Our Sponsorship letters came today! Now, we apply for Visas, and spend a big pile of money. Online application, then we get an appointment for "biometrics,: (fingerprinting). We will use a visa courier/expiditer service so that the application can be reviewed before going to the British Consulate in Chicago. It will take about 2 days to process once we get the info to the courier. Then, we make flight arrangemens! Our work start date is November 9. We anticipate flying out on November 2!
HERE WE GO!!!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Hurry up and Wait.....
Well, we are still waiting for Sponsorship numbers. England has recently revamped their immigration laws and application/approval processes. This is apprently creating quite a mess for employers and educational institutions who recruit from overseas. Our employer started the process to get us Sponsorship numbers near the end of August. They still haven't received them. We can't do anything until this happens.
On a good note, we have been approved to be Registered Social Workers in England! This is their equivalent of professional licensure. One more step completed!
We still work on this house. We are probably a weekend away from putting it on the market. (It's kind of a good thing that England is being so pokey about Sponsorship, huh?)
I have to say, I am really sick of the house. Some have said that we will get this house updated and not want to leave. Well, my current feeling is that I am sick of it! That may change when we have a date to leave.....
One of our current dilemmas has to do with the kids and school. We will not be able to enroll them in school until we have a permanent address. We don't have time/money to go find a place before we move (and given the time the immigration process is taking, it could be a money pit to find a place too early!). So, depending on how long it takes us to find a place, the kids would be out of school for that period of time. And, what are we supposed to do with them while we are at work? Certainly not leave them alone in a hotel or B & B!!! We may have the option to negotiate something with their grandparents, which seems to be the best option at this point. We can figure out more when we know when we are leaving.
Speaking of the kids-- they seem to be adjusting/accepting the change. Gray is still very firm that he does not want to go. Zane is getting excited to go, but says it's mostly because he doesn't like his school. That worries me a bit, because school is very different in England, and I don't know if he'll like it any better! They do both talk about things they would like to see or do when we get there, so that's a good sign.
Well, I'm still employed here in America, and I should head on back to that job.
On a good note, we have been approved to be Registered Social Workers in England! This is their equivalent of professional licensure. One more step completed!
We still work on this house. We are probably a weekend away from putting it on the market. (It's kind of a good thing that England is being so pokey about Sponsorship, huh?)
I have to say, I am really sick of the house. Some have said that we will get this house updated and not want to leave. Well, my current feeling is that I am sick of it! That may change when we have a date to leave.....
One of our current dilemmas has to do with the kids and school. We will not be able to enroll them in school until we have a permanent address. We don't have time/money to go find a place before we move (and given the time the immigration process is taking, it could be a money pit to find a place too early!). So, depending on how long it takes us to find a place, the kids would be out of school for that period of time. And, what are we supposed to do with them while we are at work? Certainly not leave them alone in a hotel or B & B!!! We may have the option to negotiate something with their grandparents, which seems to be the best option at this point. We can figure out more when we know when we are leaving.
Speaking of the kids-- they seem to be adjusting/accepting the change. Gray is still very firm that he does not want to go. Zane is getting excited to go, but says it's mostly because he doesn't like his school. That worries me a bit, because school is very different in England, and I don't know if he'll like it any better! They do both talk about things they would like to see or do when we get there, so that's a good sign.
Well, I'm still employed here in America, and I should head on back to that job.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Can we really leave these people?
We are very blessed to have the friends we do. We had about 10 people here throughout the day on Saturday, painting, painting and painting. Also, a great friend helped me sort through boxes that have been sitting on shelves in the garage for 10+ years! I am certain that God is using this opportunity to help me detatch from "stuff." I have serious pack rat genes (as does my husband), and we are just not feeling as attatched to all that stuff as we were when we decided to keep in in boxes in the garage! It's a really great feeling to let it all go! We had about 10-12 boxes/bags for both the trash man and charity pick-up today. ALL GONE!!!
Tonight, our small group "re-grouped" and came over to help some more. Baseboards cut and placed, more stuff sorted, and some great conversation.
We are informed that we have both been medically cleared to work in England. Also, our employer has applied for Certificates of Sponsorship. They expect to get them within the next few days. When we receive the Sponsorship Number, and A-Rated Sponsorship letter, we will complete our application for visas. Once we submit them, along with our passports, "biometric data," (digital fingerprints and digital photographs that have to be taken at an Immigration office), it will take 5-10 days to get the Visa, or learn that our application is denied. It's a pretty complciated process. We have been advised to hire a visa assistance/expedition service, which can cost a pretty penny! But, it may be worth it not to have to go through the denial/appeal process. We will see!
