jjbandero

Hi welcome! 
 
If your fiance is on active duty and may be called away, then depending on the support structure you will have in place in the state he is moving to, having a K1 may really limit your ability to do things. In addition to not being able to work, in some states, you may not be able to get a license right away either, and it may not be possible to use your Australian license. For example, I live in California, and the rule here is that if you become a "resident" of the state ("resident" is not clearly defined), you have two weeks to get a California license. I believe people have been stopped by the police and tried to explain that they were not a legal resident for immigration purposes, I don't think that worked. You should also look into health insurance, as a K-1 person, I'm not sure if your fiance is able to add you to his insurance plan prior to you getting married, and whether you can purchase short-term travel health insurance to cover you until you are married in the 90 day window. I'm not sure what your plans are for work, while you definitely not work until your status is adjusted, even looking for work may be tough. Employers will typically ask if you are legally able to work in the US, if the answer is "not yet", it's difficult to get to the next round, unless you have highly sought after skills, employers would not hold a position open and wait. 
 
Best of luck!

It's common for employers to perform a background check, depending on the qualifications you are claiming and the position you are applying for, they may also run an educational background check to confirm e.g. that you actually went to the university you stated etc. For work experience, most likely they will just ask questions at the interview to gauge whether you know what you're talking about and possibly talk to your references. 

I'm not sure why she need to lie to the Consulate officer during tourist visa interview. Because she can just tell the truth. She can simply say that she want to go there to make a surprise for you and visit you. It is not like the CO will call you and inform you about that. What I learned from this site, you need always to tell them the truth. Never lie.

If you do end up getting rings and intend to wear them, I highly recommend the "comfort fit" style. The bands are designed to be slightly domed/rounded on the inside of the ring so it rests comfortably against your finger, when sized correctly, you will barely notice the ring is on

If you do end up getting rings and intend to wear them, I highly recommend the "comfort fit" style. The bands are designed to be slightly domed/rounded on the inside of the ring so it rests comfortably against your finger, when sized correctly, you will barely notice the ring is on

One thing to consider, since it sounds like the ex is the father to at least one of the kids. If that is the case she may not be able to move just anywhere. 
 
Do you have it in your custody agreement that you can move and even cross state lines? I know a few ppl who had no clue they couldn't move to the next city without their ex's permission. 
 
If you can indeed move I'd start looking into programs for the care you need for your child. Then start looking at what assistance is offered in that area. Facebook group for the health needs your child has would be a good start to find resources. 

Your unexpired green card allows your re-entry into the US, it has nothing to do with your income earning activity. Unless you have an outstanding arrest warrant for tax evasion, you are all good to go, just make sure you have your GC when you travel and don't stay out too long.
Cheers

I think I understand what you're getting at, it's not the US CBP you're concerned about, I also had a stamp in my passport, this was because I was issued with two NOA documents with different numbers, to avoid confusion, USCIS gave me a stamp as well. When I traveled with the stamp, the only issue I encountered on multiple trips was with an airline from where I was departing from, I can't recall which one it was, but the ground staff was very hesitant to let me board for the US without seeing my Green Card. I understood it was because the airline could be on the hook for taking you back if you are not admitted into the US. What I did was ask to speak to a supervisor and after multiple discussions and calls (I have no idea who they spoke to), they let me board. I'd suggest that you bring copies of your support documents with you, and make sure you allow ample time for additional discussions before your flight.

I think I understand what you're getting at, it's not the US CBP you're concerned about, I also had a stamp in my passport, this was because I was issued with two NOA documents with different numbers, to avoid confusion, USCIS gave me a stamp as well. When I traveled with the stamp, the only issue I encountered on multiple trips was with an airline from where I was departing from, I can't recall which one it was, but the ground staff was very hesitant to let me board for the US without seeing my Green Card. I understood it was because the airline could be on the hook for taking you back if you are not admitted into the US. What I did was ask to speak to a supervisor and after multiple discussions and calls (I have no idea who they spoke to), they let me board. I'd suggest that you bring copies of your support documents with you, and make sure you allow ample time for additional discussions before your flight.

