Dan and Lynne

we have 5 desktops and 2 laptops, and webcams all over the bloody place.

it was what brought us together...along with continental airlines!

mine hasnt spoke to me in over a year.

hi,

this might sound like a silly question,

i have been in the usa just over a year and i have been driving since i arrived (the first time it snowed like crazy...!!) anyways, i am unsure if i am insured to drive, i have a full uk licence, and the international permit (now i am aware that the permit is kinda useless really, but at the time i was told it was as good as an american licence...pretty dumb really!)

my husband is being kinda shady about all this and we are having a few issues in general, he told me i am insured but i cant see how as the insurance company (allstate) have never seen my licence, do they not need to see at least a copy??

the reason i am curious about this is because on his visit to the uk to see me, he hired a car and i was to drive it back from glasgow to cumbria, it wasnt until i got the car back to the hire company that they told me i wasnt insured and that they would overlook it as the car was in good condition and i have a nice smile.

i am kept in the dark about most things, he puts any 'private' paperwork out of the way, in the safe or somewhere i wouldnt look, ive never seen any insurance policies or bank statements even, i see them in the envelopes but never once they are opened. i am not even covered for health insurance, (he will cover the vehicles as they are due but not me! and i cant do it myself because i cant work!) which is something else, i have told him when i am not well and i need to see a doctor, and now it is like i am going on about it all the time, like im some kind of hypochondriac...which i am not!! but i suppose when you hear a woman complaining of pains and stuff every other week it begins to seem that way...i am really getting pi**ed with how he has become...and how it is all my fault. i have just turned 40 and my husband thinks i haven't lived and i am thick...(for instance, a recent previous post about IRS and filing taxes, filing about a uk income in the first place!!...WTH is that all about? if i mention it to him...ill be 'making it up' )

i feel i have no one to talk to about things...stuff...anything, and no one is interested anyway.

thanks everyone,

i used the ucis link. im a little confused as to why the G325A prints 5 copies...do i need to complete 5 and send in? or is one enough?

PLEASE CAN SOMEONE POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CORRECT FORMS WE NEED FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS,

I HAVE JUST BEEN LOOKING THROUGH THE GUIDES AND GOT MYSELF ALL FLUSTERED BECAUSE IT SAYS IF WE USE THE WRONG FORMS I CAN GET DEPORTED AND I DONT WANT THAT.

IM A UK CITIZEN, MY HUBBY IS US CITIZEN, I ENTERED USA ON A K1 VISA AND WE MARRIED IN MARCH (WITHIN THE 90 DAYS) EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE AND NOW WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE NEXT PART OF THE PROCESS, WE NEED IT RIGHT THOUGH...I DONT FANCY VISITING THE UK FOR ANY REASON...

I HAVE MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND I AM DOING MY DRIVING TEST IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, MY HUSBAND IS SORTING OUT ADDING ME TO HIS BILLS ETC...SO EVERYTHING SHOULD BE IN ORDER, I AM JUST CONFUSED AS TO WHICH ARE THE RIGHT FORMS FOR US.

THANKS.

Delta DO still take pets - I've just checked. They just don't take them as cargo during the heat embargo. Cabin travel is fine. Do your own homework - don't rely on information ONLY from a message board.

i agree with you 'dont just rely on a message board'...my post was just from my experiences with different airlines, exporting a largish dog.

best advise is to check and double check and use the message board for additional tips.

Thanks so much for this... Delta don't take pets anymore?! AHHH!! They were my first choice of airline...

Now I'm worried all over again *sigh*

lol my experience of delta wasnt good at all! totally clueless! i am guessing a got the dumb new starter in every country i was put through to...i started by calling london, got put through to USA, then france...he was abusive...he put me through to holland, where the lady said they do transport pets but they have a layover in frankfurt, no direct flights from the UK and with the crate size (i think the max was varikennel 500) she couldnt go on the flight to frankfurt!!...guess i got moved to germany...where they disconnected me before even talking to me...and then it started again...london...usa....france...holland and back to cargo in london...by this time i had totally lost it with delta.

i was told that i couldnt export my dog on a flight that lasts more than 12 hours, i was told that 12 hours in a crate is long enough (an hour in a crate is long enough!!)...in total my girl was in a crate for 16 hours...god knows how long she would have been in there going via frankfurt...had she been allowed. this was from continental.

another tip before you buy a crate...find a store which stocks the crate size you need, try your pet in it before you buy it...moreso with the large breeds...no room for error! i found 'canine kennels' (google it) in the UK are the cheapest online, and they are also good with refunds!

good luck!

bringing your pet to usa...let the fun begin!! you think waiting for a visa is bad!? lmao

with continental airlines:

they cant fly if the tempreture at either departure airport on arrival airport (and any changeover airport) is less than 8deg (about 27) unless you have a headed letter from your vet stateing that this isnt a problem. summer travel also has a guideline tempreture ( i travelled winter, didnt need to know summer temps)

rabies vacination is advisable though not needed...varies state to state....check! your SO should call a good vet in USA to find out what exactly is required.

a pet passport isnt needed unless your pet is going to return to europe.

all airlines are strict on crate/pet mesurements, be accurate, get someone to help. dont think squeezing him/her in a smaller crate will work!

speaking to the girl who answers the airline switchboard isnt the best option, you need to speak to someone who knows what they are talking about, even explaining a 1000 times that it is a pet you are transporting will send the operator into a bout of cluelessness!

requirements vary state to state...check!!

signed health certificate from vets is needed at least 10 days prior to travel.

try to have your pet on the same flight as you.

not all airports will rush you through just because you have a pet.

