One of the things you have to do for your visa is go to a biometric appointment. The biometric appointment basically consists of getting fingerprinted and having your photo taken. Why? I'm not sure - they tell me to jump, and I don't even ask how high, I just do. I've found it's useless to ask questions of the government. Luckily, our appointment was at a tiny application support center that was pretty much empty when we arrived. Another bonus was that it had its own free parking lot - a rarity in LA!
The appointment was for 1:00pm, but we showed up at 12:35pm just cause we like to show up early to everything. A nice lady at the front desk stamped our biometric appointment confirmation, took a look at our passports, and handed us a number each. We then sat patiently in the special red chairs that were located in a special blocked off area. We were feeling special indeed. =)
After waiting on the red chairs for about 10 minutes, another nice lady called our numbers, and we got to sit in the fingerprinting area. Once I was called, I confirmed the info on the appointment paper, and the digital fingerprinting commenced. Now I've done this once or twice before, but damn is it annoying. The machine kept rejecting my stupid fingerprints, and I could tell the lady was getting irritated. Okay, SO not my fault. I got these ridiculously skinny fingers, and she kept telling me to relax while she tried to squash down my hand onto the reader. That is not relaxing, but I tried to loosen up as much as I could.
After the fingerprinting torture was over with, I had to take yet another unflattering picture. The lady took my picture after instructing me to smile but not to show my teeth (they're not that bad!), and asked me to take a look to see if I was happy with the picture. It's not like I want the visa people to think I'm hot, so I don't really care what the picture looks like, but man, was it bad. =P
All in all, we were out of there by 1pm, which is when our appointment was supposed to start! Not bad, not bad at all.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Give Me My Drugs!
Moving to London is hard. Really hard. Trying to figure everything out in regards to leaving your home behind and starting a new life abroad can be difficult, but thank God for the Internet. I've managed to figure a lot out, but the one niggling little thing that no one, including my doctor, seems to know whether I can fill my US prescriptions in the UK.
I've asked my doc to provide me with copies of the prescriptions for meds that I'm currently taking (and no, there aren't THAT many) so that I could fill them in the UK when I move. My doctor's not sure whether UK pharmacies will honor the US prescription, but all the travel websites recommend taking a copy of your prescriptions with you when you travel. Now, why would they recommend that if the pharmacies abroad wouldn't fill them for you? Do they think that the actual paper prescription has some sort of medicinal effect and you're meant to ingest the paper in case of emergency? Confusion ensues.
I've asked my doc to provide me with copies of the prescriptions for meds that I'm currently taking (and no, there aren't THAT many) so that I could fill them in the UK when I move. My doctor's not sure whether UK pharmacies will honor the US prescription, but all the travel websites recommend taking a copy of your prescriptions with you when you travel. Now, why would they recommend that if the pharmacies abroad wouldn't fill them for you? Do they think that the actual paper prescription has some sort of medicinal effect and you're meant to ingest the paper in case of emergency? Confusion ensues.
Pinching my pennies (or is it pence?)
I'm a self-professed wheeler and dealer. I hate paying more for something than I really need to. All this translates into grocery shopping at multiples stores in order to avoid an unexplainable markup on some items in certain stores and getting the best deal around. Gelson's, I'm talking to you.
London is notorious for being an extreme expensive place to live. Now, coming from westside LA, I pretty much figured that the cost of living in London wouldn't be as shocking to me as it would be to someone moving there from, let's say, northern Michigan. But that doesn't mean I don't want to save some cash where I can, so I'm trying to stock up on things here that are either (1) hard to get in the UK, or (2) expensive to get in the UK, or (3) the US just plain does it better. So far, I've decided to stockpile the following goods:
1. Mascara - Paying 2x the amount for flirty lashes, I think not.
2. Dryer sheets - Apparently, people like to air dry their laundry over there, thereby skipping the need for dryer sheets altogether, which explains the dearth of Bounce in the UK.
3. Toothpaste - Read it somewhere. I know the British aren't known for their great dental work, but I've read that they don't have Crest in the UK. I'm really picky about toothpaste flavor, so this is a definite yes for me. Don't even get me started on cinnamon toothpaste. Gag.
