Londonlassie

When I was getting ready to make 'the move' I did loads of reasearch into shipping companies and eventually chose one because a) the price looked good and b ) they appeared really professional.

I was sooooooooo wrong.

The boxes were supposed to have been delivered three weeks ago and the latest thing is that the shipping company told me they no longer have them - that they 'think' they have been handed over to DHL now. You can only speak to customer services in England, so they can only tell you what their computer tells you.

DHL insist that they do not have the boxes.

Anyway, if you want to save yourself a headache, DO NOT use the company Seven Seas Worldwide, to ship your things when you move across the atlantic.

However, if you want something to keep you occupied whilst waiting for the EAD to come through - if the AOS and wedding is not keeping you occupied enough as it is - then I guess this company would be a good choice for you. Oh yes, but only if you don't want to get your things back in your posession sometime this century!

Sorry, I am feeling a little bit bitter about it all at the moment!

When I was getting ready to make 'the move' I did loads of reasearch into shipping companies and eventually chose one because a) the price looked good and B) they appeared really professional.

I was sooooooooo wrong.

The boxes were supposed to have been delivered three weeks ago and the latest thing is that the shipping company told me they no longer have them - that they 'think' they have been handed over to DHL now. You can only speak to customer services in England, so they can only tell you what their computer tells you.

DHL insist that they do not have the boxes.

Anyway, if you want to save yourself a headache, DO NOT use the company Seven Seas Worldwide, to ship your things when you move across the atlantic.

However, if you want something to keep you occupied whilst waiting for the EAD to come through - if the AOS and wedding is not keeping you occupied enough as it is - then I guess this company would be a good choice for you. Oh yes, but only if you don't want to get your things back in your posession sometime this century!

Sorry, I am feeling a little bit bitter about it all at the moment!

I flew into JFK in May because I wanted to get the 90 day EAD (which I did manage to get).

I ended up being stucj there for about two hours with my fiance waiting impatiently in the arrivals hall.

The first immigration guy I spoke with said eveything was fine, but that I would need to be 'reassessed' by someone else. When I aksked about the EAD stamp he said they didn't do it in JFK!

I was then shuffled to a side room, was ordered to put my file in a rack in front of a guy at the desk then told to sit down. There were several other people in the room who looked like they had been waiting a very long time. The immigration people sat at the desk at the front of the room chatting, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. After 30 minutes I was getting really fed-up so I went and asked if there was a problem with my file. They laughed and then told me to sit back down without answering my question or even touching my file. After another hour one of the men signed and leant forward to pick up my file from in front of him. He flicked through it and called me up to the desk. He asked me loads of questions about me and my fiance - how we met, where my fiance was, when we were getting married, what my profession was, then stamped my passport and sent me on my way. I asked for the EAD stamp which he then rummaged around in his desk for and stamped my passport with. He repeatedly told me it was only for 90 days and that I couldn't work until I had a Social Security Card.

Two hours later I was united with my fiance in the arrivals hall, EAD in hand.

The other people waiting in the small room were not spoken to once during the time I was there and no-one seems to be considering their cases. That upset me more than my wait.

I am pleased that from now on I can just go through passport control with the US citizens!

Just one hint though for JFK....I arrived on a Sunday afternoon and it was rediculously busy. The staff were exhausted, stressed and not in good moods as a result. Maybe arriving mid-week would be better?

Thankyou so much to you all.

This website really is a wonderful fountain of knowledge!!!!!

Right, off to buy some marmite now......

Definitely Shaws and Wegmans have it. For NYC, Tea & Sympathy on Greenwich Avenue in the West Village may have it too -- they have loads of stuff. Google and give them a call!

Oh my goodness, thankyou!!!! I can actually go out tomorrow and buy myself a lovely jar of the brown stuff!!!

I completely understand about the homesickness.

I have been here a month now and, after all the endless waiting, now that I am finally here with my wonderful husband I feel awful that I am homesick! I have the temporary EAD, but it is sooooo hard to find a job in NYC and I am kindof feeling drained by the whole AOS/job application process.

