SmallShinyAnt

Oh well done How are the stress/anxiety levels holding up?

Make sure to keep us up to date on all those little tasks and your experiences.

WhyteBoar

Hopefully you'll hear back soon. I can't imagine how it would feel to decide you're going to pursue the opportunity and then find you can't go!

My husband left for Phoenix at the end of June and has managed find a house and to set just about everything up in that time. The only thing he hasn't done is buy a car, but that should be sorted before I get there. Our belongings arrive into LA on the 8th Aug.

Meanwhile I am still in the UK until 7th Aug when I fly out, so I just missed our aim of being over there by the end of July. Still, I'm pretty accustomed to camping in my house now, but not long to go. Flight is booked, cats are booked on to their flight. I've been selling electricals and spending time doing the last few things I want to squeeze in before I go. Almost there!

(The Cardinals' first pre-season game is the 9th of August so I've still managed to arrive on time. )

SmallShinyAnt

Nor can I! But I dare not get over excited about this until it is all in the bag.

I am hoping to get the car thing sorted as a priority(Unfortunately IAS are having trouble getting what i wanted )


You did not miss it by much and hopefully you get something a little bit like a home to turn up to!

We are unable to bring our cats and are not looking forward to handing them back to the rescue we got them from.

Enjoy Phoenix(I really must learn where all the states are)!

gazzer82

Thanks!

The stress levels are slowly creeping up, but mostly we're anxious to just get going. It's been a very long time in the planning and there are so many things we can't sort till we get to LA!

Will keep you all updated.

Would have been a whole load more stressful without the help and reassurances of people on this forum, so thanks to you all!

Cheers

Gareth

WhyteBoar

We were exactly the same, we didn't tell many people until he had his visa, even though the removal company were booked.

But, fingers crossed on the car Every little problem that gets sorted out makes you feel a little closer to getting there. Hubby only got his SSN yesterday after two trips to the SS Office!


The house looks nice so hopefully our furniture will arrive shortly after I do. I just want to sit on a sofa... I am so tired of garden chairs, I don't think I want to see another one for quite some time!!

That's a shame, but by giving them back to the rescue they will find a good home. Ours have always been indoor cats, but the thought of sending them over stresses me out a lot.

Thank you. Still doesn't feel real! I hope you hear about your visa soon

gazzer82

Hi WhyteBoar,

Can i pick your brains, how long did it take you guys to sort SSN, i have heard wildly different stories on how long it has taken. I'm currently planning to go into the office after having been in the US for 10 days, then hopefully pop in the next day to actually get the number, rather than wait for it to come in the post.

Sound like the correct approach to you?

Thanks

Gareth

WhyteBoar

I am a USC from birth so I have a SSN, but hubby is a UKC. He waited the 10 days and went in to the SS Office and was told that he was on their system (great!) and the card would be through in 10-14 days. Well, that time passed and he still had no number so he went back to the SSO yesterday and they told him his number. Why they couldn't just tell him his number when he first visited, I don't know.

I had thought they would just tell him his number on his first visit, as you have assumed using your plan of action. But maybe he just had a miscommunication with the people in the office?

Thankfully, he has still been able to sort out almost everything without the SSN, up to this point.

Uncle_Bob

Wow its seems the expats are flocking to Phoenix

Just curious on why you chose Phoenix and where did you end up buying a house?

WhyteBoar

I have family connections to Arizona so when my husband was offered a job in the US we chose Phoenix. I lived in Tucson when I was a young child and return to Arizona/Phoenix almost every year to visit. It just made the most sense for us.

We're renting to begin with and we've ended up in Gilbert, which was one of the areas we liked originally.

Uncle_Bob

Well i hope the move goes smoothly for you

EDIT : Cardinals tickets went on sale on Friday, they can sell out.

MsElui

my understanding is that the application is added to the system the day you give it in - (assuming they can find you in the immigration system - which is why you wait the 10 days**). Then an overnight computer batch process assigns the number. Thats why it can be obtained from the office the next day - or just wait til the card arrives.

**If you don't wait ten days, then cant put the application into the system and im told it sits in the pending box until they decide to try again and hopefully they find you and bingo. I didnt like the idea that it sits and waits with no chasing or guaranbtee it will be dealt with in any hurry/timeframe etc and wanted to know mine was input okay - so i would always advise to wait the 10 days and you can SEE them input while you are there.

gazzer82

Thanks all, that corresponds with the information I have managed to find around the Internet, so I will wait 10 day, submit it day 11 and hopefully go into the office and get the number day 12.

I'm in a bit of a rush for it as AMEX will not transfer my card until I have it. Plua I think getting the finance sorted for a car without it is going to be near on impossible.

Without wanting to hijack, what are people's thoughts on cars, lease or buy? Or is buying not even going to be an option?

Thanks

Gareth

SmallShinyAnt

International Auto Source have been great and can arrange leases or finance at good rates but I think you have to set it all up before you go. There choices of vehicle can be a bit limited (They build to order)but they support all the main brands(My rep has been great I can pass you his details if that would help). I am aiming for a lease but thats as much out of habit as anything else.

WhyteBoar

No problem, we got our season tickets before hubby got his visa. You gotta take care of the important things first

Uncle_Bob

Very very tidy. I was hoping to help out in some way but you've got it all sorted