Any February 2012 filers?

[SLMcT 5]

YAY

Friday flights were amazing and easy...POE at Baltimore was a breeze...being met by Jason looking very handsome carrying a gorgeous single red rose was INCREDIBLE!!! Saturday we actually got on a plane TOGETHER!!! Now in Hawaii all rested up and ready to get married in around 8 hours!!! :dance:

[afoyoswa 178]

Thanks, everyone!

I just flew in this afternoon from a 3-day stopover to see some friends in Holland on the way back from Africa, and Aaron and I were speculating on the phone about when the embassy might get around to issuing the visa and sending it out, since I'd checked at the end of the business day on Friday and there was nothing listed then. But then when I got home and checked online, a record had been added and his passport/visa is now in transit. !!! Not sure why it was shipped out on a Sunday, but I'm not complaining. He's already saying his farewells to friends and wrapping things up at work, so we're on track for him to leave very soon. Surreal!

For those of you who've done the whole POE thing in the U.S. recently, what does he need to have with him when he lands, other than his passport, the visa, and his x-ray?

[at long last 58]

Thanks, everyone!

I just flew in this afternoon from a 3-day stopover to see some friends in Holland on the way back from Africa, and Aaron and I were speculating on the phone about when the embassy might get around to issuing the visa and sending it out, since I'd checked at the end of the business day on Friday and there was nothing listed then. But then when I got home and checked online, a record had been added and his passport/visa is now in transit. !!! Not sure why it was shipped out on a Sunday, but I'm not complaining. He's already saying his farewells to friends and wrapping things up at work, so we're on track for him to leave very soon. Surreal!

For those of you who've done the whole POE thing in the U.S. recently, what does he need to have with him when he lands, other than his passport, the visa, and his x-ray?

all I can say is to have him double check his I-94. they messed mine up and is now the beginning of another hellish process to correct it. They put my fiance's name on it instead of mine....

Terri

[afoyoswa 178]

all I can say is to have him double check his I-94. they messed mine up and is now the beginning of another hellish process to correct it. They put my fiance's name on it instead of mine....

Terri

Good to know: thanks! That's the white form they give visa holders to complete in the plane, right, and that then becomes a small card that is attached to your passport to give you permission to be in the U.S.? I'm not that clear on the step in between completing the form and having the card put in your passport: is that where the mistake happened? Trying to figure out what to tell him to watch for.

I'm kind of about to burst right now! I woke up at 2:30am (because of course that's a fine time to wake up if you're in a timezone 6-8 hours ahead of EST), and checked the DHL waybill status for his passport/visa while I was up: "awaiting collection by recipient"! He's going back to Nairobi (12 hours each way on the bus) Wednesday to retrieve it. We decided that's close enough to visa-in-hand to book the ticket, especially as the seat availability is quite low for the itineraries direct through Amsterdam with POE in Boston. We considered having him fly from Nairobi to save the trip back, but all of the fares are way more expensive, and his relatives in Uganda would be disappointed not getting to send him off. Plus he spends a lot of time in/around the Uganda airport for work, so we like the idea of his actually getting to finally go there to fly somewhere. There were 2 affordable days within the next 1.5 weeks, so we picked the one that doesn't involve his arriving at the airport in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner.

He'll be here next Tuesday!!!! OMG!!!

I'm having this almost uncontrollable impulse to run outside and start telling random strangers about it. Should find a way to channel this impulse into unpacking & organizing my apartment, eh? YAY!!!!

[at long last 58]

Good to know: thanks! That's the white form they give visa holders to complete in the plane, right, and that then becomes a small card that is attached to your passport to give you permission to be in the U.S.? I'm not that clear on the step in between completing the form and having the card put in your passport: is that where the mistake happened? Trying to figure out what to tell him to watch for.

I'm kind of about to burst right now! I woke up at 2:30am (because of course that's a fine time to wake up if you're in a timezone 6-8 hours ahead of EST), and checked the DHL waybill status for his passport/visa while I was up: "awaiting collection by recipient"! He's going back to Nairobi (12 hours each way on the bus) Wednesday to retrieve it. We decided that's close enough to visa-in-hand to book the ticket, especially as the seat availability is quite low for the itineraries direct through Amsterdam with POE in Boston. We considered having him fly from Nairobi to save the trip back, but all of the fares are way more expensive, and his relatives in Uganda would be disappointed not getting to send him off. Plus he spends a lot of time in/around the Uganda airport for work, so we like the idea of his actually getting to finally go there to fly somewhere. There were 2 affordable days within the next 1.5 weeks, so we picked the one that doesn't involve his arriving at the airport in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner.

