tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post4068514005136496392..comments2023-10-26T15:34:56.807+01:00Comments on Pond Parleys: Welcome to Our County! Sort of.Pond Parleyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03127142379706540812noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-49998514311646211752009-08-14T06:11:23.865+01:002009-08-14T06:11:23.865+01:00Monty Python, yes; cricket, no ;)Monty Python, yes; cricket, no ;)MikeHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01530099708429116393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-34389043834089735082009-08-09T14:56:26.239+01:002009-08-09T14:56:26.239+01:00Toni. Typical. re: bomber. Amazing.
Mike. Can you...Toni. Typical. re: bomber. Amazing.<br /><br />Mike. Can you recite Monty Python or explain the rules of cricket? Surely a must for anyone coming in these days? :)Hadriana's Treasureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03740533954842010870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-781352815559204992009-08-05T16:49:16.996+01:002009-08-05T16:49:16.996+01:00Ahh, thanks, and my apologies if I jumped to concl...Ahh, thanks, and my apologies if I jumped to conclusions. I had assumed the spouse was a USC which indeed makes is easier (I know lots of expats who've had the SSN issue). <br /><br />One surprise to me is how difficult it is for Americans to move to the UK--seems a work permit or spousal visa are the only options. My husband came over on a work visa and was tied to his job until he got is indefinite leave and then UK citizenship (by the time we married he had both). He felt such relief after securing indefinite leave as it enabled him to switch jobs and break free from his work permit. <br /><br />It seems that both countries do a good job of making it easy for some to move (such as the EU open-door policy or the US lottery) but impossible for others. <br /><br />I don't know that I'll ever become a US citizen for the tax reasons mentioned above. It would be nice to vote though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-48303345992976604492009-08-05T16:22:02.234+01:002009-08-05T16:22:02.234+01:00I think it's much easier if your spouse is Ame...I think it's much easier if your spouse is American. I too, was able to work from the get-go (hey). My English friend here though, had to wait about two years (until her English husband got a Greencard as opposed to just a work visa) before she could apply for a Social Security Card.Expat mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798190669591053390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-45746785340033401542009-08-05T15:47:10.516+01:002009-08-05T15:47:10.516+01:00NVG: you can work with a spousal visa, assuming yo...NVG: you can work with a spousal visa, assuming you have either a conditional or perm visa. I was working within a month of arriving from the UK with my US spouse. As for the SSN, there is often a communication glitch between Homeland security and SS office. The best bet is to go to your local office-they will collect your info and you'll have a number within 1-2 weeks. Check out the dive into america site for my details (if you're unfamiliar it's a site of UK/US couples who are moving from the UK to the US).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-90789063427028702252009-08-05T00:44:56.521+01:002009-08-05T00:44:56.521+01:00A couple of years ago I blogged about my experienc...A couple of years ago I <a href="http://almostamerican.blogspot.com/2007/07/immigration.html" rel="nofollow">blogged about</a> my experience of (and one reason for) applying for US citizenship back in 1999. I have friends who for various reasons have decided not to be US citizens - the cost is putting some of them off right now. I know it's gone up considerably. I think I paid a couple of hundred dollars. A reason for becoming a citizen that I didn't mention back then was that a non US citizen is limited in how much they can inherit tax-free from their American spouse. By the time you've added up retirement savings and the value of your house, I'm sure many people have quickly exceeded the tax-free limit.Almost Americanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17865905831387595915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-40940443092709334042009-08-04T23:23:07.247+01:002009-08-04T23:23:07.247+01:00You inspired me to have a look at the citizenship ...You inspired me to have a look at the citizenship info myself as I have not yet applied. OMG. Way outof my price range, Im afraid! Will have to save up and miss a couple of Christmases for that. Anyway, I had a go at the practice test and realised Im no good as a citizen anyway: I failed miserably. Ive posted about it and linked back here, hope thats ok!Michellouihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16841678308675092702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-63383688711499813052009-08-04T14:25:41.132+01:002009-08-04T14:25:41.132+01:00Interesting. I'm here in the US on a spouse vi...Interesting. I'm here in the US on a spouse visa. Which basically makes life very difficult - no work permit, no social security number, although I can and now have applied for both these things. But until I get them, I feel as if I am treated as the lowest of the low, having no real ID or anything in my name. Things are not much better for my husband, who is actually employed here. And yet we have a perfectly legitimate reason for being here. I think the US needs to ensure that its various departments share the same data so that it can treat people who are here as legal aliens a little better.<br /><br />On the other side - A friend of mine in the UK, who is Malaysian, recently became a citizen and had to go through the most ridiculous amount of inquisition and examination, despite the fact that she has lived there since the age of 15 and worked for British companies in very senior positions her entire life. <br /><br />A little leeway on both sides would not go amiss.nappy valley girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788949037047084412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-49516179516200589972009-08-04T13:37:10.018+01:002009-08-04T13:37:10.018+01:00I've got two more years on my work permit visa...I've got two more years on my work permit visa before I have to apply for British Indefinite Leave to Remain, and it's not exactly easy. They now make you take the "About Britain" test even if you don't want citizenship. I'm sure it will be costly and arduous going through the process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1374269644093476975.post-86576577496211371712009-08-02T22:28:24.245+01:002009-08-02T22:28:24.245+01:00I found both of these posts extremely interesting....I found both of these posts extremely interesting.<br />I know someone who has just paid £1000 for British citizenship because she came from a rich country.<br />Toni's American experience is a bit scary, while Mike had an easier time altogether.<br />Maybe we should not be quite as easy on people being such a small island and not let in people who will be a complete drain on our resources.<br />Obviously you are not, Mike! LOL!Maggie Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06183886005936250976noreply@blogger.com