ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Citizenship General DiscussionRFE
QUOTE (Ant+D+A @ Nov 5 2009, 03:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
snipped


I wish when you post this you would make it clear that while highly unlikely there could be an RFE. You do not know that what you say applies in all cases, and could be very damaging to someones application if they ignore a non received RFE thinking it was the biometrics letter.

Otherwise please explain why I had the exact same entry on my case status but got the biometrics letter first and a delayed RFE (dated before the biometric letter) after it only after I made a phone call and subsequent Infopass appointment to follow it up.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-11-06 10:32:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionKansas Office
Can't help with your question but wondered where about in Zim you come from. I spent a lot of time visiting Gweru spread over about 10 years.

Welcome to VJ

Edited by Lansbury, 03 March 2010 - 05:07 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-03 17:06:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAnt's things to do after US Citizenship list....
QUOTE (elishav @ Dec 5 2009, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Why does the DMV need to know your change in status?


It doesn't unless they are quirks in some States that require such.

Edited by Lansbury, 05 December 2009 - 04:22 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-05 16:21:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAnt's things to do after US Citizenship list....
QUOTE (milimelo @ Dec 5 2009, 12:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You do need a reason to book an appointment or walk-in but I'd think being a new citizen qualifies you.


You may make an appointment to be seen at a Passport Agency only if:

* You need a U.S. passport in less than 2 weeks for international travel
* You need a U.S. passport within 4 weeks to obtain a foreign visa.


Don't know if you are required to show proof of travel arrangements but it wouldn't surprise me if you do.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-05 16:06:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAnt's things to do after US Citizenship list....
QUOTE (Ant+D+A @ Dec 5 2009, 12:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
and decided not to apply for a US Passport after all.


So apart from Canada, Mexico and a couple of other obscure places how are you ever going to leave the US. Personally I rather have a US passport which is more use and proves my citizenship than the certificate.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-05 16:00:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionQuestion on the naturalisation test

You should expect the IO to ask you the question as it is written in the civics document.


You might expect it, but it isn't a given that it will be 100% as written in the guide. Not all of the questions I was asked were, but they were perfectly clear.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-17 17:53:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionQuestion on the naturalisation test

G'day all,

Just looking at the 100 questions they ask during the interview. I know some questions make a point and say name 'one' but others just dont point that out. Does this mean you have to answer all the answers?

Cheers
Carolyn :wacko:


If the question requires you to give more than one of the possible answers it says so. For example name 3 of the original 13 States.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-17 17:29:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionHawaii considering law to ignore Obama 'birthers'

Let's see if I can remember my old civics college course. <snipped>


I think you are saying that those laws you don't think are necessary can be ignored. I not sure if that is the case as your post was hard to discern what the actual point was. But if that is correct I hoped you hold the right of anyone who disagrees with laws that might effect you to ignore those. Like I said before if laws are bad do something about them.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-17 20:30:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionHawaii considering law to ignore Obama 'birthers'

Wasn't until 1924 that all Native Americans (Indians) were granted citizenship. Seems strange a 14 year old illegal immigrant can give birth here and that child automatic becomes a USC and fully eligible for Medicaid.

All American men at the age of 18 will be drafted into the armed services unless they were going to Harvard also seemed strange. Sure have enough tax laws. Forcing a US citizen to maintain citizenship in a foreign country so she can visit her mom is also kind of weird. Preventing pharmaceutical companies from studying drugs that were used successfully for thousands of years for medicinal reasons because congress termed them illegal also seems weird. Forefathers were concerned that King George would plant one of his spies in the White House so only wanted a natural born citizen to be permitted to run for president. But they didn't go far enough, Clinton was put in office with the aid of China.

Could write a book on our laws, but really don't have to, 234 years of congress has written volumes of laws. Lawmakers make laws.


Indeed there are many laws which seem strange and which are out of date or serve no apparent purpose. However I draw a distinction between saying they don't really matter and by inference can be ignored and taking steps to repeal or amend those laws.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-17 15:55:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionHawaii considering law to ignore Obama 'birthers'

My thoughts: Does it really matter where Obama was born?


What laws of the United States do you think really matter, only those you agree with or all of them?
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-17 10:01:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDeportable crimes

I thought the question on the form was for crimes you were either:
1. arrested for or
2. convicted of.

if you committed a crime and weren't arrested, then (unless I totally misunderstand the form) - you have nothing to report, yes?