He'll be here next Tuesday!!!! OMG!!!

I'm having this almost uncontrollable impulse to run outside and start telling random strangers about it. Should find a way to channel this impulse into unpacking & organizing my apartment, eh? YAY!!!!

I can relate to your overwhelming urge...ha ha ha . The mistake happened at the immigration booth. He wrote my fiances name on the back of the card instead of mine. To tell you the truth it didn't seem odd at first because ... well.... none of this process is logical. So just have him check it before leaving. It is all so surreal and overwhelming to think of all this stuff when they are fingerprinting you, lines are long and they are trying to process so many people. Plus the excitement of finally crossing that finish line of this race...

good luck.

We aren't far away from Boston. In CT.

Terri

[Shezi 108]

Good to know: thanks! That's the white form they give visa holders to complete in the plane, right, and that then becomes a small card that is attached to your passport to give you permission to be in the U.S.? I'm not that clear on the step in between completing the form and having the card put in your passport: is that where the mistake happened? Trying to figure out what to tell him to watch for.

I'm kind of about to burst right now! I woke up at 2:30am (because of course that's a fine time to wake up if you're in a timezone 6-8 hours ahead of EST), and checked the DHL waybill status for his passport/visa while I was up: "awaiting collection by recipient"! He's going back to Nairobi (12 hours each way on the bus) Wednesday to retrieve it. We decided that's close enough to visa-in-hand to book the ticket, especially as the seat availability is quite low for the itineraries direct through Amsterdam with POE in Boston. We considered having him fly from Nairobi to save the trip back, but all of the fares are way more expensive, and his relatives in Uganda would be disappointed not getting to send him off. Plus he spends a lot of time in/around the Uganda airport for work, so we like the idea of his actually getting to finally go there to fly somewhere. There were 2 affordable days within the next 1.5 weeks, so we picked the one that doesn't involve his arriving at the airport in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner.

He'll be here next Tuesday!!!! OMG!!!

I'm having this almost uncontrollable impulse to run outside and start telling random strangers about it. Should find a way to channel this impulse into unpacking & organizing my apartment, eh? YAY!!!!

We didn't need my x-ray at the airport so I still have that! They gave out cards on the plane and I filled it in but the i-94 was a different form so I completed that at the desk - I think Gavin did the same thing. It takes a few minutes but isn't an issue

Tomorrow's my medical... just getting prepped for everything!

I have: 3 US style passport photos, my passport, my immunization records, my confirmation letter for the interview and $250 cash. Can anyone think of anything I'm missing?

Good luck for today - hope all is well x

YAY

Friday flights were amazing and easy...POE at Baltimore was a breeze...being met by Jason looking very handsome carrying a gorgeous single red rose was INCREDIBLE!!! Saturday we actually got on a plane TOGETHER!!! Now in Hawaii all rested up and ready to get married in around 8 hours!!! :dance:

I'm sure yesterday was beautiful - welcome to the world of the marrieds D xx

[Shezi 108]

We had our beautiful ceremony in our home on Saturday and are now officially married

Yesterday was filled with airport runs as so many of our family were leaving but what a whirwind weekend!!

Shezi

[Dorah 6]

Thanks, everyone!

I just flew in this afternoon from a 3-day stopover to see some friends in Holland on the way back from Africa, and Aaron and I were speculating on the phone about when the embassy might get around to issuing the visa and sending it out, since I'd checked at the end of the business day on Friday and there was nothing listed then. But then when I got home and checked online, a record had been added and his passport/visa is now in transit. !!! Not sure why it was shipped out on a Sunday, but I'm not complaining. He's already saying his farewells to friends and wrapping things up at work, so we're on track for him to leave very soon. Surreal!

For those of you who've done the whole POE thing in the U.S. recently, what does he need to have with him when he lands, other than his passport, the visa, and his x-ray?

So happy for you both,Congratulations! How was the interview? Where you able to attend or allowed to reach the consulate area?

[KTandTommy 31]

We had our beautiful ceremony in our home on Saturday and are now officially married

Yesterday was filled with airport runs as so many of our family were leaving but what a whirwind weekend!!

Shezi

You two are adorable and I absolutely love your dress and your rings!

Congratulations!

I had my medical today... posted a review in the Canada forum, if anyone is curious, but it went well, and I was worried for no reason! One step closer to joining the rest of you now LOL. Canada is SOOOOOO SLOOOOOWWWWWWWW.