Visa journey kept me company during those long days waiting for visa approval. I arrived in States from London, UK on June, 3rd 2013. We got married on the June 22nd. (No time to waste). The third anniversary for marriage and life in the US is around the corner. It took me long time to adjust to life here, even though my transition seemed seamless to outsiders and hubby. For more than 2 years I missed London immensely and sometimes regretted making the move to the States. But husband's love kept me staying another day and another day and another day....
So I received my EAD in October 2013 and started job hunting immediately. First job at Macy's - as a seasonal worker for 6 weeks! Second at Dept. of Juvenile Justice for 3 months and current job at a top public university where I have been a little over 2 years. I love, love, love my job but still feel challenged in some areas. Coming from working with poorly educated dysfunctional families to highly intelligent kids took something getting used to.
Finally in March 2016, we had our "white wedding" with all the bells and whistles in my home country (SA). 30 hours of travel and four airports later, I can truly say I have now experienced jetlag!!! In my former life, Cape Town was a mere 12 hour flight from London!
There has been a lot of adjustments and mind shifts that I needed to make to feel more settled in the US. I still miss friends, the ease of travel, diversity, culture, castles, parks and life in the UK. But closer to year 3, I think I have finally accepted and feel at peace that the Unites States will be my forever home.
The adjustment to life in the US can be a heck of thing but with the love and support of a loving & patient spouse, all will be well. To all those coming over soon, wish you all the best in your new home country. Some days may not be great but keep the faith. May your life here be filled with peace, joy and happiness!!!!

I think I've posted this in a similar thread before, but here's what we did when we moved internationally.
We went through everything and asked ourselves:
– Can we ship this for less than it costs to replace?
– Does this have sentimental value, i.e., is it irreplaceable?
If no to both of those, into the donate/Craigslist pile it went.
If yes, we asked ourselves:
– Will we need this now, or can we bring over later?
Depending on that answer, we prioritized what to pack in our suitcases.

Two pointers from someone that has taught driving to Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants:
1. On interstate highways, slow drivers need to stay in the right lane. Many foreigners seem perplexed by this rule, but that's the system on most interstate highways - if not all.
2. If you get a moving violation ticket (i.e. speeding, etc.), there may be points assessed towards your license. This means that your license will be in jeopardy of being revoked or restricted (if too many points in a given period). Also, traffic citations may result in a higher insurance bill. You can often get a lawyer to reduce/change your ticket to a non-moving (no points) violation. Usually, this means "fixing" the ticket from a speeding ticket to a non-moving ticket (defective exhaust, etc.), thus saving your points and insurance costs. This does, however, mean you will pay a larger fine and legal expenses. If you are prone to tickets, best to "fix" them before getting points.
One more thing: Don't use your phone while driving. It's dangerous and it makes people mad. Drive and arrive alive.

I think it's a power trip for many at the POE. My experiences at LAX have been mixed, from great, to utterly horrible. I have been questioned about my professional competence many times while I was on a valid work visa, except most of the time, they didn't understand what I had explained. They would get frustrated and ask more questions, so I try and simplify what I was saying in layman's terms, then they would say, "that doesn't sound like we need people like you to come here to do", basically no win.
I thought it would all be better after I got my green card, but I was pulled aside for secondary inspection when they I told me I had reported my passport lost/stolen. I told them that I reported no such thing, I was not believed, so I waited in secondary inspection with a bunch of other travelers (meanwhile the 5 officers stood around and chatted with each other). When it was finally my turn, they would not give me any information about who made the report, when and where it was made, I was told I need to sort it out with "my Government since they are always screwing up". So I waited for 45 minutes to be insulted, I was given zero information and dismissed with a tone that sounded like, "you're lucky I'm letting you go". When I called up the Australia consulate on the Monday, they had no report of any issue with my passport. To top it the officials were incredibly rude to my US citizen boss who was traveling with me, pretty much yelled at him to mind his own business when he simply asked where they were taking me.
There will always be people who think they are better than everyone else and act unprofessionally whenever they feel like it, all one can do is have one's paperwork in order and answer truthfully.

Do you have a green thumb? Some of my friends are avid gardeners and they planted all sorts of fruit trees and vegetables in their garden, it takes quite a bit of time, offers good exercise and you are outdoors in the fresh air. You can also join local groups to get seeds, swap tips and if you have good harvests, share it with the neighbors! This is a longer-term project that hopefully will keep you entertained and also very good food for your family.
Also consider using services like Uber to get to where you need to go before you get your license, Uber is not very expensive where I live and super convenient.