4. Ziploc bags - Really? But they're so useful - why wouldn't you have them? Do British people not like to freeze and store things? They do have those tiny fridges...
5. Chocolate w/ peanut butter - I think the British got it right on this one, it just sounds gross. But J is a big Reese's fan so I'm going to hit up the drugstore for these before we go.
6. Clothes
I'm sure more things will come to mind as we get closer to our move date (only a month away!).
London is notorious for being an extreme expensive place to live. Now, coming from westside LA, I pretty much figured that the cost of living in London wouldn't be as shocking to me as it would be to someone moving there from, let's say, northern Michigan. But that doesn't mean I don't want to save some cash where I can, so I'm trying to stock up on things here that are either (1) hard to get in the UK, or (2) expensive to get in the UK, or (3) the US just plain does it better. So far, I've decided to stockpile the following goods:
1. Mascara - Paying 2x the amount for flirty lashes, I think not.
2. Dryer sheets - Apparently, people like to air dry their laundry over there, thereby skipping the need for dryer sheets altogether, which explains the dearth of Bounce in the UK.
3. Toothpaste - Read it somewhere. I know the British aren't known for their great dental work, but I've read that they don't have Crest in the UK. I'm really picky about toothpaste flavor, so this is a definite yes for me. Don't even get me started on cinnamon toothpaste. Gag.
4. Ziploc bags - Really? But they're so useful - why wouldn't you have them? Do British people not like to freeze and store things? They do have those tiny fridges...
5. Chocolate w/ peanut butter - I think the British got it right on this one, it just sounds gross. But J is a big Reese's fan so I'm going to hit up the drugstore for these before we go.
6. Clothes
I'm sure more things will come to mind as we get closer to our move date (only a month away!).
Uncle Sam v. Her Majesty the Queen
Two things in life are certain: death and taxes. What's not certain is what taxes you have to pay when you're a US citizen moving to the UK for two years. There's a lot of misinformation out there about paying taxes as an American expat in London, so I thought I'd clear it up for those who may be curious. I actually read a New York Times article not too long ago about American expats renouncing their citizenship while abroad so that they could avoid double tax. Obviously, this is a cause of concern, since Uncle Sam already takes about half of our paycheck. Luckily for me, and not so lucky for the Gray Lady, the article interviewed people who were misinformed and was poorly researched.
I'm not a tax professional, but this is what I gleaned from speaking with one:
Federal taxes - US citizens get a tax credit for foreign taxes paid. We will be paying UK taxes, and we will get credit from the US gov't dollar for dollar for taxes paid. This, in effect, wipes out any US taxes owed since UK taxes are a bit higher. You also get a deduction for housing expenses (after the first $15k), and a deduction on income income up to $91k. I'm not sure if the deductible income amount varies by salary, but that's the relevant number in our situation. However, the deductions are basically moot, because of the first point: Tax credit for foreign taxes paid.
State taxes - Since we're intending on staying abroad for longer than 18 months, we do not owe any state (CA) taxes for the time we're gone. The corollary to that is, you have to pay state taxes if you intend to leave the state for a period shorter than 18 months.
We've also got a condo that we're thinking of renting out. The rental income will be less than our mortgage, HOA, property taxes, etc., so we don't need to pay any taxes since we're actually losing money on the property. We would also lose our tax credits for interest paid on the mortgage and property taxes.
This is all for US taxes, and we're supposed to talk to another tax professional re: UK taxes once we arrive. Will keep you posted!
I'm not a tax professional, but this is what I gleaned from speaking with one:
Federal taxes - US citizens get a tax credit for foreign taxes paid. We will be paying UK taxes, and we will get credit from the US gov't dollar for dollar for taxes paid. This, in effect, wipes out any US taxes owed since UK taxes are a bit higher. You also get a deduction for housing expenses (after the first $15k), and a deduction on income income up to $91k. I'm not sure if the deductible income amount varies by salary, but that's the relevant number in our situation. However, the deductions are basically moot, because of the first point: Tax credit for foreign taxes paid.
