Visa approved, but I have a few questions.

[Pheebs1201 269]

Thank you Pheebs,

I just check out to po card, it doesn't seem to let you put much on it ($1,200), is there a way of putting more on it?

Thank you Vicky&Fritz, thank you for the tip and congrats ?

Andi

Hmm the post office card I use can have up to £7000 on it. If you go to any UK post office branch they should be able to help you.

June 2013: Met whilst working at a summer camp in Michigan

October 23rd 2014: Sent documents to the US to begin K1 visa application

November 1st 2014: I-129f submitted

November 12th 2014: Tracking states that package was FINALLY delivered by USPS (why did it take so long to get there?! )

November 17th 2014: Electronic Notification of NOA1

November 21st 2014: Electronic Notification of NOA2

November 22nd 2014: Hard copy of NOA1 received

November 26th 2014: Hard copy of NOA2 received

December 15th 2014: NVC Assigned Case Number

December 17th 2014: CEAC Status: In Transit

December 24th 2014: Received by embassy

January 23rd 2015: Medical

Interview???

The above information is really helpful... Try this..

Sorry??

[-Shana- 152]

Just wanted to add about flight costs - if you're anything like me and you'll be taking your life over there with you you'll need 2 suitcases. It's always good to check how much airlines charge for the extra bag. I was once looking into a flight that was super cheap, but the airline charged PER KG not just a stand alone extra bag fee, ridiculous. My flight is probably going to cost £780 with the additional bag with BA. Some airlines that used to have 2 bags to America included have recently changed that policy =/.

[Pheebs1201 269]

Just wanted to add about flight costs - if you're anything like me and you'll be taking your life over there with you you'll need 2 suitcases. It's always good to check how much airlines charge for the extra bag. I was once looking into a flight that was super cheap, but the airline charged PER KG not just a stand alone extra bag fee, ridiculous. My flight is probably going to cost £780 with the additional bag with BA. Some airlines that used to have 2 bags to America included have recently changed that policy =/.

My self assigned task for the day is figuring out baggage vs shipping options. Not fun

[-Shana- 152]

My self assigned task for the day is figuring out baggage vs shipping options. Not fun

Let me know what you find, I know when I was moving back from Japan it was cheaper to pay for the extra bag (something like £45) and just get rid of a lot of clothes. Thankfully my parents are willing to store a lot of things for me until I'm able to take them over with me/have the room for them!

[Pheebs1201 269]

Let me know what you find, I know when I was moving back from Japan it was cheaper to pay for the extra bag (something like £45) and just get rid of a lot of clothes. Thankfully my parents are willing to store a lot of things for me until I'm able to take them over with me/have the room for them!

Over the past couple of trips I've managed to get quite a lot of my clothes over there... I'm more worried about "stuff" you know? I'm sure I'll want some personal items around me to help with moving so far away but I don't really know where to begin

[-Shana- 152]

Over the past couple of trips I've managed to get quite a lot of my clothes over there... I'm more worried about "stuff" you know? I'm sure I'll want some personal items around me to help with moving so far away but I don't really know where to begin

Yeah I know what you mean, trinkets are special but a pain in the butt to pack. Which is why I threw out most of my clothes to make room for my trinkets! If you wrap them up in clothes then they shouldn't break. I've transported my PS3 in my suitcase and it was fine, just wrapped it up in a coat. I'm a big anti-hoarder though, I'm pretty brutal with giving things away if they hold no sentimental value. I'm sure I'll do another sweep of my room before I leave!

[Mena28 35]

Over the past couple of trips I've managed to get quite a lot of my clothes over there... I'm more worried about "stuff" you know? I'm sure I'll want some personal items around me to help with moving so far away but I don't really know where to begin

bring little/ light things :-)

Books are a different story, those are just always so heavy!

I have taken pictures of pictures before and gotten them reprinted, dont know if thats an option for you!

And I make my fiance come and visit with a huge suitcase, even though its never full on his way here - but on the way back it is :-D

Good luck!

[Pheebs1201 269]

bring little/ light things :-)

Books are a different story, those are just always so heavy!

I have taken pictures of pictures before and gotten them reprinted, dont know if thats an option for you!

And I make my fiance come and visit with a huge suitcase, even though its never full on his way here - but on the way back it is :-D

Good luck!

thanks for the tips!

[Mena28 35]

thanks for the tips!

welcome!

I have moved myself and my stuff overseas and back a few times :-D

a few little things always come with me and everything that doesnt fit in two suitcases has to stay - my parents are very excited for the day when I will finally move out for real and not abuse my old room for temporary storage anymore lol

Having some of "my things" def always helps make a place mine, right after unpacking. Then I go out and get what I didnt bring - candles, wall stickers... and tada! it´s my home now ;-)

Good luck, you are way ahead of me in this process!

[Pheebs1201 269]

welcome!

