Scandinavians

[dance of life 1]

I had my interview on a Thursday and received the visa in the mail the following Thursday, so exactly one week later.

Congrats! Good to hear.

oh ok- thank you

[theswede 5]

hi all,

I'm a student (f-1) in the US, planning to marry my USC fiancé in march. yay! I'm currently preparing all the paperwork for AOS so that we can submit it as soon as possible. I just have a question regarding birth certificate-- I'm guessing I need to submit the "extraction from population register" from skatteverket? does anyone know if USCIS cares when this was printed by skatteverket (I know the consulate did)? I have one from june 2013. can I just use this or do I need to request a new copy and have my parents send it to me?

thanks

[anjans 21]

I got the visa!!!!!!!

But i can open the first envelope right??? Haha, im so nervous when it comes to this, but i have to have my passport!!!

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I got the visa!!!!!!!

But i can open the first envelope right??? Haha, im so nervous when it comes to this, but i have to have my passport!!!

You have to open the envelope they mailed you otherwise you wouldn't be able to use your passport! The other one quite clearly says do not open.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

He's even fine with giving up his Danish citizenship to get American.

Sweden allows for dual citizenship. I am very grateful for that. I probably will apply for citizenship, for practical reasons, when that day comes. But I will always be Swedish at heart and I will never give up my Swedish citizenship.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

What trips me off often is the whole social norm when it comes to pay the restaurant bill. I always leave that part to my fiancée because otherwise she'll be upset with me not tipping nearly enough, according to her. Probably because we do not have a system for such things in Sweden.

Oh yes, tips! That took some getting used to. I often ask my wife how much I should tip. And if she says $10, I'll add a dollar or two to that. I would rather tip too much than too little.

My visa has been issued!!!! I'm so happy, they will send it tomorrow, finally i can relax

Sweet! Congratulations!

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Sweden allows for dual citizenship. I am very grateful for that. I probably will apply for citizenship, for practical reasons, when that day comes. But I will always be Swedish at heart and I will never give up my Swedish citizenship.

It is supposed to be addressed by the Danish parliament this month, but who know how far they will go or if they will pass it. I think it would be a bad idea to give it up, what if he needed to go back for an extended period of time to take care of his parents, or I died and he wanted to go back home or something?

[plasthandske 3]

Here is something that has been on my mind since my visa was approved. This one goes out to the people who hold a higher degree, eg Bachelor, Master etc.

Do you feel that American companies and recruiters value our European, more specifically our Swedish, degree/degree's equally high as a equivalent from a university in the states? Not counting ivy league or top ranked public that is. Will someone as my myself, holding two bachelors and a masters be able to compete with my American counterparts for the same positions?

Any thoughts or experience when it comes to this?

Perhaps this will be less of an issue since I have experience from studying abroad at a Big Ten University for a while.

Edited February 6, 2014 by plasthandske

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Here is something that has been on my mind since my visa was approved. This one goes out to the people who hold a higher degree, eg Bachelor, Master etc.

Do you feel that American companies and recruiters value our European, more specifically our Swedish, degree/degree's equally high as a equivalent from a university in the states? Not counting ivy league or top ranked public that is. Will someone as my myself, holding two bachelors and a masters be able to compete with my American counterparts for the same positions?

Any thoughts or experience when it comes to this?

Perhaps this will be less of an issue since I have experience from studying abroad at a Big Ten University for a while.

Dude. IKEA turned me down.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

'Tis that time of the year. Yes. Tax season. Seems to me that nothing can get an American riled up the same way as taxes.

I believe your spouse/fiance(e) has to have filed taxes the last three years to be able to petition for you to get a visa and move here. Filing taxes seemed very difficult to me at first, but the thing is it's not actually as difficult as it seems. Here are a couple tips that will make it easier in the end.

When you get a job you have to fill out the IRS tax form W4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_forms_in_the_United_States#W-4). The W4 determines at what % your taxes will be withheld, in other words how much you'll pay in taxes. If you don't know how to fill it out, make sure someone helps you fill out this form! When I started at Target in September last year, I did something wrong and they ended up withholding 1% instead of 3% in city taxes, so now I'm going to end up owing the city for taxes I never paid last year. Target listed the wrong locality code. Different areas can have different taxes. In North Hills, where "my" Target store is located, you pay 1%. We live in Troy Hill, which is part of the City of Pittsburgh, so I should have been paying 3% in city taxes. So make sure you get this right from the start. If you get a good job and get a good salary, you can end up owing a lot in taxes.

