carrie_a

Hey guys! First and foremost, huge congrats to the Dizzy Family!!!<3

Things have been pretty hectic for us here! We had a lovely thanksgiving and Reilly's family have all been so warm and amazing to me, I am truly blessed to have 2 amazing families. I get days where I am so homesick I will just fall into myself, presently my husband is working 3 jobs to keep us afloat, so I'm to my own devices for a lot of the days and evenings. The upside is for the first time ever I am discovering I am a pretty awesome cook (with the time I've had to occupy myself it's been a blessing to find something I like to throw myself into!) and am getting quite reknown for this with my husbands work friends! Although the cabin fever can get to me as I can't really go anywhere without someone to drive me. That said - I did get a learner's permit soon after I came, and have had a fun time learning how to drive, though today at the DMV I went in to get them to extend the expiration (the same date as on my I-94, I was told I just needed my I-797 for the I-485 and they can extend it a year) only to have a bit of an arguement with the receptionist who said otherwise. If anything though it makes me feel more American to moan about the DMV on the ride home!

Biometrics was a breeze - we got to the Alexandria branch in VA half an hour early and I got whisked to the fingerprinting & photo booth straight away - in and out in under 10 minutes!

We were hoping for a nice calm first christmas together in our new home, but hubby got a job offer for a Linux position he's been studying for all year so on Christmas eve of all days we are driving our little Toyota with all our worldly goods in it down 5 hours south to Virginia Beach! We're very excited, not only does this equal job satisfaction for Rei and an exciting adventure for us but we'll get so much more time together! Best Christmas present we could recieve

Having our family Christmas portrait tomorrow with his parents and brother, very blessed to have the love and support of them.

I wish you all happy holidays! My fellow 'aliens', make sure to throw in a few native dishes at dinner time and everyone make sure to start some fun family traditions!

xxxx

congrats to everyone on their good news! well, we made it too poe was this dangling nightmare which turned out to be easier than the rest of my immigration clearances as a visitor! we went to get our marriage license today and are now in search of a minister. i thought courthouse ceremonies were pretty simple but i can't find any information on them. serves us right for being unprepared!!!

love to everyone xxx

congrats everyone with the good news! we have some too! after a very swift, easy and pleasurable experience [bar when the lady issuing the queue numbers asked to see my ds-160, and my heart stopped, until she realised it wasn't required!!!] at the embassy today reilly and i have been given the green light, and i embarrassingly made a funny squeak noise when the lady said she was approving me today! amazing, flight on the 16th, so happy! love to you all

HAPPY 4th JULY EVERYONE!

this day 235 years ago the USA told the British to ####### off. On July the 4th 2011, they asked THIS limey to come over to their Embassy for an interview!!

Hooray, so pleased. 26th august, 8.30. I'll be counting the seconds. Though I thought I had all my documents sorted, it turns out the standard issue square British birth certificate isn't enough, they need the one with your parents' names on it and all the rest of it which is not offered unless specially requested by your parents at the time of register.

Tip for anyone else having to do this from England or Wales - order it with the district your birth was registered, not the main General Register Office. it's cheaper, and it's much quicker (approx. 4 days standard as opposed to 15 working days standard with the General Register Office)

Now get ready for fireworks!!

x

congrats kiwijen!!! awesome news indeed!

just wondering.. anybody starting to miss the igors list days [months]?! i still feel a little emptiness when i can't think which website i'm missing checking on my little routine check-ups! i think igors will be implanted in my brain as one of the regulars for a long time yet!

cheers dizzy tried the switchboard but it's all automated. unfortunately a sneaky car bill crept in this month so mrv has to wait til the 15th for pay day! maybe they're holding out for that. i figure i just have to wait until the 15th as the embassy number costs £2.50 per minute from my tmobile and i don't fancy paying that sucker twice! thanks for your help.

makes me so happy there's so much good news flying around these pages! our new improved lives with our other halves that we've all waited and gone through is just around the corner and guys and girls, i think we all deserve it!!

