ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United KingdomRant thread
QUOTE (K & K @ Nov 19 2009, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Allie and Nigel @ Nov 18 2009, 01:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ok I'm starting this thread cause I know there's a bunch of us who need to vent about the waiting process, whatever stage they're in, cause I think sometimes its hard to communicate to others who are not in your situation, or they're past whatever stage your in and really cant relate...so here we go........
1. My rant is waiting for my visa from London, when we were approved pending our subject access, now its sent and I hope like crazy we dont have to wait like we're waiting for a dang NOA2!!!!!! I think we should be priority or the same as the folks who got approved the day of the interview and have their visas in a week or so like the rest of those lucky interviewee's.
Thats my rant of the day.


I understand yes.gif If they can review documents in 30 mins on the day of the interview and approve it. Why does it takes 2 months to review the same documents they would have seen on the day of the interview?? blink.gif


perhaps if a person goes to the interview before they have all the documents thereby causing the CO extra work to check everything when it is subsequently submitted the question should be asked why does that person expect special treatment and the CO to stop work on cases where the people did have all their ducks in a row at the right time.

Just a thought innocent.gif

LansburyMaleEngland2009-11-20 14:18:00
United KingdomRant thread
You really need to accept the situation is what it is. Been there, understand how you feel. But you will be dealing with various bits of the US immigration machine on and off for several years to come. The wheels grind at their own pace if you accept that and don't stress out about how long things are going to take once you submit some form or other life is much easier.

Other people who applied for citizenship the same time or after I did have had their interviews and in a lot of cases their oath ceremony as well. The office I use seems to be slower and I am still waiting. No point in worrying about it these things take the time they take.

You'll get your visa and soon be here, then you will realize the Embassy in London moves at a higher speed than USCIS offices in the US. wink.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2009-11-18 13:49:00
United KingdomReceived case?

Thanks for the information. It's funny you wait and wait for the NOA2 then suddenly I thought maybe now that we've received it I should be doing something else!


Yes you go from waiting for the NOA2 to waiting for packet 3. Unfortunately in all the dealings you will have with US immigration over the next few years or so 90% of the time is just waiting.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-05 17:13:00
United KingdomMissing home

Wow, where do you find Heinz beans in the US!



Try the grocery section of amazon.com you can buy them by the case there. Also a lot of other UK goodies.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-11 14:19:00
United KingdomMissing home

I know he misses driving but he won't here because its just too different.


That rather stuck out as being so out of place to what most Brits find here. The driving test is easy and I have found driving here a lot less hassle and stressful than in the UK. I would guess a big city in the US would be much the same as city driving in the UK just that the through city expressways are so much better here.

Yep there are some food that I miss and from what others say a lot miss the same sort of foods, but short of paying a lot to buy it online not much you can do.

Sorry to be blunt but he really should have thought about these things before he got here and realized some adjustments would be needed. Of course I can only form an opinion from your post but it does sound as if he hasn't been willing to try and adapt. It would be a shame if he misses out on some of the good things about life in the US for want of a bit of flexibility. He does need to drive that is almost a must here.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-07 17:38:00
United KingdomDS230 - questions about US visits & police certificates
Put the dates to the best of your recollection and say so on the form.

You have to obtain police certificates regardless of any conviction, or the lack of.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-01-31 07:22:00
United Kingdom2nd Set Of Eyes
I'll second what Maven said. What's on you list plus the extra 2 years tax returns for 07 - 09, have never heard of London ever asking anyone for a receipt for a ring.

Good luck it will be an anti climax, the most famous words uttered by London visa applicants are "Is that it" as you will not believe the interview is finished as it is quick and easy and you are not sure when you are told to go pay the courier if you misheard. :D

Edited by Lansbury, 19 February 2010 - 05:54 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-02-19 17:53:00
United Kingdomus embassy location

I didn't want to drive in to London as I have done this before and had a nightmare!


