mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Jun 13th 2004, 6:58 am
#1
Living in Milwaukee, USA!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Milwaukee, WI (formally England/Australia)
Posts: 899
mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Hi everyone,
Well I made it in one piece!
I will keep this as brief as i can as i'm busy busy busy at the moment.
I set off from Newbury yesterday with my family at 8am bound for Heathrow. All was going fine until we got to opposite Windsor castle when suddenly my sisters Renault Scenic 4WD started to make a terrible noise from the backend, it then started to vibrate excessively and we pulled over on the hard shoulder. The rear differential had blown and was spewing smoke and oil everywhere. Needless to my sister and partner were not impressed having mentioned a intermittent problem to Renault when it was serviced and repaired the previous week.
So anyway there we were at about 9am on the highway, and my flight was leaving London at 1pm. Luckily my Auntie came to the rescue and picked me up at around 10am. I said my goodbyes to Dave (sister b/f) at the side of the highway, and continued onto Heathrow with auntie and sister. They dropped me off at around 10.20 and we said our goodbyes. It was sad to say goodbye, but great to know that I was going to be seeing Kate in little over 4 weeks at the wedding.
Drama no.2 occurred when I got to Air India to check in. There was a massive line that snaked around the corner of there check in and instantly I began to panic. Turns out there entire check in computer system was down, and they had 3 flights of people to book in, roughly 900 people! After finding out the problem I joined the que and waited. Well things start to go downhill when another passenger verbally abused a attendant who pushed him and a fight almost broke out. I was 12.30pm by the time I finally checked in and my flight was due to leave at 1.15. so I bolted as fast as I could to the terminal. The flight didn't leave Heathrow until 3.30 as we missed our slot and had to wait for everyone to get checked in due to the delay.
I worried the entire flight as I had a tight connection in New York flying at from a different airport to the one I was landing at (JFK). We finally landed at 6.00pm and I didn't get off the plane and through immigration until 6.10pm. I handed the immigration guy my passport and envelope from the embassy which he opened and started to review. He didn't really ask me much and was whistling away while checking everything. He then stamped my passport, and I freaked thinking what aboutt he Temporary work stamp. So I asked "Apparently I can get a temporary work stamp". Well he went off on a rant saying "Look son, your a guest in my country and not entitled to anything, I may opt to give you something but you can't ask me for it". "Ok, sorry". "Follow me". He led me into a white room at the end of all the immigration stalls, handed my envelope contents and passport to a lady at the counter also in immigration who told me to take a seat. 10 minutes later I got called up and recieved my passport back with work stamp! Phew, made the trip via JFK to Milwaukee worth it!
After getting my passport back I bolted to baggage claim. After finally getting my bags it was after 6.30pm. I cleared the airport about 6.50pm. I grabbed the nearest cab I could find and told the guy I needed to get to Laguardia airport sharpish. He was a Bangladeshi immigrant and quite funny, and he knew all the back roads getting my there in record time.
So I made my 7.59pm flight from NY Laguardia to Chicago. I slept the whole flight as I was pretty tired. We arrived early in Chicago so I had to kill about 2 hours before my connection to Milwaukee. So I got some Pizza and read some more of my latest novel. When I went to board our connecting flight to Milwaukee I was a bit freaked out, it was a twin turbo prop plane... which I though resembled a WW2 cargo plane!
Anyway the flight went well, and at 11.30pm, roughly 16 1/2 hours after I started my journey I was with my wife to be. So there's my tale for now, so far today (Sunday) we've just been moving my stuff into Steve (Angie's brothers) house, we are rent the bottom of the house out. We've bought paint and groceries. It feels strange being here and knowing its final, no more lonely return flights to London. The fun begins next week when I have to start setting up my life here, SSN, bank accounts, drivers license and go for a job interview. I will let you know how I get on!
Bye for now, a little jet lagged
James
Well I made it in one piece!
I will keep this as brief as i can as i'm busy busy busy at the moment. I set off from Newbury yesterday with my family at 8am bound for Heathrow. All was going fine until we got to opposite Windsor castle when suddenly my sisters Renault Scenic 4WD started to make a terrible noise from the backend, it then started to vibrate excessively and we pulled over on the hard shoulder. The rear differential had blown and was spewing smoke and oil everywhere. Needless to my sister and partner were not impressed having mentioned a intermittent problem to Renault when it was serviced and repaired the previous week.
