Moving Checklist?

[JULIAFERNO 0]

What was on your must bring checklist when you/your SO moved to the US?

[payxibka 10,047]

any and all important documents... birth, marriage, divorce, school transcripts, medical, etc....

[rocks 494]

all of the things payxibka mentioned and my resume.

[faryan 4]

I was thinking about this very question too as I shall be leaving for the US next week. Thanks OP for asking.

[TBoneTX 46,379]

Thoughts: Try to get at least one extra official copy of the birth certificate, divorce certificate if applicable, etc. Also, he should get his Turkish driver's license (and International driving permit) BEFORE he leaves! He may be ineligible to receive a driver's license in your state; with a valid foreign license + int'l. permit, he should be able to drive for 12 months -- check the regulations.

Edited February 4, 2009 by TBoneTX

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Proof if immunization...either copy given to you at the K1 medical exam or something from childhood/personal doctors records. You need to show proof of immunization to a US Civil Surgeon to complete the I-693 for Adjustment of Status. If you didn't get a copy at your medical, beg the officer at POE to make you a copy from the one in your brown envelope, which he will open.

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Thanks for all of the tips. A few questions:

1) Is it necessary to obtain a full copy of the medical exam or only the immunization record?

2) How do you obtain an international driver's license? I found this site - is this legit? http://www.idlservice.com/

Thanks!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

No, you don't need a full copy of your medical exam because it's supposed to stay with your file. But to complete the I-693 medical report for AOS, the Civil Surgeon in the US has to see some record of shots you've already received abroad. If the only copy is in your brown envelope you left at POE, then what do you have to show him?

International driving license. It is my understanding that these are in no way legal permits to drive. I've had one of these for a driving trip through Europe. What they are is basically translations into a bunch of languages to be used with your driver's license the help the foreign police know what your license says in their native language. You present the little booklet along with your legal license. It would have your photo stuck inside as a sort of ID.

To know if you are allowed to drive in the US, you would have to research the State where you will be driving. States issue licenses, not the US government. So go to the state government pages for your intended state and find the section that talks about driving. For example, I found that Texas will allow a UK driver to use their UK license for 1 year. The answer can vary dependent on what the State has to say on the matter. And a tip from experience, if you are stopped and show a foreign license and they ask if you are a visitor, say YES. My husband was stopped by the highway patrol. Are you a visitor? No, I moved here 3 months ago. Well in the State of Texas you have 30 days after you move here to get a Texas license. I think the key word was moved here. Some states won't let you get a license until you have at least EAD, if not the green card, so getting one in 30 days in our state is impossible. It took alot of explaining to get the officer to drop it. K1 status is rarely known by state officials and it's a bit of a limbo status anyway. The I-94 entry into the US expires in 90 days (much longer for K3s) so you don't have much on paper to show you are legal and they won't give you a license on the "short stay" indicated on your I-94. The officer was unaware of the 1 year on a foreign license, but I told him I read it on the state website of his agency so he let it go. It would have been a good idea to have a print out of that page in the car or to just say "I am visiting."

[tanyakaraman 0]

Well this doesn't apply to the foreign SO, but to you....dig out your I-129 petition approval notice as you'll need it to adjust status. I had (fortunately) kept mine, I thought for purely sentimental reasons, but turns out you need it for AOS....& apparently it is very expensive to get a replacement. I spent a few panicked hours searching my house when I realized this!

~Tanya