Visa approved, but I have a few questions.

[chrismorrison 96]

Thank you!

I will bear this in mind

Phoebe, also look into flying into Seattle and taking a puddle jumper to PDX. Could make it slightly cheaper.

What flight plan do you normally take? My fiance has been taking LHR-->AMS-->PDX.

[Steve and Andi 1]

Thank you TheAndies ? I'll keep that in mind .

[KVE 29]

I just got a one way ticket to Baltimore for 300 GBP while spending some miles. I didn't know when I would be back in the UK.

By the way, it is cheaper to do a return from the UK than the US.

[lizascissors 65]

1) do I buy a one way, or return plain ticket?

2) how long does it take (usually) for my visa to be ready to collect?

3)at my embassy interview they didn't take a passport photo from me.. They asked for it, then returned it to me. Is this what they normally do?

4) should I end my mobile phone contract here in the uk, then buy a new phone in America, or can I somehow use my phone over there?

There will probably be more questions as I get ready to leave...lol

Thank you in advance?

Andi

1. Return or one-way - whatever is cheapest. Just make sure if you buy a return that you cancel the second leg or the airlines will get stupidly mad at you about it. Also bear in mind sometimes random cheap fares come up for major US destinations (NYC, Chicago, Boston, DC, Atlanta) and some Canadian ones (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver ). Sometimes getting one of those big flights and then a separate booking for the internal flight can be cheaper - We have found this to be the case on some occasions. Norwegian air is like Ryan Air - super bargain basement fares (no food or anything - bring snacks!) but you can get a ticket for like $500 usd.

2. Visa is quick - we got it within 5 days, delivered.

3. They scan the passport photo. Don't worry.

4. We switched to O2 pay as you go to keep UK number. With an iPhone you can receive texts and whatnot on a British and/or US iPhone by using iCloud - nifty little trick we discovered.

[Steve and Andi 1]

Thank you for all the advice, it's all really helping.

I've stopped worrying about the photo ?

I've decided to cancel my phone contract, and give my iPhone to my daughter so we can FaceTime when I move, and I'll get a phone over there on Steves phone plan.

I'll book a return ticket, soon!!!

And I'll try be patient about the visa...lol...is it here yet!!!?

Andi

[Keith J 0]

Congratulations on the Visa Andi, and may you and Steve live happily ever after

[Steve and Andi 1]

Thank you Keith J ?

I'm impressed, I got a reply to my email from the embassy already!

They said everything is good about the photo?

Andi

[Pheebs1201 269]

Phoebe, also look into flying into Seattle and taking a puddle jumper to PDX. Could make it slightly cheaper.

What flight plan do you normally take? My fiance has been taking LHR-->AMS-->PDX.

Normally I do LHR ---> LAX or Sea-Tac----> Redmond (or Eugene when Dan was at OU)

However I HATE changing at LAX so I try and keep it as Seattle. I once did Bristol ---> Amsterdam ----> Portland ----> Eugene and it nearly killed me haha!

[Steve and Andi 1]

Hi guys??

I have another question ?

I need to open a bank account in the USA, to transfer my saving over there before I move.

The bank in the USA said I need a social security number to open an account, which I don't have yet!

Any advice???

Andi

Edited January 30, 2015 by Steve and Andi

[Pheebs1201 269]

Hi guys??

I have another question ?

I need to open a bank account in the USA, to transfer my saving over there before I move.

The bank in the USA said I need a social security number to open an account, which I don't have yet!

Any advice???

Andi

Load money onto a travel card (I recommend the postoffice travel money card) then once you have your SSN open an account, withdraw the money from the travel card and then put it in your US bank account.

[Vicky&Fritz 33]

I've decided to cancel my phone contract, and give my iPhone to my daughter so we can FaceTime when I move, and I'll get a phone over there on Steves phone plan.

Just a heads up, there's an App, called Viber, that you can use to make calls and text each other for free. My fiancé and I use it and a friend of mine uses it to talk to her friends in Brazil. It's free too!

And congrats!

[Steve and Andi 1]

Thank you Pheebs,

I just check out to po card, it doesn't seem to let you put much on it ($1,200), is there a way of putting more on it?

Thank you Vicky&Fritz, thank you for the tip and congrats ?

Andi

[Gary & Aubrey 23]

Make sure, if you have an iPhone 5 or newer, to possibly try your SO's sim card in it. Verizon iPhones are required, by US law, to be unlocked for sims, but the carrier band doesn't always carry over from country to country.

[Steve and Andi 1]

Thank you Aubrey??

I have a iPhone 4s, so it's probably not worth keeping it anyway ( although I do love it)... Lol

I'll start afresh with a new phone when I'm over there.

Andi

[markanderson 0]

June 2013: Met whilst working at a summer camp in Michigan

October 23rd 2014: Sent documents to the US to begin K1 visa application

November 1st 2014: I-129f submitted

November 12th 2014: Tracking states that package was FINALLY delivered by USPS (why did it take so long to get there?! )

November 17th 2014: Electronic Notification of NOA1

November 21st 2014: Electronic Notification of NOA2

November 22nd 2014: Hard copy of NOA1 received

November 26th 2014: Hard copy of NOA2 received

December 15th 2014: NVC Assigned Case Number

December 17th 2014: CEAC Status: In Transit

December 24th 2014: Received by embassy

January 23rd 2015: Medical

Interview???

Hope that helps

The above information is really helpful... Try this..