Finally the day had arrived to start my new life in the USA. The past week had been so emotional for me, saying goodbye to family & friends and leaving the place you've called home for 20 years.

The day started out early, Clayton called me to wake me up at 4:15am. I got ready for the long drive and journey ahead of me. I was flying from Birmingham Airport it was about a 2hr drive. I said goodbye to my sleepy sisters, leaving the goodbye as brief as possible. I had been crying a river inside the past few days and didn't want to make it worse. My mum and dad loaded the car with my two 30kg suitcases, and off we went to the airport. We managed to get there pretty much on time, I checked my heavy luggage in and headed for the departure lounge.

Then it hit me I wasn't going to be coming back anytime soon, and I burst into tears. My mother hugged me, and told me I was going to be alright, that I was going to be with the man I loved. I tried to pull myself together but the tears kept on falling down my cheeks. I hugged and kissed my mum and dad, and took a deep breathe gripping my passport tightly I walked over through departures.

I boarded the flight to Copenhagen, funnily enough my flight was the same journey as my first meeting flight. I remember crying on the Copenhagen flight on our first meeting and I was doing the exact same thing this time. We landed in Copenhagen 45 mins early, I was still very much upset after the tearful goodbye and so I called my sister to be comforted.

Time went by to board the long haul Seattle flight. I had calmed down emotionally by now, and was ready for the long journey ahead of me. I filled out the White I-194 Form for people who had visas and waited for my flight to land. Please note, you must fill out the White I-194 Form if you have a visa the Green form is for people who haven't got visas. The Flight was comfortable we actually got in half hour earlier than planned.

I then got in line with all the other people for Customs, 30 mins later I was still waiting. They finally opened 3 new booths for the line to die down. I then was called over to booth 4, I handed him my passport and White I-194 Form. The custom official flicked through my passport and said "So your coming here on a K-1?" I replied "Yes" he then went on to ask me if I had a brown package for him. The mysterious brown envelope was about to be opened. I handed him the envelope and waited for him to open it. It was basically all our information from our Petition to my London Interview, pretty much what I expected.

He then asked me to place my left Index finger on what seemed to be a little finger slot. This was a finger print machine, my right Index finger was also finger printed. Then I had to look directly at this webcam to be photographed. Since 9/11 attacks all US airports now have finger printing and digital camera facilities, all people with US visas will be fingerprinted and photographed.

After that he went on and asked me some basic questions such as...

"Where did we meet?"
"Where does your fiance work?"
"How long have you known each other?"

He seemed to be happy with my answers, he smiled and looked at my visa and circled "Entries:1" then my passport was stamped and K-1 was written on the White I-194 Form. He then went on to tell me, we had 90 days to get married and that I shouldn't leave the country until I adjust my status. He wished me good luck, off I went to collect my very heavy pieces of luggage, and to meet Clayton.

It was so like the first meeting all over again, he was waiting for me with a single red rose, just like the first time. It felt so good to be in his arms again, and so the new chapter of our life begins.