UK AOS 2009 Thread

[Lisa and Ian 7]

Just a quick update for us:

Ian was able to get his i-693 paperwork completed by a CS yesterday.. for free! We're sending it back to the MSC today.

Also, the biometrics appointment was today. There was only one person waiting in front of us, so it was very quick.

Two more things out of the way.

Hope you're all doing well this week!

[MissusM09 1]

Nich, you both are ADORABLE

We wish you a VERY HAPPY birthday with many many more to come! :dance:

Thanks for the info too, we are nervous this time around because of our previous experience, but something tells me that it will be smoother this time (hopefully).

wow marm, you got hitched. i'm sooo happy for you chica. and happy birthday NIch. I know its late right.

as for me my biometrics was on monday of last week, and i missed it. Happily i went along on wednesday, didnt even need the infopass thing i had, and had them done.

Now today i had to have another medical done, so i just finished it, my goodness compared to the palaver of the thieving knightsbridge doctors, this was a breeze. I'm waiting on my tb test. so i'll be able to send off the stuff for the rfe on friday, heres hoping.

congrats to every1 and happy new year( its been a minute)

xx

P

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Just thought I'd show my ugly mug around here. Fascinating (and pleasing) to see how things are going for some of you. Gemmie, that job souns the nuts, luv - I sincerely hope you get it. Good work on the job and apartment front, Magpie - things seem to be working out just fine and dandy for you.

Conversely, I'm broke, and as of February 1st, will be living on my own in a trailer. In a field. In the middle of nowhere. Go me.

Ya gotta laugh..

Edited January 13, 2010 by Damian P

[Ellie-and-David 38]

Afternoon all.

Dropped of the face of the earth for a while because the parents were here. Between that and working.....I'm exhausted! Like you Magpie, sometimes I dont know whether I have made dinner or not because I'm knackered! I only work 40 hours a week, but after so long not working, getting back into the game has been tiring to say the least!

Congrats on the potential job Gemmie! Good luck with the meeting, I hope it all goes so well for you! I didn't find myself really settling in to "real" life until I had a job. I remember my first few months were like a daze. All I thought was..."WHAT AM I DOING HERE, IN THIS ALIEN PLACE WITH NO FAMILY AND FRIENDS....ARRRGGGHHH" and I drove David around the bend with meltdowns and freak outs over the smallest things. It all gets settled once you have something that is YOURS. And my job did that for me.

I'm studying my driving manual at the moment as I have my learners permit tests next week. I cant wait to get a car. I've been so lucky finding a job withing walking distance, but it's about to start getting BOILING in Florida again, and even a one mile walk in the crazy summer heat can reduce a person to a pile of sweat and clothing. We managed to save the money for my car, so HOPEFULLY, I will be driving pretty soon.

Hope the move goes smoothly Magpie! We moved about 2 months ago from our apartment to another in the same community, because we needed more space...and oh maaaaaaaaaan, I'm not moving again until we buy a house next year. I just cant face it! I hate budgeting, but for a house....well.....I'd do anything

Nich.....you two are adorable. I am so glad you are feeling better and happy recent birthday!

Marm! Grats on being married. I understand AOS being scary after your crappy K1 experience! Good luck.

Damien......David had to live in a trailer last year when he was made redundant. I remember when I stayed there for 2 weeks in March, I was dreading it. We had spiders the size of your hands moving in to eat the cockroaches the size of your finger in the kitchen BUT......David said that all in all, trailer life wasn't too bad. You dont have to mow your lawn, and when the fridge breaks down...you just leave it in the front garden. The neighbour also erradicated erroneous pest problems with his gun....usually very early in the morning. I guess what I'm trying to say is....there are few upsides, but everyone gets that you have to do what you have to do when everything falls apart. There is no shame in that. David managed to make the trailer home by modifying it and doing a few things to make it more personal, it helped to make it liveable, even if it was only supposed to be a temporary solution (2 months turned into 18) You seem like a resilient guy but you deserve a break. I hope it comes for you sooner than later.

Off to do some laundry folding. Sounds stupid but folding is in my room 101. Would rather have colonic irrigation than face the cloth mountain.

