Moving To California, Tips/Advice?
Discussion
So upon a recent trip to Italy with my girlfriend I proposed while in Florence and she accepted, so now I'm starting to plan about moving abroad for hopefully the middle of next year.
I've had a look on the interweb and there seems to be a cluster bomb of information regarding things I need to do, I would be very grateful if some of you chaps could give me a hand with things I'll need to do.
We are going to be filing the K1 Visa application in the coming month or so, I am under the impression that it takes about 4-6 months to process but can be up to 10, does anyone know what the average time would be?
I was going to try and go there with just a couple of suitcases but I might need to think about shipping some stuff. Can anyone point me in the direction of a website that would give me a quote?
I've had a visa before so have a SSN and an American bank account which I'm assuming will be helpful, as I will have somewhere to send my money. I'll be submitting a work permit form after I get married along with my permanent resident application which I know can take about 6 months to go through.
I'm going with the view that a car is a necessity, so looking at purchasing one with cash, which I should imagine wouldn't be too much of a hurdle, albeit I understand it will probably be crappy, I'm preparing myself for that. Will insurance be much of issue? I ran through allstate.com the other night and it came up at $500 for 6 months on a 2002 Mustang GT (wishful thinking on car here) but I doubt it would be that simple, bearing in mind I have no real history in the US. What would my option be?
I'm going to be looking at the worst credit cards that anyone can get just to pay it off and establish a credit history. (If these exist? I know they are around in the UK)
I know I've contacted a few of you before via PH by email and you've offered some invaluable advice. I'm over the moon that I'll be able to spend my life with such an amazing woman and have my dream come true by living in America.
I've had a look on the interweb and there seems to be a cluster bomb of information regarding things I need to do, I would be very grateful if some of you chaps could give me a hand with things I'll need to do.
We are going to be filing the K1 Visa application in the coming month or so, I am under the impression that it takes about 4-6 months to process but can be up to 10, does anyone know what the average time would be?
I was going to try and go there with just a couple of suitcases but I might need to think about shipping some stuff. Can anyone point me in the direction of a website that would give me a quote?
I've had a visa before so have a SSN and an American bank account which I'm assuming will be helpful, as I will have somewhere to send my money. I'll be submitting a work permit form after I get married along with my permanent resident application which I know can take about 6 months to go through.
I'm going with the view that a car is a necessity, so looking at purchasing one with cash, which I should imagine wouldn't be too much of a hurdle, albeit I understand it will probably be crappy, I'm preparing myself for that. Will insurance be much of issue? I ran through allstate.com the other night and it came up at $500 for 6 months on a 2002 Mustang GT (wishful thinking on car here) but I doubt it would be that simple, bearing in mind I have no real history in the US. What would my option be?
I'm going to be looking at the worst credit cards that anyone can get just to pay it off and establish a credit history. (If these exist? I know they are around in the UK)
I know I've contacted a few of you before via PH by email and you've offered some invaluable advice. I'm over the moon that I'll be able to spend my life with such an amazing woman and have my dream come true by living in America.
Thanks for all your advice chaps. My fiancee left this morning. Very much looking forward to going over there. I really didn't think all this would happen, its going to be a massive change for me but I'm very much looking forward to it!
So is a police certificate the same thing as a CRB check?
Going to be gutted to have to get rid of my Clio! I wanted to keep it for a very long time. (Although having had it for 6 and a half years that might be considered time enough!) Its the thought of downgrading I don't look forward to. Oh well.
Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
So is a police certificate the same thing as a CRB check?
Going to be gutted to have to get rid of my Clio! I wanted to keep it for a very long time. (Although having had it for 6 and a half years that might be considered time enough!) Its the thought of downgrading I don't look forward to. Oh well.
Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for that Gavin.
I'm not sure whether the application will be processed at a field office or a service centre, but the service centre aims to do them within 5 months, which would work out okay.
I feel like I'm getting stressed already at doing this, but its going to be worth it in the end.
I'm not sure whether the application will be processed at a field office or a service centre, but the service centre aims to do them within 5 months, which would work out okay.
I feel like I'm getting stressed already at doing this, but its going to be worth it in the end.
Okay I've found out about the Police Certificate. Thats £45.
Does anyone know if an I-864 will be required? http://london.usembassy.gov/i864.html I've read that it is when submitting a K1 fiance visa but on the London embassy website it states that it is not required. I'm assuming I would have needed evidence of support as most of my money is in things I'll be selling.
Does anyone know if an I-864 will be required? http://london.usembassy.gov/i864.html I've read that it is when submitting a K1 fiance visa but on the London embassy website it states that it is not required. I'm assuming I would have needed evidence of support as most of my money is in things I'll be selling.
Famous Graham said:
Polarbert said:
Does anyone here think its necessary to hire a lawyer to do this k1 visa? I've looked through it and I don't see what having a lawyer would add in terms of value.
The friend I mentioned earlier didn't. But I'm not sure if I would be confident in myself to confirm I had everything squared away. USCIS are notoriously picky.ETA - I think I'd probably pay someone qualified a one-off to look over everything once I had it collated. If only for peace of mind.
Edited by Famous Graham on Sunday 19th August 15:34
I think thats the idea behind our situation, I just wasn't sure about going over earlier, as it would be right in the middle of the application process and I wasn't sure how long I had to hand in my passport for, or whether I could travel using it to America, but not use the K1 visa.
I'm having real trouble trying to get my head around the shipping options. I can't seem to find anywhere that states how much it is without emailing. I have emailed a few but not gotten a reply yet. I'll be likely taking a mountain bike, a surround sound system, and some odds and ends like books, nothing major. I literally have no idea how much it is going to cost.
I'm having real trouble trying to get my head around the shipping options. I can't seem to find anywhere that states how much it is without emailing. I have emailed a few but not gotten a reply yet. I'll be likely taking a mountain bike, a surround sound system, and some odds and ends like books, nothing major. I literally have no idea how much it is going to cost.
The latest is that I'm going to leave the surround system here, probably selling it, and my mountain bike too.
I got a quote from movecorp for £525 from Nottingham to San Diego, which was for a 40 cubic foot space. Shipping took 8-12 weeks. Does that seem like a reasonable price? I'm just trying to establish a price without the bike and the speakers.
I got a quote from movecorp for £525 from Nottingham to San Diego, which was for a 40 cubic foot space. Shipping took 8-12 weeks. Does that seem like a reasonable price? I'm just trying to establish a price without the bike and the speakers.
Its nothing too fancy, its a seperates system, featuring some £500 Wharfdale floorstanders, £80 Eltax surround speakers, and an £150 Aiwa AV amplifier.
I'm thinking now that I just might sell as much as I can. And bring things over in an extra suitcase on my flight or something.
With regards to the visa the three issues in my mind are making sure that the application is filled out correctly, providing enough evidence of the relationship, and the affadavit of support, which I've found out I don't need to submit until I have the interview at the embassy.
My fiancee wants to get a lawyer, but I'm hoping that we'll just be able to pay one to look over the application. I don't see what value they could add besides advice for the other things as they wouldn't really have much control over them.
I'm thinking now that I just might sell as much as I can. And bring things over in an extra suitcase on my flight or something.
With regards to the visa the three issues in my mind are making sure that the application is filled out correctly, providing enough evidence of the relationship, and the affadavit of support, which I've found out I don't need to submit until I have the interview at the embassy.
My fiancee wants to get a lawyer, but I'm hoping that we'll just be able to pay one to look over the application. I don't see what value they could add besides advice for the other things as they wouldn't really have much control over them.
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