pgmsc

When did he get his ID? That could have been a major obstacle in him finding a job. Also, does he have a specialized field he is trying to stay within or is he looking for any job(within reason)? It might be a good thing he didn't drive in the UK so he's not overlapping rules and laws and having to overcome an intense desire to drive in the left-hand lane.

He did take lessons in the UK, but I don't think he'd been driving long enough to mess him up (too much!). He doesn't have a specialized field, so he's looking for pretty much anything. I think part of the problem is that a lot of the places he's applied used software to validate SSNs since he's been applying online, and since his SSN is brand new, he comes up blank and probably bumps him to the bottom of the applicant pile, He got his ID about two weeks ago, now (which is so much fun to do in Georgia). It's just frustrating to have to work so hard to make him "exist" in the US!

We had a bit of a time getting Paul established as well. We tried the BlueBird thing at WalMart and a couple of other prepaid credit cards. Nothing! They kept saying he wasn't showing up at all. I finally ended up taking him down to the local bank here and taking out a small loan and co-signing with him just to get him some credit history going(not the route we wanted to go, but hey). I'd added him to my credit card as an authorized user but that was also of little use. Good luck with getting him established, it will take some time, but it will happen. Within a month of him having his EAD/AP card he had a full-time job so that was fantastic!

We, too, are in Georgia. We had to wash the pollen off our cars last week...in January.

Finally got him added to my credit union accounts and got him an ID, so that's a start. He needs to get cracking on his driving permit now, so with luck he'll be ready to get a driver's license by the end of summer (he never had to drive in the UK, so never bothered to learn). He's having a horrible time finding a job, so that has also been discouraging. Congrats on him landing a job so quickly!

And the pollen is ridiculous. I'm really allergic and get shots. The pond outside where I work is already getting that yellow film. I fear for a bad allergy season this year!

Has he tried applying for a Capital One secured card? I too was "nobody" and I'm good to go now!

Give it a shot. Costs $49 for a $200 limit and then he'll be on the map

I finally got him added to my credit union checking account and credit card as we managed to get him a state-issued ID. CapitalOne and Ally Bank were no-go's as he had no history.

Thank you! Can anyone reading this who has been in the States for more than, say 10 years, tell us if the homesickness ever goes away completely?

I don't know that it ever really goes away. Obviously, I've lived in the US all my life, but it's a big place and I've lived in different regions. I grew up in Maine, moved to Florida at 19 and lived there about 12 years, and have been in Atlanta for the last 5. It took a long time for Florida to feel like home, and Atlanta is just starting to. There are things I miss about living in Maine and Florida - I don't know that it ever really goes away, but I don't hate Atlanta anymore, so I suppose that is a plus. (Although, if anyone knows anyone hiring for certified fraud examiners in the Boston/New England area - contact me!).

On the adjustment side of things for my hubby, he says he's starting to feel ok about being here, but there are some things that are really annoying. After 7 weeks, we've finally gotten him a state-issued ID (after a lot of runaround because Georgia requires a lot of paperwork to verify you) and having a hard time getting him established. We haven't been able to add him to any of my bank accounts. Two of them say it's because nothing comes up when they run his SSN (and luckily for him, his number was assigned out of the 700 block previously reserved for the Railroad Board, so it either comes up as an invalid number or no information at all), and to try back in 12 months once he's established himself. The other, my credit union, required a state ID, which he was having a hard time getting because he needed two proofs of residency (such as utility bills - try adding him to an account with a SSN that comes up blank), so we couldn't add him to that. Hopefully, now that he has the state ID, we can go back to the credit union and add him to that checking account and credit card account, and maybe in the next month or so it will finally look like he exists here. All of this baloney has really gotten him down because he knows it's partly why he's having a hard time finding a job, and he's tired of feeling like a leech (even though he's not and I really and truly appreciate what he does at home!). I knew it was going to be a hard adjustment, but it really gets to you when you're in the middle of it.

Oh, and the laundry thing - that might have to do with a homeowner association rule. Some places are incredibly strict and won't let you do certain things for appearances' sake, and they'll fine you if you're caught doing it. That might be what your husband meant. My husband wants to hang out our laundry, too, but I have to keep explaining to him that he can't because we live in the pollen capital of the country, I'm really allergic to pollen, and his clothes will all turn yellow .

To be honest, I am scared to death !! I am a french canadian and going to the US where I would not be able to speak french freaks me out ! Also the healthcare system there gives me the creeps ! The only thing I am looking foward to is to finally be with my love and that is all that matters !

If you end up in New England, you'll still hear people speaking French. Also, I recommend the La Kermesse Festival that they hold in Biddeford, Maine . Vive la Canadienne!

def not the whole of US... but in GA it is... you got to stock up.

Depends where in GA - most counties and municipalities now allow it, although you might still need to wait until after noontime.

My husband arrived here on 12/14/12 and received his green card on 12/30/12.