DEFRA (UK) are useless! they think an akita is a snake!

be early for pet check in, any delay can delay you on your boarding.

use a good reputable export company who can answer all your questions without flustering or 'checking elsewhere'

carry-on isnt always the best option, how would you like to be crammed under the seat?

using cargo isnt as bad as it sounds though i found that all the airlines i spoke to will no longer let you sort out your pet travel yourself, you need a weighbill and this is only available through an export company...and there are lots of cowboys out there...if you value your pet enough to bring him/her here...then it is going to cost...lots!!

$2600 to transport an akita from glasgow UK to newark for this the export company only provided the crate, weighbill and customs clearance. if the option to do it myself was available it would have cost around £600 + $50 customs clearance flying from heathrow to JFK.

some airlines will let you strap some dry food to the crate (i took about 4 days worth)...but it gets xrayed...this IS a good idea, unless your dogs usual munch is available on this side? its good to have something to mix in with the new diet...take it with you, if the airline says no you can always bin it.

dogs definatly need to be registered (annually) on this side, we had ours registered at the local municipal building (town hall) it cost about $11 and they get a tag for the collar (which must be worn all the time) a little tip on this, if it is supplied with an aluminum clasp...ditch it get a different one...it stains the fur. you need to take the rabies certificate and health records when you register.

some helpful sites i found:

Department of Agriculture

NWA - travel with pets they cant make their mind up if they do or dont.

Continental Airlines - travel with pets

Delta Airlines - travel with pets though delta told me (after being transfered across the world a few times) they no longer transport pets since sept 11th and their website needs updateing to say this!!

American Veterinary Medical Association

hope this helps...

oh, and when you get your pet on this side...remember...their journey was more stressful than yours...they got flung to the back of the crate on take off...their breakfast was in thier mouth whenever the plane hit an air pocket and they bounced around like a ping pong ball on landing...they have no seatbelt option....huggles and kisses are a requirement!! i wish i had her on webcam!!

my poopie took about a day to get over it...me? longer.

good luck.

hi,

just a quick question, i landed in USA on january 14th 2008, we married march 9th, i have just applied for my SSN today and my K1 (as states on passport) expires april 13th 2008.

we are wanting to know, if possible, how long we have to apply for AOS, we are not in any rush, but do not want to be 'out of status' i did read somewhere that we need to apply before the K1 expires, but then i read somewhere else that we have a year...we are a little confused about this.

can anyone help please?

hi all,

im setting of to be with my SO forever in 2 hours, the journey is long awaited. visa in hand...dog in crate...POE - newark...sh**ing a brick...over weight with baggage...

it has been hard, real hard...i cant put into words what we have both been going through over these past 7 months, but soon it will be at an end and we will be together.

i wish everyone sucess in their journeys...speedy results and a life of happiness.

I got two texts from the SMS people as well today, just as I was starting to get a bit twitchy - i fly on the 13th

what are your plans in the states? are you marrying and filing for AOS immediately?

yes, we hope to get married on 29th feb, but thats down to all the planning falling into place...and now the church too, we initially had the church reserved for the last two saturdays of january, but with the delay we had to cancel these. AOS - ASAP (driving licence next though! lol)

Yay!! I'm glad everything fell into place for you! Safe travels for you and the pooch!

we are too...its been...what seems like forever...ill be there a week before my birthday and its the best birthday present i could dream of! and poopie WAS hard work!

took a risk of booking my poopie on the flight on 14th january, hoping my visa would be here before then, it was beginning to look a little bleak when it seemed the embassy had misplaced my file...

but...

today i got two texts from the couriers, they are delivering my visa etc tomorrow, tonight we book my flight for 14th...my poopie wont be flying alone!

thankyou to everyone who advised us so well on this part of our journey and good luck with your own journey, my waiting in the UK has come to an end!!

That's was a good outcome glad it worked out ok

wow...couriers are working overtime! lol

took a risk of booking my poopie on the flight on 14th january, hoping my visa would be here before then, it was beginning to look a little bleak when it seemed the embassy had misplaced my file...

but...

today i got two texts from the couriers, they are delivering my visa etc tomorrow, tonight we book my flight for 14th...my poopie wont be flying alone!

thankyou to everyone who advised us so well on this part of our journey and good luck with your own journey, my waiting in the UK has come to an end!!

They forgot about him for two hours. He sat in the room and watched person after person be processed, including people who came in after him. Finally, he was the last person in the room and someone said, "Oh, you're still here?" They took his Mysterious Brown Envelope, looked over the papers, stamped his passport with an I-551 stamp as he came in on a CR1 and told him his green card and SS number would be coming in the next few weeks. (They did.) The actual processing took about a minute.

