Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
United Kingdom	UK Healthcare	QUOTE (Lansbury @ Aug 21 2007, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 21 2007, 02:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> After that - I think that her coming to the UK was much harder than me going to the US - I am taking about national insurance number/tax people /driving licence/getting a bank account etc - I did it in the US and she did it here in the UK - so WE KNOW !!!! Have to disagree with that. We have done it both ways and I doubt one way is anymore difficult than the other, both quite straightforward and easy just different. The only part which stands out was getting her ILR stamp. We needed it for a trip back to the US and so had to go and apply in person. That day at Lunar House in 1998 still lives vividly in my memory. If we had just posted the forms of it would have been very easy. Could be you are out of date somewhat... getting a UK bank account even with the UK 'green card' is not easy now - it took us three weeks to find a bank that would accept us and even now she does not have a debit card. We tried my bank originally - I have been there 25 years and keep £350k there - they rejected her for a basic checking account. . They see a debit card as extending credit because some are updated overnight and not real time. The NI number meant a long interview of over 1 hour and very many forms (I was with her) - and a tough interview- in the US I was literally 5 minutes at the local SS office. She has spent 2 weekends doing long tax forms about her arrival. I found the IRS very friendly and easy to deal with. The UK driving test is X times harder than any US tests - I did the US test in 10 minutes and it was pathetically easy. The examiner was staggered at my wonderful parallel parking - I am used to parking in Berlin and Paris and little market towns after which it is nothing to park a car on a really wide quiet road with huge parking gaps. Many people fail the UK test 5 times before they scrape through. I did mine in March 1965 and it was quite tough even then and lasts a LONG time. Nope I maintain that the US is much easier to find one's feet with all that stuff. Credit cards are a nightmare in both...health insurance/car insurance - horrible and the same to a newcomer - carolyn paid 850 gbp (1700 US) for her first car insurance (honda civic). National Health in the UK ? I called my Doc today and said my left ear was bunged - they will not make an appointment until I have spent 2 weeks pouring olive oil into my ear !!! olive oil ? what am I some sort of Sicilian peasant who can't afford ear drops ? what if its infected ? hard luck- third world stuff. I hated the US stuff when I first arrived and thought they were all bureaucratic idiots - but when I saw what carolyn went through in the UK I realised that I had had it easy... and UK phone /internet companies ? absolute sharks - count your fingers if you shake hands with em. The US are bad but UK is worse. anyway thats what I think - I know a LOT of things have changed since 911 so the UK is pretty hostile to newcomers now ... and whereas it was quite gentlemanly - now it's dog eat dog and then some. Yes I was taken aback at all the problems carolyn hit when she arrived - and in retrospect i had it very easy in wisconsin... I was there in 2005 and she arrived here October 2006. ok UK green card is a piece of cake - a matter of minutes - even if you are a crazed terrorist - but thats a different story	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-21 14:15:00
United Kingdom	London embassy	QUOTE (missing milwaukee @ Aug 28 2007, 12:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 28 2007, 06:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (missing milwaukee @ Aug 28 2007, 12:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hiya. I'm the USC and my husband has his interview date for the 7th of September in London. When we sent back packet 3, we filled in the section that asked if someone would be joining him at the interview & put my name down. Is it okay to assume that, because we're married and my name was submitted on packet 3, that I'll be let into the interview? Just when I think this process is in the bag, another obstacle pops up! Good luck to everyone who hasn't already been approved or received their visa. Sincerely, Natalie not an expert on this subject but i asked the same thing - some say no as from august - new regulation - others say they did it last week and no problem - seems we are getting conflicting reports just now ps Carolyn is from Milwaukee too and is missing it too - she will be back there for a week in 2 weeks time - cant be missing it too much as we are heading for Florida so she isnt volunteering for another winter ! My husband and I are considering moving to Florida at some point. We were married in Cocoa Beach and we love the area, although a hurricane did prevent us from getting married on the beach. Moving to Florida may be necessary to keep my husband happily living in America, as I don't know how he'll respond to a Wisconsin winter! I can't wait until that becomes my next concern- deciding what state to live in, rather than worrying about the visa process. Every worry from now on will be a piece of cake in comparison! I second that emotion. Probably the first hurricane will have us scurrying back to Hubertus, Milwaukee ! I did one full winter and one half winter there and tell him 'there is no such thing as a hard climate, only inappropriate clothing' it was 3 degrees F when I got there 3rd november ! 29 degrees below freezing point. In January I saw how blue the sky was and said come on lets go for a walk its a beautiful day - I got 200 yards and thought my hooter was going to turn blue and drop off - ran back to the house. wait til he sees the chipmunks and 13 lined ground squirrels - I am retired so i spent all day playing with them...and a skunk ! I would go back actually - fond memories - but only if Florida is a sweaty, hurricane ridden flop. We will give it a good go ! St Petersburg is great but Tampa area generally is the target. Ordering my car on line this week to be ready for mid November then renting an apartment with short notice terms - online and unseen but i will pay over the average and get a nice place. ! That means we can hit the round running and get florida driver's licenses , car insurance and bank account immediately and it will even help with the domicile issue at the interview if that crops up. If it is not nice, we can get out with a month's notice payment. try an email to the embassy about spouse coming with ....	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-28 06:40:00