A note on the A-rated Sponsorship: This is a sponsorship category that our employer has which will reduce the amount of documentation required to apply for a visa, and will also help us be able to get a bank account in England. Without it, it would be quite difficult to get a bank account there. Apparently, they are more picky than our banks in the US. I expect that it will expedite other things as well: being allowed to rent, set up utilities, phone/mobile phone service. Basically, that letter indicates to anyone who wants to know that our employer will cover our "maintenance.' In other words, they insure that we are not going to become a liability on the welfare system. It is very nice that our employer has gone this extra mile.
It's all coming so quickly! Wow! In about 5 weeks, we could be in London! Makes me smile, cringe, shiver and jump for joy, and screech, all at the same time!!!
That's all I can say for now...
Tonight, our small group "re-grouped" and came over to help some more. Baseboards cut and placed, more stuff sorted, and some great conversation.
We are informed that we have both been medically cleared to work in England. Also, our employer has applied for Certificates of Sponsorship. They expect to get them within the next few days. When we receive the Sponsorship Number, and A-Rated Sponsorship letter, we will complete our application for visas. Once we submit them, along with our passports, "biometric data," (digital fingerprints and digital photographs that have to be taken at an Immigration office), it will take 5-10 days to get the Visa, or learn that our application is denied. It's a pretty complciated process. We have been advised to hire a visa assistance/expedition service, which can cost a pretty penny! But, it may be worth it not to have to go through the denial/appeal process. We will see!
A note on the A-rated Sponsorship: This is a sponsorship category that our employer has which will reduce the amount of documentation required to apply for a visa, and will also help us be able to get a bank account in England. Without it, it would be quite difficult to get a bank account there. Apparently, they are more picky than our banks in the US. I expect that it will expedite other things as well: being allowed to rent, set up utilities, phone/mobile phone service. Basically, that letter indicates to anyone who wants to know that our employer will cover our "maintenance.' In other words, they insure that we are not going to become a liability on the welfare system. It is very nice that our employer has gone this extra mile.
It's all coming so quickly! Wow! In about 5 weeks, we could be in London! Makes me smile, cringe, shiver and jump for joy, and screech, all at the same time!!!
That's all I can say for now...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Finally, an Update!
Haven't updated in a while! Been busy, and just haven't gotten into the habit of "blogging" frequently.
We have been informed by our employer that they want is there, working, by 5 October! That is waaaaaaaaay tooooooooo soooooon!
In the meantime, we have had contractors paint the outside of the house, deal with wallpaper, tile floors, make some minor repairs. We still have to finish painting, place and paint baseboards, replace a few doors that fell victim to animals and/or kids (which includes painting them), and getting rid of more stuff.
City Union Mission comes tomorrow. We will schedule them again for a couple of weeks away.
We have been researching areas in which to live. We are most attracted to the London Borough of Redbridge, particularly the area of Wanstead. It is consistently described as "family friendly, good schools, leafy, lots of green space." It would be about a 30 minute commute to work. Alternatively, we have considered Stoke Newington, which is a neighborhood in the London Borough of Hackney. We will be working in Hackney, but several friends have suggested it is not the area in which we want to live. Stoke Newington is a nice area, with a "bohemian" feel, but the schools are not very consistently good. We have connected with an Estate Agent who is keeping her eye open for properties that fit our needs. We expect to pay at least 1200-1500 Sterling Pounds per month for a small 3 BR home! It's a bit more than we spend now... We will pay less, however, for transportation, telephone, cable, internet. I'm not sure it will all even out, but it's a small consolation.
Schools are much different. They have only two levels: primary and secondary. Primary is equivalent to our grades 1-6 and secondare 7-12. The boys will be enrolled in whatever school in our Borough which is closest to home, and has space. The schools are universally "oversubscribed," particularly secondary schools. The nice thing is that we may be able to find a "faith school," as many of them are state or public schools. Their admission criteria is a little different than the other public schools, so we will see. Also, there has to be space for them. Also, class sizes are generally 30-40 students. They are, however, ahead of the US academically-- the boys will have some catching up to do.
The boys are still unenthused, and getting a little cranky with all of this home rehab stuff. Especially as we start talking to them about sorting through their stuff... We'll make it!
Gotta head to New Dinner Theatre now. Will try to update more soon!
We have been informed by our employer that they want is there, working, by 5 October! That is waaaaaaaaay tooooooooo soooooon!
In the meantime, we have had contractors paint the outside of the house, deal with wallpaper, tile floors, make some minor repairs. We still have to finish painting, place and paint baseboards, replace a few doors that fell victim to animals and/or kids (which includes painting them), and getting rid of more stuff.
City Union Mission comes tomorrow. We will schedule them again for a couple of weeks away.