Question 15 ask about crimes you have committed and not been arrested for
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-22 00:57:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDeportable crimes

Are you applying based on 5 years of being a green card holder or based on 3 years of being a green card holder and 3 years of marriage to a US citizen?


How does that in anyway effect how you should answer the questions concerning crimes you might have committed?
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-21 16:03:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionDeportable crimes
Might just be easier if you said what crimes you committed then the advice can be more specific.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-21 09:46:00
US Citizenship General Discussiontrue or false info abt green card holder

Where did you get that information? The last time we traveled, at POE (IAD, ORD) there is still section for USC/LPRs and a separate one for visitors. Went through USC/LPR one and the only difference is that they take your picture and fingerprint you - this was in effect since January 2009. ALL stations are equipped with digital fingerprinting device and a camera.


It came into force about 6 months ago (may be a little more). However it has been left to the POE to strictly enforce or not. It does seem to be quite hit and miss, in that some days a port will send LPRs to the visitors line and the next day to the citizens line. However it was a directive from the powers that be in Homeland Security that it shall be so.

I have read reports on another board of this occurring and as the people posting are quite frequent travelers I'll take their word it is happening.

Edited by Lansbury, 24 March 2010 - 04:59 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-24 16:58:00
US Citizenship General Discussiontrue or false info abt green card holder
Actually guys it is true and always has been. The only people who cannot be refused entry to the US are US citizens. A LPR has to be taken before an immigration judge and cannot just be refused at a POE but if the circumstances are correct they can and always have been subject to being refused entry by a court.

What has changed is at the POE the LPRs are now required to go through the visitor controls and not the citizen ones. It is meant to be that way at all POE but there is still some flexibility being practiced.

Edited by Lansbury, 24 March 2010 - 11:59 AM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-24 11:57:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSo how hard did you study?

In general, the 100 questions that they have are the questions that they will ask.


The questions will only come from those 100 exactly as worded. There are no other questions in the test.

Edited by Lansbury, 29 March 2010 - 02:25 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-29 14:25:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSo how hard did you study?
The questions are randomly generated by the the computer system they use. It prints a sheet of ten questions for the interviewer to ask.
If you use the site that is pinned here as you say, I did, and can consistently answer 80% you will be fine on the day. They are not out to trick you just take you time, but you will find you will have no problems most have got 6 right long before all the questions have been asked.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-29 14:22:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSignature on Naturalization certificate
Didn't they ask you to sign it in front of them and tell you how. At my ceremony we were told to sign it the same as on the photograph and they watched while we did it.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-22 10:19:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionN-400 July 2009 and August 2009 Filers.....
corrected formatting and quoting.



UserName.............Sent........NOA.....Biometrics..Int Letter..Interview....Oath......Office
Alyssa84............07/02/09...07/06/09...07/29/09....08/13/09...09/18/09...09/28/09...Saint Paul, MN
abyss ..............07/21/09...07/30/09...08/17/09....08/24/09...10/27/09...11/04/09...Seattle, WA
big al .............07/21/09...07/28/09...08/19/09....09/17/09...10/27/09...11/18/09...Sacramento CA
Leviathan23.........07/22/09...07/31/09...08/17/09....09/02/09...11/09/09...12/16/09...Milwaukee, WI
Mooonika............07/23/09...07/28/09...08/29/09....09/06/09.. 11/10/09...12/09/09...Honolulu, HI
Philipsen...........07/24/09...07/28/09...08/19/09....09/05/09...10/21/09...--/--/--...Phoenix, AZ
Ohiobuck............07/31/09...08/03/09...08/26/09....09/03/09...10/15/09...--/--/--...Columbus, Ohio
ilto................08/04/09...08/17/09...09/01/09....09/12/09...10/29/09...12/16/09...Salt Lake City, UT
walls1010...........08/05/09...08/17/09...09/01/09....09/12/09...10/19/09...11/18/09...San Bernardino, CA
Giss................08/08/09...08/17/09...09/08/09....09/18/09...11/12/09...12/03/09...Los Angeles,CA
hussamk.............08/12/09...08/18/09...09/09/09....10/08/09...11/20/09...--/--/--...Sacramento, CA
Leah................08/17/09...08/21/09...09/24/09....11/05/09...12/10/09...01/20/10...Detroit, MI
fine&jadwin.........08/17/09...08/25/09...09/11/09....10/09/09...11/17/09...11/18/09...Sacramento, CA
elishav.............08/20/09...08/28/09...09/22/09....10/05/09...11/23/09...12/16/09...Sacramento, CA
pmkroger............08/20/09...08/25/09...09/18/09....10/07/09...11/02/09...12/03/09...San Bernardino, CA
lansbury............08/21/09...08/28/09...09/22/09....10/13/09...12/01/09...12/02/09...Portland, OR
runaway73...........08/24/09...09/03/09...09/30/09....10/09/09...11/12/09...12/11/09...San Jose, CA
Uday................08/26/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...10/26/09...11/04/09...Saint Paul, MN



