biggish data

...one of the exam bodies which produces and marks A-level and GSCE exams.

Wierd, I wonder if you marked some of my papers..?

The company I work for has given me a cheque written from an account held right here at the Russell Square Midland Bank!

Yes, this sort of behaviour is bizzare. I've never understood how I can pay in a cheque from an account held at the very same bank and it still take so long to process. I mean, they put it through the whizzy thing right then and there while you're standing at the desk!

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-07 05:26:00

Stony silence, then I was told that this was not America, there were very good reasons for the rule (yeah, like making money off of accountholders!) and that it was hard to believe that American banks would trust their accountholders enough to give them anything before a cheque had officially cleared. Oh, and that I should stop crying, it was embarrassing!

Why I ever, EVER stuck with Midland/HSBC through the years is a mystery to me!

HSBC did used to have some pretty piss-poor customer service. I had to fight just to get a functioning Switch debit card out of them (note - not credit card), despite the fact that I paid a monthly wage into the account and had never gone overdrawn. On the same account, I also tried to get an overdraft (again, while I was paying in a wage) of £100, and I failed their credit check!

It was therefore a pleasure to close my HSBC account about two weeks ago!

NatWest, however, have been fine. They've given me credit cards and a whopping great overdraft (which I'd rather not use!!). In fact the only thing they've been useless at is giving me a reference letter to use in my interview - you know the one that shows your current balance, etc.

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-07 05:21:00

Also online banking in the US is pretty useless to. It will take 3 business days to tranfer funds from one bank to another.

I think this is a case of rose-tinted spectacles... have you tried paying a credit card online in the UK recently? 3 business days. Or how about transferring funds to a different bank? At least 3 business days. Oh, and did you try cashing a cheque recently? 5 business days to fully clear. In fact, the only thing I can do with online banking instantly is transfer money between accounts at the same bank. Great fun, but the appeal wears off quickly.

The fact is that ALL banks will drag transactions through, as your money makes money for the bank while it is in transit. Simple. With today's computerized banking systems there is absolutely no reason for these things to take the time that they do. The banks impose the wait times so that they can make money from your money while ensuring that you can't access it.

But, then again, I still believe that the US government is developing weapons based on technology taken from the Roswell crash sites. That's what comes from being part of the X-Files generation...

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-05 15:38:00

Back at Christmas I opened a checking account with Harris, who are a small-ish Chicagoland bank. To begin with, I was surprised how easy it was to open a US account as a UKC (much harder to open an account in the UK these days). They messed up my UK address as their computer wouldn't accept a UK postal code, and my first couple of statements and my debit card went missing - however they were fine about sorting it out and since then I've had no problems. So overall I've been pretty impressed with their customer service.

I was rather alarmed to receive a box of 100 cheques from them (free, incidently)! They're very pretty and they have my UK address on - but when I move in a few weeks I have to change my address - what a waste of cheques!

Rubycon

Male

2007-07-31 16:11:00

UK Mini Cash ISA & US Tax

I don't think you have to declare off-shore income, as the US presumes that you're paying taxes on it to the country it is in. So, if your money stays in your ISA in the UK, it is not liable for US tax (if it was a normal savings account, it would be liable for UK tax).

Not sure what the situation is if you bring the money over here, but I would guess that it is still not taxed (unless it is a very large amount). Of course, you are still liable for tax on any interest it earns while in a savings account in the US.

Keep in mind that you can't deposit anything into your ISA once you become a UK overseas resident - so if you move the money over to the US, you will be losing a good rate of tax free interest. And with the exhange rate as it is now, it beats many of the savings rates available in the US.

Of course, the only way to be sure is to contact the IRS - I am not a lawyer and blah blah blah but I did look into it as I have a Cash ISA and I'm moving to the US next week!!

Edited by Rubycon, 23 August 2007 - 06:18 AM.

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-23 06:17:00

Visa approved

Sounds like a fairly painless experience.. congratulations!

I haven't posted a review of my interview (August 10th) as there's nothing particularly different that happened to me that hasn't happened to anyone else.

