ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNOA 1 Today!!!
Congratulations on your NOA1!!! Lets hope you have a nice smooth happy journey good.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-11-17 01:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresN02 received...what's NEXT?
The same thing happened to us at CSC, Our petition was approved on Oct 4th 2007. but heard nothing for over a month, Last Tuesday (Nov 13th), We called the NVC again and they told us it was deemed lost and we would have to file for a duplicate. My Fiance sent off the relavant paperwork the next day and on Thursday our NOA2 arrived with a different approval date through the mail (Nov 7th).

Maybe there's a delay of somesort? Or there is a error in their Online case status. (the call person my fiance talked to had the same Oct 4th date on her screen)?

Good luck and I hope your Packet-3 comes soon! (Congrats on your NOA2)

Edited by DisneyLovers, 17 November 2007 - 06:53 PM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-11-17 18:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVISA on HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats! dancin5hr.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-11-17 04:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPacket 3 came yesterday
Our Packet 3 came yesterday!
Thanks to having to be out all day both yesterday and today I can finally start filling in the Forms smile.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-11-22 18:18:00
United KingdomLuggages...
Bags ETC usually have some good sturdy suitcases for not too much, I've bought a few of the soft cases and they've weathered up better than some of the more expensive cases I'd been borrowing from my folks, one medium I've been using for each trip I made back and forth between the UK and here that I got in store for around 12 quid, left it here for Paul when I had to go back for my interview and he's used it several times visiting me.

Plus they do some pretty distinctive designs so not easily lost.... although hubby had to explain the graffiti looking bag covered in planes hearts and who knows what else is on it was actually mine, to everyone that asked what was up with the interestingly patterned case haha. either way absolutely great case for the price.

Edited by DisneyLovers, 07 March 2009 - 11:43 PM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-03-07 23:39:00
United KingdomWedding plans and invites hell.
you could do what we did, we sent inivtes to certain family members that although we knew couldn't make it, we knew they'd want the thought of feeling of being invited, in their invites we also mentioned that we realize that the short notice may not make it possible for them to attend but once I was able to travel again we'd be planning our vow renewal in the UK and would love to have them there with us as a second wedding sort of thing. I cant remember exactly how we worded it but the feedback was good from pretty much everyone we talked to after the invites went out. my maternal grandparents said that they appreciated being thought of even though they couldn't attend and seeing their eldest granddaughter get married. Since my Grandfather passed away over christmas my Grandmother told me that getting to see his cheekiest angel renew vows/get married in the same church that they and everyone in the family had gave him another thing to try and fight the cancer for.

I know having a second wedding/renewal of vows in your home country might not be viable for some, heck even for us and this stinking economy I'm glad that the church has a waiting list for summertime weddings wink.gif gives us a chance to save some more and me some time to loose a bit more weight LOL, anyway just a suggestion to make those that cant attend not feel as left out
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-01 03:04:00
United KingdomOn the interview w/out ACPO
QUOTE (mr and mrs @ Apr 8 2009, 06:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
<turns volume down>

worrying isnt going to help you too much.


you dont have a timeline, right? so its hard to understand the situation in terms of dates and timing.

i think if you only sent it tuesday, they received thursday, and today is wednesday, they are still processing.

if you have questions, call the embassy on the expenso-phone. see if they can give you any updates.

we had a similar situation to you, I went to my interview with the old style police report and got the blue slip for the ACPO to be sent in, once it came the courier came and got it later that day and delivered it the next morning I believe (I'm thinking around the 8/9th of june last year), the next day I got the text message from SMS and it arrived the day after. Anyway my visa issue date was the 10th so as long as they're happy with the ACPO and there's not too much going on at the embassy they *should* get back to you with a decision/ your passport w/visa and that lovely heavy manila envelope wink.gif

Edited by DisneyLovers, 09 April 2009 - 03:16 AM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-09 03:12:00
United KingdomBlending US and UK wedding traditions
not sure if this is just a case of Paul's and my US pals and now in-laws, but they had no idea about the giving the bride a horseshoe with ribbons etc on it tradition that some of us Brits are used to (supposed to be good luck). I left it to mum to explain it after she gave me one whilst we were at the reception.

