Mark UK

Hi everyone! I would be so glad to be able to share my feelings with people who have been/still are in a similar situation. I just hope I don't sound like a moaning, ungrateful woman! It just seems that after all the waiting, wading through paperwork, jumping through hoops to get approved; after all the stress of leaving family and friends and favourite possessions behind to get to the US to join my husband - I HAVE LANDED ON THE MOON!! My husband has a new, really demanding job and leaves the house at 6am - I always get up with him so that we can have a coffee together before he leaves. He arrives back around 7pm and I make sure I have dinner ready. I have no car at the moment and would probably be too scared to drive yet even if I had. There are no shops or any facilities within walking distance. The area is beautiful, the rental house is lovely and if I hadn't brought my two little dogs with me from the UK I think I would be hanging from a rope! I pleaded and threw my toys out of the pram until I got tv and the internet so I at least have this. But I have no idea how the US works - how to work out the new money thing - how to do a simple thing like buy a stamp and post a letter! I keep telling myself how lucky I am and trying to make the best of everything - the weather, for example, has been beautiful recently. Does anyone else remember feeling like this? Does it all come right in the end? I am a middleaged woman and had I been given the choice would rather not have made such a huge change later on in life. The things we do for love, eh? The trouble is that I am now beginning to feel apathetic and not wanting to do anything. Any fellow sufferers woes or good advice welcome!

A lot of what you're experiencing is normal. I bet you thought that coming from the UK, it would be much less a culture shock than if you'd come from China. Nope. Your comment about feeling like you've landed on the moon is a great one. Didn't Churchill say that the British and Americans are one people separated by a common language?

I've been here six years now and I do remember things being so completely different that I had to rely on my wife to guide me through a lot of day-to-day stuff. I got a job about a month after we got married and put a down payment on a car with some of the savings I'd brought over. It was then that I started to become less dependent on my wife for the simplest of things. I had my job, made my own friends, got to know how to make my way around.

It is a big culture shock (my wife understood that more when we made our first back to the UK - she felt the same as I did when I first moved here). But, ultimately, it's the same as everywhere else, just done slightly differently. You go to work to play the bills, you live for the weekends, you make friends, you travel, etc.

Having a British accent will help you more than you'd think, oddly...

I emigrated to the States because my wife (then fiancee) had kids and it would have been much harder for her to leave her family behind than it was for me. Also, I had moved abroad twice before (both times to France) and already went through the pains, etc. The first time was definitely the hardest by a long way (not to say the other times weren't).

Of course, an ocean between you and your family is a lot scarier than having just a channel between you.

The cost of living over here is a lot cheaper - something you'll appreciate when you visit the UK as a tourist. As a tourist to the US, everything's so cheap, it's amazing. As a tourist to the UK, everything's so expensive, you worry incessantly about having the cash to enjoy yourself.

The job market sucks in the US right now, but with the resources the country has, it has more of a chance to improve than the UK does, IMHO. Personally, it was a no brainer. As much as I miss my family, friends and football, I definitely made the right decision.

It's a big jump - I'd hang fire on doing it until I was CERTAIN it was the right thing to do. I really wanted to move to the US and I still went through the usual adjustment pains, etc. Whereas I don't place quite the emphasis on where I live as Brother Hesekiel (I live in a place I don't particularly like and would much rather live in North Carolina but we can't move just yet due to family reasons), it is important that you're both willing to live in a place and one of you isn't there somewhat begrudgingly.

(As a tangent, I do agree entirely with Brother Hesekiel about the South of France. I loved living in the Cote d'Azur. The brilliant azure water in the foreground and the Alps in the background - amazing).

You didn't do an AOS interview? Interesting.

Nope. Came as a shock to me, if I'm honest, though I submitted a stupid amount of evidence to prove bona fide marriage in the application. Two ring binders worth, if I recall (just like for the K-1 visa and the citizenship). That might have had something to do with it, though who knows?

did they really ask you HOW THE MARRIAGE IS GOING?

to funny.

Yeah, but then again, I was applying based on marriage, so I wasn't too surprised about that. We had submitted a ton of paperwork proving our marriage was genuine and we didn't have to go for an AOS interview - I was expecting a lot more of a grilling.

The interview isn't a problem and the ceremony was really a wonderful experience. Good luck to all those who are pursuing this path!

