ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United KingdomCountdown
I take back my previous post, the dummy entered me as a student rather than a fiance. sad.gif

Working to get this sorted but it's hard to find a living person.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-30 12:46:00
United KingdomCountdown
Congrats, Kirsten. smile.gif It's easy to see why yo uwould be nervous after your previous experience. Glad everything went smoothly for you.

I forgot to post my experience of POE, but it's basically really straight-forward.

I landed in Boston (MA) and went up to the desk, told him I was on a K1 visa and gave him the brown envelope. He looked up on his computer what he was supposed to do quickly as I guess they don't get many K1s going through Boston. Then he asked how old I was, and said I was a little young to be getting married, to which I replied that we've known each other for over 6 years so it's not a silly rushed thing. He then opened my envelope, took out our K1 file and started stamping and writing on it, entering dates and such. He drew through my visa, and asked when I was getting married, and I told him we didn't have a date but it would be within 90 days. He did the usual stuff, took fingerprints and asked custom questions. He then said congratulations and waved me through.

Everything took about 5 minutes, was one of the easiest POE's I've had.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-29 10:28:00
United KingdomCountdown
We're still in Middleboro right now with his parents but are saving to move to a more "lively" place, so that I can actually interact with a human being. wink.gif I would love to live in Boston but don't know if it's affordable or smart considering he works in RI now.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-17 07:36:00
United KingdomCountdown
I'm here, UK peeps. dancin5hr.gif

Soooooo happy and sooooo sad... I never thought I would feel this way.

I'm over the moon one minute and in tears the next because I miss my friends already. I can't thank you all enough.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-16 11:03:00
United KingdomCountdown
I'm going, guys!

Well not today, but I'm being taken by my friends all day/night so I'm going from there.

I AM SCAAARREDD. The thought of saying goodbye to my friends is making me feel a bit sick, I hope everything goes OK and not too emotional.

Thanks so much for your help, everyone. We never could've done this without the help of you lovely people. We'll be calling on you for AOS! biggrin.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-06-13 02:54:00
United KingdomCountdown
YAY! Magpie and Beanie arrived safely. dancin5hr.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-27 10:55:00
United KingdomCountdown
I'm so excited for her.

And you, MonkeyJuice!

biggrin.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-25 08:03:00
United KingdomCountdown
Just in case I don't get the chance to say..

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FLIGHT, MAGPIE!

Let us know when you're all settled.

Yeah Bob, we have to make sure the place is fit for a girl too. Bill is taking down the plane posters and we're going out together to pick up some nice things for the wall. smile.gif Plus a nice dovet cover, maybe cushions etc.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-22 06:36:00
United KingdomCountdown
8 days, wow!!

I have 27 days. biggrin.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-18 06:06:00
United KingdomCountdown
Wow, I can't believe you're finally off, Monkey!

Good luck with everything, and try to find some time to hop on and let us know you're OK.

Magpie, where in the US are you moving to?
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-11 05:47:00
United KingdomCountdown
I love this thread, it's so positive.

I'll be making the leap in less than 7 weeks now. smile.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-27 15:57:00
United KingdomCountdown
Yay, congrats Damian; I thought of you the other day. smile.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-01 06:39:00
United KingdomCountdown
QUOTE (Stinky Monkey @ Jan 10 2009, 03:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Rob&Dawn @ Jan 10 2009, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I called the Embassy yesterday and they can't give me an interview date until i've had the medical...got that booked for Tuesday.

But do know of someone that sent pkt 3 back on 18th Dec, loaded on system 2nd January had an interview date of 30th January.

Hoping for interview early Feb, put my travel date as 20th Feb so hopefully they can be accomodating.


How do you find out when it is loaded onto their system?

I thought that you could even have your medical on the same day as the interview and that they would just dleay issueing the visa pending the results

Good luck with the medical, I was in and out in under half an hour


Yeah, I thought that it didn't matter if you hadn't had your medical or not. As long as you had one booked and were ready for an interview date...

Hmm good thinking Shaz, I think I'll send the forms back and delay sending the checklist until a little later.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-01-11 13:00:00
United KingdomCountdown
I'll send everything off at a normal pace.. wait for Packet 3 to get here, send everything off, put travel date as June..