Think about getting a Vonage.co.uk plan for £8/month.
Pick your UK number.
Bring the box with you and plug into your US router and plug any landline phone into the Vonage box.
Your friends and family call your UK number and it rings in your US home. No codes are dial arounds. Unlimited minutes. .They are calling a UK phone. You can use the same phone to call their landlines. There is a fee to call UK mobiles.
There is a setup to simultaneously ring your mobile when your UK Vonage phone rings. But because it is transferring from a a "UK phone number" to a US mobile, you would need the Premium Package for £11/month which allows unlimed calls to the US.
This Vonage thing is good for those with UK parents or grandparents or kids who don't have smart phones or Skype or What's app. They simply dial a UK phone number from any phone.

In my experience, the first few weeks, and even months, are not so much the problem - things will be new and exciting. You'll be learning about new systems and a new way of life, more-or-less....and that will keep you preoccupied.
It's once you're comfortable enough to know your way around (literally and metaphorically) and things aren't new and exciting any more, and you've kind of got into the daily habits of life that you miss your family, because they won't be part of the daily habits of your life like they once were.
Unless you're a naturally 'busy, busy, busy person', I think it will be hard to keep making yourself busy in the long-term in order to stave off homesickness.
I'm lucky, that I don't really suffer from home-sickness, and was largely fine living away from home for years at a time, but these are some things that I found that helped me when I did need it.
Make friends outside of your partner - have 'your own life' just as you would if your fiance moved to the UK. Find some podcasts/TV shows/sport that you enjoy in the UK, and make sure to access them on a regular basis once you're living in the US (I was surprised how much I missed hearing my own accent after a long time). Figure out what simple material stuff you'll miss from home (food is my prime example) and make sure you have some on hand, or know where to get it. Set up a regular skype schedule with your close family. That way, you'll have a routine into which 'seeing them' occurs. If they don't skype, make sure you both make a time to call regularly. If you can afford it, book a ticket home, but not for a while...Going home when you feel homesick isn't a solution (in my opinion)...you need to make Philly your home. So don't book a ticket for six month's time...Plan to go home to visit, but in a year - once you've had time to establish your home in the US. Make sure that your fiance is willing and happy to make "her home" into "your home"...there's nothing worse than coming home and feeling like you're dropping into someone else's life. Good luck!

Based on my personal experience, the interviewer did not care about our "story", he only wanted documentation, specifically, financial co-mingling documents, our interview lasted about 10 minutes.
If you do not plan to initiate AOS until about 2 years from now, you can take the suggestions offered here and implement them. You will find some of the pieces very easy to do, and are one-off annoyances e.g. adding each other to insurance is easy, and as long as you pay your premiums, there's nothing else to be done.
Just curious, have you considered that if you become a LPR, your tuition at uni could be reduced? My understanding is that international student tuition is generally much higher.
Cheers

Based on my personal experience, the interviewer did not care about our "story", he only wanted documentation, specifically, financial co-mingling documents, our interview lasted about 10 minutes.
If you do not plan to initiate AOS until about 2 years from now, you can take the suggestions offered here and implement them. You will find some of the pieces very easy to do, and are one-off annoyances e.g. adding each other to insurance is easy, and as long as you pay your premiums, there's nothing else to be done.
Just curious, have you considered that if you become a LPR, your tuition at uni could be reduced? My understanding is that international student tuition is generally much higher.
Cheers

I used to work for one of the Big 4 and transferred to the US as part of the global mobility program, there was definitely a need from the US side and they initiated the resource search. I also know of a friend who used to work for one Big 4, but since they did not have the role/level he was looking for, he ended up going for another Big 4.
International experience is definitely useful, however, I have heard that people coming from non-English speaking countries tend to be vetted more rigorously when doing the internal transfers. Big 4 standards is well known in the accounting/auditing/tax field, you should not have much trouble converting your existing experience.