United Kingdom	London embassy	QUOTE (missing milwaukee @ Aug 28 2007, 12:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hiya. I'm the USC and my husband has his interview date for the 7th of September in London. When we sent back packet 3, we filled in the section that asked if someone would be joining him at the interview & put my name down. Is it okay to assume that, because we're married and my name was submitted on packet 3, that I'll be let into the interview? Just when I think this process is in the bag, another obstacle pops up! Good luck to everyone who hasn't already been approved or received their visa. Sincerely, Natalie not an expert on this subject but i asked the same thing - some say no as from august - new regulation - others say they did it last week and no problem - seems we are getting conflicting reports just now ps Carolyn is from Milwaukee too and is missing it too - she will be back there for a week in 2 weeks time - cant be missing it too much as we are heading for Florida so she isnt volunteering for another winter ! Edited by saywhat, 28 August 2007 - 06:20 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-28 06:18:00
United Kingdom	London embassy	saywhat, I just want to say that this really makes no sense at all and must be soooo frustrating for you. If you can get Carolyn into the Embassy, I think you are fine. From everything I have read and my own personal experience, domicile for the Embassy is not the problem here, it is NVC. As you pointed out, DCFers are not having the same problem, and it is because our files don't go anywhere near NVC during the process. With us, DCF, neither of us have ever lived in the US, we don't own property there, don't have jobs, don't have bank accounts or driving licences, don't have furniture in storage, in fact can't prove ANY ties to the US whatsoever (other than SO being USC...) and yet the Embassy never once said the Domicile word to me at all during my interview. The important thing seems to be getting to the Embassy and out of NVC. Even if Carolyn isn't allowed in, you have more than enough evidence to satisfy London of domicile and so would be fine at interview. But your problem seems to be at NVC. I really hope you get this sorted quickly, any my thoughts are with you... many thanks for your support essjay - i have sent a screen shot of your post to carolyn to keep our morale up until NVC send a reply to our begging for clemency (and temporary absence status)... We keep trying to distract ourselves by going for long walks in the country etc but we plod along through the fields and the subject keeps coming up over and over... We just want to go live in Tampa and the plan is to rent a U-haul and drive down there from Wisconsin with Carolyn's stored household goods and get set up. If NVC decide to wreck our lives for no reason at this 'final review' stage, then she would have to resign her job after 1 month's notice (she likes to do things properly), fly to Florida alone, rent a place alone and do all the utilities etc and get a car and car/health insurance and then plead with NVC again that 'a suitable period' had elapsed to prove she was now resident again which would have them acknowledging domicile. In other words - sit in a rented apartment alone while enough months passed that NVC reckon they have inflicted enough suffering on her and she can now be considered 'domiciled'. Then there would be another 3 months while it went through london embassy stages. Really that prospect is just too horrible to contemplate so we are trying to shove it to the back of our minds until later in the week when we are hoping they will relent....If they do, I for one will be too stressed and traumatised to celebrate or even smile. Just an ebbing away of my chest pains and wrenched guts will be enough for me... Really, a respectable USC with plenty of financial base and a genuine 2 year old marriage (in Wisconsin), is being treated like a criminal here and tormented and tortured for no reason - she DOES fit 'temporary absence' criteria in every respect and they really are sticking it to us because ? Oh I am just ranting on.... and on... we have no idea whether the next year is totally ruined for us and the nightmare continues, or whether we will be having a barbecue on our own balcony in Florida come christmas We just want to break free from NVC - Hate immigration process - love VJ	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-13 04:36:00
United Kingdom	London embassy	I had the same issue with the London Embassy. I've been living in the UK since Oct 2005 on a 2 year visa. They wouldn't take our case cuz it was a temporary situation, but then the office in the US wouldn't take it either as they said I was living in the UK.....frustrating! We also have to prove US domicile, although they haven't mentioned any concerns yet. I sent in a copy of my visa showing it expires on Oct 12 and so I need to leave the UK by then. I've also already accepted a job in the US, so maybe that's why they haven't said anything yet. I researched this a year ago before we even decided to come here in to the UK for a while before doing the cr1 visa... most times domicile is not a big deal - lots of vj people who did this from the uk say so- but when nvc make it so -it is I think having a job there in the U.S. is really good stuff and I dont see why you should have a problem. We were told our 864 was 'fine' so this happened on final review of the whole package... i am retired with an adequate pension for both of us so Carolyn does not need a job right away and so we are struggling to prove temporary absence I reckon yours should be ok but I would lay it on heavy with all the links to the US that you can find - just to be sure I KNOW I can convince london embassy as i will take carolyn's job resignation letter , our rented house notice of leaving letter, and 2 flight tickets to chicago dated 3 days after the interview..but I just have to get past nvc We are still hoping it will work out later next week - but if it doesnt then this will be one bumpy ride... no sleep from now til then...	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-12 13:14:00
United Kingdom	London embassy	Carolyn is here with me in the UK.... We are fighting Carolyn's 'domicile ' issues and NVC say that if they release our file, it is up to London Embassy at the interview to decide... Obviously it would be hugely beneficial for her to be there and answer their questions Is it allowed ? alan I can only tell you my experience on Tuesday August 7th. I arrived at the Embassy with my husband (USC). I knew other people had previously gone in with no problem, so he was there to help me carry bags The lady checking details said that the London Embassy had a new policy as of August 7th that USC's were no longer allowed into the visa section unless they were there to help for medical reasons or translation reasons. USC could wait in the consular section but not in the visa section. While I was waiting for my interview, I saw one couple who had tried to risk it anyway and so UKC and USC were there together. After a couple of hours, the USC was spotted and asked to leave the building. Someone else was told their USC wife wasn't allowed in even though she had come to sign something