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Your personal experiences moving to another country

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   43,254

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted
32 minutes ago, mam521 said:

I'm Canuck, hubs is [...] British

Embarrassing: British Realize They've Been Using The Wrong Words For Hundreds Of Things | The Babylon Bee

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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Wuozopo
Wuozopo

Heh heh. I wear this t-shirt to our subdivision’s big 4th of July parade and picnic.

Wuozopo
Wuozopo

Things you have/haven't adapted to i think I settled in very quickly. Driving on the other side of the road is a piece of cake. Your brain just “flips”.Never homesick, not even a minute. Very hap

millefleur
millefleur

Obviously it differs a lot depending on what country your coming from. I think our situation was super different, but I read your story on your profile and it sounds like you guys will do great here!

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millefleur Veteran

millefleur   5,038

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted
35 minutes ago, mam521 said:

And Americans have no concept of good peanut butter!

Wait....what now? Please enlightenment me. I didn't realize different types of peanut butter existed! It's just...ground up nuts, with salt sometimes? :D

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview ⌛

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

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Wuozopo Veteran

Wuozopo   4,285

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
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@mam521

My Texan wife has comments.

 

I have to give Texans credit - they LOVE Texas. They have no idea why they love Texas but fly that Lonestar flag mightily, belting out "DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS!", knowing that they will live and die for Texas. 
We are indoctrinated at an early age that we are better than the other states. We are told the Texas flag can fly at the same height as the American flag because we were an independent nation, the Republic of Texas. Remember the Alamo!   Texas history is required in school. A whole year of it.  The whole of the UK could fit inside the borders of Texas.
 

They will defend their Whataburger until the end of time and tell you it's the only fast food burger there is. 

Yes, it is the best burger. And the ketchup is the best and comes in little tubs easy for dipping fries, instead of those packets you have to squirt out. And they make malts, not to be confused with shakes the other places have.

 

Don't mess with authentic Texas BBQ - that's fight worthy. 
Yes it is great. We grow up with it so that sweet sauce from Kansas or wherever just doesn’t quite do. Have you ever been to Cork Screw BBQ? 
 

And legitimate Tex-Mex - not able to be replicated elsewhere, according to Texans. 

You got that right. The first thing I do when returning from abroad is head to a Mexican food place, straight from the airport.
 

Buc-ee's is kinda like a religion.

I know Beaver Aplin personally as far back as his first few stores. The whole Buc-ees explosion astounds me too. It’s all about the restrooms.

 

The roads are ridiculous - I10 is a special skillset all in itself to learn to drive on. 
.Agree. And I-35, I-45.. 
 

The bluebonnets are quite pretty and you can get a vanity license plate with them on there if you like.   
Have one. Seriously I do.

 

We native Texans can’t help it. We were born that way. 😂 

 

3 hours ago, mam521 said:

Fireworks.  Good lord.…….They pop off fireworks for days and you see on the neighbourhood social media pages "was that a gun shot or fireworks?". 

You nailed that. Do you live in our neighborhood?  We get the same. It must be universal

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mam521 Proficient

mam521   1,742

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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Posted
7 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Embarrassing: British Realize They've Been Using The Wrong Words For Hundreds Of Things | The Babylon Bee

Us poor Canadians are stuck in the middle of this language mess! 
 

7 hours ago, millefleur said:

Wait....what now? Please enlightenment me. I didn't realize different types of peanut butter existed! It's just...ground up nuts, with salt sometimes? :D

Oh heck no! Never that simple! 
 

@Wuozopo let your wife know that I had a good chuckle! 
 

The Madisonville Buc-ee’s usually has a lineup down the off ramp to get in there. If you need to pee, don’t bother thinking you’re stopping there! 
 

The worst was fireworks on Christmas Eve. Poor parents in our hood were trying to get Littles to bed so Santa could come and these bozos were setting them off in quantity! I just don’t understand the obsession - set up camp with a portable fire pit at the end of the driveway, lawn chairs and a beer cooler, get loaded and shoot off explosives. Just…strange. 

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 FAQ

 

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 Visa spreadsheet: follow directions at top of page for data to be added

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   43,254

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted
2 hours ago, mam521 said:

Us poor Canadians are stuck in the middle of this language mess, eh! 

Grammar corrected, eh.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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