Scandinavians Part 2

[Locito 85]

1 hour ago, Reverie said:

I'm Danish but I know those buns, and out of anything I wouldn't think that's what a foreigner would miss lol!! My fiance hates marzipan! 😜

And I honestly thought bread was a prohibited item, but if it's not I may as well stuff my suitcase with rye bread instead of clothes when I leave!

 

On a side note, I have my interview on Thursday, going to Stockholm tomorrow. And I'm already feeling really nervous 😓 Does anyone know what the absolute easiest way to get from Arlanda Airport to Östermalm is? Is Uber a thing in Sweden? 

Don’t pick up a taxi from the ranks closest to the terminal at Arlanda. You WILL get ripped off.

 

Best one, I think, is Taxi Stockholm (be wary of small differences in name such as “Stockholm Taxi” since you are bound to get ripped off). TopCab is okay, too, and a bit cheaper. SverigeTaxi/Taxi020 or TaxiKurir _can_ be okay depending on the driver. As for any other companies, I would not trust them.  Uber is available to some extent, but nowhere as much as in other countries. And the price doesn’t seem to differ too much from a regular taxi anyway.

 

A fixed price taxi ride should be SEK 520-590 from Arlanda to downtown Stockholm. Do NOT get a taxi just because they offer you “a fixed price”, agree on the price BEFORE hopping in the vehicle.

 

I am personally a transport buff so I would just take Arlanda Express from Terminal 2 or 5 (20 min when there are no signal failures, train failures etc.) for SEK 295, or commuter train from SkyCity/Arlanda C for SEK 151 (40 min) or Flygbussarna for SEK 120 (40-50 min),

but I understand others

just want to take the easiest possible route 😊

[Locito 85]

And oh yeah, I was preliminarily approved today! They had not gotten my medical results yet (I wonder if these are sent electronically or by snail mail...) so I got a 221g on that. And the CO lady was wondering how I knew the name of their

procedure. I told her “VisaJourney” 😝

 

I will try to write more on my experience later. There should be no further surprises, but had a couple of hiccups regarding the medical (panel physician wanted an extra statement from my doctor), so I will have to be waitig and keep on tapping F5 on the CEAC Status page 😉 As for now it’s in administrative processing.

[Locito 85]

51 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

apparently bread is okay! I know it was in their checked luggage, not the carry on of course. They brought two bags of those buns and had no problems!

Being a Nordic

sandwich aficionado (what else do you eat for breakfast than savoury sandwiches?!) I am going to miss Swedish sourdough ‘Levain’-type bread. California Sourdough tastes disgusting! 😅

[Reverie 10]

7 minutes ago, Locito said:

Don’t pick up a taxi from the ranks closest to the terminal at Arlanda. You WILL get ripped off.

 

Best one, I think, is Taxi Stockholm (be wary of small differences in name such as “Stockholm Taxi” since you are bound to get ripped off). TopCab is okay, too, and a bit cheaper. SverigeTaxi/Taxi020 or TaxiKurir _can_ be okay depending on the driver. As for any other companies, I would not trust them.  Uber is available to some extent, but nowhere as much as in other countries. And the price doesn’t seem to differ too much from a regular taxi anyway.

 

A fixed price taxi ride should be SEK 520-590 from Arlanda to downtown Stockholm. Do NOT get a taxi just because they offer you “a fixed price”, agree on the price BEFORE hopping in the vehicle.

 

I am personally a transport buff so I would just take Arlanda Express from Terminal 2 or 5 (20 min when there are no signal failures, train failures etc.) for SEK 295, or commuter train from SkyCity/Arlanda C for SEK 151 (40 min) or Flygbussarna for SEK 120 (40-50 min),

but I understand others

just want to take the easiest possible route 😊

Thank you for the very useful info! I was thinking about buying a ticket online for Flygbussarna to Frihemsplan and then just take one of the local buses that stop really close to my hotel. Cheap and seems easy as well  

[Locito 85]

@Reverie, sure, I like Flygbussarna, usually use them to get to Arlanda even if local transport with a monthly pass would be slightly cheaper. If you get your ticket in advance from their website or using their app, one-way ride will be only SEK 99 which will be hard to beat. The price is SEK 120 when bought from the airport or aboard the bus. There is one line,

though, where they have raised the prices recently, but the lines going to Cityterminalen and Fridhemsplan/Hornstull/Liljeholmen should be cheaper. Plus the buses have got charging ports and free wi-fi, too 🙂 (no, I don’t work for them but will be gladly accepting any free trip vouchers sent to me the company reps 😁)

 

[Locito 85]

And oh yeah, before I forget, congratulations @Paul & Mallory! 😊🎉🍰

[EllenE1230 22]

22 hours ago, Locito said:

And oh yeah, I was preliminarily approved today! They had not gotten my medical results yet (I wonder if these are sent electronically or by snail mail...) so I got a 221g on that. And the CO lady was wondering how I knew the name of their

procedure. I told her “VisaJourney” 😝

 

I will try to write more on my experience later. There should be no further surprises, but had a couple of hiccups regarding the medical (panel physician wanted an extra statement from my doctor), so I will have to be waitig and keep on tapping F5 on the CEAC Status page 😉 As for now it’s in administrative processing.

1

Unfortunately, they send it by "snail mail". My medical hadn't arrived on time either but i had my VISA in hand 7 workdays later from the time of the interview Overall it took about 2-2.5 weeks from medical to VISA in hand

 

I hope you get yours soon!