I have moved myself and my stuff overseas and back a few times :-D

a few little things always come with me and everything that doesnt fit in two suitcases has to stay - my parents are very excited for the day when I will finally move out for real and not abuse my old room for temporary storage anymore lol

Having some of "my things" def always helps make a place mine, right after unpacking. Then I go out and get what I didnt bring - candles, wall stickers... and tada! it´s my home now ;-)

Good luck, you are way ahead of me in this process!

Thank you! The thing I'm the most nervous about is making friends, I hate to be lonely!

[-Shana- 152]

I remember reading a friends post on packing. She would separate things into 2 piles - things she couldn't live without and things she could. Whatever she could live without were thrown/given to charity. I sorta do this, but I have a 3rd pile of "would rather keep it if I can, but will throw it out if necessary." It's really helped me make some decisions in the past!

Pheebs - I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine! I think for me I just want to make my own friends, maybe this is what you mean, since I don't want all my friends to be my boyfriends friends if that makes sense. So I'm intending on going on meetup.com and attended some events to meet people and see where it leads. Have you ever been on that website?

Edited January 31, 2015 by shana.mike

[Mena28 35]

I remember reading a friends post on packing. She would separate things into 2 piles - things she couldn't live without and things she could. Whatever she could live without were thrown/given to charity. I sorta do this, but I have a 3rd pile of "would rather keep it if I can, but will throw it out if necessary." It's really helped me make some decisions in the past!

Pheebs - I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine! I think for me I just want to make my own friends, maybe this is what you mean, since I don't want all my friends to be my boyfriends friends if that makes sense. So I'm intending on going on meetup.com and attended some events to meet people and see where it leads. Have you ever been on that website?

you beat me to it, shana.mike!

I was just about to suggest meetup.com as well. I am sure they have meet ups whereever it is you are going. Give it a try, I had a really good experience when doing it in the Boston area, all the people I met were really welcoming and sweet and I have made a lot of acquaintances and a few really good friends.

Yes to the yes/no/maybe piles! - I did it sort of like that: weighed my suitcases, figured out how much weight was left and filled a laundry basket with essentials until the limit was reached. Then I evenly distributed weight between two suitcases.

Totally with you people on making "own" friends as well. a lot of his friends have become my friends as well, but i still like having friends who were mine first. Makes me sound like kindergarten when I say it like that :-D but it is still true and from what I have read I think that we are in good company ;-)

This has gone way off topic now... :-)

Edited January 31, 2015 by Mena28

[Pheebs1201 269]

Pheebs - I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine! I think for me I just want to make my own friends, maybe this is what you mean, since I don't want all my friends to be my boyfriends friends if that makes sense. So I'm intending on going on meetup.com and attended some events to meet people and see where it leads. Have you ever been on that website?

you beat me to it, shana.mike!

I was just about to suggest meetup.com as well. I am sure they have meet ups whereever it is you are going. Give it a try, I had a really good experience when doing it in the Boston area, all the people I met were really welcoming and sweet and I have made a lot of acquaintances and a few really good friends.

Yes to the yes/no/maybe piles! - I did it sort of like that: weighed my suitcases, figured out how much weight was left and filled a laundry basket with essentials until the limit was reached. Then I evenly distributed weight between two suitcases.

Totally with you people on making "own" friends as well. a lot of his friends have become my friends as well, but i still like having friends who were mine first. Makes me sound like kindergarten when I say it like that :-D but it is still true and from what I have read I think that we are in good company ;-)

This has gone way off topic now... :-)

Thanks guys yes that's exactly it, his friends are fine but I want my own! I will definitely check out that website

[Steve and Andi 1]

I think I have the banking thing sorted out, so no travel card will be needed( so far )

As for the what to do with stuff...I have never been to my new home, so I'm starting from scratch as far as moving things.

So far, I'm packing loads of boxes of things I want to keep, but using clothing as packaging instead of bubble wrap.

I am a wood turner, and want to take as many of my tools with me as I can, and none of them are light, so what I'm doing isn't cheap, but certainly cheaper than buying them again.

When I took six boxes to the PO the other day, because they were all going to the same address, they made a consignment out of them...total weight of all 6 boxes was 6kg...it came to £96 , guaranteed delivery in 3 working days.

The day after I took a further 6 boxes, total weight was 16 kg...it came to £133...guaranteed delivery in 3working days!

So it seems to work out cheaper per kg the more you send. ( parcel force)

They said I had a limit of 15 parcels in a consignment, but no weight limit!

Items that I would hate to lose, but can't sensibly take ( I'm not a millionaire) I am leaving with my daughter, so at some point in the future, I'll have them sent to me if they're needed.

The point about making friends is a good one, I haven't even thought that far ahead, I'll see how it goes naturally.

Loving the posts on here, don't worry about going off topic...it's great reading your thoughts and ideas ??

Andi

[Steve and Andi 1]

I don't know if this will be useful to anyone, but it seemed like a good idea to me.

Because I am sending lots of boxes by post, I am numbering each box, and keeping a list of what is in them.

If anything goes missing, I'll know what was in it, and when I get round to unpacking them, it'll make life easier too.

Just a though ?