Netherlands

[jackybeertje 0]

Ah thats cool.. I was like reading the news about the vog and was like 'oh my, I hope I wont get breathing troubles' lol... Michelle didn't feel so well because of the heat that came along with it.

Yeah been reading about you setting up your own business, that's pretty cool! I hope it will all work out nicely for you

How's the hub and son doing anyways?

they are doing good. Almost summer break a few more weeks. -sigh-

do you guys have a next visit planned?

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Ah thats cool.. I was like reading the news about the vog and was like 'oh my, I hope I wont get breathing troubles' lol... Michelle didn't feel so well because of the heat that came along with it.

Yeah been reading about you setting up your own business, that's pretty cool! I hope it will all work out nicely for you

How's the hub and son doing anyways?

they are doing good. Almost summer break a few more weeks. -sigh-

do you guys have a next visit planned?

Are you sighing because of the summer break coming up or because it still takes a couple of weeks before it's there? lol

Unfortunately we don't have a next visit planned.. we would love to be together atm but the tickets are getting too expensive atm, we rather save the money instead at the moment. I think the first time we will see each other again will be in october or maybe even november... it kinda depends when I get the visa and when my sister delivers her baby (she got pregnant and her due date is somewhere at the ending of october so maybe I will wait with going until I saw her baby).

[jackybeertje 0]

Are you sighing because of the summer break coming up or because it still takes a couple of weeks before it's there? lol

Unfortunately we don't have a next visit planned.. we would love to be together atm but the tickets are getting too expensive atm, we rather save the money instead at the moment. I think the first time we will see each other again will be in october or maybe even november... it kinda depends when I get the visa and when my sister delivers her baby (she got pregnant and her due date is somewhere at the ending of october so maybe I will wait with going until I saw her baby).

Hope everything with the visa will go smoothly for you guys.

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Hope everything with the visa will go smoothly for you guys.

Thanks, we hope so too

[imtay 0]

Hey guys, Thanks all for your helpful tips and suggestions regarding moving my stuff to the states, incumbent upon the fact that the Interview goes well. I think the TNT is the best route indeed. Letty the container idea did sound enticing but tis expensive methinks and I don't have that much stuff anyways. I looked around in Germany (DHL) as the border is right next to my city, and found the rates to be, on an average, €20-30 more. Oh well, shall have a few weeks to sell stuff off. Marktplaats here I come

One more question I had regarding the postage we need to bring to the embassy on the day of the Interview. For my B1/B2 visa interview in July '07 I took an envelope (Aangetekende brief) from the TNT filial in Amsterdam for the specified amount. It was big enough for my passport to be shipped back to me. I was under the impression I would need to take the same this time around.However I am told that if things go well, the Consulate will be returning the passport and the sealed packet with it, which might not fit the postage paid envelope I bring to the consulate. Any insights on what to ask for at the TNT booth? Cheers!

Edited May 10, 2008 by imtay

[Stardust72 0]

Like you can see, it is very expensive to have your items moved from the port of entry to where you live. So I though I was smart to see if there is an option to pick it up myself at the port. I'm glad I read the blue-print (kleine lettertjes) very well, because I found out you have to pay all sort of taxes and other charges.(bijv. douaneheffingen, invoerrechten, X-ray scans, havengeld, loodshuur). At first it looked cheap but probably you end up paying a lot more this way.

Has anyone actually done anything like this and knows how much the "havenkosten en afhandelingskosten" are? I am bringing more than I can send by TPG and so I am considering shipping my stuff. I figured out that it would cost me €600,- to ship my stuff to Chicago and pick it up there myself. And it's €1130,- if I have my stuff shipped all the way to where I'm going to live. According to the quote I was given, "douanekosten (inklaring, evt taxes & duties)" are never included so I'd have to pay those extra anyway. If the "havenkosten en afhandelingskosten" are anywhere near €500,-, I might as well have my things shipped all the way to where I'm going to live and not bother driving the 4 hours to Chicago to pick up my stuff.

[letty 1]

hi Imtay,

My passport and sealed envelope was returned to me in an envelope they had provided. I just brought the envelope seperate of the postage and they didn't need the envelope but used the postage. Whenever you ask for postage for aangetekende post at the postoffice you will get a sticker good for up to 5 kg. I can't remember the exact amouth but something like E 6.65

[imtay 0]

hi Imtay,

My passport and sealed envelope was returned to me in an envelope they had provided. I just brought the envelope seperate of the postage and they didn't need the envelope but used the postage. Whenever you ask for postage for aangetekende post at the postoffice you will get a sticker good for up to 5 kg. I can't remember the exact amouth but something like E 6.65

Thanks Letty! That really helps.

