perfect

One of the things I miss the most!!
I have what is considered very generous time off - which is unusual here - 3 weeks paid vacation (15 days) - 5 days personal time and 8 sick days per year.
However, compared with my 42 days (just vacation) when I left the UK it sucks!
My son who works for a global company here in SoCal gets 3 weeks a year (15 days) but that combines vacation, personal and sick leave - they are not broken out separately!
Also, culturally here (at least in Southern California), it is frowned upon to take ANY time off for any reason and it gets very wearing knowing that you have such limited work/life balance. If my husband would consider moving to the UK - that would be one reason I would move back TBH!

One of the things I miss the most!!
I have what is considered very generous time off - which is unusual here - 3 weeks paid vacation (15 days) - 5 days personal time and 8 sick days per year.
However, compared with my 42 days (just vacation) when I left the UK it sucks!
My son who works for a global company here in SoCal gets 3 weeks a year (15 days) but that combines vacation, personal and sick leave - they are not broken out separately!
Also, culturally here (at least in Southern California), it is frowned upon to take ANY time off for any reason and it gets very wearing knowing that you have such limited work/life balance. If my husband would consider moving to the UK - that would be one reason I would move back TBH!

I had been a single parent for 14 years when I met my SO and thought about moving here. My son being 15 at the time was in two minds about coming to the US but decided to stay behind to finish school in the UK, rather than having to do 2 more years in school in the US system. Hard as it was, I think we both benefitted from that decision. He felt he had some in-put in the decision and I enjoyed time being a newly wed with my new husband. I let my son decide how much he wanted to speak by phone or Skype so as to minimise any feelings of sadness or loss or whatever a 15 year old might feel. He grew up a lot during this time and it was absolutely the best decision we made. Generally I have no regrets about it, although I did have to grow a very thick skin and learn not to care or be influenced by other people's feeligs about it. Unless they have walked in your shoes they are not qualified to comment on your decision.

I work for one of the biggest law firms in California as an Assistant (we have 14 offices around the world)!
I don't think you will have any problem finding employment, actually, or have to take a huge pay cut if you land a large firm.
Good luck - will keep my eyes and ears open and let you know if I hear of anything coming up.
Cooley is currently looking for a Legal Secretary in LA - http://selfapply.xapps.cooley.com/cooleyvi/CooleyVI_S.aspx
Crowell is looking for a litigation Assistant - https://careers.crowell.com/viRecruitSelfApply/ReDefault.aspx?Tag=D471085B81084B25971C485FAD2ABB01

Rather than committing to a company when I first received my EAD, because I wasn't sure where my skillset, personality would best fit the US job market, I decided to temp for agencies for the first 6 months. That helped a lot actually in deciding what kind of job I wanted. More than one of those positions wanted to convert me to an employee, but I declined because I had figured out that wasn't what I wanted to do.
I had no problem whatsoever getting temp jobs for the whole 6 months and thereafter have had 2 full-time permanent positions in 10 years! (both of which paid over $55000). My first job I was a PA/EA to a CEO/corporate legal department and from there within the same company I was promoted with a $10000 pay rise then laid off after almost 5 years when the company went under. I currently work a 37½ hour week and earn more than $70000 in a law firm. Worst thing about California from my experience is that you may have to commute a pretty long time. not necessarily far, but in South Orange County at least, the traffic or horrendous! oh....and lack of vacation time! Hate that.....
I have actually found that being English-speaking but with a "different" accent than American, has significantly been to my advantage! People also have been impressed by my commitment and "courage" in giving up everything back home to move here for "love"!

Shocked at the speed at which my son and daughter-in-law have received their AOS interview appointment - January 8!



Son & Daughter-in-Law - AOS Journey



August 6, 2015 - Married

October 5 - Mailed package - (day 1)

October 6 - Package Received - (day 2)

October 14 - NOA-1 Notice Date- (day 10)

October 15 - Check cashed - (day 11)

October 15 - Text Notification Received - (day 11)

October 17 - Biometrics Notice date - (day 13)

October 29 - Request for initial evidence - (day 25) somehow managed to use an outdated I-864 form....uuggh

November 2 - Biometrics date - (day 29)

November 3 - RFE Received - (day 30)

November 5 - Response to RFE mailed by overnight Fed-Ex - (day 32)

November 6 - Response to RFE delivered to USCIS (day 33)

November 10 - USCIS updated case to "we received your response to our Request for Evidence for your Form I-485" (day 37)

December 2 - USCIS mailed letter with interview date of January 8, 2016! (day 59)

January 9 - AOS Interview (Day 96)

my daughter in law was turned away from her biometrics appointment because the name in her passport was not the same as the name on her biometric appointment letter!
They asked her to go and get a copy of her marriage certificate and return the same day to get her fingerprints done. Thankfully the vital records office was only a mile away so instead of driving 15 miles home to get it, we just drove a mile and paid for another copy! Then biometrics office got her in and out within 10 minutes!