State taxes - Since we're intending on staying abroad for longer than 18 months, we do not owe any state (CA) taxes for the time we're gone. The corollary to that is, you have to pay state taxes if you intend to leave the state for a period shorter than 18 months.
We've also got a condo that we're thinking of renting out. The rental income will be less than our mortgage, HOA, property taxes, etc., so we don't need to pay any taxes since we're actually losing money on the property. We would also lose our tax credits for interest paid on the mortgage and property taxes.
This is all for US taxes, and we're supposed to talk to another tax professional re: UK taxes once we arrive. Will keep you posted!
Passport photos - the horror, the horror!
J and I received an email from the UK attorney that's handling our visas telling us all the details on what we need to fill out and submit to get the ball rolling on the visa front. One of the things that we need to turn in is a passport photo. Urg.
Both J and I are NOT photogenic people, and that's putting it mildly. J develops a Clint Eastwood-esque squint, which is accompanied by a tentative half smile. I end up looking somewhere anywhere but at the camera, and I have a pained expression on my face like I'm engaging in an unwanted conversation on a bus with a stranger that I can't end because it would be impolite and my momma didn't raise me that way.
So you would think that to combat the awful government required photo, I would take some preventative measures to compensate for the automatic awfulness that usually ensues. Normally, I would. When I say normally, I mean pre-25. Sometime after age 25, this is what actually happens:
1. Wear the same shirt I wore the night before to sleep in.
2. Eat pie.
3. Take a nap.
4. Wake up and eat more pie.
5. Put on pants.
6. Go to FedEx/ Kinko's and kindly decline the worker's offer of a mirror before I take my photo.
7. Look at my photo, and realize that maybe it would've been a good idea to use the mirror. Or to brush my hair. Oh, and to touch up my makeup post-nap.
8. Cry for about a minute that I've turned into a middle-aged man.
9. Get over it - There's more pie to be eaten!
Both J and I are NOT photogenic people, and that's putting it mildly. J develops a Clint Eastwood-esque squint, which is accompanied by a tentative half smile. I end up looking somewhere anywhere but at the camera, and I have a pained expression on my face like I'm engaging in an unwanted conversation on a bus with a stranger that I can't end because it would be impolite and my momma didn't raise me that way.
So you would think that to combat the awful government required photo, I would take some preventative measures to compensate for the automatic awfulness that usually ensues. Normally, I would. When I say normally, I mean pre-25. Sometime after age 25, this is what actually happens:
1. Wear the same shirt I wore the night before to sleep in.
2. Eat pie.
3. Take a nap.
4. Wake up and eat more pie.
5. Put on pants.
6. Go to FedEx/ Kinko's and kindly decline the worker's offer of a mirror before I take my photo.
7. Look at my photo, and realize that maybe it would've been a good idea to use the mirror. Or to brush my hair. Oh, and to touch up my makeup post-nap.
8. Cry for about a minute that I've turned into a middle-aged man.
9. Get over it - There's more pie to be eaten!
$1K for 1 way to London
We bought our tickets today! We'll be flying out of here on July 31, and things are getting down to the wire in terms of getting our condo ready to rent to whomever is lucky enough to end up with our place.
I know I'm going to miss our condo tons, but I'm looking forward to finding a place in London that has awesome historical details. When I was in law school, I lived in the converted attic of the oldest mansion in town, and it was awesome. I had windows everywhere and in spring, the trees were gloriously green and filled with chattering squirrels that liked to chase each other. Instead of reading my casebooks, I spent way too much time sitting on my huge windowsills and doing a whole lot of nothing. Right now, I'm doing a whole lot of nothing in my living room with high ceilings, and I wonder if I'll miss it as much as I miss my law school apartment once I'm gone.
