One of the major tasks involved with moving overseas is deciding what to take with you. Whether sending possessions via air or sea, it is generally not a cheap process and so it’s crucial to take only what you really want.
That’s why, with a week to go before moving, I had a relatively modest stack of boxes ready to be collected by an international shipping company.
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You may recall that I had some moderate drama last fall when my green card expired and I had to get a letter to remain a legal resident.
Then, a couple of months ago, I got called for my next round of biometrics to support my renewal application.
It’s been around 11 months since I submitted my application to remove the restrictions on my green card, so we were excited yet cautious when an envelope arrived from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Had we been refused, and would we need to submit a new packet with additional evidence of the legitimacy of our relationship?
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It’s the week before 4th July, and we have exciting plans. Given that my wife’s birthday is on the 6th, we’re making a long weekend of it by heading north, then west, then back south a little, taking in three places I have never been, including the Mississippi headwaters and a train car B&B.
To add to the excitement, I had an update from USCIS – it was time to go for my second round of biometrics! As a reminder, this very boring process is a necessary but unexciting way of saying I need my fingerprints taken, but it means another step along the way to getting my green card renewal, so happy days!
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I was planning on writing a little about the next stage of the green card journey in the near future, but due to recent developments I figured now would be as good a time as any.
For those that don’t know, my technical status within the US is as a Lawful Permanent Resident. I have many of the same rights as a citizen, however whilst it is classed as “permanent” there are some restrictions. The main one being that, due to my residency being granted through marriage, this status is classed as “conditional” and initially only granted to me for two years.
Around August of last year, I figured I should probably write a blog. After all, it was a year since I had moved to the US and embarked on this great adventure. But, as usual, life got in the way and it slipped my mind.
So as Christmas approached I thought that would be a great time; after all it would be the end of my first calendar year stateside. But, I forgot again.
Finally August of 2018 was upon me, and two years simply had to be marked with some kind of entry.
Nope.
“A few weeks ago I had the chance to go corgi racing” is not a statement I ever expected to write. But it’s true. To clarify, I wasn’t racing against corgis, but I was present and assisting, or at least trying to assist!
I am a big fan of Christmas cards. To me it is an inexpensive way to show you are thinking of someone at this time of year, to keep in touch with friends and family you may not see regularly, and spread a little bit of Christmas cheer.
Today I received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security stating: ‘Welcome to the United States of America’. I now have permanent resident status.
Any non-US citizen with a valid home country driving licence has 60 days from entering the state with which to get their Minnesota licence. Unfortunately, this is done by taking a full written and practical driving test…
Another step completed – I have just got back from my biometrics appointment.
If that sounds even remotely interesting then trust me, it isn’t. In fact the only reason I am blogging about it is for the sake of consistency, and in case anyone else going through the process isn’t sure what happens.
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