Melancholic Mage

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.”

Thank you everyone. It helps having various view of input. I'll keep this thread posted as I go: if I need transcripts or further information for a prospective employer I'll update so here. But so far it looks like I'll be stuck for a while before I can move on job hunting let alone everything else.

I'm very sorry to hear this, Bunninuts. My 'blood' family haven't been the most supportive and if anything they've been more apathetic it feels. (Or in one case violent where I was assaulted then threatened to be reported if I went to the police about it to, in their words, 'f*** my visa up'. Needless to say it didn't happen because the police know victim intimidation when they see it and they aren't stupid.) I've barely had any contact with them since I moved. It honestly does hurt but I've learnt a few things by now. I've done my time. More than anyone should have. I've been there when they've needed it, done my best to make sure they were settled before I left, and even transferred my car to them when theirs was on the verge of being scrapped with age. In terms of getting that kind of effort paid back towards me? No. Not really. And it's just not worth it anymore. Your time is precious and it's high time we spent it on ourselves, not on others who do nothing but spread their own misery back onto us. I wouldn't think about this person. I wouldn't even look back. I don't want to get into politics too closely here but where I am, if anything, I've been met with intrigue and fascination with my accent. Don't believe what's in the media. Get down to ground and speak to people. Don't be afraid to. You'll always find some who're sour but the 95% general consensus I get from people is that they're wanting to stop ILLEGAL immigration. It's not anti-immigrants, it's anti-ILLEGAL immigrants. And it doesn't matter which 'side' you're on. People are just wanting to protect themselves.

Hello @Tony Wong, can you tell me how things went with your DL renewal? I'll soon be facing the same dilemma in a few years so helps to be prepared.

Hello, I've been in the U.S. coming up two weeks now, got my SSN yesterday, and I'm slowly getting things in order to start chiseling out a presence and life here with my partner: new phone number and phone, joint bank accounts, currency transfer, car insurance, driving license, car, job... In the mix of all this, my OH's family are voicing their concerns in regards to my UK grades. They don't believe they'll be accepted when I begin my job hunt after all the so-to-speak foundation work is done, and believe I'll need to study and sit a GED. Of course this doesn't apply to all jobs, but they tell me anything that isn't entry level or menial will need some kind of grade translation. My grades are from secondary education (high school) and college (BTEC diplomas) in the UK. To complicate things further, my institutes of education no longer exist. I can't give potential employers numbers to trace and fact-check because they've long been bulldozed. So do I look into WES.org and pay to get my credential equivalents, or should I hold my ground and see what jobs require what first? What have others done and what has your experiences been in settling here? ----------------------------------------------------------------- This is supplemental, but I want to be a little honest here and forgive me if I'm showing too much of my heart on my sleeve. Apologies in advance if this comes across as 'snowflake'y. Frankly, I've had a hard time of it growing up where I have in the UK regarding my career: from pigeon-holing, lack of progression, limited career choices along with crippled job opportunities... It's had a severe impact on my Mental Health over the years, and I'm very worried about finding something that's worthwhile and fulfilling. I worked very hard when I was younger to get the grades I needed for the profession I had some talent in (art and design - I have a distinction in Animation), but those jobs simply didn't exist back then. I ended up in menial and poor work environments (contact centres, Amazon warehousing) to put bread on the table, and now my grades are too old based on dated technology to be worth a dime. Please don't misread this - I'm willing to do whatever it takes to support myself and the family I'm hoping to start here soon. But my age is working against me in terms of going back to study towards a more reputable career, along with the monetary costs of such and my current residency status (some places require 1 year+ residency). I'm worried. And I apologise again if this simply isn't the place for venting like this, but it would very much help me just knowing I'm not the only one faced with this dilemma. Past or current. Thank you for reading all this, regardless.

