*Snowdrop*

I bought mine because I really wanted to be in the USA for Christmas and I risked a super short gap between interview and flight: Interview was Dec 5th and my flight was Dec 15th.
 
I made it but I think I aged ten years in those ten days worrying that the passport would not make it back to me in time! 
 
I think I got my passport back about three days before my flight! 

You are going through one of the easier consulates, and you clearly have already spent a lot of time together. We didn't have any joint finances, although I think we had named each other as pension beneficiaries but I don't think we even mentioned it on the forms.
 
It's not great that you have to spend your married life living in two separate countries - I got married in July 2007 and didn't move to the USA until December 2008 so I know how it feels. 
 
However there are loads of things you can do in the mean time to both take your mind of the wait, and to really set yourselves up for the best situation when you do finally get over there. 
 
It's great that you got your job back because the best thing you can do is work and save as much money as you possibly can -it will give you a good buffer for all the expenses of the visa, the move, setting up a new home together, having some fun travelling and exploring your new country, and covering any employment gaps if it takes you a while to get a new job. 
 
Your US spouse now has plenty of time to really declutter and sort out your future home together. And to prep info for all the things which will help you settle in when you first move over. 
 
 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

Manslaughter, voluntary or involuntary is a crime against moral turpitude. You being young and have never met him and are talking about marriage is sketchy. We see a lot of felons in the USA looking for an easy way out and you may be a victim of such. Just like some people mentioned here, there is more ahead than just trying to get here and work and live. Being a felon in the USA is challenging and you must be ready mentally to support him. Study him, don't hurry into something which you know you will be the one spending  in almost everything, we see a lot of such cases here everyday, talk to family and friends, open up before you venture into this, no parent will want to hear about this kind of adventure when it must have taken a sad turn already. I am not judging you, just being straight forward here.

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. 
 
In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. 
 
THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. 
 
This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other. 

Two of the most common themes in the threads on here are - how to survive a long distance relationship with a long time apart, and how to survive the first few months in the USA. So my experience is that if you prepare and plan for your arrival or your fiance's arrival it can keep you so busy (assuming you are also living your usual life - work, eating, sleeping, talking to other human beings) that you find the time apart not so daunting. Plus you actually feel like you are doing something that you have control over, unlike USCIS and their weird processing times.


So this is a list for both petitioner and beneficiary and how you split preparation like this depends on your unique coupleness and your individual strengths and preferences - ie sometimes one partner is super organised and proactive - sometimes that's the USC, sometimes it's not. There may be other considerations like language issues, finances, etc etc. But I bet there's something in the lists below for everyone....


Before Arrival:

1. Prepare 'all the immigration stuff' - I'm not going to list it on here because it's all over the site in the guides, in the forums, in the wiki. But while you have all this waiting time get to know this stuff INSIDE OUT. At least one of you should know what to expect and do at every stage of the process so there are no horrible surprises. Read, research, Google it, double check it here and on the official USCIS, State Dept websites. Tell your other half everything you learn.


2. Prepare the non-immigration stuff:



Make a Budget Make a Budget Make a Budget

So important I said it three times.

- Discuss goals, needs, wants and realistic expectations

- Work out how much you will need, double it and then work out how to pay for everything and whether you can BOTH save like crazy, do extra shifts, get a second job while waiting for the visa to process so that you will be able to cover all the needs and wants.

- Remember needs and wants are not the same thing and you have to work with your own circumstance so all the below will not apply.


Budget for these first few months (both of you)

You will definitely need money for (K1s):

- wedding
- AOS process
- health insurance, costs while health insurance is being sorted out
- being out of work for three months, or more (or stay at home options for those who want this - this includes what access the non-working partner will have to funds and a budget for their needs)

You might want:

- job hunting costs
- home renovation projects
- second car, computer, phone and plan
- re-buying all the stuff which you forgot or couldn't bring with you
- fun stuff together - exploring the new area
- study costs - possible language courses etc
- driving costs - test taking, lessons, extra insurance


Do you need something else to do to fill your time? How about researching and getting info and resources for all the following this the new immigrant might need:



Services:
- doctor
- dentist
- optometrist
- other medical specialists
- hairdresser
- beauty/spa services
- vet for those bringing pets
- schools for those bringing kids
- gym / health club
- church


Tech/Communications:
- cell phone/plan
- computer
- home country TV service

Driving/Transport
- DMV manual
- Your state requirements
- Driving school
- Other transport options

Study/Work
- find courses, places to study
- work out requirements and if prep can start before moving
- work networking, research, resume prep, business cards?

Getting to know the area
- maps (digital and or the paper sort)
- books about the area

A Taste of Home
- food shops
- restaurants
- meetup groups
- how to access TV from home


My suggestion is define a place - a box, a drawer, a shelf, a folder on your computer - and start gathering all this info. A welcome box if you will for your new fiancee/wife. It will make the first few months smoother.