trying to rack my brains for more important things other than a lot of English weddings, well the ones I've been in/to in the UK dont have so many groomsmen as it seems to be normal to have here, we usually have the groom and his bestman, page boy/ring bearer and ushers. I planed to have my closest gals as my bridesmaids and Paul kept asking if I could add one more so such and such could be a groomsmen, I was like uh what now? Groomsmen?? LOL. The bridesmaids walk in on their own (besides the maid/matron of honour who walks down with the best man) in all the weddings I've been to back home. We ended up deciding to stick with doing it the US way for our wedding here and the UK way for when we go back to England to renew our vows/second wedding, pleased us both to do it that way.
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-09 23:05:00
United Kingdomissues getting packet 3 and check list to embassy.
if you dont hear anything back from them, Id get in contact with your local congress person, we spent the better part of 7 months of sending in packets to the embassy in London and calling them to get the wait 6 weeks and send it again spiel, Paul called his local congress woman and she had me send Paul the dates of when I sent each packet (thank goodness I'd scanned in the checklist and everything they had sent in packet 3 before hand), and followed it up with the embassy in London, they had me send in another packet of forms and the embassy faxed Paul's congresswoman when it arrived there. it all went nice and smooth after that, had my medical and visa interview a few weeks later biggrin.gif The congresswoman knew my interview date a few days after they recieved my packet and got her receptionist to call Paul so he could let me know LOL.

Needless to say we likey our congresswoman, very very nice lady biggrin.gif so yes get in contact with your local congress person if the wait goes on more than a few months, we just wish we had sooner smile.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-13 22:27:00
United KingdomCreme Eggs -- How do you eat yours?
QUOTE (JeremyR @ Apr 13 2009, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've also had a Cadbury Orange Creme Egg too, never saw those in Britain...

I remember having Terry's Chocolate orange egg and spoon eggs from ASDA about 4 or 5 years ago, they came in a egg crate kind of packaging with a little plastic spoon to boot, maybe cadburys couldn't compete to the heavenly goodness those were back in the UK, Im sure Ive seen them in ASDA and TESCOS for the past few years since, another thing to add to the list of mum get me these and store them for us until july list, my suitcase is probably going to be chocker full of hmm guess what..... chocolate LOL

Edited by DisneyLovers, 13 April 2009 - 10:08 PM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-13 22:04:00
United Kingdomunfriendly brits in SoCal
I've given up on finding a good chippie here let alone a nice pub that doesn't have everyone looking at me funny because i dont drink alcohol coming into a pub. Paul said there used to be a good chippy over near the Manhattan Beach mall yonks ago but it closed and theres a hairdresser there now sad.gif

on a side note after we gave up looking for a chippie in the beach city area I got a bag of oven fries and soaked them in malt vinegar for a few hours before I wanted them, they weren't quite the same being done in the oven but had the taste just right, now we need to perfect the texture, will always boggle me as to how they go all mmm englishy as they do back home. I miss Robinsons Chippy back in Chelmsford, grew up being treated to Robinsons chips, nothing has ever compared sad.gif

Edited by DisneyLovers, 09 March 2009 - 03:32 AM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-03-09 03:31:00
United KingdomCar Insurance
QUOTE (Nik+Heather @ Apr 16 2009, 03:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey guys,

State Farm tells me to add Nik as a driver I need the UK equivalent of a Motor Vehicle Report - something which lists all driving offenses (she mentioned specifically major accidents and DUIs...) Do any of you know what such a thing is called over there - and how to get it?

Someone mentioned in this thread that they had their insurance company fax something to their new insurance company, but Nik says he's been through several companies, and I think it would be cleaner to just have some official government type thing to hand over (if you have it).

