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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted

Hi guys,

I'm looking for any of you out there that are living or have lived in the DC area. We are currently looking to move, as I may be getting a job there in the near future. I am trying to look for apartments, houses, etc in the area (not necc. right in DC but can be accessed easily) as well as childcare. There is myself, my husband and our 2 kids (ages 3 and 7 weeks) that would be moving. I really would appreciate any leads you may have!!

May 11 '09 - Case Approved 10 yr card in the mail

June - 10 yr card recieved

Feb. 19, 2010 - N-400 Application sent to Phoenix Lockbox

April 3, 2010 - Biometrics

May 17,2010 - Citizenship Test - Minneapolis, MN

July 16, 2010- Retest (writing portion)

October 13, 2010 - Oath Ceremony

Journey Complete!

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Posted (edited)

Most people seem to live in Maryland or Virgina.. Depending on your budget, there are lots of great places to live in both states.. Northern Virgina has excellent employment opportunities as well as quite a diverse range of people..

Edited by Infidel

According to the Internal Revenue Service, the 400 richest American households earned a total of $US138 billion, up from $US105 billion a year earlier. That's an average of $US345 million each, on which they paid a tax rate of just 16.6 per cent.

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted
Hi guys,

I'm looking for any of you out there that are living or have lived in the DC area. We are currently looking to move, as I may be getting a job there in the near future. I am trying to look for apartments, houses, etc in the area (not necc. right in DC but can be accessed easily) as well as childcare. There is myself, my husband and our 2 kids (ages 3 and 7 weeks) that would be moving. I really would appreciate any leads you may have!!

Derek and I live in Arlington, VA about 10 minutes drive from downtown DC. I have lived here since 1995 and lived in a bunch of different places from apartments to townhomes to a duplex. My first place I found through the Washington Post (washingtonpost.com) and this last place I found through apartmentratings.com. I have also heard good things about craigslist, but have not used it myself. Infidel is right that most people live in the burbs of Maryland or Virginia but I have a few friends that are very happy in DC itself. Be prepared for high cost of living especially if you want to live near the Metro as well as the horrendous traffic. And even though it snows every friggin' year, they act like they have never seen it before :lol:

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions and good luck with the move!

-kj

canadaC.gif - Derek usaCa.gif- KJ

TIMELINE

Civil Ceremony - 02/19/2005

I-130 Mailed Out - 02/25/2005

I-130 NOA1 - 03/04/2005

I-130 Approved - 04/07/2005

Pay I-864 - 05/13/2005

Return I-864 - 07/22/2005 *We mailed in the wrong birth certificate which led to a month or so delay*

Family Ceremony - 10/22/2005

Interview in Montreal - 12/22/2005

Activate Visa - 12/25/2005

Move to Virginia - 04/06/2006

Mailed I-751 - 11/02/2007

Received in Vermont - 11/05/2007

Check Cashed by VSC - 11/09/2007

Received NOA 1 - 11/10/2007

Biometrics - 01/10/2008

Card production ordered - 09/10/2008

Card received! - 09/17/2008

Now on to citizenship...

Posted

I live in Baltimore, but am planning to move to Silver Spring sometime soon.

Generally, "reasonable" areas include:

  • Fairfax City
  • Vienna/Merrifield
  • Alexandria (Fairfax County side)
  • Silver Spring (outside Beltway)
  • Laurel (at juncture of PG, Anne Arundel, and Howard counties)
  • Burtonsville
  • Columbia/Jessup (though you're starting to get a little far here)

2005/07/10 I-129F filed for Pras

2005/11/07 I-129F approved, forwarded to NVC--to Chennai Consulate 2005/11/14

2005/12/02 Packet-3 received from Chennai

2005/12/21 Visa Interview Date

2006/04/04 Pras' entry into US at DTW

2006/04/15 Church Wedding at Novi (Detroit suburb), MI

2006/05/01 AOS Packet (I-485/I-131/I-765) filed at Chicago

2006/08/23 AP and EAD approved. Two down, 1.5 to go

2006/10/13 Pras' I-485 interview--APPROVED!