My interviewer was a bit...stuffy, but not aggressive in any way. Despite the fact I was from the UK, I still had to take the English language part of the test, which was a little bit surprising. The civics questions were fine - they literally didn't deviate from the 100 questions so, if you've memorized those, you're fine (I actually think that they should make that part harder and make the questions more open-ended).

The interview itself was short - I think that was because I had tomes of documentation with my application. He asked a few questions about how the marriage going, etc, nothing too crazy.

I had my interview in Pittsburgh, which is an extremely efficient office. Had my citizenship interview and ceremony within a month of each other and only had to wait about three months after I filed. Very impressed.

For years now American jobs have been outsourced in great parts to India and China. If you are interested in secure employment, India is the place to be right now. It has an economy that is growing and will continue to grow, whereas the U.S. is on a decline and will continue to do so.

This, unfortunately, is very true: the consequences of globalization, I'm afraid. It's a tough job market to get a foothold in right now. A LOT of people out of work and some people, with years' of experience and willing to take starting level jobs. I wish you all the luck. There's nothing to suggest other than what's been already said: make job seeking a full-time job (8-10 hours/day) and be willing to start at a lot lower level than you were at previously...

Actually, in certain areas, a certificate is seen as -somewhat- irrelevant, really. IMO, it helps more if you're a consultancy, etc, so your bosses can show off something to a potential customer, though a lot of customers now seem to be wanting to see resumes instead. For instance, I've got 10 years experience as a DBA and simply haven't had time to get my certification. In DBA-land, it's more the experience that counts (especially given some of the situations you find yourself in) than a piece of paper. A lot of people are getting OCA/OCPs but with little real world experience which, in turn, degrades the standing of the certification. I've, personally, interviewed people who have certain certification(s) and then asked 'so what would you do in xyz situation?' and drawn a blank.

Having said that, I'd like to become an OCP/OCM (just to say I am one), but I can't realistically see where I would find the time. Nor the money unless my employer thinks it's beneficial to them for some reason.

But in the context of an immigrant coming into the States and you're trying to get your foot in the door, you're right in that certain certifications are universal and are even better regarded than degrees from foreign universities. I think that's got something to do with the fact there is a lack of recognition of foreign education over here. But that could be just my experience.

And, in terms of friends, it feels like just the same as everywhere else, to be honest: you meet most of your friends through work. Once I started working, I started making friends, good ones at that. Before that, well, we live in a rural area and it was a real culture shock and I found it difficult to bridge that. I still don't like the fact my accent (English) sets me apart from people where I live and I've been a citizen for a year! I have a lot more friends in Pittsburgh than where I live...

I'm from the Pittsburgh area but I think I got lucky. I moved here in 2006 and, after I had got married and applied for the Green Card, I spent time looking on job sites.

It was tough, though it was brief. I was pretty well qualified back in the UK and left a high-tech job which I really liked and I got the very strong impression that my previous career accomplishments and qualifications were ignored because they weren't from the US (college degrees, certifications, etc). Frankly, when I came over, I was expecting to work at a much lower level than I had been in the UK. Instead of being a high-level tech guy, I was expecting to repair PCs for a local shop or even work in McDonald's (I thought I'd have to change career, etc).

I put my resume out there on the tech job sites without too much hope, waited a week or two and got a couple of good hits - including one place who really wanted me to start ASAP and was understanding of the whole immigration process as a lot of their workers were immigrants. It was a high-tech job doing the sort of stuff I did in the UK, luckily.

Since then, I've got back to my former level that I was at in Europe and risen past it. It's very true that once you have a job, it's a lot easier to get another. But getting the first one must be very tough, especially in certain sectors - I'm trying to help my step-son into IT and there's just too much competition at the lower-end of the scale. A lot of people are trying to switch into IT around here and he's competing against a lot of college graduates, people with 10 years' experience on him, etc.

Pittsburgh is good for IT, health care and education. I didn't notice you mention what industry you're in, but a lot of the other industries are, like everything else in the States, struggling right now.

You have to keep plugging away and hope you get lucky, I'm afraid. All the best.

Mark

I was told (in 2006) by the London embassy NOT to visit the US as a tourist while my K1 was being processed. They said it was unlikely I would be allowed entry because I had already notified the State Department of my intention to immigrate. They said the onus would be on me to PROVE I had no intention to immigrate (mortgage papers, letters from employer, etc) and that I had strong enough ties that I intended to return home.

