Nicola&Matthew

Hi, I'm looking for some advice from people who have been in a similar situation! I've tried to make this as simple and to the point as possible, thank you for taking your time to read this and offer advice.

Long story cut short: work part time with a guy who does car repairs on the side. Old car is at deaths door buy a new car (last Nov.), guy offers do urgent break work on my new car in exchange for my old car (he needed a new car to do up). I agree, job is done and he has done further work on my new car with no probs.

Fast forward to July I get a letter from a towing company regarding this old car that we no longer own saying that we owe them a lot of money. Car was towed in Minnesota we live in Wisconsin. I call up and talk to someone there and explain my situation and the guy was less than helpful and definately less than friendly and told me that I needed to find a way to proove that this car is not mine and that in Minnesota there is a way of getting a copy of the title "force notice of sale", he wasn't sure if there is anything like that in Wisconsin. Needless to say there is nothing like that in Wisconsin that I can get from the DMV.

I tell guy from work that he'd better get the title to me so that I can copy it and mail it off. Guy is now very shady and is giving me the run around saying that it's in the car, then his cousin has it, to i'll look at home. The more I get to know this guy the more shady he becomes and I have a really bad feeling that he did not get the car put into his name. He even suggested that i call up the towing company and tell them that I don't want the car (which I totally refused to do as it is not mine!). I totally get that I messed up and made a huge error in personality judgement.

In Wisconsin you can transfer your plates to your new vehicle, so I have the proof that my new vehicle has my old plates. I also called my insurance company to transfer my insurance to the new car and cancelled it on my old vehicle when it was "sold". This is all the proof I have, I'm totally at a loss as to what to do now. I got another letter today saying that the old vehicle has been junked, I owe double what the last letter stated and that if I don't pay it they'll take legal action to reclaim the money. We want to get a mortgage in the next few months and I'm so worried that my screw up is going to affect our credit rating. Any advice would be so helpful, I don't know what to do!

YES this is correct per USCIS.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

S.O.B I had the package all ready to be mailed off on the 21st but didn't get around to mailing it off till the 28th. Grr, information changes so quickly!!! Thanks for clearing that up!

sudafed is behind the counter now? when did that happen?

Cause stoopid people make meth out of the ingredients .... It sucks having to show ID to get those sorts of med's when back home you could easily drop a few packs in your tesco's trolley when doing your weekly shop! I guess the masses have to suffer for a few stoopid druggies out there with their meth labs....

I'd love to see Nine Inch Nails and Tori Amos live one day.

Saw NIN in London last year and OMG they rocked, if you get a chance to see them I highly recommend them, awesome show!

Wow what are the chances! Section 201, Row K, Seats 9 and 10 was us two

Now thats kinda freaky! We were in row E Seats 11 and 12! Small world!!! We are seeing Alice in Chains and Evanescence in MN soon, are you guys fans?

Hey, we were there at the target centre too, we were in section 201 of the seating area, where were you guys??? p.s that was the most amazing concert I have ever seen!!!

I had my first experience of driving over here yesterday. Driving on the right side of the road is like me writing with my left hand, it feels a bit weird the writings a bit ropey but with practice you can manage it!!!

Personally I found it weird checking my mirrors as I'm used to looking up to the left, but we've got plenty more practice to come! Gotta get my licence before the Wisconsin winter kicks in

Got a BBQ this weekend and the theme is british food and I'm kinda stumped on what to bring, I was thinking a good ol' fashioned bread and butter pudding and pineapple upside down cake but it calls for golden syrup. Can we get this here or is there a good suitable alternative? Also if you have any good suggestions for typical british food I can take with me! I'm English and I'm stumped! Thanks a lot!! (some one else is already making a trifle so thats out!

This post is so funny and I can relate to all you Brits out there in the US! So far I've been asked if I'm Austalian and German!

