In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
Apr 12th 2009, 3:58 pm
#16
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
Congratulations - we got ours a couple of months ago and although it was a little bit of an anti-climax after a few days, it's so lovely not to have that underlying fear that you could be asked to leave if a job situation goes wrong. That in itself, with all that's going on, is major cause for celebration! I'm in Katy too by the way and have been here since 2005 - always laugh at the negative Houston comments on here 
Where in Katy are you? Do you like it? We're just starting to look at HAR.com as we'll need to move from this leased house. We're no longer ex-pats as far as work is concerned!! We wanted to stay like this for a while longer (like 2 years lol) as clearly we're on a great deal. At least the transition from being paid in GBP to $ is going to be more welcome than when it was at 2-1!!
It's still not sunk in. We're both shell-shocked.
My first words to OH this morning were 'good morning Resident Alien'
Apr 12th 2009, 3:59 pm
#17
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Apr 12th 2009, 3:59 pm
#18
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
Congratulations - we got ours a couple of months ago and although it was a little bit of an anti-climax after a few days, it's so lovely not to have that underlying fear that you could be asked to leave if a job situation goes wrong. That in itself, with all that's going on, is major cause for celebration! I'm in Katy too by the way and have been here since 2005 - always laugh at the negative Houston comments on here
Great post...I agree the green card has to be better than a work visa, much more security in that one
Good luck and congrats to you
Apr 12th 2009, 4:03 pm
#19
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
We made the decision we quite liked it here, and wanted the option of staying to be in our hands, not with work situation, so we took the plunge and asked H's company to sponsor us.
They were more than happy (which was a relief!), and we've just collected our mail ... and there they were!
Wow! A bit surprised! And relieved. And happy, of course!!
Next step is telling our families and friends.
Better than a chocolate egg, that's for sure
They were more than happy (which was a relief!), and we've just collected our mail ... and there they were!
Wow! A bit surprised! And relieved. And happy, of course!!
Next step is telling our families and friends.
Better than a chocolate egg, that's for sure
Apr 12th 2009, 4:08 pm
#20
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
Me too! Considering what's on offer here, the way of life, the friends we've made, we love it! It's even more wonderful knowing that it's not that far to go and see somewhere completely different. For example, we went and stayed in a spa right on a lake in the hill country for our anniversary. Water, hills, loads of greenery .. we could have been back at home! Less than 4 hours away (which is nothing to native Yanks - we're getting used to it now!).
Where in Katy are you? Do you like it? We're just starting to look at HAR.com as we'll need to move from this leased house. We're no longer ex-pats as far as work is concerned!! We wanted to stay like this for a while longer (like 2 years lol) as clearly we're on a great deal. At least the transition from being paid in GBP to $ is going to be more welcome than when it was at 2-1!!
It's still not sunk in. We're both shell-shocked.
My first words to OH this morning were 'good morning Resident Alien'
Where in Katy are you? Do you like it? We're just starting to look at HAR.com as we'll need to move from this leased house. We're no longer ex-pats as far as work is concerned!! We wanted to stay like this for a while longer (like 2 years lol) as clearly we're on a great deal. At least the transition from being paid in GBP to $ is going to be more welcome than when it was at 2-1!!
It's still not sunk in. We're both shell-shocked.
My first words to OH this morning were 'good morning Resident Alien'
We're on Cinco Ranch (which doesn't narrow it down really as this area is so huge!). I love Katy, always visited it when we were here on vacation before our full time move, and don't regret buying in this area at all. I like the schools, the amenities (which are always being added to), and I have a really lovely neighbourhood - average neighbourhood, with lovely families here, safety for the kids to play out (we're on a cul-de-sac with a play area and lovely large greenbelt bit for the kids opposite the house), so all in all I really like it here.
As far as what you said to your OH, for days after the Green Cards arrived, I kept signing my name off on all my emails with the letters "LPR" behind it!! Amused me for a while anyway
You should get some good deals on houses at the mo, I know there's a few up for sale in my neighbourhood which have been on the market for a good few months - nothing wrong with them from what we can see, but everything is taking so long to sell at the moment. Great for buyers though. Whereabouts do you want to live?
