Decision is made, now how do I make it happen?

I already had some idea of the direction I wanted to pursue first based on some previous perusing on the subject (I have had this rolling around in my head for awhile).  There was a chance I could get a work visa based on my ancestry.  Not only would this mean that my visa and work status in the country would not be tied to a particular company, it would give me a 5 year window.

What followed was:

• Hours of research on the visa criteria, application process, immigration and citizenship law; 
• Trusting UPS with original copies of every official document regarding my identity not once, but twice - including the original copies of my grandparents birth and marriage certificates; 
• One withdrawn visa application due to my misunderstanding of the requirements; 
• A visit to an immigration lawyer; 
• Trip to a consulate office to save weeks of waiting time; 
• Fingerprinting and biometrics at Homeland Security; 
• Crossing fingers and toes at many stages of the process hoping that they wouldn't find something to find fault in my application or decide I could not support myself.  

There were many surprises.  Some that shouldn't have been surprises, just my stupidity.  Some that I think were just tests to see how badly I really wanted this visa.

My favourite story involves applying for a passport.  I made a special trip to do this application in person.  I first visited a friend who was my guarantor to confirm my identity.  The guarantor is required to fill out a portion of the application and sign the back of one of my passport photos.  Then I went to the passport office.  The first passport office worker had a look of concern as she looked through my paperwork.  The photos had shadows.  They probably won't do.

But she said it is up to the passport officer.  The officer called me up and started looking through all my paperwork.  He asked a few questions.  Things seemed to be going ok.  Then he started staring at the photos and I began to get a pit in my stomach.  I asked- is it the shadows?  No, he needs proof I paid for the photos.  What?  He said that I needed to provide him with the receipt for my passport photos to prove that I purchased them.  What?  I had never seen this requirement in the application (I still haven't found this written anywhere).  But seriously?  I was staring him in the face.  He had the photo in his hand.  I looked exactly like the photo.  Isn't that better proof than a receipt of purchase?  My heart was sinking.  As many know, I am not the most organized person.  It had been a week.  I really had no hope.  But I looked in the mess of my purse in desperation.  The first crumpled receipt I pull out....the receipt for the photos.  I practically did a bell kick with joy.  I was just so incredibly relieved.  I could have sworn I saw a slight sign of disappointment from him.

I honestly believed that I would be denied the visa throughout the whole process.  Yet time and time again, things would just seem to fall into place.  Yes, I did feel tested along the way.  No, I never once doubted my decision.

Four and half months after making the decision, I had a work visa in my hand.  I gave notice at work that I would be leaving before the end of the year and started planning the move.

I'm happy to answer specific questions to the visa application process.  Some notes:

• You can go with a company that will submit the visa application for you.  I did not.  Some say that will speed up processing time.  It might have saved me from having to re-apply but my visa was processed within the expected timeframe and seemed inline with what folks were saying on fb.
• The basic steps are to compile all the paperwork and fill out the application online.  Once the application is submitted and money paid, you can then schedule the appointment for fingerprinting/biometrics.  Once you complete that appointment, you then mail everything to New York.  It will sit somewhere for about 5 days before being opened and prepared for the entry clearance officer (you receive an email at this point).  Supposedly you then receive an email when they begin looking at it.  For me, the next step was receiving all my paperwork back in the mail with a visa attached to my passport.  This all took about 3 1/2 weeks.  
• Be patient and follow the rules.  I really wanted to be able to contact someone at the consulate to check status on my application, ask questions, and just generally know that it had not been lost behind a desk.  They are focused on processing as many applications as they can and hence, do not want to respond to questions from everyone.  They ask that you do not try to contact until you haven't heard for a few weeks.