biggish data

paying for the K1 visa fee

They explain it a ton of times to keep you on the bloody phone

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-13 19:07:00

CD with chest x-ray...

Yeah I thought the exact same thing, but the Embassy gave me the CD and told me to hand it over at POE.

Ok, another thing not to worry about

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-30 17:09:00

CD with chest x-ray...

I forgot to hand it over at POE O'Hare, and she never asked me for it. I've heard from other POE'ers

that they never got asked either.

I suppose I'll just get RFE'd later on if they need it?

Throughout the K1 process every little bump in the road would have me in a nervous wreck, but now I am just in for the ride

Nich-Nick was right

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-30 16:29:00

Shipping from the UK to the USA?

The lady at Manchester took pity on me and instead of the 70 quid fee she waived the overweight fee ( I just had to pay excess at #35

She said: Congratulations on your wedding, consider this an early present

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-31 13:24:00

Shipping from the UK to the USA?

I wish I knew how to send something surface mail - it must be cheaper than DHL et al?

I've had parcels (big ones!) from the US that have taken weeks to get here and have come surface mail... so surely its possible to send a large parcel via surface for cheaper than via airmail?

2.5 kg box measuring 40 x 30 x 20 will cost me £35 to send to the US via parcel2go. Ow.

Edit: Done some research, and surface mail probably wouldn't be much cheaper. Guess I'll bite the bullet. Cheaper than another suitcase...probably.

Edited by David And Katie, 21 July 2011 - 06:28 AM.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-21 06:23:00

Shipping from the UK to the USA?

I'm in the same boat (pardon the pun) however my view is if I can avoid re-purchasing items (that I can't really sell while I'm in the UK) then I'll avoid it.

There's a lot of my ham radio equipment that I can't sell and rebuy because the chances of re-buying a good model (most of it is pre-owned) is slim.

Parcel2go were offering £40 for 8kg or so to the US.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-19 15:47:00

Any of y'all homesick?

Went to Meijer the other day (midwestians will know...) and went to the "foreign" food aisle.

Everything in the British section was SO overpriced. I mean I understand that a: it has to be imported (mostly) and b: it has a "cool" factor of being foreign which immediately adds about 50% to the price, but $8 for a SMALL 125g jar or Marmite? Sod off!

I told my dad this and bless him he went out and bought some marmite, digestives and hobnobs to send in a care package! D'oh.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-08-05 22:06:00

Any of y'all homesick?

Milky Way here are similar but not the same, and the Mars Bars at Walmart are nothing like Mars Bars

Milky Ways in the UK are different to the US Milky Ways, I think.

US Mars Bars are nothing like UK Mars Bars, but I suppose the nearest thing to a Mars is a US Milky Way.. got it? Good, cuz I haven't.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-26 12:25:00

Any of y'all homesick?

I thought a Mars bar was a Milky Way in the US. Has he tried one of those? I miss Crunchie bars and I only met them last summer.

Yeah, Mars Bars are Milky Ways but you can get American Milky Ways too.

It's weird.

I am going to bring a multi-pack of Mars bars with me (watch them get confiscated at CBP

)

Mmmm, Crunchies. The future Mrs David loves Dairy Milk with Crunchie bits in

That stuff ROCKS.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-25 10:58:00

Packing up and heading back

Ok thanks. I am just starting on that journey (we just got married)

so it's a whole new world to gen up on.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-08-17 19:26:00

Packing up and heading back

Surely his 10yr GC lets him back in the country...? The US that is.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-08-17 13:17:00

somebody PLEASE tell me I do not have to apply to UK to export my cat!

You can email it in.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-05-31 16:14:00

International Wire Money Transfer

I signed up with FairFX and got a pre-loaded mastercard with my amount on it. Just bought myself a pan set as a wedding present with it.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-31 13:23:00

Debt in the UK when you move to the USA?

I'm flying with AA out of Manchester...

Luckily Mrs David helped me out with the CC bill (it was the flight that racked the bill up) and I just managed to get it paid off this month.