Thanks!


not sure if this helps but back when we looked at hiring a car while I was here on the visa waiver doo-dah, they asked for the same thing, presumably they should accept a photocopy of Nik's paper counterpart of his license as that's from my understanding where any points would be added to a license of someone that had been naughty and gotten charged of driving offenses, DUI's etc would definitely incur penalties and fines. although Im not sure how the on-the-spot speeding tickets work out as far as documentation wise (I've never had any dealings with points aside from helping dad remove his old speeding violations from yonks ago).
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-17 00:01:00
United Kingdomswine flu
Told Paul to stay away from germy people at work... great fun trying to to that as he works at LAX, just thank goodness he's not in the Tom Bradley terminal anymore, no going near the mexican flights for him if he can help it wink.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-27 18:35:00
United KingdomTHAT miserable receptionist at Bentick Mansions
that must have been the same evil woman who continuously told me I couldn't schedule an appointment with them unless I had my interview date with the Embassy set and to hand last year. although calling back about 20 mins later I got a nicer more friendly lady to arrange an appointment, luckily I managed to avoid evil woman at my medical although the blonde doctor I saw wasn't much nicer on the day, especially when she couldn't work out her math on what year I had surgery on my feet rolleyes.gif

Lucky thing I didn't speak to the misery lady or I would have wanted to throttle her, after all the arg we went through finding a black hole in the embassy office (had to send numerous packet 3's to them and get Paul's congresswoman involved to find out if they had received them), and tell her that the congresswoman had helped us get an interview at the Embassy just over a week after my medical. although I did see her pulling roll eyes faces when I came to pay for my medical and explained that my interview was the Friday after, I head her comment as I walked out something along the lines of Pfft.. it probably wouldn't be there on time because of the medical. all I can guess is she didn't have anything to do with transferring my medical report from there to the embassy tongue.gif

Stinky evil witch needs counseling in public relations me thinks!
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-08 00:58:00
United KingdomQuick question
QUOTE (rebeccajo @ May 15 2009, 12:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Do we have any couples who recently BOTH (USC/UKC) went to the interview?

We went together in late 2005. I recall reading (about a year or so ago) that London wasn't allowing USC's in for K1 interviews......


Paul attended my interview at the Embassy in London with me in may 2008, he was only asked to show his passport and was let straight in with me. We actually saw quite a few couples go in without pre-permission for the USC to enter, the guard who let us in said as long as they are the petitioner they can accompany you in.

Something unrelated but funny in a weird way is, Paul has gone to that interview and the AOS one with me and we've never been asked the normal grilling questions about our relationship even how we met, our IO at the K1 stage just talked about the police check changing and getting that sorted and the IO at AOS just talked on about the FEBlue program on Blue shield medical after looking at our insurance cards and about Pauls then recent promotion and if I was in a hurry to look for work. Paul and I were discussing this the other day and still are bemused for the non-grilling although we dont mind of course...

... now back to topic wink.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-15 15:35:00
United KingdomUK police certificate ? and 156 ?
I know it sounds odd but has he tried asking his neighbours that are in one of the professions listed on the forms? (if he's lived there for 2 years etc), I had my neighbour that works for part of the police that deals with background checks and he signed mine for me even though we didn't speak regularly. He still said it's acceptable as he'd see me out and about etc.
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-17 16:01:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
QUOTE (Nik+Heather @ May 22 2009, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Just in case you guys don't make it over to the general polls section about cereal,

Some of you UKers might like this link: http://www.weetabixu.../wheretobuy.php


ohh thanks for the heads up, may have to go find some, must have covered in honey num num num

on the food note, I found the Crumpets in Trader Joes, they're err not bad just not like the ones we get back home, not as fluffy or thick and not hmm holey? in the top so have to stab them with a knife too make biggeer holes for butter/jam to seep into the middle.... or if you're weird like me, I like mine with marmite on top (I knew shoving the biggest jar of marmite into my suitcase before we left was a good idea, cant even remember how much it was in Sainsburys but the jars not even as big as the one I have go up to around 20$ for a piddley little jar, I think Im going to stuff my second suitcase with more jars if we do get to go back in August wink.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-22 22:20:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
QUOTE (Damian P @ Apr 16 2009, 08:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (mr and mrs @ Apr 16 2009, 10:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
and damian, are you posting these recommendations as you discover them? is this a meal by meal account of your days in the us? did you have a reuben for lunch and a steak with a-1 sauce for dinner? : D


I'm listing them as I discover and/or remember them. And I remember ruebens and A1 from my time out here before smile.gif.

And how can I possibly not list this little gem: RANCH DRESSING!!!!!!!!!! star_smile.gif I remember an episode of The Simpsons where Homer fantasises that he's a Sheikh in a harem. He claps his hands and orders one of his ladies to bring him his ranch dressing hose! I want a ranch dressing hose. It's amazing.


