Brits Americans

Skype for Keeping in Touch

2008-08-20T21:46:50Z

I just discovered something that I think is really awesome. This would work for anyone in this community whether in the UK or US. Skype has a monthly subscription option (12 USD/6 UKP) which allows you to call anywhere in the world for nothing (not including UK mobile phones unfortunately). Also, you get to pick up 3 numbers that you can give out for people to call you on; so for me I currently have a US and UK number. The US number allows my friends and family in the states to reach out to me when they need to without the cost of an international call. I have that set up so that the call goes straight to my mobile phone here. Forwarding costs something like 2p per minute to talk to someone but you can call them back on a "Skype on the Go" number which will forward back to them and costs as much as a normal call in the UK. If you have free minutes on the weekends for example you could literally talk to your friends/family in the US for nothing on your mobile phone. I am not sure how it works in the reverse but I would imagine it is much the same except for the ability to call mobiles in the UK. However you could circumvent that by getting a Skype landline number but then you are still being charged for forwarding.

In a worse case you can certainly talk via video too with iChat and many other similar inventions. Thus for those of you with transatlantic relationships this should make keeping in touch with each other less expensive and a lot easier. It has definitely made my world feel a lot smaller!

"Green Card Lottery" - is this real?

2008-08-20T21:16:51Z

I've heard this mentioned a few times over the years, about applying and if you are lucky you can get a visa for the US. I looked it up online and can't tell if it's just some kind of fake thing or if you can really go in to the lottery. I know I might sound stupid, but wow, I'd look at any options just now.

If it is real, which one of the millions of sites do I actually register with? Thank you, and sorry in advance if I'm being an idiot.

EDIT: Thanks for the answers - I have now discovered from your answers that I am not eligable as I am a UK citizen. Thank you everyone.

Gaps between visits to US, from UK.

2008-08-17T15:07:38Z

I have tried looking this up everywhere, I've googled it a million different ways but to no avail.

I'm English and live in the UK, my girlfriend is American and lives in the US. This year I visited for a month, went home for 6 weeks, then visited again for 3 months (just under , about 85 days). On this second visit, border control seemed very angry with me for leaving 'only' 6 weeks between visits.

What I can't find anywhere, is how long in total during one year I can visit (and when a 'year' runs from), and what length of gap I am supposed to leave.

I tried to get on to a masters course for September as I got a first in my degree and want to carry on studying, but unfortuately working out my GPA seems to take the American uni weeks and weeks, and I am left with not enough time to get the visa before the course anyway.

So, stuck in a work/save/visit pattern until I can reapply next year.

If anyone either knows how long/what gaps or can point me to where I can find it, I would be so grateful. As I'm sure many people in this community know it is a stressful enough situation as it is without the addition of being unable to find information. Thanks, Jess.

Arizona Help :)

2008-08-15T17:39:14Z

So I'm hoping to go to Arizona for a week or two next month, and I'm trying to find somewhere that I can hire a car from. Sounds simple, but, it needs to be a proper vintage convertible sort, something akin to this:

Google is mean and gave me nothing :(

Also, I need advice on what restrictions there are going to between Arizona and California, and any general advice such as hotel chains to avoid, generally anything else you think I should know :)

T.I.A

Oral Contraception Covered with the NHS

2008-08-15T14:16:28Z

I wish to preface this by saying that I know that no one here can probably give medical advice. However, I am interested more in women's individual experiences with this particular NHS benefit. I've looked through the memories and tags and couldn't find the information I was looking for.

On another community, nor_am_uk_ac, there was a question as to whether so-called third-generation OCs are covered under the NHS. My understanding was that particular brands that are available in the US are not in the UK, but that you can get similar pills. Another poster suggested that this class of pills was completely unavailable. So my questions are as follow: Are third generation pills (low dose) available in the UK under NHS? Is there a good alternative for OrthoTriCyclen-Lo available through the NHS? And what, if you'd like to share, is your experience getting birth control in the UK?

TIA!

**EDIT - Thank you all for your quick and informational replies! :) They have eased my mind quite a bit about finding suitable BCPs in the UK and have saved me from spending too much money to get 12 cycles worth of pills from my MD.

Asthma inhalers?

2008-08-14T02:30:28Z

My fiance is coming from Scotland and we'll need to get asthma medication for him. Can anyone tell me roughly what asthma medication costs in the states? I understand it's not so expensive in the UK. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

food donation

2008-08-13T22:11:45Z

We're clearing out our flat to move back to the States, and we've got various unopened things in our cupboards that really shouldn't go to waste (pasta, tinned fruit/veg, etc). Is there anywhere here to donate it? In the US there are food banks but I don't see anything like that on Google.

I'm in London. thanks!

NY Consulate

2008-08-13T17:44:53Z

Has anyone submitted a visa application to the British consulate in New York recently? How long did it take? Are they contactable in ANY WAY?

It says on their website that they try to process most applications within 5 working days, but I just got an email from them saying mine could take up to 20 working days. I have to fly out on August 26th and start my job on September 1st. :(

(Post-Study Work visa btw)

Pets

2008-08-13T14:45:43Z

I know this information is probably accessible online somewhere, but I was hoping someone might have a quick answer for me.