I can reduce the phone bill down to £15 a month for four months, but that's still money I'd rather not have to pay.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-21 06:20:00

Debt in the UK when you move to the USA?

I thought about sticking two fingers up to O2 (my cell provider) but I am not in the position of leaving a house that I occupy on my own. My parents still live here and they still use O2 for broadband internet.

So .. I think morally (!) and legally I ought to buy myself out of the contract, even though I'd rather not. I will try and use the "O2 don't provide a service in the US..." angle though.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-19 15:48:00

Debt in the UK when you move to the USA?

I paid off my CC before I left.

I also have my cell phone contract to buy myself out of (only 4 months left).

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-19 13:39:00

In NJ it was discretionary whether the BMV officer would require me to pass a road test after the written test. When I reached the 80% pass mark on question 41 of 50, she decided I probably knew what I was doing.

Also, NJ wouldn't have required me to take a separate motorcycle test, as I had a UK licence for both cars and bikes. But I had made a promise to the wife, so I didn't take advantage of that.

Indiana is quite "liberal" when it comes to applying laws, (I used quotation marks because we all know its a "Conservative" state), but they've recenetly gotten tougher on drivers licences, so I don't think I'll get away with just flashing my UK licence.

It's all the stop signs that bug me - we don't have them in the civilized world, except on blind junctions - 99% of other junctions are give ways (yields), so having a stop sign at nearly ever intersection over in the US is annoying!

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-08-30 14:17:00

Awesome, thanks..

The wife works in Valpo (at one of the hotels in town).

I'm reluctant to go for my IN DL just yet, mainly because I don't want to have to take another driving test - how is the Indiana test? What did you have to do for it ?

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-08-26 15:46:00

We just changed her name officially at the SS office, and we're going to the BMV to get her DL changed too (for a fee). I think then we'll go up to the insurance agent and see what happens to her rates.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-08-26 12:20:00

You need insurance, definitely.

I'm not sure if I can be added onto her policy though, and once we're married she has to stop using her parent's insurance anyway (she has her own car, but her mother has the insurance policy in her name).

So I guess that would be the chance to add me onto the new policy (and woohoo, another bill to pay).

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-28 13:16:00

Thanks everyone...

The heat index today over there is 42C ... the temp is still set to be high on Friday and who knows until when! I thought it was hot in the UK!

I will slowly work on getting my name on bank statements and whatnot in the mean time and get my SSN (not really required for adding myself to a bank from what I've read...).

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-27 17:42:00

Thanks NN. Yeah, I mistakenly got an IDP after someone gave me some duff info [this was last year sometime]. I was told it was needed in order to get insurance on hire cars in the US. £5 down the drain, but I've gotten used to throwing money at this whole situation

Ok, I'll drive on my UK licence until then, and in the meantime gather the evidence that the BMV needs to issue a DL (Lawful status, identity, residency and SSN).

I've lost the will to live reading through their website so I will be productive and actually go down there and talk to someone next week.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-27 08:49:00

Hi folks,

There's various interpretations on this, and I think (know?) it varies state by state.

I can't find a definitive answer, and short of calling Indiana BMV (I'm not that anxious to know), I wondered if anyone here had some info.

I know if I were a visitor or a tourist, I could use my UK licence for up to a year, but I've read anecdotally on here that you're only allowed to drive for 30 days on a foreign licence, if you have a visa (immigrant visa?).

The BMV (Indiana must be the only state not to use DMV) says this:

The United States signed an agreement with many other countries to honor a foreign driver license for visitors to the United States for at least one year from the date of arrival. This privilege is made possible as a result of the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic (Geneva, 1949), and the Convention on the Regulation of American Automotive Traffic (Washington, 1943), both of which have been ratified by the United States.

An out-of-country driver's license cannot be used for identification purposes. You do not have to surrender an out-of-country license if you are issued an Indiana driver's license, permit, or identification card.