Anyway, I made some chocolate chip cookies, with Cadbury fruit and nut, had a cup of Tetley tea and made toast and marmite for lunch!

Crazy though it sounds, these have made me feel much better!

The volunteer work is a great idea though. I volunteer once a week at a yoga studio and I get to then go to as many classes as I want for free! It seems to be a good way to meet people so I don't become a recluse and scare my husband with my excitement each day when he gets home from work!

Good luck at the Humane Society. It sounds like fun!

I know I've seen it in a Shaw's supermarket in Hamden, CT. Not NY/NJ/PA, but not *that* far away if you're really desperate, I s'pose. Perhaps someone can come up with somewhere closer?

sounding good! Thanks! At least it is this side of the Atlantic and not too far away

Hi fellow English men and women!

I was just wondering if any of you knew of a store in NY, NJ, PA area that sold Marmite? I know you can buy it online, but it would be much better (and cheaper) just to buy it in a store I would have thought!

my husband and I took the chance and just sent in his DS-3025 vacc. worksheet. we were very lucky and flew through the AOS process. just today i came across this civil surgeon who will transfer the info. for only $10. i heard that you mail him the vacc. worksheet DS-3025 and they do there thing and make a copy for your records and mail it all back to u. best of luck..... here's the info....>>>>

Dr. L.E. Arnold

4534 Westgate Boulevard, Suite 106

Austin, TX 78745

Tel: (512)444-3131

Fax: (512)447-4699

Jus to let you know that I too used this civil surgeon, and he doesn't mind where in the US you are - it is all done by post. They are really friendly, helpful and professional!!! A great find.

Good luck

My husband entered on Wednesday and they were able to find him in the system on Friday, so it's worth a try at least. They also said that if he really needed to know the number right away he could come back Monday and they would tell him what it was.

Thanks, that is really helpful, and i will definately give it a go.

Has anyone else had experience with this?

You have all put a huge smile on my face....thankyou!!!

And, I loved the idea of someone buying it up and handing out visas to everyone.

Thanks

Sorry, yet another SS# question!!!

I have to start sorting out my NY teaching certification but for that, along with everything else it seems, I need my Social Security Number!

So, I am moving out there next weekend (yeay!!!) and then will wait a couple of weeks for my information to be input into the 'system'.

Then, do have to wait another couple of weeks, maybe more, for the card to arrive before I can get on with all the other paperwork that needs the SSN#?

I know you can request that SS send the number straight to an employer, but has anyone managed to just get the number before their card arrived? say within a few days, or a week?

Thanks.

I spent ages searching the forums and guides but could only find info for people applying for K3 visas i.e. marriages outside the U.S. (they need the long form). For the AOS it only says you need the marriage certificate, it doesn't elaborate.

I guess it is better to be safe than sorry, so we should just send in the long form. Was just curious what other people had done!

I have recently got into LUSH products and luckily they are now opening loads of stores in the US!!!!

Certainly a rival to the BOOTS stuff as far as I am concerned......although a bit pricier in the US than the UK

Just a quick question.

We are getting maried in NYC and I saw on the website that you can obtain either a 'Long form' or 'short form' marriage certificate - or both!

I know that if we want to use the marriage certificate sometime in the future for my husband (the USC) to live in England we would need the 'Long form', but what about now for the AOS? Do I need to get a certified copy of the Long form, or Short form Certificate to send in with the AOS application? How about for the other stuff like applying for the SSN?

Any advice???????

Congratulations.

I was thinking about you guys and really hoping it all worked out. I am thrilled it did!

Enjoy with the wedding!

Hi,

I completed the medical in London for the K1 visa and am now moving to NYC to marry my fiance. For AOS we need to send in the I-693a Vaccination record (as I don't need another medical). I asked for a copy of the vaccination record from the doctor in England (DS-3025) but now need to get that information transferred to the I-693a. Kindof crazy I know, but I am getting used to that!!

Anyway, I was just wonderng if there are any of you out there, living in NYC, who did the same thing and could maybe recommend a doctor who would do this for me (without charging a small fortune!!!!!)

