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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

Hi everyone,

I think reasons for moving from a country like Russia (our situation!) or any other "developing countries" to the US has rather obvious pluses. What I'm wondering about is why anyone from Western/Central Europe would move to the USA?

My sister (USC) is living in Austria now and she really wants to move back to the USA. She says Austria is a very close minded place and she feels unwelcomed as an outsider. So I understand that, I mean, she'll never "fit in" there. She has lived there for almost five years and she basically never wants to go back. It's been really hard for her there.

But what I'm wondering about is why Europeans would want to live their lives in the US. Western/Central Europe does have a lot of pluses (the health care, the cheaper education, the good public transport, the lack of violent crime, the lack of any major drug problems, the ability to travel easily and cheaply, the government is more or less as "free" as the US, etc...) and I'm honestly wondering what the motivation factor is for Europeans to go to the US.

Enlighten me! It's very interesting to me, as an American...maybe you'll make me see things in my home country that I don't see. :)

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Sweden
Timeline
Posted

I'm from Sweden and why we chose the US was because he has a 7 year old son. They both would have amazing opportunities for a great life in Sweden but his sons mom didn't like the idea of her son moving across the world, which is very understandable. The transition would also be easier for me since I know the language. Even though most swedes know English, it's quite hard to find a job and to fit in to our society without speaking Swedish.

Maybe later on in life we will move to Sweden. Only time will tell... :)

09/2012 - Met in Tennessee
07/2014 - Became a couple
02/2015 - Got engaged

04/20/2015 - I-129F send
04/27/2015 - NOA1
06/02/2015 - NOA2
06/16/2015 - NVC received
06/16/2015 - Medical
06/17/2015 - Case number assigned
06/19/2015 - NVC left
06/22/2015 - Consulate received
06/24/2015 - Ceck list received
07/16/2015 - Interview

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

I'm from Sweden and why we chose the US was because he has a 7 year old son. They both would have amazing opportunities for a great life in Sweden but his sons mom didn't like the idea of her son moving across the world, which is very understandable. The transition would also be easier for me since I know the language. Even though most swedes know English, it's quite hard to find a job and to fit in to our society without speaking Swedish.

Maybe later on in life we will move to Sweden. Only time will tell... :)

That's a good point. It IS harder for Americans to learn foreign languages. My sister even knows French and German (fluently) and she still can't get a job in Austria because they want her to have a degree from an Austrian university... :crying: So, sometimes even knowing the local language fluent is no help in Europe. Maybe you'll have a chance in the future though....Sweden looks great, planning to visit there soon for my honeymoon!

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ireland
Timeline
Posted

We first had my USC husband move to Ireland, because I had the better paying job and it was easier to immigrate that way. But he never really adjusted to liberal Europe (Republican Southern Baptist), and had difficulty finding a job with his strong Southern accent, which was depressing for him. So once we had the twins, and no family in Ireland, we decided to move to the USA to be closer to his family (that was a mistake, but too late now...), and because Arkansas, where we now live, is definitely more family friendly than Dublin city. Plus we were able to buy a 4 bedroom home with a large yard for half the price of out 1 bedroom apartment in Dublin.

Bye: Penguin

Me: Irish/ Swiss citizen, and now naturalised US citizen. Husband: USC; twin babies born Feb 08 in Ireland and a daughter in Feb 2010 in Arkansas who are all joint Irish/ USC. Did DCF (IR1) in 6 weeks via the Dublin, Ireland embassy and now living in Arkansas.

mod penguin.jpg

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

For some of us, the restrictions on bringing our spouses into our home countries are such that it is not possible.

We initially filed a spouse visa for my husband to live here in the UK but it was denied with no possibility of appeal because he spent 2 years in prison in the USA over 20 years ago. Also, the UK has a minimum income requirement for people to bring spouses in but no co-sponsors are permitted. Many people here work on zero hours contracts or on sales commissions and these don't count for the income requirement. In fact, the income requirement is higher than the average adult earns here (a lot higher than the 125% of the poverty level that the USA requires and the USA also permits co-sponsors).

Frustrating. Really, I had no idea that it was so strict in some countries. :( Well, I hope the US will have good things to offer you. I don't know about being poorer, the US isn't that expensive, is it? We Americans have the impression that it's a lot pricier to live in the UK. Maybe we're wrong.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

We first had my USC husband move to Ireland, because I had the better paying job and it was easier to immigrate that way. But he never really adjusted to liberal Europe (Republican Southern Baptist), and had difficulty finding a job with his strong Southern accent, which was depressing for him. So once we had the twins, and no family in Ireland, we decided to move to the USA to be closer to his family (that was a mistake, but too late now...), and because Arkansas, where we now live, is definitely more family friendly than Dublin city. Plus we were able to buy a 4 bedroom home with a large yard for half the price of out 1 bedroom apartment in Dublin.

