Packing my stuff

I found this clip on World Hum's Travel website and laughed as I'm looking at my stuff and trying to decide what stuff to take, what stuff to store, and what stuff to get rid of. After all, it's all just a bunch of stuff.

The visa arrives, looking for accommodation

It is surprising to me that after waiting 2 months, my visa has actually arrived early. It is a small document with an embossed seal plastered in a page in my passport. Given the prior frustrations, I am pleased that it took less than a week for it to arrive, correct, with all of the documents I sent in returned undamaged. Of course, I already made my travel plans for the first week in July not counting on bureaucratic efficiency or expedience. The new challenge is to find a place to stay when we arrive in Aberystwyth. From my research online, the town is small and is a tourist destination in the summer with the high season starting just about the time we will step off the train from Birmingham International. The university I am working with initially gave me hopes of providing accommodation. That hope has been dashed. The hotels and hostels that have a website all seem to be booked from their online reservation systems. Several list only phone numbers, but I prefer not to use the phone at all, let alone internationally and we will likely wing it on the shoe leather express until we find a place to sleep. Once we find a hostel the next feat will be to an apartment, hopefully with high-speed internet.

Getting a UK work permit and visa part 2

If you are viewing this post to get info on how to go through the process of getting a UK work permit and visa, be sure to read part 1 on the previous post first. Last week I went to Memphis to submit biometric data. The office is the Dept of Homeland Security and the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) office. You cannot enter the building without going through security and having the printed appointment confirmation that includes a bar code at the end. From there, you put your appointment confirmation in a slot and wait for your name to be called. We arrived an hour early for our appointments. While it seems unnecessary to arrive early, we were able to get in about 10 minutes after we arrived. The staff at the Memphis USCIS was really friendly. To have your data collected, you show your passport and then have your fingerprints scanned and your photos taken, then they send you on your way. The process took about 10 minutes. They stamp your appointment confirmation that you then mail to the British Consulate along with the rest of your visa paperwork. The required supporting documents you submit for a visa vary with each application. When you fill out the online application and biometric data appointment, they will send you a confirmation email that includes a list of the supporting documents they require for your visa application. As the work permit holder, I was required to submit passport, and a passport photo, bank statements for the past 3 months, the original work permit, stamped biometric appointment confirmation. I also included a letter from NSF explaining the grant program and my funding. Konah, as the work holder dependent, was required to submit birth certificate, passport, marriage certificate, and a passport photo. We sent this overnight mail in separate packages to the consulate. We received a confirmation email that they had opened our application packages two days later and a week after mailing them, received email notification that our applications had been approved and are being mailed via UPS. My work permit application was submitted on 27th of April, so all in all, and with the mistake on the first permit, the process has taken about 2 months. No, I decided not to eat in Memphis, and instead headed back to Northwest Arkansas, stopping off at Pedestal Rocks for some hiking on the way back.

Getting a UK work permit and visa part 1

For the past several months, I have been waiting to get my work permit and visa for my move to the UK to begin my NSF IRFP post-doc. I am writing in the hopes to help anyone out there trying to muddle their way through this frustrating process. I haven't included all of the details and requirements; be sure to read the forms and instructions carefully. One note of caution, you can't pay to speed this up unlike in the States where you can spend a few bucks to grease the wheel. To visit for less than a year, a US citizen can travel on their passport. If visiting, working, etc., for more than a year, you need a entry clearance or visa. Because I will be working in the UK, even though my funding is from the US, I am required to get a work permit. To obtain a work permit, your employer, or in my case my host scientist, must submit the paperwork on your behalf. There are different work permit applications for different types of positions. For example, my job falls into the category of sponsored research. Each type of permit has different requirements in the way of supporting documents. The time for processing a work permit is about 18 days. The British Border Agency sends the work permit to the employer and they send it to you. You need it for the visa application. The next step is the online visa application or VAF. This system requires the input of information verifying your identity etc. You can save the online form and return to it for 7 days. You enter your work permit number this detail requires you to wait to have the work permit in hand, or the number sent to you before filling out the form. You must also make an appointment to submit biometric data. The issue about scheduling an appointment to submit biometric data is a bit tricky. Don't bother trying to call any of the immigration offices that are listed as optional places to make the appointment. Their numbers are unlisted and they don't know anything about it anyway since they handle US Immigration. I also tried the $12 flat rate phone call to world bridge and info service for UK Immigration and they weren't much help either. Although it isn't mentioned until you complete the online application and pay, the available dates to schedule an appointment pop up at the end of the application process. I filled out my application on Thursday and my appointment is Monday, so at least in my case, there is no long delay in getting an appointment. The problem for me is that living in Northwest Arkansas, my closest centers are KC, OK City and Memphis, all of which are relatively long drive. I really wanted to find out how long until I could get an appointment and choose the fastest one, but it is not possible. I don't yet know what submitting biometric data entails, but will post about it and the rest of the process after my appointment. I chose Memphis because I can stay overnight in Little Rock with friends and family and I like their BBQ the best.