You're just going to love driving over here then :innocent:
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-07 11:05:00
United Kingdomus embassy location
It is at the end of Grosvenor Square nearest to Park Lane. You cant miss it it is large build with a very big eagle on the roof.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-07 11:00:00
United KingdomInterview Expereince
Also check out the reviews for the London Embassy http://www.visajourn...p...=&dfilter=5 :rolleyes:
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-09 10:21:00
United Kingdomk1 visa issue date

Ok what is AOS? His interview and medical back in July. I don't know date approved for medical but we where notified that the application approved and sent to IV unit for processing which would take 10-15 days. That was 2 Nov 09. I think the September date was when his medical part was completed. I guess we could've handled this somewhat but now we also have the other issue of getting his package resealed. That may not be possible in the time we have left since they gave us such an impossible window.



The visa expires 6 months from date of medical in the circumstances you describe that is correct. He will have to arrange to take or send the envelope back to the Embassy to be resealed.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-08 03:56:00
United Kingdomhad medical today at bentick mansions

I need to take another ds156 with me to the interview? It doesn't say that anywhere on the forms does it?
As for the results, they said they would contact me if there is any problems, otherwise just go to the interview as arranged.


When reading people comments about the Embassy procedures you need to look and see if the poster is from the UK. If not double check whatever they say as what happens in one Embassy doesn't necessarily happen elsewhere. London has its own way of doing things and while with the best of intentions people post about London who have no knowledge of what goes on there at all.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-13 09:42:00
United Kingdomhad medical today at bentick mansions

i
£190 is a lot for what they actually do!



You are going to be in for a shock when you see the charges this side of the pond.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-12 12:26:00
United KingdomFiling taxes
The US tax year is from January 1st to December 31st. Next year, by April 15, 2011 you will fill in a tax return for 2010. Likewise you will not have to declare your UK bank accounts until next year for the 2010 assuming the average balance is over the declarable amount.

The report on your bank account is not part of your tax return info on it here. http://www.irs.gov/b...=148849,00.html

Edited by Lansbury, 13 March 2010 - 05:42 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-13 17:38:00
United Kingdomds160 form....?

Ahhh thankyou Lansbury, where can I get other peoples experiences of the interview... I am soo nervous and everything has been leading up to it and want it to go smoothly.
Is it right that I can't even take a mobile phone in to the embassy? I thought everything just had to go through security..if I can't take it in, i don;t want to take it otherwise what will I do with it, hide it in a bush down the street until afterwards?


No you can't take phones etc into the Embassy. Goulds chemist just around the corner has developed a nice side line in storage of such items while the owner is in the Embassy. I think the charge is £5.

Don't worry about the interview it is a major anti-climax and most people are somewhat gobsmacked at how easy it is. Just make sure you have all the paperwork and support evidence you have been asked to take and you will be OK. If something does get overlooked it can always be couriered to the Embassy afterward with very little delay.

Read the Embassy reviews to put your mind at rest http://www.visajourn...&cty=&dfilter=5

Edited by Lansbury, 14 March 2010 - 06:00 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-14 17:57:00
United Kingdomds160 form....?
K1 visa is listed under the immigrant visa section on the London Embassy web site.

The visas you need to file a DS-160 for are listed here http://london.usemba.../niv/index.html

Edited by Lansbury, 14 March 2010 - 04:22 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-14 16:20:00
United Kingdomevidence of support..?

They still issue the EAD stamp but apparently it's worthless now.


Why is it worthless?
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-15 15:45:00
United Kingdomevidence of support..?

That sucks I was hoping I could file for the EAD as soon as I arrive with the k1 visa! So, once I'm there with the visa, what else can I file for before we get married..? Nothing? I read that it is possible to apply for EAD but it could take 3 months and it would expire then anyway?


This is a long shot and I am dredging it up from the back of my mind.

If you use JFK as your POE they were the only port in the country that would give you a 90 day EAD when you arrived. Not sure if they still do, haven't seen anyone comment on it for ages, but in the past people deliberately used JFK for that reason. Some research might be worthwhile.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-15 14:47:00
United Kingdomevidence of support..?