for her husband. They were told to do whatever signing was necessary in Grosvenor Square and for UKC to go in alone. Hubby told me that he could spot lots of USC's in Grosvenor Square gardens who were in the same situation, not knowing how long it was going to take, and so all watching the Embassy entrance for signs of the UKC's. Now that was my experience, but I think someone yesterday was allowed in with USC. Maybe it's worth a call to the extortion line to see what they say?? Thank you so much for that valuable info: I am hoping I can convince the officer that Carolyn is coming back to the US with me and I will have our original flight tickets etc... If they do kick up on domicile then Carolyn will fly back alone and rent a place then send the rental agreement direct to the embassy to release the visa so a fail at the interview is a recoverable situation, but if the NVC wont give on the domicile thing then that will stop us for months as carolyn needs to give notice on her job before she can go back alone and get a rental agreement in the U.S. and then the NVC has to start up their process from there Everyone on VJ has been agreeing for the 3 years I have been reading posts, that the domicile thing is rarely an issue - but the NVC are fighting us hard - this is even though Carolyn has 'limited leave to remain' in the UK and petitioned for my immigration to the U.S. 2 months and 2 weeks after she arrived. She runs all her affairs in the US and uses her U.S. checking account and U.S. credit card and U.S. driver's license in the U.K. and has all her furniture in store in Wisconsin awaiting her return and we showed them the storage receipts. They are saying she has gone and has no connection with the U.S. - they have disowned her - like they did to Charlie Chaplin. London refused to take our case as DCF because Carolyn is 'temporary' in the UK - and told us to file in Nebraska - but the NVC say she is not domiciled in the US catch 22 Between them, they dont accept that she is anywhere oh well - never mind - I think I will have anice cup of tea.... sorry I am getting off track - thank you again for the really good info alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-12 04:55:00
United Kingdom	London embassy	Carolyn is here with me in the UK.... We are fighting Carolyn's 'domicile ' issues and NVC say that if they release our file, it is up to London Embassy at the interview to decide... Obviously it would be hugely beneficial for her to be there and answer their questions Is it allowed ? alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-10 05:31:00
United Kingdom	Double Taxation Treaty	You wont be able to transfer it, as in keep the tax free status and move it into a tax free pension investment in the USA. I think you are talking about a refund which is only possible in the first couple of years in most schemes. You might then be allowed to make a voluntary contribution to your USA pension but the UK will have taxed the refund I don't see the accrual of value in a UK scheme as 'taxable income' in the USA until you actual receive the pension many years after I am dead and escaped from the US immigration system and all other mortal worries.. At that point it is taxable... Its like shares - if you owned shares directly in the UK, the US cannot tax you until you sell them. If they are held in a UK tax free arrangement like an ISA, the US will not recognize that and will tax you on the income of those shares (capital and dividends) at a very high rate not exceeding 100% as they are classed as 'passive foreign investments' - but again I emphasise - ONLY when they are sold... It's as sneaky back-door way of banning them - they allow you to have them but tax you at 100% I have dumped 200k of ISA's to avoid a possible 100% tax (I bought them for 60k) Transferring anything from the UK is vitually impossible including credit rating/driving licence/insurance history for anything/health history etc etc etc... you are an alien thats what you are - you might as well have landed from Mars . I am an alien too but it has always been part of the tradition to rip off new immigrants right back to the Irish and the potato famine and the tradition is alive and well... The only thing where I managed a connection was my GM visa card - US gm visa actually gave me a card with a $500 credit limit to recognize my £10k limit in the UK. Nobody else would touch me with a bargepole. I offered to show em a million bucks in the bank and pension in payment income guaranteed for life by the UK government if they would give me a $500 dollar visa card and 4 banks said no. Then gm said yes. Edited by saywhat, 09 September 2007 - 05:26 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-09 05:25:00
United Kingdom	Double Taxation Treaty	QUOTE (RaTBoX @ Sep 9 2007, 09:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Lansbury @ Jul 31 2007, 06:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have income in the UK a pension from my job over there. As it is a government pension the UK insist they tax it. For my US tax return I just claim the foreign income tax exemption which is $80,000 per year, so it doesn't even come into the US tax equation. We went to a tax accountant for our first US tax return and that was the way they did it, as the exemption also then gets carried over to our States income tax. Not sure why you are paying tax to both. If you are completing a UK tax return and have paid tax on the income in the US do you not claim the exemption from tax on the UK form and money does not change hands. In the US the foreign tax exemption is claimed on a seperate form submitted with your US tax return. Sorry to hijack this thread, but just a quick question on this post. I have a company pension here in the UK with me, and I have yet to decide if I should leave it in the UK until I retire, or transfer it into what ever US company pension fund I get set up when I start working (I'm only 24 so I haven't decided which is the best open given the many number of years until retirement). Am I right in thinking, after reading that post, that should I opt to keep the fund in the UK, I have to declare the cash in that fund on my US Tax Returns as foreign income?	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-09 05:05:00
United Kingdom	Double Taxation Treaty	QUOTE (pumbaA @ Sep 7 2007, 05:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have a similar kind of problem and I'm hoping someone can tell me what I need to do. The IRS and HMRC websites are very confusing on the issue. I moved to the US on a K1 Visa last year and am awaiting AOS. I'm going to be doing some work for a UK company for a few months. What steps do I need to take to avoid paying income tax in both the UK and the US? I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me. Thank you, -Pumbaa Can't give you any detailed guidance but you know that if you pay tax in the UK then you can deduct it when you do your U.S. taxes under 'double taxation relief'.. so you won't pay twice... However, getting paid 'tax free' in the UK is more complicated I guess ..... anyway you won't lose out... alan Edited by saywhat, 07 September 2007 - 11:46 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-07 11:46:00