Apr 12th 2009, 4:17 pm
#21
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
Hi Mandana
We're on Cinco Ranch (which doesn't narrow it down really as this area is so huge!). I love Katy, always visited it when we were here on vacation before our full time move, and don't regret buying in this area at all. I like the schools, the amenities (which are always being added to), and I have a really lovely neighbourhood - average neighbourhood, with lovely families here, safety for the kids to play out (we're on a cul-de-sac with a play area and lovely large greenbelt bit for the kids opposite the house), so all in all I really like it here.
As far as what you said to your OH, for days after the Green Cards arrived, I kept signing my name off on all my emails with the letters "LPR" behind it!! Amused me for a while anyway
You should get some good deals on houses at the mo, I know there's a few up for sale in my neighbourhood which have been on the market for a good few months - nothing wrong with them from what we can see, but everything is taking so long to sell at the moment. Great for buyers though. Whereabouts do you want to live?
We're on Cinco Ranch (which doesn't narrow it down really as this area is so huge!). I love Katy, always visited it when we were here on vacation before our full time move, and don't regret buying in this area at all. I like the schools, the amenities (which are always being added to), and I have a really lovely neighbourhood - average neighbourhood, with lovely families here, safety for the kids to play out (we're on a cul-de-sac with a play area and lovely large greenbelt bit for the kids opposite the house), so all in all I really like it here.
As far as what you said to your OH, for days after the Green Cards arrived, I kept signing my name off on all my emails with the letters "LPR" behind it!! Amused me for a while anyway
You should get some good deals on houses at the mo, I know there's a few up for sale in my neighbourhood which have been on the market for a good few months - nothing wrong with them from what we can see, but everything is taking so long to sell at the moment. Great for buyers though. Whereabouts do you want to live?
Schools aren't an issue for us as we don't have children here. There are a few must-haves on our list, so it's a case of getting a house that ticks all the boxes.
Seen some great ones online, but it's a case of going and seeing the neighbourhoods, what and who is next door (house, commercial, lake, park etc) and going from there.
Apr 12th 2009, 4:19 pm
#22
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
PS. Enjoying the storm?!
Apr 12th 2009, 4:19 pm
#23
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
We're in Cinco 1 .. looking perhaps at Cinco 2, or towards Fulshear. Had a nosey around Cross Creek but nothing really appealed. Went for a walk last night around the lake at Cinco 2 by the Lake House (near the show homes), then drove around some of the houses in the gated community - just because! Having no idea what was waiting for us in the mailbox as we drove home!
Schools aren't an issue for us as we don't have children here. There are a few must-haves on our list, so it's a case of getting a house that ticks all the boxes.
Seen some great ones online, but it's a case of going and seeing the neighbourhoods, what and who is next door (house, commercial, lake, park etc) and going from there.
Schools aren't an issue for us as we don't have children here. There are a few must-haves on our list, so it's a case of getting a house that ticks all the boxes.
Seen some great ones online, but it's a case of going and seeing the neighbourhoods, what and who is next door (house, commercial, lake, park etc) and going from there.
Apr 12th 2009, 4:20 pm
#24
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Apr 12th 2009, 4:24 pm
#25
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
Apr 12th 2009, 4:25 pm
#26
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
best keep them for the hurricane season....3 major ones for the Houston area is predicted this year so says the recent weather conference in Austin. 
Apr 12th 2009, 4:30 pm
#27
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
LOL - it literally went pitch black here - like night time! It's gone already though, unless another section is heading our way. Typical "bank holiday" weather!
Apr 12th 2009, 4:32 pm
#28
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
Cheers for that! Just what we needed to know!
Apr 12th 2009, 4:38 pm
#29
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Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
Yes it was either two or three major ones headed Houston way. Hunker down you folks or get out of town is the more sensible option.
Apr 12th 2009, 6:05 pm
#30
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: In shock! Our Green Card has just arrived!!
We made the decision we quite liked it here, and wanted the option of staying to be in our hands, not with work situation, so we took the plunge and asked H's company to sponsor us.
They were more than happy (which was a relief!), and we've just collected our mail ... and there they were!
Wow! A bit surprised! And relieved. And happy, of course!!
Next step is telling our families and friends.
Better than a chocolate egg, that's for sure
They were more than happy (which was a relief!), and we've just collected our mail ... and there they were!
Wow! A bit surprised! And relieved. And happy, of course!!
Next step is telling our families and friends.
Better than a chocolate egg, that's for sure
Congratulations!
The following USCIS pages are must reads for all new immigrants:
Now That You Are A Permanent Resident
I Am A Permanent Resident, How Do I...?
Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants