SL2024

McDonalds

Thank you both for replying and reassuring me with your advice - much appreciated! I didn't think this would be an issue tbh, however, I just wanted to make sure that was all. Thank you again!

Hi all, Hope you are well. I am travelling to the USA from Heathrow this Saturday and I was just wondering what peoples experiences were in terms of going through security with the K1 Visa Sealed Documents Package? Did they ask you any questions at all about it or did they not say anything and you just put it in the tray for it to be scanned through? Just wondering if I need to explain to them what it is at all (even though it says on the package)? Apologies this is something I have just thought of and stressing me slightly. Hope you can help!

Their advisors on their live chat were very helpful and patient with assisting with making sure the Customs paperwork was completed accurately as well. Thank you for the recommendation @wallflowers

Brilliant - thank you for letting me know!

Apologies @Edward and Jaycel I was reading this post again and just wondered if you were able to clarify what you meant by copies of her Visa if possible please? I am only aware of the Visa being in the passport - do you mean they take a copy on the Photo ID page in the passport and the page where the K1 Visa has been added into the passport? Hope you can help!

Just an update on this but my Aunty received my P45 on my behalf on Thursday which was the day before my last working day with my employers. I went and collected it from her earlier today

Collection for my boxes on Monday

Just an update on this. I have booked my shipping with Send My Bag

I just had a look online and it seems that they aren't issuing physical debit cards in the US for Wise at the moment but also it says that if you move to the US from the UK then the debit card won't work due to card licenses being specific for different countries and regions?

That would be great - thank you!

I'm not too sure which provider I will be using yet. Some people have mentioned some like Wise, Atlantic Money and TorFX. Is he using Wise for his bank account savings to transfer over? For wedding expenses I used PayPal to send over to my fiancee. I just had a look at Wise site and is this the card your fiance has? https://wise.com/gb/card/

I don't unfortunately. I haven't had a credit card before.

I have a debit card but unfortunately my bank charges a percentage of the transaction for each purchase whether in pounds or in another currency. So I would like to avoid any extra fees if I can so it doesn’t affect my savings. I was considering maybe getting a Revolut card and uploading some currency on there but I will need to look into it a bit more

Sorry I am aware of that already as I have another post on the forum regarding credit cards with my progress and info regarding that. My fiancée spoke to the credit agency about it.

Hi all, Not sure if I need to start another post regarding this but I just wanted to ask what you did after travelling but before your bank account was opened in terms of spending money for expenses? Did your fiance/fiancee cover all expenses? Did you take some cash or use a travel card with some money uploaded onto it to pay for things? As there will be a period after travelling where I will need to get my SSN, California Driving License or California ID card and then open the bank account. So although my fiancée is financially responsible for me I still want to contribute where I can while out of work. I have been approved as an authorised user on her credit card but I will need my SSN to begin building my credit score. I am still keeping my UK account open as well. Hope you can help!

Do you mind if I ask how much you had to pay in international minutes or what the total cost was with the £3 transfer fee included as well?

Great advice as well @ScarletWitch6x! Thank you!

Hi all, Sorry for the late response on this but my fiancée did call the bank and they said I would need a California Driving License or California ID Card and just the membership application form. To get one of the photo ID cards I will need to go to the DMV where they will ask for proof of residency and so I will need to be added to her utility bills. For her water bill she did call and they said that I need a photo ID, fill out Update Account Form to add me to the utility bill and to show proof of ID. So I think what will do is get my SSN first, then once I get that go to the DMV for California Driving License ($45) or California Photo ID ($29), once received then get added to my fiancées utility bills and then apply for a bank account.

I think I might already have a HMRC account but I will check. Thank you for the advice

What did they say to you? And which bank was this with?

Hi all, Just an update on this. My fiancée has added me as an authorised user on her credit card and they said they would send a credit card for me to her. They only asked her for my name and my date of birth. They advised her to speak to a credit agency in terms of information on how I can build my credit score. She spoke to the credit agency and they said that I wouldn’t build any credit until I get my SSN in order to do that but my credit score would reflect my fiancées (which I think is around the 800 range). She is still responsible for the account though overall but I will of course be assisting with payments.

So your wife was able to be added as an authorised person on your credit card - were you living together or separately at the time? I'm just conscious that they might say no as my fiancee is in the USA and I am living in the UK at the moment and I don't travel to the USA until next month.

Thank you everyone for the advice so far. I have never had a credit card before so I really appreciate all the help with this. I have done an eligibility check for an AMEX card which came back as being very likely I would be approved. This would be useful in getting a UK account opened which can then be linked over to the USA and for applying a new card over there. I would have to wait 3 months at least though as I have to have held a UK AMEX account for at least 3 months. My cousin did send me a referral link to join for the AMEX Gold card (there is no fee in the first year but then a fee in the second year but the card can be cancelled within a 30 day period of the annual fee being taken from the account and that amount refunded looking at the info on the AMEX website) if I decide to apply for it. I have spoken to my fiancee and she is ok with adding me as an authorised user on her credit card (she is with Chase) until my credit score has been built up and then I can apply for my own credit card. In terms of other credit cards I am still looking into Capital One, etc.

Thank you - I will have a look into this Thank you - I will have a look into this