UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[bob+senga 11]

It's such a relief when you finally have the visas in hand, isn't it!

Have fun with that border crossing. The traffic is always an absolute nightmare on the bridge and the tunnel between Detroit and Canada. What time are you going to be doing it? During the day it's always crammed with lorries. Avoid rush hour if you can because it backs up on I-75. Though you'll be heading south and that always seems quieter!

My flight arrives into Toronto at 12 noon as by time i clear customs get my luggage find fiance we will probably be on the road around 1.30, so we should be hitting the detroit bridge around 6pm -yikes. we can always stop somewhere for lunch. I shall let him know your comments so hes aware of the traffic though incase hes not thought of it.

cant wait daughter and I are very excited at starting new life in America.

The wedding isnt till Sept 23rd now as list seems to have grown and the guys are all wearing kilts now, so after that it will be AOs but will worry about that nearer the time.

[MandEJ 46]

Overwhelming because you want to cram it all in quickly. We did the same. Some people space it out.

Proof of address. Sometimes when that is required like at DMV, there is a form where hubby can show his proof of address and vouch that you are his spouse and you live at same address. Banks are funny because they can vary slightly on how they confirm identity. Foreigners are handled differently so they have various hoops to jump through to comply with laws that are forced upon them. And being a K1 puts you in no man's land because your visa is over the day you enter the country and all you have on paper is an I-94 giving you 90 days in the US. some easily let you on hubby's account. Others don't quite know how to handle you. Some have less hoops so try another bank if the first is too complicated.

Yes it's true. It'd all be probably less daunting if I wasn't doing everything in the space of a week. But I just want to get AOS sent off asap and then concentrate on actually living my life hah

Thanks for the advice, I'll see what banks say. I think we are going to open a joint account once the SSN comes through and then for my own account, we'll see what happens!

Don't forget to actually enjoy your wedding!!!

I don't remember having to show proof of address to open our bank account, but then it was a joint account with hubby. I wasn't even living in the US at the time! That might be an option for you, getting added to one, or opening one together. I think then as long as one of you has proof of address you're good.

Thank you! And yes! I need to remember to actually pause a second on Friday and enjoy the moment haha!!

[NicolaRobert 7]

My flight arrives into Toronto at 12 noon as by time i clear customs get my luggage find fiance we will probably be on the road around 1.30, so we should be hitting the detroit bridge around 6pm -yikes. we can always stop somewhere for lunch. I shall let him know your comments so hes aware of the traffic though incase hes not thought of it.

cant wait daughter and I are very excited at starting new life in America.

The wedding isnt till Sept 23rd now as list seems to have grown and the guys are all wearing kilts now, so after that it will be AOs but will worry about that nearer the time.

I would say stop for lunch! You'll be coming down on I-75 which is the route hubby takes home from work and he once took over two hours for a 30 minute trip because he caught just the start of rush hour. Once you get past Detroit though it's pretty smooth sailing down to Ohio!

[chipmunk92 11]

Our interview was on Tuesday and our CEAC still says "ready" but as of a few mins ago the status update shows 26 Aug (today).

Does anyone know what that means? Could it just be a glitch with CEAC? I was thinking it would at least be in AP by now...

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Our interview was on Tuesday and our CEAC still says "ready" but as of a few mins ago the status update shows 26 Aug (today).

Does anyone know what that means? Could it just be a glitch with CEAC? I was thinking it would at least be in AP by now...

Did it also change from saying Immigrant to Non-Immigrant?

It means they are working on it and Issued is coming shortly.

[chipmunk92 11]

Did it also change from saying Immigrant to Non-Immigrant?

It means they are working on it and Issued is coming shortly.

Hmm nope it still says "Immigrant Visa Application" at the top

[NicolaRobert 7]

At the airport - flight is delayed which is annoying, but took immense joy when the pre-screening lady asked how long I was going to Detroit for and I got to reply 'forever'.

Hopefully it will all go smoothly at the other end.

Fully was not prepared for how emotional I am though at leaving for good this time. I've done a lot of travelling over the years, and always been happy to be jetting off to other countries, but this time is so much more permanent than those 6 months or year long jaunts. It really hit me as I was checking in that this is it. This is THE move. Goodbye UK, hello USA!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

At the airport - flight is delayed which is annoying, but took immense joy when the pre-screening lady asked how long I was going to Detroit for and I got to reply 'forever'.

Hopefully it will all go smoothly at the other end.

Fully was not prepared for how emotional I am though at leaving for good this time. I've done a lot of travelling over the years, and always been happy to be jetting off to other countries, but this time is so much more permanent than those 6 months or year long jaunts. It really hit me as I was checking in that this is it. This is THE move. Goodbye UK, hello USA!

Exciting, emotional, and annoying all at once. You're going to be exhausted. Safe travels!

[JFH 12,190]

At the airport - flight is delayed which is annoying, but took immense joy when the pre-screening lady asked how long I was going to Detroit for and I got to reply 'forever'.

