Does anybody know if priority date has to be current to hear from London Embassy?

[Boiler 46,297]

Hit 2 to 1 yesterday.

I did a transfer and was not far from it.

[homesick_american 1]

Thankyou Homesick America and Boiler for your advice. We are frequent visitors to Tucson and in general prices have fallen modestly there. I think that as usual the press here have seen that prices have fallen in some areas and just grabbed the headline. We will probably rent initially to make sure we buy in an area that fits in with our lifestyle, jobs, colleges etc.

Good job with selling your house. Looks like the timing has worked out perfect for you. Don't forget to ask for a preferential exchange rate before transferring any collateral.

Good luck.

No probs...good luck with your move. I'm sure you'll be OK.

If you want any house-showing tips, let me know; the major issue with our house was not the decor but the non-traditional layout and the fact that it doesn't have a garage. It's magnolia, magnolia, magnolia. It's like living inside a meringue...but that's what the house-buying public seems to like.

[maggs 0]

Hello again

Yes, hoping for immigration reforms but not building up my hopes, it is what it is right now, but if the wait gets less that would be wonderful. She is single and would love to meet a nice young American guy but she will only marry for love and at the moment isn't interested in marriage anyway! She's having far too much fun being a single girl! She is also going to take some time out in July and travel and work around Australia for 6 - 12 months so that the wait for a visa no is shortened and she's having a great time in the process.

B)

Good luck selling your house.

Maggie

[munchkins 0]

Just thought I would add this little bit, we had no credit history when we moved over 2 months ago but we got a mortgage, OK not a big one but we needed one because the house we fell in love with was really more than we wanted to pay, but what the hell Anyway our realtor had a brother who just happened to be a mortgage guy in a bank and he got us a good deal. It also helps if you have a good amount of money to put down, which we did and also my pension goes directly into my US bank account, so it can be done.

As my daughter said (who also works in a bank and they too offered us a mortgage) if you have a good amount to put down they will rip your hand off. Just got to be careful and go with one of the good banks and not a fly by night who advertises cheapo mortgages. Good luck to you and your family, hope that things go quickly for you from this point onwards, you have waited a long time

[tucsonbound 0]

Just thought I would add this little bit, we had no credit history when we moved over 2 months ago but we got a mortgage, OK not a big one but we needed one because the house we fell in love with was really more than we wanted to pay, but what the hell Anyway our realtor had a brother who just happened to be a mortgage guy in a bank and he got us a good deal. It also helps if you have a good amount of money to put down, which we did and also my pension goes directly into my US bank account, so it can be done.

As my daughter said (who also works in a bank and they too offered us a mortgage) if you have a good amount to put down they will rip your hand off. Just got to be careful and go with one of the good banks and not a fly by night who advertises cheapo mortgages. Good luck to you and your family, hope that things go quickly for you from this point onwards, you have waited a long time

Thanks Munchkins. How are you enjoying life over there? I can't say I'm going to miss England much. It seems such a depressing place to live these days. So much has deterioated that it's going to take forever to put right. I also get fed-up with all this political correctness. Is it any different over there?

Credit rating seems to have a lot of impact on many things over there, so how do you build up your rating?

[tucsonbound 0]

Hit 2 to 1 yesterday.

I did a transfer and was not far from it.

Well they say it hit 2 to 1 but that's the business rate. Tourist rate is 10 cents less. How much do you need to transfer in order to get the business rate, and where have you found is the best place to do it?

I opened a bank account in Arizona last year with Chase Bank, and by the time Barclays in England and Chase in America have taken off their charges you end up losing a fair bit.

[tucsonbound 0]

Hello again

Yes, hoping for immigration reforms but not building up my hopes, it is what it is right now, but if the wait gets less that would be wonderful. She is single and would love to meet a nice young American guy but she will only marry for love and at the moment isn't interested in marriage anyway! She's having far too much fun being a single girl! She is also going to take some time out in July and travel and work around Australia for 6 - 12 months so that the wait for a visa no is shortened and she's having a great time in the process.

B)

Good luck selling your house.

Maggie

Thanks Maggie, we have someone else viewing our house this afternoon so fingers crossed!

I would try and encourage your Daughter to spend the time she was going to spend in Australia visiting you. If She's a fun sociable Girl like She seems, She might meet and fall in love with an American guy.

I know she can only stay on a visititor visa for 3 months but they might let her extend it.

Mother's and Daughters need each other and it's going to be tough being apart. I know my Mother is desperate for me to be near her again. She has just fought breast cancer and is not in the best of health. I'm looking forward to being able to help her out again. She went to the States in 1987.

