Waiting for Packet 3, snore

[gwenneh 7]

Another day, more silence. Nothing from London in my e-mail.

On the up-side, though - I am about to leave for a wedding in a haunted castle. Sometimes my job just rules.

[C and J 1]

On the up-side, though - I am about to leave for a wedding in a haunted castle. Sometimes my job just rules.

Sounds great... far better than my desk job

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Haunted castles and a six week trip to the states. No.... I'm not jealous.

I realised while filling out my DS-230 (I know, waaaay ahead of time) that I've only been to the states twice before (one was a 2 month road trip) and never to LA. Am I totally crazy to just jump in blind like this? Maybe it's just mid immigration blues talking.

[gwenneh 7]

I think that you'll be in for some culture shock, but you've dipped a toe in already so you're at least somewhat prepared. LA is a world of its own, though...be warned! Absolutely nothing like Ireland at all - you're going to think you're on another planet for a while.

Edited October 25, 2007 by Gwen666

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Ya I know, I thought that this process would take longer at the start, and thought maybe we could go over at Christmas and have a look around. But since I realised that DCF is so much faster, it doesn't seem worthwhile.

I work in film, so LA seems like the best option. I would prefer to be further up the Cali coast, but there's no work for me there. I've already started all over again in London, but this will much further away, and I know they don't call it la la land for nothing.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Hey Poit -- we've never lived in LA before either but we're going for it too! Like you, we don't really have a choice as my husband's also in the entertainment industry (and going nuts hanging around here in Connecticut). Theoretically I could pursue my line of work in most parts of the world, but LA is one of the more difficult places to find a new job for me. Still, we have to give Hollywood a shot or we will be kicking ourselves big time if we didn't.

Bruce had only ever been to the East Coast before we went for a 2-week visit to California -- I had a business trip that was going to take me from Sacramento to San Francisco, then on to San Diego and then LA, so I figured he should come along to see if he actually liked it. He LOVED it! (Actually, he liked Sacramento best of all, go figure.) And the fact that it was like another planet was one of its attractions.

We had dinner with a friend of mine who works at NBC/Universal, and we asked him (a native of Boston's South Shore) what he thought of LA. "Okay", he said, "we all know that this isn't 'normal'. But who cares? When you wake up to another beautiful day... you can't help but feel that life is much, much better than what you've left behind." So jump into the pool of weirdness and we'll see you in LA next year!

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

*shoos the tumbleweed away*

Our file has had 2 touches in 2 days, so here's hoping something positive comes out of it. We're starting to see approvals from filers either side of us (date-wise) so it can't be much longer

I know your approved now C and J, so it's not so bad to say it, but I think they invented the 'touch' as a very cruel method of torture.

Still, we have to give Hollywood a shot or we will be kicking ourselves big time if we didn't.

....

"Okay", he said, "we all know that this isn't 'normal'. But who cares? When you wake up to another beautiful day... you can't help but feel that life is much, much better than what you've left behind." So jump into the pool of weirdness and we'll see you in LA next year!

That's basically exactly how we feel. I'm pretty recently out of uni, really just starting my career, so we figure it's best to go now, I would forever wonder what might have been.

I find people in this business in the UK are very wary of LA, and generally think it's a god-awful place with very little artistic merit. Usually because of their experience with Hollywood studios. But about 4 separate people I know, have had to go for work recently, and LOVED it. Hahaha. Loved the sunshine, loved the sunny attitudes everyone had. Loved the city. Felt like everyone they dealt with was super professional. So go figure.

[gwenneh 7]

Will today be the day? We leave for the US for six weeks this afternoon. Chances are it will come while there's no-one to pick up the post.

Come on, London - I just want this over with so we can get on with our lives!

[gwenneh 7]

Ugh. I've also resigned myself to getting the RFE due to London's inability to change their own website and paperwork - the one about submitting affidavits of a bona fide marriage with the I-130. They're on the I-130 instructions, but London's stupid checklist says do not include anything extra and yet they're still sending out RFE's for these affidavits...for something people were told not to include...being contrary to their own instructions.

Just another thing to add time and stress to this process. *hatehatehate*

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Really??? I didn't submit any more than was asked for on the checklist, therefore nothing personal, just the forms they asked for and the photocopies of passports and marriage cert.

damn. And they didn't give me any reciept number on the email NOA1, so I don't have any reference to quote if I did send in extra stuff.

[gwenneh 7]

Yeah, isn't it fantastic? The BEST part about that is that I included four copies of the G-325A and they sent the extra three copies back, along with the cover checklist, with the bit about not sending anything extra circled! The mis-information call centre still hasn't been brought up to speed on this, either - but check out over on Dive Into America, where masses of people got RFE's for something they weren't told to include.

I love immigration. This is so much *fun*.

/sarcasm

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

The LA of popular imagination doesn't really exist - yes, there are weird things but I personally find the city of Detroit to be a far stranger place. My husband thought there was no way he would like living here, and his smug British friends convinced about the ####### about the city, BUT 1. The weather is great. 2. From our apartment in Venice we can go hiking in the woods in the Santa Monica mountains in 20 minutes. We climbed up skull rock yesterday in Temescal Canyon yesterday and look over the LA basin from almost deafening silence. 3. We can eat about 20 different cuisines from around the world (including better Indian food than in England) within walking distance of our apartment (yes, people really do walk in LA) 4. The beach is 5 blocks away from us 5. Almost every single film gets released here. etc etd etc etc

[Mags 112]

Wow, it IS quiet in here.

*trips over tumbleweed*

This is what happens when everyone moves to the States and gets jobs, no more time for VJ! Best of luck to everyone still waiting; I've got everything crossed for you all!

Edited October 29, 2007 by Mags

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

The LA of popular imagination doesn't really exist - yes, there are weird things but I personally find the city of Detroit to be a far stranger place. My husband thought there was no way he would like living here, and his smug British friends convinced about the ####### about the city, BUT 1. The weather is great. 2. From our apartment in Venice we can go hiking in the woods in the Santa Monica mountains in 20 minutes. We climbed up skull rock yesterday in Temescal Canyon yesterday and look over the LA basin from almost deafening silence. 3. We can eat about 20 different cuisines from around the world (including better Indian food than in England) within walking distance of our apartment (yes, people really do walk in LA) 4. The beach is 5 blocks away from us 5. Almost every single film gets released here. etc etd etc etc

I'm moving there, so you don't have to convince me. I can't wait for the beach and the sun, I've already been very impressed by the National and State Parks throughout the country, and there's a real concentration of them nearby. I've heard people say that LA is expensive, but I have looked around, and it does not come close to London. I still can't quite believe that we're going. Sounds like heaven.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

If you like National Parks, LA is a perfect location - you are within a weekend break of Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Sequoia, King's Canyon and Yosemite. The beauty and variety in those 5 locations is astonishing! Plus all the local state parks for day hikes (if so inclined). Southern California is perfect for outdoorsy stuff. Myself and husband are learning to rock climb.

As for cost of living, well - I have had this debate many times, although the dollar was a lot stronger when we made the move and were most aware of the differences. I didn't necessarily find an appreciable difference because housing in SoCal is stupidly expensive. The cost of running cars and CA state income tax does put a dent in your finances. Eating out and consumer products are generally much cheaper, of course, but certain grocery items are not (I still find it staggering that a lemon costs about the same when I can grow them in my back yard).