I second the ranch dressing, Paul likes it too but neither of us are fond of some brands overpowering garlic aftertaste/breath LOL
and as pringles are trans fat free here, I'll happily gobble down the ranch bacon flavour all night long if allowed to hehe

on the sandwich note, cant beat a good Monte cristo! my fav to have at disneyland in the New Orleans french quarter... yum!



very nommable but we end up sharing one order or pay the price, and of course have fun trying not to get covered in powdered sugar whistling.gif

And Marm, poked mumsy she's going to write out her recipe for the pasties for me in a few days... they went powerboating/classes over the weekend so is to knackered to look for her handwritten recipe book, (powerboating? alright for some eh?) will post it as soon as she sends me it, Im plannning on making Paul and I the lamb and mint ones she makes, I cant be left in a room alone with those though, something about lamb, mint and green potatoes (from the mint) that is just irresistible when wrapped up in nice warm pastry biggrin.gif

Edited by DisneyLovers, 16 April 2009 - 11:40 PM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-16 23:36:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
QUOTE (MARM @ Apr 15 2009, 02:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for the recommendations DisneyLovers!
and yes! yes.gif the crisps are called KP skips! I remembered the package but not the name. I myself don't like prawns at all...but my fiance seems to really like them. I know...I have found them online but yet to find them in stores here.
Oh and PLEASE post the recipe for the Cheese and onion pasties...would really appreciate it! yes.gif
Darn...I hope someone can help me find some good Coconut Macaroons...
Thanks once again!


I dont like seafood or fish but I found that the make a kind of pickled onion flavour so going to have to hunt those down online, on the macaroon front are there any speciality stores in your area? we've found a handfull of brit owned ones that are pretty reasonably priced with a wide range of nom noms between them


QUOTE (MARM @ Apr 15 2009, 02:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh...why couldn't there be a Sainsbury's here in good ol' Illinois? Lucky you! star_smile.gif

Do they do online ordering at the one in LA?

Im not sure but will make sure once I poke Paul enough to go down there that we'll ask, I cant see a website but they may do phone orders, who knows...
I did find out that it's a cafe with a small store off to the side and they do deliver food so maybe they can be coaxed into sending sweets and other stuff
one of the gals I had as a bridesmaid sent me this link to their menu so hmm now Im hungry and will probably want to go over there within the next few weeks lol

Edited by DisneyLovers, 15 April 2009 - 04:27 AM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-15 04:22:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
Hit save on the edit too quick before I remembered this...

In LA there's actually a sainsbury's owned by a brit couple/family from what I've heard on good authority from a friend, a bit more expensive than regular supermarket/stores but worth it for the home comforts, I know they have a wide selection of sweets and sandwiches, and soft drinks, will have to poke Paul to go down there on our next errand days wink.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-15 03:59:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
QUOTE (MARM @ Apr 15 2009, 12:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ok guys, need some help smile.gif

My fiance seems to really enjoy the following ( of course I don't plan on feeding him junk, but it would be nice if I could find these same things here in the USA for him)

1.) Sainsbury's Scotch Pancakes
2.) Sainsbury's Coconut Macaroons
3.) Cheese and onion pasties
4.) And I can't remember the name...but they are prawn/seafood flavored crisps...in the shape of pinwheels blink.gif or something like that...

Would really appreciate if you guys could recommend substitutes for these UK snacks here in the USA...or if there is a place I can find them here in the USA????


for the scotch pancakes, they are basically the same as what everyone here refers to as pancakes, just a bit bigger in circumference and warmed up wink.gif

and on the coconut macaroons, I know the 99cent store has similar, but not exactly the tastiest..

for the cheese and onion pasties you might be better off making your own at home (if you'd like I'll poke mum for her recipe, Paul loves her's LOL), Ive not come across any pasties that Ive actually cared for in our neck of the woods, even the British store's ones are a bit too processed for my liking sad.gif

were the crisps called KP Skips? Ive so far only found them online, dont care for the prawn cocktail ones but seem to remember they did a limited edition flavour that I did like, but thats another story lol

Edited by DisneyLovers, 15 April 2009 - 03:50 AM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-15 03:46:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
QUOTE (elmcitymaven @ Apr 13 2009, 07:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I might have been hallucinating, but I think I saw crumpets in Trader Joe's recently.