I'm half tempted to delay it just in case Bill can't get here in March so that I can squeeze in a last VWP (but I reallty would hate to do that again!)..
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-01-09 18:48:00
United KingdomCountdown
Going to try and get my interview for around March/April and leaving around June 10th.

If I decide to stay for my graduation ceremony, I'll have to wait until July 25th or so and I don't have the funds (or patience) to add another 6 weeks onto that.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-01-09 15:20:00
United KingdomMedical locations
As far as I'm aware, London *the* UK medical place (Ireland is separate).

I've seen people come from Scotland to do this.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-19 20:44:00
United KingdomDelayed but not Denied
To be honest, I'm very surprised.

I also had NO LIVE TRACE on my certificate but have no memory of ever being in trouble with the police. When they asked me, I told them that. I was approved and no one mentioned anything. Maybe he brought attention to it by bringing it up? I dunno, it sounds strange as I've seen others get approved with that type of result too.

Anyways, this waiting will be over soon. As someone else said, he'll be home for Christmas. smile.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-03 20:57:00
United KingdomAppropriate amount of pictures
Nada.

I took a scrapbook but of course wasn't asked once. Fun to make though.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-21 09:50:00
United KingdomHigh School Diploma?
I've been told that employers rarely ask to see the diploma anyway. I guess when you say you don't have a diploma, it draws attention to it, and THEN they might want to see evidence that you've passed high school, even when it normally wouldn't be asked for.

I don't have my GCSE certificate either, but I do have A-levels and a BSc degree. I only have the degree in paper, so I'm hoping that will overcome any difficulty with high-school paperwork.

If you're having problems with finding employment though because of this, I would ring the education authority and ask them to send some transcripts over (through email if they won't send overseas), though I'm not sure how you would prove that it's really you; does anyone know if you need to?
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-23 12:44:00
United KingdomUK Vaccinations
QUOTE (SunDrop @ Nov 26 2009, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If it was Ry and me, roles reversed, it would go something like this:

"I need an MMR vaccine."
"No you don't coz we only vaccinate kids with MMR."
"Oh, OK." ....


laughing.gif

good.gif

Allie, you say he's had his medical... did they write him off as incomplete because he didn't have his vaccinations? I'm asking because if that's the case, it seems your case would still be on hold anyway, even if it weren't for this ACPO business.

Strange they wouldn't give him the vaccines. I was in and out in a few minutes after having the MMR, even though it's a childhood injection. I suggest waiting until AOS, no sweating about it now. smile.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-27 21:56:00
United KingdomThe Holidays - what are you doing?
So I think I started an argument between two co-workers today at Kohls during Black Friday.

They asked if I wanted to sign up for a store card and get an extra 10% off. I said sure, and confirmed that I'm able to do so even with a sale AND a 15% discount card. Another woman then proceeded to tell her that it wasn't allowed, but that I could sign up for the card anyway. I said sure. They argued a little about whether I was allowed the extra 10%.

They asked for my license, and I told them that I don't have one. They looked at me like an alien (ha.. ha) and then asked for my SSN. I told them that I didn't have it with me, so not to bother with opening the account that day. I could come back another time when I had my stuff. They continued to talk among themselves, and again asked me for my SSN or a driving license. After trying to explain that I didn't have it with me but could come back another day, My MIL, who was standing next to me at the time then decided it would make the situation better to say loudly "SHE'S FROM ENGLAND, SHE JUST MOVED HERE, SHE'S GOING THROUGH IMMIGRATION" which caused everyone else in the store to turn and look at me like a sick puppy.

I told them I had nothing on me but a passport, so I could come back another time, and they said they would take it because it would have a passport number. They they argued about whether a non-US passport was OK. The moment they began talking about the SSN (again), my MIL pretty much pulled the plug for me, and told them bluntly that we're not interested anymore. As we walked off, we could hear them talking about the situation, and one of them specifically stated that the other was starting to annoy her.

It was entertaining. tongue.gif

Edited by Gemmie, 27 November 2009 - 07:04 PM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-27 19:03:00
United KingdomThe Holidays - what are you doing?
This is my first Thanksgiving, as I always had to go back to the UK for uni.