We have been researching areas in which to live. We are most attracted to the London Borough of Redbridge, particularly the area of Wanstead. It is consistently described as "family friendly, good schools, leafy, lots of green space." It would be about a 30 minute commute to work. Alternatively, we have considered Stoke Newington, which is a neighborhood in the London Borough of Hackney. We will be working in Hackney, but several friends have suggested it is not the area in which we want to live. Stoke Newington is a nice area, with a "bohemian" feel, but the schools are not very consistently good. We have connected with an Estate Agent who is keeping her eye open for properties that fit our needs. We expect to pay at least 1200-1500 Sterling Pounds per month for a small 3 BR home! It's a bit more than we spend now... We will pay less, however, for transportation, telephone, cable, internet. I'm not sure it will all even out, but it's a small consolation.
Schools are much different. They have only two levels: primary and secondary. Primary is equivalent to our grades 1-6 and secondare 7-12. The boys will be enrolled in whatever school in our Borough which is closest to home, and has space. The schools are universally "oversubscribed," particularly secondary schools. The nice thing is that we may be able to find a "faith school," as many of them are state or public schools. Their admission criteria is a little different than the other public schools, so we will see. Also, there has to be space for them. Also, class sizes are generally 30-40 students. They are, however, ahead of the US academically-- the boys will have some catching up to do.
The boys are still unenthused, and getting a little cranky with all of this home rehab stuff. Especially as we start talking to them about sorting through their stuff... We'll make it!
Gotta head to New Dinner Theatre now. Will try to update more soon!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Productivity
Well, the weekend felt productive. By Friday, the outside of the house was painted. Saturday a garage sale-- good profits, but WAY too much stuff left! We'll try to get rid of some more this Saturday. Today, backerboard was laid in the kitchen, and ready for tile. Some of the wall paper is meeting it's match!
But, I'm sadly reminded that I am not 20 anymore. Went to a 12:20 movie Friday night, got up with the rooster on Saturday to do the garage sale, went to a concert Saturday night, church Sunday morning and prepared the kitchen and downstairs floors for their remodel. I can't believe I am still tired!!! Glad we hired out some of the work...
But, I'm sadly reminded that I am not 20 anymore. Went to a 12:20 movie Friday night, got up with the rooster on Saturday to do the garage sale, went to a concert Saturday night, church Sunday morning and prepared the kitchen and downstairs floors for their remodel. I can't believe I am still tired!!! Glad we hired out some of the work...
Sunday, July 12, 2009
A Bittersweet Moment
One of the most difficult things about this move is that we have to find homes for 3 of our 4 animals. We are going to try to take one of the cats with us. The pet love of our lives is our big dog, Rayne. He is 100 pounds of German Shepard mixed with something, and he is a total teddy bear-- unless he doesn't know you and he feels he needs to protect his people. Rayne had a sleepover this weekend with a couple who expressed interest in him. It seems, he is just what they were looking for. Darci and Jason hosted Rayne, and fell in love with him. He was on his very best behavior, and a total lover boy. Well, we say, What's Not to Love? Anyway, they were sad to see him leave tonight, and understand that we want to "dog sit" until we move. It's really nice to know that he will have a good home with people who will love and care for him, but we would really like to figure out how to ship all 100 pounds of him, and convince a London landlord that he can live in their rental..... It is apparently not likely. As you can see, he is a member of the family.....
Thursday, July 9, 2009
"So, how are things going with the move?"
This is the predominent question these days.
The answer is "slow but sure." The biggest task at this point is getting the house ready to sell. That means purge, purge, purge. And pack a little. And, the wallpaper on 16 walls "has to go," according to the realtor. Of course, those walls need painted after they are stipped of paper. And the outside of the house needs painted. And EVERYTHING needs cleaned. And, did I mention that stuff has to GO?!?!? We should probably get rid of the weeds in what is supposed to be flower beds.....
Someday soon, our employer will get our sponsorship papers and numbers. When that happens, we get to apply for our visas and entry clearance.
We still don't have a firm date yet, but expect to leave around the end of September.
The kids are still not excited, and quite vocal about not wanting to go. But, I think they are accepting that we are moving anyway. At least for now.
Not much going on for now. More later!
The answer is "slow but sure." The biggest task at this point is getting the house ready to sell. That means purge, purge, purge. And pack a little. And, the wallpaper on 16 walls "has to go," according to the realtor. Of course, those walls need painted after they are stipped of paper. And the outside of the house needs painted. And EVERYTHING needs cleaned. And, did I mention that stuff has to GO?!?!? We should probably get rid of the weeds in what is supposed to be flower beds.....
Someday soon, our employer will get our sponsorship papers and numbers. When that happens, we get to apply for our visas and entry clearance.
We still don't have a firm date yet, but expect to leave around the end of September.
The kids are still not excited, and quite vocal about not wanting to go. But, I think they are accepting that we are moving anyway. At least for now.
Not much going on for now. More later!
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