I know this has been covered in abundance!
I am trying to help my daughter-in-law with her AOS paperwork.
I can't find it on the visa anywhere
It's not handwritten by CBP on her entry stamp
We can't find the NOA2 for the I-129F
Any ideas peeps?
Thank you.

I'm the same vintage as you are with some of the same troubles when I first arrived here ten years ago!
Even community college wouldn't let me enroll and wanted me to get my GCE O'level certificates which were lost years before. The exam board doesn't even exist anymore and the high school I went to doesn't exist either. I decided I wasn't going to go that route and always put "united Kingdom education" (One employer in CA told me that UK education as was back in the 1980s is equivalent to an AA here anyway and he wasn't remotely concerned about it!)
I always answer yes to the question did I graduate and yes to GED and if there is a box marked other put "United Kingdom education" and let them know that I have the equivalent or more. It's worked since I have always managed to get interviews and have been employed for all but 9 months of my time here after receiving EAD in well-paid professional jobs.
Also, try and use recruiters if you can - they will give you skills tests which are work-related and which can act as part of your marketing plan, thereby circumventing the need for outdated education certificates anyway!
Hope that helps and good luck. Keep your chin up.

LinkedIn for sure! Make a good profile....it acts as your online bio/resume. Get people you have worked with to make recommendations....these act as your on online references.
It saves a couple of steps for potential employers....helps them to review you before interview and having to contact former employers. I get connected frequently through people on LinkedIn who have matched my skills and experience with an opening they are looking to fill.
Glassdoor I use more for reviewing the culture of companies I'm interested in.....reviews given by employees and former employees. If I don't like what I read consistently I usually don't interview at that company! Saves me time and drama!
I like Indeed.com most for overall job hunting as it collates jobs from all other major jobs boards. If you are in IT, the. Dice.com and Cybercoders.com are more specific to you!
Hope that helps.

Or...she may be thinking U visa which would be much easier for her to get. Alll she really has to do is report that she was the victim of a crime (check) and prove that she reported it to the police (check) and they investigated. No arrests actually need to happen! She may be aware that VAWA is not going to work......U visa probably will! Just a thought......I work in a large law firm and we have (sadly) dealt with many similar cases and almost every time, the U visa was obtained.

I've found that showing that I had a "United Kingdom general education" and having a neutral British accent has opened up many doors, even though I don't have a degree. I found ways to make my resume stand out from my competition and have only been unemployed for 9 months during the ten years I've been here (and that was because of a reduction in force). Otherwise I have held jobs in which the job description stated it required a degree and which have paid on the higher end ($25-$41 per hour, and I'm only in the admin field, nothing special!). I think if you can market yourself and interview well...lack of a degree shouldn't stop you getting a good job. Even Google recognizes that experience over a degree (which it used to insist on) actually isn't best practice!
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-google-hires-people-2013-6
http://venturebeat.com/2014/04/25/why-google-doesnt-care-about-college-degrees-in-5-quotes/
Maybe the market place you're in makes a difference too - I'm in Southern California. Also agree with Novedsac that getting a good recruiter who will properly market your skills and experience is important. Pick one that is not just a glorified sales rep who is trying to put bums on seats but one who wants to place you in a long-term career position for the good of you and the company!
Hope that helps

I'm the same vintage as you are with some of the same troubles when I first arrived here ten years ago!
Even community college wouldn't let me enroll and wanted me to get my GCE O'level certificates which were lost years before. The exam board doesn't even exist anymore and the high school I went to doesn't exist either. I decided I wasn't going to go that route and always put "united Kingdom education" (One employer in CA told me that UK education as was back in the 1980s is equivalent to an AA here anyway and he wasn't remotely concerned about it!)
I always answer yes to the question did I graduate and yes to GED and if there is a box marked other put "United Kingdom education" and let them know that I have the equivalent or more. It's worked since I have always managed to get interviews and have been employed for all but 9 months of my time here after receiving EAD in well-paid professional jobs.
Also, try and use recruiters if you can - they will give you skills tests which are work-related and which can act as part of your marketing plan, thereby circumventing the need for outdated education certificates anyway!
Hope that helps and good luck. Keep your chin up.