I wanted to visit my now wife during her birthday as we had been delayed by postal issues in the K1. The embassy told me if I was refused entry it could complicate things enormously for my K1.

Having said that, I've heard about plenty of people doing it without issue. We decided it wasn't worth it.

The idea about a third country is a very good one.

To be frank, this is your and your husband's problem and not your parents in law's. They didn't create the situation, and they shouldn't have to risk their financial security so you can immigrate to the US. I hope you can understand why they will not put themselves at risk for you. Signing the I-864 can have real and dire consequences for them. Look at all the threads with people concern about the I-864 obligations when an immigrant divorces the US petitioner.

Unfortunately for the OP, I can't agree more. I think once the OP is able to take a step back, she might appreciate the PiLs are actually being very kind to stretch to the degree that they have offered to do so.

Hello,

I married my fiance a couple of weeks ago, I have been drawing up all the stuff to start my AOS. But my parents in law have had a sudden and violent freakout about the affidavit of support.

It's a humiliating situation as it is, having to ask them, but I just graduated and my husband is finishing with school in a few months so neither of us have the means to sponsor ourselves.

THIS is their idea-

They want to pay for me to get work authorisation immediately!! (as I understand this will expire when my visa expires in about six weeks)

they then want me to get a job and get some projected earnings.

They want my husband to add his projected (meagre) earnings to the sum

And then they want to put like $30,000 into his account to make up the rest.

They think, I get the impression that I might divorce Kyle and marry someone else and they will be left with the fees?!

I appreciate the affidavit is a big deal, and they are signing some scary stuff- but I need their help this one last time so I can get an EAD and I can start to form some semblance of my own life here by getting a job and a bank account and some basic human rights,

Does anyone know:

-How long they will really be responsible for me?

-How much this ###### happens? Are people who sign affidavits being ###### over all the time by people coming to marry their loved ones?

-The route they are suggesting is going to take FOREVER and isn't even guaranteed.

Apparently a lawyer has told her 'there is no way' she should be signing this affidavit.

Sorry to go on and on,

I am panicking and I am alone.

ANY advice would be so appreciated.

forgive my swearing...

I'll be honest, I think if you look at it from their point of view, it's entirely reasonable what they're asking. Their lawyer is right on a financial level - it's like co-signing a loan. There is a reason that the loan needs to be co-signed (i.e. the lendor does not see that the applicant is fit to be given the loan themselves). I co-signed for a family member once and I will never do that again.

I believe they would be on the hook for you for ten years or until you become a citizen. It DOES happen that people screw USC and those who sign the AoS, so they're right to be cautious. Once it's signed, it's signed and they ARE on the hook for it.

As far as I what I remember (I think), the AoS takes into account the last three years of income, so you should bear that in mind. You can request that property and bank balances come into it - and the $30,000 would help - but that would be more of a case of adding weight to your claim than anything else.

Look at it from their point of view: you guys made the decision to do this, yet neither of you have a steady history of earnings having both recently graduated/graduating. Ultimately, they don't have to do anything for you - it's entirely on you - and I think you should be thankful in the long-run that they're being cautious and they're willing to help you out providing you stick to their plan. Remember, the AoS is there for a reason. I would not freak out on them, they might pull their offer entirely and then you're totally stuck.

I saved up religiously for a whole year (as did my wife) after waiting for more than three years in total to arrange finances and whatnot so we could afford for me to immigrate. I hate to criticise anyone about immigration, but maybe you guys should have waited a bit too.

Good luck!

If you really don't play the guitar everyday until your fingers are numb, and it's not too rare I would probably save the money on flightcase, sell the guitar and buy a new/used in the US. I have a few and taking none with me. I sold a used les paul in my home country and can basically buy an identical brand new one for the same amount in US if not less. It's worth looking into.

That was my logic to begin when I first moved over here, to be honest. I sold my guitars to family for a very nominal fee - figured it would cost as much to ship as it would to buy a new one. My ESPs and acoustics all gone *cry*.

Problem is that an equivalent five-string acoustic bass to the standard of the one I'm looking at moving across is particularly expensive here (I got a stonking deal on it back in Blighty).

