K1 September 2014 Filers (TSC)

[Jabl2rom 54]

Exactly. We've spent a lot of time weighing both options and our quality of life will be better here. But there are days where I think certain things would be better or easier there.

You are still young. who knows, after he receives his citizenship (although it seems like that will happen decades from now based on the progress of our petitions) you may try and look for opportunities in the UK.

Another August filer received their NOA2 today - no text, or email. It just arrived in regular snail mail. I guess this is positive, although I would be livid if I were a June or July filer and haven't received anything yet.

[av8or1 246]

£18,600 from a guaranteed job over 6 months, or savings of £62,500 from only the UK citizen. The citizen can combine savings and income but there are heavy and complicated restrictions on this eg; £16,000 for the UK citizen and then additional savings at 2.5x the rate of income shortfall. The savings must be held in cash for a certain period, and there is a long list of documents to be forked over regarding financial proof. If UK citizen is self-employed the headache becomes worse. These laws do not factor in specific cost of living factors and lower salaries provided to certain workers depending on what part of the country they live. No one is allowed to offer any additional assistance.

To be sure, we both would of been incredibly happy to remain in the UK. I love the country and the ease of life. But this is simply not possible for us. We'd still be waiting another good ten years, or law change, whichever came first. US will be his home now for the long haul.

You'd have to wait 10 years? Because of the income requirements?

In a way I can relate. Moving to Russia was never an option because of the lack of work for foreigners there. For example, so many people from the former Soviet Union republics move to Moscow in order to try to find work that it has become a major problem for them. Most of the people I know who live in Moscow have complained about it at one time or another. Heck, over Christmas I saw two Russian police officers pull up to a shopping mall in a Lada (a *small* Russian car), get out, ask a man (who was obviously from a republic) for his documents, he got a little testy with them, they punched him in the gut, unceremoniously threw him into the back of the Lada and drove off. 'Point being that they have enough issues with folk relocating there for work that it's wise to not even tempt fate. I kinda doubt an American would be looked on the same way as an FSU republic member, but still...and I haven't even begun to address the availability of work there OUTSIDE the aforementioned congestion issue. Nor the dependability/reliability of a salary, especially for a foreigner like myself. Long story short, I wouldn't be able to support a family if I moved there, at least not reliably. Which is kind of important.

Nope, I told Elena from the get-go that she would have to come here or else find another guy. So she came here, visited and decided that she liked it. She later told me that she'd move most anywhere for us to be together. Sweet, but I dunno..."most anywhere" probably has a long exception list with her I would think. And understandably so.

But anyway, I digress.

Edited February 17, 2015 by av8or1

[yuna628 9,712]

You'd have to wait 10 years? Because of the income requirements?

In a way I can relate. Moving to Russia was never an option because of the lack of work for foreigners there. For example, so many people from the former Soviet Union republics move to Moscow in order to try to find work that it has become a major problem for them. Most of the people I know who live in Moscow have complained about it at one time or another. Heck, over Christmas I saw two Russian police officers pull up to a shopping mall in a Lada (a *small* Russian car), get out, ask a man (who was obviously from a republic) for his documents, he got a little testy with them, they punched him in the gut, unceremoniously threw him into the back of the Lada and drove off. 'Point being that they have enough issues with folk relocating there for work that it's wise to not even tempt fate. I kinda doubt an American would be looked on the same way as an FSU republic member, but still...and I haven't even begun to address the availability of work there OUTSIDE the aforementioned congestion issue. Nor the dependability/reliability of a salary, especially for a foreigner like myself. Long story short, I wouldn't be able to support a family if I moved there, at least not reliably. Which is kind of important.

Nope, I told Elena from the get-go that she would have to come here or else find another guy. So she came here, visited and decided that she liked it. She later told me that she'd move most anywhere for us to be together. Sweet, but I dunno..."most anywhere" probably has a long exception list with her I would think. And understandably so.

But anyway, I digress.

