Once you have made it to the USA...

[BMJ 0]

So... you wonder what it is like once you get to the USA?

First plan on spending a bit MORE money and plan on doing a lot of running around...

After Mark and I were married we applied for a social security card for both of us. One with my new name and one for him as his first ever s.s card.

We were luck and got it back in about a week and a half. After we did that we had to gather up some more paperwork and money.

In addition to the money you have already spent while you were still in the UK on all the medical stuff and any other expenses you had, you will have to spend another $1010 to send off for the greencard and work permit.

Make sure you do both the greencard and work permit stuff at the SAME time otherwise it will be even more expensive to file sepereately.

It is wonderful having Mark finally here but I can hardly wait until he learns to drive so I don't have to do all the driving all the time.

Other than the driving and the unexpected added expences we are doing wonderfully.

Mark is the most wonderful and amazing man ever. I don't know how I could have ever been so long without him. Our wedding was beautiful as was the honeymoon and now we are back to the day to day stuff running kids to their sporting events and talking and watching movies together.

It was a lot of work, no regrets, and there is still a long road ahead of us getting all the stuff for his greencard and work permit finished off and getting him set as a liscensed driver but I would do it all over again in a heart beat.

hope this helps some of you guys out there and good luck to all of you

Rebecca

[Stuart n Courtney 0]

Can Mark not drive in the US using his UK drivers lincence for the first year? I thought you could. Good to hear you guys are happy and the wedding went well. Good luck with the AOS

Stuart

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I'm pretty sure that depends on the state... I was fortunate enough to go to a state where that's allowed (though I'm using my Aus one, as I never once had the opportunity to drive in the UK ), but I think it would be worth checking out for your specific circumstances

[Stuart n Courtney 0]

ah i see. well i'm going to Colorado so i'll check that I can use my UK driving licence. I hope so as i've used it a lot before lol

[StillThePrettiest 3]

and in a MOST annoying (and scarily relevant) follow-up to my comment above, I got pulled over this morning (speeding ), and in addition to the speeding ticket, which I accept fair and square, the officer tacked on a 'failure to obtain license in thirty days' charge

I told him it was a year, and that I'd looked it up, but he didn't believe me... I've since looked it up again, and the thirty days thing applies to US residents moving from another state, but I was right - people with a valid international license can drive a private car in the state of Texas for up to one year after moving there, without needing to switch to a Texas driver's license, as long as their home country has reciprocity with the US (which Australia does)

so I would advise people acting on the information they find to print off said information, and keep it in the glove compartment, so that they can deal with people who only know part of the law

[Stinky Monkey 1]

and in a MOST annoying (and scarily relevant) follow-up to my comment above, I got pulled over this morning (speeding ), and in addition to the speeding ticket, which I accept fair and square, the officer tacked on a 'failure to obtain license in thirty days' charge

I told him it was a year, and that I'd looked it up, but he didn't believe me... I've since looked it up again, and the thirty days thing applies to US residents moving from another state, but I was right - people with a valid international license can drive a private car in the state of Texas for up to one year after moving there, without needing to switch to a Texas driver's license, as long as their home country has reciprocity with the US (which Australia does)

so I would advise people acting on the information they find to print off said information, and keep it in the glove compartment, so that they can deal with people who only know part of the law

Thanks for the tip off I think I will be needing it when I get to Texas ha ha

[Stuart n Courtney 0]

and in a MOST annoying (and scarily relevant) follow-up to my comment above, I got pulled over this morning (speeding ), and in addition to the speeding ticket, which I accept fair and square, the officer tacked on a 'failure to obtain license in thirty days' charge

I told him it was a year, and that I'd looked it up, but he didn't believe me... I've since looked it up again, and the thirty days thing applies to US residents moving from another state, but I was right - people with a valid international license can drive a private car in the state of Texas for up to one year after moving there, without needing to switch to a Texas driver's license, as long as their home country has reciprocity with the US (which Australia does)

so I would advise people acting on the information they find to print off said information, and keep it in the glove compartment, so that they can deal with people who only know part of the law

That sucks about the speeding. At least you know your rights and will be able to fight the lincence discrepency charge. Not a good day then

[StillThePrettiest 3]

oh, it completely sucks... it was a 30 zone, and it's always so easy to drift up to above where you should be, but I usually keep a closer eye on it... was thinking of other things this morning, so I was done; no arguments here

but I'm going to contest the license thing every step of the way... because what I want right now is MORE paperwork, and more runarounds from people who don't know what they're talking about

[Stinky Monkey 1]

oh, it completely sucks... it was a 30 zone, and it's always so easy to drift up to above where you should be, but I usually keep a closer eye on it... was thinking of other things this morning, so I was done; no arguments here

but I'm going to contest the license thing every step of the way... because what I want right now is MORE paperwork, and more runarounds from people who don't know what they're talking about

Ha ha I am so looking forward to moving to Texas and AOS, but jumping the gun a bit only got packet 3 today

[StillThePrettiest 3]

hmm, don't wish your life away... I have had better stages in my life than this current one, I can tell you right now

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

I keep thinking that I saw the wrong speed limit sign or something. I don't want to get a ticket, and I usually do less than 5mph below the limit, but people are always speeding past me. I keep thinking - either the cops never give out tickets, or gas is so expensive now, what a speeding ticket on top, and everyone gets them!

It's so easy to accidentally speed, since the safest thing to do (especially on a freeway) is to match the speed of those around you. So the natural inclination is to do just that, stay at a steady pace with the other cars on the road. I have to constantly watch that I'm at or just below the limit (and sometimes go over).

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I find the drivers on the California freeways are way slower than back East, so even when I'm matching speed I'm hardly ever over 70. However, I think I hit 87 at some point on my trip to Maine...

[Laura+Tom 2]

When you've driven in the Middle East, you can drive anywhere. Now THAT was an experience!

[Jeraly 4]

I dunno - driving back from Yucaipa yesterday Jeremy was doing 80 and still had people (guessing with small pen!s syndrome) tearing past him in their brand new gas-guzzlers

[Scarlett 0]

Thanks for this Rebecca, I have recently arrived in Washington State myself (beautiful), can you tell me what Mark has to do to get his license? Does he have a UK one to convert or is he learning from scratch? I have a UK license but am wondering wether I will have to take a WA state test...