Jul. 7th, 2011 01:36 am
Next, please!
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savvyliterateI didn't want to say anything until I had the official notice in hand, but Mike passed the first part of the immigration process! *boogies and wiggles hips* What shocked us both is how fast the government processed the paperwork. The average USCIS wait time is five months. Mike was approved in 102 days or three months and 10 days. Granted, we did a bit of overkill on submitting the documents, which probably helped us a lot. He was approved June 30, I found out July 1 online and got the official form on Tuesday.
The next step in the process is that everything goes to the National Visa Center. We fill out more paperwork, pay more money and Mike will get his interview from the consulate. I spent tonight reading up on what happens next in the process. I'll have to fill out an affidavit of support, so I have to hit up HR today to get an official employment letter from them. I'll have to take some documents with me over to Mike such as our official marriage certificate, so it makes me glad we got the notice prior to my trip! Providing how fast it takes the visa center to set everything up, this might mean Mike will be over here as soon as September.
I think we're both a bit shell-shocked at that, to be honest. Thankfully, our finances are in good shape, and a plane ticket here will be fairly cheap by then. The big question facing us now is getting Mike's stuff over here. I'm going to pay the $60 to check a second bag and haul a suitcase/box of stuff back with me from the UK. Mike's largely going to replace his electronics over here. It's a good thing he's been leaving stuff and I've been gradually taking stuff back with me.
I'm also gaining a temporary roommate. We hired a new designer/copy-editor fellow, and I met him via Twitter. It's a busy time for him - he literally got engaged the night before he got the job offer in Harrisburg. I offered to let him crash in the office for two weeks while he starts the job and goes apartment hunting. Then he'll go back to Colorado, and he and his fiancée will do the full move with the dog. I like him a lot already and can't wait to meet his fiancée. He's going to actually get into town the day I fly back from Liverpool, but a few hours before I get back. So, I'm going to have the pet sitter leave the spare key so he can access the apartment.
Mike's OK with this as long as Ed doesn't mention the 1989 season. (Mike's a Liverpool fan, and Ed is an Arsenal fan.)
I started packing tonight. Cue the cats freaking out in three ... two ... one ...
The next step in the process is that everything goes to the National Visa Center. We fill out more paperwork, pay more money and Mike will get his interview from the consulate. I spent tonight reading up on what happens next in the process. I'll have to fill out an affidavit of support, so I have to hit up HR today to get an official employment letter from them. I'll have to take some documents with me over to Mike such as our official marriage certificate, so it makes me glad we got the notice prior to my trip! Providing how fast it takes the visa center to set everything up, this might mean Mike will be over here as soon as September.
I think we're both a bit shell-shocked at that, to be honest. Thankfully, our finances are in good shape, and a plane ticket here will be fairly cheap by then. The big question facing us now is getting Mike's stuff over here. I'm going to pay the $60 to check a second bag and haul a suitcase/box of stuff back with me from the UK. Mike's largely going to replace his electronics over here. It's a good thing he's been leaving stuff and I've been gradually taking stuff back with me.
I'm also gaining a temporary roommate. We hired a new designer/copy-editor fellow, and I met him via Twitter. It's a busy time for him - he literally got engaged the night before he got the job offer in Harrisburg. I offered to let him crash in the office for two weeks while he starts the job and goes apartment hunting. Then he'll go back to Colorado, and he and his fiancée will do the full move with the dog. I like him a lot already and can't wait to meet his fiancée. He's going to actually get into town the day I fly back from Liverpool, but a few hours before I get back. So, I'm going to have the pet sitter leave the spare key so he can access the apartment.
Mike's OK with this as long as Ed doesn't mention the 1989 season. (Mike's a Liverpool fan, and Ed is an Arsenal fan.)
I started packing tonight. Cue the cats freaking out in three ... two ... one ...