My family isn't using the bass and it is a nice model, so it is likely to be cheaper to have it shipped (unless I have to pay for another plane ticket) than it is to buy a new one here. The same probably could have been said about the ESPs that I had, but my family are making use of those

Mark

Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. I think I read somewhere that if there's no room on the plane to carry it on, you have to buy a ticket for it and sit it next to you. Given that flights seem to be far more busy recently, I would presume this is more likely to happen. Anyone had that happen to them?

Thanks for the info. I maintained my bank account in the UK, but, sadly, I don't have $10,000 in it. More like $10!

Hi, there,

Bit of a strange question: but have any of you tried to ship over a guitar from, in my case, the UK to the US?

I have a nice guitar (not too expensive, but decent enough) that's gathering dust at my parents' house. I was wondering whether or not it's more economical to:

a) buy a new guitar

b) have it shipped

c) pay overage baggage charges for the guitar when my parents visit in the fall.

Mark

Worry not, I'm all prepared to show my passport

I'd be funny if, for all the worrying my wife's doing, she didn't even have to show a passport!

Perfect. Thanks, guys. And, yes, I did need that correction

Hi, gang,

A quick question (and something that I've asked about before, sort of).

My wife and I are visiting the UK next week for the first time since I emigrated to the US of A. I now have a US passport, so I have dual citizenship, but she only has a US passport.

If I was travelling alone, I would leave the US and enter the UK with my British passport (on the outboard flight) and leave the UK and enter the UK with my American passport (on the inboard flight).

I guess my question is what do we do when we arrive in Manchester and have to go through immigration? It's been five years since I flew into the UK, so I don't really remember, but will my wife have to go through non-EU citizen immigration and for me to go through EU citizen immigration? Or can we both go through the same line together?

She's worried about getting lost in the airport. I told her that I didn't think Manchester Airport was quite THAT big and daunting

Mark

Interesting. Thanks for the help, guys...

Hi, gang,

For the first time since I left the UK, I'm returning for a vacation/holiday in a couple of weeks!

I was talking to my Dad last night and he mentioned that I should make sure that I have health coverage while I'm over there. Now, growing up, I always thought that the NHS was free at the point of need, especially to UK citizens (I'm actually both a UK and a US citizen now). But he said that he thought it was only free to UK -residents- as they pay taxes and fund the NHS.

I'm still a UK citizen, but no longer a resident (though I do still use my parents' address for correspondence and still have an open checking account). My wife is a US citizen and is not a UK citizen.

If something was to happen that requires us to visit casualty, would we be bankrupted like we would be over in the US? Is it free for me? Or free for my wife? Might my current health care company cover the cost?

TIA,

Mark

Entering the USA... USA

Departing the USA... does not matter... no exit immigration. Airline will only want to know you have permission to seek entry to the UK..

Entering the UK ... UK

moving to UK forum

Thanks a lot, guys. Should I volunteer that I'm have dual citizenship now? Or is that a big no-no?

I do not think your luggage can be removed after checking in for your flight at your origination, it is checked through to your final destination and remains in a secure area. We fly through Hawaii on our way back from Taiwan a lot and have a 10-11 hour layover and always get into the city then return, no problems at all.

Thanks, Mike. Do you ever leave carry-ons at the airport that you don't want to lug around the city?

Dear all,

I recently became a US citizen (w00t!) and am in the process of applying for my US passport. However, I still hold a UK passport and we're going on vacation to the UK later this year.

What should I do with regards which passport to use where? My wife is a US citizen and will have to go through immigration in the UK, but I'm a UK passport holder, so it would be weird for me to go through UK immigration in the 'UK passport holder' line. Although it might be a tad strange that I would make my wife go through immigration as I skipped the lines....

Obviously, when I travel back to the US, I will need to show my US passport to get back in. But at what point should I show my US or UK passport?

Boarding the flight in the US to go to the UK: US or UK?

Arriving in the UK: US or UK?

Boarding the flight in the UK to go to the US: US or UK?

Arriving in the US: US or UK?

TIA,

Mark

Dear all,

Bit of a peculiar question, but on our trip back to the UK later this year, we have a very, very long layover at JFK after our flight from Pittsburgh before we catch the red-eye flight over to the UK. We were hoping that we would be able to venture into the city for a while and visit the Big Apple before returning to the airport and boarding our flight.

Is this possible? Is it a security problem? What would happen to our luggage which would have been on our flight from Pittsburgh to JFK? Are there any left luggage lockers that we can put our carry ons into while we're in the city?

TIA,

Mark