United Kingdom	Double Taxation Treaty	Good luck with the sale of your house. Should you decide to rent it out, your agent is correct in that they or the tenant retain basic tax (on rental income levels over a certain amount) and pay you the net amount only. You then claim back any tax you are owed from Inland Revenue subject to your allowances and any expenses at year end. Alternatively you are able to apply to IR for permission to receive the gross rent from the agent/tenant, paying the tax in the following tax year. Obtaining the permission is subject to having your tax affairs up to date. The advantage is that you put the 'tax' in your savings account and gain the interest prior to paying IR. www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords When you firm up a date re. leaving the UK, send in form P85 to IR and claim any tax you are owed. With regard to un-earned income, I thought exactly the same there must be others in the same position declaring both sides of the pond. Happy Reading. daisy Thanks Daisy - I almost wish i was going back to wisconsin so i would have those dark cold winter days to research it all online - but we are off to florida this time -and it seems a shame to be on the net all the time.... anyway i still have 10 weeks or so to do here in england (fingers crossed) so i will have to get cracking ! yes thanks for the link - thats good	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-06 14:14:00
United Kingdom	Double Taxation Treaty	If you arrive November 2007 you will need to do a US tax return for 2007. When doing a return you just fill out the form, you do not have to submit any supporting documentation. You do need the supporting documents in case you are called for an audit and have to keep them for 6 years. I very much doubt you will have to pay any US income for 2007 as you will be eligible for almost the $80,000 of foreign income you can exempt from tax. It will be $80000 dived by 365 multiplied by however many days for that year you lived in the UK. In 2008 when you do your US tax you will show on that the tax you paid in the UK on earnings and claim that against US tax. The above is a very simplified explanation which I hope is right. thanks for that - i wondered whether i would get the whole of the $80k deduction but apportionment by days out of the US seems fair. I am trying to sell my house in the Uk but after 4 months I have had 1 eccentric viewer and everyone else is struggling - so I reckon renting out is the only way I can wriggle out of mowing lawns/heating in the winter and property taxes... This is unearned income of course so i guess it will be taxable - but only the bit that gets received after I land ? Hum I have a lot to learn.. The UK revenue have told me how to stop tax deuction on my UK bank interest and UK pension but that needs US endorsement and will take 6 months I reckon. Should keep me busy ! There must be other UK nationals in an identical situation to me so perhaps I am trying to invent the wheel all over again when somebody knows all of it already. Ye I think filing in 2007 as a resident would keep the naturalization issue (in 3 years) at bay as I am sure I read that filing as a non-resident in any year disqualifies that year for naturalization. alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-06 02:47:00
United Kingdom	Double Taxation Treaty	Hey chaps - nice thread...i expect to land in the US in November - i will have a private pension plus income from rent in the UK. How do you apportion the pension income etc - in the UK we get our year end p60 - but making up the return to december, do you just use payslips and 'actual' interest received... seems a big subject as the UK estate agents are required to deduct tax before forwarding it to the overseas house owner etc... Do I need a 2007 US tax return having been in the country 6 weeks ? If I claim to be not eligible, does it affect the nationality thing in 3 years ? so many questions ! alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-05 05:38:00
United Kingdom	Please advise on airlines from US to UK	QUOTE (Lansbury @ Sep 12 2007, 04:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I boarded a BA flight from Zimbabwe back to London in February a few years ago. It being summer there that time of year and hot even though it was 10 o'clock at night I was wearing shorts and a bush shirt. As I put my carry on in the over head a BA steward who had walked down the aisle said "Oh sir is going to get those lovely legs awfully cold when we get back to London". Only on BA do you get compliments like that Yes you know when you are getting old when even a compliment from a gay steward is welcome... These guys do a very good job from my observation... So as long as... stop it Alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-12 11:15:00
United Kingdom	Please advise on airlines from US to UK	It's a while since I was on a virgin (wink wink) I prefer airlines with the maximum number of gay men as stewards - I prefer people without PMS (PMT in English) serving me, as being irritable and distracted is a recognized symptom of this condition Never heard a customer complain about a gay man being brusque - have you ? heard plenty complain about female cabin dragons who should have transferred to the admin office 10 years prior when the glam of the job wore off... and, if you get sick, the gay stewards will offer to take you round the back while you are recovering.. and I can flirt with them without my wife getting jealous - more fun than watching a video Yes gimme a ginger beer any time.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-12 03:32:00
United Kingdom	Please advise on airlines from US to UK	QUOTE (Lansbury @ Sep 10 2007, 09:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Sep 10 2007, 04:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Fly BMI Chicago to Manchester and train to Leeds and stay in Yorkshire - London is horrible... My eldest son flies BMI MAN - ORD when he comes to visit. The only problem with Chicago is delays caused by weather. last time we went via there is was raining a bit and we had to wait so long in the take off queue they turned the engines off to save fuel. Yes Carolyn loves that flights as much as you can sitting 7 or 8 hours on a plane. She should have landed in Chicago about 1 hour ago so I am expecting a text from Milwaukee about 5 pm central.. I am just waiting for confirmation from VJ bods about whether CR1 visas via NVC to standard embassies only receive 1 letter from the Embassy (The one with the interview date ) rather than a checklist first. DOS Washington told me that's correct today and Margotdarko thinks it is so too- just need one or two more to confirm and that will be superb as it will save me about 4 weeks from pckt 3 to pckt 4 I reckon.... It will make our week if that is the system. ....hoping... alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-10 15:19:00
