Cogitoergosum

I remember when my wife got here, State Farm considered her a new driver because there was no US driving record and they gave us a crazy quote. We tried All State next and they just asked how long she had been driving and she answered 8 years and they put that in the computer and we got a much lower rate. I don't know that any of these companies has a specific policy for how they verify driving history and what proof they need. It just comes down to the agent some times and how much they want to sell the policy. Shopping around is good advice.

Depending on the provider you may get new driver quote even if you are above 25 and you got US issued DL recently. New Driver insurance rate may last for a few years.
 
When I came to US, I brought the “Driving Record” from my country’s DMV equivalent. Upon presenting that driving record, foreign DL and newly issued US DL to the insurance provider, I was quoted good rate under experience driver with no accidents/violations in last 6 years. 
 
May be try providing driving record along with foreign DL to your insurance provider and see if they reduce the premium.

I second this suggestion! A couple months back, I enquired with my broker about adding my husband to my car insurance for a temporary visit, and an NZ driving record was requested. This was in Orange County, same as OP.
 
OP, $4000/yr seems high even for OC, even for Irvine/Newport--the land of Teslas, Maseratis, Mercedes, etc lol. When/after talking to your broker, I'd check out AAA as well, as several people have recommended them to me for their reasonable pricing, within OC.  Good luck!

That sounds high. I'm in Michigan and we have the highest car insurance rates. I passed my test recently (here), been driving for over 30 years back in the UK. Our total car insurance this year is just under $2000 a year for both cars (mine and husband's), an increase of about $500 a year since I was added. We pay upfront every six months. The company we are with sent me a tracker to fit in the car for the first few months so I expect the price to go down after that. 
 
Did you you shop around, or was that the best price you could find? 😬

Hi tomuk,
 
Unfortunately you won't be able to permanently import.
 
Generally the car will need to be US specifications or be a returning US vehicle.
 
The only other ways are:
The vehicle is over 25 years old, which is then classified as a classic
The import is temporary, meaning it has to return within 1 year of entry
Modifications are done to make it US specification, which is an expensive process
 
If you would like to read more about it see our resources at https://www.schumachercargo.com/usa-car-imports/

GE is linked to a passport.   
 
The first time you enter on your CR1 go thru the Foreign line to get processed.
 
After that log into GOES and verify your account status.     If you get a new passport you can update that too.

It is highly unlikely you can use GE when you enter the USA on your CR-1.  
 
Furthermore, after you enter the USA, at POE, you will get an I-551 stamp on your passport. Aside from this being yet another reason why you cannot use GE for your first entrance to the USA after getting a CR-1, your will not be allowed to use GE again until you have an actual green card. The reason is that lawful permanent residents are required to enter the USA on their I-551 and the only form of I-551 the GE kiosks accept is the green card.  Unfortunately GE cards are largely useless.  
 
One you get a green card, go to the nearest GE office and ask to have your green card entered into the system. Also ask if to be shown how to use a green card with a kiosk. It is much different than using a passport and most first timer GE users with green cards at POE have lots of problems.  
 
Also, when you get your first state ID or DL, log into your online account and add those.  
 
Finally those of you with GE and want to take your spouses name may have a real dilemma.  Because your passenger ticket will be in your passport name and your green card will be in your spouses name, the GE kiosk might reject you at future points of entry.   I believe that eventually, whether the green card holder has GE or not, that the USA will require green card holders to fly with ticket issued in the green card holders name.  

Hi everyone, after months of waiting, many flights, and hours on Skype, the CR1 visa was approved in London and I'm heading to to the US. 
 
I just wanted to say thanks to this forum. I'm not a particularly great contributor here, but I have lurked on this forum for the past year looking for for any insights i can get into this process. Your contributions here have been very helpful. Notwithstanding all of my agonising, planning and aversion to taking any step that may delay my application, my experience has been exactly as documented many times on this forum (we got married, filled in some forms, waited for around a year, "Interview - AP - Issued"). With that, we can move on with our lives and start thinking about stuff "normal" couples think about (where to live, the colour of a new matching towel set, etc.) and I cannot wait.
 
If anyone wants any insights into the process I am happy to offer what I can.  

I should add that, to those still waiting for visa's and good news, stay strong, stay patient, and don't lose track of why you put yourself through this to begin with. 

Hi everyone, after months of waiting, many flights, and hours on Skype, the CR1 visa was approved in London and I'm heading to to the US. 
 
I just wanted to say thanks to this forum. I'm not a particularly great contributor here, but I have lurked on this forum for the past year looking for for any insights i can get into this process. Your contributions here have been very helpful. Notwithstanding all of my agonising, planning and aversion to taking any step that may delay my application, my experience has been exactly as documented many times on this forum (we got married, filled in some forms, waited for around a year, "Interview - AP - Issued"). With that, we can move on with our lives and start thinking about stuff "normal" couples think about (where to live, the colour of a new matching towel set, etc.) and I cannot wait.
 