However, one thing people with similar timelines to me and Disco might like to take note of is that at my interview I was asked for a recent statement from my fiancee stating that she still intended to marry me. The reason given was that our I-129F petition was approved over 4 months ago (back in March) and that meant it had technically expired.

I explained that I didn't know that I needed one (although yes folks, the VJ K1 guide does recommend that you have one!) so she asked for my Affidavit of Support. I think as this was signed and notarized by my fiancee back in May/June (and thus within 4 months of the interview) this sufficed as proof of continued intent to marry. However, those of you who's affidavit is going to come from someone other than your spouse-to-be, might like to take note of this..

Just want to make sure we continue to get lots of approvals!

Edited by Rubycon, 21 August 2007 - 12:49 PM.

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-21 12:48:00

QUOTE (Lansbury @ Aug 24 2007, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The specific question is

When Do You Intend To Arrive In The U.S.?
(Provide specific date if known)

Yes, I've seen that questio . There is also a reference to a proposed wedding date. Perhaps this is given on more recent paperwork..?

QUOTE (Lansbury @ Aug 24 2007, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As you have now decided we have advised people to make up dates where has that been said. All we have said is put a date.

No, that isn't what I said. I said I didn't think it was something we should be condoning to the clear detrement of other VJers. To be clear - I'm not talking about giving the embassy an intended travel date. Of course this is fine as they do ask for this. I'm talking about making up a wedding date to try and push your case through when all the advice says "do not fix a wedding date". Look on pages 16/17 (and beyond) of this thread for evidence of people doing just that!

QUOTE (Lansbury @ Aug 24 2007, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

To be blunt if you didn't comprehend the question don't come blaming us because you think you were disadvantaged by not answering it.

I have several pieces of headed paper saying I'm intelligent. Please stop presuming I can't read.

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-24 17:27:00

QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 24 2007, 10:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Rubycon @ Aug 24 2007, 10:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wasn't specifically replying to you (hence no quotes) and I appreciate that your situation isn't as simple as just making up a date. However this idea of making up a date to push through an interview is a recurring theme in this and other, previous threads.

Just an opinion I needed to air. After all, I don't think a website such as VJ should be - to an extent - condoning such activity.

ok but we are all here to figure our way through this and we are a community

What about James' short cuts which I used and which saved me two months ? I suppose I didn't push anyone back by doing that but I 'gamed' the system nevertheless.

I dislike queue jumpers myself but if x % are not that bothered about an early date because they are finishing a college course for instance, then why shouldn't someone who feels more urgent, press for an earlier date using whatever they have ..

Lying about an intended wedding date ? I am a bit argumentative and instinctively I would like to argue, but I suppose you are right - drat.
Yes you are.

But anything short of that I would push my case and put it in it's most advantageous way (yes to the disadvantage of someone else - obviously) ... It's not fair that stupid people get rejected at job interviews - or people with venereal disease through no fault of their own have an immigration rejection added to their problems, but thats the way it is.

I once stepped back and let a lot of mothers and elderly people board a plane in front of me and when I got on (yes I was actually on) they decided they had handed out too many boarding cards - I was told to get off as I was last on. Makes you think. Ethics eh ? difficult.

Ok you are absolutely right - and the truth is the truth - but there can be a bit of fuzz around the edges here, where pushing an otherwise weak case by exaggerating things doesn't amount to a bare faced lie...

We all know where the line is deep down inside...

Do we?

I can appreciate that people will try to push their case - after all, as you say, we're all trying to get through this and we've all got to do what we've got to do..

..and, I wasn't trying to point an individual finger. I don't want a VJ slagging match.

But the fact remains that there have been many instances of people on these boards having admitted to "inventing" wedding dates to try and push their case along. And I'm afraid that is just "not cricket" and is a false declaration. Come on? Have I experienced some kind of Total Recall thing or has that not happened?

