Americans in Britain's topics - tribe.net

American marrying a Brit

2008-12-05T18:33:34Z

I'm not in the UK yet, but am planing this lame brain scheme to come over and marry my soul mate, I've know for years. We wouldn't be able to live together in the UK for awhile (I've got issues to deal w/ at home( and he has job/money issues before coming here. So It's not like i need to get a work permit or anything like that for a while. Can we just get married? What are the requirements? What paperwork do we need. Do you have justices of the peace or equivalent for a quickly wedding?

posted in Americans in Britain - 1 reply

UK visa extension?

2008-01-28T17:27:55Z

Okay, so my visitors visa expires on March 13th, and I really really want to stay until end of May. Apparently it costs £395 to get it extended and even then you still need emergency reasons. Any experiences with going to continent and back to get re-stamped, espec. when you've already done that twice? Or what would happen if I just stayed longer and violated the expiration? Any thoughts?

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

I'm Lost - Please Help Me

2007-10-07T00:45:30Z

Background: My name is Kas and I'm 24 years old. I moved to the UK in March, on a fiancee visa. My fiance and I had been together for about a year, him being a British citizen, and me, American.

Since moving here, my relationship has gone sour, and I know now that I cannot marry him. However, in order to move here, I had to sell everything that I owned. I literally have nothing in the US anymore. I have no family, no money, no job... I would be homeless.

Does anyone know the immigration laws well enough to tell me if its possible for me to *switch* visas? Like if I were to find a job willing to sponsor me for a work visa, since I cannot work on the fiancee visa?

I don't want to have to leave the UK if the fiancee visa runs out. I only have until 2 September, and I don't want to lock myself into a marriage that I know cannot work, just for the sake of staying in the UK.

posted in Americans in Britain - 4 replies

From Oregon to London

2007-10-07T00:41:48Z

Like it says just moved to London to Chef here for a yr. Contact me and we'll go get a pint, or better yet listen to good jazz at Ronnie Scotts while downing copious amounts of Bourbon, or better yet go to Amsterdam. Yeah, Amsterdam. Mmmmmmmmmm tolerance

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

Moving to Leeds - from Anchorage, Alaska

2007-10-07T00:39:22Z

Hello!

My fiance and I will be moving to the Harrowgate area sometime in March. Anyone out there have any great advice? I've traveled a little bit in the Yorkshire area, but never imagined I'd be moving there, complete with a truckload of stuff, three cats and two American cars.

I'll also be looking for friends, coffee drinking buddies, partners in mischief-making, and dispensers of books, wine and decent cheese when I get there. Be warned! :-)

posted in Americans in Britain - 1 reply

All the Way from Cali

2007-06-25T18:24:08Z

Well, I'm visiting from CA (starting a year-long adventure in Europe), but I'd be honored to call this great city my home. Just joined this tribe and wanted to say hi. I'm looking for musicians, open mics, music scenes, new friends, interesting art, zen-esque satsongs and meditation groups, and tips on busking on the London streets. I also stilt walk, so I may be looking for a miracle in the way of a wood shop to make some new stilts. Anyway, talk ta me! (and check me at elisalzman.com if ya like).

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

HOT CHIP ticket, yes please!...im looking for 'em

2006-09-15T16:57:39Z

Anyone have tickets they are trying to get rid of for the Hot Chip show on Oct.11th, in London at Asoria??? Or, do you have any ideas on how i might find some...i have tried gumtree, no luck yet.

many thanks,
jenni

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

Graduate School in Britian

2006-08-28T04:22:17Z

Hi all!

I hope you can help. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and going to graduate school. I'm looking at development studies--a very popular program in Britian. The problem, among many, is I can't seem to figure out the British graduate school system. Is there any one on this list who is or has been in grad school? How do you get in? I've been out of school for 11 years, and truthfully, when I went to college, I don't remeber it being this difficult.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Elizabeth

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

Moving to London in 3 weeks!

2006-05-21T22:43:44Z

I'm moving to london in a few weeks for a new job, dont really know anyone in the city and havnt been there since I was 6! Anyone got any pointers for a displaced Chicagoan ?

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

story of a sultan from far-off lands and his magical, time-travelling mechanical elephant

2006-04-27T22:49:44Z

check this out,
http://www.thesultanselephant.com/
im going!

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

anybody go to any good festivals?

2006-04-12T10:51:10Z

i was at stonehenge and glasto and the camden green fair and the kingston green fair-how were the ones you went to ? got stories or pics to share?

posted in Americans in Britain - 3 replies

Welcome new members

2006-01-15T00:05:21Z

Hello to Z, Maude, T-bird and Bob. Talk amongst yourselves! As I said to Z in a separate e-mail, my son went to the same high school in Atlanta as she did. Ain't it a small world, really?

posted in Americans in Britain - 14 replies

moved! cell phone question now...

2005-11-11T11:57:36Z

Hi :) I just moved to London from Paris and I need a new cell phone deal... can anyone here advise me on a cheep good deal?

