ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United KingdomMarried!!!
Congratulations hope you have a long and happy life together
LansburyMaleEngland2007-10-22 11:33:00
United KingdomQuestion about the documentation to bring to US embassy in London
No you do not need the USC passport.

I assume he is in the US and not attending with you. If he is going with you he will need his passport as proof of identity to get into the Embassy.

Go luck for the interview it will be quite easy.

Edited by Lansbury, 26 October 2007 - 05:24 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2007-10-26 17:23:00
United Kingdomsaywhat
Alan,

If you are still able to read these forums, have a good and safe trip tomorrow and a smooth entry into the US
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-04 14:01:00
United KingdomCurrency Transfer
MoneyCorp I have my pension transfer each month with them. Offices in London and Florida.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-05 14:31:00
United KingdomHealth insurance
QUOTE (Kat And Russ @ Nov 5 2007, 07:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
some man on a phone line...he was a broker.... not much help am i hehehe


who is your insurance with? is it individual?


Try this web site for a quote https://www.ehealthinsurance.com. It gets quotes from multiple companies
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-06 12:54:00
United KingdomHealth insurance
QUOTE (Kat And Russ @ Nov 5 2007, 07:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
some man on a phone line...he was a broker.... not much help am i hehehe


who is your insurance with? is it individual?


I'm with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and it is an individual policy. Arranged it while still in the UK and it started the day I arrived.

Not sure what you would call expensive but I would have thought an individual policy would be more expensive than one subsidised by an employer. My policy with covers full medical and dental is $368 a month with a $6000 deductible.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-06 11:01:00
United KingdomHealth insurance
I have had individual health insurance from the day I arrived in the US. Where did the information you can't get insurance because of the length of time you have lived here come from.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-05 21:21:00
United KingdomWe're Approved!!!
many congratulations
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-08 13:40:00
United Kingdomhealth insurance
QUOTE (paulinespens @ Nov 9 2007, 04:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Im just gonna have to make sure I get a few inhalers from the NHS before I leave for US.


My wife got 4 months supply of drugs before we left the doctor was quite happy when we explained the situation, as at that time we thought she would have no diabetic cover for 6 months.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-09 19:19:00
United Kingdomhealth insurance
I will not say there is not such a thing but when we got ours, my wife has a pre existing condition we didn't find a company that would cover that situation for the first six months.

She is diabetic and we couldn't get her insured and she had to go in the Oregon Insurance Medical Pool which is a State run scheme for people who cannot buy insurance in the normal way. The irony of that is the one illness that is covered in that scheme from day one is diabetes.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-09 18:48:00
United KingdomFinally Have NOA2!!!!
Congratulations the wait for that approval was to me the worst part of the process.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-09 14:27:00
United KingdomApproved but put on AP
Sorry to hear of your problem. Hopefully the Embassy have given you accurate information of the time involved as there does seem to be a black hole involving some FBI name checks which from the way you worded your post gives the impression this is what is being done.

Wish you a speedy resolution to the delay.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-09 13:37:00
United KingdomCheap Flight to US
QUOTE (YuAndDan @ Nov 7 2007, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Airline cannot deny you travel based on K-1 visa, and RT ticket, pick what is cheaper, RT or OW.

http://travelocity.com/ will allow One-Way and compares many airlines, I then check the various airlines and see if they have better prices.


Airlines can deny you travel for any reason they choose. Just because you have paid for a ticket doesn't mean they have to let you on the aircraft.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-07 18:23:00
United KingdomPolice certificate receipt
For practical purposes it makes no difference. Your application would have gone in the Met internal dispatch service to Lambeth the night you submitted it. The dispatch gets sort at Lambeth and it would have been delivered to the date protection office the next day.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-14 17:44:00
United KingdomLondon interview - be VERY afraid!!!!!
QUOTE (saywhat @ Oct 22 2007, 12:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Many thanks Lansbury - you were there for me through this horror show and I appreciate it. I think it's because I am a professional administrator by trade that I found this so hard - normally the harder you work at something, it eventually gives and so it's just a question of applying time and effort and money and knowledge.

With this lot you hit barriers that NOTHING can shift and the frustration builds up to a point where you are tearing your hair out for what to do to make things happen - the answer is 'nothing' most times.


Glad to have helped in anyway I could.

In the years I spent in Special Branch I found my postings to Heathrow Airport working alongside the immigration service very enlightening. Having met immigration officers from other parts of the world as well they all have one thing in common. It is their aim in life to prevent people getting into a country they seem quite happy if they manage to achieve that. innocent.gif

Edited by Lansbury, 22 October 2007 - 06:01 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2007-10-22 17:58:00
United KingdomLondon interview - be VERY afraid!!!!!
Alan glad they showed you that they can be nice and helpful and sent you an IR-1 visa. Hope your last few days in the UK are stress free for you and Carolyn and that you have a safe and uneventful trip back to the US.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-10-22 11:27:00
United KingdomLondon interview - be VERY afraid!!!!!
Glad you got the visa Alan, can only suggest you get here before the 8th Nov, wonder what they in store for you at the POE rolleyes.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2007-10-20 10:01:00
United KingdomMy dilemma advice needed
Until you know when you will have treatment you shouldn't book any flights unless you are willing and can afford to lose the money if you cannot travel.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-16 13:45:00
United KingdomApplying for Police Cert.
QUOTE (thejoz @ Dec 4 2007, 09:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Then I did a Google search on it, and the Metropolitan Police's website says they don't issue such certificates blink.gif


That is information is a bit like Microsoft Support answering a question, technically correct but no use at all.

