British Expatriate Network

Yeah, I got here in 1998 and went through a year of purgatory in the Midwest. Now I live in Fabulous Las Vegas which is a lot better than Skegness but still full of knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers, only they chew tobacco and have mullets or smell like burritos.

As for the accent thing, Mrs Rude spent the first six months translating English to Kansas. I've got a bit more transatlantic with the accent now.

/If you ever say y'all you have so gone native

Happily the only time I say 'yawl' is when I am talking traditional sailing craft... lol.

I guess the mid-west suits me fairly well, I am not a Las Vegas type I think, although having said that I know I am judging it by the obvious image... you I have no doubt know that the reality is different Mr. Rude.

I think I am too much of a Brit. in many ways to settle here very quickly... I didn't know that before though of course. I seem to have such contradictions...

I love the lack of rush hour here, being able to drive to a store in town and park without searching for a meter for a half hour like in Sheffield. But.... I do miss the city alot, miss the theatres, the new music scene which had me at 'cheap and little' concerts every couple of weeks (despite my age I am not an old fart lol). I was so surprised to find the same things are not here, (in my area anyway) just seems natural that it would be. Part of this is unfamiliarity I know too.

Big thing is freedom... the ones I lost coming here. 'Freedom to roam' is a big one for me. I loved being in Derbyshire, the Peak District, etc. and being able to wander.... little used public paths everywhere... you know how that is. But here... well there is one long tarmac path alongside a highway... And a network of a few round walks in an area they call the Kettle Morraine... very pretty but just oh so controlled. Every field here is fenced and owned. And it is so hard to explain why it does no harm to walk through fields, farmyards, stock, etc. wherever there is a public footpath back home.

Did you know for instance... Milwaukee has a lovely lakefront with a beach... in the summer the beach 'closes' (how the hell do you close a beach) at 8pm. There were reports on TV here this summer of the troubles arising when the police clear the beach and people don't want to leave.... I just don't know what to think sometimes.

I had to wait 18 months before I could get back initially due to the K1 visa system, you know how that is. So in spring 2004 I went for a month, this spring 2005 I had 5 weeks... my wife joining me for 3. We stay with friends in Doncaster without whom I couldn't stay so long and am very grateful. But now I am in the 'removal of conditions' stage, sent our papers in a couple of weeks ago and had the letter stating 6 months at best... then I can start to get a new PR card which took 3 months last time. So I am feeling trapped again because although this one letter says I can travel I am wary of doing it on only an expired PR card and a letter! I do have a friend who had BIG trouble getting back out of England on sopposably good papers which turned out not to be. Not dodgy papers either, just ones that the US Gov. supplied while he applied for citizenship and was without his PR card.

My sister's husband is from Two Rivers near Manitowac (sp?). I've never been on that side of Wisconsin. My husband and I will be going to a "British" Bed and Breakfast in Algoma WI at the end of April for our 2-year anniversery. (here's a link to their website for all you Britnetters that might be interested: http://www.britanniabb.com ) I'm not sure if you know either of those places or if they are close to where you live...????

Melissa

Have you not been able to get a permanent resident card yet? Are you still in the process? My husband couldn't work or travel for the first year. The whole process can be so frusterating!

Hi ClemantineD, yes I do have a permanent resident card, it expires in early January 06. The stage I am at now is 'Removal of Conditions' which happens after 3 years of marriage to my US citizen wife. I have been a permanent resident for two years now. This is the last stage I believe where we will have to prove our relationship is genuine... all the bills, bank statements etc... the usual stuff. But like all of this immigration stuff it will pass )

Yes I know Two Rivers and Manitowoc... interesting maritime museum in Manitowoc. Thanks for the link... it is our 3 year anniversary on January 17th )

Graham

I have never heard of this!!!! :shock: I thought the "proving the relationship is genuine" was over once he had the green card?!?!?! The only think they told us at the interview (the one where he was approved for the green card) was that we would need to come back in 2 years to re-new the green card and after that his green card would be good for another 10 years.


Congratulations on your Anniversery! If you and your wife ever make it to Minneapolis we should hook up - maybe for a drink at Brits Pub! One of these days we plan to go with my sister to Two Rivers for a visit too so we'll make it to WI one of these days.......... :grin:

You should have a rummage in the Visas section. The first greencard issued is conditional on your marriage being genuine. When you apply to change it to a permanent 10 year one, there are forms to fill, fees to pay and proof to be provided, you don't just turn up at the office and get it renewed when your time is up.

Thanks for the information. I really didn't know that. I thought we were past the hard part.......

