours. I about gorged myself on toast. :lol: Oooh and the bacon - its not that streaky ####### like we get here - its 'back' bacon. Yum yum!

BTW currys gross me out. I don't like 'weird' foods anyway (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, all that ####### grosses me out. I'm surprised I like Mexican and Italian!) but curry is particularly gross. Oddly, that's the one thing Chas thinks he's really going to miss when he moves here. :lol:



As luck would have it, my friends have recently visited and I have four GIANT bars of Galaxy in my fridge. Its just heaven knowing they are there.

I really miss UK bread (especially the stuff from my old local baker in Romford who also did cheese and onion pasties, and sausage rolls to die for). I also miss a really good curry (chicken passanda, mushroom rice, nan bread, and a stack of poppadums with mango chutney and onion - mmmm). Agree the bacon in the UK is far superior but thanks to the UK aisle at Whole Foods, Im able to do fried eggs, bacon, mushrooms and Heinz baked beans for a Saturday morning fry up. American hubby loves it and says that UK fry ups are far superior to US.

We had some friends over for a UK roast beef dinner recently and they fell in love with yorkshire puds (I dont want to boast but I can make the most superb yorkies!). They compared them to popovers??? Anyway the great british roast beef sunday dinner has two new supporters !


Whole foods has a UK isle???? Fantastic! I'm heading down there now!



I say "aisle" but more like 4 shelves !! Dont let that put you off though - it has hobnobs, bisto, marmite, heinz beans, tea bags, heinz tinned puddings (god love 'em), and a variety of condiments. Its not signposted but I think it was by the "international foods" section. You will nearly cry when you see how much a packet of hobnobs are though!! Still who cares, if it costs $20 to buy four UK items that I will treasure and enjoy then its money well spent !
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-01-27 13:35:00
United KingdomFav. all time food and drink in the UK

Am I limited to just one? :lol:

ANYthing chocolate, preferably Galaxy. Fish and chips, Yorkshire pudding are both particularly tasty. Wish we had something like Ribena here too.

Their damn loaf bread is even better than ours. I about gorged myself on toast. :lol: Oooh and the bacon - its not that streaky ####### like we get here - its 'back' bacon. Yum yum!

BTW currys gross me out. I don't like 'weird' foods anyway (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, all that ####### grosses me out. I'm surprised I like Mexican and Italian!) but curry is particularly gross. Oddly, that's the one thing Chas thinks he's really going to miss when he moves here. :lol:



As luck would have it, my friends have recently visited and I have four GIANT bars of Galaxy in my fridge. Its just heaven knowing they are there.

I really miss UK bread (especially the stuff from my old local baker in Romford who also did cheese and onion pasties, and sausage rolls to die for). I also miss a really good curry (chicken passanda, mushroom rice, nan bread, and a stack of poppadums with mango chutney and onion - mmmm). Agree the bacon in the UK is far superior but thanks to the UK aisle at Whole Foods, Im able to do fried eggs, bacon, mushrooms and Heinz baked beans for a Saturday morning fry up. American hubby loves it and says that UK fry ups are far superior to US.

We had some friends over for a UK roast beef dinner recently and they fell in love with yorkshire puds (I dont want to boast but I can make the most superb yorkies!). They compared them to popovers??? Anyway the great british roast beef sunday dinner has two new supporters !
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-01-27 12:59:00
United KingdomWhat does everyone plan to do work wise when they come to the states?
Im staying in the same field of Event Management which luckily is fairly popular here in DC. Also Ive enrolled on a Realtor course with a view to obtaining a realtor licence. They get 6% here for selling a property so I thought why not? Hopefully I can juggle the two!! I agree with the first post re office work, we've all done it and hated and this is the land of opportunity so lets do something different! Good luck with the dentistry !
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-03 23:20:00
United KingdomPanic Stations..
I convinced myself that my medical results would show something terrible and deadly. Absolutely no reason to think this but there I was, imagining all sorts of things were wrong with me and I wouldnt be clear. I also had my house on the market at the same time and trying to sell off all my bits and pieces. It is all very stressful but if you have friends and family that can help, really do use them. My mum was wonderful in showing my house when I was at work and finding homes for my pieces of furniture. You are now at the most stressful time there is and if you can get through this then everything else is much easier. Just think positively, and know that the selling of your house and belongings will all tie in with your leaving the UK, that your medical will be straightforward and nothing to worry about, and that your interview is just a matter of course.
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-10 09:09:00
United KingdomAPPROVED!!!
I have never heard of anyone being asked for their x-ray at immigration. I had mine all neatly packed in a documents case (that I paid £45 for in Debenhams!!), and no one even mentioned it when I reached DC. In fact, when I was asked to step inside the "side room" at Dulles airport when the first officer saw my K-1, I spent about 45 seconds in there before a second officer stamped me in and said "ok great - bye".
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-13 16:33:00
United KingdomWhat do you miss the most from the UK?