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

Going there :)

2005-10-19T23:18:12Z

Dearest fellow tribe members,

I'm going to move to London in a couple months! The change will be from Paris to London, so it's not a huge step, but I would be more than happy to get ANY advice to make my transition a smooth one.

Could anyone please give me some advice on life in London?
These questions are making me particularly nervous.

-how to find an apartment :/ what kind of place I should look for? Roomies? How long do you think it takes to get a roof over my head?
-European union members applying for jobs... do I need a visa? I'm both french and american.

Thank you so much in advance. I hope to meet some of you there :)

posted in Americans in Britain - 2 replies

hello...

2005-10-10T23:13:37Z

Im coming over to london in january. Im very excited. looking to talk with neat new people, I have already met many on tribe. as it is, Im in portland oregon. anyone else from oregon?

posted in Americans in Britain - 3 replies

This was emailed to me, any advice? Please email direct. Thanks

2005-09-23T20:37:57Z

"Stephanie Clark" <sclark@mail.franklin.k12.ga.us>
To: jmfilmore
Date: Sep 22 2005, 07:55 PM
Subject: (no subject)

Hello,
My husband and I are both teachers who would like to possibly move to
the UK in the near future. I was wondering if anyone in your group
would be interested in e-mailing me with their experiences, good and
bad. I also am not sure of the areas in England or Scotland that would
be best. We like rural (live in the northeast Georgia area out in the
woods), somewhere we can have all of our dogs. Any input would be
greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Stephanie Clark
sacdclark@alltel.net

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

In honor of National Grandparent's Day

2005-09-22T20:49:28Z

In honor of National Grandparent's Day, the members of this tribe should submitted their Memories of Grandparents. Each story gives us a glimpse into the special role that grandparents play in a child's life. Join us, read and write these great stories.

posted in Americans in Britain - 1 reply

tricky question...

2005-08-18T00:05:32Z

greetings all. I've written a post simmilar to this one before on another US/UK site and got soundly told that there wasn't much to be said or done.

Quick background. I lived in the UK for 2 years, with a boyfriend. (I'm a US citizen.) I worked part time w/o a permit while I desperately tried to find a way to stay in the country legally with my partner. The worst of all happened, I got stopped at immigration, grilled, and shipped home. I lost everything, including the boyfriend who'd gotten so unhappy with our complete inability to stay together in any one country. One has to be a millionaire to do this. Anyway, got even worse - I was stopped while I was trying to travel to Dublin to visit a friend, it was assumed I was trying to sneak back into the UK. I was denied a pre-entry clearance a year later to try to return to London to gather my belongings that are still in a flat in Hackney. (<this included an interview with the british consulate in NYC, and a large fee; I was requesting a 5 day visa, and got denied... utterly inexplicable to me.)

Am I, now 2 1/2 years later, essentially banned from entering the UK again, ever? It saddens me that basically my woes are based pretty much on the fact that I'm gay and not wealthy. Had marriage been an option, I would likely have taken that. Now I just want to see my friends and extended family and get my few things left in England. What does one recommend, just take a flight with my new passport?, or go through the pre-entry clearance bullshite AGAIN only to be swindled of MORE money and denied again? I can't believe that by doing everything I can to right my wrongs I've fared even worse than those who just plunder the system.

Any helpful thoughts would be MUCH appreciated.

posted in Americans in Britain - 5 replies

anybody going to night of the senses ball?

2005-08-04T20:07:21Z

on october third?used to be called sex maniacs ball?

posted in Americans in Britain - 1 reply

check out this band

2005-07-14T13:29:40Z

try to catch a glimpse of the green ray a psychedelic london based jam band featuring richard treece of man band and help yourself and ken whaley of man band and simon whaley of the slithy toves who play with ray davies ,and of course my best freind simon h on ryth guitar-more info on gigs at senzatempo.co.uk-they are really brilliant,not that im prejudiced or anything

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

Ugly Americans: The United States in the Eyes of Europe

2005-07-14T12:32:29Z

Check this out!
On my first visit to England as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, I had a flare-up with an English war veteran. I had been brought up in a conservative, moderately patriotic American home in Pennsylvania, and for the first time in my life I was confronted with anti-Americanism. The aging soldier was grumbling about the ubiquitous presence of Americans—the old complaint of Americans being “overpaid, oversexed, and over here.” I countered by saying, “But we bailed you guys out not just once, but in two world wars.”

That’s when the volcano erupted

http://www.crisismagazine.com/february2005/feature1.htm

posted in Americans in Britain - 2 replies

Emergency Services Are Aware Of This............

2005-07-10T19:31:07Z

Emergency Services Are Aware Of This............
The idea is that you store the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them.

It's so simple - everyone can do it. Please do. Please will you also forward this to everybody in your address book, it won't take too many forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life.

posted in Americans in Britain - 0 replies

Flag Proposal Threatens First Amendment

2005-07-08T21:22:34Z

"If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents." — U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., speaking on the floor of the House on Wednesday (quoted by the Associated Press).
The Bill of Rights is the lodestar that has guided us through nearly 214 years of our history.

