First Post?
Mar 5th 2010, 5:06 pm
#1
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Palmyra, NY
Posts: 2,130
First Post?
Hello All,
I got all nostalgic today as I (finally) passed my 2000th post so I looked up my very first post which I posted on November 8th 2003 in a long closed thread entitled "Where are y'all from?"
Awesome isn't it? and posted complete with spelling mistake! Great.
Anyway, let's see everyones very first post on BE!
I got all nostalgic today as I (finally) passed my 2000th post so I looked up my very first post which I posted on November 8th 2003 in a long closed thread entitled "Where are y'all from?"
Originally Posted by CitySimon
Preston, Lancashire
Palmyra, New York
Not quite as imressive as the rest of you
Palmyra, New York
Not quite as imressive as the rest of you
Awesome isn't it? and posted complete with spelling mistake! Great.
Anyway, let's see everyones very first post on BE!
Mar 5th 2010, 5:35 pm
#2
Arrogant ****
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: First Post?
Hmm. I can only go back 2000 posts, it seems. How did you find your first?
Mar 5th 2010, 10:48 pm
#5
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,995
Re: First Post?
Bit boring - but at least I managed to squeeze two spelling mistakes in! 
And - blimey o'reilly - I asked sensible questions and was rewarded with sensible answers - nobody got their knickers in a twist, called anybody a twat, died or got banned in the process. Maybe that prat over here should come and take a look.
I'm a UK citizen currently living in the UK and employed by a multinational company. An opportunity has arisen for me to have my role transferred to the US. My employer will make the necessary visa arrangements. I have a partner who could potentially also request a transfer to the U.S. via her employer. Neither of us understand very much about U.S. visas and what rights we may have under them.
There are different options which may be open to me.
1) My employer transfers me onto the payroll of their U.S. subsidiary.
2) I stay on the U.K. payroll and simply get based in the U.S.
Do either of these options provide the start of some sort of route to ultimate permanant residency and right to apply for other jobs in the U.S. if I ever left my current employer?
Do any of these arrangements have a certain time limit before I am forced to leave again?
If my partner and I marry does this make a difference under any circumstances?
I appreciate that I may have unwittingly ommitted certain information that may be required to answer my questions. If so, please let me know.
I am grateful for any help anyone can provide.
There are different options which may be open to me.
1) My employer transfers me onto the payroll of their U.S. subsidiary.
2) I stay on the U.K. payroll and simply get based in the U.S.
Do either of these options provide the start of some sort of route to ultimate permanant residency and right to apply for other jobs in the U.S. if I ever left my current employer?
Do any of these arrangements have a certain time limit before I am forced to leave again?
If my partner and I marry does this make a difference under any circumstances?
I appreciate that I may have unwittingly ommitted certain information that may be required to answer my questions. If so, please let me know.
I am grateful for any help anyone can provide.
Last edited by tonrob; Mar 5th 2010 at 10:50 pm.
Mar 6th 2010, 12:25 am
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: helmshore
Posts: 66
Re: First Post?
Are you in the same place you were 2000 posts ago?
(very loaded question!!.........do i mean geographically, menatally, physically......)
(very loaded question!!.........do i mean geographically, menatally, physically......)
Mar 6th 2010, 3:05 am
#7
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,605
Re: First Post?
And - blimey o'reilly - I asked sensible questions and was rewarded with sensible answers - nobody got their knickers in a twist, called anybody a twat, died or got banned in the process. Maybe that prat over here should come and take a look.
My memory was playing tricks on me, because I though my first post was a very diffident one asking for mortgage advice.
Turns out, It was one about Leave to Remain in the UK.
That's what we did. Getting SWMBO's LLR was a matter of popping into a Consulate General with the paperwork, then coming back after lunch to collect the visa.
Getting a job was easier than getting a bank account - the Visa in her passport might have been good enough for the HO and the FCO, but only the sacred gas bill would do for the bank
Three years later she's sick of the UK, thinks we're all mad for putting up with the crappy service we get, esp from local authorities & the NHS and we're DCF-ing for a move to TX.
Getting a job was easier than getting a bank account - the Visa in her passport might have been good enough for the HO and the FCO, but only the sacred gas bill would do for the bank
Three years later she's sick of the UK, thinks we're all mad for putting up with the crappy service we get, esp from local authorities & the NHS and we're DCF-ing for a move to TX.
Mar 6th 2010, 3:21 am
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: 30°16'29" North 097°44'26" West
Posts: 22,151
Re: First Post?
Hmmmm.... my first post was in the Lounge (without getting quartered 
)
)
Originally Posted by Toontje at July 5, 2004
And every nation will have names for people from other countries and/or social or religious groups.
Mar 6th 2010, 3:39 am
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: First Post?
I had no idea what I was getting into ... (first post below)
Mar 6th 2010, 3:40 am
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: First Post?