Thanks

Thankyou!

Actually it arrived this morning (no text message) which is wonderful - I keep looking at it and smiling!!!!

Next stop JFK!!!!

All this waiting is getting me impatient!

Our visa was approved at interview on Friday 20th. I am now at home waiting for the passport. I was just wondering, for those of you who have received yours with the new visa, did SMS actually send you a text message the day before? I am not sure whether I should wait for this message, or just wait in the house each day until the passport comes (hopefully this week).

Hi, I have lived in the USA for 11 months, and Honduras for 8 months. I understood from the literature (US Embassy stuff) that police certificates were only required if you lived in another country for 12 months or more.

I didn't have police certificates for either Honduras or the USA and was approved at the interview with no problems. The woman who was interviewing me only asked for the UK police certificate.

I hope this helps?!

Wow, all these people have also got to the 'flying out there' stage. That is great!

I am flying out to NYC on May 13th, but have to go via Switzerland as it was much cheaper. Longer journey for me to get nervous on, but at least it is more airmiles to add t those coolected on my transatlantic flights over the past few years!

Has anyone flown Swiss Air before? What are they like?

I just read that someone else had their interview this morning and it was approved....Congratulations!

I must have been a little after him, because after my 2 hour wat outside I was given number 11. The process inside was incredibly fast and I didn't have time to sit down at all until after it was all over an dI wanted to check that I hadn't forgotton anything.

Process was the same as I have read other's had experienced - see one woman who takes all your documents and copies. Pay $100. See another person who asks you to hold up your right hand and swear to tell the truth. She asked me the questions about how I met my fiance. How many times he had visited me, and I had visited him. What does he do for a living. What do I do. Why was I not wearing an engagement ring (didn't seem a problem she said she was just curious). Then told me the passport would be returned to me in 3-5 working days. I just kindof stood there, amazed at how smoothly it all had gone. I had a file of documents (wedding invitations, ring receipts, e-mails, boarding passes etc) but they didn't want to se any of that. I was told that the process for the fiance is usually pretty straightforward and they don't need additional evidence. I am pleased I brought it all along with me though.

So, now we can start makning plans knowing for sure that they actually can happen. That is a wonderful relief! I fly out to be reunited with my fiance on May 13th and I can't wait. Counting down the days....

Thankyou everyone for your words of support and advice. This website has been invaluable in this long drawn-out visa process. I am sure we will return to the forums as soon as we start on the AOS!!!

Good luck for all you Brits with visa interviews coming up. I am sure you will all be fine. And just a hint, to calm your nerves whilst you are waiting, chat to the policemen. They are really lovely and they said that hardly anyone really tries to make conversation with them and as a result their days feel very long!

Hi,

I will be soon moving to NYC to be with my fiance.

We are hoping to have a civil ceremony as soon after I arrive as possible, so that we can file for AOS (the big family wedding will be later in the summer). I was just wondering how many people from VJ applied for their marriage license in NYC and whether the beneficiary needed a SSN at the time, or whether you can get the license with only the SSN of the US citizen? I have heard how long it can someties take to get a Social Security Number, and would be really frustrated if our marriage plans would have to wait for that to happen!

Any advice from people in NYC would be gratefully appreciated!

Thanks

I am flying into JFK early May, with my K1 visa in hand. I was just wondering how many people recently have successfully obtained the 90 day EAD from this POE?

I am really hoping that I will get it because I need to start job hunting!

You are allowed to earn up to £5,225 for tax year 2007/8, TAX FREE. Anything over that you are taxed. When you leave the country, if your earnings from April 1st to your leaving date are under this £5,225, you get all the tax you paid refunded. Any earnings over that limit may be partially refunded....I think that depends on your situation. But, anyone leaving for the US pretty soon, should get all their tax refunded (since April 1st).......unless they are earning a considerable salary.

The P85 is pretty easy to complete, and they can pay the money straight into your bank acocunt if that is what you request. I have done it a couple of times before and got the refund within a few months.

Hope this helps.