go december, go!

on another note - how long after medical did everyone receive their interview dates? baring in mind i sent packet 3 off at the end of may 2 weeks prior to attending mine. just wondering if i'm within my rights to make a phone call or not!

and mari - happy birthday lovely lady! xxx

wow second thread! amazing. can feel the december love in this forum! <3

we're still waiting on an interview date as it stands; i had my GP write me up a short report after the visa medical and that's delayed us a couple of weeks but it SHOULD have been faxed to knightsbridge yesterday, might have to phone and check it's all going to plan though, but one thing i've learnt is if you ask someone to help you ASAP, and it's their job... they're going to make you sweat just for the fun of it. lol.

oh well! all on track. little more waiting now.

got our wedding rings yesterday though!!! i keep getting them out and looking at them. lol.

had the medical done yesterday! the knightsbridge doctors surgery i must say is a little underwhelming compared to what i was expecting! due to a few unfortunate nuggets of my early teenage life and some silly mistakes though i am now subject to a psychiatric report from my doctor to be faxed to knightsbridge asap before it can go any further. i have an appointment in an hour which was lucky though. fingers crossed this won't hold us up!

Best to prepare some return flight and have proof of it - my fiance came over to England in May and, though he'd booked a return flight, he hadn't printed off the ticket to show to the entry people. He was almost denied until he explained in actual fact we were filing for a K1 for me to go to the USA, and luckily he had the original NOA1 and 2 to prove this in his carry on which he bought over for me. He just about got through. It held him up so much he didn't get into arrivals lounge until 2 and a half hours after landing. Better safe than sorry.

Hah just realised how late I am on the uptake! Didn't realise I was that far into the threads. Oh well. Hope everything went smoothly!

we didn't know either so we prepared and signed one form of each which sounded similar to Dizzy's; that reilly would contribute financially on my behalf until such a time as i am granted work authorisation and upon AOS all living expenses bills rent etc will be shared between us as a married couple, or something to that effect, and i put in the rent cost of the place we're starting out in. the non intend was worded slightly differently. couldn't find a conclusive answer for it.

haha i know i've errored on at least 2 parts of my paperwork now.. my dad's birthday is coming up. i said to my mum "'friday the 10th? i don't think i'm working"

..how long has he been born on the 12th for?!

*slap on the wrist* bad daughter!! hopefully it will remain undiscovered..!

i got all the excitement butterflies at once when i was working last night, i haven't felt them in a long while. i was sitting there and amidst the thoughts about paperwork, medical poking and prodding and the stressful trips to london (my less than favorite place even if it is only 50 miles away), i remembered something which i think we can sometimes misplace in our minds..

I'M GETTING MARRIED SOON ^-^

must remind myself of that as a good pacifier soon! (unless reilly forgets to get that letterheaded notice from his bank for i-134 for the 5th week in a row, then we're going to fall out!!)

My fiance is going through the London consulate too, his medical is booked for June 8, and he found the IV18a form here:

http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/medical-examination.html

on the right hand side there is link under The Medical Examination that brings you to the form:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_medical_letter.pdf

In case you hadn't found it yet, hope this helps!!

you, ferincor, are a hero! thank you!

My letter from the [uK] US Embassy stated I would not be issued an interview date until the Embassy receives results of the medical exam which is on the 14th; I don't know if it was me overlooking things (which is probably the case) but I didn't know that would be the routine. My Packet 3 paperwork should have been received by London today and I don't know if I'll get any acknowledgment of receipt until the interview date is given. I'll update the other UK filers when I next hear anything.

all this time awaiting the triumphant sounding 'Packet 3' and it arrives today.

The whole single side of paper with a link to the embassy website where the forms are! and finding this IV18a for the medical exam is giving me a headache although the woman from the doctors told me it was on the website! i did book my medical though for the 14th june which was the earliest available slot for knightsbridge.