I had no idea what I was getting into ... (first post below)
Hello everyone,
I hope you won't mind me writing to you. I'm an American graduate student, and I'm currently taking a course relating to doing business in other countries and across cultures.
We have an interesting challenge! My classmates and I have been divided into teams, and each team has been asked to make a presentation to educate the class on how to conduct business and interact with a culture in another country. This is certainly an interesting project. The members of each team have also been charged with interviewing someone from another country who is currently living in the U.S., and all of the members of a given team must interview individuals from the same country.
This presents quite a challenge! I actually am working with colleagues in the UK at present, but do not know anyone from the UK who is currently living in the US.
So ... with that lengthy introduction ... I found this forum and thought I would write to see if anyone might be willing to help me by answering a few questions posted below. I'd really appreciate anyone's input, and fully understand if you'd rather not participate. For that matter, if I can assist anyone with any advice regarding this country I'm more than happy to do so. Just let me know.
A few questions I've thought of are ...
1) What do you like about living in the United States?
2) On the flip side, what don't you like about living in the United States?
3) What surprised you the most when you moved here?
4) Do you interact with American colleagues differently than you would colleagues at home? If so, why, and in what way?
In general, I'm interested in anything you have to say and are willing to share. Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards,
Kathy
Hello everyone,
I hope you won't mind me writing to you. I'm an American graduate student, and I'm currently taking a course relating to doing business in other countries and across cultures.
We have an interesting challenge! My classmates and I have been divided into teams, and each team has been asked to make a presentation to educate the class on how to conduct business and interact with a culture in another country. This is certainly an interesting project. The members of each team have also been charged with interviewing someone from another country who is currently living in the U.S., and all of the members of a given team must interview individuals from the same country.
This presents quite a challenge! I actually am working with colleagues in the UK at present, but do not know anyone from the UK who is currently living in the US.
So ... with that lengthy introduction ... I found this forum and thought I would write to see if anyone might be willing to help me by answering a few questions posted below. I'd really appreciate anyone's input, and fully understand if you'd rather not participate. For that matter, if I can assist anyone with any advice regarding this country I'm more than happy to do so. Just let me know.
A few questions I've thought of are ...
1) What do you like about living in the United States?
2) On the flip side, what don't you like about living in the United States?
3) What surprised you the most when you moved here?
4) Do you interact with American colleagues differently than you would colleagues at home? If so, why, and in what way?
In general, I'm interested in anything you have to say and are willing to share. Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards,
Kathy
Mar 6th 2010, 4:58 am
#11
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: First Post?
Good game! 
I migrated off of Usenet.
Post #1
Post #2 was a little cuter. I think I sound exactly the same. I'm sure I look exactly the same.
Nearly 8 years later!
I talk too much.
I'm sure it will delight some to know that my very first post included the question
"Is there a limit on how many times he can enter the US on the Visa
Waiver Program, or lengths he must have stayed out of the country? "
I migrated off of Usenet.
Post #1
Post #2 was a little cuter. I think I sound exactly the same. I'm sure I look exactly the same.
Nearly 8 years later!
I talk too much.
First, thanks again to everyone here for questions asked, advice posted and websites maintained. All credit to the users here, I was able to go to the Athens US Embassy last week *fully* prepared and impressed staffers left and right!
I went for the primary purpose of obtaining my No Impediment to Marriage certificate which was received for 55 of my favorite US Dollars (actually 66 of my favorite Euros) cash only and raising my right hand and swearing that I'd filled out the form correctly (English and Greek).
That business done, I decided to make hay while I was there and went over to Visa Processing. Due to the aforementioined preparedness, I approached the window with my notebook and list of questions in hand and impressed the staffer there so well that she gave me *all* forms (very unusual), up to and including Packets 3 & 4 so that we can submit everything in one go. She answered many of my specific questions regarding Aff. of Support I-864, evidence of relationship requested (none) etc. She gave me instructions for where to write for English documents (divorce, military, police etc) and invited me to email her with any further questions I have down the line. Now that's what I call service! Again, I can't stress enough how much my foreknowledge of the process massaged the way with her. Additionally, some of the info she gave me was either out of date or incorrect, so cross-research has helped.
It was also confirmed that we must do the DCF in two visits, one to turn in paperwork, another for the interview. I will continue to see if I can shorten that to one visit like the lucky Australians, because it's expensive to go to Athens.
Continuing my relationship-building mission, I called in on the Visa Processing staffer that I met a few weeks ago while she was on vacation on my island. She actually conducts the interviews for non-immigrant visas, but works hand in hand with the immigrant visa person and does help her occasionally with the IVs. We chatted about life abroad etc for about 20 minutes (honest, she wouldn't let me go!) and I left feeling very confident about the interview process coming up.