I have the wage slips and bank statement from my sponsor plus social security and inheritance letters to show the amounts she gets paid but I don't have the tax returns! On the Embassy website it says I must have 2 or more from the list...I'm worried now that they will ask for tax returns too as many people seem to have had to produce them.
I have her bank statements showing her wages and social security payments, will they be enough? Her income from her inheritance alone is more than enough for the requirements so should this be ok?


Pretty sure they will want at least the latest years tax return. As 2009s doesn't have to be filed until April 15th they will probably ask for the 2008 one at least. If you don't have them all you can do is go the interview and see what happens. If they ask for them you will have to get them and send them in. Never can tell for sure, what you have may satisfy them and you will not need any tax returns.

Edited by Lansbury, 15 March 2010 - 08:47 AM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-15 08:46:00
United Kingdomevidence of support..?
They will examine the information given by your sponsors to make sure it fills the requirements, which are those that you have no doubt already read and are aware of. If those are met then they do not look any deeper. If it is border line on the sponsor(s) meeting the requirements they would want to make sure it is all in order. As you say your sponsor(s) well exceed the requirements I doubt it will be questioned.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-14 13:48:00
United Kingdomevidence of support..?

Does your own money count towards this? I do have a sponsor and filled out the addivant of support forms but my dad is going to give me 10k in cash to take with me...will this count too?


If you have it in the bank and can show that it can't do any harm, but in reality that amount is a long way sort of what you would need in assets so doubt it will make any difference unless your sponsors income is close to the requirement.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-14 08:41:00
United KingdomAt the interview to apply for his Visa

Do you mean notarized?




Yes same thing
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-28 13:01:00
United KingdomAt the interview to apply for his Visa
If you are using entry stamps in your passport as proof of meeting send certified copies of all the relevant pages including the personal details page.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-03-28 09:07:00
United Kingdomwaiting time for appts?

Sorry..My bad.
I should have made myself more clear. I am going to be staying with my Brother down South. He lives about an hour from London.
I read the guides and know there has to be a few days between medical and interview. Thats what i plan to do.
So it will be two separate trips into London.

My question is, how complicated will it be to Negotiate appts with both places to be able to get both out of the way in one trip down south? I dont mind having to stay with my brother for 10 days to two weeks..Thats fine =)

Plus is there a long waiting list for appts once you tell the Embassy and medical people your ready?

and lastly the date my fiances letter said was May 20th. Do i have to do all of this before then?

Hope that clears any confusion


Wait until you get the interview appointment from the Embassy, they choose the date and time, then call the doctors office and schedule your medical to suit. You will be very unlucky if the doctors office doesn't have time available in your time frame.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-12 12:12:00
United KingdomUK Wiki

Wow Lansbury, that's quite a write up! Great work :)


Thanks it wasn't just the vicodin making it look good to me then :unsure:
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-13 14:37:00
United KingdomUK Wiki
I've edited the POE page.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-13 13:37:00
United KingdomUK Wiki
I'll think I'll try and put together something about the US medical system. At the moment I just about have no use of my right arm, been that way since last November, so I have quite a cynical view of the for profit treatment here. I find it very hard to relate to dealing with doctors and other medical professionals here as to the UK. Also I think something is needed which emphasizes the need for medical insurance and why just a small thing, which is how mine started out, can end up costing $000s even with insurance. If you think it is a good idea I'll start putting something together.

Please excuse my contributions taking time because of my shoulder/neck/spine/nerve whatever the current specialist thinks it is this week problem I have to type and use my mouse left handed, which is quite slow.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-13 12:04:00
United KingdomUK Wiki

Great ideas. :)

Maybe also: contacting the embassy, what to do when you leave the UK (P85, stopping bills, etc)


Yes they are good too.

Maybe you can delegate bits out to others to write and then send you the bits to assemble into the WIKI. I'm happy to do the POE bits and anything else you want, that way it saves you from having to give up a lot of your time. Unless you want to of course.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-12 13:44:00
United KingdomUK Wiki

Any more ideas?


Arrival in the US with your visa. POE what to expect, how long, connecting flights etc.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-12 12:34:00
United KingdomUK Wiki
OK I'm in for whatever I can do. Been so long since I went through the process I'm not sure use I'll be.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-11 08:28:00
United KingdomVolcanoes and Transatlantic cruises

By the way, is the "OS" on your profile for Oregon State? I'm a native Corvallis-ite... go Beavs!


