Moving back to the States with UK spouse

Hm.. what do ya know. Well have you gotten your package yet?!

I picked up my package at lunch time today - and the visa was there  

My "brown envelope" looks like it has been ripped open along the side - so I may email the Embassy to check this is ok.  Maybe when they retrieved my passport they ripped the envelope open or something.

Now we move on to the next phase - selling our house, arranging shipping of our stuff, sort out a bank account (We've started this via Wells Fargo), contact International Auto Source about a car, start sending off job applications, etc etc.    Although I feel like at the end of one process - we are now at the beginning of ANOTHER process.... Only this time WE are in control and we can set parameters and timescales!!

Congrats John!!! Whew - I bet you are glad that is behind you!
Were you able to park your car at the hotel? I have to book our hotel tomorrow and need one that we can park our car in!

I didn't take my car - I flew down and then got into the city by Tube.

There was a small parking area at the rear - might be worth a cal to ask.

The Milennium Hotel staff were excellent - if you are planning on staying there ask about upgrading to a Club room.  It is an extra £20 per person per night, but you get a nicer room and acess to the Club Lounge which has free tea/coffee/soft drinks/pastries/snacks, including a free continental breakfast.  A can of coke was £2.90 from the mini bar and continental breakfast in the hotel restaurant was £18 !

Congrats!!! Glad to hear you got your visa just fine

Now starts the moving process eh? Fun fun. *sighs and waits for someone to come view my house* If you need any shipping company numbers or anything, just ask

Update..   I emailed the Embassy to say that the brown envelope was ripped almost all the way along the side, and they told me I need to send it back to them to be repackaged  

what envalope was it? The one with tha visa stapled to it or the one that protects the visa and the other brown envalope? The exterior one doesnt matter. Its the one that has the visa stapled to it that you cant open.

That is of course if theyre still packing the visas like they did before march lol

The outside envelope was a grey plastic bag kind of thing - which was ok, wasn't opened.
The info insie that was a loose sheet about social security numbers etc. and also the "brown envelope" which was cut across the corner, with the visa on the front, stapled to lots of other stuff which was supposed to be inside the sealed envelope - but my brown envelope was ripped almost all the way along the side.  I guess it might have been them getting my passport out, I really don't know.

I've been told (in response to an email I set to the Embassy) to send the stuff back to be repackaged - at my own expense for postage both ways!

After all this wait I hate having to let the visa leave my sight!!  But I'd rather do this than get to POE and get accused of tampering with the envelope!

the fact that they make you pay for their poor practice really burns my butter, but like you said - who wants to take the risk right?

best of luck. Let us know how things go.

We will be going to the POE on Sunday (San Francisco) and I will post our experience on a new thread Monday! Fingers crossed it will all go well 

We have been thinking of relocating back to the US in the next 1-2 years but I am dreading this process, it sounds like a total nightmare. In fact I was thinking of entering the green card lottery which seems a lot easier (i was born in an eligible country, thanks mum and dad!) but I was wondering if I don't "win" the lottery and later apply for a spouse visa are they going to view it as suspicious that I tried for the lottery previously instead of just going the spouse route?

Best of luck Missy!!! Have a good flight! *huge hugs*

BritWife,

If you and your spouse are in the UK the process for a spousal visa back to the US is NOT difficult. Its far less complicated than it seems. No doubt, many questions get asked - those questions sound difficult and overwhelming. There are a lot of little rules and regs that need to be followed and on top of that we invest so much of ourselves in getting that visa that it can be a little bit frusterating. But the process is NOT difficult. If your case is honest and straightforward you WILL get the visa and it wont take too long either. I bet if you asked any of the people in here who have moved back to the US - most of them would say they thought it was a lot harder than it actually was. Probably all or most of us walked out of the Embassy in London with our spouses, visa in hand, and thought "was that it? I worked myself up for no reason!"

Its my best guess that applying for the lottery and perhaps not getting it would send up a flag later on, should you apply for the spousal visa. I dont think it would harm the chances of getting that spousal visa because almost everyone who applies with an honest case will get that visa granted, however I think you'll be seriously questioned about WHY you decided to go for the lottery first when the spousal visa is 100% the best and most appropriate path for you to take.

Take care,
Sarah

Hi there all! 

