Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Jan 4th 2010, 6:57 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Dahn Sarf
Posts: 287
Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Hi y'all, its been a good couple of years since I posted here on BE. I was an avid (and very excited ) poster all through my H1-B application, through our initial relocation to from the UK to Seattle and finally through to us settling down in NC about four years ago. After that, although you guys have plenty of interesting things to say, and are always good for a laugh, I rarely found the time to check in as life just kind of overtook me. But it looks like I'll be posting quite a bit over the next few months.
After a few false starts I finally landed a great permie job with a GC thrown in, and thought wow, that's us sorted then.
Unfortunately as many of you know life doesn't usually quite work out that way. Some idjit in the HR department forgot to file my Labor Cert before the H1-B time limit and now it looks like we're well and truly screwed.
Barring a miracle (and knowing the US labor department I probably have more chance of a monkey on fire flying out of my arse) when my H1-B expires at the end of April, we're toast.
Back to the UK, do not pass go. Don't stop to cash in the chips - house, car, kids in school, pets, etc. back to the start you go.
After working myself into the ground for the last six years, and the mammoth effort it took for the previous four years before that just to get out here, it all seems such a colossal waste of time, money and effort.
Seeing as I was dumb enough to plough most of my remaining cash into my house (only to see it vanish overnight) it looks like I'm going to be hard pressed to even afford to get the removal guys to shift our stuff and get the five of us on a plane back to the UK. What will be fun will be arriving at the airport broke with no job or home and a family to feed!
Agh, I sound terribly bitter. I'm not really, just very nervous on how the next few months are going to go. But chances are I'm going to be asking an awful lot of dumb questions about moving back to the UK before we reach the end of our journey. So bear with me - heh, I know just how barbed some of the excellent wit here on BE can get.
For those of you old stagers that remember me, hi again, the rest of you are just going to have to put up with me as I work things out.
After a few false starts I finally landed a great permie job with a GC thrown in, and thought wow, that's us sorted then.
Unfortunately as many of you know life doesn't usually quite work out that way. Some idjit in the HR department forgot to file my Labor Cert before the H1-B time limit and now it looks like we're well and truly screwed.
Barring a miracle (and knowing the US labor department I probably have more chance of a monkey on fire flying out of my arse) when my H1-B expires at the end of April, we're toast.
Back to the UK, do not pass go. Don't stop to cash in the chips - house, car, kids in school, pets, etc. back to the start you go.
After working myself into the ground for the last six years, and the mammoth effort it took for the previous four years before that just to get out here, it all seems such a colossal waste of time, money and effort.
Seeing as I was dumb enough to plough most of my remaining cash into my house (only to see it vanish overnight) it looks like I'm going to be hard pressed to even afford to get the removal guys to shift our stuff and get the five of us on a plane back to the UK. What will be fun will be arriving at the airport broke with no job or home and a family to feed!
Agh, I sound terribly bitter. I'm not really, just very nervous on how the next few months are going to go. But chances are I'm going to be asking an awful lot of dumb questions about moving back to the UK before we reach the end of our journey. So bear with me - heh, I know just how barbed some of the excellent wit here on BE can get.
For those of you old stagers that remember me, hi again, the rest of you are just going to have to put up with me as I work things out.
Jan 4th 2010, 7:00 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Don't blow anyone away!! 
It sounds a bit drastic, I thought you could extend H1B.
It sounds a bit drastic, I thought you could extend H1B.
Jan 4th 2010, 7:08 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Dahn Sarf
Posts: 287
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Yes, that's true, you can extend your H1-B as long as you file your Labor Cert 365 days before the end of the H1-B, which is the deadline that my emplyer missed, filing a few weeks too late. If they'd done it in time, no problem, you can just keep extending as long as you want.
Jan 4th 2010, 7:15 pm
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: My happy place
Posts: 3,043
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
(and knowing the US labor department I probably have more chance of a monkey on fire flying out of my arse)
That's pretty funny.But I'm sorry to hear of your woes. Is there no appeal/ explanation avenue open to you?
Jan 4th 2010, 7:23 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Dahn Sarf
Posts: 287
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
I'm afraid not... been lawyered up for a while now, and its all to no avail...there are some crazy things you can do, like go to Mexico or something until your Labor Cert is granted and then come back, but apart from that there's not really much else...
Jan 4th 2010, 7:36 pm
#6
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Doesn't your contract include a clause for repatriation costs?
