Melancholic Mage

Nothing yet. Trying to deal with proof of address issue which has taken priority in me setting up residency here. I had a thread about it but it had to be closed due to harassment from other members regarding my circumstances. I may not bother posting further updates.

Didn't work for me, was point-blank refused. Having the most difficulty with proof of address to the point I'm stuck. Some requirements appear to be State/bank dependant. Good luck.

Hang in there. I'm going through the exact same problems. I made a thread about it recently if you care to look through it, but you're not alone. If you ever need to talk, just DM me.

Just to let you know my SSN came just short of two weeks after I arrived. If you don't get your SSN after 4 weeks, I would go to your local Social Security Administration office and ask directly for your SSN. Apparently it's 50/50 whether you'll get yours or not through ticking the DS-260 box to request one. Check other threads on the forum. Also note that at least here where I am, the SSN is NOT a proof of address. The card itself doesn't have your address on it, so when photocopied or documented as evidence, it doesn't apply. This has been what I've been told so far after I brought my card still attached to its USCIS letterhead to the bank. Nope. Not accepted.

Not sure if this is relevant, but when I went to my embassy interview in September, the officer let slip that their systems were in the middle of a transition to newer ones. I wonder if the additional biometrics that appear to be popping up are related. It could be a system error so a retake is in order, or simply a new requirement to take additional bios for their new interface.

Lv 60 Black Mage here, at least way back when I played. Don't get me started on the Duty Finder. Treat any interactions with USCIS as a potential employer and you a candidate. Think of this as a job interview. I met my spouse online too, not through an MMO but through gaming-related chat in general, but I know governmental bodies will have zero interest in in-game interactions. Real life takes priority, in all things, so make sure you showcase that in your evidence going forward. It's important to not only make a good first impression, but to maintain it throughout the immigration process. Good luck.

@Ontarkie Those carvings are wonderful! That cat tail looks very tricky along with the ghost faces. Last pumpkin from me for Halloween. Gotta keep busy while figuring out Green Card and USA ties! Think I'll have a go at carving next year.

I entered early October on CR-1 and iirc I didn't have my fingerprints taken at POE. I was instead escorted into a back office behind the CBP booths and away from the crowds where I went through a more quiet administration process - just a nice man asking me questions behind a computer to confirm things. Beginning of fourth week here and no green card. The CBP officer told me it could take up to three months so I'm not concerned yet. I did get my SSN within two weeks however. I feel this is all standard given your information and my own experiences at current.

I can vouch for this. Filed I-130 shortly after marriage and it took 1 year and 6 months for me to enter the USA as a LPR. This was without any RFE's and pretty much a smooth process with no catches, so I was possibly one of the faster visa applicants. And yes, it shocked me since I wasn't prepared at all by how long it would take. Also, side note, while the 'working immediately' on a CR-1/IR-1 visa is true, it's far from realistic. For example, you need to open a bank account for wages, get a driving license and insurance on a vehicle, then a vehicle itself to actually travel to said job. And this is before you've even applied for any openings, not to mention the hurdle of possible grade transcripts to ones US employers can understand. Just be aware that no immigration route is easy by any means. Legal ones, anyway.

I have a CR-1/IR-1 visa and this is the case as @appleblossom outlined. My visa inside my passport acts as a temporary endorsement for work until my actual green card arrives in the mail - this can reportedly take up to three months. Also, you may have other issues before you can work right away. Such as opening a bank account for wages, and getting a driving license and a vehicle to actually commute to said job. But one step at a time!

From my understanding, if you've had any vaccinations at all then you're going to have a hard time pulling a religious grounds waiver. You have to have documented proof of refusing ANY AND ALL vaccines on ethical or religious grounds. And couple that with documented texts that support your religion being against vaccinations. I was strongly against Covid vaccines for personal reasons, and I can very much cite ethical ones as well, but they didn't budge one bit on it.

A new one I did yesterday for good measure.

This is delightfully charming, but unfortunately USCIS and fellow embassy officials won't be pleased with having to rifle through your well-thought-out collage. Treat them like an employer and that you're going to an interview. Be as official, organised, and as stream-lined as possible. Bring evidence in full such as complete receipts, full photos, travel/plane tickets. Basically, things they can photocopy for records. Nothing that's been popped together with glue.