If anyone wants any insights into the process I am happy to offer what I can.  

Hi everyone, after months of waiting, many flights, and hours on Skype, the CR1 visa was approved in London and I'm heading to to the US. 
 
I just wanted to say thanks to this forum. I'm not a particularly great contributor here, but I have lurked on this forum for the past year looking for for any insights i can get into this process. Your contributions here have been very helpful. Notwithstanding all of my agonising, planning and aversion to taking any step that may delay my application, my experience has been exactly as documented many times on this forum (we got married, filled in some forms, waited for around a year, "Interview - AP - Issued"). With that, we can move on with our lives and start thinking about stuff "normal" couples think about (where to live, the colour of a new matching towel set, etc.) and I cannot wait.
 
If anyone wants any insights into the process I am happy to offer what I can.  

Hi everyone, after months of waiting, many flights, and hours on Skype, the CR1 visa was approved in London and I'm heading to to the US. 
 
I just wanted to say thanks to this forum. I'm not a particularly great contributor here, but I have lurked on this forum for the past year looking for for any insights i can get into this process. Your contributions here have been very helpful. Notwithstanding all of my agonising, planning and aversion to taking any step that may delay my application, my experience has been exactly as documented many times on this forum (we got married, filled in some forms, waited for around a year, "Interview - AP - Issued"). With that, we can move on with our lives and start thinking about stuff "normal" couples think about (where to live, the colour of a new matching towel set, etc.) and I cannot wait.
 
If anyone wants any insights into the process I am happy to offer what I can.  

CONGRATULATIONS 🎉🎉🎉

Awww, that's so sweet of you. Congratulations!

Hi everyone, after months of waiting, many flights, and hours on Skype, the CR1 visa was approved in London and I'm heading to to the US. 
 
I just wanted to say thanks to this forum. I'm not a particularly great contributor here, but I have lurked on this forum for the past year looking for for any insights i can get into this process. Your contributions here have been very helpful. Notwithstanding all of my agonising, planning and aversion to taking any step that may delay my application, my experience has been exactly as documented many times on this forum (we got married, filled in some forms, waited for around a year, "Interview - AP - Issued"). With that, we can move on with our lives and start thinking about stuff "normal" couples think about (where to live, the colour of a new matching towel set, etc.) and I cannot wait.
 
If anyone wants any insights into the process I am happy to offer what I can.  

I should add that, to those still waiting for visa's and good news, stay strong, stay patient, and don't lose track of why you put yourself through this to begin with. 

Hi everyone, after months of waiting, many flights, and hours on Skype, the CR1 visa was approved in London and I'm heading to to the US. 
 
I just wanted to say thanks to this forum. I'm not a particularly great contributor here, but I have lurked on this forum for the past year looking for for any insights i can get into this process. Your contributions here have been very helpful. Notwithstanding all of my agonising, planning and aversion to taking any step that may delay my application, my experience has been exactly as documented many times on this forum (we got married, filled in some forms, waited for around a year, "Interview - AP - Issued"). With that, we can move on with our lives and start thinking about stuff "normal" couples think about (where to live, the colour of a new matching towel set, etc.) and I cannot wait.
 
If anyone wants any insights into the process I am happy to offer what I can.  

Congratulations and good luck with the rest of your journey 

CONGRATS !!!

Congratulations and cheers to a new adventure (and new towels 😂).

Hi everyone, after months of waiting, many flights, and hours on Skype, the CR1 visa was approved in London and I'm heading to to the US. 
 
I just wanted to say thanks to this forum. I'm not a particularly great contributor here, but I have lurked on this forum for the past year looking for for any insights i can get into this process. Your contributions here have been very helpful. Notwithstanding all of my agonising, planning and aversion to taking any step that may delay my application, my experience has been exactly as documented many times on this forum (we got married, filled in some forms, waited for around a year, "Interview - AP - Issued"). With that, we can move on with our lives and start thinking about stuff "normal" couples think about (where to live, the colour of a new matching towel set, etc.) and I cannot wait.
 
If anyone wants any insights into the process I am happy to offer what I can.  

It does not have to be reported by a doctor. You can just tell them at the visa clinic when they are going over your shot records. 

It's not an issue. Why do they need to download it? It's in the system. You will have your actual passport on the day plus your originals of civil documents. They can scan anything they need. Those getting K1 fiancé visas provide all documents for the first time on interview day, which the embassy scans, so they certainly have that ability. 
 
You can't talk to the Immigrant Visa Unit-London on the phone. They have a contact form on their website. There are links from this visa instruction page
https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/family-immigration/how-to-apply-2/

Just stalked your profile and saw that! Thanks. 

Mary's took 4 weeks.   At week 3 we went into the main Phoenix office, waited 3 hours, and they couldn't tell us anything other than wait.  We went to another office and they checked, got a supervisor and found out it looked like one had not been applied for.   A week later she had her card.