Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Hi All,
This is probably a little off topic but just after your tips and advice.:starsmile:

Where we(me and wifey) are at in the process;
The documents for our L1B(I think thats what it is call, its the specialists skills one) are due to be submitted by the attorney the company has employed to help us next week. They are paying to have it fast tracked through so in theory and all being well we are due to get a decision in the first week of July.

There are loads of questions, most of which i can find answer to by searching but the big one is... How to handle the waiting!

We have prepared as much as i think we can, without effecting our life over here. I dont want to tell everyone that we are going and we don't want to get to worked up incase the visa gets denied. What did you all do to keep your sanity while waiting for possibly one of the biggest life changing decisions?:fingerscrossed:

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

I read up on the process and the forms and what happens next so many times that I think I can now recite it in my head!

I've done a tonne of research on where we're moving to, schools, where to eat, where to run, doctors etc.

I've also eaten a LOT of chocolate... :thumbsup:

We haven't told many people yet that we're moving, my family knows and my close friends but I haven't told anyone at work yet.

Also, sorry, but I had to laugh - we've just waited 6 months for our approval (fiance petition) and you're fretting about waiting a few weeks?! :rofl::rofl:

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

:o oops, sorry. We are also studying the area, trying to read up on all we need to know. The company are being very supportive and handy with information about the local area.

We are also doing our part with the great chocolate eating challenge!

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

No, you're fine - it's all relative. I knew our process would take months - going through immigration makes days feel like years!

Jolly good, keep up the good work :D

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

6 months? DH was offered his job back in Feb 2013 - we have had nearly 18 months of limbo! Now with the O-1 /O-3 visas in all our passports we are on the final stretch for DH & the boys, I'm probably staying back a few extra weeks for tying up loose ends and some other family stuff.

Lots of time on BE following other people's visa journeys, learning to spot the "I love America" threads :rofl: and reading lots about future processes for ourselves.

The staff at our local Barnardo's keep asking how it is all going too as I drop off yet another box of stuff. And once we are actually packed up our Morrison's will wonder why the banana boxes (we have LOTS of books) aren't vanishing any more!

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

We've been going through this since February (I know that's not long compared to some) when my husband was first approached about a job. It feels like a rollarcoaster... waiting for the relocation offer (that was the worst bit), telling family, accepting the offer, dealing with the relocation team.

I told my work before his visa the granted and we arranged for the movers to collect our belongings too (coming Monday!); It was probably a bit risky, but thankfully it seems to have been okay.

We didn't find the waiting too bad as it felt like we were always trying to organise something. I guess we worked on the assumption that he would be granted the visa, so we started making plans in the interim period. The visa process was quick: about 15 days from the interview date confirmation to passport being returned.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

This sounds like the system and you have been in tune, good work! Yeah i guess our journey started in January with the opportunity opening up. The bits left to do involve giving notice on Rented house/Wifeys' job/Cats have got to go back to where we adopted them(This is going to be devastating but both have heart conditions). How long did it take from the time you submitted your documents to the interview if you don't mind me asking?

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

I love this bit.. :)

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Company lawyers did their bit and hubby completed an online form. When this was submitted he was asked to select an interview date, which I think about about 7-8 days in advance.

I think the worst bits are still to come: giving notice on the house (doing this today), sorting out the utilities/bills, redirecting mail, disposing of things... urgh I am not looking forward to it! I am staying here for an extra month to do these things and hubby is going to be over there securing a house and setting it up. Feels like a lot to do!

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

It sure is not going to be boring for a while is it? We are planning on getting out of here at the same time as it just seems so much to do both ends.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Ideally we would have chosen to go together; I would have liked to be able to take some of the pressure away from hubby at that end as he'll be working, but his company were putting a lot of pressure on him to be in situ by a given date, which has had quite a few knock on effects.

I just hope he can find a house quickly so I can book my flight. In limbo at the moment.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

We were pretty certain ours was going to be approved so started work on the other stuff. Things like starting writing our belongings list for the shippers insurance. All those fiddly little jobs.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Good luck everyone.