United Kingdom	Please advise on airlines from US to UK	QUOTE (Olya2007 @ Sep 2 2007, 03:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am trying to book flight from San Francisco to London. Will be meeting with my fiance there (he will fly from Ukraine). Prices pretty much the same, but I feel so uncomfortable to fly alone 10 + hours, so I need to know all info ahead :-)) Can you please suggest which airline is better : United or Britishairways in terms of convenience , safety, service? Thanks in advance! Safety ? we don't fly 'wings fall off' Tupolevs here you know ! Fly BMI Chicago to Manchester and train to Leeds and stay in Yorkshire - London is horrible... Yorkshire is like the garden of eden - full of naked people living on apples and reaching for fig leaves .... No really, my American wife thinks Americans miss out on so much by going to dirty over-priced cosmopolitan cities like London. Try York and the Yorkshire Dales....If it isnt in Yorkshire then it is hardly worth going to... http://www.rpfuller....5904AA_1280.JPG Edited by saywhat, 10 September 2007 - 06:59 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-10 06:59:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	right at the bottom of my timeline (link below) is the last letter i got from NVC how is yours different andreas ? alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-12 13:29:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	QUOTE (andy2006 @ Sep 11 2007, 08:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi, I'm in the same situation having gone throught NVC, just been told my documents are at the London Embassy and my I-129F is still being proccessed. So from that someone on the K3 visa forum has told me it's now a CR1 I'm going for. They also said it sould be just a packet 4 no packet 3. Also the last letter from the NVC gave the web link init which told me to get my documents ready that included the police certificate. Andreas (I hope I'm right) My worry is do I need my wife's and her mothers (needed as my wife's tax return for last year wwasn't enough) fincial details with me in London, they were all already sent to the NVC but do London want to see them too? Andreas - whats this letter you got from nvc ? I only got 'case complete' and 'gone to london' and 'dont call them'... can you give me the gist of what they sent ? alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-12 13:04:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	QUOTE (andy2006 @ Sep 11 2007, 09:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was doing k3 application, but because my I-130 has completed this is a reply I got from someone If your I130 is at the embassy (meaning you have completed the NVC processing and paid the IV fee bill, etc.), you are headed for a CR1. Even if the I129F is approved and forwarded to the embassy, you really can't do a K3 anymore. The embassy would cancel it since they already have your I130. >The CR-1 is a better visa anyway (your spouse will get a green card shortly after arriving, SSN, etc., no need to adjust status which means paying $1010 and waiting for USCIS to process another petition). Cheers the other response was For CR1, the packet three equivalent comes from NVC, so only the "packet 4" with interview appointment letter etc. will come from the Consulate. Of course, you've already submitted the I-864 but the Consular Officer may want to see one more up to date, depending on how long ago you sent yours to NVC. I'd have a fresh one with fresh pay stubs if I were you. If your 2006 tax return wasn't included already, bring that too. any help? Well thats interesting but you know packet 3 is the thing that tells you about the police cert and birth certs etc...At no stage has NVC told me to collect those - not even the latest letter about 'case complete - gone to London' - so I wish wish wish it were true but somehow it doesnt make sense that they would send a firm interview date at the SAME TIME as saying go get a police certificate and these other certificates. Why would they not just do that with K1 if they thought it was workable ? Hum - a big envelope came today and I nearly broke my neck going downstairs for it... we hardly get any mail here... it was an updated brochure for selling my house in Yorkshire - drat ! I still need someone who has done CR1 via a standard embassy to SAY one or two letters. Think I will go back through the threads and pm a few folk...they probably dont do VJ any more but a pm causes an email so that my work... I bet I get a 50-50 response as to 2 letters or one - then that puts me back nowhere ! I will report back alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-12 13:01:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	QUOTE (andy2006 @ Sep 11 2007, 08:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi, I'm in the same situation having gone throught NVC, just been told my documents are at the London Embassy and my I-129F is still being proccessed. So from that someone on the K3 visa forum has told me it's now a CR1 I'm going for. They also said it sould be just a packet 4 no packet 3. Also the last letter from the NVC gave the web link init which told me to get my documents ready that included the police certificate. Andreas (I hope I'm right) My worry is do I need my wife's and her mothers (needed as my wife's tax return for last year wwasn't enough) fincial details with me in London, they were all already sent to the NVC but do London want to see them too? Interesting - my last letter from NVC confirmed 'case complete' and that the case had been sent to London - but no mention of police certificate..and no web link for documents either - if we are both CR1 then the different system doesn't make sense... I am planning to take wife's original tax stuff in case... are you sure you are not doing k3 ? alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-11 14:30:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	QUOTE (elmcitymaven @ Sep 11 2007, 07:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Alan, just did a timeline search for you and I can't find anyone recent who has done the IR1/CR1 process that wasn't doing DCF...typical! I thought about it a bit, and wonder if, as Margot points out, sending the DS-230 is the signal you're ready? Perhaps a bigger shout out to IR1/CR1 folks in the Embassy/Consulate forum might help... Yesc I tried that - apolgised for it being aduplication - still no takers ! jeez its like trying to sell my house - no takers... hopefully somebody will stumble on the post - doesnt have to be london - any standard embassy will do... fingers crossed	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-11 14:04:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	QUOTE (elmcitymaven @ Sep 11 