If you have an out-of-country driver's license and intend to become a resident of Indiana or meet Indiana residency requirements, you must pass the vision screening test, written knowledge test, and driving skills test to obtain an Indiana driver's license.

All documents proving your identity, Social Security number, lawful status, and Indiana residency will be verified through a central verification process. The BMV will issue an interim license, valid for 30 days, authorizing the holder to drive pending authentication of documents submitted to BMV.

Anyone know for definite?

I'll be in country soon enough and with time on my hands, so its no problem to walk to the BMV - it's only a 2 mile walk.

David.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-07-27 07:44:00

New to this. Help appreciated

Read, read, read and don't make any plans for a wedding until you have a visa.

Seconded. Thirded, and fourth...ded.

We made concrete plans for a VERY expensive wedding, and the stress of IF I'd get the visa or not nearly killed me.

I say WE made plans.. but.. yeah.

Good luck

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-08-26 22:53:00

My Birth Certificate Only Has My Moms name On It

Thank you for your help guys. I think at this stage in the game you just start to worry about every little detail!

Don't worry about worrying - I think most of us worried to death over every little problem at that stage! Just TRY and relax and go with it. (easier said than done, I KNOW).

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-08-26 12:27:00

Why did you decide to make the move to the USA and not the other way?

Well Katie had always wanted to live in England, but I think it was a romantic, Hugh Grant Notting Hill, The Vacation, Wimbledon kind of England that doesn't exist anywhere except Hollywood.

I love the UK and Britain will always be the motherland for me, but I cannot stand the amount of people here, the chavs, the never ending population, the traffic, the weather, the pressure, the unfettered immigration, the fact you can't get away from it all, ever, anywhere. Remove the people from the UK and it would be a really, really nice place.

It was also a money thing - I didn't have a job at the time, and there was no way I could afford to support us both, nevermind move into our own place. I live in Manchester, but house/flat/one room and an outside loo would be way too expensive. She didn't have a great job, but she has a better one now with prospects and we are going to move into our own place as soon as possible (she is still at home now).

So, really it was a no-brainer. Leaving my folks and family will be hard, as will realising I will never see some of the UK ever again, or ever have the chance to. But, who knows, we may move back - I am going to hold off having kids as long as possible to give us the option of getting Kate a UK passport

Edit: I should say, her degree isn't very transferable either... I am also very adaptable, I can do my work anywhere and I love travelling. Honestly, the UK would be a total culture shock to her, and she doesn't want to drive on 'the wrong side' either!

Edited by David And Katie, 22 April 2011 - 01:18 PM.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-04-22 13:16:00

Thanks NN. I will do that.

The case status says Initial Review (again) so I wonder if its possible someone clicked the wrong button... Or thought I needed an RFE but hen magically found what they needed (maybe I didn't list it on the cover sheet, or it was clipped together too much)

Who knows. I'll check in a week or so and find out.

Glad it went to CSC - fingers crossed they don't RFE me for the London Medical form being "incomplete".

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-09 10:29:00

Aaaaaannnnd I just got this today:
Your Case Status: Initial Review

The I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-08 23:17:00

Here is the email I got for the RFE - scroll down for the other notice I got:

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Your Case Status: Request for Evidence

On October 31, 2011, we mailed a notice requesting initial evidence in this case. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the evidence requested. Meanwhile, processing of this case is on hold until we either receive the evidence or the opportunity to submit it expires. Once you submit the evidence requested and a decision is made, you will be notified by mail. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Your Case Status: Initial Review

On November 2, 2011, we transferred this case I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS to another office for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action. Please follow any instructions provided on the notice. We will notify you by mail when a decision is made. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

Case status is Initial Review... from evidence requested. Maybe a glitch?

I did my biometrics today with no drama, in and out in 10 minutes. The hour drive there and an hour back was fun though in the pouring rain.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-08 21:27:00

Got an NOA today. Hoped it was the RFE. Case is being transferred to CSC for processing.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-05 23:14:00

Ah... hmm.

