codie

the doctor i visited here in MD tried to charge me $250 and i argued that i had already paid for an exam in London,i showed him the conditions for the K! visa and that a second exam is not required,i said i would ring immigration and check if he was right,he replied that i cant ring them only e mail them and i said thats funny because i rang them the other week,so he told me to come back the next day and he would check.Next day i went back,he said he wouldnt need to do the exam and only charged me for a flu jab and the 2nd MMR that i had missed,he wasnt exactly friendly about it,neither did he admit being wrong,maybe they dont know,or maybe they try it on ? but i didnt pay

they didnt make a fuss for me either,they asked me when was my last visit to the states,how many times i had been,they asked to see my return ticket,i offered all the proof i had brought with me in a file ( i was nervous too ) mortgage statement,car park ticket at Manchester airport,car and my van registration documents,but she didnt want to see them ! she even smiled and sort of chuckled,i guess she could see i was nervous,its better to take proof just in case but dont worry,they see people everyday visiting fiances and girlfriends,oh and dress smart,clean and looking like you are not coming for a better life ( an immigration officer gave me that advise ) like ASDA say...every little helps ! have a great trip

The US is the best of the rest, which is why so many are trying to come here. Not perfect, but a helluva lot better than the other options. Most people might be surprised that China is not a bad place to live today. I lived and worked there for six years. Now, during my time I noticed that I felt more safe on the street and had less intrusion into my personal life than that in the US. But, they've got big problems with pollution, corruption, and third-world medical care facilities. The trade-off isn't worth it.

I would not consider the European and Latin options as they are more closely aligned with socialism and do not have the same rewards for hard work as America. But, then again, I'm a Libertarian so I take notice of the differences the US Constitution and the Rule of Law offer when compared to other countries.

Best of the rest ? Hahahahahah Yeah right ! Maybe if you are from albania or china yes it is better, I wouldnt say the USA is a better place than europe for a standard of living or happiness,no way ! the US is a country of extremes,huge riches and for others terrible poverty,europe has a better healthcare system by far,unless you are rich that is !!! I wouldnt say i felt more safe here either,in fact for the first time in my life im starting to notice neighbourhoods and whether they are good or bad or what ethnic people tend to live there,for the first time in my life im understanding why some have guns in their homes,i wouldnt say the constitution offers more protection either than anywhere else in europe,especially not better than Great Britain bearing in mind that the first 14 articles or so in the constitution are taken from English laws some of which go back to Magna Carta,and basically, its a British document with a few ammendments,and besides that,rights are often forgotten when stood on a kerbside with two cops regardless of whether you live in Chicago or Paris or London,maybe the cops in London would be more tolerant in fact !!!!

​This is a very interesting topic,let me tell you about what happened in LA when an elderly couple from yorkshire on a coach tour holiday decided to go for an after dinner walk one evening from their overnight hotel.The cops pulled up beside them,they asked what they were doing walking in the neighbourhood,they asked them where they were from,where they were staying,then they insisted on taking them back to their hotel in the police car where the cops asked to see the hotel manager,they gave the manager a dressing down for not advising his guests that walking wasn't a good idea when the hotel was only 2 blocks from a very bad neighbourhood ! Was this a breach of the couples rights ? It seems to me that cops have a job to do and people walking along a highway may attract attention since most people dont walk unless its in the park or by the lakes they prefer to drive even if its to the next block,even sidewalks are not that common where i live,you get one sidewalk on one side of the road and few street lights except at junctions and intersections.Maybe a polite question to the officer why he had stopped me would have been better than asking if i was being detained,maybe giving your name and a reason why im walking would have been wiser, and also thanking the officer for bringing to my attention that it was a high crime area ''i didnt know that officer,thank goodness you told me, its a good job i dont have my wallet with me ''

wasn't it Napolean that once said ''Good politics is making people believe that they have Freedom '' ??

we used the name in the passport and the name used on all previous forms,we just thought that it would be less complicated and avoid further delays,we havent had any problems at all