Technically the Met or any other police service doesn't issue the certificate it comes from the National Identification Service, which is at New Scotland Yard which is why people think the Met Police issue them.

You apply to the police service in whose area you reside, either by calling in personally at a police station or sending the forms by post, and up to 40 days later you certificate arrives at your home address by post.

Ask for a Subject Access form of just say you want to obtain any details held on the Police National Computer about yourself.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-04 20:21:00
United KingdomThings to do before leaving UK
You can buy Christmas pud in the USA. After the advice given on here we got two yesterday.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-02 14:40:00
United KingdomIs there a way to speed it up....
QUOTE (julezabelle @ Dec 7 2007, 11:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for the advice Lansbury! My fiance did ask his GP for a letter describing his excellent diabetic control. We just weren't sure how much detail was required, and the woman wha answered the phone at Bentick wasn't very helpful. What sort of evidence do you think would be helpful, aside from the GP's letter?


Judging from what have said here when people have been asked for more medical details it doesn't seem they want a lot of information. More an assurance that the condition is under control and is and has been properly treated.

Perhaps ask the GP to include how long your fiance has had diabetes, what medication is prescribed and that the diabetes is fully under control and that the GP doesn't foresee any unusual side effects or complications arising.

Basically you want to show your fiance isn't going to have huge medical problems once he arrives which you might be unable to pay for. You are just covering the bases in case they ask, and in fact they might just ask you finance about it on the day and accept his answers without anything else.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-07 19:28:00
United KingdomIs there a way to speed it up....
QUOTE (julezabelle @ Dec 6 2007, 05:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lansbury @ Dec 6 2007, 06:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Not sure I'd arrange the medical before you have packet 3. There is plenty of time between receiving it and the interview to arrange the medical, and too much time for the Embassy to misplace the medical results. It doesn't save anytime at all arranging it before.


No biggie. We just decided to wait. My fiance is just a bit nervous as he's a Type 1 diabetic and worries that they may want/need additional info and wants to allow time for that, if necessary. Now its his turn to worry as I did that during the waiting for NOA2 leg!


It might be useful if he can take with him evidence of that his diabetes is under control and he doesn't suffer any complications because of it. A letter from his GP might be a good idea.

I get the impression from my medical and others posts here that partly they are concerned that people with long term medical conditions are not likely to get significantly worse and/or not be able to obtain the proper treatment for their condition in the US.

Not sure what State you will be living in the US but we found my wife was unable to obtain medical insurance in Oregon because she is diabetic. Fortunately Oregon has a State Medical Pool for such cases and she insured through that. Also a lot of insurers do not cover existing medical conditions for the first six months unless they have been previously insured. In some, but not all States, proof of British NHS cover is excepted as proof of existing insurance cover. He also might like to ask his GP if they would give him a prescription to cover him for the first few months he is in the US, my wife's GP gave her 4 months of drugs to bring with us.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-07 14:18:00
United KingdomIs there a way to speed it up....
Not sure I'd arrange the medical before you have packet 3. There is plenty of time between receiving it and the interview to arrange the medical, and too much time for the Embassy to misplace the medical results. It doesn't save anytime at all arranging it before.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-06 18:32:00
United KingdomMedical questions at the interview?
QUOTE (mustang-sally @ Dec 8 2007, 01:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lansbury @ Dec 8 2007, 09:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you have passed the medical then you are good to go. The people at the Embassy are not qualified to ask any more questions, and all they look for is that the Embassy doctor has passed you. If there was to be further follow up that would come from the Embassy doctors themselves, and they wouldn't have passed you if that was to be the case.

Glad everything turned out OK for you.



Yes I'm sure your right, if there were any problems I'm sure the Embassy doctor would of contacted me for further information. She was very kind when I went, overlooked the fact I had been diagnosed with depression a couple of times in the past and agreed to waiver the MMR jab due to the cancer treatment. I do have to have the jab when I apply for AOS though.
It's just me panicking I suppose, it's been a hell of a year and I just want everything to be ok now.


I can image how you feel, it is bad enough when you have not got any problems. I was imagining all sorts of things they might find wrong with me before I had the medical. As the doctor has passed you nothing to worry about from that perspective at the interview. Just about all the interviews are very straight forward and quite casual, people often remark it was a bit of an anticlimax.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-08 17:58:00
United KingdomMedical questions at the interview?
If you have passed the medical then you are good to go. The people at the Embassy are not qualified to ask any more questions, and all they look for is that the Embassy doctor has passed you. If there was to be further follow up that would come from the Embassy doctors themselves, and they wouldn't have passed you if that was to be the case.