So anyway there we were at about 9am on the highway, and my flight was leaving London at 1pm. Luckily my Auntie came to the rescue and picked me up at around 10am. I said my goodbyes to Dave (sister b/f) at the side of the highway, and continued onto Heathrow with auntie and sister. They dropped me off at around 10.20 and we said our goodbyes. It was sad to say goodbye, but great to know that I was going to be seeing Kate in little over 4 weeks at the wedding.
Drama no.2 occurred when I got to Air India to check in. There was a massive line that snaked around the corner of there check in and instantly I began to panic. Turns out there entire check in computer system was down, and they had 3 flights of people to book in, roughly 900 people! After finding out the problem I joined the que and waited. Well things start to go downhill when another passenger verbally abused a attendant who pushed him and a fight almost broke out. I was 12.30pm by the time I finally checked in and my flight was due to leave at 1.15. so I bolted as fast as I could to the terminal. The flight didn't leave Heathrow until 3.30 as we missed our slot and had to wait for everyone to get checked in due to the delay.
I worried the entire flight as I had a tight connection in New York flying at from a different airport to the one I was landing at (JFK). We finally landed at 6.00pm and I didn't get off the plane and through immigration until 6.10pm. I handed the immigration guy my passport and envelope from the embassy which he opened and started to review. He didn't really ask me much and was whistling away while checking everything. He then stamped my passport, and I freaked thinking what aboutt he Temporary work stamp. So I asked "Apparently I can get a temporary work stamp". Well he went off on a rant saying "Look son, your a guest in my country and not entitled to anything, I may opt to give you something but you can't ask me for it". "Ok, sorry". "Follow me". He led me into a white room at the end of all the immigration stalls, handed my envelope contents and passport to a lady at the counter also in immigration who told me to take a seat. 10 minutes later I got called up and recieved my passport back with work stamp! Phew, made the trip via JFK to Milwaukee worth it!
After getting my passport back I bolted to baggage claim. After finally getting my bags it was after 6.30pm. I cleared the airport about 6.50pm. I grabbed the nearest cab I could find and told the guy I needed to get to Laguardia airport sharpish. He was a Bangladeshi immigrant and quite funny, and he knew all the back roads getting my there in record time.
So I made my 7.59pm flight from NY Laguardia to Chicago. I slept the whole flight as I was pretty tired. We arrived early in Chicago so I had to kill about 2 hours before my connection to Milwaukee. So I got some Pizza and read some more of my latest novel. When I went to board our connecting flight to Milwaukee I was a bit freaked out, it was a twin turbo prop plane... which I though resembled a WW2 cargo plane!
Anyway the flight went well, and at 11.30pm, roughly 16 1/2 hours after I started my journey I was with my wife to be. So there's my tale for now, so far today (Sunday) we've just been moving my stuff into Steve (Angie's brothers) house, we are rent the bottom of the house out. We've bought paint and groceries. It feels strange being here and knowing its final, no more lonely return flights to London. The fun begins next week when I have to start setting up my life here, SSN, bank accounts, drivers license and go for a job interview. I will let you know how I get on!
Bye for now, a little jet lagged
James
Jun 13th 2004, 7:13 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Indiana
Posts: 54
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
It just wouldn't be right without a bit of drama at the end James.
Welcome to America my friend!
Welcome to America my friend!
Jun 13th 2004, 8:11 am
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: MA
Posts: 773
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Originally posted by IndyGreg
It just wouldn't be right without a bit of drama at the end James.
Welcome to America my friend!
It just wouldn't be right without a bit of drama at the end James.
Welcome to America my friend!
Love
Giselaxxx
Jun 13th 2004, 8:19 am
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Oxford, UK -> Georgia!
Posts: 389
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
\Hey, James, great news that you finally made it!!!
Congratulations for getting there safe and sound, and with your work authorisation!
Have fun getting ready for the wedding!
Kath
xx
Congratulations for getting there safe and sound, and with your work authorisation!
Have fun getting ready for the wedding!
Kath
xx
Jun 13th 2004, 8:22 am
#5
SUPER CRUNCHY BALCONY COW
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,476
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Originally posted by mcjimbo
Hi everyone,
Well I made it in one piece! I will keep this as brief as i can as i'm busy busy busy at the moment.
I set off from Newbury yesterday with my family at 8am bound for Heathrow. All was going fine until we got to opposite Windsor castle when suddenly my sisters Renault Scenic 4WD started to make a terrible noise from the backend, it then started to vibrate excessively and we pulled over on the hard shoulder. The rear differential had blown and was spewing smoke and oil everywhere. Needless to my sister and partner were not impressed having mentioned a intermittent problem to Renault when it was serviced and repaired the previous week.