Hi

Im just going through the same thing here but in Maryland,ive had to sit a written drugs and alcohol test,and a written driving test and i have a driving test later this month,there isnt any other option really to get a licence here,the good thing is that the written tests are a doddle,so much easier than the UK tests, and going on what ive experienced with the quality of driving expertise since living here, im anticipating that the driving test wont be too hard either,so just do it

And its always good to have plenty of proof that you wiill be returning to your home country 'just in case' they ask searching questions,i.e.bank statements,mortgage or rent statements,proof of a job,car park reservation ticket at the airport,latest household bills,credit cards,debit cards,cash to keep you going for some while and anything that an IO can see ties you to your homeland and convinces him you will return to your home.

You should be ok if you have been before and returned home,but for my own peace of mind when visiting my american girlfriend/fiance i took extra stuff with me so there was no doubt i had ties to home.only once was i asked about ties and i produced my file,they didnt look at it but merely said ok thats fine.

Its good to have evidence and thats the advice i was given by an immigration officer friend of mine at Heathrow,it saves them hassle too !

Listen to the advice,you cant work legally without the work permit,you will have to pay the $1070 like it or not,i know someone who was deported for working illegally in a relatives restaurant.Why not do what i did before i left England,for a year i took on a second weekend job to save up because i knew it would be a while before i could work,my fiance also worked extra hours and did a summer job at weekends too,could you not borrow money from relatives ? best of luck

This is what makes me a very good colonial rebel,this is what makes me want to throw someones tea in a harbour,the fact that,back there in the UK, those in power with the money,influence and a good pension,dont care,they make rules that penalise the poorest or that ignore the fact we paid taxes,paid national insurance and the fact we are born and raised in the UK,and still have a Brit passport,they would be quick enough to tell us we have to respond to a call to military service and doour duty ?, but when it comes to bringing someone back that we are married to, and have made a genuine commitment to,its another matter,but setting the income so high to fullfill the visa requirements for a spouse when most people earn less than that in scotland,the north of england, wales and the north of ireland,is simply a scandal by a Tory Govt,but then again it was the Tories who were in power during the American revolution,what do we expect ??? ....they lost that issue too in the end !!

I arrived in the US from England on a K1 visa,i had the medical in London but couldnt get the MMR vaccination done at the time, it wasnt a problem getting the visa though they said i would need the MMR for the AOS. So i went to an immigration approved doctor here,he tried to get me to have the full medical again,i refused and we argued about whether i needed a medical again,it was only after i made a fuss and showed him the immigration guidance notes that he made a call to check ( so he said ?) .He did the shot plus a flu shot for $195,it was all hassle and stress and i regretted not getting it done in good time at home before the medical.My advice is to shop around for a doctor in the state/county that you are in. Try looking on VJ for people who have posted addresses of doctors who will just do the shots without making you take and pay for another medical,try looking under '' Civil surgeons who dont rip you off ''.Maybe some doctors try it on and hope that you will pay them for a medical,or they dont really know the rules ? Besides its their business to make money,they like someone to pay to put their kids through medical/Law school and pay for their holiday home in Montana ! Best of luck

check on the approriate embassy website. Some vaccinations are combined into one like the MMR

the age difference shouldnt be an issue,my friend married a woman 10 years older and they have been married now for 30 years and happy ! The issue i see is that he is unemployed and living with his family ,so they will look at finances and whether you and your kids moving there will be a public dependency issue since he cant support you financially ? Maybe it would be better for him to move down under rather than uproot the kids ? Good advice from Harpa ! you could always think about moving to the US once you are settled into married life and he has his feet grounded into a job and being a step dad ?