I am, in all likelihood, going to be moving to the UK through BUNAC in the new year, and I would like to get a cat while I'm there. I would get one now but my current roommate is highly allergic to mostly everything, specifically animals. Since the BUNAC program is only six months long, I was wondering what quarantine/vaccination issues I might encounter if I'd be bringing the cat back from the UK to the US.

I had read into this topic briefly when I was considering getting a cat here (before I decided to live with this girl) and bringing it over. I remember reading something about having to quarantine a cat for six months if you were bringing it into the UK from the US, and I wouldn't be able to do that to an animal!

Can anyone please help me out here? Is there any official place I can look up this information? Is it really six months for a domesticated animal??

Thanks very much.

Ask a stupid question...

2008-08-12T12:24:41Z

Hopefully get an answer without too much scorn.

I need to buy a scanner. I know next to nothing about how electronics work, so I'm not sure if they're compatible from one side of the pond to the other. I've got a US laptop (a Gateway), and I'm thinking of just getting something second-hand off gumtree. Am I likely to run into compatibilty problems?

Sorry if it's dumb. I'm just kind of clueless about machines; I just need something to get my artwork onto my computer.

i'm here... now what?

2008-08-12T10:51:18Z

Okay, so my visa and everything went according to plan and now I'm here in the UK but now I have NO idea how to get things started. I've been looking for a job and applying but what do I need to get a job? Do I just turn up for the interview and they will help me sort out what I need as far as a NIN and whatever else. I've been looking it up but I'm just not clear on what I am suppose to do at this point now...
I was wondering if there are any kind of centers for this, immigration information to help visa holders acquire employment? I'm in Newcastle. I know there is a job centre near the center of the city, I'm thinking I should call them and maybe some recruitment/employment agencies and see what the process is.
Has anyone else gone through this and if so... what did you do?
Thanks! :)

Idle curiosity

2008-08-11T10:47:32Z

I know that the reason the electric kettle isn't in every household in the US is that the mains power is too weak to heat them any faster than a pot on the stove, so I was wondering - how long does an iron take to heat up? It's a very similar appliance, after all.

sigh

2008-08-10T21:38:06Z

Apologies that I was not able to delete the OT post more quickly, I have been AFK for most of the day.

That said, this is the second troll post (on the same topic, I imagine it was a sockpuppet) to have been posted in less than 24 hours. Our behind-the-scenes co-mod pisica has been helping me keep an eye on things and notified me of it while unimag is busy taking care of Things More Important than ElJay.

There has generally been an increase in off-topic flamebait posts similar in content to these over the past several weeks (hopefully you haven't had to see many of them because we got them quickly!). I hate to have to make posting go moderated, and I don't think that's necessary yet, but if it gets to the point where you folks feel it's necessary, I am obviously open to that option.

Back to you regularly scheduled programming. Thanks to those of you who notified me, and please feel free to comment or LJ message me with any questions/concerns.

$600?

2008-08-09T02:02:33Z

The IRS just sent me a letter which suggests that I'm due some sort of tax windfall thing. But, there's no way it could be correct: I haven't lived in the states in years (or paid any tax, although I have filed like a dutiful citizen).

What gives? Did anyone else here get such a letter?

Withholdings: Which State?

2008-08-09T01:17:03Z

I've got my first few paystubs from my job here in the US and there's something I'm wondering about. I live in California and my job site is here but my employer is based in New Jersey.

On my paystub there are several withholdings that are specific to New Jersey. Shouldn't I be paying state tax in California rather than New Jersey? I thought it depended on where you live, not where your employer has their headquarters.

The lines on my paystub are as follows:
NJ - WF/SWF Employee
Federal Withholding
Social Security Employee
Medicare Employee
NJ - Withholding
NJ - Disability Employee

Is that right? If not, what do I do about it?

brits_americans @ 2008-08-07T21:30:00

2008-08-08T01:35:51Z

Do let me know if this is inappropriate to promote, but I've started a personal blog all about my next adventure in London, as I'm going back through BUNAC. If anyone is interested in following the drama over the coming months, the URL is:

www.americaninbritain.blogspot.com.

Thank you!

the NFL game in Oct.

2008-08-07T18:35:23Z

It looks like Charges and Saints are going to play a regular season game in the UK...are any of you planning to attend? It should be an awesome game!

Post Study Work Visa, again...

2008-08-05T03:07:39Z

So, I have until the end of October to remain in the UK. I did, however, come back home to the states this summer to work and stay indefinitely. I've since changed my mind and I would like to pursue work in the UK. I know I'll need to apply for the post -study work visa.

My dissertation is due Sept 1st, so I have just cause to return at least for that reason. Anyway, my question is...

Should I be patient, apply while I am still here, or go there and apply there? Some of you who are aware of this particular visa know that the financial restrictions as far as bank accounts and such are a great deal more lenient if I apply over there, hence the thought. Due to the whole three month statement after whatever date it is, I will have to wait quite awhile before I can apply for it if I do so from home.