2007, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> At the risk of advising something I would never normally do, perhaps it's worth a call to the extortion line right now? Although the DoS knows what's going on in your case, sometimes even before the guys up in Scotland do, perhaps getting confirmation from the moneygrubbers could settle your nerves. It does seem a bit odd to me that they wouldn't ask for your "I'm ready!" checklist, but then again I'm a DCFer and unschooled in the mysteries of the NVC... But I am a Yorkshire man (A Scotsman with the generosity taken out) So I would have to swap one anxiety for wadanxiety.... jeez now I have to make the choice and that is choiceanxiety.... ok decision made...I will see if some VJ person who has done NVC and a STANDARD embassy like London can say for absolute sure.. If I can't find one I will have to pay megabucks to the Embassy while I listen to all those recorded messages before being told that the information is not on the file right now and to wait for 6 to 8 weeks for further advice.... There has to be lots of VJ folk on here who KNOW .... but they will have got their visas shortly after so might not visit often.... I would love to text Carolyn in Milwaukee and tell her its only 1 step and not 2.... Edited by saywhat, 11 September 2007 - 12:06 PM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-11 12:06:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	QUOTE (MargotDarko @ Sep 11 2007, 11:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Okay, with this new comment, I feel a lot more confident in saying you won't get a packet 3. You sound like you've already done DS-230 Part I. DS-230 Part 2 does indeed come at the same time as the interview date letter, and that's considered packet 4. So, from my understanding of your case, your case is complete at NVC and is being forwarded to London. You've already done the DS-230 Part I and paid the IV fee bill. If that's the case, it would strike me as very strange if you received a packet 3. The next thing you get should be the packet 4 with interview date from London. Do you have the checklist with the documents you'll need to take to the interview? EDIT - Nevermind! Just saw in the CR1/IR1 guide that when going through NVC, the checklist comes with packet 4. You are definitely now just waiting for the interview date letter, DS-230 Part 2, and checklist, and they should all come in one pack from London. Margo ! You make me feel so young - you make me feel that Spring is sprung ! Looking at the CR1/IR1 guide - you are right it does read like there is no checklist to return and that the 'first contact' by the embassy is the interview date. I started to doubt this morning as I thought - hang on what about Police Certificate - they haven't officially told me to get one and wouldn't that instruction be a bit late if it came in the interview letter ? ... (I have had mine since January and it is yellow with age but still valid) I suppose they could schedule an interview without confirmation from me that I had acquired the documents/scheduled the medical/got the Police certificate as long as the interview was 6 weeks out... In fact I have done all those things... Nope I have not sent in a checklist to NVC during that process.... I do hope you are right...I do...I do... ok I will keep beavering away at it but I am slowly getting convinced of ONE letter...almost....... alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-11 10:32:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	QUOTE (Lansbury @ Sep 10 2007, 09:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Have you filled out your application for a visa. That it basically what packet 3 the Embassy sends out is, the form for you to apply for the visa, plus the checklist of documents and instructions for arranging the medical. If you have already filled out the application and it went to the NVC don't see why London would send you another one. Yes thats what I was expecting - but the DOS Washington made it sound like they send out the medical instructions and the Ds-230 part 2 at the same time as the interview letter and not like the packet 3 system where you fill that in, send it back and then wait 4 weeks for an interview date to be allocated... I know the packet system works for K1 as I did it before and I reckon it works for DCF, but for CR1 via NVC, there is a strong hint that I simply get an interview appointment letter with the ds-230 part2 form and instructions for the medical.. I can't nail it yet and I need a couple of vjers who have done this via NVC and STANDARD embassies to confirm it.... It would be wonderful if it were so... alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-10 15:35:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	QUOTE (MargotDarko @ Sep 10 2007, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Sep 10 2007, 02:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> NOW I AM CONFUSED !!!!! Just called the DOS in Washington about my cr1 visa and london.. the guy said 'everything is good and they are just waiting for an interview date to become available' I said 'I thought I would be getting a document checklist first, and then I would send that back and then they would allocate an interview date and send another letter' He said 'nope its just a letter with an interview date and a list of documents etc' Now I reckon I have posted before on VJ about this with the CR1 visa done through the US service centers rather than DCF... and some people said 'one letter ' and some said 'a packet 3 type thing and then a packet 4 with the interview date' and so I still don't know what to expect.. are there any CR1/IR1 people out there who can confirm what happens for our particual kind of visa ? Anyway I asked if it was now loaded on the London system and he said yes it was... so thats good. thanks alan (still clutching at straws) It's my understanding that when done through the NVC, you would receive the interview letter with the list of documents to bring. I believe the other people who are saying that you'll get a packet 3 are those who have done Direct Filing in London. Margot - if you are right I will blow you a HUGE kiss ! -- just need another couple of jyers to endorse this.... alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-10 11:03:00
United Kingdom	Cr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?	NOW I AM CONFUSED !!!!! Just called the DOS in Washington about my cr1 visa and london.. the guy said 'everything is good and they are just waiting for an interview date to become available' I said 'I thought I would be getting a document checklist first, and then I would send that back and then they would allocate an interview date and send another letter' He said 'nope its just a letter with an interview date and a list of documents etc' Now I reckon I have posted before on VJ about this with the CR1 visa done through the US service centers rather than DCF... and some people said 'one letter ' and some said 'a packet 3 type thing and then a packet 4 with the interview date' and so I still don't know what to expect.. are there any CR1/IR1 people out there who can confirm what happens for our particual kind of visa ? Anyway I asked if it was now loaded on the London system and he said yes it was... so thats good. thanks alan (still clutching at straws)	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-10 08:08:00