I think i need to look at all this with a fresh head in the morning! starting to wish i had the organisational skills of the rest of you, having all these forms pre-prepared. i personally, at the last minute today, pleaded with my boss to let me borrow her printer prior to my shift this afternoon - and now am undertaking the tedious task of handwriting all of the forms. happy happy joy joy

they're firing along!!

word of advice for the medical examinations for applicants in england/united kingdom - the contact number pasted all over the knightsbridge website is not the number needed to book for us.

the number needed for US immigration medical examinations is 020 7486 7822.

got corrected by surly receptionist after i dare call the number on the contact details section!

arg just sent reilly back on a coach to the airport after 10 lovely days [and a massive scratch right down his face from where my dog literally just jumped on his face when he was laying on the sofa!]. it's been an hour and i miss him so much already!!!

got some good news though. i contacted the NVC last week to check if they'd issued the LDN number yet to book the medical [plus i'm impatient and want to know every little step the file's taking!]. the file left the NVC and is on it's way to London as of last week and i got that number. i finally feel like things are moving along nicely.

one thing tho- i did a silly. we didn't make a duplicate copy of the original file [slap me on the wrist!!] though i do have all the files saved so i could reprint the whole lot - but obviously not signed and i have no idea what emails i sent as evidence of the relationship!!

anyone anticipate this'll be a massive problem? i feel like a pleb for not doing it now!!

hope all the decemberite couples are moving forward with a spring in their steps!

lotsa love!

mari & all who have been discussing the evidence, thanks a lot for the ideas. sometimes when you think about providing evidence to strangers about your relationship it makes you think 'oooh that's not convincing enough they won't accept that!' and i have to stop and realise i am in a bloody legitimate relationship so i have nothing to worry about and of course it counts but all this talk of proving it makes it feel almost competitive! LOL

i hope everything pans out right, fishernyalew. the process is stressful. i'm looking forward to putting behind us all the tension bickers that we've been having because of visa stress and missing each other. just laighable, petty things. like last week, we were streaming together a documentary on the theory of parallel universes, and it erupted into this ridiculous argument because he believes how feasible they are and i don't see enough evidence yet, it was very tense and i think we were both feeling a bit overemotional for debate and it turned a bit venomous, cut to the chase at the end i said which i am shamefully still proud of ' WELL MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT, IN SOME PARALLEL UNIVERSE'. which to date has been my best summer-upper yet. hahaha. we laughed about it after.

it is hard! emotions are so high, especially if it's been a while since you've seen each other. that's why we had to arrange another trip before the k1 process. i pick him up tomorrow at the airport!! i don't know what i'm more excited about, giving him a cuddle, or being at an airport LOL. it's a magic feeling place!!!

i don't know what to give for evidence! i found a patch ages ago for skype that compiles a call log, who to, how long for etc, so i think i'll print that out as it's more or less only ever him i've video called [other than when my best friend got a new tattoo she was excited to show me and my mum one time when we were sitting opposite each other, lol]. we still have yet to get an engagement ring, personally, i don't see the point in getting one. it just seems like a bit of a pointless expense. i'd rather go straight for a wedding band, which we're going to be looking and possibly ordering when reilly's here. so other than that, i'm stumped. i have photos of january's trip and i'll be sure as always to take lots when he's here. i am a shutterbug! the only other thing i can think of is a photocopy of the card that came with the flowers he sent me on my birthday last month, though my evidence doesn't feel nearly official enough!!

just did the worlds biggest most flamboyant happy dance

NOA2!!!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

@ Carrie: Yeah for Reilly coming to visit and I agree with Becs on his coming home with an extra luggage. Does he use one carrier for flights yet? If not, he (or you) can sign up at the particular airlines you will use on their website. If you sign in for Credit Card as Bec mentioned you get a free red velvet cake milage and loads of perks for future trips! Now just curious, are you going to be watching the Royal Wedding?[/size][/b]

Thanks to Bec and Mari for the info shall be getting onto that and silently crossing my fingers for a free red velvet cake in some point in the process!!