Each year at the end of January your employer will send you a copy of your IRS tax form W2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_W-2#W-2). This form will show you how much money you have gotten in wages from your employer and how much you have paid in taxes. If you have more than one job, you will get a W2 from each place you work for. For example, the year before last my wife got a new job, so she got a W2 both from her old job and her new job. When you file your taxes (which you do by filling out the IRS form 1040 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_W-2#1040), you use the W2 to keep track of how much you've made and how much you've paid in taxes. My wife and I filed our 1040 on a website and it was very easy. The online form we used showed us exactly where to look for the right numbers and where to enter the information. So don't worry about it too much, it's not as daunting as you may think.

If you're married, you will pay less in taxes. My wife and I have elected to have our taxes withheld at a higher rate. That way we will not owe anything the end of the year, and we get money back instead. This is why it is important to fill out your W4 correctly, so you won't end up owing and having to pay back taxes.

[Alaska2012 462]

Here is something that has been on my mind since my visa was approved. This one goes out to the people who hold a higher degree, eg Bachelor, Master etc.

Do you feel that American companies and recruiters value our European, more specifically our Swedish, degree/degree's equally high as a equivalent from a university in the states? Not counting ivy league or top ranked public that is. Will someone as my myself, holding two bachelors and a masters be able to compete with my American counterparts for the same positions?

Any thoughts or experience when it comes to this?

Perhaps this will be less of an issue since I have experience from studying abroad at a Big Ten University for a while.

I think it depends on what field you are in. My 4,5 years in university is more or less wasted here. I'm a teacher and that is not doing me any good over here.

[Alaska2012 462]

'Tis that time of the year. Yes. Tax season. Seems to me that nothing can get an American riled up the same way as taxes.

I believe your spouse/fiance(e) has to have filed taxes the last three years to be able to petition for you to get a visa and move here. Filing taxes seemed very difficult to me at first, but the thing is it's not actually as difficult as it seems. Here are a couple tips that will make it easier in the end.

When you get a job you have to fill out the IRS tax form W4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_forms_in_the_United_States#W-4). The W4 determines at what % your taxes will be withheld, in other words how much you'll pay in taxes. If you don't know how to fill it out, make sure someone helps you fill out this form! When I started at Target in September last year, I did something wrong and they ended up withholding 1% instead of 3% in city taxes, so now I'm going to end up owing the city for taxes I never paid last year. Target listed the wrong locality code. Different areas can have different taxes. In North Hills, where "my" Target store is located, you pay 1%. We live in Troy Hill, which is part of the City of Pittsburgh, so I should have been paying 3% in city taxes. So make sure you get this right from the start. If you get a good job and get a good salary, you can end up owing a lot in taxes.

Each year at the end of January your employer will send you a copy of your IRS tax form W2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_W-2#W-2). This form will show you how much money you have gotten in wages from your employer and how much you have paid in taxes. If you have more than one job, you will get a W2 from each place you work for. For example, the year before last my wife got a new job, so she got a W2 both from her old job and her new job. When you file your taxes (which you do by filling out the IRS form 1040 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_W-2#1040), you use the W2 to keep track of how much you've made and how much you've paid in taxes. My wife and I filed our 1040 on a website and it was very easy. The online form we used showed us exactly where to look for the right numbers and where to enter the information. So don't worry about it too much, it's not as daunting as you may think.

If you're married, you will pay less in taxes. My wife and I have elected to have our taxes withheld at a higher rate. That way we will not owe anything the end of the year, and we get money back instead. This is why it is important to fill out your W4 correctly, so you won't end up owing and having to pay back taxes.

when you are self employed it gets way worse, plus all the weird deductions you can do when you have kids. Not to mention everything else you can deduct for in this country! I wish they'd just send me a deklarations blankett for me to sign!

I did our taxes last year, but since I wasn't sure how to do it we also went to my husband's tax guy and I sure am glad we did. Me doing it would give us a little back, but having him double check it gave us a lot back. I'm going to let him double check it again this year until I feel I got this down.

Oh by the way, did I share with you all that we are having yet another baby? We are going for one every year ;-)

[anjans 21]

Anyone had any advice on how to deal with the goodbyes of family and friends? I knew it was gonna bw hard, but not this hard!! Two more painful days, then i'm leaving. Its so hard to be happy when you are heartbroken at the same time!

[MikeandEl 4]

Anyone had any advice on how to deal with the goodbyes of family and friends? I knew it was gonna bw hard, but not this hard!! Two more painful days, then i'm leaving. Its so hard to be happy when you are heartbroken at the same time!

I just kept as busy as I could. It was, and continues to be, hard. I talk to my parents on Skype a fair amount, and keep in touch with everyone else on facebook. I got a calling card from zaptel.com to call my grandma. My husband and I are trying to find a house to live in so my mom can come and visit. I guess my advice is keep busy with other things, and don't get too wrapped up in saying goodbye. It's not the 1800s, you'll see them again.

[dance of life 1]

Anyone have a generala list of things to remember doing before moving ?