It is indeed go to all the home football games and some wrestling as well.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-17 17:42:00
United KingdomVolcanoes and Transatlantic cruises
As far as I know there is only Southampton - New York on Cunard and the April 22nd sailing is now apparently fully booked. Next sailing I think is May.

Maybe be passenger berths of freighters but not sure how you search those out.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-17 14:58:00
United KingdomFlight cancellations and mispronunciation
Someone once asked me at Heathrow if I could tell them how to get to low-bon-go-lew-la. How they got that out of Loughborough I don't know but they did.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-15 11:57:00
United KingdomFlight cancellations and mispronunciation
What's the world coming don't they know its proper name is Gatport Airwick

Edited by Lansbury, 15 April 2010 - 09:10 AM.

LansburyMaleEngland2010-04-15 09:10:00
United KingdomUSD-GBP exchange rate
QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Nov 17 2008, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lansbury @ Nov 17 2008, 07:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Nov 17 2008, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't mean to be impolite, but ..... sterling is still worth MORE than the dollar. You can still bring your money over here and it's worth more than over there.


I don't think it is, on spending power it is worth less.

The parity spending power is around $1.60, ie £1 in the UK buys what $1.60 would in the US. If you get an exchange rate less than that you are in effect losing money.


Parity spending power? Where does that figure come from? Wouldn't that be something 'relative' such as what Robin talks about in her post just above hers? And would it also not be a figure that would adjust itself based upon world conditions?


May I suggest that you look at A Beginner's Guide to Purchasing Power Parity Theory http://economics.abo...hasingpower.htm

The figure generally accepted as the parity rate between the pound and the dollar is $1.56 to $1.60 to £1
LansburyMaleEngland2008-11-17 19:39:00
United KingdomUSD-GBP exchange rate
QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Nov 17 2008, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't mean to be impolite, but ..... sterling is still worth MORE than the dollar. You can still bring your money over here and it's worth more than over there.


I don't think it is, on spending power it is worth less.

The parity spending power is around $1.60, ie £1 in the UK buys what $1.60 would in the US. If you get an exchange rate less than that you are in effect losing money.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-11-17 19:16:00
United KingdomUSD-GBP exchange rate
QUOTE (Damian P @ Nov 16 2008, 10:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lansbury @ Nov 16 2008, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rkl57 @ Nov 15 2008, 07:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
$1.40 is about where it was 10 years ago - i think it may have even dipped to $1.30 at one point.


$1.05 is the lowest it has been.


Please Lansbury, don't even go there. sad.gif


No way I have a monthly pension from my old job in the UK. blink.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2008-11-16 20:48:00
United KingdomUSD-GBP exchange rate
QUOTE (rkl57 @ Nov 15 2008, 07:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
$1.40 is about where it was 10 years ago - i think it may have even dipped to $1.30 at one point.


$1.05 is the lowest it has been.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-11-16 13:47:00
United KingdomUSD-GBP exchange rate
This is a quote from a piece in The Telegraph:-


The pound is likely to fall further against both the euro and the dollar, analysts warned. Charlie Diebel, rates strategist at Nomura, expects the pound to reach 90p against the euro within a one to three-month horizon.

"With euro-sterling we're in uncharted territory to some extent and I think we could probably go a little bit further, although I think it's unlikely we'd go to parity."

He expects the pound to fall to $1.40 over the same period before swinging into reverse and settling at around the $1.55 level as a long-term average.
LansburyMaleEngland2008-11-14 23:17:00
United KingdomINTERVIEW AT EMBASSY IN LONDON

Also, am I allowed to bring my wife along to the interview, if so, what do I need to do?



The Embassy should have been told that you wished to do that when you returned the check list and visa application. She can either go with you on the day and she if they will let her in, or you can contact the help line get the e-mail code for the subject line and e-mail the Embassy to ask for her to be admitted on the day. Either way she will need to take her US passport with her.
LansburyMaleEngland2010-07-28 10:52:00