UK AOS 2009 Thread

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

I will, enjoy your crustaceans. how can you have a whole festival for crawfish????

Huzzaaah, and congrats! It didn't take us long after getting the EAD to get an interview date. It almost rendered the EAD moot, but I at least was glad I could apply for jobs. You'll do fine on the driving test don't forget to mention that driving in the UK might have given you a few bad habits. The lady who tested me was really nice about it, and understood that drivers do pick up the, ahem, occasional bad habit.

Crawfish festivals...lobsters everywhere! Aaah, snappy claws!

Also, Knight might be getting a second job at Fred Meyer's. His second interview is on Tuesday, so we'll see how that goes. If it goes well, then his poopy truck is going out the window (sigh, oh these trucks of constant sorrow) and we're going to set up him up with a nice new, gas-economic, Ford Focus. Thank goodness my financial savviness has gotten better since I've been working.

Magpie.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I will, enjoy your crustaceans. how can you have a whole festival for crawfish????

It's a huge thing with live bands and a carnival---3 weekends even! Right now is crawfish season. It's got Louisiana roots, but has seeped across the border to Texas. So all things Cajun are popular at the festival like boiled crawfish, boudin (sausage), jambalya, crawfish etoufee, and Zydeco music. And beer. Then there's the other typical festival foods like sausage on a stick, roasted corn, turkey legs, snow cones, and funnel cakes. I found some crawfish balls that were great. I personally don't like to peel the critters---too much work and very messy for a teeny tiny piece of meat.

[John & Mary 1]

Hi all! I just wanted to report that John started his new job last Monday as a software engineer. He'd been looking since the end of October, and he'd gone months without hearing anything from anyone-- so very frustrating. Then, all of a sudden, the phone started to ring off the hook toward the beginning of April. If you're still looking, take heart! I really think the job market is starting to bounce back, although our evidence is strictly anecdotal.

[Lisa and Ian 7]

Hi all! I just wanted to report that John started his new job last Monday as a software engineer. He'd been looking since the end of October, and he'd gone months without hearing anything from anyone-- so very frustrating. Then, all of a sudden, the phone started to ring off the hook toward the beginning of April. If you're still looking, take heart! I really think the job market is starting to bounce back, although our evidence is strictly anecdotal.

Yay, John! Congratulations!

I have a question for those having been to an AOS interview. Did the CO take your EAD card off you, if you were approved for a greencard? If so, how long till the greencard arrived?

One of the VJ'ers in Portland said they took his, but I'm guessing it's a little while till the green card arrives (?)

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I've read different things out of different cities. Some have actually taken the EAD. Others have given out an envelope saying to mail the EAD card to them when the GC arrives. And others haven't mentioned it or said to destroy it when the GC arrives. You can look on the UK AOS timeline spreadsheet because it has interview date and GC in hand to show how long it took.

That reminds me I should catch up some dates on the sheet and search out people who didn't come back to report GCs. And congratulations to John on landing a job.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

That reminds me I should catch up some dates on the sheet and search out people who didn't come back to report GCs.

And that little job is done.

There were alot of things to fill in. Things I noticed is in 2009 there were a higher percentage of transfers over interviews. And so many of the 2010 list didn't apply for AP. Why didn't you guys want AP for free?

UK AOS Timeline

[Jay&Jo 4]

Hey everyone

my green card is in production *woop* after being transfered to CSC less than a month ago i actually cant believe how quick this final step has been. its still been rough (with the medical RFE!) but compared to our K1 journey, this has been so quick! we sent our AOS package in at the end of February. i just wanted to thank everyone for their advice over this process its honestly been helpful beyond what you realise, this process is so stressful, and so having someone there whose been through it and can help you make sense of the madness is incredible

now i actually have to start thinking about getting a job (dang it.... i was hoping i had another couple of months of sunbathing!) now i have no excuse! i cant believe i've been living in florida for almost 4 months now... i dont know where the time went.

still missing england.... has anyone been watching the general election debates online?? i sort of wish i was there to fully be a part of it all.

jo

[MissusM09 1]

And that little job is done.

There were alot of things to fill in. Things I noticed is in 2009 there were a higher percentage of transfers over interviews. And so many of the 2010 list didn't apply for AP. Why didn't you guys want AP for free?

UK AOS Timeline

I didnt apply because i knew i could just make an infopass appointment and get one. and er, Nich, why isnt my name on the spreadsheet? it was before??? gonna cry now ....lol

magpie i did my driving test(written portion) the week before, passed it. it took me about 15 minutes. it was ridiculously easy. i still have to wait 30 days to do the practical test however, because i only had a provisional in England, but I dont care. i'm loving driving over here the roads are so wide its pretty hard to make a mistake all you have to do is point and drive..

oh well I have to go look for a job now *sad*, i'm going over to the Casino's. hate all gambling with a passion but i'll work there.

l8r

Edited April 29, 2010 by MissusM09

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

and er, Nich, why isnt my name on the spreadsheet? it was before??? gonna cry now ....lol

Before you start look on the 2009 tab. (Tabs at the bottom.) You filed in 2009 so have been there all this time. I updated you today. Guess I can move you to the top of 2010 page like Snowbunnies since you're still not finished.