The only weak point was the Greek staffer at the INS window. And she wasn't exactly rude, just Greek (read abrupt). She wasn't familiar with the fillable forms and insisted I'd like the 5-carbon G325s just fine (ha!). I also stopped in and picked up my tax extension form and got some great recommendations for where to have lunch.
My advice for those using your Embassies: remember that the workers there are people too! They are enthusiastic when you are, and when you show that you have an interest in them as individuals and also can demonstrate humble knowledge of their processes (who else in the world cares about what these folks do except those of us using their services?)
The best news for me was getting back to Rhodes and collecting the rest of the docs from the translator to take to the Town Hall for our marriage licence. We've got a date set of May 2, so I hope you'll all wish us well then!
Please let me know if I can offer any English addresses for Divorce, Navy or police record documents, or Greek police certificates.
m
I went for the primary purpose of obtaining my No Impediment to Marriage certificate which was received for 55 of my favorite US Dollars (actually 66 of my favorite Euros) cash only and raising my right hand and swearing that I'd filled out the form correctly (English and Greek).
That business done, I decided to make hay while I was there and went over to Visa Processing. Due to the aforementioined preparedness, I approached the window with my notebook and list of questions in hand and impressed the staffer there so well that she gave me *all* forms (very unusual), up to and including Packets 3 & 4 so that we can submit everything in one go. She answered many of my specific questions regarding Aff. of Support I-864, evidence of relationship requested (none) etc. She gave me instructions for where to write for English documents (divorce, military, police etc) and invited me to email her with any further questions I have down the line. Now that's what I call service! Again, I can't stress enough how much my foreknowledge of the process massaged the way with her. Additionally, some of the info she gave me was either out of date or incorrect, so cross-research has helped.
It was also confirmed that we must do the DCF in two visits, one to turn in paperwork, another for the interview. I will continue to see if I can shorten that to one visit like the lucky Australians, because it's expensive to go to Athens.
Continuing my relationship-building mission, I called in on the Visa Processing staffer that I met a few weeks ago while she was on vacation on my island. She actually conducts the interviews for non-immigrant visas, but works hand in hand with the immigrant visa person and does help her occasionally with the IVs. We chatted about life abroad etc for about 20 minutes (honest, she wouldn't let me go!) and I left feeling very confident about the interview process coming up.
The only weak point was the Greek staffer at the INS window. And she wasn't exactly rude, just Greek (read abrupt). She wasn't familiar with the fillable forms and insisted I'd like the 5-carbon G325s just fine (ha!). I also stopped in and picked up my tax extension form and got some great recommendations for where to have lunch.
My advice for those using your Embassies: remember that the workers there are people too! They are enthusiastic when you are, and when you show that you have an interest in them as individuals and also can demonstrate humble knowledge of their processes (who else in the world cares about what these folks do except those of us using their services?)
The best news for me was getting back to Rhodes and collecting the rest of the docs from the translator to take to the Town Hall for our marriage licence. We've got a date set of May 2, so I hope you'll all wish us well then!
Please let me know if I can offer any English addresses for Divorce, Navy or police record documents, or Greek police certificates.
m
"Is there a limit on how many times he can enter the US on the Visa
Waiver Program, or lengths he must have stayed out of the country? "
Mar 6th 2010, 5:48 am
#12
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,977
Re: First Post?
My first posts where on Usenet when the marriage visa forum was carried there as well. Not sure what they were. First post via BE itself was
My wife ( a US citizen) and myself live in the UK and intend to move to Oregon next year. In preparation for the move we have started to study the house market and would buy before we move if we find a house we want.
Having contacted our US bank, Wells Fargo, it seems I cannot be included in any mortgage application as I do not have a social security number. As British people are regularly buying homes in Florida are some obtaining mortgages to do so and if so how?
Or can anyone recommend a mortgage company who can help?
We did find a house on the Internet shortly after, purchased with a mortgage from Wells Fargo. All done online and by phone and fax. Unnerved the Realtor a bit us buying a house we had not seen from 5000 miles away.
My wife ( a US citizen) and myself live in the UK and intend to move to Oregon next year. In preparation for the move we have started to study the house market and would buy before we move if we find a house we want.
Having contacted our US bank, Wells Fargo, it seems I cannot be included in any mortgage application as I do not have a social security number. As British people are regularly buying homes in Florida are some obtaining mortgages to do so and if so how?
Or can anyone recommend a mortgage company who can help?
We did find a house on the Internet shortly after, purchased with a mortgage from Wells Fargo. All done online and by phone and fax. Unnerved the Realtor a bit us buying a house we had not seen from 5000 miles away.
Mar 6th 2010, 7:43 am
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Re: First Post?
Can't work out how to find it but I'm sure it was good.
Mar 6th 2010, 8:29 am
#14
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: First Post?
Can't remember, but it soon led to a slapping match with Patrick the pagan fella and Ray
Mar 6th 2010, 8:31 am
#15
Not dead yet
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: In a world of my own where I know everyone
Posts: 15,042
