Martin&Nat
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Posts posted by Martin&Nat
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Hello!
I need to take my driver license in NYC.
I have 2 year green card and European Driver License since 10 years.
I tried to check the DMV website but is very confusing.
Anybody knows step by step what to do? Do I need to take the 5 hours course?
Any experience on the dmv in Herald Square NYC?
Many thanks.
You're in the same situation I was in last year.
Here's what I did:
1. Get the NY State Driver's Manual and Study Guide (free from DMV or driving schools). Online version at: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/DMANUAL/DEFAULT.HTML
2. Go down to the DMV with the relevant IDs (see the DMV website for info) for your written test and learner's permit (you do both on the same day, in NYC no appointment is normally necessary).
3. When you pay for your learner's permit, you get a temporary paper one which you can use until the plastic card arrives in the mail. You can use the temporary permit for lessons, etc but YOU MUST WAIT FOR THE PLASTIC PHOTO ID TO ARRIVE IN THE MAIL BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TEST.
4. Whilst waiting for the plastic photo permit to arrive, I booked in for one of the 5 hour courses (compulsory). Absolutely boring - you learn how to put a seatbelt on properly, etc. At the end, you get a certificate - keep hold of it, you'll need it when you have your driving test.
5. Book a lesson or two, or just book the test. I took mine out on Staten Island; compared to the UK test it was ridiculously easy and lasted less than 10 minutes - I literally drove around the block and was done. Driver's license arrived in the mail about 2 weeks later.
Good luck!
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I have insurance with these guys:
http://www.sevencorners.com/insuranceplans/immigrantmedical/
Seeing as the insurance is specifically called, 'Immigrant Insurance', I think it should be suitable.
Bear in mind that insurance like this is really only for emergencies - it includes very limited (if any) primary care. However, it's all I can afford when it would cost me $400 a month to go on my wife's work policy.
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But the form is assessing your job and income, so when I looked at it, I just thought 'this is for people that are working overseas, so I'll contact them the moment I have a job". Am I to assume that they're going to charge me LOADS of money for not letting them know that I was moving?
Also.. my dad called me and told me that a letter came for me, asking why I hadn't been paying NI since leaving university. He then said they told him I owed them something like 250 pounds!
I'm very worried now..
I think it's very unlikely they'll charge you any penalties as long as you prove you were under the threshold. How long have you been in the US for? Have you filed a tax return here yet? If so, you can just send that as evidence of your income (or lack thereof).
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Officially, you are supposed to notify the SLC within three months of leaving the UK by filling in the Overseas Income Assessment form - otherwise they are able to charge you the overseas repayment rate of £246 per month (from the date you departed!) in addition to a penalty of up to £150.
They happened to lose the form I sent them so I resent it around 18 months after leaving the UK - I was under the threshold since my departure so they didn't charge me any penalty. They simply confirmed I wasn't liable for any payments and that they would send me another assessment form in a year's time.
I hope this helps. Bottom line, file the assessment form with them to be safe - regardless of whether you are under the threshold or not. For the USA, the threshold is currently £12,000. More info at: http://www.slc.co.uk/thresholds/index.html
I hope this helps.
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I got mine within 2 days.
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Received the approval notice via email today!! Was half expecting them to wait until a year had passed from my medical so they could send me another RFE (had my medical 2 June 2008).
My original RFE was for the medical as I didn't include the form with the AOS packet - got the form filled out by Dr Arnold for the RFE; no need for TB tests.
I'm hoping the GC will arrive by the end of June as we are thinking about moving when our lease expires.
Phew - it'll be weird not having to deal with USCIS for two whole years!!
- Martin
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Is anyone else finding their application isn't getting updated on the online case tracker? They didn't even put my Advance Parole application in the system, and my AOS for Permanent Residency was last updated in January (when received in California), even though I was sent (and returned) an RFE in April!
- Martin
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I have a question about the interview....
On the letter with the interview date, in the checklist of things it says to bring it says the I-693 (unless already submitted)
when we sent our paperwork, we didn't send in an I-693, we sent in a copy of the DS-3025 with a letter stating that the necessary paperwork should have been included in the sealed envelope turned in at POE and that if further evidence was needed, we would send it in.
We never got an RFE for the I-693, so assumed that all the proper paperwork was received.
I shouldn't be getting an interview (case at CSC, came on a K-1) and done exactly the same as you - I included the DS-3025 with a letter regarding the medical. I received an RFE for an I-693 and returned it last week (arrived at CSC today, so hoping the approval won't take too much longer).
If I were you, I would give Dr Arnold in Texas a ring. They'll transcribe your DS-3025 for you for $30. A small price to pay for peace of mind.
Good luck!
- Martin
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I got an RFE last week for the I-693. No big surprise as I just put in the DS-3025 from my London medical. Figured it was worth a try. No mention of the TB requirement (my medical was 2nd June) so think I'll just try my luck again by getting Dr Arnold to transcribe my medical results (without TST).
I guess we'll at least get an answer as to how strict they are on the new TB testing rules.