Also, I've seen a pretty nice deal on a (ONE WAY EEEP!) ticket that I could capitalize on this month. Just not sure if I am being hasty, and if those kind people at immigration will have a problem with my intentions and my not having a return.

Also, weighing every possible option, is it possible to apply for this visa online, and meet for an interview in person...like with the student visa? I was on the visa4uk site, but that factor wasn't quite apparent to me.

Moving Across the Pond: The Logistics

2008-08-04T18:20:05Z

This may have been asked before, but I'd love to hear from people who have moved their family across from the US to the UK.

How did you do it, with specific reference to logistics like finding a place to live, getting jobs, schools for kids, etc.? Plus, any random little hints or tips would be welcome.

It's something I'm considering doing, but when I actually get down to the nuts and bolts of how it might be done, it all seems too overwhelming and I freeze up.

EDIT: I have full working rights in the UK, having been born and raised there. My wife is American (and would want to get a job, hence would be applying for a spousal visa), and my kids are dual citizens.

WTF, Tesco?

2008-08-04T12:11:14Z

pisica has won the thread.

which visa?!

2008-08-02T16:19:56Z

Hi all, I'm sorry to ask Yet Another Visa Question, but I did look through the archives, the various government websites, and was not quite able to decide even that most basic of questions: Which visa should I apply for?

My British fiance and I are planning to move to the UK within the next twelve months, possibly even within the next six months.

This is our situation: I am a dual citizen of Hong Kong and the U.S. My Hong Kong passport is actually a British National Overseas passport. My fiance and I live in Beijing.

So we are considering our options, and we've ruled it down to either going in under the new Tier 1 Skilled Migrant Programme (which I do qualify for, at least according to the points calendar) or applying for a spousal visa after we are married. We aren't sure which visa we would like to apply for because if we were to get married, we would have to do it in China and not in America or the UK because of the expense of flying out from China, which would put quite a crimp in the savings that we have amassed for immigration into the UK. However, we would prefer to not marry in China for a variety of reasons.

I have several questions:
1. How much money is considered as "sufficient funds to support yourself"? I have the equivalent of roughly 5000 GBP saved up here and about 1500 USD in my American bank account and retirement funds.
2. Although my fiance is working now, he does not have a large amount of money in savings here in China, and only a small amount in the UK. (A very small amount.) Would this negatively affect an application for the spousal visa?
3. Will being a British National Overseas make my application easier? Also, would I have to give this up if I were to apply under my BNO passport? I would definitely not want to lose my Hong Kong residency and citizenship.

Thanks very much for any help that you may offer! Also, I may not be able to respond to comments very quickly because it takes a while to go through the Great Firewall (LJ is sadly blocked in the PRC).

Shippping a car

2008-07-31T21:13:22Z

Sooo has anyone shipped a car from the US to the UK? Can you recommend a company? How much was it? Is the Duty & VAT on the value of the car or what you paid for it? Any other fees I should be aware of?

ETA: It will either be a 1997 BMW M3 or a 2005 Saturn Vue, whichever is cheaper.

Another question; Is there a market for left side drive cars in case we want to sell one?

BUNAC Concerns

2008-07-29T20:59:22Z

I'm going mental. I've tried placing calls to the British Consulate in New York, but keep getting spit back to a message saying that I have to call a 1-900 number and get charged $3.00 a minute for my visa question, which I refuse to do. I'm hoping you good people may have some answers instead.

I'm going back to the UK in September for six months through BUNAC. I already have my Blue Card, and I plan to enter before October 1st, so I know that technically I don't have to apply for Prior Entry Clearance. However, I'd like to, since then I would able to travel to mainland Europe and return to the UK during that six-month period with the same right to work.

I only have a month before I leave, however, so my questions are:

If I submit my application to the British Consulate now, I understand that it will take about a month to process. Since it would be just in the nick of time, I'm wondering whether or not they would be willing to send my passport and Blue Card back to me, lickety-split before I leave on 5 September, in the event that they haven't processed the visa yet. That way, I could at least still go (now that my flight's booked), even if it means staying put in the UK for six months.

If they can't do that, then my next question is: can I apply for that additional visa once I'm already in the UK, if I decide that I want to travel?

Thank you loads in advance!

'A feeling of agression....'

2008-07-29T14:48:37Z

I just had a gmail chat with my mum, who has returned to live in England after a year in the US.

She has been very struck by what she calls 'a feeling of agression in the air' (drunk people, shouty people, sweary people, etc.) And she's talking about central Oxford, which most people would probably place at the genteel end of the spectrum. Can you relate to this?

Being an Employee - Vacation Plans

2008-07-29T13:38:43Z

So I have just accepted a position with a local firm here in the UK and as part of the probationary period I cannot have a vacation in the next 3 months. Now I have been a contractor for the past 5 years so vacation has never been something that has been hard for me to get. Not to mention even when I have been an employee vacation has never been something that was restricted during the first 3 months of employment in the US... at least not that I can recall. So my question is is this normal for the UK and perhaps even for the US or does it depend on the firm?

Edit: This is vacation in general. I wasn't expecting it to be paid vacation after all I haven't been on paid vacation in years!