ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Very excited, got our interview date today - 8th June :) So I came into work and gave notice, since I need to give 4 weeks minimum and if worse came to worst, I know I can extend my leave date. Fingers crossed everything continued to go smoothly, and we'll be able to get married on July 4th, in truly corny fashion :D Heck, it's the easist way to make sure he remembers our anniversary! lol



I was just checking the resignation procedure today too... :) I can do the same as you.

...and i have a new interview date - June 17 @ 09:00
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-19 09:02:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
I can finally get my name on the list now... Have an interview date of July 15 (but i will be asking the embassy to give me an earlier one. I don't fancy arriving the day before the rehersal dinner).
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-18 04:18:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

My fiance's at the Dublin airport, taking off in less than an hour. Even though he's flying Continental, his gate didn't allow for immigration in Dublin. Instead, he'll be POE'ing in Newark. Strange. I'm glad I didn't fill out the POE line on all my AOS forms yet.

Oh, I'm not nervous or excited at all.

:wacko:



Yeah, it all depends on where he is going to from Dublin. Flights to Orlando don't go through US Customs & Immigration but ones To Boston (Logan) do.
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-14 10:29:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
Congrats Zoe...





How long did it take you folks to hear back from the Embassy after returning the P3 forms? It's a month tomorrow since mine were sent and have heard nothing. And DOS doesn't know anything either. :( Not another call to the 'extortion line' i hope.
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-12 10:50:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

The beneficiary can self sponser but i am not sure of the amount required to do so.. its alot as far as i am aware.



Poverty Guidelines times 4 rings a bell (but don't quote me on it).

2009/2010 Poverty guidelines

Edited by arwilson80, 10 May 2010 - 10:42 AM.

arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-10 10:41:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

03-15-2010 - Packet 3 received
03-15-2010 - Packet 3 sent (without checklist)
03-24-2010 - Medical
04-06-2010 - Checklist sent
04-22-2010 - Packet 4 received



Did you contact them about sending the packet without the checklist or did they return it to you?

I'm getting more and more convinced that i didn't sign anything at all and haven't heard anything back (yet). They were recieved at the US Embassy 3 weeks ago tomorrow...

Edited by arwilson80, 06 May 2010 - 11:21 AM.

arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-06 11:20:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Hey guys!! We got our interview date as well, WAAAAAY quicker than we anticipated (thank goodness)!!! And it is also June 8th, but at 9 AM.

My fiance only put "pending visa issuance" for the travel and wedding dates. He sent back his forms on April 12th, and our interview date was assigned today, 16 days later! Crazy quick as far as I can tell!

I've been sharing the news all day with anyone who will listen!! Woooooooo!!!



My P3 was sent on April 14 so my interview date shouldn't be too long after yours... right? :whistle: ;)
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-30 04:05:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

As for places to stay, my fiance is strongly considering Lincoln house - http://www.lincoln-house-hotel.co.uk/ or maybe Boston Court Hotel.
It's $59 pounds for the night before his interview at Lincoln House, and it's walking distance from the embassy, apparently. I'm not very familiar with London, but it seems close, based on Nich's map - http://www.click2map.../Embassy_London



That's about 5 minutess walk away. Maybe 10 minutes at the very most (as i'm a fast walker)...
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-30 04:02:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Do they only log the application at the same time they assign the interview date? and would it show as logged if there is a problem and they send an RFE?


I would think they log it as soon as they open it to keep track of what has been done / not done processing wise.

Then again it's like everything else so far - enters in and nothing (either good or bad) until it pops out the other end.
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-27 08:25:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Let me know what you find out.......I'm putting off the extortion line as long as possible!


They will probably tell you to e-mail and give you the code... They did when i called them! £28 for about 15 mins (mobile phone) to get an 8 character code... Makes Gas (Petrol ;) ) sound cheap.

Edited by arwilson80, 27 April 2010 - 08:22 AM.

arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-27 08:21:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
Normally they reply in a few days (3-4 is the usual).
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-27 05:58:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Well there is no news from me yet, but i think maybe it is becasue i didnt put a date a intended travel.. missed a trick there.. hindsight is a wonderful thing.


Yeah... possibly.

But i don't remember signing any forms so that may be worse. :bonk:
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-26 08:09:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

The only thing I can think of is the expected dates of travel and wedding etc. I'd seen previous posts were it said write dates down so I did. It would be intersting to see if others wrote dates, and compare that way seeing that most of us are K1.



I did...
Date of travel - July 5
Date of wedding - July 24

Edited by arwilson80, 26 April 2010 - 04:28 AM.

arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-26 04:27:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

I'm not sure that they reply to emails if they don't have the current code.