I don't remember making copies of MIL's birth certificate... ... Crapola. I will check the copy we made of the files.

D'oh.

Also got a notice in email today to say our case got transferred... didn't say where to though... Hopefully it means I don't get an interview?

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-03 01:59:00

Thanks NN.

We'll see. Probably just saw that it say: incomplete (due to time interval).

and decided to ask for something else.

Like I said, the mother in law works for the local civil surgeon so he isn't likely to rip me off. It was just an extra hassle I didn't want when I was putting the paperwork together.

If they don't have my medical/brown packet, do I have to get an Infopass appt?

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-01 09:02:00

Hi folks,

Not been in here a while since I moved.

We just submitted my I-485 paperwork about two three weeks ago (check my timeline, I don't remember).

Just got an RFE notice today via email.

I can imagine it'll be one of two things:
1: I didn't submit the civil surgeon's thingy... I just sent in my DS##### form. I saw other people had sucess doing this.

2: The amounts on my co-sponsor's tax transcripts and what she currently earns don't match - that's because she got a raise since last tax year.

Number 2 I can fix with letters from her employer (again!). Number 1 I guess I'll just have to go to the civil surgeon, which by a stroke of luck would be my co-sponsors employer

(Mother in law works for a Dr).

We submitted all the evidence they needed vis a vis the marriage certificate, copies of passport pages and stuff. etc.

I'm not _as_ worried as I was with the K1 visa process. At least I'm in country now.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-10-31 18:02:00

Sending stuff to the US

Well an update to this... the package arrived and attracted no import duty...

My dad labeled it as "personal effects" and "non-working amateur radio equipment" with a value of 200UKP.

I guess DHL would've requested payment before delivering, rather than bill me after the fact. Speaking of DHL. Picked up on Friday in Manchester UK, arrived here Monday morning before 12 noon.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-16 12:44:00

Sending stuff to the US

It's too late for that, he's printed the label and paid for the parcel.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-09 11:50:00

Sending stuff to the US

Ok, I know there's a form to let visa holders import stuff for free however I cannot work out how to use it.

Before asking me, my dad sent me a parcel of radio equipment and put the value at 200UKP. He's paid for the DHL delivery now and I don't know if he can alter the label or not.

Am I going to be hit by customs/import duty? Can I present that form to them after it's been delivered?

Any thoughts, please. I am not working yet and I am extremely poor (wife doesn't make a huge deal).

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-11-09 10:57:00

Chicagoans/Hoosiers?

Awesome!

When I said sick of talking to Yanks I wasn't totally serious

It just is nice to be with people who speak the same language

A word of warning for him - it will be very boring while he's waiting for his green card. Make sure he has lots of hobbies LOL.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-12-08 15:14:00

Chicagoans/Hoosiers?

Hi folks,

Getting sick of talking to Yanks. Are there any Brits in the Chicago/Ill/Indiana area?

I've tried Meetup.com but nothing really. All the big ex pat communities are in Florida (obviously).

Still waiting on my flippin' EAD/GC so no work. I have a car at least which gets me out.

David.

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2011-12-07 20:20:00

GCSEs?/GED

You'll want to check what the education credentials will be for the EMT training you are interested in.

When my husband trained as a Certified Nursing Assistant, they required a GED for entrance. Once again they accepted his certificates from his O's, his HND, his OND and his NVQ without requiring a "translation" of the foreign credentials. I doubt they really had a clue what the credentials were, but we were comfortable that they more than equaled a US GED.

Look into what will be required for you to enter your selected training. You may or may not have to translate your credentials - or you might have to sit for a US GED. Or - you might not! Just check it out so you don't get surprised.

Yeah, most of the EMT classes I have seen require a GED or HSD. I'll do my GED anyway as its pretty cheap.

Got an interview with Autozone on Monday... hmm. $9/hr selling stuff to people that don't need it but I suppose its better than working at Kwik Fit

David And Katie

Male

United Kingdom

2012-01-19 16:42:00