How soon is too soon?

[Symphonyx2 49]

4 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

 

They are moving fast these days. He has the visa one week from interview and had two potential holdups...medical not arrived  and a Monday holiday. 

Congratulations. Does he POE at IAH? I've done that.

 

He does!  How was that experience??

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, Symphonyx2 said:

He does!  How was that experience??

It was non-eventful really. From the regular lines they called someone to escort me to the room where they process visa envelopes. It's on the right as you approach the escaltor down to baggage claim. It has big glass windows and common plastic chairs. You have to wait for however many arrived with visas before you. I think there was maybe 3 families ahead of me.  My turn going up to the table--he opened the envelope and flipped through the papers. He reminded me to marry within 90 days and sent me on my way. He didn't even say "Welcome to America". Really?

 

Next stop is downstairs to find luggage then walk past the customs guy and turn in the customs form filled out on the plane. I wrote Household Goods on mine with no list or value. My fiancé/wife had spoken to the CBP office at IAH and he said do that. I did list and value 800 teabags because new items you bought recently are supposed to be itemized. The rest of your junk...no. I think you maybe do all that customs stuff  at a kiosk now. I've already forgotten what we did last summer. Paper form...kiosk..mobile passport??  I dunno. It all runs together.  Anyway, POE was pretty much no questions about packet or customs form. 

[JFH 12,190]

That’s the fastest passport return I’ve ever seen. Mine took 6 days to go from London to Southampton. Good old DX!

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

9 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

It was non-eventful really. From the regular lines they called someone to escort me to the room where they process visa envelopes. It's on the right as you approach the escaltor down to baggage claim. It has big glass windows and common plastic chairs. You have to wait for however many arrived with visas before you. I think there was maybe 3 families ahead of me.  My turn going up to the table--he opened the envelope and flipped through the papers. He reminded me to marry within 90 days and sent me on my way. He didn't even say "Welcome to America". Really?

 

Next stop is downstairs to find luggage then walk past the customs guy and turn in the customs form filled out on the plane. I wrote Household Goods on mine with no list or value. My fiancé/wife had spoken to the CBP office at IAH and he said do that. I did list and value 800 teabags because new items you bought recently are supposed to be itemized. The rest of your junk...no. I think you maybe do all that customs stuff  at a kiosk now. I've already forgotten what we did last summer. Paper form...kiosk..mobile passport??  I dunno. It all runs together.  Anyway, POE was pretty much no questions about packet or customs form. 

I took 700 teabags with me on my last visit and totally failed to list them - it’s only you saying this that made me realise I should! I listed my books and the framed pictures I’d taken to leave, but forgot about my most precious commodity of all! 😮😆

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

Just now, Zoeeeeeee said:

I took 700 teabags with me on my last visit and totally failed to list them - it’s only you saying this that made me realise I should! I listed my books and the framed pictures I’d taken to leave, but forgot about my most precious commodity of all! 😮😆

I’m going out next in August with Branston pickle, HP sauce and Bird’s custard powder...I’ll definitely list them this time 😆

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

I’m going out next in August with Branston pickle, HP sauce and Bird’s custard powder...I’ll definitely list them this time 😆

Just keep in mind that when you have the visa and you immigrate (and 5 yrs after) your clothing, books, framed pics, dog accessories, are your free entry "household goods". Cheese, pickle, tea, gifts, new purchases are listed on the customs form. Prior to the visa, you're  just a tourist subject to the limit and list anything not going back to UK with you.

[Symphonyx2 49]

3 hours ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

I’m going out next in August with Branston pickle, HP sauce and Bird’s custard powder...I’ll definitely list them this time 😆

Do you have a Central Market where you are going to live?  We found lots of goodies from "back home" for my fiancé there

 

World Market is a good spot too!

 

We've yet to find the kind of cheese he likes or Rowies (butteries)!!  His mom brings those over when she comes to visit.

Edited May 31, 2019 by Symphonyx2

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 minutes ago, Symphonyx2 said:

Do you have a Central Market where you are going to live?  We found lots of goodies from "back home" for my fiancé there

 

World Market is a good spot too!

I think Central Market is kin to HEB, which is local to Texas. We get lots of that stuff at Kroger as well. I was surprised at a big British section at a Fiesta. Tuesday Morning is my cheap source for tea now. Typhoo English breakfast.

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

12 minutes ago, Symphonyx2 said:

Do you have a Central Market where you are going to live?  We found lots of goodies from "back home" for my fiancé there

 

World Market is a good spot too!

 

We've yet to find the kind of cheese he likes or Rowies (butteries)!!  His mom brings those over when she comes to visit.

We have World Market, which I LOVE for home decor stuff and would use, at a push, for food...but the British food there is all 4-6 times the price it is here...

 

I’m leaving a full wardrobe of clothes at my mum’s house when I move, and plan to come back to visit every year...so I totally plan to bring an empty suitcase and return with it stuffed with must-have food 😆...and then I can just use World Market for emergencies. To be honest, it’s my fiancé that’s going to be the issue...he appears to have a life-dependency on Branston pickle, and if he doesn’t have it on every sandwich he consumes, I fear he may wither and die. I only introduced him to it a year ago...what a mistake that was 😂😂😂.

[Lil bear 4,201]

17 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

I think Central Market is kin to HEB, which is local to Texas. We get lots of that stuff at Kroger as well. I was surprised at a big British section at a Fiesta. Tuesday Morning is my cheap source for tea now. Typhoo English breakfast.

I get 3 lb boxes of Tetley Black leaf tea for $9 at  local Indian grocery store. For Tbags  I use Tetley Black  tea bags  ... available at Walmart ,Kroger and many other supermarkets. 

[Symphonyx2 49]

6 minutes ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

We have World Market, which I LOVE for home decor stuff and would use, at a push, for food...but the British food there is all 4-6 times the price it is here...

 

I’m leaving a full wardrobe of clothes at my mum’s house when I move, and plan to come back to visit every year...so I totally plan to bring an empty suitcase and return with it stuffed with must-have food 😆...and then I can just use World Market for emergencies. To be honest, it’s my fiancé that’s going to be the issue...he appears to have a life-dependency on Branston pickle, and if he doesn’t have it on every sandwich he consumes, I fear he may wither and die. I only introduced him to it a year ago...what a mistake that was 😂😂😂.

I'm cracking up!  I am the same with Galaxy... we try to keep several large bars in the house at all times!

 

Yes the import food is so expensive, damn the taxes!

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

17 minutes ago, Symphonyx2 said:

I'm cracking up!  I am the same with Galaxy... we try to keep several large bars in the house at all times!

 

Yes the import food is so expensive, damn the taxes!

Tell me about it! I took him out a XL jar of Branston in April (whist cost me about $2.50), which he’s ploughed through...he’s now moved onto little jars from World Market, which are half the size and cost $7-8 including tax. 

 

I’m going to start the first BA (Branstonholics Anonymous) chapter in California. His habit won’t be sustainable long term.

 

😆😆😆