USCIS Lockbox Texas
UserName.............Sent........NOA.....Biometrics..Int Letter..Interview....Oath......Office
Fasi99..............07/06/09...07/10/09...08/04/09....08/17/09...09/30/09...--/--/--...Detroit, MI
ahastop.............07/06/09...07/09/09...08/01/09....10/28/09...11/30/09...--/--/--...Garden City, NY
java100us...........07/08/09...08/12/09...09/04/09....09/22/09...10/20/09...10/20/09...Baltimore, MD
Tsup2...............07/10/09...07/17/09...07/30/09....10/01/09...11/02/09...11/02/09...Denver, CO
Anya-D..............07/14/09...07/22/09...08/10/09....08/18/09...09/28/09...10/16/09...Raleigh, NC
MisterWorry.........07/15/09...07/22/09...08/11/09....08/20/09...09/28/09...10/29/09...Dallas, TX
Collie..............07/15/09...07/22/09...08/11/09....09/--/09...09/28/09...10/22/09...Dallas, TX
PrinceandPrincess...07/17/09...07/24/09...08/15/09....08/24/09...09/29/09...09/29/09...Dallas, TX
CanAmCharlotte......07/17/09...07/22/09...08/11/09....08/19/09...10/05/09...--/--/--...Charlotte, NC
Satyam..............07/17/09...07/23/09...08/12/09....09/04/09...10/13/09...10/15/09...New Orleans, LA
*Robert*............07/20/09...07/23/09...08/14/09....09/03/09...10/07/09...10/30/09...Orlando, FL
SSharma.............07/20/09...08/04/09...08/20/09....09/04/09...10/13/09...10/29/09...Dallas, TX
zombie2006..........07/21/09...07/30/09...08/13/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Charlotte, NC
amana1..............07/22/09...09/27/09...08/18/09....09/05/09...10/14/09...--/--/--...Dover, DE
vtguy...............07/22/09...07/31/09...08/18/09....08/31/09...10/06/09...10/26/09...St Albans, VT
display name........07/22/09...08/03/09...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Puerto Rico
Italian_in_NYC......07/27/09...08/01/09...08/20/09....09/22/09...11/10/09...11/13/09...New York, NY
Redneck-NOVA........07/28/09...07/29/09...08/21/09....09/14/09...10/15/09...12/10/09...Fairfax, VA
Koo.................07/28/09...08/01/09...08/18/09....10/01/09...11/12/09...--/--/--...Atlanta, GA
hrushka.............08/05/09...08/11/09...09/02/09....10/01/09...11/16/09...11/16/09...Atlanta, GA
Vj..................08/06/09...08/10/09...09/03/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Raleigh, NC
Bj..................08/06/09...08/11/09...09/09/09....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Raleigh, NC
Jesti...............08/10/09...08/13/09...09/04/09....09/21/09...11/06/09...12/17/09...San Antonio, TX
dasarp..............08/14/09...08/17/09...08/27/09....09/10/09...10/20/09...--/--/--...Dallas, Texas
Chris W.............08/17/09...--/--/--...--/--/--....--/--/--...--/--/--...--/--/--...Portland,OR
Rebelheart..........08/20/09...08/24/09...10/09/09....11/03/09...12/07/09...02/--/10...Atlanta, GA (waiting for requested Judicial Oath)
TheGMan.............08/20/09...08/25/09...09/17/09....10/03/09...11/10/09...01/11/10...Saint Albans, VT
Bilson4real.........08/21/09...08/26/09...10/01/09....11/05/09...12/07/09...12/18/09...Raleigh, NC
Raleigh2009.........08/26/09...09/03/09...09/22/09....11/06/09...12/07/09...12/18/09...Raleigh, NC
nayalamb............08/24/09...08/27/09...09/25/09....10/21/09...12/08/09...01/14/10...Philadelphia,PA
michaillah07........08/25/09...08/27/09...09/21/09....10/08/09...11/18/09...--/--/--...Jacksonville, FL
legolas.............08/28/09...09/03/09...09/24/09....10/08/09...11/17/09...12/11/09...Baltimore, MD
Mom2LilNoah.........08/28/09...09/02/09...10/06/09....11/02/09...12/08/09...--/--/--...Atlanta, GA (waiting for Judicial Oath Ceremony appointment)
4keerthi............02/18/09...02/23/09...10/21/09....11/02/09...12/01/09...12/01/09...Atlanta,GA

Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
1. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting.
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6. Red Font="I'm A United States Citizen!