So anyway there we were at about 9am on the highway, and my flight was leaving London at 1pm. Luckily my Auntie came to the rescue and picked me up at around 10am. I said my goodbyes to Dave (sister b/f) at the side of the highway, and continued onto Heathrow with auntie and sister. They dropped me off at around 10.20 and we said our goodbyes. It was sad to say goodbye, but great to know that I was going to be seeing Kate in little over 4 weeks at the wedding.
Drama no.2 occurred when I got to Air India to check in. There was a massive line that snaked around the corner of there check in and instantly I began to panic. Turns out there entire check in computer system was down, and they had 3 flights of people to book in, roughly 900 people! After finding out the problem I
Hi everyone,
Well I made it in one piece!
I will keep this as brief as i can as i'm busy busy busy at the moment. I set off from Newbury yesterday with my family at 8am bound for Heathrow. All was going fine until we got to opposite Windsor castle when suddenly my sisters Renault Scenic 4WD started to make a terrible noise from the backend, it then started to vibrate excessively and we pulled over on the hard shoulder. The rear differential had blown and was spewing smoke and oil everywhere. Needless to my sister and partner were not impressed having mentioned a intermittent problem to Renault when it was serviced and repaired the previous week.
So anyway there we were at about 9am on the highway, and my flight was leaving London at 1pm. Luckily my Auntie came to the rescue and picked me up at around 10am. I said my goodbyes to Dave (sister b/f) at the side of the highway, and continued onto Heathrow with auntie and sister. They dropped me off at around 10.20 and we said our goodbyes. It was sad to say goodbye, but great to know that I was going to be seeing Kate in little over 4 weeks at the wedding.
Drama no.2 occurred when I got to Air India to check in. There was a massive line that snaked around the corner of there check in and instantly I began to panic. Turns out there entire check in computer system was down, and they had 3 flights of people to book in, roughly 900 people! After finding out the problem I
James!! What a bunch of hardles!, I am not surprised you made it after what the USCIS put all of us thru!! Wooo Wooo!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
:PARTY: :PARTY:
What a happy day!!!
Come back soon!!!
Jun 13th 2004, 8:34 am
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 568
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Welcome, James Happy to hear your journey was a safe one!
Happy to hear your journey was a safe one!
Jun 13th 2004, 11:04 am
#7
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,687
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Wonderful to hear you made it over, James! I know the stressful feeling of timing everything just right Welcome to America once and for all!
Best Wishes,
Rene
Welcome to America once and for all! Best Wishes,
Rene
Jun 13th 2004, 11:39 am
#8
Soon with her AZ guy :)
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 10
CONGRATS !!!
CONGRATULATUATIONS JAMES !!!
Hopefully I too will soon follow ... my interview is June 21st in Montreal .... Matt is meeting us up there .... and then coming back to Halifax so we can all fly home together on June 26th .... !!!
Once again ... CONGRATS !! and best wishes for a happy future ....
Charlene & Matt
Hopefully I too will soon follow ... my interview is June 21st in Montreal .... Matt is meeting us up there .... and then coming back to Halifax so we can all fly home together on June 26th .... !!!
Once again ... CONGRATS !! and best wishes for a happy future ....
Charlene & Matt
Jun 13th 2004, 12:49 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: New York City, NY
Posts: 222
Re: CONGRATS !!!
Congrats!!
Jun 13th 2004, 12:57 pm
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 77
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Originally posted by mcjimbo
Hi everyone,
Well I made it in one piece! I will keep this as brief as i can as i'm busy busy busy at the moment.
I set off from Newbury yesterday with my family at 8am bound for Heathrow. All was going fine until we got to opposite Windsor castle when suddenly my sisters Renault Scenic 4WD started to make a terrible noise from the backend, it then started to vibrate excessively and we pulled over on the hard shoulder. The rear differential had blown and was spewing smoke and oil everywhere. Needless to my sister and partner were not impressed having mentioned a intermittent problem to Renault when it was serviced and repaired the previous week.
So anyway there we were at about 9am on the highway, and my flight was leaving London at 1pm. Luckily my Auntie came to the rescue and picked me up at around 10am. I said my goodbyes to Dave (sister b/f) at the side of the highway, and continued onto Heathrow with auntie and sister. They dropped me off at around 10.20 and we said our goodbyes. It was sad to say goodbye, but great to know that I was going to be seeing Kate in little over 4 weeks at the wedding.