Just a reminder that some of the UK utilities require a month's notice.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Thanks Owen. Reminds me to write a list of all the things to cancel.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

You have no Idea EB-3 in retrogression been waiting 8 years for date to become current which it did last february (2013) just in perfect time for oldest childs O level exams and waiting to see if he qualified for the Army so had to put every thing on hold until Feb 2014 embassy interview and medical next then next stop Texas October hopefully that will bring us to 8 years 10 months since first application I have developed immence patience in that time.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

I was first approached 8 months ago about a US job. I only got the offer letter 2 weeks back and since then it's been nuts. My interview for L1a is booked for the 1st of July and we are looking to move by the end of July. Lots and lots to do is making the time go buy (too quickly it seems).

We made the decision to put our house on the market even without the visa approval. We figured it would be too late to wait till after approval so this way we still have the option to opt out of the sale. Open house tomorrow so we are going hell for leather sorting stuff out.

Filling in the forms online was a pain in the arse.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Got on with life and ignored it. Nothing you can do, so no point in fretting once the paper work is sent off.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Some many different answers. Thanks all, i think we will keep playing our fantasy plans and reading the BE forums :) until it happens and then go crazy.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

I am kind of at the same point at the moment, paperwork submitted, the waiting game is on. (L1 transfer with company to Atlanta)

I feel like it's all been a bit rushed because I only got the offer on May 12th, but since they want me over there as soon as the visa is approved (assuming it is approved :fingerscrossed:) I kind of can't afford not to start getting stuff sorted, clear out the flat etc.

I definitely need to get in on this chocolate thing though ;)

Good luck with staying calm, if you figure out how, let me know!

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Duh, by eating the chocolate - you just weren't paying attention were you :frown:

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

We were supposed to move out 2 year's ago but due to a number of issues that I won't go into we had to stop the process after the visa had been approved.

Take Two - We have today received approval of our visa 2 weeks and 2 days after it was posted through checking the online sysrem (L1a) this evening pages of online applications have been completed, photos have been uploaded and our interview is set for end of June!

It's all getting very real...

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

i think i spent the same period of time getting rid of all the crap in the house and thinning out what we would be taking. My husbands employers paid for a shipping container so we had no worries about how much we took- i just didn't want to take stuff i didn't really need, ( or never used). I think i singlehandly filled my local freecycle group page for well over a month giving stuff away.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Research, research, research. I made lists, and then lists of which lists I still had to make. I made spreadsheets, I updated contact lists, I planned and planned and it all paid off in the end. I don't think there were too many surprises once we finally made the move.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Today has been a packing day in the kitchen - mugs and stuff I can do without for the next couple of months. I have finally found a use for all the Christmas tissue wrapping paper I had tucked away, so unpacking all this lot will be very colourful :) Another big roll of bubble wrap is on the supplies shopping list for next week.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

What's the rule here? I have been told by 3 seperate shipping companies that they will not ship to the US unless they pack it. One guy told me they would repackage anything we packed so there is no point.

Not that it matters anyway. I can't get an full container for under £4k - I don't understand how 600cft and 800cft in a sole use container is nearly £1k more. Why can't I get a price for the container and put what I want in it?

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

We are not using a removals type shipping company. We are using the freight forwarders we use at work, and will be packing the container ourselves. Most of it will be personal effects, but also some commercial goods being bought from our company by steveq's new employer.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

List of lists so far. We were thinking about doing an inventory for shipping, what level of detail does that need to go into?

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Ours had to be detailed, including approx replacement costs. It came in handy as we did have to claim for a few things that were damaged.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Bearing in mind that we did this six years ago, it was fairly detailed.

ie. cutlery (not 10 knives, 10 forks etc.)
toys
mens clothes
womens clothes
childs clothes
bed
bed linen (not how many sheets etc)

and everything had to have a replacement cost associated with it.

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Our removal company are going to be with us for the next two days to pack our belongings (day 1) and load (day 2). I honestly just want them to take it now, I am fed up with sorting it all out - at least once the things we are having shipped is gone, I can see what I will need to air freight at a later date, before I go.

We had to make an inventory for the shippers insurance. I have a lot of books, some of which are valuable, so I am not looking forward to being parted from them :(

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Similar waiting game here, though a little further along.

1st November 2013 - Offered transfer to US by employer.

23rd April 2014 - Visa Petition Submitted (L1-A with expedited processing)

7th May 2014 - Request for additional evidence received from CIS, all of which was already in the original application, colour coded and indexed . . .