United Kingdom	Waiting for Interview Date	QUOTE (Leney @ Sep 15 2007, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was not aware visa typed mattered for turn around of information whether it's nvc to the London embassy or London embassy to nvc. You have the ability to use the timeline database search tool to find other CR-1 visas and see how long they have taken. For example: http://www.visajourn...ist...7,28&cfl= Oh yes that's the point - some people on here (very experienced people) say there is NO packet 3 for CR1 people who come through the US service centers and we simply get an interview date as the one and only letter from London. As the time from packet 3 to packet 4 is around a month, it is very important to us CR1 people to have that confirmed. You will find that all the recent cases of CR1 are in fact DCF's which again are different... We need to find a CR1 person who has come through the service center to NVC route to a standard embassy such as London.. Anyone else's experience is a red herring .. complicated eh ? The timeline tool cannot exclude DCF's /k1/k3 leaving only Cr1 via standard service centers and is semi-useless alan Edited by saywhat, 15 September 2007 - 09:14 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-15 09:10:00
United Kingdom	Waiting for Interview Date	QUOTE (Leney @ Sep 15 2007, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for that but yours was a K3 visa ? and we are trying to figure what happens to a CR1 via NVC and a standard embassy such as London thanks again alan Edited by saywhat, 15 September 2007 - 07:26 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-15 07:25:00
United Kingdom	Waiting for Interview Date	QUOTE (lmegac @ Sep 14 2007, 08:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey Alan, keep your chin up. Might get a nice surprise in the mail tomorrow! Well that is what I keep telling Mum. We like you, seem to be planning our whole lives around this interview. I wonder if the elections have anything to do with this? I know that they are pushing Citizenship through like crazy right now, so people will vote for them! When I took citizenship it took 2 to 3 months from date of interview to ceremony. Now they are doing them on the same day!!! I just don't want Mum stuck in England for another Christmas on her own. Plus I was going to use my visit as a bit of a holiday... ha ha! Jokes on me! The weather is one of the main reasons I left the UK in the first place A week in sunny England in January Yes apparently we are lucky as the London Embassy is much faster than others.. my complaint would be the 'your email has been deleted - it has not been read' replies. After the NVC (who were very approachable), the Embassy is remote, brusque and unfriendly. DOS Washington are friendly and approachable but 'know nowt' really. Weather is so strange - when Carolyn came here in October it was so warm and even in January we were walking by the canal is shirt sleeves.. In April (which is usually the most horrible month) I had a deep brown sun tan and it was hot every day. This summer was a nightmare and I have never seen anything like it in my 60 years. Lancashire was chosen for the cotton industry because of its constant damp rainy climate in a normal year - so this year , well.... Carolyn wants us to live in Florida. I wanted to buy a whale watching boat in the Canary Islands and dress her in a grass skirt and have her selling gin and tonic on the poop deck. Either way I need to escape the climate and Lancashire ! We are giving notice on this rented house at the end of next week and moving back to my place in Yorkshire until depart time. I will never set foot in Lancashire again except to go to Manchester airport and I am not just talking weather - its the pits. Living here would have seriously depressed me without the immigration process. To think I will never see Blackpool tower or Darwen tower again - pure heaven ! I will post on the CR1 forum and the UK forum if/when I hear anything from London then we will all have a definitive answer as to whether its 2 letters (circa 10 weeks from packet 3 to interview) or simply 6 weeks to the interview.... I made £185 on my online financial spreadbetting system in 15 minutes yesterday but it's illegal in the US so I am making hay while the sun shines (metaphorically speaking)...There isnt much chance the US authorities would catch me if I logged on online, but I am not going to risk it - I will be a good boy... (although 51% of the world's participants are American ! ) alan Edited by saywhat, 15 September 2007 - 02:36 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-15 02:35:00
United Kingdom	Waiting for Interview Date	QUOTE (lmegac @ Sep 14 2007, 07:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Sep 14 2007, 01:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (lmegac @ Sep 13 2007, 08:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Does anyone know how long it usually takes to get an interview in London after the papers are sent from NVC? We applied for an I-130 type visa. Not sure if it has a name like K1 etc. My Mum's were sent on the 29th of August and she has "Ants in her pants!" I am also thinking that maybe she will have to spend Christmas on her own in the UK. Any idea of time line would be much appreciated. Lez Mine completed NVC august 17th and left NVC August 23rd and I have heard ...shhhhhhhhhush..the sound of silence Please tell your mum to get the ants out of her pants as she will receive an on-the-spot fine for importing livestock without a licence... and as for the medical !!!! alan He, he, he, I will tell her about the livestock situation! It gave me a good chuckle. I can't decide if you have or have not heard yet? I think you meant Not! NOT ! I have hypnotised myself not to be frustrated so I am in a state of grace and hovering 4 feet from the ground in the lotus position... Carolyn is not back from Milwaukee until Tuesday or she would clap her hands and I would be back to growling about London Embassy... I arranged a medical on 17 aug for later in september (naughty without forms) . I thought surely I will have forms by then - nope. I bet I don't get the forms in time then it will be tricky... I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but optimistic time lines are out as far as this process is concerned My hopes for flying 5th November are diminishing fast so superimpose your 'completed' dates on mine and you will see that early departs are not on the menu... They say that I-130's now at california are backed up in trucks in the yard (rush because of fee increases) and some folk reckon 14 months now for the whole deal - so we were the lucky ones (we think) Got a stack of letters today and carefully went through them - nothing nothing nothing... alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-14 13:55:00
