ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United KingdomPhotocopies for interview
yeah, the original plus one copy of the long-form birth ceritificate.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-04 18:47:00
United KingdomPOE / X-Ray / Goodbye UK!
QUOTE (Mags @ Apr 5 2009, 09:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Have a safe trip...and if you get the rude stewardess again I think it's time you reported her!


yeah, i agree. because that is out of order.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-05 15:28:00
United KingdomPOE / X-Ray / Goodbye UK!
QUOTE (Furious Biscuit @ Apr 5 2009, 03:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (mr and mrs @ Apr 5 2009, 03:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
biscuit, are you sad to be leaving? (im sure but i wonder if the excitement it outweighing the sadness.)


In honesty.. no, I've always been so miserable in England, I'm not massively close to my family.. sans my mum who will keep in contact, I've been so happy in America with my boyfriend and I just can't wait to be gone biggrin.gif

Agh I sound so bitter and cold sad.gif


no, you sound a lot like my boyfriend. he would have said a very similar thing. : ) you sound normal.

when i left america, though only for a year or two, i wasnt that sad. (i know its not the same, but..) what i was a little sad about was leaving my old life. my apartment and my routines and the casualness of knowing a place so well. that is what i mourned when i left. jamie doesnt have the sentimentality about his life as it is at the moment.

im excited for you. : )
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-04 21:57:00
United KingdomPOE / X-Ray / Goodbye UK!
ill always keep mine. and i hope jamie gets to keep his so we have a matching set. awww. <3


biscuit, are you sad to be leaving? (im sure but i wonder if the excitement it outweighing the sadness.)
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-04 21:09:00
United KingdomPOE / X-Ray / Goodbye UK!
yeah i have mine from when i was in france on my fridge. i <3 it. its blue and pretty. and says 'mlle. lisabette' on it. also? you can kinda see my boobs (:x).

edit: i guess that means its porn for skeletons.

Edited by mr and mrs, 04 April 2009 - 09:00 PM.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-04 20:59:00
United KingdomPOE / X-Ray / Goodbye UK!
QUOTE (English Muffin @ Apr 5 2009, 02:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (mr and mrs @ Apr 4 2009, 09:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
uh. and how big is BIG? dimensions?

It's freaking huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge! biggrin.gif


is that metric? : p


wait. seriously, it cant be BIGGER than a chest, right?
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-04 20:57:00
United KingdomPOE / X-Ray / Goodbye UK!
QUOTE (MARM @ Apr 5 2009, 02:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Have a safe trip, FuriousBiscuit! kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif

oh how exciting!! thrilled for you! : D

uh. and how big is BIG? dimensions?

and where are you flying from and to? <curious>
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-04 20:50:00
United KingdomWedding plans and invites hell.
QUOTE (fozzie @ Apr 1 2009, 01:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Smalll Wedding with me and the wife, our parents and siblings. Some of my wifes extended family were a little upset but as my family would struggle to come over we thought it unfair.

We loved the day and got to enjoy being with those closest to us without the hassle of spending 5 mins with every guest no matter how distant they are.

We had a party for my extended family in the uk before the wedding and one with laurens extended family and friends after. Everyone got a wedding announcement and we NEVER mentioned gifts or anything. It irks me when people do that.


that sounds great. : )

honestly, i dont mind the mention of gifts, though i would not personally do it. what irks me more than bad etiquette is wastefulness. holy #######, NO, i dont want anything crystal. at all. special glittery picture frame? no thanks. but, having said that, you can probably tell that i am one that a. returns gifts. or b. re-gifts them with no remorse. <awful girl>


ps. jamie is much nicer and more appreciative in general than i am.


edit: also, i wish people wouldnt get upset about not being invited. its hopefully never done to be hurtful (unless its on that bridezilla show, which makes me super-uncomfortable to watch). it's most often a very careful and difficult decision about what is best for the bride and groom, right? why, when you are supposed to be wishing the happy couple all the joy in the world, would you instead be petty? uncalled for.

edit: i sure have a lot of wedding opinions considering im not having one. : p

Edited by mr and mrs, 31 March 2009 - 09:22 PM.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-03-31 21:18:00
United KingdomWedding plans and invites hell.
i agree about wedding announcements. i think we will do 'hey! we got married!' cards to let people know.

send invites to those who will be coming and announcements for those who cant/wont make it.

