Visa approved, but I have a few questions.

[-Shana- 152]

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

That's great that you've had a good experience with meetup, Mena! I've actually already looked at some groups for where I'll be living, I've seen a running group (who go get beer after!), a new to the area group, a 20-somethings group and even a few creative groups too. I think I'll throw myself in the deep end and go to loads and see what happens!

I think it's quite a natural thing to want to be independent away from a partner, I want to feel like I have my own life running parallel with his but not necessarily always overlapping. I like meeting his friends though so I'll never rule that out. It's funny though, because he introduced me to a girl who was to become one of my closest friends and I introduced him to a group of guys who he ended up being closer to. One of the perks of being in a relationship!

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 ?

God speed to you having to send all your tools over! I think it's easy to underestimate hand luggage too, you can get away with taking quite a lot as hand luggage. Sure, they weigh your main piece of hand luggage, but if you can fill a laptop bag up with stuff then that can count as your "personal" bag that rarely gets weighed. I took a big backpack then my projector with loads of stuff crammed in it!

[Pheebs1201 269]

Had a quick browse and currently can't see any groups on there that relate to me (seems to be mostly older groups) however, I could always start my own I suppose!

[Mena28 35]

Had a quick browse and currently can't see any groups on there that relate to me (seems to be mostly older groups) however, I could always start my own I suppose!

Dont be scard off by the age! I once joined a hiking group where everyone is waaaay older than me and they are such a fun group! They actually pointed me into the direction of other young people for me to connect with and it has worked out great!

And yes, you can always create your own :-)

[Megan & Luke 93]

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

My fiance and I looked at the prices at https://www.sendmybag.com/vs. carrier rates just checking a second bag. Depending on the airline and route you fly, you may be able to get away with two checked bags for no extra charge (that's what happened with our chosen flight, and it was British Airways to boot!) Since Luke will be flying over at the end of April, granted all goes well until then and NVC doesn't take ages, and the flight we found was £516.00 and it was a very short flight with short stop in London (he would be flying Leeds -> Heathrow -> JFK) A bunch of people had recommended this site to him and had used it in the past, they seem reliable.

SendMyBag isn't bad. I believe it was:

15kg = carry-on £60

30kg = large luggage £103

£4 per kg over 30kg

BA charges a different rate based on where you're flying to and from.. but it's apparently a lot cheaper to book online a second checked bag than showing up at the airport with one. Most routes allow for this option (the savings was £40-£60 surprisingly.) Granted BA and SendMyBag have two different weight limits.. so you'll need to weigh how much you're sending and determine it that way. Thank God he isn't moving a whole house!

(Edit: just realized I quoted the wrong post... but yeah lol)

Edited February 3, 2015 by Megan & Luke

[Steve and Andi 1]

Hi guys ?

I went to collect my vias today....yippee!!!!!?????

I have a question regarding the envelope, I know DO NOT OPEN, but can it be folded?

Thank you,

Andi

[-Shana- 152]

Personally I wouldn't, because you never know what the airport staff are gonna be like. BUT I could be wrong.

Edit: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/523507-how-did-you-transport-the-package-for-your-poe/

Apparently tapping all the documents into one corner and folding the empty space was ok.

Edited February 3, 2015 by shana.mike

[Steve and Andi 1]

Thank you Shana.Mike,

That would certainly make things easier ?

[vicks5721 18]

if your under 26 years old, STA travel does half price flights for return and one way

[vicks5721 18]

with deciding what to keep and what to give away, I did the same thing as other people on here I decided if I don't have any sentimental value with the item then it is given to charity or to family members. The main things I used to have alot of was craft supplies but I gave it all to charity shops or to my niece, I know I can replace all the items if I wanted to in America anyway so it doesn't matter. I have luckily just mainly small things that are of sentimental value so it makes it easier to pack. I was going to leave stuff at my mum's house and ship it over later or take with me after a visit, but now I am starting to think it is easier and makes me feel safer taking the items in a second suitcase the day I fly to America. Also I agree that having the items with you can make you settle into a new home and country much easier, I know I am going to adjust very quickly and easily but having family photos and stuff my nieces made for me really is comforting on the lonely days when my Fiance will be at work or before I have found people to be friends with.

What do you think are the best airlines and travel agents to go with for price of flights and paying for a second suitcase?

I would love some recommendations please.

Edited February 3, 2015 by vicks5721

[Mena28 35]

Not so sure which one, but if you pay for the second bag right away, or before your flight anyways, it is usually cheaper than paying for a second bag on the day/at the airport.

I believe this is true for all the Star Alliance Companies (which are the only ones I know about lol)

[Pheebs1201 269]

My fiance and I looked at the prices at https://www.sendmybag.com/vs. carrier rates just checking a second bag. Depending on the airline and route you fly, you may be able to get away with two checked bags for no extra charge (that's what happened with our chosen flight, and it was British Airways to boot!) Since Luke will be flying over at the end of April, granted all goes well until then and NVC doesn't take ages, and the flight we found was £516.00 and it was a very short flight with short stop in London (he would be flying Leeds -> Heathrow -> JFK) A bunch of people had recommended this site to him and had used it in the past, they seem reliable.

SendMyBag isn't bad. I believe it was:

15kg = carry-on £60

30kg = large luggage £103

£4 per kg over 30kg

BA charges a different rate based on where you're flying to and from.. but it's apparently a lot cheaper to book online a second checked bag than showing up at the airport with one. Most routes allow for this option (the savings was £40-£60 surprisingly.) Granted BA and SendMyBag have two different weight limits.. so you'll need to weigh how much you're sending and determine it that way. Thank God he isn't moving a whole house!

(Edit: just realized I quoted the wrong post... but yeah lol)

Thanks for the info! I usually fly with BA too!

Hi guys ?

I went to collect my vias today....yippee!!!!!?????

I have a question regarding the envelope, I know DO NOT OPEN, but can it be folded?

Thank you,

Andi

I wouldn't risk it but that's just me! Good luck!