Well, first I want to say that hubby (Laurie) and I have been ridiculous lurkers on this whole topic for ages now, and have followed so much of Sarah's advice. You have no idea how helpful all your continual information has been and we owe you a HUGE thank you! Sarah...you rock!! And all the rest of you do too! 

Missy...good luck to you and we'll be waiting to hear all about your experience! It will be fine!

Now Liz, my friend who, with Stu, is so kind to keep Laurie going through this...

I hope our experience hasn't been what has put you off, because our case has been especially long and difficult for a number of reasons. We chose to have me come out here first and find a job, thereby allowing me to be the sponsor, due to a number of factors. Foremost was that my Mom suddenly dropped the bomb that she wanted to retire and move and therefore...were we interested in buying her place? Nothing like scrambling at the last minute!

So we thought it best that I get set up in employment to hopefully allow us to qualify for a mortgage. But frankly it has sucked having such a hectic and demanding position with such long hours...and no honey to come home to.  But you wouldn't be doing that Liz. So you've been seeing Laurie and hearing how miserable he and I both are and unfortunately the effect has probably not been exactly edifying on you and your curiosity about the repat process! 

Then...when we should have been starting all the paperwork (we ARE doing DCF and got it ready before I left to go back and start my job), my dad was suddenly and shockingly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I didn't want to risk Laurie not being able to come into the country (which he can't do once the paperwork is in...and THAT sucks the most!), and he needed to come out and meet my dad, so we postponed things. The whole thing shouldn't have taken any more than 4 or so months, but now it's been stretched out to what we think will end up being almost 7 months apart (with the exception of a few visits). And last week was our one year wedding anniversary and we were 6000 miles away from each other.  :\\\'(

I am not exceptionally close to my dad, but I have been trying to be the dutiful daughter and this whole thing has been extremely hard on me. So add not having Laurie here, to the stress of work, and this process...and we have probably given you every reason to think it will be a nightmare!

But the ball is now rolling and our credit card was debited last week (I was sooooo happy) so we keep crossing our fingers. And thank you Sarah, for what I NEVER read up on until I came here...in regards to sending all of the apps at the same time, thereby speeding it up...oh god please!

Liz, you CAN get through this and while it isn't fun, it is mostly just annoying and with your bundle of joy on the way...you guys will have plenty of time to research your options! 

Oh, and while I'm here...I DO have a question (of course)...

Do those of you who have been through the DCF think that I should accompany Laurie to the final interview? First I had heard that they didn't really need me that day, but then when we looked at the checklist, we realized it said "passportS" plural. Meaning I guess they need mine as well??? SO since my visa is in there, I am not taking ANY chances in Fed Exing it or something. Plus since I will be the sponsor, in case they have any questions, I thought it may perhaps be better to be there to answer any possible questions. Hmmm....any ideas?? The drag will be that I don't have much vacation time available so I would have to fly in and out immediately and, well...nothing like doing two 11 hour flights in 3 days! We don't have an interview date yet, so maybe we'll be lucky and it will be a Mon or Fri...yeah right!

Good luck and all the best to all of you going through this!!
Brooke 

Brooke,

Im sorry to hear that its been such a nightmare of a time for you. It never rains, but it pours! Im glad though that what info I can offer has been of help to you It makes me really happy when I hear that someone's DCF path has been made a bit easier by the sharing of my experience. I hope things speed up for you and get done right quick so you can be with your hubby again

Now to your question. You dont NEED to be present at the interview and I dont recall that the American's passport is required at the interview. Your part was done when you sent in the photo copy of your passport with your original Petition and then subsequently filled out the Affidavit, which your hubby will take with him to the interview. John was the most recent to have an interview I think so perhaps he could better answer of the American has to provide their passport as well.

What I would say is even though he'll surely be granted his visa and it'll seem like it was nothing to worry about after its all said and done - you'll both probably wish you'd been together on the day. Being there to answer any questions from the INS officer doing the interview is very helpfull, but its nothing in comparison to the help you'd offer your spouse just by being there for emotional support on such an important day. He'll probably have to do quite a lot of sitting and waiting during the day and I cant imagine how nerve racking that must be without having your best friend there to keep you from chewing your fingers clean off! Of course its totally up to you and what suits your schedule / finances as well as your heart. If you WANT to go - you should go

Take care,
Sarah