Edited by Lansbury, 24 December 2009 - 04:15 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-24 16:14:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

I was simply curious and am now astonished that there is no checking up with GP, as humanity being what it is, their system is wide open for people being dishonest.


Remember the medical is part of the visa process. If at any point you have lied or not been 100% truthful and it later comes to light, they can, and have done, cancel your Permanent Residence status and deport you. Guess the figure the great majority are not going to risk it.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-07 13:46:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

My domicile folder was jammed with stuff.


That is what it should have been, domicile issues must be the single biggest reason for people having their application refused in London than any other at the moment. They have got quite picky over it in the last 6 months or so. Gone are the days when it was sufficient just to say I will be moving back home to the USA.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-06 13:04:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

I'm SO intrigued by the brown envelope though... it feels like it has some sort of booklet in it. Does anyone know what's inside?


It is your file from the Embassy, basically all the paperwork filed to get your visa. You are couriering it to the US where it becomes the start of your USCIS file.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-22 05:26:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Do I have to have the medical done 4-5 days before to have a guarantee results for my interview? Did anyone have their medical done for example 2 days before the interview?



Allow 2 - 3 working days for the medical results to get from the doctors office to the Embassy. If you have the medical the day before, they will tell you the visa will be issued pending medical results. A few days delay to save the cost of a second trip is the choice.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-19 12:28:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

I am heartened the Consular Offices in London do read this board, as it is a good source of customer feedback for them


My point, we are not their customers, the US government is. They are there to keep people out of the US, not help them to get in. Same with any visa and immigration service of any country. The fact we are inconvenienced is not a concern to them



I would happily pay whatever price they wanted for a faster level of service from the London Consulate, to prevent serious hardship for my dependents, but sadly, there is no option available for that.


Which is a pity as certainly for some business employment visas expedited processing is available at quite a considerable extra fee. Of course those buying a place near the front of the queue means others who applied before get pushed to the back, but the US way is money talks so why not provide it for people prepared to pay for a quicker immigrant visa.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-13 18:02:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
You seem to be under the impression that you are entitled to a visa or that the process is for your benefit. Neither is the case. While London may not be the best Embassy to use it has long been recognized for being one of the best and certainly for DCF one of the quickest. Wonder how many visas of all kinds the Hungarian Embassy processes compared to the London one. Certainly you can have any level of service you want as long as you are prepared to pay for it. The administration of visas has to be fully paid for by the fees collected, and yes the Consular Officers in London do read this board.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-13 16:18:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

oh: He said that nobody asked him to pay for his visa, although he did pay for the courier. Has anyone run into this before? I told him to call the US embassy hotline...they did keep his passport though!


That will be a problem if they realise a copy of the receipt for the payment isn't in the paperwork. Not sure if they have a final double check before printing the visa or not.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-10 11:05:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

but equally is it bad to tell porky pies?


depends how guilty you feel afterward :innocent:
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-09 17:50:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Thanks Julez, that's cleared up what was fast becoming an "urban myth"!


Somewhere on the London website is a note which says basically if you send in the paperwork off your own back before they have told you to, they will just bin it.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-09 17:26:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Ok thanks :)

I did email to try to have my son added. They have Easter break then, and the person that was going to watch him for me is away on holiday. They sort of nicely said no as it's recommended not to bring children so my husband may be going on his own. I understand the policy but feel bad - I know my husband really wanted me to be there....


Tell him not to worry. Other than moral support and someone to talk to there is no disadvantage to you not being there.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-08 11:43:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

It changed sometime back around 2006, that I know. Knightsbridge were awarded the contract for the exams, and their offices were in London. I know that posts from 2005 show that there was an office in Birmingham as well, and there may have been other sites as well but this pre-dates me. (Trompe le Monde, Lansbury -- do you know?) It is a sorry state of affairs, especially now that they require the medical to be done prior to the interview.