My experience was this...I went forward to the passport control,i presented my passport and the unopened package and said i was arriving on a K1 visa,the officer asked me to stay standing there for a moment and she went away and came back with another officer and asked me to follow her,we went to a room and i was told to sit down and wait to be seen,another officer came in with my package and went behind the desk,he ripped open the package and sat for ten minutes reading and shuffling the contents and stuff,then he asked me to step up to the desk,I was asked how long we had been courting,how many times i had been to the US,what was the date when we got engaged ?,what date was the wedding ? and that was it with the questions. He explained about the visa and the 90 days and the date when it expired, and we had to marry before then ( we hadnt set a date ) and then he said, 'Welcome to the United States'

hope that helps !

and take proof from your own doctor to your medical that you have had them done !

avoid trouble and get them done before your medical if you can,check what shots you need first.!!!!!!! I needed just an MMR shot and didnt get it done before i left England,here in the US it cost me $125 + an influenza shot at $70 and the Doctor tried to have me take a medical again before he would sign the form,it was all stress and expensive,so my advice is get it done before your medical and avoid having to see a Doctor over here for AOS

they will look for length of relationship,and the number of times you have met in person,yes photographes are a big help i.e. we had passport stamps and photo's of us together at tourist sights to match our trips to Paris,New York,London,Niagra falls and DC,with boarding passes,train tickets,hotel reservations,and photo's of us with family and friends who later did affadavits to say that they had met us together.We were never asked for facebook stuff or phone records etc

chuffin ell Nik the pillock hasnt ticked the flu jab box on the form and we sent the package this morning !! this is the second time somebody screwed up,do you remember when they sent me the letter months ago saying to send what forms before the interview and you said it was a spousal letter i got and not a fiance K1 visa letter,and suggested i ignore the letter and send in what it says on the immigration website, you thought maybe it was a summer intern that did it ? they sent me a 2nd letter 3 weeks afterwards,the correct one ! seems to me that they should be reading more on VJ too.I suppose i will have to wait now or i could send in the receipt for the flu jab payment ?

i had the medical one of the appointed doctors here in this area,it was the second shot of MMR,the first shot i had at my doctors in the UK after knightsbridge,,here he charged me $125 and obviously it was free in yorkshire,After tuesdays arguement with him about having to have the full medical again and me explaining i had a K1 visa so i had had the medical and i only needed the MMR and needed him to sign that all was now in order, he relented on wednesday and said he had made a phone call and i wouldnt have to have the full medical ( told you so thoughts came to my mind ),he had gaven me the 2nd shot ( he didnt question the 1st shot ) and he filled out my details on page one,and filled in the vaccination record and he signed i signed,he gave me a sealed envelope ( i hope the plain everyday envelope is ok ) and also copies for us,but..he insisted on giving me a flu jab too which he didnt put on the form we have,i didnt think that was a requirement ?,i didnt argue this time because my wife was tapping my knee and giving me the look of ''dont say a word more''.,he charged $70 for the flu jab,so in all it cost me $195,i wish i had read about others advice first on VJ before going to him.The thing is,either he tried to overcharge me or he didnt know the rules ?? All in all it all could have been avoided if only i had got the shots done well before the medical in London

WE are filing for my AOS, but i have an incomplete vaccination record,i couldnt get the MMR done due to the measles epidemic and stocks running out.The Doctor in Knightsbridge wrote on the vaccination record why i hadnt had it done.so i had the first of the shots done at my doctors before i left,and this week i had the second shot done here in the US ( $125) at an appointed doctors,BUT he wouldnt fill out the form for vaccinations for the AOS unless i had the full medical again,he wasnt interested in the vaccination record from Knightbridge or from my own UK doctors printout,or the receipt that i had paid to have it done in Knightbridge,or the guidance notes for the I 485 and what it says about K1 visa applicants who have already had a medical,he insisted that unless i have a full medical he wouldnt complete the form even with a now complete vaccination record,i asked how much for the medical and he didnt know how much it would cost yet ?? So im going again for the full medical with gritted teeth because without him and his 'help' and of course crossing his palms with silver , (maybe both palms ) i cant file for AOS. Anyone got any advice ? sympathy ? free beer ?

So be warned !!!!! get the vaccinations done in very good time before the medical in Dear Old England, its free and my UK doctor even wrote a letter for free . Dont risk having to see an american doctor for vaccinations,they have dollar signs in their eyes and it looks like im going to have to pay again. I will try to be nice and calm on the day,i will try not to argue this time either,or my blood pressure will be high,and i need his filled out form !!