I guess I'm not doing a whole lot of nothing lately since I've been prepping our condo and researching living in London to death. I've come across a lot of blogs, and a lot of people are incredibly amusing writers. Who knew? I thought it was all evil and juvenile blogs out there like perezhilton and whatnot. But there is good reading out there, if you really look for it. It's fun reading the adventures of recent expats, and see what they're experiencing so that it's not too much of a shock when we get over there. I already know that toilet handles are different, light switches are reversed, doors usually push in rather than out, etc. I worry if the amount of research I'm doing is going to ruin my experience there. Maybe I should just chill out and let it all come as a pleasant surprise? But who am I kidding, I'm the kind of person for whom there is no such thing as a pleasant surprise. I like to plan EVERYTHING. My husband says I'm perfect for England since I hate chocolate with peanut butter (gross!) and I'm type A. I guess we'll find out in a month!
I know I'm going to miss our condo tons, but I'm looking forward to finding a place in London that has awesome historical details. When I was in law school, I lived in the converted attic of the oldest mansion in town, and it was awesome. I had windows everywhere and in spring, the trees were gloriously green and filled with chattering squirrels that liked to chase each other. Instead of reading my casebooks, I spent way too much time sitting on my huge windowsills and doing a whole lot of nothing. Right now, I'm doing a whole lot of nothing in my living room with high ceilings, and I wonder if I'll miss it as much as I miss my law school apartment once I'm gone.
I guess I'm not doing a whole lot of nothing lately since I've been prepping our condo and researching living in London to death. I've come across a lot of blogs, and a lot of people are incredibly amusing writers. Who knew? I thought it was all evil and juvenile blogs out there like perezhilton and whatnot. But there is good reading out there, if you really look for it. It's fun reading the adventures of recent expats, and see what they're experiencing so that it's not too much of a shock when we get over there. I already know that toilet handles are different, light switches are reversed, doors usually push in rather than out, etc. I worry if the amount of research I'm doing is going to ruin my experience there. Maybe I should just chill out and let it all come as a pleasant surprise? But who am I kidding, I'm the kind of person for whom there is no such thing as a pleasant surprise. I like to plan EVERYTHING. My husband says I'm perfect for England since I hate chocolate with peanut butter (gross!) and I'm type A. I guess we'll find out in a month!
Things I'll Miss
We haven't even started packing yet, but I've already started reminiscing about all the things that I'll miss while we're abroad.
1. My family - I'm lucky that we're close and physically close enough to each other to have family dinners once a month. In fact, we're having another one this coming weekend for Father's Day. I'm going to miss my parents the most since I don't know any two people who are more parenty than they are. My mom's already called me to tell me that the cost of living in London is higher than it is here in LA, and to make sure that I don't try to pinch pennies by starving myself. Needless to say, I laughed out loud for 10 minutes after the call ended.
2. Thanksgiving - I made my first Thanksgiving dinner last year, and I made notes to myself on how to improve my turkey for this year. Now, it seems that I won't be eating, never mind cooking, any kind of turkey at all for Thanksgiving. Boo.
3. Target - No Target in the UK. OMG.
4. Costco - Okay, they do have Costco in the UK. The thing is, you usually buy in bulk at Costco - that's the whole point of Costco. But how do you get your 12 pack of chicken broth home if you have no car and have to carry whatever you buy onto the Tube?
5. Bathing suits - I'll miss you. I'm thinking of packing 1 or 2 just in case we happen to travel somewhere warm or an elusive warm day in London just happens to occur... this is a salute to eternal optimism.
6. Halloween - Eh, not so much. I haven't dressed up in over two years or so, and I doubt anyone's going to be trick-or-treating at our securely locked building filled with twenty somethings with no children or wee babies.
7. Fourth of July - On the fence about this one. I love the idea, but no one actually has a backyard in LA (too expensive) so it's not like people have big cookouts by the pool here as advertised in Target commercials.
I'm making myself sad now...
1. My family - I'm lucky that we're close and physically close enough to each other to have family dinners once a month. In fact, we're having another one this coming weekend for Father's Day. I'm going to miss my parents the most since I don't know any two people who are more parenty than they are. My mom's already called me to tell me that the cost of living in London is higher than it is here in LA, and to make sure that I don't try to pinch pennies by starving myself. Needless to say, I laughed out loud for 10 minutes after the call ended.
2. Thanksgiving - I made my first Thanksgiving dinner last year, and I made notes to myself on how to improve my turkey for this year. Now, it seems that I won't be eating, never mind cooking, any kind of turkey at all for Thanksgiving. Boo.