[Reverie 10]

"You're approved, I hope you have a wonderful life together." 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Jo&Bob 83]

1 hour ago, Reverie said:

"You're approved, I hope you have a wonderful life together." 

 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Congratulations!! that´s amazing!
Did the officer tell you at the end of the interview?
My fiance and I just filled this September, so we have almost all the wait still. May I ask you how long your process was till NOA2? and how long it took from the NOA2 till you had the interview medical scheduled?
I´m sorry for the questions, it would just be nice to hear from another Dane how your timeline/experience was

Again congratulations!
 

[Reverie 10]

32 minutes ago, JosephineAndBobby said:

Congratulations!! that´s amazing!
Did the officer tell you at the end of the interview?
My fiance and I just filled this September, so we have almost all the wait still. May I ask you how long your process was till NOA2? and how long it took from the NOA2 till you had the interview medical scheduled?
I´m sorry for the questions, it would just be nice to hear from another Dane how your timeline/experience was

Again congratulations!
 

Thank you!! And of course, you may!
We filed in early January, NOA2 was July 13th. I received the checklist a month after. I had my medical September 20th and I purposely scheduled my interview a little later than necessary because I still hadn't received the papers I needed for AOF from my fiance. The entire process went very smoothly for us and the interview as well, I was scheduled for 10.00 am. but I actually walked out from there 09.55! Everyone was nice and happy for us! 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! All the best of luck to you and thanks again! 😁

Edited October 25, 2018 by Reverie

[SpidersWeb 16]

On 10/23/2018 at 6:36 PM, Locito said:

I was told at the Embassy that my green card will be with AE’s (all three of them...) even though we filled the original USCIS petition with A’s. I actually didn’t even ask about it, but they just told me.

I asked about the name during my exit interview. The consular officer told me that I should be able to sort this out at the POE. However, CBP told me they can't change anything and referred me back to USCIS. I think I'm still going to inquire with the USCIS. I just want to be informed before I'm at the POE in a couple of weeks 😅

 

So since your name on the GC has 3 AEs (I have 3 as well), is the name identical on your driver's license? I've read that the name on your GC determines your official name for different IDs and other documents.

[Jo&Bob 83]

19 hours ago, Reverie said:

Thank you!! And of course, you may!
We filed in early January, NOA2 was July 13th. I received the checklist a month after. I had my medical September 20th and I purposely scheduled my interview a little later than necessary because I still hadn't received the papers I needed for AOF from my fiance. The entire process went very smoothly for us and the interview as well, I was scheduled for 10.00 am. but I actually walked out from there 09.55! Everyone was nice and happy for us! 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! All the best of luck to you and thanks again! 😁

Thank you very much for answering!  that gives me some hint on how it might go
Good luck to you forward, it must be amazing finally being able to go to be with your fiance

[EllenE1230 22]

22 hours ago, JosephineAndBobby said:

Congratulations!! that´s amazing!
Did the officer tell you at the end of the interview?
My fiance and I just filled this September, so we have almost all the wait still. May I ask you how long your process was till NOA2? and how long it took from the NOA2 till you had the interview medical scheduled?
I´m sorry for the questions, it would just be nice to hear from another Dane how your timeline/experience was

Again congratulations!
 

Another Dane here who would like to help out

 

I filed back in December last year and received NOA2 early July. Had my medical scheduled for mid August and went to my interview 23rd of August. 

Had my POE early September

 

Though I did schedule everything as close together and as fast as I could. It is possible to do it even quicker if you got everything ready for your interview before receiving NOA2 and know exactly what to do when receiving it (talking about booking the medical and doing the DS-160).

 

I'll gladly help more too if you need it

[Locito 85]

On 10/26/2018 at 8:37 AM, SpidersWeb said:

I asked about the name during my exit interview. The consular officer told me that I should be able to sort this out at the POE. However, CBP told me they can't change anything and referred me back to USCIS. I think I'm still going to inquire with the USCIS. I just want to be informed before I'm at the POE in a couple of weeks 😅

 

So since your name on the GC has 3 AEs (I have 3 as well), is the name identical on your driver's license? I've read that the name on your GC determines your official name for different IDs and other documents.

Please let me/us all know how you fare! Can think that there are other lurkers around here with several AE and/or OE in their names 😁

 

I am still in Sweden so no idea how my GC is gonna look like. Thinking it is with the AEs and all after what they told me at the Embassy. I have actually never possessed a driver’s license (that is probably have to going to change in the US 🤭😅) so don’t know about that.

[Locito 85]

And oh yeah, yesterday was a day of great joy for me and wifey. Checked the CEAC frantically several times during the

few days that passed since my interview and going into “Administrative Processing” since my medical hadn’t made it to the Embassy on time.

 

Sure, I was approved at the interview, but when I saw it down in writing after coming back from the grocery store, I FaceTimed CA and we were both laughing and crying!! 😭

 

I know it is tough for everyone here to be apart from our loved ones, but FINALLY!

 

Got a notification from PostNord in a timely fashion, too, so just waiting for my passport to get back to me. And then we’ve gotta get flights that ain’t cheap when buying one-way tickets. Probably tanking up on airline miles/bonus points and getting an award flight. Wife will be coming here for the new year so if things work out as planned, we will fly back together ☺️