Scandinavians

[izola 1]

I feel your pain @Alaska, that's what I keep fearing. My parents are getting old and that's pretty much the reason I've been hesitant to leave Sweden from the get go. I've been living with them for the past week and trying to make up for as much time as possible.

@Nola123 - yes you can bring the USC. I've had mine with me both times I've gone through this. Of course they're not of much use, but they can be there

I just mailed myself a couple of boxes of stuff, feels rather retarded to pay 1000skr to send of two boxes of Lasse Åberg glasses and DVDs that we've already overpaid for once, but now I'll get them anyway! We have been weighing and weighing our bags and are pretty much ready for take off on Thursday morning. I just wish it could finally sink into my head that I am moving again. I still feel like we'll be going home to Karlstad again soon...

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Today is the first time since I've moved over that I wished Alaska was a bit closer to Sweden. My mum is in hospital, the intensive care unit, and all I can do is sit here starring at the phone...

I hope your mom will be OK Alaska!

I just mailed myself a couple of boxes of stuff, feels rather retarded to pay 1000skr to send of two boxes of Lasse Åberg glasses and DVDs that we've already overpaid for once, but now I'll get them anyway! We have been weighing and weighing our bags and are pretty much ready for take off on Thursday morning. I just wish it could finally sink into my head that I am moving again. I still feel like we'll be going home to Karlstad again soon...

What company did you use to have your stuff shipped?

[izola 1]

Good ole' posten actually. Those blue boxes you can buy, you can fill them with up-to 20kgs, for weights up-to 5kgs its like 396kr and past that up-to 20kgs it's 696kr or something very close to that. I've been looking around and it doesn't seem like the other options that are as little of a hassle are any cheaper. That's what we ended up doing last time we went over and did it again now. I looked in to a couple of other options earlier but it seems to me that if you're only shipping a small amount doing it by sea isn't worth it, DHL and the likes charge about the same as Posten and last I checked UPS they were actually more expensive.

At some point in the future I will most likely go for the sea freight option to bring a couple of small pieces of furniture over. But that's quite far off atm.

@Alaska - any update on your mother?

[Alaska2012 462]

Thanks you guys!! You feel so helpless being so far away! But good news, she is out of icu and back in a normal avdelning. We were actually able to Skype for a few minutes today, that was all she had the strength for but it felt good seeing her! And the nurses are awesome helping out so we could do it!

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Good to hear Alaska.

I ventured out on my own for the first time today, for real venturing I mean (the Uni-mart in Troy Hill yesterday doesn't count). My wife dropped me off down in the Strip Disctrict (I know, I thought it sounded the first 50 times I heard it too - false advertising!) and I looked around a little bit. Went to a couple shops to look for deli type food that I'd like to make (Italian lamb sausage). No luck so far, but I did find an Asian market we might check out this weekend (it was closed this morning). I then walked downtown and made my way to a food court we went to last time I was here in Pittsburgh, back in 2010, had a grilled sub for breakfast. I then took the bus home. It was nice. Weather was pretty, kinda cold so the grilled sub sure hit the spot. It was kinda exciting to wander around on my own for a bit.

Edited January 8, 2013 by Mr. Borkström

[izola 1]

That's good Alaska. You're living my nightmare right now... All the best to your mother.

Bork - Brilliant, so you're not missing Erikslund or Hälla yet?

1 day left for me, I've applied for a job within the same company as I've been with for the last ... uhm... almost 7 years. And today I got a call back saying they want me to come in on Saturday to meet my potential managers and as he put it "move forward" not sure if that means a second interview or actual employment talk, we'll see! Wish me luck, heh

[jaycali 415]

Thanks you guys!! You feel so helpless being so far away! But good news, she is out of icu and back in a normal avdelning. We were actually able to Skype for a few minutes today, that was all she had the strength for but it felt good seeing her! And the nurses are awesome helping out so we could do it!

Awesome!! Glad to know things are looking up. It must have been a great feeling to be able to Skype her! My aunt back in Norway was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago when I was in the US for school, it was an absolutely horrible feeling, especially since I couldn't actually talk to her. She recovered however, and the cancer was eventually gone completely.

Good to hear Alaska. I ventured out on my own for the first time today, for real venturing I mean (the Uni-mart in Troy Hill yesterday doesn't count). My wife dropped me off down in the Strip Disctrict (I know, I thought it sounded the first 50 times I heard it too - false advertising!) and I looked around a little bit. Went to a couple shops to look for deli type food that I'd like to make (Italian lamb sausage). No luck so far, but I did find an Asian market we might check out this weekend (it was closed this morning). I then walked downtown and made my way to a food court we went to last time I was here in Pittsburgh, back in 2010, had a grilled sub for breakfast. I then took the bus home. It was nice. Weather was pretty, kinda cold so the grilled sub sure hit the spot. It was kinda exciting to wander around on my own for a bit.