Jan 4th 2010, 9:38 pm
#7
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,005
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Hi y'all, its been a good couple of years since I posted here on BE. I was an avid (and very excited ) poster all through my H1-B application, through our initial relocation to from the UK to Seattle and finally through to us settling down in NC about four years ago. After that, although you guys have plenty of interesting things to say, and are always good for a laugh, I rarely found the time to check in as life just kind of overtook me. But it looks like I'll be posting quite a bit over the next few months.
After a few false starts I finally landed a great permie job with a GC thrown in, and thought wow, that's us sorted then.
Unfortunately as many of you know life doesn't usually quite work out that way. Some idjit in the HR department forgot to file my Labor Cert before the H1-B time limit and now it looks like we're well and truly screwed.
Barring a miracle (and knowing the US labor department I probably have more chance of a monkey on fire flying out of my arse) when my H1-B expires at the end of April, we're toast.
Back to the UK, do not pass go. Don't stop to cash in the chips - house, car, kids in school, pets, etc. back to the start you go.
After working myself into the ground for the last six years, and the mammoth effort it took for the previous four years before that just to get out here, it all seems such a colossal waste of time, money and effort.
Seeing as I was dumb enough to plough most of my remaining cash into my house (only to see it vanish overnight) it looks like I'm going to be hard pressed to even afford to get the removal guys to shift our stuff and get the five of us on a plane back to the UK. What will be fun will be arriving at the airport broke with no job or home and a family to feed!
Agh, I sound terribly bitter. I'm not really, just very nervous on how the next few months are going to go. But chances are I'm going to be asking an awful lot of dumb questions about moving back to the UK before we reach the end of our journey. So bear with me - heh, I know just how barbed some of the excellent wit here on BE can get.
For those of you old stagers that remember me, hi again, the rest of you are just going to have to put up with me as I work things out.
After a few false starts I finally landed a great permie job with a GC thrown in, and thought wow, that's us sorted then.
Unfortunately as many of you know life doesn't usually quite work out that way. Some idjit in the HR department forgot to file my Labor Cert before the H1-B time limit and now it looks like we're well and truly screwed.
Barring a miracle (and knowing the US labor department I probably have more chance of a monkey on fire flying out of my arse) when my H1-B expires at the end of April, we're toast.
Back to the UK, do not pass go. Don't stop to cash in the chips - house, car, kids in school, pets, etc. back to the start you go.
After working myself into the ground for the last six years, and the mammoth effort it took for the previous four years before that just to get out here, it all seems such a colossal waste of time, money and effort.
Seeing as I was dumb enough to plough most of my remaining cash into my house (only to see it vanish overnight) it looks like I'm going to be hard pressed to even afford to get the removal guys to shift our stuff and get the five of us on a plane back to the UK. What will be fun will be arriving at the airport broke with no job or home and a family to feed!
Agh, I sound terribly bitter. I'm not really, just very nervous on how the next few months are going to go. But chances are I'm going to be asking an awful lot of dumb questions about moving back to the UK before we reach the end of our journey. So bear with me - heh, I know just how barbed some of the excellent wit here on BE can get.
For those of you old stagers that remember me, hi again, the rest of you are just going to have to put up with me as I work things out.
When I first started reading this, I thought you were going to say you gradually realized how much you miss Tesco's and Corrie and a good old chinwag at the local back in Blighty (someone fetch me a barf bag), but no, you sure as hell don't want to leave ... all I can say is I hope there is a glimmer of light in the reg's that someone has missed and you get a reprieve.
Have you asked your current employer if they will give you a 12 months unpaid sabbatical/leave - you would then (after 24 mths) be re-eligible to enter under H-1B ... and probably wouldn't have to re-interview, etc.? It's an option suggested to me back in 2006 and which I foolishly turned down.
In the meantime, ask us any question except how to get your US television to work in the UK. :curse:
Jan 4th 2010, 10:16 pm
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
How long do you have to be out of the country for the Labor Cert to be granted?
I would say it seems surprising that the employer can screw up and just dump you penniless, but it isn't really.
Jan 4th 2010, 11:10 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 296
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
This sucks, i have never heard of such Bull Crap...W.T.F. there again i should as we are dealing with the uscis, yall never know....
I wish i could offer you something, but i have'nt a clue about this Labor Cert stuff.
This goes to show people in not putting all your eggs in one basket..
I sure hope somehow, somewhere you can work this B/S out for your Family.
I wish i could offer you something, but i have'nt a clue about this Labor Cert stuff.
This goes to show people in not putting all your eggs in one basket..
I sure hope somehow, somewhere you can work this B/S out for your Family.
Jan 4th 2010, 11:35 pm
#10
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
What a huge mess. Heres hoping the labor dept comes though and the papers fall in place without the monkey on fire 
What happened about the Green card, did that not get filed for either?
