Scandinavians

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

Hi!

I have a quick question for you all. Being that I haven't faired too well in Denmark, can I expect my Danish husband to have similar difficulties in America? What sort of things are going to be rough for him to adjust to? He is pretty conservative for a Dane, but I'm a little worried.

[Alaska2012 462]

Hi!

I have a quick question for you all. Being that I haven't faired too well in Denmark, can I expect my Danish husband to have similar difficulties in America? What sort of things are going to be rough for him to adjust to? He is pretty conservative for a Dane, but I'm a little worried.

I think it's hard to say how another person will adjust. I love living over here but I have my blue days, people are very nice and I' do talk to a lot of parents when I pick up my son from school but its been hard to meet friends. Sure I hang out with my husbands friends but that's not the same. I can miss having the phone ring and its a friend who just wanna see what I'm doing and chat for an hour. I do Skype with people back home but its not the same. So for me it's the social life, but than again I've only been here 3,5 months so I'm sure it'll all work out.

Where about in the us are you gonna move?

[turion2 2]

Lol same happened to me. Ticked "yes" for tobacco use (snus) and the doctor changed my answer and just said "we don't usually consder that tobacco."

Your medical was the same day as mine.. What time were you there? I was there around 4 - 5 pm..

Will they hold anything against you if you did/do snus?

I´ll be a good reason to quit if so

[Eve&Josh 5]

Hi!I have a quick question for you all. Being that I haven't faired too well in Denmark, can I expect my Danish husband to have similar difficulties in America? What sort of things are going to be rough for him to adjust to? He is pretty conservative for a Dane, but I'm a little worried.

I think it's hard to say how another person will adjust. I love living over here but I have my blue days, people are very nice and I' do talk to a lot of parents when I pick up my son from school but its been hard to meet friends. Sure I hang out with my husbands friends but that's not the same. I can miss having the phone ring and its a friend who just wanna see what I'm doing and chat for an hour. I do Skype with people back home but its not the same. So for me it's the social life, but than again I've only been here 3,5 months so I'm sure it'll all work out. Where about in the us are you gonna move?

I agree with Alaska, it's difficult to say how someone will adjust, because it depends a lot on their background and personality. If he's career-driven, the harsh job market here in the US might be hard to take (of course, that depends on what field he's in). Also, having to start over with making friends and creating a social life of your own can be difficult. Most of all, for someone independent, that fact that you depend on someone else for everything, is a major adjustment. At least for me those things have been incredibly difficult to overcome - and which I am still working on after having been here for 13 months now. If you've had internships or any sort of work experience in the US that will make getting a job a lot easier, and also having friends, or acquaintances, some people you know, already in the area you will move to, will help a lot.

Although I'm sure you know all this as you are living in a foreign country right now yourself. For a guy it might be even more difficult, with having to stay home and having the wife be the bread winner for a while. And guys might have more trouble opening up about their feelings if they're missing home etc.

But, adjusting is different for everyone. I wish you guys good luck on moving!

[MrsB2012 10]

Hi!

I have a quick question for you all. Being that I haven't faired too well in Denmark, can I expect my Danish husband to have similar difficulties in America? What sort of things are going to be rough for him to adjust to? He is pretty conservative for a Dane, but I'm a little worried.

Hi There,

Just wondering what made you guys decide to return to the US? I'm the USC and my husband is a Danish national, also pretty conservative. He lived here in 2008-2009 while he was working in CA on an L-1 visa (inter-company transfer). He loved it here. In 2009 he was laid off from his job and forced to return to DK. During the last few years that he was back living in DK, he was very depressed. I visited him 7 times and I can say that as a foreigner, trying to adjust to things in DK is not easy.

He came here in June to visit and ended up staying. We got married and are now in the AOS waiting game. He's going out of his mind not being able to work but he always says that at least he's not in DK, especially with winter approaching. He does miss his friends and family back home but luckily he already has friends in CA from when he was living and working here before. He also misses his beloved motorcycle that is in the garage at his parent's house in Rungsted at the moment. He's hoping to have it shipped over here and is excited about the fact that he'll be able to ride it year round as opposed to just Mar-Sept as it is in DK.

I guess it depends on the personality of the person, as someone else stated above, however I know that for my husband, he's much happier in CA than he is in DK. He has said to me on many occasions that while he's not opposed to working within the EU, that hopes to never have to live in DK, or if so, not for a VERY long time. I hope that your husband will find the transition living in US much easier than I'm sure the transition for you living in DK has been.

