UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[Kimberley95 10]

Update: DX phoned me and said they're going to have someone from DX who works directly with the embassy call me to change my delivery option. Phew!

(seems twitter is the best way to get ahold of them)

Ohh I'll try that! Thankyou!!

[Pheebs1201 269]

Ohh I'll try that! Thankyou!!

No problemo!

[Pheebs1201 269]

Ohh I'll try that! Thankyou!!

Scrap that, they can't help either

Edited February 13, 2015 by Pheebs1201

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

We've established the package is at the depot when the email arrives, right? And it will be put on a truck for delivery the next day. Try to intercept it the day you get the email. Depot phone numbers are in the pinned thread.

[Cody and Daisy 373]

Daisy, did you drive in England?

Gary has had an easy adjustment to driving because he was here for 3 months over the holidays, before he went back to finish out his packet 3 stuff. The only car he can't drive in our family is my car, he says the brakes are too twitchy. He can drive a big diesel truck, a small petrol truck, and my mom's SUV. I think it may just be a guy think tho. Not trying to be funny or misogynistic, but he can jump in any car and be fine. Me? I have to warm up to it. xD He claims he is fine, because he drove for years in England.

Nope, I never needed to, I worked in London for four years before I came here right in the city centre and I was a cocktail bartender so it was unwise to drive too.

Now I wish I had because I would be able to drive a lot sooner!

But at the same time I think it's also a good thing because I don't have any English driving ways in my head.

It's my own fault and it's such a pain!!!

[Pheebs1201 269]

We've established the package is at the depot when the email arrives, right? And it will be put on a truck for delivery the next day. Try to intercept it the day you get the email. Depot phone numbers are in the pinned thread.

Genius!!! I could kiss you!!! I won't though, Texas is a bit far to come for a kiss and I'm not sure Dan would be pleased.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

And guess what?

I can't do anything with it!

I had no idea it would be 6 months from when I start learning to drive until I'd be able to drive alone.

Maybe I was being pretty blonde to think that.

That doesn't sound right. You should be able to show proper ID and get a learner's permit. Then you practice until you feel confident to pass the driving test. If it only takes you a month to be ready for the test, then you go test and get the license after one month.

Do you think maybe it's the learner's permit is valid for 6 months, not mandatory to use for 6 months??

Each state is different but my husband took his written test and got a learner's permit (as is the policy) then five minutes later he took the driving test (because he already knew how to drive) and was issued a driver license. Check the rules again. What state?

[E-N 48]

Interview scheduled for march 10 at 830 am yay!

[Cody and Daisy 373]

That doesn't sound right. You should be able to show proper ID and get a learner's permit. Then you practice until you feel confident to pass the driving test. If it only takes you a month to be ready for the test, then you go test and get the license after one month.

Do you think maybe it's the learner's permit is valid for 6 months, not mandatory to use for 6 months??

Each state is different but my husband took his written test and got a learner's permit (as is the policy) then five minutes later he took the driving test (because he already knew how to drive) and was issued a driver license. Check the rules again. What state?

Ohio.

I've tried to research it a lot.

From what I gather you have to pass the written test and that gives you a learners permit.

You then have to hold onto the learners permit for 6 months before you can take the driving test for your conditional driving licence.

But when you have a learners permit you have to drive with a licenced driver over the age of 21 at all times (luckily my husbands 22), and within those 6 months you have to show that you drive for 50 hours and 10 of those hours have to be at night.

Also when I have my conditional and learners I cannot drive between the hours of midnight and 5am.

It makes me feel like a teenager, and I'm almost 27, didn't think it would be like that for someone at my age, I didn't think I'd have to drive for 6 months with someone before I could take the test and drive alone.

But I can't find anywhere that states someone of my age can do what your husband did, that would be so much more convinient ( obviously not as quick because I've never learnt to drive!) because of course I wouldn't drive alone anyway until I took the test, but making me wait 6 months seems a little extreme!

I don't know, when I take the written, probably in about two weeks once I think I know enough, I'm going to talk to the BMV about it, hopefully I'm wrong.

Edit: after talking to my husband just now I'm hoping maybe that's the rule before you're 16. Because you can start at 15.5 and obviously that gives you 6 months before you are he legal age to hold a licence.

And therefore because I don't need to wait to be legal that it'll be different for me.

I hope anyway.

Edited February 13, 2015 by Cody and Daisy

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Ohio.

I've tried to research it a lot.

From what I gather you have to pass the written test and that gives you a learners permit.

You then have to hold onto the learners permit for 6 months before you can take the driving test for your conditional driving licence.

But when you have a learners permit you have to drive with a licenced driver over the age of 21 at all times (luckily my husbands 22), and within those 6 months you have to show that you drive for 50 hours and 10 of those hours have to be at night.

Also when I have my conditional and learners I cannot drive between the hours of midnight and 5am.

It makes me feel like a teenager, and I'm almost 27, didn't think it would be like that for someone at my age, I didn't think I'd have to drive for 6 months with someone before I could take the test and drive alone.

But I can't find anywhere that states someone of my age can do what your husband did, that would be so much more convinient ( obviously not as quick because I've never learnt to drive!) because of course I wouldn't drive alone anyway until I took the test, but making me wait 6 months seems a little extreme!

I don't know, when I take the written, probably in about two weeks once I think I know enough, I'm going to talk to the BMV about it, hopefully I'm wrong.

Edit: after talking to my husband just now I'm hoping maybe that's the rule before you're 16. Because you can start at 15.5 and obviously that gives you 6 months before you are he legal age to hold a licence.

And therefore because I don't need to wait to be legal that it'll be different for me.

