Melancholic Mage

@smilingstone Have you tried US Mobile? https://www.usmobile.com/

Thank you, it took quite some time to write up! Please let us know how your appointment goes.

Hello, Lee. Since I've arrived here in October I've gotten my SSN, Green Card, State ID, joint bank account, and passed my written driving theory. This all sounds very easy but I assure you, it hasn't been. It's been grueling. Once I pass the practical driving test, I'll finally be set to apply for jobs and have the means to get there. I'm currently getting real experience on the road as everything is essentially mirrored here and I can only practice on weekends when my other half is free from work. I'm unable to walk or do much of anything without a car. No point doing voluntary work if I can't even get to it. And no networks that I know of. I'm working on converting my UK CV into a US resume these days and gaining the experience needed to pass the physical driving test. I had a full UK driver's license which makes things easier - I know how to drive. But it's very easy to slip up on some of the unfamiliar signs and road systems. Once I get some job offers and interviews, I may post an update or two. But frankly, my opinion of this forum has pretty much declined to really bother documenting how I'm doing anymore.

Thank you @SL2024. It's nice to know my efforts aren't entirely wasted. We are saving for our own home and don't have ownership over bills where we are, hence our personal circumstances being more complicated than others and older folks on here quick to judge. I'm sure we're not the only ones reliant on kind family as a stopgap. In the end, in the mess of everything, it turns out we didn't pay our fee for my green card when we thought we did. USCIS sent us a payment notice, and it was the proof of address we absolutely needed to get everything rolling. We have a joint bank account now, I now have a State ID, and I've passed through my US driving theory yesterday all off the back of it. Mistakes into miracles. I would suggest anyone in a similar position getting set up this way not to pay the green card fee until a notice is sent. It doesn't even delay the green card, which I also now have. Regarding HMRC I reported not having my P45 and explained why. They will ask at the end of the form if you go through it online regardless of the warnings. It took some time and an error on their part making me resubmit the form again, but I got a message on my online account a few days ago saying the tax has been calculated and they owe me half a grand. They should be sending a cheque in the post. (Here or within the UK remains to be seen.) It all got sorted out in the end. But they didn't make it easy. What happened with my employer refusing to give me my paperwork, who's to say. I can't say I care anymore.

@Zikaengee It's definitely two years as stated above. I thought you might like to look at this official USCIS calculator to remove any doubt: just pop in the date on your Green Card and it will tell you the earliest date you can file within the 90 day window. Good luck! https://www.uscis.gov/forms/when-to-file-your-petition-to-remove-conditions

Following up my last post, I received my Green Card today and it's the two years conditional as expected. So more evidence pointing to USCIS error if you have an expiry date outside your filing restrictions. Any update OP?

@laylalex I finally put on some make-up! Did it for Thanksgiving. It looked okay I think... had some nice smoky eyeshadow in the corners of my eyes that bled to silver, with a few hiccups here and there. (Some mineral powder that went, well, everywhere. I'm learning.) But... I ended up looking like a panda at the end. Not sure if it was too much mascara dusting from my lashes, or the eyeliner smudging? But I ended up having black sleep in the corners of my eyes and it just... blotched. Very attractive. And no, I didn't rub at my eyes at all. Only grace was I had glasses on to hide the worst of it, but pretty much hid the rest of the night once I noticed. Also had sister-in-law try some weird nail dip varnish on me and it's all terribly chipped after a few days. Because I'm a heavy-handed working woman who doesn't go give a flying duck about my nails at the best of times: I have a job to do, I do it. And now I can't get this blasted stuff off. Don't think I'm cut out for this stuff. Suggestions going forward?

@banang Here is what I was given to me directly from Visa Medicals and is also what they follow in terms of CDC requirements: https://www.cdc.gov/immigrant-refugee-health/media/pdfs/Vaccine-Requirements-According-to-Applicant-Age-panel-physicians-p.pdf If your Covid jab was over 6 months ago, yes, you will need another one. You can pay Boots for one who will give you a vaccination slip with the date, time, and dose with batch ID listed. They will accept this. If you have not finished your two dose 'course' of jabs for Covid immunity, you will have to do this to fulfil requirements. If you have had zero Covid jabs, you will have to get two or the jab that is a designed single shot to be classed as protected. Otherwise, it's boosters from here on out. Children's ages are listed here. I don't have much knowledge on children and their requirements as I have yet to have any, but they will follow this sheet. Hope this helps.