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Also it asked questions about the dates he was in the US, did he have foreign income, what country, when did he begin residence there...things like that.
Are you asked the date you became a US resident? If so (not yet received Green Card), do you just put down the date you arrived in the US?
Thanks!
- Martin
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Just received email stating EAD and AP have been approved.
- Martin
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if he is working for a UK company in UK (but beeing in US, working at distance) I don't think there is a problem.
someone...confirm..
I do the same, and can't see it being an issue. As far as I am concerned, I am a UK citizen working for a UK company and paying UK tax. I am not a US resident or citizen, so US employment law shouldn't be an issue.
- Martin
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Got a notice today telling me my I485 application has been transferred to California Service Center for processing. Is this normal?
- Martin
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Received biometrics appointment letter dated 5th December. Appointment is on 19th December.
- Martin
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Check cashed 1st December and received all NOAs today, dated 28 November.
- Martin
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Hey everyone
I sent our AOS application on 18th November and it was received on the 20th.
How did everyone treat the medical requirements? I had my medical in London on 2 June (1 day after the grace period for the new TB requirements expired). I will wait for an RFE before going to get a TB test and x-ray etc etc (what a farce!).
Just in case I get lucky, I included a note saying:
I-485 Note – I am a K-1 visa holder and underwent a medical examination within the past 12 months. Vaccinations were also completed as part of this medical. I understand that all my medical information was included in the brown envelope I surrendered upon entry into the United States and that therefore I am not required to submit form I-693. I include form DS-3025 in place of form I-693.I figured it was worth a punt
- Martin
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Is anyone being told about the new TB skin test requirements when they go for their medical in London? I had my medical on 2 June and now I am about to adjust my status in the US, I have found that from 1 May there was a new requirement for applicants to show they have had a TB skin test.
I am pretty upset by this as I paid the full medical fee, thinking that included everything I needed. Turns out, it doesn't.
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Hi everyone
I am here on a K1 visa, and my I-94 expires today. We haven't applied to adjust status yet as we are still gathering evidence (we can't get a joint bank account as my SSN is still not appearing as valid!).
How long can I be 'out of status' for? Do I have to definitely file the AOS by a certain date?
Thanks.
- Martin
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Hi everyone
So I have been reading on here about the new requirements for a TB skin test, which I am pretty angry about as the new rules came out 1 May 2008. I had my medical in London on 2 June 2008 (so am outside the grace period window by one day) so why didn't the London doctor's tell me anything about this? Why did I pay the huge fee for a medical that they would have known didn't fully comply with the immigration requirements any longer?
Furthermore, I have now read that since I had my BCG as a teenager, it is likely my skin test will come out positive meaning the doctor's will try to get me to take antibiotics for 6 months:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=151145
Did anyone else take their medical in London after 1 May 2008? Were you told about the new TB skin test requirements?
Can anyone in the New York City area who has been in this situation recommend somewhere to go for the TB skin test and for the civil surgeon to complete the I-693 without insisting they perform a whole new medical?
I am pretty peeved about this, to say the least.
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Thanks, I Quit. Hopefully they will have it fixed before long as at the moment we can't cash all the checks we got from our wedding! The guy opening our account at WAMU is checking every day and will call us when the number appears as valid. Hopefully SSA will get this fixed soon before we are completely broke!
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I am in the same situation. My SSN was issued in July but I went to open a bank account today to be told that my SSN isn't in the system yet.
Having checked the SSN site:
http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnvhighgroup.htm
As well as other sites such as:
http://socialsecuritynumerology.com/
http://stevemorse.org/ssn/ssn.html
I can see for myself that apparently my SSN hasn't been issued yet.
News to me, as well as the SSN card in my hand!
Has anyone else been in this situation?!?
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Hi
Are there any K1 people out there who moved to New York and applied for their New York State driving permit before their Green Card arrived?
We are getting married on August 23rd but ideally I want to get the driving permit ASAP to use as ID. Sometimes (especially outside of NYC) I get problems presenting my UK drivers license and don't want to be carrying my passport around!
I read somewhere that you need to show your Green Card but looking at the NY DMV site is seems to be OK to show my passport with the I-94?
Any advice from those who have been through this process in New York State would be gratefully received!
- Martin
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Hi
I do exactly the same as you - I still make money from website development that is paid in GBP to my UK bank account. I use Nationwide like you, and simply go to an ATM to withdraw the $$ as and when I need them. I am limited to $500 in any 24 hour period, not sure if this can be changed.
Also bear in mind that some US banks will still charge you for using a card that wasn't issued by them, although I have found Chase and HSBC definitely won't charge. In any case, you are always notified on screen if any charges will be made by the US bank.
I hope this helps.
- Martin
What are you looking forward to most when you arrive?
in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America
Posted
I work from home (UK citizen moved to the US) so tend to do most of the shopping. My first grocery shop took about 45 minutes to an hour (even though the supermarket is right next door and I only needed a few bits) - that was when I knew for sure that I was definitely in a foreign country!!