Let's put it this way. My fiancé lives in the north, which has a vastly different cost of living, economy, and available jobs. Like many of his peers he entered university with the hopes that a very skilled education would give him a job that would offer security. When the UK economy went to pot, the jobs dried up, and they started looking for workers not in his skill-set. Low paying call centre jobs are pervasive, which offer long hours, intense pressure, and poor pay. Other jobs offer similar dismal prospects. People started fleeing to London in the hopes that their education might provide them a higher paying job. Some even left their families behind, because with the cost of living being so high down there it was hard to get any kind of start. I can think of a bunch of his friends that did not succeed, and ended up returning to work on oil rigs, or moving to the EU, or to Asia to teach English. Unemployment is also a system that is fairly soulless and unhelpful. In desperation he ended up sitting in endless classes (I can recall him actually having to teach people there how to even do simple maths) until he got placed in an assembly line job. Train here for a bunch of months and you'll get a job. Except that didn't happen of course. Eventually he settled into a low paying job for a global tech company where people scream at him all day for minimum wage. At this point he might of been better off if he had hung around a few more years and gotten a PhD and just teach at the same uni.

Contrast that to where I live and there are plenty of people looking for individuals with his skills and degree. I used to show him links of jobs he could of applied for if he was here. Even my dad's company had openings. $20 an hour almost made his eyes glaze over. That's amazing money to him. It's not that he doesn't make enough that he couldn't support me even if the law was changed. He does make enough even with his low wage, as the cost of living is much lower in his region, just not enough under the law. He has quite a good amount of savings but nowhere near the stipulated amount. I could also tell you tales of UK citizen and his American spouse encountering all sorts of discrimination there, especially where it came to housing and even trying to find a job themselves (though granted you are forced not to work for a long period even if you manage to immigrate there).

He likes it here of course. He likes the opportunities, and above all he loves me of course. But America will have a lot for him to get used to.

Edited February 17, 2015 by yuna628

[Wooderz 314]

Yuna, I can relate to a lot of what you said. Daniel lost his retail job when the company went under in 2009. Spent a good portion of that year unemployed. He's now in his second warehouse job since then, but supervising now. He lives in Chelsea, London with his family still. Hella expensive. I can't think of a single one of his friends or even acquaintances who don't still live at home with their parents or some crappy flat far far away from where they work.

Meanwhile, I'm here, also showing him ads and pay for jobs he could get here. He doesn't even believe it's possible based on his life there. But it is possible! I have a house here that's basically a great starter house but it's a mansion compared to there... twice as big but 1/5 the price.

Life would definitely not be easier there. But still, parts of me wish I would have that adventure, anyway. I hope that makes sense.

[yuna628 9,712]

Yuna, I can relate to a lot of what you said. Daniel lost his retail job when the company went under in 2009. Spent a good portion of that year unemployed. He's now in his second warehouse job since then, but supervising now. He lives in Chelsea, London with his family still. Hella expensive. I can't think of a single one of his friends or even acquaintances who don't still live at home with their parents or some crappy flat far far away from where they work.

Meanwhile, I'm here, also showing him ads and pay for jobs he could get here. He doesn't even believe it's possible based on his life there. But it is possible! I have a house here that's basically a great starter house but it's a mansion compared to there... twice as big but 1/5 the price.

Life would definitely not be easier there. But still, parts of me wish I would have that adventure, anyway. I hope that makes sense.

It does make sense, and I agree with you. Perhaps one day huh? He sees us maybe returning when the law changes, or perhaps when we're much older. Of course we plan to start a family, that would raise the immigration cost considerably. I asked him how he would feel knowing we may not be able to come back ever, and if he would be still happy here. His answer was sweet of course, but I still worry.

He asked me to stop showing him job ads because it was too depressing after a while. He's very nervous about starting over and looking for work again. How does Daniel feel about that prospect?

[av8or1 246]

Wow Yuna,

Thank you for the detail. I had no idea that the work situation was like that in England. I wish y'all luck with everything! And I empathize with the discrimination thing. I can't count the times I've heard folk from the UK refer to Americans in one derogatory way or another. It would be like that for us in Russia too, though I suspect to a lesser extent.

Packet sent to ombudsman. Should be there on Thursday. Will let y'all know if'n I hear anything from it. Don't stay up waiting though. LOL

Edited February 18, 2015 by av8or1

[Jabl2rom 54]

Some Filipino guy sent his K1 petition January 5 and has his interview March 12. Yep.

[Wooderz 314]

It does make sense, and I agree with you. Perhaps one day huh? He sees us maybe returning when the law changes, or perhaps when we're much older. Of course we plan to start a family, that would raise the immigration cost considerably. I asked him how he would feel knowing we may not be able to come back ever, and if he would be still happy here. His answer was sweet of course, but I still worry.