I'm still waiting on my green card and entered around 5 months before my 2 year anniversary. If I get a USCIS slip up 10 year green card, I'll update here. I personally think this is an error however. Your lawyer shouldn't be so flippant about your worries. It's hard to say what USCIS will do - they may just let the error slide or they may pin it on you if left unreported. I would try and contact them for clarification. What happened to others users may not fall in the same way for you.

I compiled my entire experience of the visa medical in London here, along with vaccination requirements. The influenza jab is seasonal, so since it's around flu season you may need this as opposed to my own experience. I had to pay for Covid vaccinations at Boots, and paid for my Hepatitis vaccinations on the day to be administered. I hope this thread helps:

Hi Benang, I don't believe so. They want to see a full GP summary/patient care record so they can assess which vaccines you've had and which ones you haven't. They worked their way down that list with my own medical. The few I was missing were administered to me then and there for a fee. They do not give Covid boosters/vaccinations and will send you away to another clinic or a Boots store close by to get one. The only blood test I know of is one taken by the doctor there and it's mainly to check for any serious conditions - not antibodies. If you have no vaccination records at all, I doubt you will get past the receptionist as it's a listed requirement.

My heart goes out to all other ladies diagnosed with PCOS. I've never been slim and was diagnosed six years ago to have PCOS. Since meeting my now husband I'm doing a lot better in terms of my diet. My condition has improved drastically but the hirsutism is sadly irreversible (and very annoying not to mention harmful to self-esteem). I just cut out carbs where I can. I didn't try any kind of fad diet or doctor's advice. (UK doctors are useless to be frank.) I don't eat rice (cauliflower rice is my substitute now), chips/fries, or crisps/potato chips. I drastically slew my chocolate intake which was the biggest kicker for me. On occasion I'll have some mash, or a few choc-coated blueberries, and I can't help but have some bread here and there. (Texas Toast is a favourite discovery of mine!) But the difference I feel is noteworthy since I altered my diet. And (sorry T-Bone) but my time of the month isn't nearly as heavy as it used to be, which is common with PCOS. Also look into myo-inositol supplements. They have some online/on Amazon specifically for PCOS sufferers.

I had a similar experience and visited the US for months at a time to see my spouse. I was questioned by CBP officers why I had stayed so long in the past. The biggest one, the max three months ESTA allowance for Thanksgiving and Christmas, was mainly on account of myself and my husband receiving a no-fault eviction notice and losing our flat in the UK after 4.5 years there. We did nothing wrong: landlady wanted to sell so we got kicked out. Simple as that. Lovely UK government does nothing to protect honest tenants. With no room at my parents for both of us and too little time to find somewhere new given minimum notice, and with us awaiting a visa interview appointment to boot with no possible way of knowing when it would be, we had to split ways. Stressful isn't the word. Of course, this was too long-winded to explain. I got the second degree until I told the CBP that I had an interview scheduled with the embassy for a visa - at this point it had processed through. They didn't let up until I showed them the confirmation letter/email. Nearly made me miss my connecting flight. Be as honest as possible: bring payslips, car payment statements, anything that shows ties to your home country. Just incase. Expect scrutiny, and for them to ask the purpose of your stay and why you're visiting so frequently. Honesty is the best policy.

I paid £5 to my old UK provider for an 'add-on' of 50 international minutes. Calling my bank twice and running through security checks with the fraud team ate through 30 of them. I had to make two transfers due to daily transfer limits. All together, with a flat £3 fee each time, it cost me £6 to move over all my funds. Add the extra £5 in minutes with my phone plan, it cost me £11 in total.

Transferred my money through Atlantic. It got to my husband's bank account in the three working days advised, with a base £3 fee that was automatically taken off the transfer since no payment required, and also locked in the exchange rate. (Since GBP has crashed from 1.29 down to 1.26, I was lucky I initiated conversion when I did following US election results and UK budget announcement.) Had to go through extra verification for a higher transfer limit, and also pay for international minutes as my own bank withheld my payments thinking possible fraud which was a slight headache, but otherwise smooth. All money accounted for, exactly as specified, and on the day quoted. Way cheaper than Wise. Hundreds of pounds cheaper. Cannot recommend enough.