do what you are comfortable with! be yourselves! id like to be a guest at your wedding. from your little avatar up there, you guys look like you'd do something v. hip/chic/stylish. have fun!
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-03-31 17:57:00
United KingdomOn the interview w/out ACPO
<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.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-08 09:49:00
United KingdomOn the interview w/out ACPO
oh good! you posted it here. i promise you will get some good feed back here. these people are visa-geeks! (in a good way!)
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-03-29 10:16:00
United KingdomDo K1's need to bring their x-rays with them?
read this thread

not newark POE specific information, but sounds like you can pack the xray in your checked luggage.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-11 18:47:00
United KingdomCreme Eggs -- How do you eat yours?
QUOTE (Krikit @ Apr 13 2009, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The Easter Bunneh did not come to my house this year crying.gif so I compensated by picking up some chocolate digestives at World Market yesterday. luv.gif

hey, as adults... we gotta do what we gotta do.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-13 14:53:00
United KingdomCreme Eggs -- How do you eat yours?
thats why i can only play it once a year. but i have changed the word 'pineapple' in my personal lexicon to 'pineable' because, frankly, its a better word.


(i make jamie pineable upside-down cake for valentine's day. well, i have the last two years. this year's version was god-awful.)
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-06 18:17:00
United KingdomCreme Eggs -- How do you eat yours?
ahh. yes. good old john lewis. gotcha. makes more sense now.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-05 10:52:00
United KingdomCreme Eggs -- How do you eat yours?
and the pointy, pointy talons! hee.

off-off-topic question: waitrose is a bit of a mystery for me. (i have an obsession with grocery stores. love 'em!) i know waitrose is owned by m&s (right?) but is it like cheaper? or nicer? or more organic? i never lived near one in all of my time in the UK, so havent done much first-hand research.


(this may be a totally weird question, but i am curious about EVERYTHING. jm. and i keep lists of things to google/wiki. recent examples: how pineapples are harvested, what the history of the £-sign is, what the difference between mass and weight is, and which animal has the smalled brain in relation to body size. <3)

and to veer even further off-topic (why not, we're already there!) i love this ridulculous game though i can only play it once a year or so:

fruit mystery


pineables. <3
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-05 10:45:00
United KingdomCreme Eggs -- How do you eat yours?
yeah, caramel? sweet jesus. the nectar of the gods.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-03 01:22:00
United KingdomCreme Eggs -- How do you eat yours?
who LOVES cadbury creme eggs? not very many of us!

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-03 01:16:00
United KingdomCreme Eggs -- How do you eat yours?
QUOTE (Rob&Dawn @ Apr 2 2009, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Absolutely brilliant...although maybe too much time on his hands!!

I hate Creme eggs can think of eating nothing worse (sweetie wise)!!!!

i quite like the goo in the middle. not sure how i eat them. infrequently? is that an answer? and probably i just go for the goo.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-02 16:52:00
United Kingdommedical reports
QUOTE (Nich-Nick @ Apr 14 2009, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
A tip: if you took Prozac years ago for a month because your dog died, don't even mention that.


Diagnosis, Nich-Nick. <3

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-14 08:29:00
United KingdomUK Wiki updates needed and bonus Tips to include
i do think that this information could be organized and published in such a way to make it more clear and more available to interested parties. though this may mostly benefit posterity, i think it is a good idea to capture knowledge gained going through all of this and pass it on.

if it is available in several places, yes, it will take more updating. i think its a good idea to 'stamp' updates with a date so when know the age of the advice.


i started a google spreadsheet, just to keep myself occupied. (i dont know if youve heard but im home sick in bed and BORED.) though i havent put anything in to it yet, i liked the idea of using different sheets (tabs along the top of the published document) for dividing up the information. it still needs to be formatted and have information added, but i think it could another good resource.

here is the link: UK Process & London Embassy Guide


im up for any suggestions. i know its not great, but i guess its a start.

thanks, nik and heather for getting things in motion. updating the wiki stuff is a great first step!
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-14 18:36:00
United KingdomIs there anyplace close to the London Embassy to safely leave mobile phone?
and for posterity, i added it to the embassy info page, in the additional info section. please check my information and my comments for accuracy.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-19 14:30:00
United KingdomIs there anyplace close to the London Embassy to safely leave mobile phone?
yes there is. just up the street from the embassy at:

Gould's Pharmacy
37 North Audley Street
Mayfair
London W1K 6ZL
Telephone:0207 495 6298

think it costs about £5. they should be open by 7:30am.

easy and its said to be very reliable!


im going to add your interview to the interview dates list in this thread (it will be on page 90 i think). welcome!
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-19 12:30:00
United KingdomWays of making that extra money for fees,flights,wedding arrangements etc etc!
QUOTE (John and Camie @ Apr 19 2009, 11:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
WOW! My first topic and you guys are AwEsOME! Thanks soO much! Definitely will do! :-) gonna file for the p85 once i know the date! Absolutely even if its a little amount its better than nothing! Things to sell wise i have an old moped right at the back of my garage buried under tons of stuff and no budget film props! It's worth selling ifs been sitting there soo long!