And oh yes i shall be watching the royal wedding! we're having a hog roast and a big barn dance and garden party at my sisters' house to celebrate the happy couple it's only the first of many important weddings this year though of course!

yay for noa2ers!

hey, sorry if i'm putting this in the wrong place but this thread i've found is a very informative source of peeps to have.

reilly's coming over to england for a week in may - and when he flies he flies with just carry on luggage (i don't know how he does it!) and i was wondering if customs would allow him to take a suitcase on the way back with some of my stuff, just so it's less to take/ship when the time comes. i don't know if it'll be a nightmare because he didn't fly out with it, and is bringing foreign things back into the country. i mean - if it just means itemising the contents i can do that anyway - saves him getting to customs and having to be red faced at the suitcase full of lady clothes at dulles

CONGRATS MARI & KADIR!!!!

SO HAPPY FOR YOU BOTH

we're well on our journey people!! so great to see more and more people hearing back. awh i'm made up for you all i really am.

I thought I'd give you my English recipe now for a good old fashioned English cream tea and scones!

for 8 - 10 scones:

225g/8oz self raising flour

55g/2oz butter

25g/1oz caster sugar

150ml/5fl oz milk

1 beaten egg

teeny bit of salt

i PERSONALLY love to add a load of sultanas as well or any dried fruit! yum

pregrease your baking sheets!

preheat oven to gas mark 7 (220c). mix flour and pinch of salt and rub in butter, stir in sugar and milk and make it all doughy.

pop the dough onto a floured surface and lightly knead it, you want the dough about an inch thick, use a cutter (depending how big you want them, 5+ cm) and stamp out the little discs of dough, and pop those on your buttery baking sheets, keep kneading the dough and stamping out until it's gone.

brush the tops of the little will-be scones with a beaten egg and bake for 10-15 minutes until they're yummy golden and risen.

then you can put all the fattening stuff in the middle!! i love using clotted cream, or thick butter, and then lots of strawberry jam (jelly!) personally.

as for tea, i use the cheaters way with an electric kettle and teabags. best teabags to use i find are PG tips or Yorkshire tea, i've seen both in supermarkets in VA (either Walmart or Wegmans) in the Great Britain aisle. failing that, the plain old Lipton ones are quite good. just no english breakfast tea or earl grey if you're adding milk.

about 250ml of water per serving (and per teabag, or 2 teabags per 250ml depending how strong you like it), bring to the boil in a saucepan (just heavens not in a microwave it's just not the same!).

if you have a pretty teapot then pop the teabags in there first and add the apt amount of water and brew the teabags in that, otherwise very carefully (over the sink, i have shouted profanities in Reilly's moms kitchen on several occassions for painy or messy reasons) pour the water straight on to a teabag in a mug or cup.

i then add two artificial sweeteners personally, or two sugars if needs must, and then a dash of skimmed milk and stir. many people differ with me on that one though and go for full fat milk in a hot tea but it makes a shiny little layer on the surface which puts me RIGHT off!

nice idea mari! i like this little decemberite family feel in this thread (don't say that with a mouth full!)

i wish i could help add to the recipe side of things with a british or english recipe for you all but unfortunately, cooking is not my forté! reilly refers to the way i make a cup of tea as 'alchemy' though so maybe I could aid with that! lol

any beneficiaries starting the major spring clean out in preparation for packing up and going? i've been in the mood this week.. it's getting a bit silly this evening though as i'm getting sentimental over things i had forgotten i had laying about! getting things together to have a big boot sale now the weather's on the up, but just spent 10 minutes looking lovingly/despairingly at a polaroid camera i've had for 5 years and used one lot of film in! quite proud though, removed 4 (yes 4!) black bags full of clothes out of my wardrobe! spring cleaning time ladies and gents! x