Hopefully it will all go smoothly at the other end.

Fully was not prepared for how emotional I am though at leaving for good this time. I've done a lot of travelling over the years, and always been happy to be jetting off to other countries, but this time is so much more permanent than those 6 months or year long jaunts. It really hit me as I was checking in that this is it. This is THE move. Goodbye UK, hello USA!

Hope your fight isn't delayed too much and you have a smooth journey from now on.

Must be a great feeling at check in. I was reading someone else's post about the flight where the check in person got a bit high and mighty and said "you can't travel to the USA on a one-way ticket" and she said "oh yes I can!" and proudly flipped the pages of the passport to the page with the visa boldly displayed.

Good luck and enjoy your new life!

[bob+senga 11]

Its the best feeling in the world to be sitting here at my PC writing this as Im now in Bryan Ohio...

Left for Toronto on Thursday- and the airport staff were Brill they were all congratulating us on our move and wishing us good luck for the future.

No issues at all- we were worried as even though we had court documents for immigrating with my daughter we had been told Canadian Control can be very tight on Children crossing the border. Never questioned once about my daughter(different last name to mine)

The drive to Detroit bridge was lovely, seeing some of Canada talking to my Fiance catching up with no wifi dropping.

Customs was funny as our immigration officer must have been relatively new as the look on his face when he saw the two large brown envelopes was brill- it took around an hour all in for him to stamp our passports etc- he even handed us back the envelopes which i just looked at him and said sorry but Im sure you keep these... The girl next to him just laughed and so did he at his error.

We were charged $12 what was that for though- $6 each..

Hope hes not not something wrong lol...

We are just happy to be here. Waiting for my 4 large boxes now to arrive from UK

[Tashas mom 6]

Its the best feeling in the world to be sitting here at my PC writing this as Im now in Bryan Ohio...

Left for Toronto on Thursday- and the airport staff were Brill they were all congratulating us on our move and wishing us good luck for the future.

No issues at all- we were worried as even though we had court documents for immigrating with my daughter we had been told Canadian Control can be very tight on Children crossing the border. Never questioned once about my daughter(different last name to mine)

The drive to Detroit bridge was lovely, seeing some of Canada talking to my Fiance catching up with no wifi dropping.

Customs was funny as our immigration officer must have been relatively new as the look on his face when he saw the two large brown envelopes was brill- it took around an hour all in for him to stamp our passports etc- he even handed us back the envelopes which i just looked at him and said sorry but Im sure you keep these... The girl next to him just laughed and so did he at his error.

We were charged $12 what was that for though- $6 each..

Hope hes not not something wrong lol...

We are just happy to be here. Waiting for my 4 large boxes now to arrive from UK

Congratulations, so pleased for you.

The fee is a standard charge you pay to immigration for processing when crossing by land. If you fly it is incorporated into the taxes of your air ticket.

Edited August 28, 2016 by Tashalan

[JFH 12,190]

You pay $6 every time you cross by land. It's a nice little earner for them. The bus from Vancouver to Seattle is $10 for that whole journey but you have to pay $6 to walk from one side of the room to the other side (very small room too) at Blaine border crossing.

[NicolaRobert 7]

So I am here in the USA and just ridiculously happy about it! Today was our 1st Anniversary - so it was just perfect to be able to spend it together seeing as we really weren't sure if we were going to be able to.

The only bummer so far has been finding out that I'm going to have to take a road test in order to get a MI drivers license, and I have to be on a permit for 30 days before I can do that. And that I can't get it all sorted until I get my SSN anyway. So I'm kinda stuck right now. Thank god for Uber.

With that in mind - anyone got any idea of how long it takes to get the SSC sent out? Everywhere I look seems to give a different estimate. And on that note - can I start working without it?? I know my green card is my eligblity to work, but I feel like it's going to be more complicated than that... I've seen a couple of different answers in different places.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So I am here in the USA and just ridiculously happy about it! Today was our 1st Anniversary - so it was just perfect to be able to spend it together seeing as we really weren't sure if we were going to be able to.

The only bummer so far has been finding out that I'm going to have to take a road test in order to get a MI drivers license, and I have to be on a permit for 30 days before I can do that. And that I can't get it all sorted until I get my SSN anyway. So I'm kinda stuck right now. Thank god for Uber.

With that in mind - anyone got any idea of how long it takes to get the SSC sent out? Everywhere I look seems to give a different estimate. And on that note - can I start working without it?? I know my green card is my eligblity to work, but I feel like it's going to be more complicated than that... I've seen a couple of different answers in different places.

Any employer will have to have your SSN because they withhold part of your wages toward income tax, Social Security and Medicare. They need a number to report it toward so it is credited to you. I can't help on how long. Don't some people just go to the Social Security office and apply rather than waiting for one to filter through immigration and get assigned? You could have that one in a week or two.

Happy anniversary!

Edited August 30, 2016 by Nich-Nick

[JFH 12,190]

AOS and IV package sent to NVC today!!!

Still hopeful for a November interview....