Im happy here, the wood is chopped for the winter stove,the weather is still warm,deer come into the garden most days ( the word yard just doesnt seem right).We marry this weekend after all the time waiting and form filling and everything is arranged and ready,its exciting and im not too nervous either..yet ! But im missing some things from home,i miss friends and the banter,i miss the humour,i miss words of endearment from work pals like, pillock,moron,chuffin ell etc,im missing the sunday carvery and a pint with the sunday papers,i miss good gravy,i really miss good gravy with yorkshire puddings,i miss fish and chips with lots of vinegar from kelly's chippy and their home made chicken curry,im missing british accents and chatter,oh how i miss Real english where i dont have to listen carefully or repeat myself two/three times or explain what i mean because the words differ ( broiler/grill),im missing the BBC,i miss walking on pavements and seeing buses,i miss wensleydale cheese and pickled onions,the big gobstopper ones,i miss British bird song,i miss walking home from the pub on thursdays at midnight ( day off fri) and not have a worry or care coz its dark and late,but now my beloved takes her pepper spray if i insist on a evening stroll at twilight. Am i homesick ? is this a normal reaction im going through ? will i ever get used to cheap cheese on everything ? or movies that at a crucial moment the commercials come on without warning ? will i ever get used to NOT being able to call in for a coffee without a weeks notice and checking their schedules ? But i dont miss the weather,i dont miss the drunks and the fighting on friday nights when i was working taxiing, i dont miss litter,i dont miss ...........ok i feel better now after writing this,ive ordered bisto granules online

Never lie to an Immigration officer,two of my friends are IO's and both say that a lie found out signals a red flag and leads to heavy scrutiny and pisses them off big time,it really annoys them and they automatically think refusal , they then wonder what else you are attempting to deceive them about,they have the last word on refused entry so dont do it !! I visited my US fiance 3 times while the K1 was being processed and although nerves going through border control are a fact of life ( i got really nervous the 1st time), i never really had a problem.IO's are the same everywhere,they want to know if you will be leaving and the reason for your visit,so bring proof of ties to home,even a car parked at airport parking is good ( i never had to show my proof,i even offered my portfollio of proof the first time, but was told,'''no thats ok im satisfied with your answers,have a great time sirrrrr'').Several prior visits and returning home are good they will see that,they will ask questions like have you visited before ? remember the dates you came previously or the number of times,its on their screen but they like to check your answer,i was asked what work i do in the UK,so bring proof of your work,unemployed people in love can be an issue.Dress smart and be confidant,you are visiting your loved one and you intend to leave with your return ticket,and the date of the return is...? they have people in love coming through all day,every day,internet romances where the people havent yet met and havent been before are the ones that come up as red flags,the US isnt a country that is seen as high risk for illegals so try to relax,

best wishes

I agree with penguin,take evidence of strong ties to your homeland like proof of a mortgage,or rental agreement , a letter from your employer,a car ownership document,car parking at the airport,anything that will show that you have to return and will be returning, but at the end of the day it will all depend on the immigration officer who is at the port of entry and whether you can convince him of your intention to return home, i didnt have any trouble when i visited the USA while the K1 was ongoing,but like you i got myself all nervous,i was asked a few extra questions,and one question was how many times had i visted the US before? but when i offered all the evidence i had brought to show i would be going home, the officer just said '' nah its ok, i dont need to see all that, im satisfied with what you have told me '' Best wishes to you and your wife.