I've done those walks quite a bit lol. I was so excited to have a job a few weeks ago, but quickly came to learn that a part-time position in the US is faaaaaaar from a part-time position in Norway! Here, they don't really have to give you hours at all, and since it's a retail job, my hours dropped to a minimum right after new years. Now I spend most of my days looking for full-time jobs and just wandering around taking pictures and posting them on my Facebook lol. We live in Honolulu, in Waikiki, which is pretty much the most densely populated and otherwise busiest area in the entire state of Hawaii, so there's not a lack of things to do or see.. And I really cannot complain about the weather at all. It has been 23 degrees Celsius nearly every single day since I got here, day and night. My wife finally got a full day off (usually, a "day off" for her is an 8 - noon shift) so we got to go hiking and spend the day together this past weekend. It was absolutely amazing. We had "a moment" sitting on a cliff by the ocean just looking at the waves crashing in and reminiscing on the bs we went through to get to that point.

PS. There's an outdoor market here in Waikiki called the International Marketplace. It's a great place to go wander around, and there are plenty of nice little shops. But every time I'm there I can't help notice that a lot of the people working the shops (and getting paid cash) seem to be in their early 20s from various parts of Europe and Asia. And they all seem to be students at the university here. Every time I walk by I'm always so tempted to go over and ask "Excuse me, what is your immigration status here in the US?" 10 months of immigration hell has left me a very proud permanent resident, and very bitter at those who take shortcuts.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Bork - Brilliant, so you're not missing Erikslund or Hälla yet?

Not especially no. lol But I'm not much of a shopping person to begin with.

1 day left for me, I've applied for a job within the same company as I've been with for the last ... uhm... almost 7 years. And today I got a call back saying they want me to come in on Saturday to meet my potential managers and as he put it "move forward" not sure if that means a second interview or actual employment talk, we'll see! Wish me luck, heh

Break a leg!

And you too Jay.

[turion2 2]

Hi scands!

Tomorrow its interview time, kind of nervous but I think I have everything in order

One question, they say to bring stamps of 135 kr? I think it was, dont have the information in front of me. However, can I write any adress on the enevelope where I want my passport to be send? I want it to be send to my brother where im residing at the moment, is that ok or it can only be send to the "folkbokförings adress" ?

[jaycali 415]

Hi scands!Tomorrow its interview time, kind of nervous but I think I have everything in order :hehe:One question, they say to bring stamps of 135 kr? I think it was, dont have the information in front of me. However, can I write any adress on the enevelope where I want my passport to be send? I want it to be send to my brother where im residing at the moment, is that ok or it can only be send to the "folkbokförings adress" ?

I'm not sure what the postage is for applicants living in Sweden. It's 295 SEK for Norwegians and Danes. A smart Swedish member will hopefully chime in and confirm the postage for Swedes.

(though according to an old Norwegian folklore there is no such thing as a smart Swede ).

I wrote my mother's name and address on my envelope. Though I never actually received my visa in the mail (picked it up in person in Oslo.. Long, unrelated story), they said at the embassy that it was fine, and I could write whatever address I wanted on there. I would advise you though to write your name, then c/o your brother's name, then the address.

Good luck!! Don't forget to write a review. Also, don't forget to stand in the "Citizen/Immigrant" line rather than the "non-immigrant" line. And when you enter, you don't need to pull a number, just head straight for window G! (Or was it D?) This will save you lots of time.

Edited January 9, 2013 by Jay Jay

[Mr. Borkström 63]

I'm contacting my lawyer right after I'm done writing out this post. That's defamation, Jay Jay (assuming that is your real name).

All kidding aside, I would say that our Norwegian friend's advice about writing addresses on the envelope is sound advice.

Edited January 9, 2013 by Mr. Borkström

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Someone with a better memory than me has to confirm how much you need to bring as far as stamps goes. I can't find the information about the actual amount. I know I've seen it somewhere, I just can't remember where. I managed to find my own envelope, and it has 132 SEK worth of stamps on it. Two 50 SEK stamps, one 20 and one 12. So I am assuming the amount needed (at least when I was at the embassy late September) is 130 SEK. But if you want to be on the safe side, get stamps for 135 SEK, or 150 or whatever. The guy at the embassy will be able to tell you how many of them you need to slap on that mo-fo envelope.

[turion2 2]

Thanks for the info, I have the correct amount of stamps on the information page at home so will look it up tonight.

Will comeback with result and review tomorrow

[Alaska2012 462]

Thanks for the info, I have the correct amount of stamps on the information page at home so will look it up tonight.

Will comeback with result and review tomorrow

It can be sent anywhere! It will be sent rekommenderat within Sweden...

[Ulmus 4]

So, I thought I'd relay what happened to me during the last step in this long process.

I went for my interview Monday at 9, got into the embassy on time (huge line for non-immigrants outside). There was a few people in line so I had to take a seat for a while. When I finally was called up to "have the interview" she asked 2 questions:

- how long have you been married? (11,5 years)

- do you have any kids? (3)

She then said, we have all we need and your visa will be arriving within 2 weeks. Yay.

Next day I get a phone call from the embassy. The guy on the line says, "you forgot to sign part 2 of the application". So I had to come back yesterday, stand in line again, wait for a long time to get to see the same woman from the day before and have her witness me signing the paper.

Good news is that I got my visa right away (well, 15 minutes later) and I have it in hand right now.

So anybody going for the interview, if they don't ask you to sign the document, remind them.

Ps. The postage is 132kr if in Sweden, which I completely wasted but I don't mind. Ds.