elle13

The "sweet spot" for overall credit utilization is 1-20%.
As for the age old question "How long does it take to build a credit history?", it took me 7 months in total to go from non-existent to a score of 706. My score took a dip in month 8 when I signed up for a new credit card and car lease in one month. Now 12 months on I'm floating around 720. There are all kinds of methods to pull your credit score up, but as with many other aspects of being a new immigrant patience and consistency are your two best friends.
If you're flush with cash, a credit score probably doesn't make much of an impact, but for most of us regular folks, a good credit score is very important for all major purchases - home (buy or rent), car, equipment, furniture etc. These days, some employers run credit checks too! The good news is, it didn't take as long as I thought it would to get to a healthy score.

I love the idea of a meetup! Moved here last year from the UK too, it's my 15th month in the US. I've been working so that helps a little with meeting new people and socializing but it would be great to do a little meet up
Cam why don't you join us anyway? Ojai is not too far away to drive if we did something over the weekend? Would love to meet up with you ladies (men?) who've been through the same transition. A friend of mine just sent me some PG tips and Crunchies (my favourite chocs) and seeing them made me miss the UK so much. Lol! Totally irrational.

Update: we just put in an offer for a house!

The "sweet spot" for overall credit utilization is 1-20%.
As for the age old question "How long does it take to build a credit history?", it took me 7 months in total to go from non-existent to a score of 706. My score took a dip in month 8 when I signed up for a new credit card and car lease in one month. Now 12 months on I'm floating around 720. There are all kinds of methods to pull your credit score up, but as with many other aspects of being a new immigrant patience and consistency are your two best friends.
If you're flush with cash, a credit score probably doesn't make much of an impact, but for most of us regular folks, a good credit score is very important for all major purchases - home (buy or rent), car, equipment, furniture etc. These days, some employers run credit checks too! The good news is, it didn't take as long as I thought it would to get to a healthy score.

@landr, I moved from the UK to California too. It was a massive adjustment. I don't know about you but I moved to LA and hate that it's sooooo dry and dusty here! I miss lush greenery (sounds so stupid I know).
The first few months drove me stir-crazy. Now that I'm a lot more confident with driving, it's improved a lot. Personally, the few things that really helped get me settled were:
- Learning to drive confidently
- Finding a job
- Mentally accepting that "this is it".
The last part was the hardest. Sometimes I thought about moving back to England. I missed my family and friends. My husband and I get along but we are culturally very different. While his family has been very accommodating, we have very little in common. Building a network of friends from scratch is daunting and depressing at times, but on the whole, I'm still blessed to be with the love of my life!

I know what you mean! I never drove in the UK. Took the tube/bus/cab everywhere. Learning to drive was incredibly scary for me so I know exactly what you mean. Trust me you will gain so much independence here by learning to drive (you're in california!). If you're living in SoCal, you must must must learn to drive. If it makes you feel any better, I lived here a whole 6 months without learning to drive before sucking it up and getting my learner's permit. My husband taught me how to drive. So yes, it took me a whole 6 months to muster the courage.

@landr, I moved from the UK to California too. It was a massive adjustment. I don't know about you but I moved to LA and hate that it's sooooo dry and dusty here! I miss lush greenery (sounds so stupid I know).
The first few months drove me stir-crazy. Now that I'm a lot more confident with driving, it's improved a lot. Personally, the few things that really helped get me settled were:
- Learning to drive confidently
- Finding a job
- Mentally accepting that "this is it".
The last part was the hardest. Sometimes I thought about moving back to England. I missed my family and friends. My husband and I get along but we are culturally very different. While his family has been very accommodating, we have very little in common. Building a network of friends from scratch is daunting and depressing at times, but on the whole, I'm still blessed to be with the love of my life!

If you no longer wish to be represented by a lawyer, you have NO obligation to stay with your current lawyer. Clients fire their lawyers all the time. No lawyer should be telling you that you're obligated to use their services. All the file materials and documents you sent to them, or that USCIS/NVC sends to them, are yours. You have the right to request them as long as you have paid your lawyer's fees.

If you no longer wish to be represented by a lawyer, you have NO obligation to stay with your current lawyer. Clients fire their lawyers all the time. No lawyer should be telling you that you're obligated to use their services. All the file materials and documents you sent to them, or that USCIS/NVC sends to them, are yours. You have the right to request them as long as you have paid your lawyer's fees.

I think that keeping from your future spouse important facts such as these is a sign of lack of love an respect. It isn't the past that is the main issue, but the breach of trust.

For what it's worth, I am sharing an anecdotal example of what happened to my husband.
He travelled legally into the US when he was 6. His birth mother was already a green card holder, and eventually became a US citizen. My husband grew up in the US, went to school etc, graduated and then joined the military. He didn't join the military to get a US citizenship, it was a career he truly wanted. He was always under the impression that he was an LPR, and he had a green card. A few years into his military career, he received advice that he should sort out his citizenship. He was in his 20s by then. He filled out his details, social security etc and they issued him with a certificate of citizenship, but the date on which he became a citizen was backdated to when he was in middle school! He worked out that this date was when his birth mother became a US citizen. So he was a citizen that whole time, but didn't know it.

Just because millions do it doesn't make it legal. You asked how else do,illegals work here, well they shouldn't be working here if they are illegal.......If at any point he checked a box claiming US citizenship his,journey to the US is over for good.

Avoid thinking like this. To hell with movies and TV programs. Focus on real-life opportunities.

I got the job offer!
It's a full time permanent position and I'm incredibly blessed and grateful. Just want to encourage everyone making the move, despite our foreign qualifications and experience, it is possible to land your dream job in the US. I'm so grateful to God and my supportive husband, as well as this forum. Nobody truly understands until they've been through the visa process themselves. I started my CR1 visa process thinking it would take about 6 months and boy was I wrong! The wait has taught me two things: patience and faith. Don't lose hope!

To lloydboybebop: people on this forum are trying to help you. Please do listen to NikiR and Ryan H. Do not use the I-864a, which is meant for a co-sponsoring household member combining their income with the primary sponsor. In your case, you want your mom to be a joint sponsor, not a co-sponsor. As joint sponsor, your mom will file an I-864 and tick the joint sponsor box in the form. The USCIS guidance on the I-864a is not clear on this issue but trust me, if you want your AOS package to be successful, get your mom to file the I-864 as joint sponsor. It also doesn't do you any favors to carry that attitude on this forum.

I should add that I do have first hand knowledge of this issue. You file an I-864 with nil income. Your mom files another I-864 with her income, indicating she is a joint sponsor.

To lloydboybebop: people on this forum are trying to help you. Please do listen to NikiR and Ryan H. Do not use the I-864a, which is meant for a co-sponsoring household member combining their income with the primary sponsor. In your case, you want your mom to be a joint sponsor, not a co-sponsor. As joint sponsor, your mom will file an I-864 and tick the joint sponsor box in the form. The USCIS guidance on the I-864a is not clear on this issue but trust me, if you want your AOS package to be successful, get your mom to file the I-864 as joint sponsor. It also doesn't do you any favors to carry that attitude on this forum.

I was surprised I heard so early and hope you get your good news soon! It's really difficult having to wait but good to know we are in this together.