Thanks for all the good ideas! you've been a great help! ;-)

John


i only answered because i think you are pretty cute, john. don't tell camie!! <wink>

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-19 18:15:00
United KingdomWays of making that extra money for fees,flights,wedding arrangements etc etc!
QUOTE (elmcitymaven @ Apr 19 2009, 08:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It's worth a punt!


wait. <checks british slangy dictionary> i thought a punt was a boat. dammit.

what does this expression mean? does it mean 'it's worth a shot'?

edit:

Edited by mr and mrs, 19 April 2009 - 03:10 PM.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-19 15:08:00
United KingdomWays of making that extra money for fees,flights,wedding arrangements etc etc!
jamie doesnt think this is worth the effort since the tax year just started on the 6th of april. he could be leaving the uk in 2 weeks. he doesnt make tons of money, but if it's like £50 that he could potentially get back, i think it'd be worth it. but i have no idea of what the figure might be.

did i read that the p85(?) is okay to file even once you have left the UK?

jamie is in the process of selling some of his things. guitar amps, um.. well maybe just that one thing. so hopefully that will net him some cash.

i have to say that when i picked up sticks in seattle and moved back to the east coast, i donated a lot of my things to a local homeless shelter and a battered women's home. they were really happy to take my microwave and my tv stand and other things i was not shipping back to vermont.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-19 14:38:00
United Kingdomclever emoticons that reflect the ups and downs of the visa journey
QUOTE (Nagishkaw @ Apr 21 2009, 10:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We need one for throwing up. This process makes me sick.....literally.

<pats head> awww. it can be pretty awful, can't it?
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-21 17:03:00
United Kingdomclever emoticons that reflect the ups and downs of the visa journey
talyss, here's a 'fingers crossed' one for you: kinda weird lookin' though.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-21 16:44:00
United Kingdomclever emoticons that reflect the ups and downs of the visa journey
and

- 'um? hello? us government?'

- fine. this one isnt specifically visa-related, but it's a UNICORN!

- aww. the queen.

- maybe not for everyone, but a nice pint can brighten up a crappy day. [surgeon general advises only one beer per week to aid with the onset of the little known 'visa insanity disease']


mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-19 18:38:00
United Kingdomclever emoticons that reflect the ups and downs of the visa journey
im not a big emoticon kinda girl but.. here are a few i thought would be really useful to us.


- useful in responding to Nich-Nick's always stellar advice

- 'you had to sit in the waiting room at knightsbrigde in your hospital gown??!'

- 'omg. omg. omg.'

- 'you commited a crime in moral turpitude (and got caught)?'

- for the religious-ites among us to get through all the waiting

- vj nerds unite!

- 'i can't do this anymore!'

- daydreaming of an approval/a letter/a visit, etc.

- 'ack! i forgot to sign my I-134!'

- 'congratulations on your visa approval!'

edit: i had more but too many graphics to post them all.




borrowed from here, here, and here.

Edited by mr and mrs, 19 April 2009 - 06:35 PM.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-19 18:31:00
United Kingdomneed help now to plan a civil wedding in michigan and shipping
i emailed a couple of justices of the peace last night and heard back from them this morning. both seemed pretty flexible, with dates and times and wheres. i know here in vermont, its pretty straightforward. no witnesses are needed and you can just get in touch with the JoP and arrange a time to meet. im only arranging this about a week (eek!! yay!!) in advance.

here is the response from the one i think we are gonna go with. she seems normal but still a bit quirky, which is good for jamie and i.

So, in answer to your questions:


I know this is so new to you that you probably don't even know what questions to ask, so I'll start at the beginning. If I don't get to everything, just ask and we'll work it out together.