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-24 17:01:00

QUOTE (Lansbury @ Aug 24 2007, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If memory serves me correctly the question doesn't ask you if you have hard and fast travel plans, in fact the Embassy advises very strongly against making plans until you have the visa to hand, it asks when you plan to travel. To answer that question with an approximate date you hope to travel bearing in mind the advice the Embassy has given is quite sensible and is doing what they ask.

The only time I was asked when I intended to travel was on the interview day. I'm sure it asks somewhere on the Packet 3 receipt when your intended wedding date is (I remember being surprised by this). I told the truth and said it was not yet scheduled. Any more recent interviewees remember this?

QUOTE (Lansbury @ Aug 24 2007, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

By the way please point to one post in which anyone has said you should lie to the Embassy when answering that question.

Making up a date IS lying - and there are plenty of people who have done it and posted about it. Its called making a false declaration.

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-24 16:41:00

QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 24 2007, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Rubycon @ Aug 24 2007, 09:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No offense to the I-129F vets here (well, not much anyway) but I think its bullsh*t that people make up dates to push their interviews through. All that happens is that honest people who wait in line and don't LIE on their paperwork get pushed further down the que. I mean, ####### people??

I have my visa in hand now so most of the stress is over, but I waited a good three or four weeks longer than many people with similar timelines to get my interview scheduled. Thats because I wrote the TRUTH on my correspondence to the embassy (thats what you sign to say you have given) - that I hadn't scheduled a wedding date (remember being told not to schedule a date??). And you know what? I could've done with those extra few weeks so that I wouldn't have had to sit on my now unemployed ### for an extra month.

I hope the embassy turns round and asks one of you people for some evidence to back up your date claim - it might pursuade some people to be a little more honest.

I think if you read things a bit more carefully, that nobody is suggesting lying so your precious cherry tree is safe pilgrim.
I said I would mention that my wife will be unemployed and wanting to make sure that her resume didnt have a gap - that is 100% TRUE So I am afraid your resentment is down to your lack of basic comprehension when you read English.
Putting an emphasis on something which is true in order to get a better date is not lying !

We have been married 2 years already so whats all this junk about wedding dates ?

Get a brain cell before you fire off at people. See I can tick you off without all the low class ### that you use

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-24 16:13:00

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-24 15:52:00

Good Luck Dawny&Tommy tomorrow

Yeah, good luck people - lets keep this trend running! :thumbs:

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-15 10:48:00

UK Food, what do you miss most?

QUOTE (Lou Lou @ Aug 22 2007, 11:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've been buying haggis from a Brit shop in Mass the past few years and she hasn't been stopped importing it

If I'm not mistaken most so-called "off the shelf" Haggis doesn't actually contain a lot of the yukky dubious bits which are banned in the US. For example, the bit that its all wrapped in is synthetic, rather than a real sheep's stomach.

Intersting that you're not allowed to eat sheep's lungs, yet Texans can still eat rattlers..!

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-23 06:06:00

Three weeks in as a US resident!

You live and learn, I guess - we're all green about this stuff at some point - just wanted to repeat the warning, though. Anyhow, I'm trying to not feel too bad about it, as everything else has been very easy for us so far.

BTW I did check forums here (and still am!) for advice on AOS. I chose the CS in question simply as it was the only one within walking distance of where I live.

Rubycon

Male

2007-09-19 09:02:00

Three weeks in as a US resident!

Hello all - just wanted to share a couple of thoughts on my first three weeks in the US! These observations probably belong in a couple of different forums, but I thought I'd post here first among those who recognise me (for good or bad reasons!).

POE (Chicago O'Hare) was a piece of cake. It took about 10 minutes tops. The immigration officer opened my "do not open" file and leafed through the contents. He seemed most concerned with finding my medical results. He asked me one or two really easy questions (just stuff like how long had I known my SO, etc), then stamped the visa and said something like "you've got 90 days to get married - if you don't, leave the country". I took that to be USCIS humour...wow those guys sure are a bunch of jokers!

Amusingly enough, my Best Man had a worse POE experience than I did! He's a dual national, British and Iranian, and the immigration people took him away for further questioning! He's really cool about that sort of stuff though, as he understands that - for better or worse - he kinda fits the profile (young, single, educated male with Iranian background)!