Here's my experience/rant so far:

I'm always getting comments on how pretty and unusual my name is. And noone can pronounce my name properly (except for my in-laws!), I'm called Neee-co-la not niic-olaa as it should be pronounced. The most irritating situation happened on our wedding day which was video taped:

Rev: Neee-co-la you will then say... (explaining what's going to happen, mispronounced my name at least 5 times before I corrected him)

Me: I'm sorry I have a point to make, my name is pronounced Niic-olaa

Rev: Ok no problem, Niic-olla Niic -olla Niic-olaa (pronounces it correctly several times)

Me: Thanks

Ceremony starts.... Rev: Do you Neee-co-la.... grrrrrrrrrrrr

Answering phones at work, (speaking incredibly clearly) " I can't understand a word you are saying put someone else on the phone".... Pi$$ed at that one when I speak the Queen's english!

Using my UK driving licence at Applebee's to get some booze (before I got my state ID) "Umm I have to check all out of state licences with the manager" Ummm out of state huh? Try another country lady!

"Ohhhh you have such a sexy accent, I could listen to you all day, oh it's so sexy" <yawn>, I said thanks and politely smiled, then I got a "how come you're here in Wisconsin" a cheerful gooey reply from me "oh it's because my husbands from here"

And countless times after I've been asked where i'm from (England) I get a barrage of "my xxx was from there", "I'm 1/4 English", "My dad was over there in the war", "is that near the UK?"

I hope I NEVER EVER loose my accent because it's what makes me, me. Just please pronounce my name right and I can talk all day about castles, the Queen and $hit with you!

HOWEVER, the pro's are it makes me unique and I still feel like I'm one of a kind. My husband loves my accent and I would sooner stick out like a sore thumb and deal with the comments I get, than be apart from my amazing husband!

(Sorry about the rambling I'm good at it!)

I'm on the boarders of MN in WI here, I'm from the UK and I have to do the theory test and then the practical with no need to apply for a instruction permit. I wonder if it's similar in MN.

MN DMV is a joke! the company I work for deals with them regulary and from what I hear each DMV site is an independant organisation that provide a service to the state (they are like their own little buisnesses) so information and helpfullness will vary. I would try another DMV site to find out more info.

p.s MN's driving laws are pretty hectic compared to the UK, like being able to over take vehicles on any lane and if you are in a collision thats not your fault you are still liable for your own damage! But then again in WI insurance is optional for your vehicle! Crazy!

I posted this question about 5 months ago and followed this advice from luv2teach77

Ditto that,

Debs bought me a Cyberhome DVD player from walmart (about $30 also available from target). I found a hack online to make it region free and it works a treat.

I actually posted the hack on here a while ago... I'll see if I can find it !!

Edited to ad... Here it is

Mark

I have the same DVD player and the hack was easy to do (after a few shots of practicing!) I have no issues with playing US and UK DVD's on my Cyberhome!

Oh fabulous thank you so much for taking the time to check out our extensive list, its very much appreciated and thank you so much Mrs Johnson you've put our minds at ease! We're collecting payslips and re-doing the affidavit of support so that should help!

Interview here we come!

That looks like more then enough. You should bring your bank statements, I am not sure why they were sent to your mother-in-law, but if you have a good reason bring them.

It was easier to get it sent to the MIL's addy than our own, but now we are settled it's all sorted out with the bank now. Hopefully we'll get a new statement at our addy before the interview!

As with most people we are getting quite worried about having enough information for our AOS interview, so was wondering if experienced AOS-er's could put our minds at ease!

This is what we have for supporting evidence:

- Keep sake marriage certificate (also bringing the certified one)

- Copy of our wedding vows from the ceremony

- Invitation's for our wedding reception

- Rental agreement with both of us named, however my name is in my maiden name

- Health insurance cards from both of us, with an invoice for clinical services

- New home cards from my family in the UK adressed to both of us

- "Happy birthday Son-in-law" card from my mum

- Selection of our wedding reception cards

- Print out of our itinary for the Hawaii trip where we were married (both names are on itinary)

- Print out of our wedding package confirmation with buisness card of our Rev.