[Stinkerpotsam 6]

Congratz to all who I've missed since my last visit here...

We had our interview and passed today

It was quick and painless! We arrived 30 minutes early and got through security (actually that was the hardest part with all the shoes and belt buckles lol) and were taken in early. We actually were done and walking down the sidewalk five minutes before our scheduled time.

Basically he confirmed the info on the 485, asked when we met, how and the first time in person. Asked for letters, bills etc and pictures. He aske my husband (the immigrating person) to tell him who everyone was and what was happening in them.

He said it's a two year conditional and explained about re-filing 90 days prior to expiration and applying for naturalization on the third year.

Nothing more to tell than that really!

WOO HOO....time out for a few months now

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Grats to Stinkerpotsam and anyone else I missed! The roads were horrible today, a whole Coca-Cola semi wound up in the ditch, and it had two trailers attached.

Hugs to Damian. Knight's step-mum and her ex hubby lived in a trailer in a while, and her thoughts were along the same lines as Ellie.

Also, we got approved on the auto loan. Hopefully Knight will get the job out here in the valley, fingers crossed. I'll end up getting a car for myself anyway.

Phewwwwwww. I got home at, what, 10:00pm 'cause it was bad out? Time for bed soon then, gotta get up early tomorrow to face the elements .

Magpie.

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Also, guys, tax time is coming up...I have a very silly question. I know that I have to file for taxes here, but as I'm a UK citizen, do I need to file for taxes for the UK, too? My boss spooked me about it, but as I'm resident here, I didn't think I had to. I don't owe anything in England, I haven't lived there for over six months, and I never had a paycheck while living there. Never owned property, sold my car...and I don't have a bank account there anymore.

Thoughts on this?

Magpie.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Just a quick update for us:

Ian was able to get his i-693 paperwork completed by a CS yesterday.. for free! We're sending it back to the MSC today.

Also, the biometrics appointment was today. There was only one person waiting in front of us, so it was very quick.

Two more things out of the way.

Hope you're all doing well this week!

That's great! Can you add their info to the list on this thread? I'm fixin' to do a round up and update the summary this weekend....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=231026

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Also, guys, tax time is coming up...I have a very silly question. I know that I have to file for taxes here, but as I'm a UK citizen, do I need to file for taxes for the UK, too? My boss spooked me about it, but as I'm resident here, I didn't think I had to. I don't owe anything in England, I haven't lived there for over six months, and I never had a paycheck while living there. Never owned property, sold my car...and I don't have a bank account there anymore.

Thoughts on this?

I don't think you would have to do anything since you didn't work. The boss probably doesn't understand how taxes work in the UK and how it's more pay as you go. US citizens abroad are supposed to file with the IRS, even if it's just to say "I live abroad and I didn't earn any money in the US this year" (or something like that.) The boss was probably just asking out of curiousity.

On US taxes. Those of you who were married in 2009, can file jointly with your spouses even if you were married the last day of 2009 and it should be an advantage tax-wise to do so. Even if you don't have a GC yet, you can file jointly if you have a SSN or get an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.) Those who worked in the UK (not you Magpie) must claim (report) worldwide income for both spouses if you file Married Filing Jointly (MFJ). It sounds on the first reading, that you will be taxed on your UK earnings. NOT SO. You report the earnings, but money earned abroad is excluded up to $91,500 equivalent in US dollars, so it gets subtracted out. The exclusion is based on number of days you lived in the UK. If you only lived there half a year, then the exclusion is only half the $91,500. But you would have only worked in the UK half of a year, so wouldn't have earned your full yearly salary anyway, so it works out.

Here's a tax thread that's started. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...235947&st=0 We had extensive threads a year ago discussing all of this, so I guess it's that time again.

[Gemmie 142]

Wow, a lot has happened here in the last few days.

Well done Snowbunnies and Stinkerpotsam.

Congrats to the apartment and loan approval, Magpie. I am seriously jealous of all of the changes you've been making, and hope to make the same within the coming months. Damo, I hope you get your trailer feeling like home, at least. Things must seem ####### at the moment, but they will get better.

