Hello from the London area

Hi, my name is Tracey and I am an American living in England.  We live about 30 miles east of central London near the city of Grays.  My fiance was transferred here for work in May so I decided to take a leave of absence from my job in Kansas City, MO to join him over here.

We were planning a wedding in Kansas City, MO for this October but we were not there, so we decided to do it here.  My dearest and I were wed in Penzance, Cornwall on 19 October, 2002.  We were supposed to be going home today actually, but Tom's contract was extended another 18 months or so.  We are going home next week and staying for 3 weeks!!!  

I am really excited to be here in the UK, I think it is such a fabulous place!!  We have done so much traveling since we have been here (Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, and all over England) that I am looking forward to the rest of our 18 months here.

I don't really know anyone here yet, but I am looking forward to meeting some people in the area.  Do people from this forum get together from time to time??

When we return from the US I will start a job search here which should be interesting since I don't know the first thing about it.  If anyone can offer any tips for looking for a job here I would love to hear from you.  

Right now we are in the process of trying to figure out if my passport is going to let me back in the county when we return.  Does anyone know if the immigrations officer stamped me in until June 2003 after he looked at Tom's work permit will allow me to stay and work?  The HR department at his company seems to think that I still need to get entry clearance.  Hope they find out soon what is going on !!

Now when I have strange questions to ask about this place and have nowhere to go....I can come here and ask  

I am looking forward to my visit home.  I plan on doing all kinds of things I have missed out on the past six months.  I'm sure when that three weeks is up I will be more than ready to come back here.  What will I do when Tom's assignment is up and we have to go back for good?  

I grew up in North Dakota and live for a few years in the Minneapolis, MN area.  We now have a house in Kansas City, MO (we moved in 3 weeks before we left--good timing, huh? We didn't know we were going until we had already signed the papers).  Anyone familiar with my areas?

Looking forward to learning lots on this site!!

Tracey

Hi Tracey and welcome to the site!  I'm in South Devon so I don't know much about your neck of the woods, but I'm sure you'll find other Americans. In fact, I've just recently met another fellow American down here and she is from Lee's Summit.

What part of ND did you live in? I was in Alfred (a small town outside Jamestown for a few years)...boy, was it cold up there!

Well, again, welcome to the site and I hope you enjoy your time here in the UK...and make sure you come down to Devon before you leave,,,,its a fantastic place to visit!

bye, barbara

Hi, Tracy!

Kansas City - I was just there in October - my brother lives there.  

I recently moved here as well, and know a little bit about the visa process.  Chances are you were not permitted the same as your fiance because you were on a tourist visa.  I recommend checking with the Immigration office (you can find them online).  It is probably easier to deal with the consulates in the US than with the home office here in the UK, so it would be time well spent sorting it out while you are there.  Ask about working while you have them on the line.  Not all types of visa allow you to work here.
Good luck and enjoy your trip home!  
Happy holidays!

Michelle

Hello Tracey,

 It sounds like you are having a great adventure and what a wonderful way to spend your early marriage...  which btw CONGRATS on.

 Welcome to the site, it is a good place to visit.

michele

Welcome to the London Area.    (I'm over near Heathrow lol).  Glad to hear that you're enjoying it...and definitely try to get the visa thing sorted *before* coming over as they can send you back.

wench
(another Barbara G funnily enough hehe)

Hi Tracy!  Congratulation and welcome here!  I'm still in the US but coming over in two weeks to join my English fiance.  Sounds like you have some exciting and interesting times ahead of you.  I agree with Michele, what a great way to spend these early days of your marriage!

Welcome to the London Area.    (I'm over near Heathrow lol).  Glad to hear that you're enjoying it...and definitely try to get the visa thing sorted *before* coming over as they can send you back.

wench
(another Barbara G funnily enough hehe)

And Elle and I are completely the other side of London!  Zone 5, with the closest tube station being central line Newbury Park

Hello Tracey, welcome, and congratulations.

I'm pretty certain that you will have to get entry clearance as well, so check the IND website for the proper forms. It's pretty straightforward. You cannot apply for it from here, so don't leave home without getting it done, as you don't want to be sent back once you've gotten here.

Best of luck, and keep us posted.

I grew up in North Dakota and live for a few years in the Minneapolis, MN area.  
Tracey

Hey there Tracey!  I grew up in ND, too (Bismarck/Mandan), and lived in Minneapolis for 11 years until moving to the UK this fall.  Small world

Welcome!
Stephanie

Hi there, Tracey...my sister lives in KCMO, and I have been there many times.  I actually have been living in St. Louis for the past two years.  I hope you enjoyed your visit home and had some good BBQ.  

hi tracey..welcome to the site.  we do get together every so often, keep an eye out on the announcement board for details.  i know where grays is but im not sure how far it is from me.  im in maldon, essex.  its def an easy trip to the romford, essex area (thats close to where we use to live in gidea park).   hope you have a great time back in the states.  please keep posting and let us know how things are going for ya.