After Arrival:


1. Talk about goals, plan and how you want to structure your time. Do you both want to ease into the new situation with a vacation at the start. Work with your new arrival's personality type. Are they happy with a good book, Netflix and access to the Internet to fill in the alone time? Will they need more hand-holding. If yes, how are you going to arrange it?

Things you can do if you are in a new home, in a new country:


- relax and rest
That immigration journey was pretty grueling wasn't it, plus a huge international flight, all that packing and emotional goodbyes. Maybe a week chilling and catching up on sleep

- spend time together alone
After all that time and anguish apart - plan some quality time together. Not just trips to the SS office or DMV.

- house/home projects
If you've budgeted for this it can be a great way to feel at home - decorate and organise as a couple finally. I spent over three hours a day for the first two months decluttering all the old junk (ie. my husband's stuff) in the house.

- explore
walk, drive, cycle, shop, museums, art galleries, - if you think your partner would not enjoy this alone, try to organize some vacation from work, or draft a team of helpers - friends, family etc
If the USC works in a city or town and you can't drive yet, go into the town/city with them once or twice a week - hang out in the library, or coffee shop, take a laptop, or go shopping, meet them for lunch, read a book in the park. Get out of the house.

- meet wider family and friends
Plan parties and visits and fun things to do to introduce your partner into your wider world and community. My mother-in-law took me out in the car every week for the first few months and it was a fun bonding experience.

- driving
Whether it's practice, lessons, studying the guide getting the licence sorted etc

- finding work
Even if you can't actually work yet there's hours of stuff you can do to prepare before the EAD/Greencard comes. Update your resume, update all online options like LinkedIn etc, get business cards printed, go to networking events, organize informational interviews at the types of places you'd like to work, see if you can shadow someone at a company you'd like to work. Find out if you need to acquire more skills etc

- study
Learn something new - either useful or fun. Use local community resources or do an online course.

- volunteer

- hobbies
Music, art, creating/making, gardening, reading, writing, blogging, sports, play poker online - I don't know whatever thrills you. When was the last time you had enforced leisure time - try to enjoy it.


I'm sure other people have loads more ideas.......

Also - that doesn't make any sense to write letters by hand and then photograph them and send them by messenger - if you are already communicating by messenger you would just type your feelings to each other. 
 
Is this 'other man' American? If not, why were they writing in English to each other?
 
Your evidence looks completely fabricated. 
 
Even if it was real, it's also not evidence of visa/immigration fraud. 
 
Infidelity is not a reason for deportation.

It's to prevent misuse of the spousal visa (or any of the family reunification visas) - it is in place to prevent US citizens 'selling' or giving access to the USA when they have no intent of returning their themselves. 

So I do have experience of multiple visits to the US to see a partner. I did this over three years - including one where we were married and the visa was processing. I used to fly five to six times a year for 1-2 week trips. The big difference was each time I was returning to a job - at quite a well known and prestigious company and after the first couple of trips I was also asked when I was returning and where I worked - that seemed to satisfy them. You will seem more of a risk as you have no official reason to return. Also the only time I did a 2.5 month stay was the very last trip before my visa was processed and I moved permanently. 
 
This is what I would do with your current schedule:
 
 
- I am visiting him for 2 weeks May/July. - I am going to the UK to visit family and for a trip to Italy for 4 weeks. - I would visit him again for 4 weeks, end of July to end of August.  You stay in the UK or Europe. - He comes to the UK for a 2 week visit. - I would come back with him early September. - We would vacation out of the US for 10 days/2 weeks before heading back together. Meet him somewhere outside of the US for your vacation in Oct. - Visit him for 2-3 weeks in November, you go back to the UK - He flies to the UK for Christmas, for 2 weeks. - I would fly back again with him in Jan, we would get engaged in the following couple of months. - We plan a 2/3 week vacation to the UK/France in March. - I fly back to the US with him and we would marry in May.   You are still seeing each other regularly but you are both spending more time in your own countries than each others which will keep the immigration people happy  

Glad that you've returned.
Your excellent thread, referenced earlier, has been pinned -- congratulations!

I've wondered about his visa status. The way they 'fled' Canada just before the borders closed because of Covid makes me think he entered on a tourist /ESTA option and then adjusted while there, or maybe he still had a diplomatic status because that was before they did their final exit from The Firm.
 
So his options would be:
 
Spousal Green Card
O1
Work Visa - with one of the startups he's been associated with
Investment Visa - in either one of the startups like BetterUp or the Archewell foundation itself? Can you be a 'silent' partner in a business for the sake of an investment visa
 
Can you adjust from inside the US for the last three? Or if the USA allowed him to enter and stay with a diplomatic status during Covid he could have applied for the other when back in the UK for their 'exit tour'
 
The only thing that makes me doubt the green card via spouse is to keep your green card you have to be officially domiciled in the US. But Harry is still listed as a Councillor of State in the UK and you have to be domiciled in the UK to be one. 
 