He asked me to stop showing him job ads because it was too depressing after a while. He's very nervous about starting over and looking for work again. How does Daniel feel about that prospect?

He's nervous about it too. It's such a big change. Quite honestly, his fears have been what's held us back from doing this a lot sooner. We're working through them together.

[av8or1 246]

His fears of what? Seems like he has an excellent opportunity to have better work with a higher salary, not to mention he gets to be with such an awesome woman. And no real language barrier to boot. Discrimination isn't an issue really, no one here cares much about the British, the resentment is the other way around, at least in my experience. I mean I can understand the whole living in another country business, but heck he has it made. Does he have super-strong ties to family or something?

Anyway.

[Wooderz 314]

His fears of what? Seems like he has an excellent opportunity to have better work with a higher salary, not to mention he gets to be with such an awesome woman. And no real language barrier to boot. Discrimination isn't an issue really, no one here cares much about the British, the resentment is the other way around, at least in my experience. I mean I can understand the whole living in another country business, but heck he has it made. Does he have super-strong ties to family or something?

Anyway.

Really just a lack of confidence in a new setting.

[-Shana- 152]

Let's put it this way. My fiancé lives in the north, which has a vastly different cost of living, economy, and available jobs. Like many of his peers he entered university with the hopes that a very skilled education would give him a job that would offer security. When the UK economy went to pot, the jobs dried up, and they started looking for workers not in his skill-set. Low paying call centre jobs are pervasive, which offer long hours, intense pressure, and poor pay. Other jobs offer similar dismal prospects. People started fleeing to London in the hopes that their education might provide them a higher paying job. Some even left their families behind, because with the cost of living being so high down there it was hard to get any kind of start. I can think of a bunch of his friends that did not succeed, and ended up returning to work on oil rigs, or moving to the EU, or to Asia to teach English. Unemployment is also a system that is fairly soulless and unhelpful. In desperation he ended up sitting in endless classes (I can recall him actually having to teach people there how to even do simple maths) until he got placed in an assembly line job. Train here for a bunch of months and you'll get a job. Except that didn't happen of course. Eventually he settled into a low paying job for a global tech company where people scream at him all day for minimum wage. At this point he might of been better off if he had hung around a few more years and gotten a PhD and just teach at the same uni.

Contrast that to where I live and there are plenty of people looking for individuals with his skills and degree. I used to show him links of jobs he could of applied for if he was here. Even my dad's company had openings. $20 an hour almost made his eyes glaze over. That's amazing money to him. It's not that he doesn't make enough that he couldn't support me even if the law was changed. He does make enough even with his low wage, as the cost of living is much lower in his region, just not enough under the law. He has quite a good amount of savings but nowhere near the stipulated amount. I could also tell you tales of UK citizen and his American spouse encountering all sorts of discrimination there, especially where it came to housing and even trying to find a job themselves (though granted you are forced not to work for a long period even if you manage to immigrate there).

He likes it here of course. He likes the opportunities, and above all he loves me of course. But America will have a lot for him to get used to.

Since I posted in here a while ago this thread still pops up in "My Content" so I like to see how things are going for you all even if I don't post here. But I just had to say how spot on this description is of life in the UK. I went on to University and did what most people call a "mickey mouse" degree i.e. a degree in the arts. I did it because I thoroughly enjoyed the subject at A-Level (Film, in case anyone is curious). While I was at Uni the recession hit, my Dad who had 20+ years in one company was jobless; his entire retirement package gone just like that. Just before I graduated our year had a meeting, the lecturers were telling us just "how ###### it is out there right now" and to just do our best and keep going. If you had a place to live in London, with your parents say, you were fine because you could afford to work for free for a while until you found a job. A few of my class mates who were from London now have great jobs in the film industry. For people like me, however, I had to move back with my parents in the North where there were no job opportunities in my field. I couldn't afford to live in London with an overdraft and no savings. It took me 7 months to find a job in my local area and that was just a part time job earning minimum wage at a cinema. Employers didn't want you to have a degree, they wanted you to have work experience. If you'd spent the best part of 3 years being a student then you were no longer a candidate. It was brutal. Even my friend who had a degree in Law, far from a mickey mouse degree, he ended up working at a jewelers and is still there today.