Well, here's an update for posterity I guess. External HR who now deal with payroll (SD Worx) gave me a list of instructions on how to register a new account to access payslips. But straight away on following the instructions, the portal asks for a 'company security pin' which isn't detailed at all in their guide. I open up another ticket asking what the pin is, then send yet another email to my manager. My manager who is now working night shifts took about a day to respond, saying they didn't know, then forwarded the email to the defunct internal HR department that isn't outsourced. The head of which eventually replied another day later with what they thought was the pin, and to click on another link if I still can't gain access so they CAN EMAIL MY P45 TO ME. Wait, WHAT. WHY DIDN'T THEY DO THIS TO BEGIN WITH?! The external HR company replied to my ticket in the interim saying they can't access my P45 and closed said ticket straight away. Which wasn't at all what I asked them to begin with (I asked for the company pin) so clearly they didn't even bother reading it. And since they closed my ticket immediately, I couldn't follow it up to explain to them in baby terms. Which is insulting to babies actually, given the incompetence thus far. Back to the payslip portal I go, type in the code, it goes through, put in my credentials, and... account is already assigned to a user. Yes. It's ME. But logging it with my usual credentials doesn't work, because they locked my account after I left. It's disabled. So I'm completely stuck. Clicking on the link my actual HR department gave me should nothing work - which nothing has or does - takes me straight back to raising a ticket with the external SD Worx. Again. This entire s***show spanned over three days was the last straw. I told them (politely) that I would report their business failures to HMRC, and I'm seething that they said they could apparently EMAIL ME my P45 this entire time. After a MONTH PLUS of messages back and forth. Too little too late, and I refuse to raise another ticket attempting to explain when they do nothing but close it immediately after their own ignorant response. So the link I posted back when I first opened this thread to HMRC's website states that you need the P45 to go through with reportedly leaving the country. This isn't true. I went through it for the heck of it and right at the end, it asks if you have pages 2 and 3 of your P45. If you select 'no', it asks you to detail why. Which I did. In very clear detail, explaining my employer and their outsourced payroll refuse to provide me with my legally-obligated document, and should they need further evidence, I have it in spades of screenshots and emails. I'll post back with the outcome, see what HMRC do. I doubt they'll inform me about any sort of enquiry they open off the back of this, but I can't believe a well-known, big company chain like the one I worked in would allow such ignorance towards something that should be so basic.

With Halloween around the corner thought some members might like to show off their creations or even ones made by friends or family. Just post your pumpkin and that's that! This is the first one I've made since settling in the US. Hope it turns some heads and extra points to those who recognise it!

I used an accordion file but in honesty I wouldn't recommend it. I used coloured sticky notes on each compartment to separate my birth certificate, interview letter, marriage certificate, police ACRO, you name it. I was very organised! But in the end, the lady at the window asked for pretty much everything all at once. So this meant I was fumbling around to pull out each and every bit of paper from each compartment, then fumbling again to put everything back in its rightful place. Your mileage may vary. I noticed almost everyone in line had clear polypockets which, in hindsight, is much easier. It's quicker to take out all the papers at once and hand them over, or rifle through them in hand rather than try and pick out sheets from each compartment. The accordion file did protect my documents from the elements however, which is a must for the London Embassy at least. Whichever you choose, good luck!

Thank you both. I understand a little better now and I'll be sure to ask my husband about the 1040, but they may have to ask their family/my in-laws for clarification and guidance. To be honest I've been struggling to settle but I imagine that's understandable and comes with the turf. I considered making a thread about it but I don't want to come across as 'whiny' or 'snowflakey'. If I dare speak out a bit, people have been witch-hunted on here for less. Or worse, for more.

They insist they can't email it to me. I have to wait and see what this new HR external source says that I just submitted a request to about an hour ago. I may even owe my workplace money due to maximizing my leave entitlement before I resigned from the company. It's a bit messy. Please explain abbreviations SRT and MFJ? I'm unfamiliar with a lot of things and very much learning day-by-day. I don't deal with taxes, pensions, etc too well. The $10,000 threshold outside the U.S.A - does that take into account currency conversion or not? And I believe pensions overseas count towards this, yes? I'm not trying to wait around, believe me. I chased them about this before I even resigned. They lied through their teeth and kept promising I would get my P45 before I left the country. My husband was not willing to wait any longer to return to the States so he could return to his work - he told me should I get it in the post my family would forward it on or let me know. Convinced, I agreed because frankly I didn't want to stay in the UK for any longer than necessary due to personal circumstances and reasons. I could print the P85 and explain why but it feels like a lot of work, time, stress, and money, when I could submit the correct form online instantly for free. Once I get my P45 that is. To get international minutes to call HMRC, I may have to pay extra regardless. I'm trying to avoid any fees or charges since I have no income and little access to funds right now. I'm still trying to find my feet. I do want to call HMRC and 'tell on' my employer out of spite at this point, however.

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum section as this scenario is a bit mixed. I resigned from my job on September 18th to emigrate to the USA. I was promised by my employer I would get a P45 in the post. I need this to inform HMRC about my exit from the UK to pay or claim back any income tax as stated here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-your-income-tax-right-if-youre-leaving-the-uk-p85 You cannot proceed any further online without it. I entered the USA on October 1st and I still have yet to receive my P45 after multiple attempts of chasing it. I sent an email on October 13th, just short of one month since I resigned, asking for them to send my P45 via post or email as this is a legal obligation on their part - otherwise if I don't hear back from them in one week's time I would inform HMRC of their failure to comply. I finally get an email today from my old employer (just as I was looking into how to contact HMRC overseas) stating that they no longer send out P45's. They instead gave me some external access link for people who have left the business that allows you to make various requests from HR - from colleague cards, payslips, but no P45 option is listed. I went with the closest option and outlined my situation, giving them one more week in order to send me the information I need to inform HMRC or I would follow-up in reporting them. The worst part about this is the deadline to inform HMRC to my understanding is October 31st. Does any of this even matter, doesn't the IRS/HMRC talk to each other anyway? Or should I continue on my warpath to get my P45 to get all of this finalised? If I DO need to contact HMRC, can anyone advise on the best way to do so while in the USA? (Cheapest options, if someone from the UK can do it on my behalf, etc.) I'm stuck in limbo here and I can't even move my life savings/UK funds over until I know for sure I don't owe any money back in the UK.