[homesick_american 1]

Just thought I would add this little bit, we had no credit history when we moved over 2 months ago but we got a mortgage, OK not a big one but we needed one because the house we fell in love with was really more than we wanted to pay, but what the hell Anyway our realtor had a brother who just happened to be a mortgage guy in a bank and he got us a good deal. It also helps if you have a good amount of money to put down, which we did and also my pension goes directly into my US bank account, so it can be done.

As my daughter said (who also works in a bank and they too offered us a mortgage) if you have a good amount to put down they will rip your hand off. Just got to be careful and go with one of the good banks and not a fly by night who advertises cheapo mortgages. Good luck to you and your family, hope that things go quickly for you from this point onwards, you have waited a long time

What's a good amount? $30,000? $50,000? What do you mean they'll rip your hand off? Is that good or bad?

[Boiler 46,297]

I know she can only stay on a visititor visa for 3 months but they might let her extend it.

90 days

And you can not extend it.

[maggs 0]

Hello

Unfortunately, like Boiler says, the VWP is not extendable and she isn't entitiled to visitors visa. We have already been apart since 2003 but couldn't I couldn't apply for the I-130 until 2005 because of the wait to process my IV. It used to take a couple of years at that time, hence the K3. I applied for her the day I arrived back in the US with the stamp in my passport, before I even got my green card in the mail, so that her process had begin and we had a priority date. I will upgrade it when I receive US citizenship which I will apply for in 11 months time.

She has always wanted to travel around Australia and it's a good way to forget about the processing times for the visa number. We see each other a few times a year and I will probably visit her in Australia at some point. I just hope some Ozzie doesn't sweep her off her feet!! We do miss each other but we talk on the phone almost every other day which is more than some families here in the US do! Also, I realised that with the huge distances between states, I actually see her more often than some people here see their children/parents! My hair dresser hasn't seen her mum for over a year. She is in Illinois and her mom is in Florida.

So sorry to hear about your mum's illness and I hope she gets you and your family near her very, very soon. It must be extremely hard for you and your mum to have to go through this so far apart.

Best of luck

Maggie

[tucsonbound 0]

Hello

Unfortunately, like Boiler says, the VWP is not extendable and she isn't entitiled to visitors visa. We have already been apart since 2003 but couldn't I couldn't apply for the I-130 until 2005 because of the wait to process my IV. It used to take a couple of years at that time, hence the K3. I applied for her the day I arrived back in the US with the stamp in my passport, before I even got my green card in the mail, so that her process had begin and we had a priority date. I will upgrade it when I receive US citizenship which I will apply for in 11 months time.

She has always wanted to travel around Australia and it's a good way to forget about the processing times for the visa number. We see each other a few times a year and I will probably visit her in Australia at some point. I just hope some Ozzie doesn't sweep her off her feet!! We do miss each other but we talk on the phone almost every other day which is more than some families here in the US do! Also, I realised that with the huge distances between states, I actually see her more often than some people here see their children/parents! My hair dresser hasn't seen her mum for over a year. She is in Illinois and her mom is in Florida.

So sorry to hear about your mum's illness and I hope she gets you and your family near her very, very soon. It must be extremely hard for you and your mum to have to go through this so far apart.

Best of luck

Maggie

Hi Maggie,

Some good points there. America sure is a vast Country. It never fails to amaze me how miniscule and insignificant you feel. Especially when in Mountainous desert landscapes like Arizona.

Some distance apart often helps relationships anyway. My Mum does have my 2 Sisters living in Tucson and Casa Grande but they still seem to find time to have arguments and not talk for a few weeks! Families huh? Try not to look too far forward. The time has gone quite quick for us now looking back. You will soon be together I'm sure.

[maggs 0]

Hello again

Thanks for you well wishes. It's appreciated. Yes, I can relate to mothers and daughters arguing... did it yesterday! But we always take the time to talk it through afterwards and make things right! It's good to hear of someone like you and your family who have actually waited years to get to the stage you are at, which is now very close. Keep us informed of the rest of your journey as it's wonderful to hear of families actually getting to the end of this process.

Best wishes

Maggie

Hi Maggie,

Some good points there. America sure is a vast Country. It never fails to amaze me how miniscule and insignificant you feel. Especially when in Mountainous desert landscapes like Arizona.

Some distance apart often helps relationships anyway. My Mum does have my 2 Sisters living in Tucson and Casa Grande but they still seem to find time to have arguments and not talk for a few weeks! Families huh? Try not to look too far forward. The time has gone quite quick for us now looking back. You will soon be together I'm sure.