Then I know where Im stopping first when we next go to see Paul's folks biggrin.gif thanks for the tip off wink.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-14 02:34:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
on the miracle whip side, Paul bought some when it was on sale, unbeknown to me it tasted fowl and even worse when I tried to make egg salad with it, I took one bite after making the egg salad and wanted to hurl, paul finished it all off by himself. But then again he'll eat pretty much anything O_o silly boy stuck his pinky in my jar of marmite so then again maybe not everything by the face he pulled rofl.gif

has anyone found any *good* crumpets out here? or am I going to have to go practice making my own? (and probably end up wanting to scream)
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-13 21:36:00
United KingdomFed up!
QUOTE (sammills89 @ Jun 28 2009, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's insane! 10months?! Well I'm glad to hear your congresswoman finally sorted it. We did contact the NJ member of conrgess, but got nothing back, at all. Any idea what you sent to them to get them moving?

I seem to remember Paul phoning the congresswoman's office and getting a fax number, I cant find the letter he wrote out but went along the lines of explaining our situation and how we'd gotten our approval notice on such and such date and received the packet at my address and I'd sent it off days later and never heard anything back, stating when we'd set out our wedding date and travel dates for, the usual thanking for help and any assistance on finding out what was going on at the embassy to hold us up would be appreciated. Two days later Paul got a letter back from our congresswoman telling us that she's inquired on our behalf and found that as of that time they hadn't received my packet 3 and asking us for the dates when I'd sent out the most recent copy of my packet 3. And if I could to send out another. As soon as I'd sent out another packet 3 and Paul had replied by fax she was already onto checking if they'd got the latest packet. I'd booked my medical for May 23rd and by the time I was off the phone organizing that, I got a call from Paul telling me that the Congresswoman had her receptionist phone him to tell us my interview was for a week after my medical.

You should be able to find the office address/number/fax number for your congress person by looking them up on this site and you can look up not just your local congress rep on there but senators too.. I learnt something new woo LOL. Anyway hope that helps, if you need to contact them just explain exactly what you applied for, when and dates of when forms/packets were sent off and when you hope to have your wedding/travel dates. I think that's about all she asked for info-wise. Huge hugs, hope you'll be on your way to the inteview in no time star_smile.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-28 17:49:00
United KingdomFed up!
QUOTE (sammills89 @ Jun 28 2009, 02:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So I just read what you said about contacting a congressman (or woman) about an 'unfair denial'. This is the first I have heard about something like this, and it could be quite useful in the future - hopefully not however. I've tried to approach the interview from every possible angle in order to increase the chances of a positive outcome - but you never know unfortunately! Yeah hopefully we wont have to wait that long, my boss is asking me every day at work when I'm leaving (thankfully he means it in a nice way!). Currently writing a letter to the embassy as advised smile.gif

Sam.


Family and friends of ours had suggested to us to contact our congresswoman after not hearing back after sending in packet 3, we apparently found the blackhole in the embassies office, but then we'd sent off multiple packet 3's exactly 6 weeks apart (that's what were were told to do by the extortion line who kept telling me that our file wasn't there or hadn't been processed yet) from nov 07 all the way round to may 08, when it got to sending the last packet off Paul had already contacted our local congresswoman and she was faxing the top guy at the embassy in London to fax her back as soon as they'd received my paperwork, funny how they would tell me naff all on the phone but a few faxes from our congresswoman shifted them into gear, she knew my interview date as soon as they'd assigned it.