I have to laugh, Yuna, because I did end up moving to Japan to teach English. I got a job there in 2 weeks and I was earning a lot of money. Japan was not to be my forever home, but looking into the guidelines to be married to a foreigner in the UK was just horrific. There have been accounts of families being torn apart over the income requirements, two kids now have "Skype mummy" since she had to leave the UK because their father didn't earn the right amount of money. It's ridiculous. America will still have a tough job market I'm sure, but immigrating to America is a lot more promising for me now I have a lot of savings from my time in Japan than having my American fiance move here.

Edited February 18, 2015 by shana.mike

[Mena28 35]

His fears of what? Seems like he has an excellent opportunity to have better work with a higher salary, not to mention he gets to be with such an awesome woman. And no real language barrier to boot. Discrimination isn't an issue really, no one here cares much about the British, the resentment is the other way around, at least in my experience. I mean I can understand the whole living in another country business, but heck he has it made. Does he have super-strong ties to family or something?

Anyway.

Speaking as the beneficiary and as one you already spent two years where I am going to be, it is still a big move - you leave behind what is familiar and you are commiting to being in a different country for the long term. I feel like mentally there is a big difference for a lot of people between moving for a short or long (permanent) time. It can feel scary, even when you know, think, hope and pray that it is worth it :-) even when you know the place and the people and love your partner.

And at least in the very beginning you are totally dependent on the USC sponsor - I mean, we cant work, we cant drive until we get a national licence, we cant apply for freaking anything on our own. I love and trust my fiance, but I still dislike the idea of not being able to do things for myself - even if only for the short term.

We actually have a lot of British people here where I live! They all love it here and never want to leave. They can come here way easy, because of the EU. So if you want to live in Europe, come to Austria! Everybody like it here :-)

[av8or1 246]

Hmmmm...ok. Well I can understand that. But you knew about all of this unfamiliar life change business and the other factors too before you made the commitment, right? Or is it a surprise for you?

Also, don't make it out to be so bad. It isn't. My ex got her driver's license within a month of being here, based on her international license. She was driving pretty quickly. And BTW, we don't have a national license, it's all state driving licenses.

Anyway, she made friends soon thereafter and was off doing that stuff in short order. Unfortunately that ended up being our downfall, or hers to be precise, so I would caution you against making this stuff out to be like some kind of prison sentence. My ex did that, fell in with the wrong crowd and became a totally different person than the one I had known. I divorced her azz in one day when she openly betrayed me and she's now back in her home country.

Point being that I encourage you to not fall into that negative trap like she did. Don't think of those factors so negatively. You knew about them before you agreed to this engagement, so accept them and stay positive with your new spouse. It's only for a very short time in the big picture anyway, so please keep it positive. And when you're urged to betray your spouse by those so-called "friends" tell them to go #### themselves. And don't laugh or shrug it off, saying "that won't happen to me" or "you're exaggerating".... my ex did that too.

Anyway FWIW. Good luck with it!

Edited February 18, 2015 by av8or1

[TabeaK 517]

What Mena said times ten!

I am somewhat terrified of the move, despite the fact that on paper I have no reason to be...I have a good education including PhD in the Sciences, I have built a good career for several years, I have lived abroad (London, incidentally) before, I have no language barrier...so, I should be able to settle in well and find a good job - in theory at least. Still, it is a huge move, away from the familiar surroundings - I am leading a very comfortable life over here, away from your support system, friends and family and requires sacrifices. You cannot be independent at first in the US until you are settled, adjusted and so on. That terrifies me still.

My fiance and I have been talking through this and have also set priorities - we discussed A LOT who should make the move and decided it should be me because I - unlike him - have no language barrier and my job/education should travel well enough, still it is a HUGE step. But I realized that I am willing to make these sacrifices for us to be together. And I know it will work out in the end, but us beneficiaries have to go through a phase where everything is new and needs to be figured out.

The stress USCIS is causing doesn't help.

Edited February 18, 2015 by TabeaK

[Ethline 17]

Hi everyone, well although there's only two days left before visiting my love my emotions are in the pitts. My third trip back since I filed and to have nothing is just so damn upsetting. I honestly thought after being told by my congressional office a few weeks ago that my case had been assigned to someone I would have heard something by now but nope nada zero. What kills me is this really will be last trip for a while because financially I can't keep traveling back and worth with all the expenses that ahead for us. I am also self employed so every time I leave I am losing money. UGH I digress. My question is how long is the AOS process? Is it a year to get the green card? Also how soon will he be able to file for Citizenship after that?

Edited February 18, 2015 by Ethline