The big day was really nice - family and close friends in a nice hotel in downtown Chicago, followed by romantic dinner for 2 at the Signature Room! - and now I have a lovely, cute wife! Things have settled down now all the guests have left, Disco is back to work, and I'm getting used to life in the 'burbs...slowly...

I applied for my social security number exactly two weeks after POE, and it arrived today - under a week from the application! Pretty good turnaround! Hooray!

I went to the USCIS office in Chicago about a week ago to ask for my K1 temporary work authorisation. I was planning to get some work as a substitue teacher - Disco works in a high school and their HR department were interested in me (Illinois is currently experiencing a lack of substitute teacher crisis). However, the person I spoke to in the USCIS office said that they will not stamp visas for work authorization any more, and the only way to get work authorization is through the AOS EAD application. Well, at least I tried. As Disco said to me, the only people they hurt are the legal immigrants...

...some advice, learned the hard way

So now I'm getting my stuff ready for AOS. Today I went to a local doctor to get my I-693A prepared. When I called, the lady in the office seemed a little confused about my not needing the full medical. As per VJ advice, I insisted that I only needed the vaccination supplement completed and signed from my records.

So, I get down to the doctor's and they look through my papers. They say I need to get immunity tests done at the local hospital, and then I need two further visits to them before they will issue the I-693A (at $270 and $70 respectively). Alarm bells start ringing. I said to them that I had already had my vaccination history reviewed and approved in London, and a visa issued on the back of that, so all that was required was my details copying onto a new form and signing by the doctor. They said they couldn't do it as the vaccination records I gave them highlighted some discrepancies. They then said that I owed them $180 for today - alarm bells continued ringing; I hadn't left the waiting room and they were under 5 minutes looking through my vaccination documents! I said "oookkkaayy.. let me go get my debit card.."

As it happened, their card machine was playing up and I didn't have my cheque book on me, so I said I'd call back later (a 4 mile walk in 89 degrees, folks!). I called Disco when I got back home, who was incredulous that I'd been charged that amount and not even seen the doctor. She called the practise and asked them to bill us - they refused and threatened to contact USCIS and have me "flagged" if we didn't pay - note that at no stage did we threaten not to pay!! (I'm pretty sure the "flagging" was BS, though)

So, basically, my warning is this - make sure you call several different doctor's practises and get them to detail their rates before going there! We found a much better price elsewhere and certainly will not be dealing with these bandits again - absolute daylight 'kin robbery if you ask me - lets face it, if I wanted to be relieved of my money I'd go walk around Chicago with "please mug me, I'm British" written on my forehead. I would name and shame the practise, but I'm pretty sure that is liablous - but you make up your own minds whether or not they were offering "value for money".

Wow, this is a long post - but I just wanted to share this with you all and stop someone else falling into this trap. I'll keep you all updated..

Rubycon

Male

2007-09-18 21:45:00

Visa granted, but...

QUOTE (Poiteen @ Aug 23 2007, 10:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Being an Irish citizen

Lots of things seem possible when you're Irish! One of my colleagues here at work has a British Citizen son who lives in Malaysia and is married with kids to a Malaysian woman. His children were refused British passports by the British consulate in Malaysia as they were not born in the UK. So, as he has an Irish mother, he went to the Irish consulate, claimed Irish ancestry for the children, and got them Irish passports. Thus although the children aren't UK citizens, their Irish passports are European - so they can enter without visas and work freely in the UK should they desire.

Sorry, a little off topic.

Any Americans out there who have claimed Irish citizenship through ancestry?

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-23 05:59:00

Congratulations on the good news! As I said in another post, my POE at Chicago was very quick and easy. In fact it was the shortest time I've ever spent in immigration (including queing) at O'Hare. As a precaution I carried photocopies of all my documents as hand luggage - there was a brief moment when the immigration officer thought he couldn't find something in the "do not open" file..

..best of luck!

Rubycon

Male

2007-09-19 09:12:00

Just updating my approval! WOOT!