What happened about the Green card, did that not get filed for either?
Jan 5th 2010, 12:40 pm
#11
Just hanging around
Joined: May 2008
Location: Back in England
Posts: 1,447
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Horrible mess. I'm so sorry for you.
Have you tried contacting some local congress person? I know you're not a voter, but you could be one in the future, and raising happy future Americans, plus you'd probably tell everyone what a great person they are if they help you, and it does seem the sort of mess someone could nudge if they tried.
I only mention this because we got caught in a bureaucratic snarl up once in Canada and the local MP's office were practically falling over themselves to help us. I think because we were a relatively straightforward case that they thought they could fix compared to the desperate and tangled ones they often get.
Doesn't cost, after all,
Bev
Have you tried contacting some local congress person? I know you're not a voter, but you could be one in the future, and raising happy future Americans, plus you'd probably tell everyone what a great person they are if they help you, and it does seem the sort of mess someone could nudge if they tried.
I only mention this because we got caught in a bureaucratic snarl up once in Canada and the local MP's office were practically falling over themselves to help us. I think because we were a relatively straightforward case that they thought they could fix compared to the desperate and tangled ones they often get.
Doesn't cost, after all,
Bev
Jan 5th 2010, 2:44 pm
#12
BE Co-Founder
Joined: Feb 2000
Location: Florida
Posts: 25,928
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Big Vern I am sorry to read that. Try and be positive and look at it as a new adventure for you and your family. A very similar thing happened to Honeymommy a few years ago. They too had to up sticks and leave behind a life in the US they loved and move back to the UK with barely any finances. However despite going back with next to nothing, they have thrived and are doing okay. Things have a way of working themselves out. In the meantime you will find a huge support in this forum from those who are in the process of moving back also.
Jan 5th 2010, 3:24 pm
#13
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,005
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Crap, Vern, that sucks big-time. I wondered where you'd gone but assumed you were one of the lucky ones who was so busy getting on with life that BE paled into the distance.
When I first started reading this, I thought you were going to say you gradually realized how much you miss Tesco's and Corrie and a good old chinwag at the local back in Blighty (someone fetch me a barf bag), but no, you sure as hell don't want to leave ... all I can say is I hope there is a glimmer of light in the reg's that someone has missed and you get a reprieve.
Have you asked your current employer if they will give you a 12 months unpaid sabbatical/leave - you would then (after 24 mths) be re-eligible to enter under H-1B ... and probably wouldn't have to re-interview, etc.? It's an option suggested to me back in 2006 and which I foolishly turned down.
In the meantime, ask us any question except how to get your US television to work in the UK. :curse:
When I first started reading this, I thought you were going to say you gradually realized how much you miss Tesco's and Corrie and a good old chinwag at the local back in Blighty (someone fetch me a barf bag), but no, you sure as hell don't want to leave ... all I can say is I hope there is a glimmer of light in the reg's that someone has missed and you get a reprieve.
Have you asked your current employer if they will give you a 12 months unpaid sabbatical/leave - you would then (after 24 mths) be re-eligible to enter under H-1B ... and probably wouldn't have to re-interview, etc.? It's an option suggested to me back in 2006 and which I foolishly turned down.
In the meantime, ask us any question except how to get your US television to work in the UK. :curse:
Jan 5th 2010, 7:35 pm
#14
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Big Vern I am sorry to read that. Try and be positive and look at it as a new adventure for you and your family. A very similar thing happened to Honeymommy a few years ago. They too had to up sticks and leave behind a life in the US they loved and move back to the UK with barely any finances. However despite going back with next to nothing, they have thrived and are doing okay. Things have a way of working themselves out. In the meantime you will find a huge support in this forum from those who are in the process of moving back also.
How weird....I was thinking of Honeymommy today too!
She made many posts on BE and with a great sense of humour even in the toughest of times...but it might be interesting for BigVern if he wishes to read through these posts that Honeymommy wrote about her family's experience - and happily it all turned out well in the end:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227059 (her 1st thread about discovering that the GC isn't going to materialise and pleading for help)
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=234524 (HM's dismay 'Well, that's it then')
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244790 (early days back in Blighty)
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369844 (update after approx 20 months in the UK)
Good Luck, BigVern!
Jan 5th 2010, 8:49 pm
#15
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Dahn Sarf
Posts: 287
Re: Well, it was pretty good while it lasted....
Thanks everybody for your advice - I'll revisit Honeymommy's experiences and persue some of the other avenues that some of you have suggested.
On the plus side, the fat lady hasn't sung right now - I'm not through with the HR dept just yet...I'll let you know how things pan out....