[Cori and Rob 55]

We didn't need my x-ray at the airport so I still have that! They gave out cards on the plane and I filled it in but the i-94 was a different form so I completed that at the desk - I think Gavin did the same thing. It takes a few minutes but isn't an issue

Good luck for today - hope all is well x

I'm sure yesterday was beautiful - welcome to the world of the marrieds D xx

So, just so I'm clear on this, Rob will have to fill out the landing card like he always does, but then there will be another thing to fill out at the desk when he is with the customs officer? Is it something he can do on the plane? Rob's POE is Thursday, and I know he and I are both anxious to get that over with so we can finally be a normal couple.

I use a company called Global Currencies. It costs £15 for the transfer and the US bank charges $15 to receive it, the exchange rate is very good and the transfer is very fast. I transfer the money to them and send them the details of the bank account to transfer it to, then in most cases I can see it incoming to the bank the same day and draw on it the next. The last transfer I did was this week and I got 1.59 as the exchange rate

Thanks for the recommendations on money transfers, Rich and Gavin!! I have heard a lot about XE, but that global currency one sounds good. Gavin, do you have a link to the website? I looked up global currency, but several things came up and I'm afraid I'll pick the wrong one.

Shezita, congrats on your wedding! You and your hubby look charming!!! And Joy, congrats on Aaron's visa! How exciting!

[Shezi 108]

So, just so I'm clear on this, Rob will have to fill out the landing card like he always does, but then there will be another thing to fill out at the desk when he is with the customs officer? Is it something he can do on the plane? Rob's POE is Thursday, and I know he and I are both anxious to get that over with so we can finally be a normal couple.

Thanks for the recommendations on money transfers, Rich and Gavin!! I have heard a lot about XE, but that global currency one sounds good. Gavin, do you have a link to the website? I looked up global currency, but several things came up and I'm afraid I'll pick the wrong one.

Shezita, congrats on your wedding! You and your hubby look charming!!! And Joy, congrats on Aaron's visa! How exciting!

I don't know if you can get the white I-94 on the plane, because I'd filled in a landing card I thought that was it (doh)... the immigration officer at the desk had loads of them and just said to fill one in. I did that at the side while he dealt with the next in line but I didn't have to get in line again. I just took it back when he was ready

Edited November 12, 2012 by Shezita

[afoyoswa 178]

I don't know if you can get the white I-94 on the plane, because I'd filled in a landing card I thought that was it (doh)... the immigration officer at the desk had loads of them and just said to fill one in. I did that at the side while he dealt with the next in line but I didn't have to get in line again. I just took it back when he was ready

I just took the same flight yesterday that Aaron will be on entering the U.S., and the flight attendants handed out the customs declaration forms for everyone, and the white I-94 ones to people entering on visas (they were also available to grab on your way out of the plane). I'll definitely tell him to double check what the card going in his passport says, though! That's a good tip.

[Gavin + Heather 7]

So, just so I'm clear on this, Rob will have to fill out the landing card like he always does, but then there will be another thing to fill out at the desk when he is with the customs officer? Is it something he can do on the plane? Rob's POE is Thursday, and I know he and I are both anxious to get that over with so we can finally be a normal couple.

Thanks for the recommendations on money transfers, Rich and Gavin!! I have heard a lot about XE, but that global currency one sounds good. Gavin, do you have a link to the website? I looked up global currency, but several things came up and I'm afraid I'll pick the wrong one.

Shezita, congrats on your wedding! You and your hubby look charming!!! And Joy, congrats on Aaron's visa! How exciting!

No problem, their website is http://www.globalcurrencyservice.com/ the person I deal with there is David Baker. They were recommended by where I worked, they use them for all of their international payments.

As for the form. He will have the standard customs form and will have to ask for the I-94 if the airplane staff don't offer it out - There is no worries though, as you can also get them from the immigration officer at the POE. It just means that he'll have to fill it out at immigration if he didn't get one on the way over.

[Gavin + Heather 7]

You two are adorable and I absolutely love your dress and your rings!

Congratulations!

I had my medical today... posted a review in the Canada forum, if anyone is curious, but it went well, and I was worried for no reason! One step closer to joining the rest of you now LOL. Canada is SOOOOOO SLOOOOOWWWWWWWW.

Congrats on the medical, I knew you'd fly through that (despite the cupcakes ) You'll soon be here!

Edited November 12, 2012 by Gavin + Heather

[Gavin + Heather 7]

We had our beautiful ceremony in our home on Saturday and are now officially married

Yesterday was filled with airport runs as so many of our family were leaving but what a whirwind weekend!!

Shezi

Congratulations So happy for you guys!