..oh, go on then - I'll treat myself! Thats all until next week, folks!

Recent London 'graduates'
May: JamalNTam, Oath/Leney, Tigersden, Marina+Dave, Mark&Steph, tonyeck, AlienUKGirl; June: jac, kins, TracyTN, bevray, REP&KMM, elmcitymaven, wodge2003, craigandkym, FutureAmerican, Linababe, ashp, Duffbeer; July: RGNSCOT, robburnsefc, msu17, Teddy-406, TimsDaisy, linzzee, cindi, ValWesUKUS, TQMAngie, selly, Jennymc11, halcut, Jake & Ali, psho, Dan&Tiffany....

Approvals Pending

Name..................Visa....P3Sent..MedDate.....P4Rec'd...IntDate/Time........Status

Justchillin...............K1.......05/01....05/11........05/05......06/15....08:00...PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
justbee&robbie.....CR1.......05/12......06/27.....05/30...........7/11..........PENDING 2006 TAX RETURN

August 2007 Interviews

Name..................Visa......P3Sent....MedDate.....P4Rec'd........IntDate/Time........Status

dropinboy.............K1........06/11.....06/12............................08/01...08:30...APPROVED
UK-to-USA............CR1......05/29......................06/12...........08/06.......
essjay..................DCF......06/29......06/25........07/31 ..........08/07...09:00...APPROVED
Neal&Cari.............K1........06/23......07/03...........................08/07...09:30...APPROVED
JenandBarney.......K1.........7/07.......07/27...........................08/08...10:00
Converse34..........K1.........06/26.....07/20...........................08/08...10:30...APPROVED
Miss My Husband...K3.........07/25......................07/31..........08/09..............APPROVED
TracyUK..............IR1.....................07/27...........................08/09...............APPROVED
Rubycon/Disco......K1.........06/01......................05/09..........08/10...09:30...APPROVED
JandC..................K1.........06/29......07/26...........................08/10...09:30..APPROVED
adi77...................K1.........07/01......06/22.........07/31..........08/15...09:00
Dawny&Tommy....K1..........06/07.....08/15.........07/11..........08/16...10:00
Mothy..................CR1........06/11.....07/02.........06/27..........08/21...08:00....
uzume.................K1..........05/29......06/14........06/23...........08/31........

September 2007 Interviews

Name..................Visa........P3Sent....MedDate.....P4Rec'd...IntDate/Time..............Status

blspicer...............K1..........06/12......07/16.........06/26.......09/04.....09:30....
missingmilwaukee...DCF..................07/18.........................09/07
CardiffIan............K1.........07/04.......07/30........................09/11

Waiting for Interview

Name..................Visa....P3Sent..MedDate.....
paulinespens....K1...........................08/10

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-10 12:46:00

Well, just a big shout out to everyone who's on interview this week - it seems like a particularly busy one! Wishing you all the very best - perhaps I'll see JandC on Friday...

Just booked my taxi to Birmingham New Street station - it arrives at 4:45am!!! No sleep for me then!! :wacko:

Rubycon

Male

2007-08-06 08:17:00

Okay, well apparently we have an interview date - just called DOS line!

August 10th at 9:30am.

Next step here we come!

Rubycon

Male

2007-06-21 12:35:00

Just an FYI for those of you talking about Disco (my SO) - after reading through the thread perhaps I should clarify:

As per my siggy timeline I mailed the Packet 3 forms back on the 5th May (DOS confirmed they were recieved on the 9th) but I couldn't include the checklist as I was paranoid about not having my Police certificate in time. Well Scotland Yard took as long as humanly possible with that (39 days) so I only got the checklist sent off on 1st June. But I have had my medical done and no RFEs so... (goes to check post again)

Rubycon

Male

2007-06-13 10:23:00

Disco and I are still waiting for my interview date too..

There seems to be a couple of people who sent back Packet 3 and their decleration on May 31st. I posted mine June 1st so surely it can't be long... Called the DOS visa info line yesterday but no news.

Rubycon

Male

2007-06-13 09:44:00