Hello
Guest

Sponsored Links


« previous next »
Pages: [1]   

Topic: Hello from Pacific Northwest  (Read 1184 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

  • *
  • Posts: 250

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Nov 2011
Hello from Pacific Northwest
« on: November 02, 2011, 05:31:22 PM »
I've just come across this board on the recommendation of someone on another board and am so happy to have found it!  :)
My husband, children and I live a couple hours from Seattle and have lived here for just over 2 years. We moved from Colorado, where we lived for 10 years.
My husband is Swedish, born and raised in Sweden and all of his family is in Sweden.
I'm thinking our situation is somewhat like Nikki C's in that our happy medium may just be England.
A little back story, I have always always wanted to live in Europe and England has always been at the top of my list. Our kids are all school aged and while family is very important to us and my husband's mother has cancer my husband feels that given the ages of our children a move to Sweden would be too difficult for all of us (language issues as neither myself nor the kids know Swedish). I feel we have lived in the US so long and had such opportunity to be near my family it is now time to be near his, especially before it's too late. My husband's mother only has our kids as grandchildren and she loves them more than life itself. I realize England is not exactly near Sweden it's a whole heck of a lot closer than we are now. It would be so much easier for us to visit for holidays and vacations, not to mention cheaper.
It's time, I feel, time for us to do this. I've hated living where we live now since the day after we got here. By 3 months in I was certain I needed to move and now many more months in nothing really has changed.
So here we go...  ;)
Logged
9/11/2012 Husband mailed his US citizenship application.
9/17/2012 Received e-mail stating his application has been entered into the system.
9/22/2012 Hubby received letter with date for finger printing.
10/12/12 Hubby went for finger printing.
10/26/12 Dh got a letter stating when he should appear for his interview and test- 11/27/12- just a month away!!!
11/27/12 We went to dh's interview and test- he passed and we went back 4 hours later for the Oath Ceremony! 95 people from 38 countries, really pretty cool!
So he's now a US citizen!!

  • *
  • Posts: 2442

  • Liked: 2
  • Joined: Mar 2006
  • Location: Sussex
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2011, 05:42:41 PM »
Welcome to the forum, Beccarose. I haven't the foggiest how the system works for an American married to an EU national, but lots of others here have.

I can't imagine moving to a non-English-speaking country. I'm not good with languages.
Logged

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 3500

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Mar 2007
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2011, 05:16:31 PM »
Welcome to UKY Beccarose!  :)

My brother-in-law and his family live in Sweden and we just got back from a lovely holiday there.  It is indeed easier to visit from here than from the US!
Logged
doing laundry

  • *
  • Posts: 250

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Nov 2011
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2011, 05:33:01 PM »
Hi, and thanks for the welcomes!  :)

Mrs. Busby- are you from the US?

Do you mind if I ask you what is costs you to visit Sweden?
Logged
9/11/2012 Husband mailed his US citizenship application.
9/17/2012 Received e-mail stating his application has been entered into the system.
9/22/2012 Hubby received letter with date for finger printing.
10/12/12 Hubby went for finger printing.
10/26/12 Dh got a letter stating when he should appear for his interview and test- 11/27/12- just a month away!!!
11/27/12 We went to dh's interview and test- he passed and we went back 4 hours later for the Oath Ceremony! 95 people from 38 countries, really pretty cool!
So he's now a US citizen!!

  • *
  • Posts: 222

  • Liked: 1
  • Joined: Nov 2011
  • Location: Guernsey
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2011, 05:37:21 PM »
*waves* ;D
Logged
August 8 - Completed fiance application
August 14 - Did biometrics
August 15 - Paid for priority processing and sent application
August 16 - Application arrived in New York
August 17 - Email recieved that application was opened
October 8 - Email that fiance visa was approved
October 9 - Got my visa! :-)

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 3500

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Mar 2007
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2011, 05:49:12 PM »
Yes, I'm from the US.  We flew to Copenhagen and back on frequent flyer miles (acquired on trips to the US) which sadly can't be applied to the taxes and fees, only the base price of flights.  Then we took the train from Copenhagen across the bridge and into southern Sweden.  I think the travel cost for our family of 4 was about £350.  That excludes whatever amount was covered by the FF miles.  I don't remember what that was.
Logged
doing laundry

  • *
  • Posts: 250

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Nov 2011
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2011, 06:03:18 PM »
Are you able to get back to the US often?

Yep, frequent flyer miles sure are handy. But I do know what you mean about taxes and fees, we had the same issues when booking our flights to Sweden for Christmas.

Have you ever driven to Sweden?
Logged
9/11/2012 Husband mailed his US citizenship application.
9/17/2012 Received e-mail stating his application has been entered into the system.
9/22/2012 Hubby received letter with date for finger printing.
10/12/12 Hubby went for finger printing.
10/26/12 Dh got a letter stating when he should appear for his interview and test- 11/27/12- just a month away!!!
11/27/12 We went to dh's interview and test- he passed and we went back 4 hours later for the Oath Ceremony! 95 people from 38 countries, really pretty cool!
So he's now a US citizen!!

