UK AOS 2009 Thread

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Yeah, your job does sound awesome! Makes me feel positive about the future (as I'm stupidly so nervous about working here).

I've applied to more positions as a psychology research assistant at colleges and hospitals. Not heard anything back yet, but I'm meeting with someone next week and will hopefully get some help applying to Meditech. She says the job will allow me to fly to London often (for free!) which is nice. But we'll see..

Ooh, best of luck with that! Don't forget to be a pest and show you're really interested. Pester them!

what quals do you need for that job, because that sounds AWESOOOOME! (ADD AMERICAN MIDWEST ACCENT ON THE AWESOOOME)

magpie, you are just gloating now... you need to stop. happy for you though, dont forget to show them the british way. Show them how to put milk in their tea, champion the underdog etc etc...

gonna have to sort my rfe out l8r... ie january. to make double sure i dont get another one.

Well, I didn't quite meet the experience level they wanted...two years experience in banking or other federal credit union-type services! I have zilch in those areas, except for what I've gained in the past week. I've got a degree in management with marketing though, and that covered communications and operations management as well. I also suspect that my interview had gone a lot better than I'd thought.

As for Britishness...at my test run with customers on Friday, I was at another branch where my supervisor said: "Where are you from again?" I told her I was from England, and she remarked that my accent was cute. I think my Britishness is sticking . I'll be sure to correct them about tea and milk, which I actually made a comment on the other day.

How come you can't sort out your RFE sooner? I wouldn't want to leave it too late.

Magpie.

[MARM 7]

Congrats on the job Magpie!

A very belated Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, congrats on the recent EAD/GC/APs as well!

And to our dear Nich...

Hope you are doing better , take care of yourself!

[MonkeyJuice 3]

Congrats on the job Magpie

Good to see you back Marm, you must be all chilled out now!

Interview tomorrow so off on a road trip to Detroit soon. Just busy copying all our file very nervous. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Allie and Nigel 2]

Well here we are popping in FINALLY....just getting our wedding and hotels and flights all booked now--got our AOS papers printed out...I'm gonna bug Nigel to twist his doctor's arm in England to give him that MMR that's needed, they scoffed at him and said "that's for kids" blah blah blah.....so he leaves Saturday, so I'm gonna have him put his dang foot down....seems as if all you need is that tetanus and mmr for men over 35 from what the website says....so i better get on the ball and 2nd check...

Help me out guys, see if this is the right spreadsheet for vac's

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/...ccinechart.html

Edited December 6, 2009 by Allie and Nigel

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Marm You have been muchly missed! It's great to see you with us again.

And Monkeyjuice, don't worry, you'll do fine. If you've got photos, it's a good idea to explain every single one (or as many as the interviewer permits before they say "okay, that's quite enough" ) as it demonstrates your familiarity with the country/your hubby/his family. I had taken a few that had family members in them, as it also showed that I had a relationship with them. The interview isn't anywhere near as scary as the K-1 one, so I hope you get an interviewer as nice as the one I got for AOS .

Allie and Nigel, while I didn't use that one in particular, it's more or less got what was required when I was going through the process. Didn't somebody mention, though, that Congress is passing a bill or already has passed a bill which means you don't have to have those shots as a requirement now? I don't want to give out any misinformation, so if someone could confirm, that would be great. You might also want to check that with Department of State and see what they say about it.

Magpie.

[MissusM09 1]

Marm You have been muchly missed! It's great to see you with us again.

And Monkeyjuice, don't worry, you'll do fine. If you've got photos, it's a good idea to explain every single one (or as many as the interviewer permits before they say "okay, that's quite enough" ) as it demonstrates your familiarity with the country/your hubby/his family. I had taken a few that had family members in them, as it also showed that I had a relationship with them. The interview isn't anywhere near as scary as the K-1 one, so I hope you get an interviewer as nice as the one I got for AOS .

Allie and Nigel, while I didn't use that one in particular, it's more or less got what was required when I was going through the process. Didn't somebody mention, though, that Congress is passing a bill or already has passed a bill which means you don't have to have those shots as a requirement now? I don't want to give out any misinformation, so if someone could confirm, that would be great. You might also want to check that with Department of State and see what they say about it.

Magpie.