I hope anyway.

This is you (middle and right column) as a first license http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl_new_driver.stm#tog

"After you have developed your road skills, contact the Ohio Driver License Examination Station (see Ohio County Lists) to schedule a road test. You must take your Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC)."

This is an under 18 http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/graduated_dl_teen_laws.stm

Notice this statement only applies to under 18 "The TIPIC must be held for no less than 6 months before completing the skills test and obtaining the Ohio driver license."

Edited February 13, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[Cody and Daisy 373]

This is you (middle and right column) as a first license http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl_new_driver.stm#tog

"After you have developed your road skills, contact the Ohio Driver License Examination Station (see Ohio County Lists) to schedule a road test. You must take your Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC)."

This is an under 18 http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/graduated_dl_teen_laws.stm

Notice this statement only applies to under 18 "The TIPIC must be held for no less than 6 months before completing the skills test and obtaining the Ohio driver license."

Welllllll.... I feel sheepish!

I must have researched this for two days and never saw that.

I moved onto my laptop now to read that link.

Literally if there is one person that anyone could count on, on this website, it's you.

Thank you. This gives me a bit more hope in finding a job sooner.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Welllllll.... I feel sheepish!

I must have researched this for two days and never saw that.

I moved onto my laptop now to read that link.

Literally if there is one person that anyone could count on, on this website, it's you.

Thank you. This gives me a bit more hope in finding a job sooner.

Seriously, use your phone to message people and post to Facebook. Use your laptop when you have research to do. I can't find things on my phone when I already know exactly where it is and what I am looking for.

If you can't get in practice with hubby, and can afford a driver training course, perhaps there is one that will come pick you up and drive around with you daily.

[-Shana- 152]

I never learned to drive either. I started but at £20 a lesson I simply ran out of money. Then I went to Uni where everything was small and local, then I moved to Japan and never needed a car! I wish I could drive though, so I'm wondering if it's worth it trying to learn in CO when we're hoping to move to New York after I get my EAD.

I love following all of your journeys. I dont have much up to date input on timelines or anything these days as its been 3 years since i paid too much attention. I just waited 9 months for ROC at Vermont so things seem to be slow for everything.

I really hope that you all keep us updated on how things are going when you start your new lives!

As for banks etc, they accepted my National Insurance number after a bit of a fight. They wanted proof of address but i had my UK bank statements sent to my ex husbands parents house so i just used that as proof. They never updated my SSN when i got it and gave it to them though which was a pain when money went missing from my account and i was trying to stop the card over the phone and couldn't because of how they put the numbers in. I switched to a Credit Union after that and ill never look back. I had my GC and SSN by that time though.

Christmas was horrible my first year. At my ex husbands parents they just bought some cold meat and sub rolls and told us to make a sandwich for Christmas dinner. That in my book ruined it totally. My first impression of an American Christmas was all wrong. The year after just sucked and last year i went to work and honestly, i liked it better. One of my colleagues got me a Cadbury selection box! She left it on my desk and i was so happy. It was the only gift i had received too. You will all find your place as will your families.

My drivers license i needed my GC and SSN in New York. I dont recall having to prove my address or anything, just prove my identity so i had to wait a little until the SSN came then i also applied for jobs and got my first one within a couple of weeks.

Good luck to you all! If anyone has questions that i may know the answer to or anything NY related for people heading this way feel free to ask!

Sorry your first Christmas away sucked! Sounds awful =/. This year will be my first ever Christmas away from home. Not entirely looking forward to it since my future mother-in-law doesn't particularly like me. Bit of a long story though

I'm hoping to move to New York once I have an EAD . I think my main concern is just getting over there and finding a place to live, as well as the daunting task of networking.

Edited February 13, 2015 by shana.mike

[vicks5721 18]

I never learned to drive either. I started but at £20 a lesson I simply ran out of money. Then I went to Uni where everything was small and local, then I moved to Japan and never needed a car! I wish I could drive though, so I'm wondering if it's worth it trying to learn in CO when we're hoping to move to New York after I get my EAD.

Sorry your first Christmas away sucked! Sounds awful =/. This year will be my first ever Christmas away from home. Not entirely looking forward to it since my future mother-in-law doesn't particularly like me. Bit of a long story though

I'm hoping to move to New York once I have an EAD . I think my main concern is just getting over there and finding a place to live, as well as the daunting task of networking.

Yeah I am the same, I never finished learning to drive, I started in September 2013 and I stopped in December as I had a horrible instructor, she would point out my mistakes but would have a go at me and keep saying "why did I do that!?" It got me down so much I would keep making more mistakes and of course to her it seemed like I wasn't learning. The lessons were like £46 for two hours so I couldn't afford it anymore. I know I will have a better experience in America, my Fiance said his dad will teach me when I get my learners permit and I look forward to it, I have never drove with ice and snow around though, as I will be moving to Minnesota.

[Gary & Aubrey 23]

Yeah I am the same, I never finished learning to drive, I started in September 2013 and I stopped in December as I had a horrible instructor, she would point out my mistakes but would have a go at me and keep saying "why did I do that!?" It got me down so much I would keep making more mistakes and of course to her it seemed like I wasn't learning. The lessons were like £46 for two hours so I couldn't afford it anymore. I know I will have a better experience in America, my Fiance said his dad will teach me when I get my learners permit and I look forward to it, I have never drove with ice and snow around though, as I will be moving to Minnesota.

You will be living pretty close to us! Maple Lake is only about 25 minutes or so from where we will live (and where I live now). We drive through it to get to my Grandfather's house. There is a REALLY great 'Irish' coffee house in ton, they have GREAT almond milk lattes.