I had a bit of a headache with getting my husband on, too, but finally got it done. The carriers don't need to have a SSN (they have to add the person manually, but a person is not required to have a SSN and they can't deny someone for that). I also had the problem about the NHS coverage, but my HR person got on the phone with them and explained the life change was immigration, used my husband's POE date as the effective date, and told the carrier that he was previously covered under the UK's national plan. She finally got it through, so a bit of a pain but can be done. If your HR person doesn't get it, try calling the insurance company directly, or see if there is a way to get in touch with your company's insurance representative directly.

Honestly, I think you will be fine. If your husband can walk to the shops, buy himself things he needs and explore his surroundings by either train or bus I think he will be absolutely fine. Us Brits are resourceful so and so's really, and it's only those of us who are completely marooned and utterly dependent on our other halves when we get to the States that struggle so much, it seems to me. Truly, had I been able to get around by myself and learn about the money and shops etc by experience I think I would have been fine too - maybe a little homesick but basically fine. The 'head in the sand' attitude is the typical British 'stiff upper lip' syndrome that you are seeing here I am afraid. We are all brought up not to share our feelings incase we seem to be complaining or moaning! Your husband is probably trying to look after you by pretending not to be stressed so that you don't get worried - which of course has the opposite effect!! Please try not to worry - I think you will be pleasantly surprised. My situation is not at all like yours and can't be compared - I live in a beautiful neighbourhood, miles from anywhere, that seems to be completely deserted all the time. I have even though of holding a couple of seances to get in touch with the living!!!! So my thoughts to you? 'Keep Calm and Carry On' !!! :rofl: <br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(243, 249, 246);">Lots of luck for the future (but I don't think you will need to much of it). xx

Thanks . I really hope I'm just doing my typical worrying about everything, but it's hard not to. And I do try to remind myself daily - I had to buy a mug that I keep on my desk! Anyway, you hang in there, too - maybe you can come out this way to visit and wander around together .

My wife and I live in the UK whilst she finishes her studies, and i am moving over with her next year (june hopefully) to live in the US. We sent the i-130 form off with all correct (again, hopefully) documentation in September, and shortly received the N0A1. It's been 3 months now and my application is still pending. Surely i should have received something by now? How long does it usually take to receive the N0A2? The average application for my office is 5.4 months (Oct 2012), is this the time from them accepting the form to receiving the visa?

My husband and I are just about finishing, and we also went through VSC. It took us about 6 months to get the NOA2 after the NOA1, and about 3 months from the time it went through NVC to the interview date. The 5.4 months is just for the time it takes to review the I130 petition; it doesn't include the time it takes to get processed by the NVC, although that bit tends to go faster depending on the country (and the UK is relatively quick). If you sent everything off in September, you'll probably be right around that June time period, assuming the time line for Vermont doesn't drastically change and you don't have anything unusual with your application. Good luck!

I have to say, I've been worrying about this a lot. My husband gets here next week, and every time I try to talk to him about it and try to prepare him for some of the changes, he just tells me not to worry about it and he'll be fine. I know it'll be a while before he can drive (where we are at requires a copy of the SSN card to apply even for a driver's permit), so I moved to an apartment within spitting distance of the train/bus station so he has a way to get around now and we can both get around when we need to share the car (a second car just isn't in the budget). The city I am in walkable, and I tried to make sure we were nearby to anything we could need (grocery, pharmacy, dog park). It's a little frustrating for me because I know he's stressed about moving here but he won't talk to me about it and it sometimes feels like he's sticking his head in the sand and hoping it will all go away (kind of like what he did with the immigration paperwork - as in, I did it all).

However, I also have my final paper for my graduate course, and I have to worry about that, too. I need to stop stressing about what might happen when he gets here, and wait until the proverbial doo-doo hits the fan. I just hope that once he's here, he and I both can quickly settle into things. And I thought all the I130 and NVC stuff was worrisome.

I saw an old guy leaving a supermarket in Maine with his Red Sox pajamas and slippers on with a 12 pack under his arm at about 8pm. What was unusual for me was that it was a 12 pack of Coke under his arm. Not beer!

You must have seen my Dad - Coke is his drink of choice

Does anyone know HOW up to date that I864 needs to be for the interview? I left an "updated" one with my husband mid-November.... will I have to get him another one before his Jan 11 interview?

You should be fine - since the interview is in January, you won't have filed your taxes for 2012 yet so things wouldn't have changed drastically. I might just send him copies of your most recent paystubs to take with him as confirmation that your situation hasn't changed dramatically, and it's only about two months old. Good luck with the interview

I am loving your timeline! lol hopefully mine will be similar!

The first bit felt like it took forever, but once we got the I130 approved, it went really quick. I hope you get through as quickly!

And poutine!

Mmmm... love poutine - haven't had it in forever!