2006/10/27 Pras' conditional GC arrives -- .5 to go (2 yrs to Conditions Removal)

2008/07/21 I-751 (conditions removal) filed

2008/08/22 I-751 biometrics completed

2009/06/18 I-751 approved

2009/07/03 10-year GC received; last 0.5 done!

2009/07/23 Pras files N-400

2009/11/16 My 46TH birthday, Pras N-400 approved

2010/03/18 Pras' swear-in

---------------------------------------------------------------------

As long as the LORD's beside me, I don't care if this road ever ends.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted

Awesome - thanks for the help so far! My biggest concern is finding a kid friendly area with decent schools and safe childcare. I'm going to start looking into some of the suggestions. I've heard really good things about Alexandria but I know it's pricey.

May 11 '09 - Case Approved 10 yr card in the mail

June - 10 yr card recieved

Feb. 19, 2010 - N-400 Application sent to Phoenix Lockbox

April 3, 2010 - Biometrics

May 17,2010 - Citizenship Test - Minneapolis, MN

July 16, 2010- Retest (writing portion)

October 13, 2010 - Oath Ceremony

Journey Complete!

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted

I'm in Culpeper VA, which is 90 minutes to 2 hours from DC depending on traffic. Yes, that's quite a hike to DC, but a good portion of the population here makes the drive. Housing is much cheaper than it is closer to DC. You could also check into Manassas and Stafford. They're both closer than I am, but cheaper than living further north. My advice on childcare would be to check out the place fully. I've heard some pretty nasty stories, and some really great ones.

-12/15/06 Mailed off I-129F

-12/19/06 NOA1 via email

-01/05/07 NOA2 via email

-01/13/07 NVC notice via snail mail

-01/25/07 Packet 3 arrives.

-02/22/07 Packet 3 is mailed.

-03/02/07 Medical

-03/13/07 Packet 4 arrives.

-03/16-24/07 Honey visits.

-04/02/07 Interview(Approved)

-04/10/07 Visa arrives.

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

I used to reside in the same aprtment as Derkkj, never did meet her or her husband,lol With regards to housing, it sort of depends where ur job will be! The beltway traffice (495) is crazy busy during rush hour, one can almost walk faster. The closer to one is to a metro station, the higher the rent. Once I have completed school, were moving out towards Baltimore MD, as housing prices decrease a bit and lower taxes. http://www.apartmentratings.com/ is a good place. We resided in barton House, a 1 bedroom top floor was $1281 a month, I'm sure it has gone up now. Great location, close to everything, but you pay for it. As well check out http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/ Best of luck

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

Posted
Awesome - thanks for the help so far! My biggest concern is finding a kid friendly area with decent schools and safe childcare. I'm going to start looking into some of the suggestions. I've heard really good things about Alexandria but I know it's pricey.

Old-Town Alexandra is somewhat pricier than the Fairfax County side.

A good complex in FC side Alex is Bren Mar (on Edsall Rd., the first exit off I-395--the extension of I-95 inside beltway to DC city). A 1-BR there runs $1,020-1,135 and has in-apartment laundry equipment, dishwasher, disposal and microwave; it is "walkable" (1-2 km) from Van-Dorn metro (and there is also a bus-stop just outside).

My associate pastor, who has three sons (ages 8, 6 and 3 as of 2006/12/31) lives nearby.

One fact is that you WILL need to shell out more than $800/mo for a 1-BR (and that's "bare-bones") if you're any closer to DC than Fredericksburg (halfway to Richmond).

2005/07/10 I-129F filed for Pras

2005/11/07 I-129F approved, forwarded to NVC--to Chennai Consulate 2005/11/14

2005/12/02 Packet-3 received from Chennai

2005/12/21 Visa Interview Date

2006/04/04 Pras' entry into US at DTW

2006/04/15 Church Wedding at Novi (Detroit suburb), MI

2006/05/01 AOS Packet (I-485/I-131/I-765) filed at Chicago

2006/08/23 AP and EAD approved. Two down, 1.5 to go

2006/10/13 Pras' I-485 interview--APPROVED!