1. Burlington City Hall is open from 8:30 to 4:30 Monday thru Friday. Getting the license is amazingly simple. Bring a picture ID. There is a one-page form to fill out on blue paper asking pretty basic questions: Full Name, Address, Mother and Fathers names, etc.
2. You will be asked to swear that everything on the form is true to the best of your knowledge
3. When that form is filled out, you hand it in and the information is typed on to a white piece of paper (which is the one that ends up in the City Clerks records). That is the paper that I sign to make it all legal. It is the license, not the certified “suitable for framing” certificate you will get later.
4. The $45 fee covers one certified copy of the license, which can either be mailed to you after the ceremony (takes a few weeks) or you can pick it up the same business day. In fact, many times I meet people at city hall, they fill out their part, I do my thing and give it back to the clerk. We go do the ceremony, come back and the license is ready to go.
5. I suggest that you ask for at least one more certified copy of the license (they're just $10). One to keep with all your other important papers, and the other for things life throws at you as time goes on. Many insurance companies, employers, etc. request a copy for benefits and stuff like that. It's also a good idea if you travel outside of the country to each have one in your passport in case of emergency. The need for more than one may never come up, but it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. It is, however, your choice.
6. Witnesses, although nice, are not required in Vermont.
7. I have a few ceremonies I would be happy to email you to look over if you like. None of them is written in stone - you can change them, ignore them, or do them just the way they are. Whatever works for you.
8. My fee is variable depending upon the ceremony, location, rehearsal time, travel time – things like that – and runs from about $75 and up. Unfortunately I have been burned a few times with bad checks, so it's a cash only transaction.
9. Depending upon the time of year, weather and other factors, I can make some suggestions about free outdoor sites if you are into that kind of thing.
10. I do know of a couple of incredible B&B's overlooking the lake if you are interested. There are 2 hotels on the waterfront, but they look a lot nicer in the brochure if you know what I mean.



I can't think of anything else off the top of my head. Any questions or concerns, I'm just an email away.


i actually feel a lot better after emailing with her. i was puttin off dealing with it because i thought it was going to be an awkward process, but she seems pretty cool, so i think we can make it work for us. : )

and i think she charges $75 for a quicky.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-27 17:56:00
United KingdomInterview check
QUOTE (colinjess @ Apr 27 2009, 11:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
oh my appt was at 9 am but i got there at 7 30 and was allowed in and my whole thing was done by 9 20 am smile.gif

sounds painless! congratulations!
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-27 17:58:00
United KingdomInterview check
yeah, i was gonna say copies of the birth certificate (UKC) and police certificate. but ms. sharon beat me to it. and payment for the visa and courier fee.

you list looks good. good luck!
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-26 13:52:00
United KingdomFamous people you have seen in the US Embassy in London
who was is that saw UB40? damian maybe?

edit: wasnt amy winehouse recently re-denied a us visa for a tour?

Edited by mr and mrs, 29 April 2009 - 02:41 PM.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-29 14:39:00
United Kingdomswine flu
im hoping it'll be cleared up by 8pm EST on wednesday evening.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-27 17:47:00
United KingdomTo the Brits - do you think everything here in the US is too sweet?
<hoists this sucker up from the depths>

lots of interesting comments. and will certainly help jamie and i set up a grocery plan of action for when he gets here.

we cook a lot from scratch for the fun and for learning something new or improvising. i will have a large garden this summer in the community garden plots and ive already started lots of seeds for the coming season.

at the moment, i am growing (successfully):

6 heirloom varieties (for salsa, and sauces)
lots of corriader, basil, thai basil
40 heads of garlic (overboard i think.)
radicchio
sweet peas (for pretties)
cukes, acron sqaush, and little pretty patty pan
3 varietes of tomatillos

the soil temperature should be warm enough in the last week of may to plant just about anything out.

the next task is to get good at preserving the harvest.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-14 23:40:00
United KingdomTHAT miserable receptionist at Bentick Mansions
hee hee. bovvered. : )
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-03-20 19:50:00
United KingdomPlan B anyone? (K1)
shite happens, but i dont think its gonna happen to you or pat.: )

you seem to be poster-children for K-1's.
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-13 21:20:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
QUOTE (elmcitymaven @ Apr 17 2009, 07:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
They sell masa harina, but man, I don't have the time to make my own tortillas.

ha. thats what we went looking for! masa harina.

mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-18 09:50:00
United KingdomA quick food recommendation
my year in glasgow was a sad year for the part of my heart that is in love with mexican food. we did make do. we learned to make a lot of things at home. jamie makes very good beans now. yum! and i am now able to make a pretty decent salsa (and i grow the ingredients in my garden!) and, though we did not discover it soon enough, we did visit the mexican grocery/deli on the great western road several times.

we had a particulary bad meal in stirling, but it was entertaining. i asked for hot sauce when our meal came and the waitress was puzzled. she returned after a minute with the kitchen's mini-vat of hot sauce and deposited it at the table. <3 (it wasnt really hot. just red.)



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
mr and mrsFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-16 22:50:00