- Recipt from us applying for a marriage licence in Hawaii

- Boarding passes from our trip to Hawaii

- Adoption sheets from the animal shelter for our kitten. A large pack of signed doccuments from us both witnessed and signed by the lady at the shelter.

- Certificate of vaccinations and recipt from the vet's for the kitten, listing us both as owners and our address.

- Comcast invoice listing him as the account holder and me as an authorised signatory at our apartment.

- Letters from my family in England addressed to both of us

- Recipt and card from my mum sending me flowers

- Congratulation e-mails from my friends and family in the UK.

- My state ID

- Our wedding photo album

We don't have anything where we are listed on as a joint account, like the comcast bill, water and electric.

We do have a joint bank account and have had this for 5 1/2 months now but my concern is that the address is listed under his mom's. I'm changing the address today at the bank, should I include the bank statement that was mailed to his mom's house? Or will this be frowned upon? (We do have a number of our reception cards that were mailed to his mom's house in our evidence folder).

Do we have enough? Any extra feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much!

Nicola&Matthew

I do not think the Ji two year rule applies to a visa wiaver. You are not allowed to apply for another visa for 2 years after J1 finishes but visa waiver is just that - it waives the need for a visa.

Check it out but you should be fine!!

Thanks for clearing that up globetrotter!

Hi,

I have been back in the UK just over 2 years since my assignment in the US so I guess if this was a concern, my time is up! Been back to the states countless times with visa waiver since.

Cheers

James

Ah brilliant thats cool! Looks like you're all set to go! Good luck with researching the process for England!

During an international work assignment 2 years ago (whilst on a J1 training visa)

James Paul, the only comment I have to make is with regards to your J1 visa, I believe that once you have served your 2 years training, you are subject to a 2 year foreign residency requirement. You will probably come across issues if you try to get back in to the US.

Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement

An exchange visitor is subject to INA 212(e) requirement, if the following conditions exist:

The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the United States government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence;

The exchange visitor is a national or resident of a country designated as requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the exchange visitor was engaged for the duration of their program (Exchange Visitor Skills List 9 FAM 41.62, Exhibit II);

The exchange visitor entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training.

I'm not 100% sure about the J1 visa as I've not had any experience with it, I would definately research the 2 year residency thing more before departing for your wedding. Good luck with your journey.

I've made 2 vacation trips through MSP (2004 & 2005) on VWP and the 1 trip with the K1-visa. I found it easier going through with the K1-visa, when entering on the VWP in MSP I found the 2 POE officers to be incredibly rude and tried to trip me up as much as they could even though I was being polite and honest to them.

Cass I'm glad you had an easy run of it at MSP!

I paid $30 at : West Side Health Center, 153 Concord Street, St. Paul, MN 55107 Tel: (651)222-1816. Busy place, a little chaotic but CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP! Extra vaccination was only around $20 I think!

Good luck

I want to try marmite some day, I need to know if it's truly as awful as some people say.

It's beautiful and very good for you, loads of B-vit's, but definately an aquired taste!

Marmite and cottage cheese sandwiches, mmmmmm yummy!

What's a marmite? Sounds like a small rodent.

Marmite is a yeast extract and it's delicious! Cheese on toast with marmite is sooo good. It looks a bit like road tar.

Australians have vegemite instead of marmite, but marmite's better *hiding from the aussies*

http://www.marmite.com/love/squeezy/

YUK..

that is some nasty Chit.

LMAO the ad's in the UK say "You either love it or you hate it", my hubby can't bear the stuff, and you know what? GOOD! the 3 jars I have in the kitchen are MINE ALL MINE MWAHHHAAAAAAAA!!!

Marmite and cottage cheese sandwiches, mmmmmm yummy!