Updates from me: The luncheon is at the end of March. But I read that most of their employees come from referrals like myself, so I'm hoping I'll grab that job. I went to take my written driving test yesterday but they were closed, so I'm going back on Monday. We've been calling private landlords trying to set up apartment viewings, but so far, no one has returned our calls. I also found out that my best friends and my hubby were planning a surprise visit for me in April for my birthday.... they were going to be sitting on the couch drinking tea when I came home. But seeing as I found out ( ), BUM.

I'm going to the UK in 2 weeks. Only staying for a week, and I'm surprising my bestest friend. Her boyfriend and I have been planning all of the details. Since my reasons for not wanting to go for a visit were about my feelings about my life in the US, I decided it might be a better option now. Having a drivers permit (if I pass) and a big job interview lined up makes me feel happier about leaving, or rather coming back. We also decided that I should go now while I have the the time off. I hope I made the right decision.

[obbynox 0]

Oooh so much has been going on, new jobs, new apartments congratulations and the best of luck with...well everything!

Today i finally recieved my Advanced praole (we only filed in AUGUST) haha, and next week we have our interview. Does anyone have any tips on what other kind of evidence we may need?

We don't have a joint bank account/rent agreement/car insurance so i'm hoping plenty of pics from various weddings, mail in both our names, and important letters adressed to me at this address will be evidence enough.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...i'm feeling a little frazzled at the minute.

Thankies

Selina

[Big Papa Zone 93]

I went to take my written driving test yesterday but they were closed, so I'm going back on Monday.

You know it's Martin Luther King day on Monday, right? A lot of places close on this holiday - best check they're open before you set off.

[n1dom 0]

Having a drivers permit (if I pass)

Oooh, good luck! Make sure you gem up on the Drivers Manual.

I went to the RMV in Braintree this morning to get my learners permit and take the written test, thankfully I passed despite having a little trouble with a couple of questions on the penalties for junior operators (why they ask those to a 34 year old is rather bemusing).

I did find it all quite amusing with becoming a learner all over again despite having had a UK licence for 17 years!

Dom

[MissusM09 1]

I don't think you would have to do anything since you didn't work. The boss probably doesn't understand how taxes work in the UK and how it's more pay as you go. US citizens abroad are supposed to file with the IRS, even if it's just to say "I live abroad and I didn't earn any money in the US this year" (or something like that.) The boss was probably just asking out of curiousity.

On US taxes. Those of you who were married in 2009, can file jointly with your spouses even if you were married the last day of 2009 and it should be an advantage tax-wise to do so. Even if you don't have a GC yet, you can file jointly if you have a SSN or get an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.) Those who worked in the UK (not you Magpie) must claim (report) worldwide income for both spouses if you file Married Filing Jointly (MFJ). It sounds on the first reading, that you will be taxed on your UK earnings. NOT SO. You report the earnings, but money earned abroad is excluded up to $91,500 equivalent in US dollars, so it gets subtracted out. The exclusion is based on number of days you lived in the UK. If you only lived there half a year, then the exclusion is only half the $91,500. But you would have only worked in the UK half of a year, so wouldn't have earned your full yearly salary anyway, so it works out.

Here's a tax thread that's started. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...235947&st=0 We had extensive threads a year ago discussing all of this, so I guess it's that time again.

Thanks for this nich, will do as directed.

i got my medical results today everything good, and my tb test came back positive. this is just to those of you like me that had a bcg when you were little, it will give you a false positive on the tb test, so just have a chest xray done, and or blood test for tb. so i'll get everything squared off to be sent to them next week for the uscis.

congrats magpie, and gemmie have fun over there, dont forget to bring back all the stuff you were missing... (dont think you can bring back bread)

thank god for the weekend.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Well, we got a letter from USCIS today, and I confidently thought "Ah, the biometrics appointment! I was getting worried"

Instead - RFE. I started a different thread (so as to not hijack this one) to see what others thought of our planned response. I'm not sure how long we will wait on advice, I'm pretty sure about what we will do - maybe until Monday.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry3634004