Getting your congress-person involved can help, for us we were waiting 10 months for our interview after our approval had been forwarded from the NVC. At the time she could find out a lot more than we could, we dont know weather she pushed for an earlier interview or not, but our interview was like most really anti-climatic and I'm not sure how many have never had the how did you meet etc questions at all, just the normal form questions "have you done this this or this.." Like I said our wait time was 10 months of us both going nuts missing each other and we only contacted our congresswoman out of the fact our timeline was way out of range for the time.
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-28 16:17:00
United KingdomFed up!
ours didn't go by our wedding date we'd put in on the forms either, aside from the help from our congresswoman to find out where the multiple packet 3's Id sent in had vanished to, we'd put my travel dates as June 20th on the last copy of packet 3 that I submitted as that was the day Paul would be traveling back to LAX (he'd already planned to come over from may 30th - june 20th. I sent my last set of forms for packet 3 in on the 20th of may'ish and paul got a phone call from our congresswoman 2-3 days later informing him that our interview was set for the 5th of june. but then with the help from our congresswoman, I guess that put's us out of the normal grouping for P3 turn-around days, still they knew our wedding date wasn't until Aug 2nd... so I'd personally say your travel dates have more of an influence plus nudging from congress always helps wink.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-23 00:00:00
United KingdomI Friggin' Love Marmite ...
QUOTE (Miss Jess @ Jul 7 2009, 02:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I LOVE the Paddington adverts smile.gif

Out of interest has anyone tries Marmite crisps yet? I still haven't seen them on sale anywhere but I'm intrigued...

Ive had them in the past, not quite the same taste as marmite but still good in a way, at least the first few were. dunno, I think walkers dropped the ball on those, I much prefer the lamb and mint ones they did.
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-07 05:21:00
United KingdomLondon Embassy Youtube
QUOTE (elmcitymaven @ Jul 5 2009, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Or Argos.

I was thinking the same thing..

When did they do away with letting you leave camera's and such at the security booth? I remember forgetting to leave my mobile at home and leaving that and my camera with them in a little cubby at the booth. other than that yup exactly the same as I remembered
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-07-05 14:59:00
United KingdomBCG vaccine and tb test
QUOTE (Boiler @ Aug 22 2009, 08:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Everybody from the UK tests positives, I had a little scare until I remembered that.


Not everyone does, a percentage of us that had the BCG don't. My Dr here did titers at the AOS stage for the other vaccinations my previous dr had lost records of and did a TB skin test at the same time, mine came up negative, and seem to remember others on here testing negative too smile.gif anyway no TB test at the medical besides a chest X-ray like others have said.

Edited by DisneyLovers, 23 August 2009 - 01:43 AM.

DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-08-23 01:42:00
United KingdomEngland Trip
Paul and I got back the other day laden with suitcases full of yummy foods and chocolate up to the eyeballs lol, We had a wonderful time and went to Colchester Zoo with my parents and brothers and closest cousins and had a blast. And spending a day out on my parents speedboat out at Brightlingsea, going up to Wivenhoe and then round to Clacton.. I think my Dad's on his 20th childhood after the cars and now boats LOL. Ooh and we went to Tiptree which has the most awesome jam factory so I stocked up on Loganberry jam and Paul got some of their mustard and other condiments, just wish they had a tasting area wink.gif We also did lots of exploring Ipswich and here there and everywhere really and catching up with family which is always fun. And as always coming back here it's not the places I miss, it's my family but we're concocting a plan to get at least my parents out here for christmas, which is going very nicely as we already have Dad looking at airfare devil.gif

On the way back here however got really annoyed with being made to sit in the secondary review area of Tom Bradley terminal being asked really stupid questions. Sad that a genuine silly human error of miscounting days has made customs send me to secondary for a good hour and a half on top of the time standing in line sad.gif

I don't mind being questioned really, I honestly offer up the info of my accidental overstay and the fact that it was only 1 day over (more like mere hours). but still get treated like a criminal and the customs staff were horrendous, making snide comments about other travelers and a lot of racist remarks that I'd rather never hear again. I know they are doing a job to keep illegals and dangerous people out etc but they were so disrespectful it made Paul and myself feel terrible for those in secondary having to hear and see their behavior. Especially as Paul knows some of the officers that switched across from TSA over to Customs, just glad it wasn't his old colleagues acting up so that I wont feel so bad when I sit down (when not so tired) to right a formal complaint. Making sure I include the asinine way they held me there in 07 for seven and a half hours without letting me use the bathroom, until I was taken to the back for an in-depth interview and had to beg the officer to let me go. He let me use the staff bathrooms only because of it being "that" time of the month. If it hadn't have been before my interview at the embassy I would have complained sooner. Apparently until I get citizenship they are always going to haul me off to their tiny uncomfortable, un-private area where you are all treated horribly (even when some I saw had been mistaken for someone else customs were after). I know I made a mistake back in 07 and I don't withhold the information when going through customs, in fact I carry the paperwork from that with me whenever I travel.