£3 flat rate compared to Wise's £100+ transfer fee isn't minimal. Especially when that currency conversion means you're actually losing around $150-$200. Depends what you send. And Atlantic Money uses live exchange rates then and there from Google. It might not be much compared to the amount you're sending, but you need every cent you can hold onto getting set up here. Wise asks me to pay more and jump through more hoops in converting GBP > USD to their account, then sending it from their account to its final one in the USA. Unless you have a Wise card, which aren't available in the US right now, I don't see it as an easier option myself. But do what you're most comfortable with.

Adding this here from a kind suggestion by @TBoneTX. Navigating through the visa process, one of the biggest questions I asked myself was how I was going to transfer my UK money over to the US. Others have asked this question too and responses have been mixed. Using your UK bank to transfer funds directly, using a third-party exchange such as TorFX, or using the multi-currency specialist bank that is Wise... these have all been common suggestions. I personally had settled on using Wise, until I found out about Atlantic Money. Atlantic Money has a flat £3 fee, no matter the amount, so long as you're willing to wait a few days extra for the funds to clear. And if not, they offer an expedited service that is still cheaper than Wise's transfer fees. Not only that, they also exchange Euros along with GBP, and can exchange it to currencies other than USD such as Australian and Canadian Dollars. Excellent reviews online wherever I've looked from Trustpilot to Reddit, and I plan to use them soon once I get my affairs in the UK sorted. https://atlantic.money/gb/en/ I entered the USA just shy of three weeks ago now and have yet to move my money across due to some outstanding tax issues, but once I use Atlantic Money I'll be sure to update this thread for others. This appears to be the best solution by far for those who are sending over large amounts of funds from GBP to USD, and also have the time to wait for the transaction to complete. I hope others find this useful.

I'm actually in the process of doing this on a CR-1 visa and my husband and I are going to head to his bank in a few days to ask about exactly this. I have a Social Security Number and apparently that should class as proof of address according to bank requisites (as it's USCIS mail). Other than that though, all I have is my passport with visa inside. Hoping we can open a joint account together, but as people have said above, the banking here is very different from the UK as I'm finding out. The only way we can know for certain is by going in and asking. In terms of sending money over, I initially was going to use Wise until I found out about Atlantic Money. Flat £3 fee, no matter the amount, so long as you're willing to wait a few days extra for the funds to clear. And if not, they offer an expedited service that is still cheaper than Wise. Excellent reviews, and I plan to use them soon once I get my affairs/taxes over in the UK sorted. Good luck, and please keep us posted here on the outcome! https://atlantic.money/gb/en/

This sounds so dangerous to me. Not only has he made it clear he was denied a study visa and tourism visa, but the fact he outright says he wants to marry you when you HAVEN'T EVEN MET YET? Your friends and family have every right to disagree with your plans to go to Pakistan. It's VERY CLEAR he's trying to get into the USA no matter what. Please think of yourself. A lot of these cases on the forum turn into domestic violence once the marriage is all said and done and he's actually entered the USA. Don't throw your life away. Marriage is supposed to be an oath built on love and trust. It's quite evident there's none of that to be found here - regardless of what he's told you.

I like both. Depends which side of the Atlantic I want to pit myself against on any given day!

That's true, I'm very much less experienced. I'm just here to promote my early-life crisis into a mid-life one! (lol) But being here in what's meant to be a blue state, I'm surprised by how many views I've heard that voice quite the opposite of what you would expect. I do very much worry about the comparisons people make towards Trump in terms of his language though: it's a free country which is the beauty of it so, of course, free speech! But comparing his words to Hitler worries me. It's why there's so much hate and unrest regarding him, let alone disgusting assassination attempts. America is built from immigrants and I've seen footage and articles from his campaign and agenda that highlight that - the VP Debate being just one. I haven't heard of anyone who legally went through the immigration process being consciously targeted or sabotaged by his policies. But apologies, I'm running my mouth, and this isn't the place for it. I wish you all the best @appleblossom and I hope no matter what happens November 5th we can stand together as one country and as one people. <3 I have my own stories to tell too from the many visits I made here before I was able to enter as a legal resident. Very true not to generalize and absolutely right. There's so much going on these days that I think we're all losing sight to what's really important. You need to live your life and do what you need to do for the coveted pursuit of happiness as written in the declaration of independence. Only one thing's for sure for myself: I'm here for the long haul. Britain never felt like home to me - ever. I don't belong there. America could be on fire and I'd still stand in the flames. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Guess the best advice I can give is not my own but Dr. Seuss': “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”