I miss some of the clothes shops,certain foods and Eastenders



I miss exactly the same things.....I log into the BBC website every week and you can get 2 min clips of all the eastenders episodes you have missed. It helps me keep up - Im really sad arent I :(
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-16 22:15:00
United KingdomOUT OF MY MINDER
I would love to see a showdown between old Posh and visa officials. USA virtually invented celebrity "minders" so she should have no problems with hiring a new bunch. If she loves her security detail in the UK so much then why not stay there???? Why?? because she wants to be a huge star in every country in the world. Lets face it she has exhausted the UK and people are now totally bored with Posh and Becks. She needs a new audience. Anyone want to place a bet that within a month she will be photographed on the town with Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan, and hitting the town with the new Mrs Cruise (with new US security detail in tow of course).......
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-14 20:53:00
United KingdomHow Did You Move Your Stuff?

Hello there, didnt know this place existed! Just found my way here and with questions.

All im shipping is my collection of books, dvds and cd's plus a couple of video game systems to keep me occupied while i sit around waiting for a work permit :innocent: .

I so far have packed my stuff into boxes for reams of paper to keep it neat while im sorting it out.

The question i have is mostly towards the cd's and dvd's...i have an extensive DVD collection that is worth over probably £2,000 (200 dvds at about £10 per one average) , i know people say "sell and replace in the states, it's cheaper), but i cant possibly see how that could work out? Same with my cd's?

I basically intend to take my clothes, my fiancée's clothes she left here(not a lot to be honest, i have stuff already out there), dvds and cd's and a couple of video games systems with irreplacable games. Am i doing it right? I know there is no concrete answer but my personal trinkets (photos, birth certificate, important docs, mementos) I figured to put in my suitcase for the plane, a good idea or no?

How ruthless should you be? Cutting down on my dvd's isnt really an option, althouhg i could make some chops here and there. On ebay some of my titles are going for a quid, seems silly to junk them?

Thanks for any advice,

Teddy



As nice as it is to ship all your DVDs, like you say some of the titles are going for a quid on ebay and therefore could be replaced for the same cost if you really wanted to get them back. How likely are you to watch all 200 titles on an ongoing basis? I had the largest CD collection of anyone I knew and basically realised that I listened to probably one quarter of it. Simply sold three quarters on ebay or gave to friends and family. People really believe they need all these things and I think the main reason is that you paid for the DVDs and they are a "collection". Its human nature then to be convinced that you absolutely must have all of it despite whether or not you actually watch half of them. I know people who shipped large volumes of goods, and most of those things still sit in unopened boxes in garages and attics. I was so ruthless when I moved and as I said earlier in this thread, came here with two large suitcases and two cats (not in suitcases!). Just keep the sentimental things that cannot be replaced, heirlooms, photos, jewellery, etc. As for whether you should carry trinkets and ID documents in your case, the answer is definitely NO. Carry all irreplacable paperwork with you in a binder or such, and the very personal items too. Only pack in a case what you can risk losing!!
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-25 08:08:00
United KingdomHow Did You Move Your Stuff?

excessbaggage.com sound great - I have them bookmarked just in case I do decide I need to ship a few boxes of stuff! But if the shippers J used might be worth a look.... that would be great, please! :)



Feather- J used Atlantic International.


Oops, forgot to say... thank you! :) Am currently wavering between 'taking just what I can fit in two cases' (and the Boy's case when he goes back on March 4th - naturally I will be making him take a load of dresses, girl-shoes and the like, just to entertain the airport security check people in the event they ask to look in his case :devil: :innocent: ) and 'ahhh, why don't I take a few boxes of stuff I really don't need but might conceivably miss (plus large quantities of teabags & Marmite)?'... hmm. Decisions, decisions.


The best thing about taking just two cases is that you can buy yourself the nicest two cases you can find ! I went to Selfridges in London and bought two designer ones (blue with large white flowers - lets face it you want to recognise it coming off the luggage belt, and it has four wheels so even though the cases were heavy, there was no stress on my part wheeling them around). I have not missed any of the things I didnt take (well apart from my bed!). I did love that bed - solid wood and huge. My mum is currently fostering it at her home so I still get to use it when I go back !

The irony is that I had lots of gorgeous furniture back in London and we are now moving to a lovely new house next month where it would have looked fantastic (my house in london was the size of a large postage stamp so Lord only knows how I fit everything in). I will just buy new things - thats what it comes down to. Personal possessions are more difficult but I dont think I have met anyone yet who classed their sofa as a personal possession, so travel light and know that everything will be replaced in time.
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-24 07:42:00
United KingdomHow Did You Move Your Stuff?
I dont mean to be rude but I doubt his ikea desk is worth the £580 it costs to ship !! When I came to the US from London, I went through all my paperwork and only kept what was absolutely necessary (one shoe box). I sold a lot of my clothes and personal belongings on ebay before I left, and then managed to sell all my furniture from my London home too. In the end, I came here with two large cases and also shipped my cats (each had a luxury large crate with a bed, food and water, and basically travelled pet business class whilst I was cramped in cattle class!). Any really personal items I kept or left with my mum to hold onto. I realise some people need and want to ship their belongings here, but if you dont have to, its really nice making a fresh new start without all the baggage!!
brittyFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-16 22:02:00