3. Target - No Target in the UK. OMG.
4. Costco - Okay, they do have Costco in the UK. The thing is, you usually buy in bulk at Costco - that's the whole point of Costco. But how do you get your 12 pack of chicken broth home if you have no car and have to carry whatever you buy onto the Tube?
5. Bathing suits - I'll miss you. I'm thinking of packing 1 or 2 just in case we happen to travel somewhere warm or an elusive warm day in London just happens to occur... this is a salute to eternal optimism.
6. Halloween - Eh, not so much. I haven't dressed up in over two years or so, and I doubt anyone's going to be trick-or-treating at our securely locked building filled with twenty somethings with no children or wee babies.
7. Fourth of July - On the fence about this one. I love the idea, but no one actually has a backyard in LA (too expensive) so it's not like people have big cookouts by the pool here as advertised in Target commercials.
I'm making myself sad now...
Research, Research, and Repeat
We're going. We're really moving to London. A firm date isn't set yet, but we've got an estimate of the first week of August. There are a ton of things to do, but I've never moved to another country before (well, I have but I was a wee baby and my parents took care of all the details, including travel outfits), so I'm not quite sure what I need to know. Hence, the Research.
One of the few things I know I can do is research the heck out of things to the point of "why would you ever need to know that?"ness. Which can come in pretty darn handy when you're moving to a place you've never even visited before, and your husband is depending on you to figure it all out since he's never visited there either.
The things that need to be done can be separated into two separate categories:
(A) Things to do to leave our life in California behind
(B) Things to do to start our life in London
So I took care of the most important thing that I could think of: I bought my first pair of rainboots and made sure we have more than one umbrella. It's just the first step, but I think it's in the right direction.
One of the few things I know I can do is research the heck out of things to the point of "why would you ever need to know that?"ness. Which can come in pretty darn handy when you're moving to a place you've never even visited before, and your husband is depending on you to figure it all out since he's never visited there either.
The things that need to be done can be separated into two separate categories:
(A) Things to do to leave our life in California behind
(B) Things to do to start our life in London
So I took care of the most important thing that I could think of: I bought my first pair of rainboots and made sure we have more than one umbrella. It's just the first step, but I think it's in the right direction.
To Move or Not to Move - That is the Question
I've always loved Shakespeare, having gone to Shakespeare class every Saturday morning when I was in 4th and 5th grade. I still remember the bagels and cream cheese that we had during our breaks - yum! And now I have a chance to go check out Shakespeare's birthplace in person. That's right, the J's got an offer from the London office of his firm to come join them for 16 months. So the question remains - do we go or not?
Most mornings, the most pressing question of the day is more along the lines of what should I thaw for tonight's dinner? Should I iron today? Things of that nature - not should I move to another country?
Pros:
I've always loved England from afar - its modern history and its literature
We don't have kids to tie us down and we might not have this opportunity again
It'd be cool to live in another country while we're young
It'll be easy to travel around Europe
Cons:
We just bought our house 6 months ago and furnished it with brand new stuff
We'll be far from our family and friends
I'll have to leave the cat behind with my little brother
London's expensive - okay, LA is expensive too so I guess this is more of a wash
It's new, therefore scary
So we need to have a response by tomorrow, and J and I will discuss and decide tonight. Exciting with a touch of desire to hurl from fear.
Most mornings, the most pressing question of the day is more along the lines of what should I thaw for tonight's dinner? Should I iron today? Things of that nature - not should I move to another country?
Pros:
I've always loved England from afar - its modern history and its literature
We don't have kids to tie us down and we might not have this opportunity again
It'd be cool to live in another country while we're young
It'll be easy to travel around Europe
Cons:
We just bought our house 6 months ago and furnished it with brand new stuff
We'll be far from our family and friends
I'll have to leave the cat behind with my little brother
London's expensive - okay, LA is expensive too so I guess this is more of a wash
It's new, therefore scary
So we need to have a response by tomorrow, and J and I will discuss and decide tonight. Exciting with a touch of desire to hurl from fear.
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