Yeah, the image isn't a whole lot like the reality. It's pretty much like any SoCal city (dismal architecture, roads full of SUV panzers, identikit botoxed 30somethings all dressed in the beige clone outfits they seem to favour) only we let you smoke. Once you get off the Strip and out of the casinos, it's quite a nice place. Plus having the bars open 24/7 makes a vast improvement in life. And as for gambling, I don't. I know the house always wins in the end so why even bother?

You need to go hit some of the national parks. I like to hang out at Red Rock a lot and go wandering.

Large men with big sticks probably works very well I bet. Or shout "Holy feck, I see sharks!"

Yes ClemantineD thats what they told us too.... fun isn't it :)

The form required is the I-751, fee $205 (new fee from a couple of months ago). Check it out here http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/index.htm

They ask for copies of your PR card and I-551 in your passport. Also two affidavits from friends again attesting to your genuine marriage and of course the usual 'proof' of joint occupancy, bank accounts etc. Advice seems to be to send lots in the hope of avoiding an interview which is at their descretion.

We though the same as you but luckily when we found out about needing evidence again we managed to scratch a good package together. This is again why it is important to have joint accounts and try (most will ignore you) to get utility companies to put both names on bills. They will accept seperately named letters etc. to the same address as evidence of course. They dont ask for photographic evidence this time... but you need to have the passport photos done again to go with the form, just for the Brit. Full face this time too, they have done away with the earole shot! If you would like a list of our package contents list email me ok.

So start collecting and don't worry about it :)

Thanks for the congrats too.... and the invite. I have just put a call to anyone in reach to get in touch... see the meetup forum.

Graham

I think the former was the preferred method.... as it is for most things.
The latter would likely work on the less well informed but there would always be the smart arses who would remember it is a lake. :neutral:

Thanks for all the info. I checked out the Visa section on this forum too for more info. That will be really helpfull when it comes time to renew (it'll be a year in Feb).

I'll let you know if we ever make it over to your area of WI..... smile

!!! Happy Christmas !!! from us both to you all here... this is a good time to start making new friends grin

Hope you are having a great day and get a few goodies you were hoping for. Have fun and take care....

Graham & J.

Hi there,

Are you a cricket-playing Yorkshire man? We live in Oshkosh, WI, originally from Stirlingshire (me) and Burnley (him). My husband would love to find someone who actually understands the game - he even owns a full kit just incase that someone shows up! He's also football mad. We joined thousands of other Brits at the America/England game in Chicago last May......

If you are stuck for something to do for a day, and are interested in aeroplanes, come and visit the EAA AirVenture Museum (http://www.airventuremuseum.org for opening times etc) - its the reason why we are here. Let us know you are coming. The last Saturday of this month is the ski plane fly in with soup and chili being served. Even if the snow doesn't oblige, we still do the soup and chili, just wrap up warm. During their big airshow at the end of July, the place is hooching with Brits )

I know what you mean about places to walk, I miss that too. Have you tried exploring the Kettle Moraine area? Its quite pretty, tho' not exactly the Peak District.....

I know what you mean about feeling trapped due to visa worries. I'm a firm believer in booking or mentally planning the next trip home shortly after you get back from the latest one. That has helped me a lot, and when I suggested it to a friend in Crete (she's from Ohio), she settled a lot better and was able to relax knowing that she would be going back to the grandchildren on a certain date. Obviously, its really frustrating not being able to do that until you know for sure about your visa situation - personally I hated the thought of someone else having control of my destiny. Have you tried phoning the customer number on the USAIS website? Have a book handy for the long wait, but I found them to be relatively helpful when I lost my greencard. That way you know for sure whether or not you are safe to travel.

Happy New Year )

Hi Fernietickles... thank you so much for writing, you have made this grey monday morning so much better!

May I say YES to everything... lol. I will message you with my web address and you will see what I mean. We were at the big Oshkosh event these last two years and Manitowoc too, that is a good airshow. I love cricket and my mum sends me DVD's... enjoy football too, but I am from Sheffield. My dad was a Scot so I'm a halfling... I love chilli.... lol

Yes we need to meet up )

I have some comments about my I-751 application here at the moment...
http//forums.british-expats.com/viewtopic.php?p=243214

So far so good on that.... but we won't be taking our usual easter trip home... I think I will hang on for my passport stamp (after approval.... I hope) just to be sure, hey if we don't get approval I will be heading home anyway...lol.

Could have written your line about having some stranger make our life decisions for us... I feel exactly the same.

Good to meet you..... howzat!

Graham