[jaycali 415]

Ah, I was there at the same time. Didn't realize anyone from the forum would be there I was the third guy in line, not the big guy with the beard. I recognize you from your pictures now. I should have checked ahead and said hi

Yep that was me. Small world. If my memory serves me right, were you blonde with a green shirt? I only remember the guy with the beard and one other guy, guess that was you there aren't many Norwegians with immigrant visa applications.. That clinic only has appointments on Wednesdays I found out. good luck on your interview tomorrow!! Remember to write a review. If you're in Oslo, let me know if you want to grab lunch before you flytter over dammen Where in the US well you be going?

Hi!I have a quick question for you all. Being that I haven't faired too well in Denmark, can I expect my Danish husband to have similar difficulties in America? What sort of things are going to be rough for him to adjust to? He is pretty conservative for a Dane, but I'm a little worried.

Having lived in the US on and off on various student visas for the last 10 years I'd say the hardest thing for a Scandinavian to adjust to is Christmas. It's all relative of course and varies by person, but I can manage fine in the US 364 days a year, but Christmas eve is rough. I need my white, Norwegian julaften! Other Scandinavian students I've gone to school with seem to always miss the public transportation and being able to simply walk to the grocery store. This depends of course where you're from and where in the US you'll be moving. I lived in socal where a car is a must. Suits me fine as I love driving.

My wife stayed with me in Norway for 4.5 months and turns out it was a lot harder for her to adjust than for me. I think the climate combined with the language barrier is a big one to overcome..

Will they hold anything against you if you did/do snus?I´ll be a good reason to quit if so

Nope, thank God lol. Snus is legal (and sold) in the US as well. You'll need a better reason to quit

Edited October 31, 2012 by Jay Jay

[LlamaInvasion 76]

Hi!

I have a quick question for you all. Being that I haven't faired too well in Denmark, can I expect my Danish husband to have similar difficulties in America? What sort of things are going to be rough for him to adjust to? He is pretty conservative for a Dane, but I'm a little worried.

Completely individual. Look at other Scandinavians, too. I've been here since 2007, and loved it for the first four years, and now all I want to do is move back home. It's been a point of tension between me and my husband more than once, however I seem to be fairly alone in this - on the Facebook group for Norwegians in America, for instance, most of them seem very happy here (happier so than in Norway) and the general attitude towards homesickness is, "Tough luck, suck it up, you chose this life" (as if choices can't be regretted, or opinions can't change).

[rarasantiago 3]

Interview was today and visa approved!

Luckily was able to move interview date up. Will post embassy review later today. But quick comments about the questions. They started the questioning by asking two odd ones: What's something your wife would like to change about herself? If I asked her what would she say? and How do you think you'll adjust to life in the US? Followed by the typical where did you meet, get married, where are her parents from/living, etc.

Also, take copies of what you have submitted, husband got quite a scare from them when they asked for my 2011 tax return (he took copies of everything) and medical exam (he had copies of vaccination record from doctor) when he arrived at embassy. By interview time they had found the medical exam file and said they didn't need the tax returns.

Good luck everyone!

[MissK 5]

Completely individual. Look at other Scandinavians, too. I've been here since 2007, and loved it for the first four years, and now all I want to do is move back home. It's been a point of tension between me and my husband more than once, however I seem to be fairly alone in this - on the Facebook group for Norwegians in America, for instance, most of them seem very happy here (happier so than in Norway) and the general attitude towards homesickness is, "Tough luck, suck it up, you chose this life" (as if choices can't be regretted, or opinions can't change).

I totally reserve the right to later change my mind and move back to Norway. I have lived in the states before and I have visited over 20 times the last 10 years and also for long periods of time. I know what's waiting me. But to live forever? I do not know if I want that. Time will tell.... I'm really looking forward to moving (and I know I would regert it if I didn't do it) but it also pains me to leave my family and friends and to take my son away from everything safe and secure.

I think we will be ok,but I don't know what's waiting me or how I will feel a few years from now....

LlamaInvasion can I ask what's making you want to move back?

Interview was today and visa approved!

Luckily was able to move interview date up. Will post embassy review later today. But quick comments about the questions. They started the questioning by asking two odd ones: What's something your wife would like to change about herself? If I asked her what would she say? and How do you think you'll adjust to life in the US? Followed by the typical where did you meet, get married, where are her parents from/living, etc.