I'm the same vintage as you are with some of the same troubles when I first arrived here ten years ago!
Even community college wouldn't let me enroll and wanted me to get my GCE O'level certificates which were lost years before. The exam board doesn't even exist anymore and the high school I went to doesn't exist either. I decided I wasn't going to go that route and always put "united Kingdom education" (One employer in CA told me that UK education as was back in the 1980s is equivalent to an AA here anyway and he wasn't remotely concerned about it!)
I always answer yes to the question did I graduate and yes to GED and if there is a box marked other put "United Kingdom education" and let them know that I have the equivalent or more. It's worked since I have always managed to get interviews and have been employed for all but 9 months of my time here after receiving EAD in well-paid professional jobs.
Also, try and use recruiters if you can - they will give you skills tests which are work-related and which can act as part of your marketing plan, thereby circumventing the need for outdated education certificates anyway!
Hope that helps and good luck. Keep your chin up.

I'm the same vintage as you are with some of the same troubles when I first arrived here ten years ago!
Even community college wouldn't let me enroll and wanted me to get my GCE O'level certificates which were lost years before. The exam board doesn't even exist anymore and the high school I went to doesn't exist either. I decided I wasn't going to go that route and always put "united Kingdom education" (One employer in CA told me that UK education as was back in the 1980s is equivalent to an AA here anyway and he wasn't remotely concerned about it!)
I always answer yes to the question did I graduate and yes to GED and if there is a box marked other put "United Kingdom education" and let them know that I have the equivalent or more. It's worked since I have always managed to get interviews and have been employed for all but 9 months of my time here after receiving EAD in well-paid professional jobs.
Also, try and use recruiters if you can - they will give you skills tests which are work-related and which can act as part of your marketing plan, thereby circumventing the need for outdated education certificates anyway!
Hope that helps and good luck. Keep your chin up.

How about getting your state Department of Labor involved?

You are correct! it is your right to marry whomever you wish within the laws governing the state you live in......
It is however, not a right to bring them here to live......

You are correct! it is your right to marry whomever you wish within the laws governing the state you live in......
It is however, not a right to bring them here to live......

You are correct! it is your right to marry whomever you wish within the laws governing the state you live in......
It is however, not a right to bring them here to live......

I don't believe we should assume that what was reported was the truth until it's established in fact!
I for one believe that his wife is milking it - is jealous of all the attention he got and will do anything to screw him and make him look bad.
I just get a bad feeling about her....

I come from Norfolk, England (and always refer to it as about 120 North of London because Americans have no other point of reference!!) - they also think that everyone from England must know the people they know in England!!
My accent is very neutral but still I get the blank looks and requests to repeat myself. I have found Americans respond best to short sentences (their sentence structure is different from ours). They also don't use the same words or don't use the same words the same way so using typical English words sometimes causes confusion. I laugh it off now and just say - that mush be an "Englishism" and they think it's quaint.
I also found that most English people of our experience were taught how to answer a phone professionally (unlike most Americans I have met - sorry!) and people have actually thought my voice was an answering machine and hang up because I answer "thank for your calling "company name" - my name is "x" - how can I help" - which is hilarious!
FYI - I live in California which is a melting pot of cultures and languages and it's still tough!!
Learn to laugh and have fun with it - even in front of other people - it will put them at ease and hopefully help them help you settle in...

Here's my own experience and I do believe there are other factors at play - it's not just about whether or not you have a degree - it's whether you have relevant experience in place of a degree, where you live ( I live in Orange County, California) and how you come across at interview:
Once I had my EAD I didn't know where my skills and personality would be best suited in the US job market so I became a temp with an employment agency for 6 months. ($25 ph)
Another temp agency helped me get a position which lasted five years - starting pay $55k - got laid off in reduction in force - ending pay $65k
Unemployed 9 months April 2010 to Jan 2011 - but ended up with 54 interviews and 5 job offers - none of which paid less than $55k and landed a job in which starting pay was $72500 and now earning $76k.
I do not have a degree of any kind and work in administrative positions as an Executive Assistant -so it can be done if all the factors are in your favor if you can find a company who will look past your lack of degree!!
Good luck.

Technically isn't a K-1 (Fiancee) considered a non-immigrant visa?

Technically isn't a K-1 (Fiancee) considered a non-immigrant visa?

I had been a single parent for 14 years when I met my SO and thought about moving here. My son being 15 at the time was in two minds about coming to the US but decided to stay behind to finish school in the UK, rather than having to do 2 more years in school in the US system. Hard as it was, I think we both benefitted from that decision. He felt he had some in-put in the decision and I enjoyed time being a newly wed with my new husband. I let my son decide how much he wanted to speak by phone or Skype so as to minimise any feelings of sadness or loss or whatever a 15 year old might feel. He grew up a lot during this time and it was absolutely the best decision we made. Generally I have no regrets about it, although I did have to grow a very thick skin and learn not to care or be influenced by other people's feeligs about it. Unless they have walked in your shoes they are not qualified to comment on your decision.