Hope you get that visa soon -- must be the holidays!

thanks for the replies!

from what ive read it seems quite a few have been forgotten about...

my visa? lol seems it is (quote) taking them too long to get back into the swing of things (unquote) so i am told by the guy who answered the phone on the ####### turpin embassy number. he told me to email them, i did, and i got a response telling me they dont reply for at least 4 days...im like #######! my dog flys on 14th, i would like to be on that flight too but the embassy really dont like you planning things, or should i say, they do like you planning things so they can do their damnedest to screw with you some more!

Hopefully you won't have to wait as long -- it seems his was an exceptionally awful experience. But still, factor in a good wait if you need to make a connecting flight. You don't need the whole pile of paperwork, only the MBE. We packed all our evidence (NOA2, birth certificates, etc) in our checked luggage as I was paranoid it would get lost in the shipping, but that's up to you. Still, it needn't be on hand.

In theory, the MBE is supposed to have the applicant's entire case file (which includes the petition). So, in theory (again), there should be no need to carry anything other than that (and the X-ray?).

the MBE is the petition too?...OMG they need a big box then!! ours was well over 1200 sheets of A4 (which has been copied 4 times so far! and yes, i hate myself for this, all that paper when it could have all been put onto disc, well, it was on disc when we gave it to the lawyer! what a waste)

i noted that the guy who interviewed me first at the embassy put it all in a bin liner, i assumed they no longer had a need for it and it was going out with the weekly rubbish. i so hope i dont have to lug it to america, better book myself into the gym...maybe this is my punishment for falling in love with a yank! now mexico seems like it was a good idea! lol

cool...good luck.

cool...good luck.

long but funny

and another

Jeff Dunham, Peanut & Jose

have you rung them to find out why it hasn't come? They say a max of 5 days.

Hers is taking a bit longer as her medical was one day prior to the interview. Takes a good 4 days to get the medical stuff to the Embassy and then has to be processed from there. Factor in the holidays, and well...you've got a good wait on your hands!

still waiting

hi

yup, medical was the day before, i called knightsbridge yesterday and they told me that they forwarded my stuff to the embassy on the 21st, i also called the couriers who had no record of me...though i think she never even bothered checking...i called the embassy '####### turpin help line' and was told that it would be at least 5 working days, which is today...apparently...i just hope it is here before the end of next week.

hi,

ive been reading some of the POE reviews for newark and i just wanted to know a few things from VJ'ers who have passed through there.

someone mentions a pile of paperwork, do i need to keep my petition paperwork with me on the flight so that i can show it on the other side? it was hard enough lugging this round london when it wasnt asked for by the embassy. i was going to pack it in with my things which are getting shipped next week.

also, there is no real descriptive review, i have no idea what happens on the other side, where i need to queue, where i go or anything. ive never been on an international flight and this is petrifying me, i know most experiences are good but what if something goes wrong? what could i do that could be wrong and make the process delay?

my dog is also on the same flight and although my fiance is meeting me at the airport, should he collect her first? i dont want my dog in any more stress than is needed and being in a box for near on 12 hours is bad enough for her...how long could it be for myself to be checked in?

i am hoping to fly on 14th, sooner would be nicer but it is looking like the couriers have forgotten me or gone via australia with my visa, and the embassy are no help.

thanks

How long did it take to get your passport back with the visa stamp.

I am leaving for Scotland on Sunday morning.My son has an interview on Jan 4th in London.I have return tickets to the US for us both Jan 13th.

Surly that should be long enough.

still waiting

thanks,

i needed a little cheering up after getting the text, yup, my replacement is a friend of the boss, she was in for training while i was in london on my interview, so im told...sneaky or what!

one good thing, i know the kids wont like her...apparently she drives too fast...

on with the packing...amazing how much junk accumulates...

i was working, had what i thought was a good job, transporting little darlings to a private school, thought i worked for decent employers, but i thought wrong, ive only two weeks to go until im on the plane to my man and a new life and ive been dumped by my employer...by text! he knew i was leaving, knew when i was due to catch the plane, knew everything as i did, i kept him informed and it seems he couldnt wait to fill my shoes, taking on a friend of his tomorrow, the day i was due to start back at work after the holidays...i am so peeved, i wish i could fly tomorrow but my mum is coming over from france on 7th to see me before i go over to the US. as if all this journey hasnt been bad enough on stress levels i have now two weeks without pay. this sucks, why couldnt he wait two more weeks.

i am only glad i know what lies round the corner for me.

Aww doesn't work in the UK it seems Boo!!!

never mind...february isnt far off! (didnt work for me niether!)

control panel>Administrative Tools>services : scroll for messenger and double click, drop down menu to disable it (even if it already says disable) apply and close. this stops the annoying grey boxed popups. may need a reboot.

adaware and winwasher should resolve the explorer issue, if not, download firefox and try that as your default browser.

otherwise...my favorite...if all else fails...FORMAT!

Lets wait and see if there are a shortage of oxen next year or even tigers the year after

isnt there already a shortage of tigers? must have been caused by the last chinese year of the tiger, or maybe its just because of the unnecessary china/tiger relationship