So how goes it Marm?? is it all a big relief? I'm happy for you.

magpie i was gonna wait because i wanted to file my husbands tax return, he changed jobs and i didnt want to get rfe'd for a co sponsor again:and because my medical is out of date ( by two days) got to get the money together. though i'm wondering if i should just get a transcription of my vaccinations instead. I'm not clear if i need to get another medical or not? can someone help me out please.

[Ellie-and-David 38]

The job sounds soooo good magpie! Congrats!

I have another new job (the last one didn't work out - the hours were to few and far between and they were soooo unreliable!) as a supervisor for an internet shipping company. I have to talk to alot of the customers, so I get comments about the british accent 10 times a day! My boss laughs and says I act like each time that someone mentions it, it's like the first time anyone has noticed. It's full-time with benefits and there is overtime to do so....I feel lucky to have found not one but two jobs since I started being able to work. I cram in enough hours to get three days off a week, so that's nice

I'm so tired though! Sitting on my butt for four months did me NO good!

I hope everyone else is doing ok, that the operation goes well Nic, and that GC's are soon to be approved John and Mary and Gemmie.

Edited to say....MARM! 28 DAYS! WWWOOOOHOOOOO!

Edited December 7, 2009 by Ellie-and-David

[Allie and Nigel 2]

Speaking of accents, I work in a roadside assistance call centre and they bug me all the time about my Canadian accent, I get all the excellent surveys you see...! (hehe) Plus I'm gonna love hearing what people here in southern Arizona think about Nigel's Derbyshire accent....well for me, he had me at hello...........lol. I'm all happy, he's gonna be here Saturday! Finally!

Edited December 7, 2009 by Allie and Nigel

[MARM 7]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome back!

I had some questions:

1) My fiance and I plan on entering at POE together, meaning we will be on the same flight into Chicago. For those that don't know, my fiance got his visa in hand in London on Nov. 12 and we took a trip to Pakistan Nov. 16 prior to his POE in the USA, so both of us will be entering Chicago for my fiance's POE in Chicago on Dec. 26.

We wanted to know, do we enter together or seperate?

And what forms do we need to fill out on the flight? Does my fiance fill out the white I-94 and each of us fills out a seperate customs forms, or do we fill out one customs form?

Is it unheard of to enter as fiance/fiancee together at POE? I am worried about it causing complications...my fiance's visa was issued in London but the reason that my fiance and I made a trip to Pakistan prior to his POE in the USA is because his mother and father are not well and because his immediate family will not be able to attend the wedding so we decided to visit them prior to the wedding here in the USA.

2.) About the I-693 medical forms, is it fine if my fiance submits his DS-3025 from Knightsbridge in London (medical completed in week of Feb 2009) and medical vaccination records from a normal doctor in Pakistan to Dr. Arnold? My fiance did not have his K-1 vaccinations completed at Knightsbridge in London so we were planning on getting his vaccinations done in Pakistan (because they are cheaper) and then we submit both records to Dr. Arnold. Is this possible?

Or does anyone have suggestions on how to get vaccinations done cheaper in Illinois?

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions/advice!

I feel like we are WAY behind because of our trip to Pakistan!

[MissusM09 1]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome back!

I had some questions:

1) My fiance and I plan on entering at POE together, meaning we will be on the same flight into Chicago. For those that don't know, my fiance got his visa in hand in London on Nov. 12 and we took a trip to Pakistan Nov. 16 prior to his POE in the USA, so both of us will be entering Chicago for my fiance's POE in Chicago on Dec. 26.

We wanted to know, do we enter together or seperate?

And what forms do we need to fill out on the flight? Does my fiance fill out the white I-94 and each of us fills out a seperate customs forms, or do we fill out one customs form?

Is it unheard of to enter as fiance/fiancee together at POE? I am worried about it causing complications...my fiance's visa was issued in London but the reason that my fiance and I made a trip to Pakistan prior to his POE in the USA is because his mother and father are not well and because his immediate family will not be able to attend the wedding so we decided to visit them prior to the wedding here in the USA.

2.) About the I-693 medical forms, is it fine if my fiance submits his DS-3025 from Knightsbridge in London (medical completed in week of Feb 2009) and medical vaccination records from a normal doctor in Pakistan to Dr. Arnold? My fiance did not have his K-1 vaccinations completed at Knightsbridge in London so we were planning on getting his vaccinations done in Pakistan (because they are cheaper) and then we submit both records to Dr. Arnold. Is this possible?