But I agreed to not try to use the VWP and I stayed in the UK until I got my visa and I applied and got my AOS sorted asap so as to not have been out of status at any point. We have done everything by the book aside from that one silly mistake, that even the customs officer that did my interview back then said was silly and wished that they could avoid the whole port parole thing. I took the repercussions of my mistake and have tried to get past it but I'm never going to like customs and their love of reminding me, just makes me sad.

Sorry I don't mean to rant just disappointed with the whole customs thing. But we had a great time and are adjusting back to LA time gradually whilst trying to keep all the chocolate from melting whistling.gif in other words munching on it whilst we try to stop ourselves from melting at the same time.
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-26 18:27:00
United KingdomEngland Trip
QUOTE (John and Camie @ Sep 14 2009, 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
laughing.gif John LOVES Southern California, meanwhile I'm the one who misses England. Life in SoCal is awesome ... but it's completely different than life in Colchester and Brightlingsea, where we spent our time.


Aww I miss Colchester! Paul loved Colchester when my parents and I took him there, and I pretty much grew up in my dad's garage office on Cowdray Ave, and would walk into town from there, although not walked that long way for years O_o LOL

Paul and I headed off to LAX tomorrow.. nothing new there for him as he works there but the reason for the airport venture.. We're flying out tues afternoon to England! going to spend 9 days with my folks in Braintree and meet up with friends where I grew up in Chelmsford. My folks have a boat out in Brightlinsea so I know where one of the more sunny days will be spent haha. anyway off to go finish packing, and compile the rest of my wants list for stuff to bring back biggrin.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-09-15 02:57:00
United KingdomPostal strike??!?!
From the postal strike in 07, the post office "Lost" 3 of the 4 copies of Packet 3 that I had sent in, and two were via SD, the post office claimed the 2 SD items had been delivered and the Embassy claimed to never have received anything, until Paul contacted our congresswoman and she got the Embassy to get on looking for the missing packets. and they finally got the last packet I sent.

I highly recommend making several copies of your Packet 3 before sending it just in case with the postal strike going on.
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-14 00:16:00
United KingdomTime frame for legally staying in the United Kingdom
Congrats Marm! about time for the Embassy to get in gear for you both!
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-10 15:33:00
United KingdomTime frame for legally staying in the United Kingdom
QUOTE (MARM @ Jun 10 2009, 04:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Good news dancin5hr.gif dancin5hr.gif dancin5hr.gif !!!!!!!

We got the passport back from the UKHO today!!!
2 days from faxing letters of complaint to every UKHO post we knew, we GOT IT!!!

Now moving on to arranging courier service with the US Embassy...

kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
Woohoo Marm! so glad things are finally moving on for you both, I've been voodoo'ing the evil passport holders for you... my voodoo dolly can rest again for a while now hehe biggrin.gif So happy for you both!
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-11 01:58:00
United KingdomTime frame for legally staying in the United Kingdom
Congrats Marm! so glad that part of your process has been sorted and can concentrate on other things biggrin.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-23 04:41:00
United KingdomBritish Airways Strike!
My parents are due to board their plane to LAX in 3 and a half hours, they know their outbound trip to stay for the holidays with us is set to go as scheduled but they may end up staying with us into the new year if their flight on the 29th gets canceled.. good thing my dad owns his business and doesn't open back up until the 2nd which he can leave his manager to do and that we have enough space to accommodate them for longer if need be, I'm sure my Mum is hoping that their home bound flight gets pushed back so she can go to Disneyland for a few more days. but hopefully they wont get too affected going home. the past few times we've flown the cabin crew seemed like butlins party reps more than cabin crew, Im not saying it's not a taxing tiring job but they always have seemed to enjoy what they do when we've flown.. no wonder if they're getting 2x what virgin staff get huh.gif
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-15 03:33:00
United KingdomMissing home
We did the same thing as Rito, I came out and stayed for a few 3-month visits, met a lot of Paul's friends and met up again with some of our mutual friends from a game we all used to play. It made it a lot easier for me to come over and not feel as homesick, actually I still haven't felt homesick in the way of missing things or places, just family I miss, 2 months after we married my grandfather was diagnosed with Aggressive Non-Hodgkin s lymphoma and I couldn't get AP quick enough to go back to see him before he passed away, but the network of friends Paul helped me build up helped no end. And we've since been back to the UK for a little visit and got to stock up on hugs and make lots of memories with family, enough to tide us over till June or July probably when we hope to go back for another visit. I also get to talk to my parents a lot on MSN/Yahoo and on the phone and I spent a good 5 1/2 months talking them into coming out here and staying with us over Christmas, We're lucky Paul has a good gov' job and we can live comfortably on a single income and not have to worry about me taking my time getting sorted with where to go next with my nursing, for that I know I'm extremely lucky. We've just bought our first car together and we moved to a bigger apartment and I'm determined to tackle my problem of getting lost on grid-like roads, (something about it disorientates me coming off freeways) and get back to driving. although I can easily walk to our nearest shops easily and I've even walked all the way from here to the beach before back when we were in our tiny apartment when I got stir crazy.

