seanjoe

Hi,

Just wanted to say YAY YIPPEE after our visa interview in LONDON. Thought I'll share how it went:

Stayed overnight in London as did not want to take a chance with train delays for a 8am appt.

Got there at 7.15am and a line was starting to form - NOTE: There are 2 lines; one for passport/citizen services and one for the visa/IV services, which is longer.

I had my wife and child, so had a big bag, which one lady said would possibly not go through, but the second sentry lady said OK. However, NO LAPTOPS allowed, so please make sure you don't bring that. I had to take it to a pharmacy down the road who store it for £3 a pop. You can take an Ipad if it has no keyboard, else that also has to be left.

Then we went through airport style security; luckily I could keep my underwear on....

So my wife and child waited whilst I went and dropped it off.

Then into the building; a large waiting hall with about 25 counters, First person took all the documents and then after a while we were called in to STANDING interview; my perception of an interview with a chair to sit on was wrong. A very nice guy who took all the originals and very nicely spoke. Everyone seemed sympathetic as my son was doing a screaming 100m around the hall, so they were excused.

Fingerprints given, asked why the US, bla bla bla and all done.

Delivery will take about a week to the courier office.

He asked why the US, and not the UK - I just smirked and kindly smiled!!!

I would also like to thank SusieQQQ, Nich-Nick, OwenLondon, and others on other threads who have helped out. I'm not sure where all you are, but hope we can meet up for a drink.

I have posted some info request on my other thread, and hope you can continue.....GO USA!!!!!

Just to follow up: got my passport yesterday, exactly 5 working days.

Now just one question:

I want to go first and obviously secure a job so that health insurance can be taken for family. I presume I have to leave my partner's and child's DO NOT OPEN envelopes with them to bring when they come over on their own? As previously said, USCIS interviewer told me they can come by themselves.

However, The x-ray diskettes are in a sealed envelope so I cannot split them up? Do I just bring them along with me?

Hi,

Was looking for this thread but to no avail.

If I decide to base myself in a place (on a whim), say Houston, and I start applying and get calls from out of state employers, do they normally pay for travel to the interview? Is this normal as the US is such a big place unlike the UK.

Also, is relocation costs normally paid when you are a new immigrant to the US? IS this normal practice? If so, what do they provide?

Finally, is an address in one state provided on a CV going to jeopardise a chance of a job in another state?

I'll just be surprised.

Thanks, another revelation for me.

but tried my dv number and its not recognising it? Is it another number? I tried 2015AF000.....

Hi Susie, I thought I knew it all, but I keep learning something new everytime.

I'm on the DV and my passport is due tomorrow.

I have paid the $330 for each of the family members during the interview.

In my DS260, I requested my green card to go to my cousin's place in NJ.

What is the ELIS account? Do I need to register for that? Do I need to pay this $165 now in addition?

Thanks for your help.

Hi mate,

I showed 3 months worth of current account from my bank which also had enough savings.

As long as the account is showing a steady constant amount of cash, you should be good.

Good luck

Hi, I got the email from the courier to pick up tomorrow, fingers crossed!

By the way,where do you go to see the Ceac status ? Where does it say "Issued"???

Not at all. My intention is not to dodge the US license; rather when I get there first, my first aim is to get a low cost car as I've checked the public transport in Houston, and its not that great; so I need to be mobile; and at that time, I don't want from a legal point of view to not be able to drive.

I had my interview on wednesday last week and he said all approved, I have chosen the pick up option. How do you track it?

So does this mean that i cannot drive with a New Zealand or UK license for a period of 1 year after arrival for the first time in Houston?

Hi,

I'm presuming you are in the UK?

https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/niv/information/courier_dropboxes

Hope this helps.

HI,

Check the site: www.immigrationboards.com

I used this site whilst in the UK and it really helped. Find the most suitable thread and good luck.

Thanks Yuna for the info on the "life qualifying event". In that case, I shall wait till I land and have a temporary address.

Thanks April.

Its good to know that there is help out there.

I'm expecting some news this week from the DXS office. so hopefully by the end of the month. I have also started looking at other companies in Houston as well, but yeah, like you say, I'm sticking with Houston for now.

With regards to the health insurance, I'm struggling on my options whilst I'm looking for a job; ie. the first couple of weeks. If I do go for Healthcare.gov, I realise I have only got a few days left?

Hi,

I know I mentioned this earlier and excluding the case of pregnancy above, why can't I take travel insurance from the UK as a DV winner. I intend to come to the US for say 2 months, and look for a job. The time I am looking for a job, is it not better to be staying with my UK based travel insurance for health?

Please advise.

This might be a dumb reply by me, but can you not take travel insurance for say 6 months (from your home country) before you travel?

I'm in the UK, if I am intending to go for just a few months, is it better for me to take travel insurance from here before traveling? at least till I get a job in the US?

Thanks for the above feedback.

How did you get the $200/month lease car - that sounds like an awesome deal; I know its in NY, but would TX have any similar deals? I would grab that deal any day? Does it come with a 12 month contract or something or is it month to month?

Also, when I talk about internet, is the phone line really required? Is there no such thing as cable in Texas?

With regards to credit history, I intend to use my UK credit card (which has no fees on foreign transactions) so use that and then apply for a "debit" card like you said as a secondary, to build up the credit. I think this would be a good idea?

Initially, I'm just going to sofa surf till I know where I am going to be jobwise, and then start renting for at least 2 years. I made a mistake of jumping into ownership in the UK, won't do that again.

Hi Susie,

Yeah, thanks. I read those conditions for the Indian PCC and from that, its obvious it would not be needed. Its funny though, but the Indian embassy in London does issue a PCC if requested to non-nationals. Anyways, I just took it just in case it was requested.

