I realised I needed a bit of a vent when I slipped and fell on ice today, while I was trying to get to yet another bank branch to try and get around my bank's '3 month policy'... and just sat on the pavement crying instead of trying to get up. I've been riding a high since getting a new job, a job that I'm actually enjoying. So even with a sick kitty (no vet seems to know what is wrong with only one thinking her vomitting episodes are related to IBS), my mom recovering from brain surgery (and trying to help my brother with her affairs while abroad), and my MIL retiring and moving back to the UK and staying with us indefinitely... I've been quite positive. I have even been giving my colleague (who also happens to be an expat) pep talks.
I think the visa business has gotten to me. It should have been quite straight forward, but the hard copies of payslips and bank statements all seem so much more difficult this time. I am dreading going into branches to request my statements as they just regurgitate the same 'we don't stamp printed statements anymore'. And my partner just walks into a branch and gets six months of statements (they did not stamp them so at least they are consistent on that, but it still makes me nervous), while I'm practically begging for the three month maximum. Of course when they get to chatting with me about why I need this they proceed to tell me what they think I need. I had a timeline which involved sending everything off last week... I have until the end of this week and I still don't have everything. I am sending my partner back to the branch that was happy to print off his statements since we have a joint account and see if he can work his magic again.
I guess I feel like him going back to that branch is the least he could do since he's not been quite so helpful with the process to begin with. I told him what I needed him to request from his company... I even sent a detailed list to his work email so he could just forward it to HR. A huge multinational company that only has canned letters, none of which completely satisfy the UKVI requirements and this time around they won't even send the hard copy of the letter to him, just a PDF. My partner doesn't understand why I'm so stressed out and keeps saying that this is company policy, but I keep explaining that the visa stuff is actually law... so it doesn't matter what your company policy is, if I don't comply with the law, it is back to the U.S. for me. He has now realised how upset this has made me and said that he should have been more involved and we should have created a timeline... I DID CREATE A TIMELINE! I've been on track, even with a side trip to Madrid and getting my passport renewed by the end of November. My new job overnighted a letter from the President of the company and my old employer drafted a letter and sent it to me within a few days of the request... so still frustrated with his employer and the lack of follow up from him. I know he meant well and I did talk to him about his statement, but seriously.
I'm now worried I've done something to my wrist, but I right now I'm more worried about wasting the visa fee submitting an application that I'm not entirely confident about.
I know you've all been through the visa stuff, so I know I'm preaching to the choir, but you also know how frustrating the process can be. And as I've not yet made friends here in London to go for a pint with, I just needed a little vent so I don't end up on the pavement crying again. Right, the pity party is over and I'm plotting which two branches I will visit to get the rest of my statements and to clean up more kitty vomit. Do you think UKVI will think it is suspicious that they are printed in three month periods?
Anyway I hope everyone is doing well and that you all have a wonderful Christmas and even better 2018