Glad everything turned out OK for you.

Edited by Lansbury, 08 December 2007 - 04:07 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-08 16:06:00
United KingdomPete's Interview Experience in London
Welcome to the US Pete isn't the interview an anticlimax. Weeks of worrying and over in minutes
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-09 21:44:00
United KingdomWait Time For Visa
If you have an interview Friday provided the visa is approved the courier should deliver it by the following Wednesday. However it isn't certain and some people have waited a couple of weeks for the visa to be delivered.

If you want to book a flight before you have the visa in hand, book a ticket that allows the travel date to be changed not one that doesn't allow a change or refund unless you feel lucky.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-10 22:31:00
United Kingdombooking medical
I had my medical before the interview date was know. They had no problem with it as long as I had my case number.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-09 13:38:00
United Kingdomemailing the embassy
QUOTE (toshtishtash @ Dec 12 2007, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Then in all fairness, they should make that clear on the website! A switchboard usually means that they transfer you to the right place doesn't it?


That would be the paragraph on the contact information page that starts "Operator Assisted Visa Information: 09042-450100 " I guess whistling.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-12 18:03:00
United Kingdomemailing the embassy
QUOTE (ddkm @ Dec 12 2007, 10:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yeah the lady on the london switchboard is probably the worse person i have ever spoken to! And there she is supposedly providing us with a "service"! Must be 24/7 grumpy!


She isn't there to provide you with a service she is there to run the EMBASSY switchboard. There is an entirely separate way to contact the Consulate section and she does indeed get feed up with the number of calls she gets which should have gone elsewhere.

In fact I've knew her for some time, first met her at one the Embassy Christmas parties, she really is quite nice. You should try phoning out of hours when the US Marine Guard answers the phone if you want polite. innocent.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-12 14:21:00
United Kingdomemailing the embassy
You could do it the old fashion way and write them a letter giving details of the change of address and send it by post recorded delivery. Sometimes the old ways are still the best.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-12 13:17:00
United KingdomShe's here.....
That will make for a good holidays congrats
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-14 17:34:00
United KingdomChristmas in the UK or US
British Christmas telly in the USA - I packed DVDs of the Great Escape and the Italian job when I moved over tongue.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-12 19:11:00
United KingdomGoing back for Christmas
The return tickets and the fact that you have a UK address and job. When asked the purpose of the visit just say vacation, which it is, and let them ask more if they want to. They will probably see I-130 application in their system and that in itself tells them you are doing things correctly.

Mostly they might ask you a few questions about your circumstances in the UK. Take something official (bank statement) that has you address and your employment contract I doubt they will ask for either but have them just in case.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-17 17:41:00
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Interview Thread 2007
Congrats to both, good to see those approvals still coming in especially this time of year.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-19 14:34:00
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Interview Thread 2007
Likewise congratulations Steve & Andrea
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-14 12:07:00
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Interview Thread 2007
Congratulations, if you follow all the advice on here the interview is normally the easiest part of the whole process.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-13 13:32:00
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Interview Thread 2007
QUOTE (RosemarieL @ Dec 9 2007, 06:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Shahid & Maryam(Khanshahid) on .....2007-11-09 APPROVED pending AP
Nora & Ryan on ...............................2007-11-26 APPROVED
Daniel & Julia (dtjfsnell) on................2007-11-30 APPROVED
Carl & Robin(Kass) on.......................2007-12-05 APPROVED
Steve & Andrea on............................2007-12-13
Caroline & Craig on .........................2007-12-17
L & D (waitingsucks) on.....................2007-12-19
Malia & Tom (Tom_g) on ...................2008-01-02
Stephen & Amber on.........................2008-01-08
Randy & Maggie(Mustang-sally) on.....2008-01-14
Jeff & Bev (Wellywench) on ..............2008-01-17 (Waiting for an alternative interview date)
Barrel_roll on...................................2008-01-25


Just noticed the last line of your sig.

Welcome to America good.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-09 13:36:00
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Interview Thread 2007
QUOTE (mustang-sally @ Dec 7 2007, 08:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
At last after waiting so long, I received my packet 4 today kicking.gif
Interview is on January 14th at 9.30am.
I'm sooooo happy biggrin.gif
Maggie and Randy


That's a nice early pressie for the holidays
LansburyMaleEngland2007-12-07 14:23:00
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Interview Thread 2007
QUOTE (walkies_a @ Nov 13 2007, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well it was addressed to the immigrant visa unit,


Yes but the postie can't get into the visa unit to get it signed for. So in goes into the Embassy PO Box and when that is collected they signed for all the recorded stuff etc. With all the mail they must get each day not surprising a bit goes the scenic route now and again.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-11-13 16:16:00