Just to help others with timelines and estimates, I got my SSN in the mail today ten days after entry. On the back of the slip it mentions if my U.S. citizenship status or status as a noncitizen changes, I need to contact to update SSN and benefit record. Then the need to file an application for a replacement Social Security card with proof of identity and other evidence supporting the change. Being on a CR-1 visa, will this apply when I file the I-751 to become an immediate resident, and also when I eventually apply for U.S. citizenship? Will I get a whole new SSN or will this particular one stick with me? Thanks in advance.

No you did, no worries. I'm confident it's the same regardless. You also couldn't have done your medical without your appointment letter, so you probably had it without realising! I have a full review of the London Embassy here if it helps, pictures included: Good luck!

I applied for a CR-1 visa and didn't get any physical letter. Your appointment confirmation via email IS your letter. Print that out and take it with you to your interview. Always read through everything given to you carefully. It should be titled 'Immigrant Visa Interview Appointment' and under the bold subtitle of Important Information it states: You should present this letter upon arrival at the Embassy/Consulate General.

Just to add, my status changed three days after my interview and as Appleblossom mentioned here it ticked over to issued. I also paid expedited to home address. It looked like this: Got my passport back three days after with visa inside. Good luck!

My father-in-law has his own business here in the US and he would tell you himself it's certainly not all sunshine and daisies. So would my OH who works for him. I'm kept from the finer details but given the risk-factor of their line of work, union meddling, employees not using PPE correctly then trying to sue for their own negligence, and the way taxes work here, it's a hard path to walk. Still rewarding, but I can see the negatives more than the UK in honesty. I'm also aware of the UK sinking it's own ship right now, but hey, I'm just a little lost creative soul that'd be happy with a tenner. Either way, you all have my respect for taking the risks involved.

We've all done silly things when we were younger. For me personally I never fell to peer pressure or did anything truly wild; this to me constitutes as wild. I may not have ever dreamt of doing things like this nor really understand it (I'm boring), but I've seen it enough times to realise it's a thing. Thanks for answering. I wish you well no matter what you do going forward, and no matter what it sounds like you've made a very nice life for yourself where you're at. Wish you luck!

I hope you don't mind me asking, but why did you overstay to begin with? I'm not judging, and I may sound a bit 'kiss the flag' here, but I genuinely feel priviledged to be able to immigrate to such a beautiful country. I wouldn't dare risk losing the chance to live here let alone visit. Perhaps I'm being naive but it's legitimately how I feel and I honestly want to know what reasons people have for shirking authorities. Just curious.

Just to add to this, I entered US on October 1st via Dublin as my POE. Flying from UK to Dublin then Dublin to USA was cheaper for me and oddly enough, a one-way flight from Dublin was THE SAME PRICE as a return. So I opted for the one-way.

He doesn't have a credit card yet. Working to get that all figured out though. As for the just like being born sentiment, I couldn't agree more! Thank you, I really appreciate the kind words. I'm trying to take things one day at a time. I've yet to transfer my UK funds to his US account for starters, as I still have one or two outstanding payments (I think) I'm waiting on. Want to make sure it's all clear to move. Still haven't told HMRC I'm gone even because I'm still waiting on my P45 back in the UK. I would like my own separate bank account along with a joint, so I'll ask in the bank when we go visit once I get my GC/SSN. That all sounds good. I never had a credit card. Personal reasons. Willing to get one here as I know how important they are. As for DL, I've scoured through the list but it seems to be focused on either US Citizens or 'undocumented immigrants' with no SSN or means to get one. I may have to go in/make an appointment with as many documents as I can to ask about my next steps given my CR-1. Thank you all again.

@OldUser Ah. Sadly I have pretty much nothing. I'm a clean slate here: I'm living with him and his parents for now until I can get my feet on the ground. Car, job, house, etc. I have no utility bills, no bank accounts (yet). All I have is my passport, my visa, hopefully the USCIS letter including my SSN and my green card, whichever comes first, and that's that. It's looking like I'll have to try and get a joint account to start getting anywhere. Or take out a phone contract or some kind of bill from a provider here while I get my US phone number sorted out. Then I can use it as a possible utility bill of sorts...