2006/10/27 Pras' conditional GC arrives -- .5 to go (2 yrs to Conditions Removal)

2008/07/21 I-751 (conditions removal) filed

2008/08/22 I-751 biometrics completed

2009/06/18 I-751 approved

2009/07/03 10-year GC received; last 0.5 done!

2009/07/23 Pras files N-400

2009/11/16 My 46TH birthday, Pras N-400 approved

2010/03/18 Pras' swear-in

---------------------------------------------------------------------

As long as the LORD's beside me, I don't care if this road ever ends.

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted (edited)

Cost of living cane be rather pricey in the DC area, so take that in consideration when planning a move!!

Edited by flames9

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

Posted

Yeah when I was appartment hunting around DC in 2005 I was suprised to see the pricey areas.

We used to live (and will continue to live) in the Falls Church area just outside Arlington (10 miles from DC). It has some beautiful areas that you could check out and great for communiting.

Not sure about Child care but there are some great high schools such as J.E.B Stuart High and Falls Church high.

Tony (UK) and Danielle (US) K-1 Visa journey

2007:

February, 06: Sent I-129f package to the US to be routed to Vermont

February, 09: I-129f forwarded to Vermont USCIS from US Home

February, 12: I-129f arrives VSC :) Journey really starts!

February, 13: NOA1 Reciept date

February, 16: VSC Cashes the check

March, 09: NOA2 Email. yay!

March, 11: Touched... Probably for the last time at VSC :)

March, 14: NVC Recieved package

March, 15: NVC Sent package to London

March, 20: Package recieved in London

March, 28: Packet 3 recieved!

April, 2: Packet 3 Sent back to London

April, 10: Packet 3 recieved by London Embassy

April, 17: Packet 4 recieved

May, 1: Medical

May, 29: Interview! - APPROVED

June, 1: Visa in Hand

July 18: Fly back together POE

July, 24: Legally married!

July 27: Filed for AOS

July 30: AOS recieved in Chiacgo

August 24: NOA1 for EAD, AP and AOS

September 15: Real Marriage with friends and family

September 18: Biometrics

October 3: EAD card production ordered!

October 11: EAD card in hand!

October 15: Case forwarded to California!

Nov, 08: Card production ordered! AWESOME

Nov, 15: Green Card Recieved (even though it's yellow)! AWESOME

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Kazakhstan
Timeline
Posted
Awesome - thanks for the help so far! My biggest concern is finding a kid friendly area with decent schools and safe childcare. I'm going to start looking into some of the suggestions. I've heard really good things about Alexandria but I know it's pricey.

I don't know about many places around Northern Virginia. My coworker just got into a co-op town-house that is incredibly pricey in the Greenbelt area, but there are several co-ops that are really safe with good schools and very family-oriented. Silver Spring is decent and still on the metro line.

I'm a grad studying education right now, so I'll inquire with my professors and classmates (many of whom have children) which areas might have the best schools, etc., while you're looking into the other leads. ;)

10/16/05: Met Inessa

06/06/06: Black day - left Kazakhstan and Inessa

12/28/06: Met Inessa again in Kazakhstan

12/30/06: Met the father

01/04/07: Got engaged!

02/01/07: Received paperwork from Inessa...assembling...

02/05/07: I-129F in the mail express! ::sigh:: let the waiting begin...

02/09/07: NOA1 received

02/14/07: email confirmation of NOA2...so fast!

02/20/07: NOA2 received via mail

02/24/07: compiling my and co-sponsor's I-134

02/26/07: Called NVC, petition received 02/22 and sent to embassy

02/28/07: Received packet via email with appointment date: April 19th! This is awesome!

03/12/07: Set-back - the citizenship center in Ust ran out of paper(?!) and can't print her birth certificate

03/15/07: Inessa received petition copy and supporting documents from me

  • 2 months later...
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted

Hi I'm here again - so I've got a place ($1350 2br) in Alexandria and a preschool for my son, now we just have to get our life packed up and head out there! Btw - I'll be working on Capitol Hill and the place I found is btw. Pentagon City Metro and Van Dorn with a shuttle that runs to Pengtagon city in the mornings and evenings. Thanks so much for all your insite!!