Im here having a coffee,its early morning and raining,i receieved the K1 by delivery last week and have rented my house out a few days ago because i cannot sell it for what i paid for it 5 years ago,the tenants move in in two days,ive given away pretty much everything i own that i cant take with me to the US,so i was reading your comments on immigration and pondering my move to the US,work,settling in,homesickness,americans and how they will accept a yorkshireman working with them,or even how they will react to a Brit at interview ? I dont have a degree,not even a diploma,ive been self employed since a was 21,so this move is daunting,starting again,being unemployed and dependant on my future wife till i get the GC and a job.I was struck by Rebecca Jo's comment on her opinion about different perspectives to immigration in the UK and the US,i think i agree ! And i will explain why. firstly,an hispanic family,illegals,yet living and working in the US for years,the children of the illegal parents were born there,then the father gets arrested for something,and he is deported back to salvador,yet the mother and kids stay,the mum was given a choice to stay or leave,the mother chose to stay for the sake of the childrens future,and still the father was deported !! i was shocked,i could have understood him being jailed but not deported,after all the kids are US citizens and a family,i said to my fiance this wouldnt happen in the Uk,she replied,the father will be back one day,somehow he will find a way like he did before,he wont stay away from his wife and kids.Then another instance of deportation i was told,closer to home,a woman who works near my office told me she had to fly to the US to escort her sisters kids back to the UK,her sister married an american,lived in the US for years,had kids,but she/he never bothered to pursue the legalities after marriage,she never became a resident or citizen,they simply got married,then a year or so ago they get into a violent domestic,he slaps her around,she headbutted him and hits him,he gets bloodied,a neighbour calls the cops,she gets arrested since he is the one bleeding,and thats when immigration gets involved and ends with her deportation minus the kids because they are US citizens, and his mother applies for custody,now she ( mum ) cant enter the US,the kids can visit here but only with her parents signing as Guarantors that they will return the children,sad case ! Again i was shocked that the US will separate families.It certainly makes you aware that deportation in the US and deportation in the UK are worlds apart,hence the different perspectives frustrations and attitudes of americans/Brits to the lengthy deportation of terror suspects who have family ties to the UK.I saw that my attitude and reaction to these deportations was different to my fiances,i see that my view of some laws is different to my fiances i.e drinking a beer off her property one time,she freaked out when she caught me with an open can,,she said i could get arrested,and i thought ...arrested for having a can of beer by the lake ? yet an american friend gets a gun for a xmas present and shows it off and nobody reacts with horror ? Different perspectives,horror to an open can of beer,no horror to a gun,horror to a family broken up,no horror to a law breaker being deported

its like the toilet seat up or down issue between a man and wife,it all depends on perspective dont you think ?

im still in England and due to leave in sept,it worries me too,several times when in the states ive had to repeat myself over and over just ordering a coffee in starbucks ? the yorkshire accent doesnt help i guess ! i remember some construction guys in a diner having breakfast noticed my accent and asked if i was english,one then quized me about my feeling for americans,the US,was i living there or on vacation,did i like americans and the US,i didnt like it,the tone i mean,then he announced to me that ''this is the greatest nation on earth'' i replied in full yorkshire,''tha's never bin t yorkshire then as tha ? and t us Brits tha will allus b just bloody colonials'' he didnt understand,but it made me feel better,my fiance understood and was horrified and told me to not say that,i didnt care one bit what he thought or said because he is and was wrong,so just be yourself,you dont have the problem they do,remember who you are and where you are from,the best bloody little island with the greatest bunch of people in the world,who else could have built the worlds greatest empire and given a love for freedom,liberty,democracy and literature than the Brits ? not mentioning our sarcasm and humour ( theres a u in it ) you will do fine,look them in the eye and remember who you are and where you are from,and if they dont like our teeth then knock out theirs so we are equal.....

keep smiling it confuses them hehe,most are ok i find,ya just gotta look em in the eye

whats the harm in having guns registered ? its paronoia to think that the government will then come and collect them,unless of course they tear up the 2nd ammendment,but then they would have to rely on the army to support and execute that decision which would risk mutiny,maybe even rebellion ? nobody is after taking away the right to gun ownership,but the control of how and who owns guns is the crux of the matter isnt it ? The fact is that unlicensed guns and guns passed onto to 3rd parties get lost in society and undesirables get their hands on them which then leads to the arguement that more guns are needed to stop those who shouldnt have them using them,we can argue all day long but strict gun laws and ownership leads to less gun crime,canada is an example.