Also, take copies of what you have submitted, husband got quite a scare from them when they asked for my 2011 tax return (he took copies of everything) and medical exam (he had copies of vaccination record from doctor) when he arrived at embassy. By interview time they had found the medical exam file and said they didn't need the tax returns.

Good luck everyone!

Congratulations!

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Interview was today and visa approved!

Great news! Congratulations.

I think it's nice that we've had a couple more people here in this thread lately.

[robhaa 1]

Remember to write a review. If you're in Oslo, let me know if you want to grab lunch before you flytter over dammen Where in the US well you be going?

A short review, will write the "official" one later:

Arrived at the embassy at 8:30 for my 9:00 appointment. Two people were ahead of me in the immigrant line inside the embassy. Gave them all my paperwork, and was told that my police certificate was not accepted.

[i mentioned it earlier in the thread, but short version: The police messed up my application for certificate, and when I finally got it, it was in Norwegian. Since there was no time to get a new one in English, I translated it myself and "certified" it according to USCIS guidelines. The guy in the booth was Swedish, so of course he could see that the original said "Intet å bemerke", but I guess rules are rules... He knew that the Norwegian police can issue the certificate in English.]

I had prepared a ton of information to prove that we have an ongoing relationship, but they did not want it.

So I sat down, waited for 1.5 hours or so, and had my interview. The little old lady started off by asking "Tell my about your future wife", and I told her how we met and what she is like. Other questions seemed more random, like "What does your fiancee love and hate", "What do you like to do together", "Where will you be living", "Who will control the finances", "Does she like your cooking" "How much did she make last year", "Does your family like her" as well as some follow up questions to these. My fiancee is a naturalized citizen, so she was very interested in how she came to the US and how and when her parents came. I didn't really know all the details as to who petitioned for who, but it didn't really matter.

After a 10 minute interview, I was approved, given that I can present an original police certificate in English or a certified translation. (I called the police right after the interview, and they will send it out tomorrow ) I actually saw the big red "Approved" stamp on my application before the interview started, but I am not sure if that was from earlier in the process or the "final approval".

In total, I spent 2 hours at the embassy.

I am in Oslo now, but I will be going back to my hometown (Gjøvik) in a couple of days. So I don't think there's time for lunch. And I am going to DC, my fiancee works as an interpreter there. Good luck with your interview!

[rarasantiago 3]

Congratulations!

Thanks! Congratulations on your approval too

Great news! Congratulations.

I think it's nice that we've had a couple more people here in this thread lately.

Thanks! When are you off to Pittsburgh? Hopefully soon

The little old lady started off by asking "Tell my about your future wife", and I told her how we met and what she is like. Other questions seemed more random, like "What does your fiancee love and hate", "What do you like to do together", "Where will you be living", "Who will control the finances", "Does she like your cooking" "How much did she make last year", "Does your family like her" as well as some follow up questions to these. My fiancee is a naturalized citizen, so she was very interested in how she came to the US and how and when her parents came. I didn't really know all the details as to who petitioned for who, but it didn't really matter.

Congratulations! Must've been the same lady that asked my husband similar questions today.

[MrsB2012 10]

Interview was today and visa approved!

Luckily was able to move interview date up. Will post embassy review later today. But quick comments about the questions. They started the questioning by asking two odd ones: What's something your wife would like to change about herself? If I asked her what would she say? and How do you think you'll adjust to life in the US? Followed by the typical where did you meet, get married, where are her parents from/living, etc.

Also, take copies of what you have submitted, husband got quite a scare from them when they asked for my 2011 tax return (he took copies of everything) and medical exam (he had copies of vaccination record from doctor) when he arrived at embassy. By interview time they had found the medical exam file and said they didn't need the tax returns.

Good luck everyone!

Tillykke!!

[rarasantiago 3]

Tillykke!!

Tak!

Hope your AOS wait is over soon!

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Thanks! When are you off to Pittsburgh? Hopefully soon

You are most welcome.

Not quite yet I'm afraid. I'm putting my apartment up for sale. I've talked to a realtor who said that you can sign a form that allows someone else to sign the contract for you once someone has agreed to buy it, so I think I will get my dad to do that for me. I hope/think/want to be in Da Burgh in time for Christmas. I was hoping for Thanksgiving, and I still sort of am, but even if I am not ruling it out completely, I don't think that's going to happen.