[darkhorse 0]

Hey peeps!

Just wanted to check in again and say HI to everyone.

I really start missing hanging out with Dutch speaking people. Ofcourse I talk to my family on the phone at least once a week, but I just really miss actually hanging out with people that speak Dutch.

Did anyone else feel like this after they lived in the States for a while?

I tried to find people here in Florida but that didn't really work out well. There were some really really old people (in their 70's) that I found that live about 2 hrs from Panama City. But that is not what I was looking for.

I talked about it with my husband and we would like it a lot if there were Dutch-American couples that would like to hang out at the Gulf of mexico for vacation and maybe visit us for a little bit. You are welcome to stay with us instead of staying at a hotel. PM me if you want. I am not working yet, so I have a lot of free time on my hands.

Lynn

[letty 1]

Thanks for the invitation, I'll keep it in mind whenever I make it over to Florida! I lived in de States before (1.5 year in 2004/2005) and started to really miss talking to Dutch people and it started to get harder to actually remember Dutch words what sometimes got embarrassing on the phone with my parents. I started watching the " NOS journaal" on the internet every day just to hear some Dutch but still that didn't help to much to talk to someone whenever you want to.

I'll try to teach my husband Dutch but that's not to much of a success but hopefully one day we can talk to each other!

Letty

Hey peeps!

Just wanted to check in again and say HI to everyone.

I really start missing hanging out with Dutch speaking people. Ofcourse I talk to my family on the phone at least once a week, but I just really miss actually hanging out with people that speak Dutch.

Did anyone else feel like this after they lived in the States for a while?

I tried to find people here in Florida but that didn't really work out well. There were some really really old people (in their 70's) that I found that live about 2 hrs from Panama City. But that is not what I was looking for.

I talked about it with my husband and we would like it a lot if there were Dutch-American couples that would like to hang out at the Gulf of mexico for vacation and maybe visit us for a little bit. You are welcome to stay with us instead of staying at a hotel. PM me if you want. I am not working yet, so I have a lot of free time on my hands.

Lynn

[letty 1]

Hi Imtay,

Just wander how things went in Amsterdam today???!!!!!!

Letty

[imtay 0]

Hi Imtay,

Just wander how things went in Amsterdam today???!!!!!!

Letty

Hey Letty

sitting at Leidseplein, toasting a successful interview with a pint of Guinness... We're approooved!!! So happy! Thanks for enquiring... More later!

----

Posted via iPhone

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Hi Imtay,

Just wander how things went in Amsterdam today???!!!!!!

Letty

Hey Letty

sitting at Leidseplein, toasting a successful interview with a pint of Guinness... We're approooved!!! So happy! Thanks for enquiring... More later!

----

Posted via iPhone

Congratulations on your visa!! Must feel awesome to have it in your hands

[jackybeertje 0]

Hey peeps!

Just wanted to check in again and say HI to everyone.

I really start missing hanging out with Dutch speaking people. Ofcourse I talk to my family on the phone at least once a week, but I just really miss actually hanging out with people that speak Dutch.

Did anyone else feel like this after they lived in the States for a while?

I tried to find people here in Florida but that didn't really work out well. There were some really really old people (in their 70's) that I found that live about 2 hrs from Panama City. But that is not what I was looking for.

I talked about it with my husband and we would like it a lot if there were Dutch-American couples that would like to hang out at the Gulf of mexico for vacation and maybe visit us for a little bit. You are welcome to stay with us instead of staying at a hotel. PM me if you want. I am not working yet, so I have a lot of free time on my hands.

Lynn

i also miss to speak dutch. Sometimes I get lucky and get a Dutch tourist in the store and I can talk story for a bit, but yeah not much Dutchies on Maui

[imtay 0]

Hi Imtay,

Just wander how things went in Amsterdam today???!!!!!!

Letty

Hey Letty

sitting at Leidseplein, toasting a successful interview with a pint of Guinness... We're approooved!!! So happy! Thanks for enquiring... More later!

----

Posted via iPhone

Congratulations on your visa!! Must feel awesome to have it in your hands

Thanks Jeroen! : ) It indeed does... and now comes the hard part -> disposing of most of my worldly possessions... Marktplaats and Speuders here I come ; ) Good luck on your journey!