Poe next week

[sulph 3]

Hey all, jsut thought Id make a post, going a little crazy with a mix of nerves and excitement, I will be flying from Manchester to Memphis, my PoE will be chicago, hoping everything goes smoothly, decided I would take the misterious brown envilope out of the plastic envilope couriers delivered it in because I hadent actually looked at it yet, first thing I noticed was it wasnt brown..but white, lol.. that and there is a small tear on the side, not big enough to see anything let alone remove anything so im not worried, put it back in the plastic envilope and back into the hand luggadge lol.

How did your family act when you where leaving? My poor old mum randomly cries through the day, I try and console her, but you know what mums can be like, althought this would be the second time I have left, ( first being the navy when I was 17) and yes I am leaving the country, the world is a far smaller place now with the Internet and such, that and she will be comeing over in september to see the little one when he arrives,

We ( 2 sisters, me , mum & dad ) will be staying at my parents the night before I leave, most of the things I wont be taking with me ( electricals, furniture and such) I have given to friends & family, but I still have 2 large suitcases ( both overweight I may add... luckily american airlines dont charge to much for overwight baggadge ) alot of clothes, but quite a few personal items to add to my new home with the wife and kids. I am dreading saying goodbye, only because I know how emotional my family can get.

I do have one..silly question.. every time I fly to the US, I am allways pulled to one side for extra screening at Manchester, I did ask once why this was.. the bloke said.. well your tall, bald and covered in tattos... short straw scenario..lol.. anyway I digress... you know when they ask "where you given anything that you dont know the content of?" what do I say? lol

Last day in work on Tuesday next week, I have to say my boss has been very accomodating, getting together all my qualification certificate I have earnt whislt working there, and writing a "general referance" as he called it to put in with my CV if requiered, he even told me if for any reason me the wife and kids decided we would come back and live in the UK, my job will be waiting for me so thats nice.

I hold a CR-1 visa. although on the DS-230 I requested my ss number delivered , I have read that I should go down to the social security office after 10 - 14 days and see if they have my number? Im not to worried about it, because im taking enough saving to live off for a few months, but would like to get a job asap, that and when we opened our US joint account they used my passport number and requested I change it to my SSN as soon as I have it.

[JoannaV 174]

You do know what's in the mysterious envelope, at least as far as you trust the US government, let's just assume for the purpose of security questions that you do trust them 100%

Ticking the box on the DS-230 doesn't always achieve anything, so you probably will end up making a trip to the SSA office. You can start applying for jobs before you receive your SSN though.

I don't remember how my family acted when I left...they were sad...however I had been spending most of my time in America anyway so I don't suppose the actual moving changed much initially.

[sulph 3]

thats true, I suppose the giant bold FOR US IMMIGRATION PURPOUSES mite ease their concerns, lol

[cathy2904 97]

I remember some of those feelings. My dad was the emotional one but I see more of him on Skype now than I did when I was in the UK and he was 45 minutes away. And he is planning to visit in the autumn - or should I say fall.

I was planning to do the same as you with regards the SSN so I was quite surprised when mine arrived in the post after a week. Like you, I wasn't too worried about finding a job straight away but I got something quite quickly. It's only a few hours a week but it's nice to meet new people and gives me something else to talk about. It also makes you feel like a 'proper' member of the community I guess, and not just a visitor.

As to your question about telling them what you are carrying, I did my POE in December and some people had given me wrapped Christmas presents. I knew that if I was asked I would have to say that I knew what was in them so I had some generic answers ready - smellies, sweets, etc

Good luck, I am sure it will all be fine. And you are so right - the world is a much smaller place with the internet.

Edited April 5, 2012 by cathy2904

[trojam227 18]

I am so happy for you and your wife, Sulph!! Chicago airport is pretty descent...they have little white rocking chairs all around for people to chill on...a bit different from JFK or Newark. You should be excited since you guys worked long and hard for this. You family will be there to visit and skype with...this is your future, and you deserve to have one! Even if it's with a Yankee Doodle (as my husband calls me)! Best wishes in your future endeavours.