United Kingdom	Waiting for Interview Date	QUOTE (lmegac @ Sep 13 2007, 08:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Does anyone know how long it usually takes to get an interview in London after the papers are sent from NVC? We applied for an I-130 type visa. Not sure if it has a name like K1 etc. My Mum's were sent on the 29th of August and she has "Ants in her pants!" I am also thinking that maybe she will have to spend Christmas on her own in the UK. Any idea of time line would be much appreciated. Lez Mine completed NVC august 17th and left NVC August 23rd and I have heard ...shhhhhhhhhush..the sound of silence Please tell your mum to get the ants out of her pants as she will receive an on-the-spot fine for importing livestock without a licence... and as for the medical !!!! alan Edited by saywhat, 14 September 2007 - 01:29 PM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-14 13:29:00
United Kingdom	Confusion about Packets	QUOTE (willchels @ Sep 21 2007, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Glad it all went well! Still nothing in the post for me....think they forgot about me? I want to call the "extortion line" but not been able to do so as father in law has block on the phone. Will try and get calling card tomorrow and call monday morning if nothing comes in by then. Just wish I knew what was happening. I reckon all is ok - your nvc date was about a week after mine so your appointment letter will come this week if they run to schedule.. the embassy gets your file electronically and a paper copy so it cant get lost now... its just that they seem to work on batches - save em up and then mail em all at once alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-22 04:21:00
United Kingdom	Confusion about Packets	QUOTE (andy2006 @ Sep 22 2007, 10:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes Alan glad it all went well, my wife pulled a bit of a face when I told her it was a women doctor! It should be this week for you if things are done logically at the embassy as your stuff came over about a week behind mine. Hope so!! Hi Andy yep I got my date - 19th october I think wives faces would have been even worse if the could have seen the doctor ! ok we are flat out planning the move now - eveyone reports ground rush where you realise you have so much to do alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-22 04:18:00
United Kingdom	Confusion about Packets	QUOTE (andy2006 @ Sep 20 2007, 01:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm crossing my fingers! Hope he has a letter for you!! I actually had a young female doctor which I was quite surprised about! No aches or pains yet hopefully I'll not get any side effects she says I could get a fever or some swelling on my throat in the next 2 to 3 weeks, oh guess what my visa application is in 2 weeks that'd be just great!!! Yeah I am happy one step closer will I can't believe it's less than 2 weeks now till my interview. Hoping you hear from them soon , It can't be long now Andreas andreas I have made a separate post about my experience at the medical yesterday - no mistaking that DOCTOR for an old guy eh ? I made the mistake of telling my wife - she was not not amused. Jeez I am a big mouth. alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-21 03:38:00
United Kingdom	Confusion about Packets	QUOTE (andy2006 @ Sep 19 2007, 07:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Had my medical today, all fine I think/hope! As long as I don't hear anything in the next 4 days all is good! 3 Needles yuk! oh well it's over now just one more bit left! Hope everything goes well tomorrow for you! Andreas good stuff Andreas ! yeah if you have the screaming hab-dabs they will let you know very soon.. Why is it always some old guy who flicks your crown jewels ? Who wants to pay 200 for that ? looking fwd to this time tomorrow when mine is over alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-19 13:21:00
United Kingdom	Confusion about Packets	ps that was a joke by the way- I know there are librarians and schoolmarms on here so I thought I had better spell that out before they get their peticoats all fluffed up- haha alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-19 12:42:00
United Kingdom	Confusion about Packets	medical tomorrow - up at 6am for a 50 mile car journey then train to Leeds then the London train - train fare plus 200 pound medical fee and pricey lunch ... I remember from K1 medical they flick your bits and bobs and try and figure if you are crazy (I fooled em hee hee ha ha) then once its done I can get my crack cocaine and whisky and head home... another bit done....	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-19 12:27:00
United Kingdom	Confusion about Packets	QUOTE (willchels @ Sep 18 2007, 01:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh boys I am so happy for you both! Wow andy Oct 3rd! That's soon! I'm only a week behind you....hopefully we'll get ours this week and maybe, just maybe an early date as well. I've written in to tell them of our travel plans in hope they will give us an interview date in time. Congratulations VJ pals! Really, I'm totally thrilled for you! Tiz a bummer that yours aint come - you should have been with me on the 19th...lets hope its just the mail thats late... If not then you are due any time now so few more days should do it... jeez a bit MORE patience...soon be done though... alan Edited by saywhat, 18 September 2007 - 09:44 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-18 09:44:00
United Kingdom	Confusion about Packets	haha ! guess who has an interview date ! my NVC date was before everyone else's but they gave me the last interview date ! MY INTERVIEW DATE IS OCTOBER 19 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's perfect because I dont want to go til 5th November so I would rather my VJ buddies got the october 3... If I go 3rd november I will get a conditional green card and then have to do removal in 2 years If i go 7th November I will not have been in country 5 years on my 65th birthday so I wont get Medicare so it has to be 5th november I really thought they would interview me 6th nov and just spoil my plans by one day THIS 19OCT is perfect !!!!! medical this thursday so i really needed forms too ! so thats great many thanks to all my VJ buddies and a few I have locked horns with too - you have all kept me going through this utter nightmare ok opinion please - I married (ok we married) 4th november 2005 on elm street haha ! Do you reckon if I go Sunday 4th November then I am due a 10 year card or has it to be after midnight -ie the 5th - come on you techies and train spotters and experts ! alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-09-18 05:01:00