Jay/Jo----That was superfast. I was all excited when transferred to CSC really, really fast. Then it just sat there about 4 months before they got around to approving. I wasn't stressed at all with AOS. I figured they weren't going to come snatch him from my house, so we were doing just fine without that card with the big shiny strip on the back.

We haven't been watching the political debates. We're going to England next month. First time back since he came over a year and a half ago. He hasn't really missed it that much, he says, but we're really looking forward to the trip.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Well, Nik has basically gotten two job offers. One is for a job he doesn't want AT ALL (Call center) it's really moving backwards for him, but at this point it's a way to contribute and gets him out of the house. A (barely) acceptable fall back position - and one he wouldn't mind leaving if something better came along. He's also delaying as long as he can on some paperwork for a contract job which is a half-step back hoping that he'll hear back about the interview he had on Monday for the job he *really* wants. He feels like it was hinted that he'll get that job, so he's waiting for it, but trying not to go so far as to say no to the others until he's certain. It's turning into a real juggling job as he waits for that call back!!

I'm sort of interested to see what goes on with all of this - it seems like finally getting some work will make the move official, and that perhaps he'll feel the effects of moving countries more than he has so far.

[MissusM09 1]

Before you start look on the 2009 tab. (Tabs at the bottom.) You filed in 2009 so have been there all this time. I updated you today. Guess I can move you to the top of 2010 page like Snowbunnies since you're still not finished.

Jay/Jo----That was superfast. I was all excited when transferred to CSC really, really fast. Then it just sat there about 4 months before they got around to approving. I wasn't stressed at all with AOS. I figured they weren't going to come snatch him from my house, so we were doing just fine without that card with the big shiny strip on the back.

We haven't been watching the political debates. We're going to England next month. First time back since he came over a year and a half ago. He hasn't really missed it that much, he says, but we're really looking forward to the trip.

:bonk: :bonk: :bonk: thats me ....<<<<<<thanks nich. anyone got any job hunting tips????

[Lisa and Ian 7]

I found this document from USCIS (newly released) interesting: http://www.dhs.gov/x.../ni_fr_2009.pdf

32,000 admissions for K1 visas in 2009.

The UK was one of the top 5 countries for "non-immigrant but expected to stay awhile" entries last year.

Edited April 30, 2010 by Snowbunnies

[Lisa and Ian 7]

still missing england.... has anyone been watching the general election debates online?? i sort of wish i was there to fully be a part of it all.

jo

We have been, on and off. Interesting stuff.

Congrats on your green card production! It DOES go ultra-fast in comparison.

[Gemmie 142]

Wow a lot has happened. Congrats on job offers and Green Card productions, and driving tests! It seems to be really quiet in here lately AOS-wise, maybe we should pop over to the interview topic in the UK forum and let them know they can come here once they've hopped over the pond.

For job-hunting tips, I would say the biggest thing is to make sure your resume is looking good. Since you have no US references yet and most companies accept applications online now, you want to make sure it really represents you. I had mine checked over by the lovely Magpie ( ) and then again by a professional in my field. She also said that she's noticed British people are very self-deprecating when they speak of their experiences and ability - while Americans are more proud and exaggerate theirs. So act confident in what you've done, and don't put yourself down, because that American that is bragging about their equally limited opportunity will get that job. Also, I would advise getting any kind of internship/volunteer work on your resume as it shows you're doing something with your time here while you wait, and shows you love to work (ha).

I've started my internship and it's going well, just very slow. I feel I can do 10x the work in the time I've been given, but I guess these things go a bit at a time. My supervisor is teaching at a university from September and said she'd love for me to come and work for her then, but the only thing is, it's not paid. I'm really waiting for a paid opportunity to come up so me and hubby can finally move out of the parents (it's been over 10 months now) and start our lives. Hopefully one of the positions I've applied to, or one of her colleagues that apparently really loved my resume will find a place for me.

Elections - I've been following it and I think the Tories are going to get in. I don't know how I feel about that at the moment, so time will tell.

Snowbunnies, those states are surprising to me. Cool though!

Heather, sounds like Nik has finally gotten somewhere. I hope he gets the job that he really likes, I know part of you dies when you feel you've taken steps back in life.

[Allie and Nigel 2]

Nigel's aos interview was yesterday on his birthday, it was so easy! We were in the door and no more than 30 seconds from walking through they called our names, asked us about ourselves, looked over our documents and was quite a nice chat and we were in and out in 45 minutes...so easy! They told us to keep our EAD till the green card comes in and to destroy it afterwards (ya right) so we have ours and it was no big deal cause she knew we were still looking for work...so its all good on our end, also Nigel got his drivers license too the day before so we're all in track for stuff...lol..