Makes sense. So it wasn't hard for you to adjust to life in the US? People are friendly? Nobody cares that you have an accent and are "different"? I hope my fellow Americans are welcoming to everyone. I grew up in the South and living there I rarely met any Europeans. Maybe it's changing now.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ukraine
Timeline
Posted

I have lived in the southern USA many times in my life, including currently. I can say that my experience is that southerners in general are more friendly than Northerners. Lots of Europeans in the south now. Every week I can hear someone speaking Russian or Ukrainian.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Denmark
Timeline
Posted

He can't move because of the job he has and since we want to be together we moved here.

I like it here BUT I miss Denmark very much and would love to go back! But we can't right now so we (my son and I) moved here.

He knows I miss home so he is so sweet and buy danish food and stuff for us so we can get that, it really helps.

Other then that Denmark is extremely hard to immigrate to so I doubt we will be able to move back.

They have demand on the house size, what kind of house, salary requirement and then the dane has to pay $10,000 for the immigrant to learn how to speak danish which the person has to pass courses. and a lot of other rules.

Then as in the person in Sweden you just can't really get a job an all that if you don't speak danish which is a hard language to learn.

 

 

 

 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ireland
Timeline
Posted

Makes sense. So it wasn't hard for you to adjust to life in the US? People are friendly? Nobody cares that you have an accent and are "different"? I hope my fellow Americans are welcoming to everyone. I grew up in the South and living there I rarely met any Europeans. Maybe it's changing now.

I admit I had total culture shock; I went from being the far most conservative of my friends in Ireland to being called a "liberal hippy" here :) Having young children, and then another here in the USA, helped because it was easier to make mummy friends on the playground. The South is definitely very welcoming and friendly, once you get over the fact that everyone invites you to their church once they realise you don't have a :church family" yet. It also helps that we live a couple of towns over from Walmart's Global HQ and near a university town, so there are more foreign vendors and students here than in an average small town.

Bye: Penguin

Me: Irish/ Swiss citizen, and now naturalised US citizen. Husband: USC; twin babies born Feb 08 in Ireland and a daughter in Feb 2010 in Arkansas who are all joint Irish/ USC. Did DCF (IR1) in 6 weeks via the Dublin, Ireland embassy and now living in Arkansas.

mod penguin.jpg

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Sweden
Timeline
Posted

About 2 years ago when we decided to go the K1 route our decision to be in the US was because my now husband can't find a similar job in Sweden and he really loves his job. Now 2 years later I don't see us ever moving to Sweden because from what I see on Facebook and in the Swedish media tells me I can't feel safe in Sweden anymore.





Posted

Frustrating. Really, I had no idea that it was so strict in some countries. :( Well, I hope the US will have good things to offer you. I don't know about being poorer, the US isn't that expensive, is it? We Americans have the impression that it's a lot pricier to live in the UK. Maybe we're wrong.

Not so much the cost of living but the salary that my line of work commands in Europe is much higher than the US. Although it's all relative, of course. Also I have epilepsy and have had a brain haemorrhage which has left other disabilities. Over here I don't have to pay make any out-of-pocket payments for healthcare. Even my prescription charges are covered by taxation. I am always reluctant to say we have "free" healthcare in the UK.

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Denmark
Timeline
Posted

About 2 years ago when we decided to go the K1 route our decision to be in the US was because my now husband can't find a similar job in Sweden and he really loves his job. Now 2 years later I don't see us ever moving to Sweden because from what I see on Facebook and in the Swedish media tells me I can't feel safe in Sweden anymore.

Oh the same with Denmark! SO crazy how lovely countries can be ruin so fast by others!

 

 

 

 

Posted

Frustrating. Really, I had no idea that it was so strict in some countries. :( Well, I hope the US will have good things to offer you. I don't know about being poorer, the US isn't that expensive, is it? We Americans have the impression that it's a lot pricier to live in the UK. Maybe we're wrong.

Depends on where you live.

People from California were moving to Colorado in droves and buying houses for cash because their homes sold for 2-3x what they were selling for here. Now our homes are more expensive than they were 2-3 years ago. In New York you could get a 1 bedroom apartment for cost of my house and I'm pretty sure gas and other items (even bread) cost more there. But in Oklahoma or Alabama, we'd have a huge 2500+sqft house with a couple of acres, instead of 1600sq ft and an average yard.

My realtor saved 3k by buying his Mercedes in Chicago vs Denver. It was worth the flight and drive back for him to do it.

The USA is so big it's like comparing the cost of living in Spain vs Switzerland vs the UK vs Finland.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

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