When I first started to follow these things on a Usenet group, you had the medical and interview the same day, both scheduled by the Embassy. The Doctor they used then was a short walk from the Embassy. I believe he retired and then they used a service which had offices in London, Scotland and Birmingham. That arrangement didn't last long I recall quite a few complaints about the length of time it took to get appointments outside of the London office. The current Doctors have been used since at least 2006.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-08 06:36:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Slightly OT since this is the interview thread, but didn't want to make a new thread...
Got my lpr card today. Took only 5 weeks, is that fast or normal? I thought it might take months. Would rather have had my SSN first but not complaining too much!


Yes that is normal for the LPR card. It is not normal for the SSN that is about 2 weeks. If you don't have the SSN you need to go to your local SS office and follow it up, my guess it hasn't been ordered even if you ticked to box on the visa form for it to be issued when you arrived. That happens a fair bit.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-02-23 03:53:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
Great to get 2010 off to a good start. Congratualtions
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-04 14:19:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
I'll add one more to getting the ducks in a row list for those doing DCF through London.

Domicile

Used to be that all the USC living in the UK had to do was say they were intending to return to the USA. Recently some have had problems and been required to show tangible proof of at the least their intention to return and at worst proof of domicile in the US.
LansburyMaleEngland2009-12-15 14:05:00
United KingdomAttending visa interview before embassy receives medical exam results?
The rule that the medical has to be done before the interview only came in a few months ago, so be very careful how old posting on the subject are when assessing that information.

It seems that as long as you have had the medical even if the results haven't reached the Embassy (that takes 2-3 working days) the interview can take place. I cannot recall seeing any postings from people who have recently booked the medical that it is after the interview date, so assume unless some who has done so says it is acceptable it isn't. Solution is once you have the interview date arrange for the medical the day before. The doctors office is very accommodating if it is explained to them.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-07 18:49:00
United KingdomDonating blood

2. Venturing a guess of what percentage of British people have lived in the UK area from 1980-1996, it's gotta be way over the majority--what's your point?


My point is, it is not all British citizens so if people want to donate they should check if they are eligible, and not just assume they cannot.
LansburyMaleEngland2011-03-15 13:33:00
United KingdomDonating blood

By the way, rules can be changed. Apparently so many military members and their dependents were excluded from being allowed to donate blood that the Red Cross scaled the requirements back saying you had to live in certain European countries (i.e. Germany) for 5 years instead of the original 6 months rule.



The Red Cross didn't scale the rule back, the rules are Federally mandated. It was whoever is in charge of blood in the government that did it.

It is not all people from the UK it is only if you resided there between certain dates. UK blood banks will not use blood sourced direct from the US, since 5000 hemophiliac patients were given HIV contaminated blood from the US some years ago now. You may think the rules are pointless, until a relative gets one of the dodgy pints from somewhere, and pays the price. Until they develop at test which is better than the current 71% detection for cjd in blood, is it worth the risk?
LansburyMaleEngland2011-03-09 17:49:00
United KingdomDonating blood
Instead of worrying over rules that cannot be changed have him do something useful and donate some time to the Red Cross to help out at blood drives, or volunteer to courier blood to hospitals when it is an emergency and has to be taken there right away.
LansburyMaleEngland2011-03-08 19:26:00
United KingdomNo return flight
He cannot use the VWP without a return ticket, here are the requirements:-


if entering the United States by air or sea is:

holding a return or onward ticket. If traveling on an electronic ticket, a copy of the itinerary must be carried for presentation to U.S. immigration at the port of entry.


In fact I would very surprised if the airline even let him board the flight in the UK, as they will see he doesn't comply with the VWP regulations.

Edited by Lansbury, 14 April 2011 - 06:04 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2011-04-14 18:02:00
United KingdomThe 2009 United Kingdom Interview Thread!
I've posted this in a separate thread, but if you haven't had your medical yet please read this page

http://www.usembassy...ervices/?p=1076
LansburyMaleEngland2009-11-04 16:57:00
United KingdomThe 2009 United Kingdom Interview Thread!
QUOTE (Amanda and Tony @ Oct 21 2009, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi, I have a question about the interview. I was watching the youtube video of the embassy and it says that you cannot take in mobile phones. It tells you not to bring them but doesn't show what happens if you do. I've been to the embassy before a few years ago and can't remember what I did with mine when I went in. So can you or can't you take your phone in with you???


No phone allowed, full stop. Either don't take it or leave it at the chemist round the corner who has a nice sideline in left property.

LansburyMaleEngland2009-10-21 12:56:00