Wow - just wanted to say how surprised I am at how quickly Paul's passport came back. Our interview was on Thursday, 11/8 and he got his passport/visa delivered this morning, 11/14! That was with the holiday on Monday

Ughhhhh delay after delay after misunderstanding after delay. Sometimes I wonder WHY I even bother. Well I guess I will just read through my 1100 pieces of VJ mail. So sad and disappointed right now. Another flippin month of NVC. Sorry can't fake my disappoinment. I am utterly sad! I need wine and Ice Cream. :crying:

Because in the end, you get to be with your loved one. We have to keep reminding ourselves of that (even if mine is starting to get a bit annoying on the phone - we're both over this whole darn thing). I'm so sorry this is dragging on, though - I'm sending you a virtual pint of B&J and some chardonnay!

4 more days till interview! Lord have mercy! Trying to keep busy So I don't think bout it. Lol geez this is hard to do.

Break a leg!

OMG I got the call at work this morning on my mobile at 9.30 am! This rather unfriendly-sounding person person asked who I was when I answered and then said 'This is the London Embassy - I'm calling to reschedule your interview'!!! Thanks to the wonderful heads up on this site, I was ready for her and immediately launched into 'Oh I am so sorry that is simply not possible because ....... and gave her all my reasons. I know I sounded a bit hysterical and the lady then sounded very cross and fed up and said 'OK well just leave it then but they have too many for November'. I almost dropped when I put the phone down - but is it now ok I wonder? There are still two whole weeks to go - will I get a call from them again and this time not be able to keep my interview or will they send a letter? I have now emailed the Embassy again stating my reasons for absolutely needing the interview FOR THE DATE THEY SCHEDULED IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Please can anyone else who has had this experience post it on here or under the new thread I have started called 'November intervews' so we can see how many people have almost had heart attacks this month?!!

Any past DCFers had this experience?

I'm glad I posted that tidbit then! I think you'll be fine. My husband said he was told he'd be sent another letter because they changed the time (9:30 to 9:00am - what difference 30 minutes makes, I don't know), but if they didn't change yours at all, I think you just need to show up with your original appointment letter.

OMG I really hope everything will be ok. Did you happen to notice if your call came up as 'unknown number'?

I always say beware of left field! You try to imagine all the things that could go wrong and come up with answers for each eventuality and then the one thing that you have absolutely never even dreamed of comes flying at you out of left field and smacks you in the face!!

Good luck to all us November interviewees. Honestly, how can they even think of doing this when we have all had to live without plans for months and months and then when we finally dare to make some once we get our interview dates ............ helllllllllp!

My hubby got the call, and he doesn't have caller ID on his home phone (he's a horrible technophobe). it's crazy, and I'm guessing that the woman who called him hasn't had much luck in getting people to reschedule. It's not our fault if they overbooked, given how long we've all been waiting, I can't imagine many people would be willing to push back their appointment dates.

Do you think? Or would they then just send me a letter saying my interview had been moved?? I just phoned the extortion line at the embassy on the pretext of making sure that they got the recorded delivery letter I sent them giving my husband's details so that he would be expected at the interview. The young Scottish man I spoke to said I should email the embassy (gave me londoniv@state.gov addy) just to make sure, but when I asked for a code to put in the title (which other VJers have talked about on here) he said I didn't need one. When I asked if my appointment was all fine to go ahead he said he had no information on interview appointments which, of course, is rubbish. Oh dear oh dear oh dear!! Curiouser and curiouser - and I really do feel like Alice in this crazy journey! I have just sent an email saying that I was confirming that they knew my husband would be attending the interview as he was travelling from the States especially. Will they take pity on me? Please keep everything crossed for me guys!

If they call you, just tell them your husband is attending with you - my husband told him I was going over, and he thinks that's why the woman didn't change the date - only the appointment time. Good luck!

Had my original interview date on 11/13. Had my medical yesterday, emailed the embassy and they moved me up to 11/6! That's next Tuesday!! Both nervous and excited!

Yay!!!

Head's up to UK folks with November interviews - my husband got a call from the US Embassy in London this morning to tell him they were overbooked for November and to see if he would move his appointment back a few weeks. He explained that I was travelling to London to attend, so we were able to keep the same date, but now have a different appointment time.

Head's up to UK folks with November interviews - my husband got a call from the US Embassy in London this morning to tell him they were overbooked for November and to see if he would move his appointment back a few weeks. He explained that I was travelling to London to attend, so we were able to keep the same date, but now have a different appointment time. Just wanted to give people a head's up.

Head's up to my fellow UK interviewees for November - my husband got a call from the US Embassy in London this morning telling him they were overbooked for November and tried to move his appointment a few weeks back! Apparently, the only thing that helped us to keep our date was the fact that I had already made arrangements to travel to London to attend, so they only changed our appointment time. Just wanted to give you all a head's up in case you get phone calls as well!

her medical is in a few hours time then interview 13th nov, flight booked for 30th nov, a late thanksgiving, then a big welcome party, oh yeh then christmas.......been an expensive year, but cannot put a price on your kids can you

Hope it went well!