22nd May 2014 - Re-submitted with everything re-packaged and a load more supporting evidence.

30th May 2014 - Email indicating L1 approval received by lawyer

3rd June 2014 - Hard copy of I-797B received and Embassy appointment booked.

12th June 2014 - Visa interview, took about three hours and was told we are approved and they took our passports.

16th June (Today) - Both mine and wives applications go from "Administrative Processing" to 'Issued" on CEAC

So now just need to wait for the delivery of the passports . . .

It is difficult sometimes as you try and carry on with life and ignore it, but it does play into the decisions you make day to day, silly things like whether to buy a new tub of Cinamon that you can't take with you. Or committing to things with friends. It's a weird limbo.

Though hopefully our waiting is nearly done.

All of this does however prepare you for the paperwork and waiting i'll be doing when i get there with SSN and driving e.t.c i guess . . .

Goos luck to all who are still waiting!

Cheers

Gareth

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Wow, that is good breakdown of the process, thanks Gareth and congratulations!

What happens at the Interview to take 3 hours?

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Wow, that is good breakdown of the process, thanks Gareth and congratulations!

What happens at the Interview to take 3 hours?

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Hi!

The actual interview took about ten minutes:

9.30am - Arrived at Embassy
11.00am - Entered Embassy
11.15am - Called to first window and submitted paperwork.
12.00pm - Called to second window, and was asked a few basic questions about by company, told we where approved and sent to cashier to pay the fee for the wives L2.
12.15pm - Went back to the window, handed over the receipt for payment and was told to expect the passport in 3-5 working days.
12.20pm - In Costa having a celebratory coffee and bit of cake :)

Cheers

Gareth

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Hi!

The actual interview took about ten minutes:

9.30am - Arrived at Embassy
11.00am - Entered Embassy
11.15am - Called to first window and submitted paperwork.
12.00pm - Called to second window, and was asked a few basic questions about by company, told we where approved and sent to cashier to pay the fee for the wives L2.
12.15pm - Went back to the window, handed over the receipt for payment and was told to expect the passport in 3-5 working days.
12.20pm - In Costa having a celebratory coffee and bit of cake :)

Cheers

Gareth

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Brilliant. I would like to reward you with another bit of cake for the wonderfully detailed responses.

Did your firm pay to have the visa fast tracked as it looks pretty slick?

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Well i do like Cake . . . .

Yes the company paid for the initial application to be fast-tracked (Called Premium Processing Service), which guarantees a response within 15 calendar days. The response can be a request for more evidence, as in my application, but when you re-submit they are then required to process the next request also within 15 calendar days.

It costs $1,225 for my L1-A, but it was well worth it for me (particularly as my employer paid for it) as standard processing can take months!

Hope that helps.

Gareth

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

oooh us too!! We are in similar limbo!

Our timeline:\\

Job offer Oct 2013
Started O1 Visa process (collating evidence etc) January 2014
Submitted O1 Visa application 20 May 2014
RFE received 2 June 2014
Submitted O1 RFE Response last week Friday (13 June) but USCIS not received it yet. We paid PP so 15 calendar day time clock for us starts for us when they receive our response!!

WE have tenants lined up to move in, have provisionally booked shippers for beginning of July. I am trawling this site for info (SO helpful!!) looking on Westside rentals for property in Santa Monica. Calling the schools, researching area etc.

And we have yet to be granted a visa!!!!! Nerve wracking!!!
:fingerscrossed::fingerscrossed:

where are you moving to?

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Hey Lilly,

California bound too, we are looking at Pasadena/Eagle Rock/Glendale, as they are all close to work for me. Would love to be near the beech, but the commute would be a nightmare!

Good luck with the application!

Cheers

Gareth

Re: Excited, Restless, limbo and holding it all in.
 

Thanks Gareth, you too, and congrats on your approval!! So you received RFE too? Our lawyers say our RFE response is strong, within the time they asked for more evidence, my OH was nominated for another award (his 6th) and had more press on him, so I'm feeling pretty positive we will get approved!

We are looking at Santa monica, Culver city and pacific Palisades, as they have really good state middle schools. We are both self employed so working from home/studio which will be close by.

We hope to know by end of next week!
Lilly