Drama no.2 occurred when I got to Air India to check in. There was a massive line that snaked around the corner of there check in and instantly I began to panic. Turns out there entire check in computer system was down, and they had 3 flights of people to book in, roughly 900 people! After finding out the problem I joined the que and waited. Well things start to go downhill when another passenger verbally abused a attendant who pushed him and a fight almost broke out. I was 12.30pm by the time I finally checked in and my flight was due to leave at 1.15. so I bolted as fast as I could to the terminal. The flight didn't leave Heathrow until 3.30 as we missed our slot and had to wait for everyone to get checked in due to the delay.
I worried the entire flight as I had a tight connection in New York flying at from a different airport to the one I was landing at (JFK). We finally landed at 6.00pm and I didn't get off the plane and through immigration until 6.10pm. I handed the immigration guy my passport and envelope from the embassy which he opened and started to review. He didn't really ask me much and was whistling away while checking everything. He then stamped my passport, and I freaked thinking what aboutt he Temporary work stamp. So I asked "Apparently I can get a temporary work stamp". Well he went off on a rant saying "Look son, your a guest in my country and not entitled to anything, I may opt to give you something but you can't ask me for it". "Ok, sorry". "Follow me". He led me into a white room at the end of all the immigration stalls, handed my envelope contents and passport to a lady at the counter also in immigration who told me to take a seat. 10 minutes later I got called up and recieved my passport back with work stamp! Phew, made the trip via JFK to Milwaukee worth it!
After getting my passport back I bolted to baggage claim. After finally getting my bags it was after 6.30pm. I cleared the airport about 6.50pm. I grabbed the nearest cab I could find and told the guy I needed to get to Laguardia airport sharpish. He was a Bangladeshi immigrant and quite funny, and he knew all the back roads getting my there in record time.
So I made my 7.59pm flight from NY Laguardia to Chicago. I slept the whole flight as I was pretty tired. We arrived early in Chicago so I had to kill about 2 hours before my connection to Milwaukee. So I got some Pizza and read some more of my latest novel. When I went to board our connecting flight to Milwaukee I was a bit freaked out, it was a twin turbo prop plane... which I though resembled a WW2 cargo plane!
Anyway the flight went well, and at 11.30pm, roughly 16 1/2 hours after I started my journey I was with my wife to be. So there's my tale for now, so far today (Sunday) we've just been moving my stuff into Steve (Angie's brothers) house, we are rent the bottom of the house out. We've bought paint and groceries. It feels strange being here and knowing its final, no more lonely return flights to London. The fun begins next week when I have to start setting up my life here, SSN, bank accounts, drivers license and go for a job interview. I will let you know how I get on!
Bye for now, a little jet lagged
James
Hi everyone,
Well I made it in one piece!
I will keep this as brief as i can as i'm busy busy busy at the moment. I set off from Newbury yesterday with my family at 8am bound for Heathrow. All was going fine until we got to opposite Windsor castle when suddenly my sisters Renault Scenic 4WD started to make a terrible noise from the backend, it then started to vibrate excessively and we pulled over on the hard shoulder. The rear differential had blown and was spewing smoke and oil everywhere. Needless to my sister and partner were not impressed having mentioned a intermittent problem to Renault when it was serviced and repaired the previous week.
So anyway there we were at about 9am on the highway, and my flight was leaving London at 1pm. Luckily my Auntie came to the rescue and picked me up at around 10am. I said my goodbyes to Dave (sister b/f) at the side of the highway, and continued onto Heathrow with auntie and sister. They dropped me off at around 10.20 and we said our goodbyes. It was sad to say goodbye, but great to know that I was going to be seeing Kate in little over 4 weeks at the wedding.
Drama no.2 occurred when I got to Air India to check in. There was a massive line that snaked around the corner of there check in and instantly I began to panic. Turns out there entire check in computer system was down, and they had 3 flights of people to book in, roughly 900 people! After finding out the problem I joined the que and waited. Well things start to go downhill when another passenger verbally abused a attendant who pushed him and a fight almost broke out. I was 12.30pm by the time I finally checked in and my flight was due to leave at 1.15. so I bolted as fast as I could to the terminal. The flight didn't leave Heathrow until 3.30 as we missed our slot and had to wait for everyone to get checked in due to the delay.