I'm so excited! biggrin.gif We're having the turkey dinner here (at my in-laws) but it's very small this year, as Bill's grandfather lost his wife this summer and also has advancing Alzheimers. They didn't want to overwhelm him.

Black Friday, I'm going shopping with my MIL, getting some Christmas gifts in, and also buying stuff for our apartment before we move out.

Then I'll ask if we can put the Christmas decorations up this weekend. I'm painting some wooden decorations and animals to put up, which are cute.

I agree that the Americans have the holiday season DOWN... I love it after Halloween, going into Thanksgiving, going into Christmas, going into the new year. I'm going to be so depressed in January. wink.gif

Edited by Gemmie, 25 November 2009 - 11:01 AM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-25 11:00:00
United KingdomConsulate costs
We're sending off the I-129F today/tomorrow. smile.gif

We've booked the flight for September and managed to figure out a basic plan on how to afford the consulate costs. For example, I'll work a few extra days before my trip, I'll take £400 when my student money comes in, put it aside and do not touch it until it's needed for next year! Take the bus to London rather than the train (cheaper)..

Yeah, I'm not having the HVP done until I'm in the US as we checked and it appears to be cheaper. Plus there's something about how new it is that makes me want to wait a little longer.

I know exactly what you mean. I find it really hard to be apart from him for more than a couple months now as it gets harder every time I leave. Seeing as I'm in university, I get lots of time off and use my loan and financial aid to book flights (as well as support myself). If I have the opportunity, I'm there...
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-08 17:30:00
United KingdomConsulate costs
God, I love this site! smile.gif

QUOTE
Vito phoned up his pharmacy in the USA as i was being quoted £120 a shot for hpv and i can't afford that, my doctor wont even buy it in for me and do it. he was quoted around the £89 mark per shot so i was thinking of getting my first shot in the usa? unsure.gif seen as you only need the first one for AOS.


I'm thinking of having the HVP done in the US also. It's just so expensive paying everything at once!

This might be a bit too much info (sorry!), but me and my fiancee were both virgins until recently so I don't even know if it's needed. I'll have to enquire.

I called my GP surgery this morning and they had never heard of it! They got someone else to call me back and she told me that at the moment, it's £85 per shot, though as it's still very new, she advised me to call back sometime closer to when it's needed. She also told me that I can have everything else done for free (such as MMR booster, the polio, DTaP or whatever it's called).
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-07 09:23:00
United KingdomConsulate costs
Sorry for the double post, I just thought of another possibility:

Am I able to get it done bit by bit?

As in, get any free injections now, and the police certificate? When does this typically expire? (We haven't sent off the I-129 yet but within the next week, it will be gone. I'm expecting my interview to be around next spring so by then would only have to pay for the medical/HVP and visa fee)
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-07 05:55:00
United KingdomConsulate costs
Hmm, I forgot to add in the cost of the HPV; do I have to have the first two shots before I leave or can I do it when I get to AOS?

I'm a student and usually I manage to pay for everything I need including flights with my student loan. I'm wondering if this isn't going to break that.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-07 05:47:00
United KingdomConsulate costs
I know there has been a thread like this not long ago but I can't seem to find it, and I'm starting to panic.

I was planning on visiting my fiancee in 2 and a half weeks because Virgin Atlantic granted us with free tickets for a flight delay in the past. Now he's telling me that he doesn't think it's a good idea to use them now as we're going to have so much cost when we get to the stages of Consulate. I know that what he's saying is true, and I'm not expecting a cheap and easy time with London... however, I believe we'll be able to afford it somehow. He wants to save the tickets for the future but I don't think I can handle waiting until Christmas to see him, not after expecting to see him in 2 weeks. sad.gif

Assuming I get as many injections as are available on the NHS, what expenses are there exactly (on the beneficiary side of things)? Is it police certificate of 35, medical of 180, admin fees of 70? I live in the South so not too worried about travel.

I really want to figure this out so that I can be with my fiancee in a few weeks and know that we will survive the fees.

Edited by Gemmie, 06 August 2008 - 09:37 PM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-06 21:36:00
United KingdomGareth is all approved! Now onto packet 3!
Congratulations!!

smile.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-11 16:49:00
United KingdomFeeling frustrated and just blah......ugh!
Oh I'm sorry you're having such a shitty time!