  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 3500

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Mar 2007
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2011, 06:16:54 PM »
We only go back to the US every couple years.  We would like to go more but it's too expensive for us.

We haven't driven to Sweden but my brother-in-law's family have driven here via the ferry to Harwich (overnight - sleeping in bunks).
Logged
doing laundry

  • *
  • Posts: 250

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Nov 2011
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2011, 06:49:17 PM »
I've done that ferry ride and got so hideously sick! If I ever do it again I will have to remember to bring lots of sickness support. Bleh.

I do know people who have driven the whole way (well, minus the train ride), but am unsure how long it takes and if it is difficult passing through all of the countries.
Logged
9/11/2012 Husband mailed his US citizenship application.
9/17/2012 Received e-mail stating his application has been entered into the system.
9/22/2012 Hubby received letter with date for finger printing.
10/12/12 Hubby went for finger printing.
10/26/12 Dh got a letter stating when he should appear for his interview and test- 11/27/12- just a month away!!!
11/27/12 We went to dh's interview and test- he passed and we went back 4 hours later for the Oath Ceremony! 95 people from 38 countries, really pretty cool!
So he's now a US citizen!!

  • *
  • Posts: 81

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Aug 2011
  • Location: Seattle, WA----->Ipswich, Suffolk
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #9 on: November 10, 2011, 12:07:54 PM »
Hello Beccarose! Just thought I would say welcome to the forum from another PNW girl :)

I grew up in Bellingham and went to college at UW-Seattle, and now reside in Suffolk, England with my wonderful hubby.

It always makes me smile to see people from my old neck of the woods on here! Good luck with your immigration!
Logged
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

  • *
  • Posts: 3427

  • Liked: 3
  • Joined: Jan 2008
  • Location: Barnsley, UK
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2011, 01:50:43 PM »
Hi Beccarose

I'm English (my wife is American). I have a colleague at work who went on a trip for 3 weeks in the summer to Sweden. He has a camper van and they went through channel tunnel and then he drove through Belgium, Germany, Denmark and then to Sweden.
There is little problem driving from one country and into the next.
Logged
"We don't want our chocolate to get cheesy!"

  • *
  • Posts: 250

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Nov 2011
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #11 on: November 11, 2011, 05:00:38 AM »
Hi MrsM, small world eh?
So how long have you been in England? What took you to Suffolk and how do you like it there?
Logged
9/11/2012 Husband mailed his US citizenship application.
9/17/2012 Received e-mail stating his application has been entered into the system.
9/22/2012 Hubby received letter with date for finger printing.
10/12/12 Hubby went for finger printing.
10/26/12 Dh got a letter stating when he should appear for his interview and test- 11/27/12- just a month away!!!
11/27/12 We went to dh's interview and test- he passed and we went back 4 hours later for the Oath Ceremony! 95 people from 38 countries, really pretty cool!
So he's now a US citizen!!

  • *
  • Posts: 250

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Nov 2011
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #12 on: November 11, 2011, 05:02:25 AM »
Hi TykeMan,
Do you have any idea how long it took your colleague to do that drive?
Logged
9/11/2012 Husband mailed his US citizenship application.
9/17/2012 Received e-mail stating his application has been entered into the system.
9/22/2012 Hubby received letter with date for finger printing.
10/12/12 Hubby went for finger printing.
10/26/12 Dh got a letter stating when he should appear for his interview and test- 11/27/12- just a month away!!!
11/27/12 We went to dh's interview and test- he passed and we went back 4 hours later for the Oath Ceremony! 95 people from 38 countries, really pretty cool!
So he's now a US citizen!!

  • *
  • Posts: 81

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Aug 2011
  • Location: Seattle, WA----->Ipswich, Suffolk
Re: Hello from Pacific Northwest
« Reply #13 on: November 11, 2011, 11:19:19 AM »
Quote from: Beccarose on November 11, 2011, 05:00:38 AM
Hi MrsM, small world eh?
So how long have you been in England? What took you to Suffolk and how do you like it there?

I have been visiting on and off for a year and a half, but officially got my spousal settlement visa and moved here permanently on the 2nd of August this year! I came here for love :) as I was crazy enough to let myself fall in love and marry a Brit, traveling half way around the world to see each other for quite a few years. Now I am settled permanently here so my husband and I can be close to my 9 year old stepson.

I love a lot of things about England, but there are also a ton of things I miss like crazy too! It was funny, but for all my long-term stays here as a visitor, arriving as a resident has really been a transition for me! But now I am settling in and have a part time job and am navigating all the complexities of being an immigrant much better. All I can say is at least we are used to the weather huh!? Although, technically, here in East Anglia we have had pretty amazing weather ever since April, whereas back home I heard about snow and rain into the summer months!

And I am lucky enough to be heading back from LHR to SEA next Friday to enjoy Thanksgiving with the fam!
Logged
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Pages: [1]   
« previous next »

Sponsored Links





 

coloured_drab