Or does anyone have suggestions on how to get vaccinations done cheaper in Illinois?

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions/advice!

I feel like we are WAY behind because of our trip to Pakistan!

hello, first of all.

well you can both enter together, that certainly is not a problem, i think bob and pat did just that. the I-94 form you get on the flight, he fills it out and takes it to the non us citizen line. make sure however that you do not go in the same lines together, though you might want to wait with him, the us citizen line is far shorter and faster than the non US one, especially at chicago, and you chose a doozie of a day to re enter. Though you may be lucky.

Dr. Arnold is retiring as of last week, you cannot get him to transcribe any vaccinations, there is a list on this forum of civil surgeons that will subscribe, and there is one in Chicago I believe.

I hope that was helpful.

[Gemmie 142]

GREEN CARD ORDERED!

Bill called me to say he got an update through text message, and I was so nervous to check the site. I had a dream that I had 3 RFE's. But happy to see that I should have it by Christmas! It took 74 days from NOA. Thank you to everyone that helped me out at ANY time, even if it was just to read my ranting or give encouragement. It feels so good to be finally done with USCIS for 2 years.

Congrats on the new job, Ellie.. I know what you mean, I'm going to find it SO hard to work every day as I've been doing nothing for 6 months now! I'm hoping I can get used to it pretty quickly though. Sounds like such a good job, you must be charming the Floridans with that accent.

Missus, I'm not sure if another medical is required. I assume because it's going to be 2 days out of date that you would need to, but someone else confirm that. How annoying though!

MARM, I'm so glad he finally has the visa! Sounds like it's going to be a huge Christmas gift for you both. I think I only needed the white customs form, not the green visa waiver form as I wasn't using the VWP. I would both fill one out separately, and someone should be there to guide you both into the proper lanes. Some people have found going through the US line with their fiancee was fine, but others were told to go through the Visitor line. I imagine it would also be fine to submit your London medical along with the vaccinations he got in Pakistan. I only just found out that Dr Arnold is retiring (bummer!) but hopefully you can find someone who will do it for cheap without requiring the entire medical to be redone. Can't wait to read your POE review.

Edited December 7, 2009 by Gemmie

[Gemmie 142]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=231026&hl=

Here is a link to the thread of CS's... that WON'T rip you off.

[Nik+Heather 121]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=231026&hl=

Here is a link to the thread of CS's... that WON'T rip you off.

I am a bit late to the party here - we are just about to send ours off -- well, next week some time once Nik get's the CS sign off. The disappointing thing about the whole hangup is that we probably won't be able to go to a wedding over New Years as I don't particularly want to be traveling after Nik's I-94 expires on Dec. 31. Yah, I'm paranoid.

[Bob and Patricia 0]

Green card received today!! It was one day shy of our K1 N0A1 anniversary. Not sure what we did to get through the process so quickly... maybe it's our um ah, mature status. B)

In any event, godspeed to everyone else here.

Semi-off topic: We had an early Christmas party/dinner with several other Brits on Friday night. Chicago has a pretty active expats group on meetup.com. Also got some more tips on a few other markets in the area that may stock Pat's comfort food.

Really off topic: The kitchen remodeling is about 90% done. (I wonder why the first 90% of any project takes 90% of the time, and the remaining 10% takes the other 90% of time.) Waiting on counter tops/sink, range vent hood, and dishwasher yet. Still on track for being done before Christmas... better be, we're hosting dinner this year.

Bob and Pat

[Nik+Heather 121]

Green card received today!! It was one day shy of our K1 N0A1 anniversary. Not sure what we did to get through the process so quickly... maybe it's our um ah, mature status. B)

In any event, godspeed to everyone else here.

Semi-off topic: We had an early Christmas party/dinner with several other Brits on Friday night. Chicago has a pretty active expats group on meetup.com. Also got some more tips on a few other markets in the area that may stock Pat's comfort food.

Really off topic: The kitchen remodeling is about 90% done. (I wonder why the first 90% of any project takes 90% of the time, and the remaining 10% takes the other 90% of time.) Waiting on counter tops/sink, range vent hood, and dishwasher yet. Still on track for being done before Christmas... better be, we're hosting dinner this year.

Bob and Pat

I see you got a lot of use out of that EAD. Ha!