Having tension at work is awful... I've been in a similar situation many times before and when you're unhappy at work, it pretty much takes over the rest of your life, or at least seems to. Getting up and pulling yourself into the office is the hardest thing to do, but just remember that it WILL all blow over even if you don't manage to find yourself another job. Things like this always feel so horrible at the time but eventually people will move on. Plus you know you were in the right for reporting them to your boss, even if nothing was done. Take comfort in the fact that you did the right thing, and that you don't need their approval for you to carry on with your work.

Good news about Gareth's EAD! Another wait is over! biggrin.gif

Don't worry - his flat WILL sell! Things like that seem to be taking a long time nowadays but the money will come in.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-06 17:04:00
United Kingdomis it me or has london gone on holiday for 2 weeks
I've heard that summer is always a drag at the Embassy.

Hang in there - you will get your response!
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-08 06:21:00
United KingdomRay of hope needed...
Apparently it takes 6-10 weeks to recieve an interview date from London. Perhaps your case is just closer to the 10 week mark? Hang in there and keep us updated.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-11 16:51:00
United KingdomMore dumb questions
QUOTE (Nicoxcx @ Aug 14 2008, 05:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Why would the USC have to show forms of ID when it is the UK Citizen that is being interviewed for the Visa?(Unless the USC is going to the interview with the UK Citizen), I am having Steven send me his Birth Certificate but London dont require that we are just doing it as a precaution.

Now I am worried that I will have to get him to send me other forms of ID, thats wrong right? USCIS have already established that he is who he says he is.


I was thinking the same thing.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-14 11:14:00
United KingdomMore dumb questions
QUOTE
2 UK-sized (1 for police certificate, 1 for medical)
2 US-sized (for interview)


QUOTE
As for US specific photos, you'll need 3, according to Packet 3; 2 for the Embassy, 1 for the medical.


Conflicting factage... tongue.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-13 13:25:00
United KingdomI'm betting this has been asked a million-bajillion times. . .
You forgot..

QUOTE
No wonder you're stressing...YOU'RE clueless. (I mean that in a nice way.)


wink.gif hehe
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-14 16:37:00
United KingdomFeel better posting in the UK forum..
QUOTE (Boiler @ Aug 14 2008, 05:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Never heard of this, and why would you surrender your medical records to Immigration anyway?


The documents that you submit at the POE... does this not include medical records from London? I thought I read that medical docs were shown there too, as well as at the interview. And since you don't get to see what's in the envelope and aren't allowed to open it, there's no way to get it copied.

QUOTE
The Tdap is a breeze you don't even notice it, the MMR hurts..like hell! . I am a 22 year old Female student so I got mine free on the NHS.


Oh no. sad.gif

Well of course it's all worth it to be with the boy... and I can treat myself to a nice cup of tea afterwards!! I'll also be a 22 year old student... so can get my healthy dose of pain for free!
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-14 11:12:00
United KingdomFeel better posting in the UK forum..
I've been reading a lot lately about people having to get their vaccinations re-done whilst in the US adjusting status... all because the POE officer takes their records so that they don't have evidence that they're already done (?!)

Is this true?

I haven't had them done yet as we've just mailed the petition, though I like to look ahead so I'm clear in the process; and (like others) am not a fan of needles and the thought of having to go through the money and pain again after doing it once... I mean, there are a lot of injections on that list! sad.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-14 05:23:00
United KingdomWhere are you from?
I'm Native American myself (well partly!)... Descended from the Cherokee and Sioux. smile.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-05 05:45:00
United KingdomWhere are you from?
Perhaps we both know the same people! biggrin.gif
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-04 17:06:00
United KingdomWhere are you from?
Ooooh, a South West accent like me!

Well mine isn't as strong as some of you Bristolians (I'm from Swindon). But the Londoners are always making fun of it!
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-03 17:01:00
United KingdomWhere are you from?
Bill also sounds different than people in his hometown.

He's an hour away from Boston so the infamous accent surrounds us all the time, though we have no idea why he has never picked it up! He sounds pretty "generic".

God, I love his voice...

Edited by Gemmie, 02 August 2008 - 05:28 AM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-02 05:28:00