 
 
 

Two of the most common themes in the threads on here are - how to survive a long distance relationship with a long time apart, and how to survive the first few months in the USA. So my experience is that if you prepare and plan for your arrival or your fiance's arrival it can keep you so busy (assuming you are also living your usual life - work, eating, sleeping, talking to other human beings) that you find the time apart not so daunting. Plus you actually feel like you are doing something that you have control over, unlike USCIS and their weird processing times.


So this is a list for both petitioner and beneficiary and how you split preparation like this depends on your unique coupleness and your individual strengths and preferences - ie sometimes one partner is super organised and proactive - sometimes that's the USC, sometimes it's not. There may be other considerations like language issues, finances, etc etc. But I bet there's something in the lists below for everyone....


Before Arrival:

1. Prepare 'all the immigration stuff' - I'm not going to list it on here because it's all over the site in the guides, in the forums, in the wiki. But while you have all this waiting time get to know this stuff INSIDE OUT. At least one of you should know what to expect and do at every stage of the process so there are no horrible surprises. Read, research, Google it, double check it here and on the official USCIS, State Dept websites. Tell your other half everything you learn.


2. Prepare the non-immigration stuff:



Make a Budget Make a Budget Make a Budget

So important I said it three times.

- Discuss goals, needs, wants and realistic expectations

- Work out how much you will need, double it and then work out how to pay for everything and whether you can BOTH save like crazy, do extra shifts, get a second job while waiting for the visa to process so that you will be able to cover all the needs and wants.

- Remember needs and wants are not the same thing and you have to work with your own circumstance so all the below will not apply.


Budget for these first few months (both of you)

You will definitely need money for (K1s):

- wedding
- AOS process
- health insurance, costs while health insurance is being sorted out
- being out of work for three months, or more (or stay at home options for those who want this - this includes what access the non-working partner will have to funds and a budget for their needs)

You might want:

- job hunting costs
- home renovation projects
- second car, computer, phone and plan
- re-buying all the stuff which you forgot or couldn't bring with you
- fun stuff together - exploring the new area
- study costs - possible language courses etc
- driving costs - test taking, lessons, extra insurance


Do you need something else to do to fill your time? How about researching and getting info and resources for all the following this the new immigrant might need:



Services:
- doctor
- dentist
- optometrist
- other medical specialists
- hairdresser
- beauty/spa services
- vet for those bringing pets
- schools for those bringing kids
- gym / health club
- church


Tech/Communications:
- cell phone/plan
- computer
- home country TV service

Driving/Transport
- DMV manual
- Your state requirements
- Driving school
- Other transport options

Study/Work
- find courses, places to study
- work out requirements and if prep can start before moving
- work networking, research, resume prep, business cards?

Getting to know the area
- maps (digital and or the paper sort)
- books about the area

A Taste of Home
- food shops
- restaurants
- meetup groups
- how to access TV from home


My suggestion is define a place - a box, a drawer, a shelf, a folder on your computer - and start gathering all this info. A welcome box if you will for your new fiancee/wife. It will make the first few months smoother.


After Arrival:


1. Talk about goals, plan and how you want to structure your time. Do you both want to ease into the new situation with a vacation at the start. Work with your new arrival's personality type. Are they happy with a good book, Netflix and access to the Internet to fill in the alone time? Will they need more hand-holding. If yes, how are you going to arrange it?

Things you can do if you are in a new home, in a new country:


- relax and rest
That immigration journey was pretty grueling wasn't it, plus a huge international flight, all that packing and emotional goodbyes. Maybe a week chilling and catching up on sleep

- spend time together alone
After all that time and anguish apart - plan some quality time together. Not just trips to the SS office or DMV.

- house/home projects
If you've budgeted for this it can be a great way to feel at home - decorate and organise as a couple finally. I spent over three hours a day for the first two months decluttering all the old junk (ie. my husband's stuff) in the house.

- explore
walk, drive, cycle, shop, museums, art galleries, - if you think your partner would not enjoy this alone, try to organize some vacation from work, or draft a team of helpers - friends, family etc
If the USC works in a city or town and you can't drive yet, go into the town/city with them once or twice a week - hang out in the library, or coffee shop, take a laptop, or go shopping, meet them for lunch, read a book in the park. Get out of the house.

- meet wider family and friends
Plan parties and visits and fun things to do to introduce your partner into your wider world and community. My mother-in-law took me out in the car every week for the first few months and it was a fun bonding experience.

- driving
Whether it's practice, lessons, studying the guide getting the licence sorted etc

- finding work
Even if you can't actually work yet there's hours of stuff you can do to prepare before the EAD/Greencard comes. Update your resume, update all online options like LinkedIn etc, get business cards printed, go to networking events, organize informational interviews at the types of places you'd like to work, see if you can shadow someone at a company you'd like to work. Find out if you need to acquire more skills etc

- study
Learn something new - either useful or fun. Use local community resources or do an online course.

- volunteer

- hobbies
Music, art, creating/making, gardening, reading, writing, blogging, sports, play poker online - I don't know whatever thrills you. When was the last time you had enforced leisure time - try to enjoy it.


I'm sure other people have loads more ideas.......