I worried the entire flight as I had a tight connection in New York flying at from a different airport to the one I was landing at (JFK). We finally landed at 6.00pm and I didn't get off the plane and through immigration until 6.10pm. I handed the immigration guy my passport and envelope from the embassy which he opened and started to review. He didn't really ask me much and was whistling away while checking everything. He then stamped my passport, and I freaked thinking what aboutt he Temporary work stamp. So I asked "Apparently I can get a temporary work stamp". Well he went off on a rant saying "Look son, your a guest in my country and not entitled to anything, I may opt to give you something but you can't ask me for it". "Ok, sorry". "Follow me". He led me into a white room at the end of all the immigration stalls, handed my envelope contents and passport to a lady at the counter also in immigration who told me to take a seat. 10 minutes later I got called up and recieved my passport back with work stamp! Phew, made the trip via JFK to Milwaukee worth it!
After getting my passport back I bolted to baggage claim. After finally getting my bags it was after 6.30pm. I cleared the airport about 6.50pm. I grabbed the nearest cab I could find and told the guy I needed to get to Laguardia airport sharpish. He was a Bangladeshi immigrant and quite funny, and he knew all the back roads getting my there in record time.
So I made my 7.59pm flight from NY Laguardia to Chicago. I slept the whole flight as I was pretty tired. We arrived early in Chicago so I had to kill about 2 hours before my connection to Milwaukee. So I got some Pizza and read some more of my latest novel. When I went to board our connecting flight to Milwaukee I was a bit freaked out, it was a twin turbo prop plane... which I though resembled a WW2 cargo plane!
Anyway the flight went well, and at 11.30pm, roughly 16 1/2 hours after I started my journey I was with my wife to be. So there's my tale for now, so far today (Sunday) we've just been moving my stuff into Steve (Angie's brothers) house, we are rent the bottom of the house out. We've bought paint and groceries. It feels strange being here and knowing its final, no more lonely return flights to London. The fun begins next week when I have to start setting up my life here, SSN, bank accounts, drivers license and go for a job interview. I will let you know how I get on!
Bye for now, a little jet lagged
James
No more pints in the Dolphin then??
A fellow ex-pat from Newbury.. we spoke by email a while back.
Lucky me.. I now have the 10 year GC!
Good luck and best wishes.
Jun 13th 2004, 3:37 pm
#11
The Survivors!!
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: USA & CANADA
Posts: 322
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
CONGRATULATIONS James, so glad you made it through.
Best of luck settling in and making it yours together....sigh, isn't love grand?
Welcome to America!!
Best of luck settling in and making it yours together....sigh, isn't love grand?
Welcome to America!!
Jun 13th 2004, 5:15 pm
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 436
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Congrats on having a safe, but stressful, trip and welcome to the States
Melody
Melody
Jun 13th 2004, 6:56 pm
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: mid-west
Posts: 413
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Congratulations James..It must be such a great feeling after almost a year of waiting to be with Angie and not have to worry about returning home (sorry back to England !) at the end of the week
I got Linda to sort out my flights from JFK yesterday and also ended up with a detour (via Atlanta ) arriving in Milwaukee at midnight. I was pretty suprised at how expensive the direct evening flights to Milwaukee were. Did you have any problems with bagaage allowance on your internal flights ??. Anyway I hope my journey is less eventful than yours !.
Good luck and have fun.
Niall
I got Linda to sort out my flights from JFK yesterday and also ended up with a detour (via Atlanta ) arriving in Milwaukee at midnight. I was pretty suprised at how expensive the direct evening flights to Milwaukee were. Did you have any problems with bagaage allowance on your internal flights ??. Anyway I hope my journey is less eventful than yours !.
Good luck and have fun.
Niall
Last edited by MrDub; Jun 13th 2004 at 8:43 pm.
Jun 13th 2004, 7:56 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2003
Location: US and Indonesia
Posts: 89
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
Congrats ! Hope my flight on Friday will be less "painful" .. ;-)
Jun 13th 2004, 9:37 pm
#15
horseradish
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 74
Re: mcjimbo's journey and POE experience...
hey james,
when reading your mail i'm right there with you... i can only hope that some time in august i will be taking my journey to minneapolis and can leave this all behind me.
best of luck to you
lessthanstellar.
when reading your mail i'm right there with you... i can only hope that some time in august i will be taking my journey to minneapolis and can leave this all behind me.
best of luck to you
lessthanstellar.
