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The Journey Starts

Momo1980

Registered Users (C)
Well I managed to wrestle my way through cluster-crap Dar es Salaam traffic today and made it to the US Embassy at 1:45pm and was immediately whisked in.

When I walked into the consular section I was flabbergasted by the number of people there (I could easily count 50 people) and knew I'd be there for at least 2-3 hours.

Anyway the guard who ushered me in told me to go hand my green pickup slip at the counter which I did and was told to sit and wait.

Literally two minutes later my name was called up and the pleasant consular assistant handed me my sealed envelope, passport and USCIS fee payment information paper and told me that I had to pay $165 to obtain the Green Card and if I was changing address then I had to notify USCIS and Homeland Security. She wished me luck and I left the Embassy quicker than I got there.

I'm all packed/booked and I leave with Emirates on Saturday evening at 5pm reaching Dubai at 11:30pm and get on my connecting flight to Dulles at 2:30am arriving the next morning at 8:30am.

My thoughts are with those still awaiting DV2013 interviews and those with upcoming DV2014 interviews. Ensure your documents are well prepared and you have savings and you'll be fine.

Watch this space as I will be keeping you all posted on all matters I undertake from the moment I get there.

All the best to everyone and God Bless!



Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles
 
Well I managed to wrestle my way through cluster-crap Dar es Salaam traffic today and made it to the US Embassy at 1:45pm and was immediately whisked in.

When I walked into the consular section I was flabbergasted by the number of people there (I could easily count 50 people) and knew I'd be there for at least 2-3 hours.

Anyway the guard who ushered me in told me to go hand my green pickup slip at the counter which I did and was told to sit and wait.

Literally two minutes later my name was called up and the pleasant consular assistant handed me my sealed envelope, passport and USCIS fee payment information paper and told me that I had to pay $165 to obtain the Green Card and if I was changing address then I had to notify USCIS and Homeland Security. She wished me luck and I left the Embassy quicker than I got there.

I'm all packed/booked and I leave with Emirates on Saturday evening at 5pm reaching Dubai at 11:30pm and get on my connecting flight to Dulles at 2:30am arriving the next morning at 8:30am.

My thoughts are with those still awaiting DV2013 interviews and those with upcoming DV2014 interviews. Ensure your documents are well prepared and you have savings and you'll be fine.

Watch this space as I will be keeping you all posted on all matters I undertake from the moment I get there.

All the best to everyone and God Bless!



Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles


Wow Momo - that is truly exciting. Hope the trip goes well - I'm sure you will keep us informed!
 
Wow Momo - that is truly exciting. Hope the trip goes well - I'm sure you will keep us informed!

Thanks Simon! I'll schedule a meeting with a tax consultant once I'm settled in and let you know what he says about foreign assets and foreign income.


Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick Up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles
 
Thanks Simon! I'll schedule a meeting with a tax consultant once I'm settled in and let you know what he says about foreign assets and foreign income.


Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick Up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles


Yes cool please do. I'm seeing an accountant tomorrow so I'll post anything interesting...
 
Good luck Momo... So lucky that your life circumstances allow you to basically just pack and go immediately!
 
Incidentally, on tax, I got a bit confused chatting to a friend of mine now living in SFO. She's been there almost 5 years but is hesitating about applying for citizenship (she's married to a USC.) Says another person from our country originally that she knows has not acquired citizenship because it would prejudice him tax-wise. Both of them still have income from our home country. I was under the impression that it made no difference to your tax whether you are a permanent resident or a citizen but they seem to think it does. If either of you can get some insight into this from your tax discussions would appreciate it if you post the outcome?
 
Thanks SusieQQQ :)

Actually ever since I got selected I've been pre-planning and setting things up properly so that I'd be able to move now (my brother is getting married next month so I can't delay moving as there's a lot to do there!).

Believe me it has been exhausting and now honestly speaking I can't wait to get on a plane and just sleep my bum off all the way to Dulles because it'll be the first proper sleep I'll have had in a year!

About taxation and foreign income (regardless of citizenship or GC); if there is a tax treaty between both countries then there can be double tax relief i.e. the income is only taxed in the country of origin and not taxed again when it reaches the US.

However if no tax treaty exists then the income is subject to double tax (like in my case). Naturally I'm sure these tax consultants know how to work on this so I'll find out once I'm there.


Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick Up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles
 
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On another note I've been on the USCIS site to pay the $165 for over two hours and its so bloody annoying because I filled up all the preliminary details and then applied for a pin number and the damn pin number didn't show up so I ended up clicking "resend pin" a few times and when a pin number finally came, I entered it 3 times and it locked my account out and now I'm waiting for my account to be reopened and then reapply for a pin...GRRRRRRRRRR


Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles
 
And finally after three hours of mucking around, it started to behave itself and opened up my account and resent a pin.

I made the $165 payment (also received an SMS from my bank confirming the payment authorisation) and the status of the process/issue of the Green Card can be tracked on one's account.

Now I'm going to sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :)



Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles
 
Incidentally, on tax, I got a bit confused chatting to a friend of mine now living in SFO. She's been there almost 5 years but is hesitating about applying for citizenship (she's married to a USC.) Says another person from our country originally that she knows has not acquired citizenship because it would prejudice him tax-wise. Both of them still have income from our home country. I was under the impression that it made no difference to your tax whether you are a permanent resident or a citizen but they seem to think it does. If either of you can get some insight into this from your tax discussions would appreciate it if you post the outcome?

Your friend is probably right to hesitate.

People on temporary visas (Non Resident Alians - NRA) are taxed differently from permanent residents - the main difference being that tax is paid on US income only. For tax filing, NRAs fle tax returns on 1040NR and PRs file 1040. That can continue for years but once the person takes PR status things start to change. If you are doing AoS you can choose to recognize your PR residence immediately OR they will apply a test about where you have lived that year or in previous years (passing certain periods of time). In practice someone who is on a H1 andthen continues living in the USA on a GC will become liable for PR tax in the first year. There is some complex stuff around that first year (you can argue and opt for to be treated as a NRA for the changeover year) but to be honest it is sooo complicated most normal people will just bite the bullet and file for the whole year (based on what I read earlier). By year 2 you are PR, no choice.
 
But she's been on a green card for nearly 5 years now - she got it when she got married. And she does declare her offshore income to the IRS, though it sounds like she doesn't pay any extra tax due to the double tax treaty. She says the other guy she's talking about also has a green card. This is why I'm confused.
 
But she's been on a green card for nearly 5 years now - she got it when she got married. And she does declare her offshore income to the IRS, though it sounds like she doesn't pay any extra tax due to the double tax treaty. She says the other guy she's talking about also has a green card. This is why I'm confused.


Sorry Susie I missed that. Then yes there are other differences. one that I know of is the exit tax for people leaving their US citizenship or PR status. The PR might qualify to avoid that tax (based on length of time in the USA), the citizen cannot. There may also be differences on the tax treaties themselves (although I am not aware of any), but I haven't looked that far down the road yet. Not sure I'll be able to raise that today because this guy likes to talk and he LOVES to bill me.
 
Well I managed to wrestle my way through cluster-crap Dar es Salaam traffic today and made it to the US Embassy at 1:45pm and was immediately whisked in.

When I walked into the consular section I was flabbergasted by the number of people there (I could easily count 50 people) and knew I'd be there for at least 2-3 hours.

Anyway the guard who ushered me in told me to go hand my green pickup slip at the counter which I did and was told to sit and wait.

Literally two minutes later my name was called up and the pleasant consular assistant handed me my sealed envelope, passport and USCIS fee payment information paper and told me that I had to pay $165 to obtain the Green Card and if I was changing address then I had to notify USCIS and Homeland Security. She wished me luck and I left the Embassy quicker than I got there.

I'm all packed/booked and I leave with Emirates on Saturday evening at 5pm reaching Dubai at 11:30pm and get on my connecting flight to Dulles at 2:30am arriving the next morning at 8:30am.

My thoughts are with those still awaiting DV2013 interviews and those with upcoming DV2014 interviews. Ensure your documents are well prepared and you have savings and you'll be fine.

Watch this space as I will be keeping you all posted on all matters I undertake from the moment I get there.

All the best to everyone and God Bless!



Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles

Good luck Momo...I'm still on my long and well deserved holiday before I move over.
 
G'morning from Virginia!

I arrived yesterday morning at Washington Dulles (IAD) and we were the first international flight in at the time so I got to passport control within minutes.

The officer took out a knife (a knife big enough to skin a bear or goat!) and opened up the sealed envelope from Tanzania and looked at the documents (for those who are wondering what is inside the envelope, it is the same documents taken during the interview and copied by the US Embassy where you were interviewed) and didn't ask me anything at all and simply stamped my passport with an entry visa and the sheet attached to the sealed envelope with an entry visa.