mini tangent over.. if he's homesick for foods and such, you can easily bring back dry packed foods when you plan to visit the UK, my folks packed their suitcase up with yummies like a huge jar of Branston pickle and chocolates and sweets you can only seem to get there and had no problem getting them through customs. even without transport walking to places can do a world of good if you have that cooped up feeling as it'll take you longer than driving and keep you out and about for longer, plus it's great exercise and those lovely endorphins that go with vigorous exercise (love that it's cool enough here to jog places in the mornings still). The sadness might just be a phase, I know after the newness wears off I got pretty fed up of people not being able to say or spell "Gemma" just because it was something I could pinpoint as being frustrating and doing that made it worse, only way around it was going back to getting Paul to help spell out my name as for some reason certain people hear the British accent and get the deer in the headlights effect and are oblivious as to what I'm saying and adapting the way I pronounce letters and such. Hopefully it is just a phase before he adjusts more.
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-01-08 05:20:00
United KingdomBritish/Scottish recipes
Occasionally, and I mean rarely our Albertsons has good quality minced/ground lamb and not the jimmy-dean sausage packed stuff either, so peeved we didn't buy more and put it in the freezer last time they had some.

As far as Tea, im not a big tea drinker, I prefer iced tea to hot, but landed a big box of PG Tips from Mum as my parents were staying with us for Christmas and brought a big box with them, and I spent the last morning with them and Paul nattering away whilst scanning pages from her M&S cook books (cookies an Christmas dishes)
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-31 03:32:00
United KingdomDoctor Who geeks: Anyone going to Gallifrey 2010 in LA?
We usually go, well hubby usually works the con but they moved it a week later this year.. right onto our original anniversary. Last year was my first convention and was a blast working in guest relations (getting to swoon over Kai and Gareth from torchwood was nice too). Bummer is hubby's evil ex-gf works the office, we'd already planned spending the weekend at Disneyland or I'd be having so much fun tormenti.. I mean saying hello to her (I'm not evil I swear).

Anyway have fun, most there are really nice and the artist pannel is always good to go look at ;)
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-02-09 06:01:00
United KingdomPeople between NOA2 and Interview ~2009~
QUOTE (paul. @ Apr 21 2009, 02:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
CR-1 interview on Tuesday, 28th at 0830hrs. Should I get there stupid early? Also, anyone know a cheap way to get train tickets, I'm looking at 60 quid return from Colchester!

we couldn't find any cheaper than that last year unless you have a young persons rail card and it takes a certain percent off, but you have to get your tickets on the day so no being able to save by booking online or anything unsure.gif and you'd have to leave before 9am so no cheap day return option either, we left from braintree and got charged about 60 for both of us to go before 9am

as for being there early, we got there for our 8.30 app at around 7.50 fiddled around a bit and joined the queue around 8.15, and we were second on the non-immigrant visa list thing that looks like you've walked into an up-market Argos LOL, they say no more than 30mins before your app to be there but that early the line wasn't that long, nor was it at whatever time we got out of the embassy either
DisneyLoversFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-23 04:58:00