Anyways, I'm a happy bunny and am still thankful for your help.

Hi Owen,

Thanks for your help on the SSN link.

How long am I in it for?

I'm in it for the long run, I'll do any job to survive. Clean floors, wash cars, wait at restaurants. I'll sofa surf if I have to.

I'm gonna make it work!

Of course I'm prepared to jump industry as I have 2 masters and a bachelor's.

But what the heck right, land up and give it a chance. At least, I'm thankful to you for giving me the bleakest picture.

Any ideas for cheap cars (that don;t stop) and cheap accommodation?

Thanks Owen

Hi Susie,

My turn to correct you. India does issue police clearance. They have issued twice to me (NZ citizen) and twice to my wife( UK citizen). ie. I applied twice.

Right, DV approved and awaiting passport, am so excited, have posted on 2 separate threads on forum.

Now to apply for the job: Can I start applying right now from the UK or just wait till I LAND there? I can give a US address as I have family in NJ, but cannot give a US cell number.

I hope the SSN gets approved soon?

I intend to travel first, and once I get something then ask the mrs and child to come; one person at the embassy said I need to travel with them, the other said as long as I travel in first, they can go separately; I tend to go with the second guy (the american).

So ......Houston????? here I come????

Got my DV approved,

see my reply here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/516878-successful-dv2015-interview/page-5#entry7416015

Over the moon.

Now I need a job!!!!

Thanks to all who helped.

Just a note: police clearance is only required if you are a citizen of a country and have lived there for a while PLUS the UK where we are applying from. This theory however did not hold true for my wife who is an Indian, and has lived there for more than 18 years, and I think this is actually to do with Reciprocity by country which I had a read on and not what the officer said, but he was a nice chappy.

Hi,

Just wanted to say YAY YIPPEE after our visa interview in LONDON. Thought I'll share how it went:

Stayed overnight in London as did not want to take a chance with train delays for a 8am appt.

Got there at 7.15am and a line was starting to form - NOTE: There are 2 lines; one for passport/citizen services and one for the visa/IV services, which is longer.

I had my wife and child, so had a big bag, which one lady said would possibly not go through, but the second sentry lady said OK. However, NO LAPTOPS allowed, so please make sure you don't bring that. I had to take it to a pharmacy down the road who store it for £3 a pop. You can take an Ipad if it has no keyboard, else that also has to be left.

Then we went through airport style security; luckily I could keep my underwear on....

So my wife and child waited whilst I went and dropped it off.

Then into the building; a large waiting hall with about 25 counters, First person took all the documents and then after a while we were called in to STANDING interview; my perception of an interview with a chair to sit on was wrong. A very nice guy who took all the originals and very nicely spoke. Everyone seemed sympathetic as my son was doing a screaming 100m around the hall, so they were excused.

Fingerprints given, asked why the US, bla bla bla and all done.

Delivery will take about a week to the courier office.

He asked why the US, and not the UK - I just smirked and kindly smiled!!!

I would also like to thank SusieQQQ, Nich-Nick, OwenLondon, and others on other threads who have helped out. I'm not sure where all you are, but hope we can meet up for a drink.

I have posted some info request on my other thread, and hope you can continue.....GO USA!!!!!

Thanks once again for all these wonderful posts. Happy New Year to all!!! You are all helping with great info. Some of you say the economy is not good, some say its better, and the variety is great. I am always thinking the worst case scenario so I am prepared for anything. I have lost my contracting job here last month, so for me, things can only get better. I consider this an opportune time in my life and I sure hope that I can meet some of you after crossing the pond.

And what a pleasure to see some MK people as well; I hope to meet you too.

So, it looks good so far; all these posts. I'm so amazed at the electric/gas bills. I was just doing my annual bills and mine comes to about £750-£850 per year on both; which works to about $1300 per year; the UK is really cheap in some ways...

One thing I was reading is a window of 3 months (happening now) for registering for Obamacare? Why is no one mentioning this? Its not like in the UK where only people on benefits get it right? I mean, would I be eligible for it? I mean at least, I am covered from a legal point of view right? I'm not trying to be stingy, but just wanting to know why this is not mentioned? Any ideas?

With regards to TV, I'm not too interested in that; I will have a laptop and probably stream stuff; so am I able to just get cable internet without a landline? Here in MK now, I'm on fibre so getting 30mb/s, what do we get there?

Also, can anyone suggest a mobile tariff which is rich in mainly internet? Like I would need about 5gb per month? Not really into minutes and all: but just in case, is the minutes for each state or easy to get nationally? Also, can anyone advise if you have to pay from your minutes to receive calls on a US mobile? I have heard this and it sound very back dated?

Thanks

Thanks all for all the replies thus far. I know its rare for people, but for me a good job is going to be the main factor to decide where to settle. all other factors like snow, cold weather etc, are all secondary.

being a dv selectee is a rare phenomenon, and hence, why its good to know how people decide where to stay ahead of applying for a job.

I am working in the UK for a company whose main client was ExxonMobil; so if anyone knows any contacts in the oil/gas industry, it would be good if you could perhaps post or pm me. I was working as a safety leader/advisor.

With regards to property taxes, some very wide ranging figures; $10k per year, wow, that's high; but is this really TAX DEDUCTIBLE???? This is awesome if it is; we don't have that in the UK, so please anyone, is this an easy process to do?

With regards to electric; sounds quite high; I'm amazed the US is so expensive? Here my electric/gas total for the year is about £750; I tend to be thrifty with use.

And what is these other taxes: Utility district tax and housing association? Is that common?

Finally, as said earlier, I do not want to apply for any jobs till I get my visa; as most employers have the E-verify system, and one click on my name and they will just think this is another non-US person; hence, want to just hold out till then.

Great contributions so far, and please others, keep posting!!!!