After stamping my mother's passport he instructed us to go to the first booth to see another officer who took my envelope from me and looked at the documents. He then asked for my index finger (and out of my stupidity and nervousness I gave him my thumb lol - I felt like a total idiot when that happened lol) and he took my index fingerprint and made me sign a form and said "Welcome To The United States" and I simply went to pick up my luggage with mum.

We then declared the funds we had and what was inside our bags (the officer was very polite and friendly and shared a joke or two with me) and then scooted off to a back office and came back and said "your paperwork is perfect and you're the first person who filled the money declaration form right the first go because everyone messes it up! Welcome to United States." and walked out of the airport to a drizzly Virginia morning.

We (my brother and I) were snooping around a little yesterday and we will be going to Bank of America to get an account opened up and then to AT&T to get a line.

By the way with regards to phone lines, the salesperson at AT&T said I can't get a contract immediately until I get my driver's license and social security BUT she said I can obtain a SIM and use it on my existing phone from Tanzania and go post-paid until I'm eligible for a contract and they have different plans for this and the only requirement is the entry stamp/visa in the passport.

After visiting the bank today, we'll stop by AT&T and then the DMV to get some information (we already have some but we're trying to fast track the driver's license) and then stop by the car dealers to check out some cars I've been researching.

On the other side as all my stuff is registered in Pennsylvania, I'll drive down there on Wednesday and get my SSN from there and go to the DMV there to get my license sorted out and I can pay $400 and transfer it to a Virginia license right after that and I will also fill in the change of address form for Homeland Security and change my address to Virginia.

For those wondering what it is like here, well I have to admit it is way much nicer than Allentown, PA. We're 10-15 minutes away from Washington, DC and Arlington and all the other major areas like Chantilly, Fairfax etc. There is a wonderful mix of people here and different restaurants from cheap to expensive and malls. I would personally recommend this place from just seeing it for a day and I myself am considering hacking it out here for 6 months and settling in nice and easy before I start to relocate to Texas.


I will keep you all posted on developments and give my best guidance as I am meeting a tax consultant and immigration attorney in the coming days as well.



Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick Up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles - August 18th 2013
 
Good to hear from you Momo. Glad you made it ok.

So you'll be in the North East for the winter. That could be challenging for you!

FYI I posted some stuff about my meeting with a tax accountant, so worth reading that before your meeting to see what is right/wrong from that post. There were some very good follow on posts on that thread also...

Enjoy the ride...
 
Good to hear from you Momo. Glad you made it ok.

So you'll be in the North East for the winter. That could be challenging for you!

FYI I posted some stuff about my meeting with a tax accountant, so worth reading that before your meeting to see what is right/wrong from that post. There were some very good follow on posts on that thread also...

Enjoy the ride...


Thanks Simon! I hope you're keeping well.

Indeed I'll be freezing my guts off for the winter but it'll be reminiscent of my London days and the times I spent in the USA on holiday during the cold Pennsylvania winters. I actually find the cold invigorating.

I did actually glance through the posts on taxation but I want to sit down and have a slow read over it to understand which I'll do once I'm sitting with my first proper cup of American coffee :)


Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick Up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles - August 18th 2013
 
Thanks Simon! I hope you're keeping well.

Indeed I'll be freezing my guts off for the winter but it'll be reminiscent of my London days and the times I spent in the USA on holiday during the cold Pennsylvania winters. I actually find the cold invigorating.

I did actually glance through the posts on taxation but I want to sit down and have a slow read over it to understand which I'll do once I'm sitting with my first proper cup of American coffee :)


Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick Up - August 14th 2013 - PICKED UP
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles - August 18th 2013

Hmmm - proper coffee. Just be a little careful with my notes - I am sure there are errors in there due to my misinterpretation of what was being said - so just look at it for areas that might be broadly interesting and then investigate yourself via your accountant...
 
Thanks Taz! I'm loving it here and still trying to let it sink in that I've finally come to live here and not on a holiday like in the past!

We've been here 3 months and we're still trying to have it sink in that we're here as American permanent residents and not having to go 'home' somewhere else :D

Still also trying to figure out politics and the whole system. It seems like there's a whole lot more politicians here than in Australia. Which is never a good thing :p Just more of them to stuff things up quicker. And I'm not looking forward to the years of campaigning they do here. Australia called a federal election earlier this month and it'll be all over early September. Which is the way it should be. Here, they go on and on and on for months and months just to pick the person running for the party, then more months of "vote for me" BS. Gawd! And we won't even be able to vote!

But, we're loving it here.
 
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