It is the script on which our freedoms are built, the blueprint of our democracy.

That's what makes the passage on Wednesday of a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment that essentially would rewrite the First Amendment so troubling.

The amendment — a bare, one-line that reads "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States" — has been floating around in one form or another for more than 15 years, since the U.S. Supreme Court held in Texas v. Johnson that flag-burning is symbolic speech protected under the First Amendment.

For the Constitution to be amended, the resolution has to be approved by more than two-thirds of each house of Congress and more than two-thirds of the states, either by legislation or via public referendum. The House approved the resolution on Wednesday by a 286-130 vote.

Now, the ball is in the hands of the Senate, which has failed to back a flag-burning amendment on seven occasions in the past. But, as the AP notes, the amendment failed by four votes in 2003, the last time it came up — the exact number of seats picked up by the Republican Party in November. Republican senators have been supportive of an amendment in the past. The Senate, according to the AP, expects to consider the measure after the July Fourth holiday recess.

That gives members of the Senate about two weeks to consider whether they want to be judged by history as the first American legislators to carve out exceptions to the First Amendment.

In its Johnson decision, the Supreme Court confirmed what First Amendment purists have always believed: namely, that the burning of a flag is symbolic speech. Symbolic speech, no matter how offensive it is to the general public, is protected.

The basic idea underlying the First Amendment is that unpopular and dissenting views would be guaranteed a hearing in the marketplace of ideas. The Founding Fathers had feared that a majority could use its control of the federal government to impose its beliefs on the minority, to punish its speech and limit its ability to fight back.

That fear led James Madison and his colleagues to draft a series of amendments designed to protect citizens from the potential excesses of their government — hence, the Bill of Rights.

Since its final passage in 1791, the Bill of Rights — which encompasses the first 10 amendments — has not been altered, even when the protections it codifies have fallen out of fashion.

The proposed flag-burning amendment would change all that.

I should be clear here that I do not advocate the burning of American flags. I also do not endorse the Nazi Party or the Communist Party U.S.A. But I believe their members have the right to express their ideas and I will defend their right to do so just as strongly as I will use my own speech to oppose their ideas.

"We can imagine no more appropriate response to burning a flag than by waving one's own," the court wrote in its majority opinion in the Johnson case. It went on to further say that the best "way to preserve the flag's special role is not to punish those who feel differently about these matters. It is to persuade them that they are wrong."

John S. Keating, a Massachusetts attorney, reminded readers of just that in an essay posted on the Washington, D.C.-based Freedom Forum's Web site:

"In 1976, a crowd at Wrigley Field in Chicago actually burst into a spontaneous rendition of 'God Bless America' when two protesters ran onto the field and tried to burn a flag," he wrote. "How utterly, beautifully American a response!"

What's important to remember is that the flag stands as a symbol of the freedoms we sometimes take for granted, which include the right to use the flag in a symbolic manner. It is, as Paul K. McMasters, a former journalist and the First Amendment ombudsman at the Washington-based Freedom Forum, wrote in the fall, "a communicative presence unparalleled in its eloquence."

"It expresses pride, passion and patriotism," he wrote, "whether held high in battle, presiding solemnly over state occasions, or helping raise a citizen's voice in praise or protest."

Because of this, he says, the burning of the flag is an act of political speech protected by the First Amendment.

"It is a uniquely American right to speak through our flag," he wrote. "It is not the government's right to prohibit or punish such speech, regardless of its intent or message. Nor is it the majority's right to silence that speaker.

"It would be uniquely un-American to erase this revered principle from our democratic heritage."

posted in Americans in Britain - 1 reply

Health Care-Should we laugh or cry?

2005-03-26T09:15:58Z

The public health care system NHS (National Health Service) is a public disaster. Underfunded and mismanaged, you're lucky to get out of a hospital alive (5000 people die every year from infections acquired in a hospital) - if you were lucky enough to get a bed in the first place. That is, if you had the good luck that your doctor (GP - General Practitioner) discovered your medical condition during the three minutes allocated to each patient. Anyone who can afford private medical insurance from the price of 50 pounds a month and upwards is advised to do so. That gives you access to the doctors who know what they're doing. These doctors normally don't take patients under the public system.

posted in Americans in Britain - 5 replies

Quiz for members or visitors

2004-12-21T00:31:12Z

Three fnords will be awarded to the first person who can identify the site of the main tribal photo.

posted in Americans in Britain - 5 replies

phone, broadband, tv in London

2004-11-06T05:17:10Z

Hi, we're moving over in a few weeks and I'm wondering what people's thoughts are on NTS vs. BT vs. Sky. Also I've heard of Bullfrog for broadband, and my colleague over there loves it.

Suggestions?

posted in Americans in Britain - 2 replies