I'm not an expert, here are some considerations I can think of before you sign-up for any contracting work:
You are residing in the US and in all likelihood you are a US resident for tax purposes, this means that you would have to pay US income taxes on your worldwide income, depending on where your home country is, you may be able to claim foreign tax credits (you get this as you pay foreign taxes on the contracting work you do) on your US income tax return If you maintain a foreign bank account to receive the money you earn, then you have to disclose that each year in the US Depending on the work you do in the US, your employer may have specific rules about whether you are allowed to engage in additional income generating activity

I wonder to what extent those of you with lots of professional experience tried reaching out to professional recruiters to have them help you with the job search? You don't have to pay them, they get paid by the potential employer once you successfully get the job. Also to what extent have you tailored your resume to the US market and the employer? I have seen resumes from Europe and Asia, they can look quite different and emphasize different aspects. Further, many recruiters use key word searches, if your resume doesn't contain such key words, you might be missing out. In general, it's also beneficial to customize your resume to the position/company you're applying for, you do the thinking for the recruiter by telling them why you are the best fit. Just having general facts about your experience is not as convincing as how such experience could benefit them in the long run.
In the interest of information sharing, I work for a large company and there are definitely a lot of labor laws that come into play when HR recruit candidates for open positions. One of the elements is that we're suppose to report statistics on who the candidates are e.g. race, gender etc. apparently, this is one way to monitor employers to make sure that people from different backgrounds are being considered for open positions. A few years ago, there was also this rule that if you open an application from an applicant, then the employer is obligated to consider that person (not necessarily interview), if you do not, then you're in violation of EEO rules, so if there are too many applicants for one position, some of the applications are not even reviewed.
Cheers

I used to work for one of the Big 4 and transferred to the US as part of the global mobility program, there was definitely a need from the US side and they initiated the resource search. I also know of a friend who used to work for one Big 4, but since they did not have the role/level he was looking for, he ended up going for another Big 4.
International experience is definitely useful, however, I have heard that people coming from non-English speaking countries tend to be vetted more rigorously when doing the internal transfers. Big 4 standards is well known in the accounting/auditing/tax field, you should not have much trouble converting your existing experience.

I wonder to what extent those of you with lots of professional experience tried reaching out to professional recruiters to have them help you with the job search? You don't have to pay them, they get paid by the potential employer once you successfully get the job. Also to what extent have you tailored your resume to the US market and the employer? I have seen resumes from Europe and Asia, they can look quite different and emphasize different aspects. Further, many recruiters use key word searches, if your resume doesn't contain such key words, you might be missing out. In general, it's also beneficial to customize your resume to the position/company you're applying for, you do the thinking for the recruiter by telling them why you are the best fit. Just having general facts about your experience is not as convincing as how such experience could benefit them in the long run.
In the interest of information sharing, I work for a large company and there are definitely a lot of labor laws that come into play when HR recruit candidates for open positions. One of the elements is that we're suppose to report statistics on who the candidates are e.g. race, gender etc. apparently, this is one way to monitor employers to make sure that people from different backgrounds are being considered for open positions. A few years ago, there was also this rule that if you open an application from an applicant, then the employer is obligated to consider that person (not necessarily interview), if you do not, then you're in violation of EEO rules, so if there are too many applicants for one position, some of the applications are not even reviewed.
Cheers

I agree with the other posters who said that experience AND education are important in the US for professional positions. While you may have had lots of great, relevant internships, the amount of time you spent at them are generally not considered equivalent to the same amount of time as full employment. 1 year is fairly limited, and for social work, many people here have both experience and post graduate degrees. You should map out a realistic timeline in which to build the career you want, including potentially "stepping-stone" positions initially. Working or volunteering for related non-profit organizations is a great idea (make sure you build a network and get good references), or consider working with perhaps special after-school programs with children, joining community organizations that have a social focus... Be creative, you may not get a 100% match to what you want in the beginning, but you can always learn new skills, build strong relationships and sometimes other jobs will be referred to you.

I agree with the other posters who said that experience AND education are important in the US for professional positions. While you may have had lots of great, relevant internships, the amount of time you spent at them are generally not considered equivalent to the same amount of time as full employment. 1 year is fairly limited, and for social work, many people here have both experience and post graduate degrees. You should map out a realistic timeline in which to build the career you want, including potentially "stepping-stone" positions initially. Working or volunteering for related non-profit organizations is a great idea (make sure you build a network and get good references), or consider working with perhaps special after-school programs with children, joining community organizations that have a social focus... Be creative, you may not get a 100% match to what you want in the beginning, but you can always learn new skills, build strong relationships and sometimes other jobs will be referred to you.