May 11 '09 - Case Approved 10 yr card in the mail

June - 10 yr card recieved

Feb. 19, 2010 - N-400 Application sent to Phoenix Lockbox

April 3, 2010 - Biometrics

May 17,2010 - Citizenship Test - Minneapolis, MN

July 16, 2010- Retest (writing portion)

October 13, 2010 - Oath Ceremony

Journey Complete!

s-age.png

s-age.png

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted
Hi I'm here again - so I've got a place ($1350 2br) in Alexandria and a preschool for my son, now we just have to get our life packed up and head out there! Btw - I'll be working on Capitol Hill and the place I found is btw. Pentagon City Metro and Van Dorn with a shuttle that runs to Pengtagon city in the mornings and evenings. Thanks so much for all your insite!!

That's great! Sounds like you got a good place. Congratulations!

Let us know how it all goes!

canadaC.gif - Derek usaCa.gif- KJ

TIMELINE

Civil Ceremony - 02/19/2005

I-130 Mailed Out - 02/25/2005

I-130 NOA1 - 03/04/2005

I-130 Approved - 04/07/2005

Pay I-864 - 05/13/2005

Return I-864 - 07/22/2005 *We mailed in the wrong birth certificate which led to a month or so delay*

Family Ceremony - 10/22/2005

Interview in Montreal - 12/22/2005

Activate Visa - 12/25/2005

Move to Virginia - 04/06/2006

Mailed I-751 - 11/02/2007

Received in Vermont - 11/05/2007

Check Cashed by VSC - 11/09/2007

Received NOA 1 - 11/10/2007

Biometrics - 01/10/2008

Card production ordered - 09/10/2008

Card received! - 09/17/2008

Now on to citizenship...

Posted
Hi I'm here again - so I've got a place ($1350 2br) in Alexandria and a preschool for my son, now we just have to get our life packed up and head out there! Btw - I'll be working on Capitol Hill and the place I found is btw. Pentagon City Metro and Van Dorn with a shuttle that runs to Pengtagon city in the mornings and evenings. Thanks so much for all your insite!!

Pretty good price for a 2 bedroom.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, the 400 richest American households earned a total of $US138 billion, up from $US105 billion a year earlier. That's an average of $US345 million each, on which they paid a tax rate of just 16.6 per cent.

Posted
Hi I'm here again - so I've got a place ($1350 2br) in Alexandria and a preschool for my son, now we just have to get our life packed up and head out there! Btw - I'll be working on Capitol Hill and the place I found is btw. Pentagon City Metro and Van Dorn with a shuttle that runs to Pengtagon city in the mornings and evenings. Thanks so much for all your insite!!

Pretty good price for a 2 bedroom.

Dependent on area but...for a 2-BR in Alex, :yes:

2005/07/10 I-129F filed for Pras

2005/11/07 I-129F approved, forwarded to NVC--to Chennai Consulate 2005/11/14

2005/12/02 Packet-3 received from Chennai

2005/12/21 Visa Interview Date

2006/04/04 Pras' entry into US at DTW

2006/04/15 Church Wedding at Novi (Detroit suburb), MI

2006/05/01 AOS Packet (I-485/I-131/I-765) filed at Chicago

2006/08/23 AP and EAD approved. Two down, 1.5 to go

2006/10/13 Pras' I-485 interview--APPROVED!

2006/10/27 Pras' conditional GC arrives -- .5 to go (2 yrs to Conditions Removal)

2008/07/21 I-751 (conditions removal) filed

2008/08/22 I-751 biometrics completed

2009/06/18 I-751 approved

2009/07/03 10-year GC received; last 0.5 done!

2009/07/23 Pras files N-400

2009/11/16 My 46TH birthday, Pras N-400 approved

2010/03/18 Pras' swear-in

---------------------------------------------------------------------

As long as the LORD's beside me, I don't care if this road ever ends.

 

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