They get deleted right away. I tried it and this is what happened with mine. :( The code they give is a weekly code and unless it has a valid code it gets deleted (thats what the guy told me on the 'extortion line' anyway).
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-23 08:06:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

As i understand it, you sign everything except the one that says, don't complete this, it will be done with a consular officer.


:crying: - I don't think i signed anything. :(
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-19 03:31:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Good news all, we are finally eligible for an interview!!! ABOUT DANG TIME!!! 3mnths!!!



3 months.... :o

I hope they get mine through a little quicker than that. 3 months from today is 8 days before the date we have picked for the wedding. :help:
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-16 09:08:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

Do you work for a well-known company? When David was on FlyBe he was allowed to use his HSBC work ID...



Well known in the UK, 'No'.
In the US, 'Yeah'. :) I'm in good hands there. ;)

I did see that Easyjet allow me to use a driving license yesterday afternoon. Twice the price of Lyin' Air though. Oh well... another cost [well worth paying to get the visa]. :hehe:

Edited by arwilson80, 15 April 2010 - 03:46 AM.

arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-15 03:42:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
P3 being sent off this afternoon, so that means i can be added to the list too. :)

Lets hope they are fairly quick with the interview. 30 days time would be just fine. ;)

...and it shall be interesting trying to fly back to N. Ireland with no passport (I know Lyin'Air ;) definitely won't let me do it). :wacko:
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-14 09:13:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

I believe you do need a copy of the i-129f, whichever way, i'm getting a copy sent over for me.



I think i will do too. Better to be looking at it than looking for it on the day. :hehe:
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-12 06:33:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

That was so very very helpful, thank you very much for that.

So far, i will be taking with me; (is there a list somewhere of the things to take with you to the embassy?)


I-134 for fiancee and co sponsor.
tax transcripts for both.
birth cert for co sponsor
Letter from employer for co sponsor and school transcript for fiancee.
letter of intent (updated) from fiancee.



Also bring:

- birth certificate of UK citizen
- copy of the NOA2
- passport of UK citizen
- police certificate
- two color photographs of UK citizen
- £86 in cash
- a credit card to pay for the £14.20 courier fee
- a book to read (long wait)


What about all the stuff that has already been sent to USCIS & London - do we need a copy of all that too? I'm sure i read somewhere that you did...


I think i'll need 'check-in' baggage. :D :help:
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-12 03:56:00
United Kingdom2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread
I've been looking to see where are good places to stay around the Embassy... Radisson Edwardian Sussex looks quite good, not too expensive and nicely placed between the embassy & the docs... Anyone stayed there?
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-04-01 11:17:00
United KingdomYes!! It's another shipping thread

That's terrible. Did they at least give you a tracking number? I didn't get one at all. I hated not knowing where all my stuff was. I don't think it took weeks to clear my boxes - the longest part seemed to be them actually shipping the boxes. Don't know if it has anything to do with where you are.



No. No tracking number here either. I did 'follow' it on their website with the little details they give there. The estimated arrival date changed at least twice. I agree on the part about shipping the boxes... it took about 3-4 weeks before they appeared to have left the UK. Their people stateside seem nice though. I had a call (Fri 9th) from them when they couldn't e-mail me (they missed out a 0 in my e-mail address) and said they'd ship it out in a few days, and i got the e-mail yesterday to say it be arriving tomorrow.
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-12 07:48:00
United KingdomYes!! It's another shipping thread
After going with Seven Seas i'd say that i'll not use them again. They stated a 14 day delivery time. I've already been in the USA for 4 weeks and the items haven't even arrived stateside. It'll be a further 2 weeks once until i get them once they do.
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-04 15:21:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWhat does the petitioner need to do / get from ‘packet 3’?
I THINK you just have to call them and see... Taken from here:

Two weeks after you receive the NOA2 you can contact the NVC to see if they have received your approved I-129F. You can contact them at 603 334-0700. Their homepage is here. Welcome to the US Department of State! Things move much faster now :).


arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-05 04:38:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWhat does the petitioner need to do / get from ‘packet 3’?
What is the difference between the 'I-864' (mentioned on the UK Embassy page - in the 3rd point from the bottom) & the 'I-134' (that you folks have mentioned)?

I don't want the 'good lady' to have to fill out forms needlessly. :)
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-04 04:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWhat does the petitioner need to do / get from ‘packet 3’?
Well... i'm kinda glad i don't have to fill out the I-864. It looks tedious even though the first 14 pages are purely instructions. :)
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-03 07:34:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWhat does the petitioner need to do / get from ‘packet 3’?
I haven’t got NOA2 yet… [no further comment] but I’m trying to get all the stuff brought together so that it can go out immediately after it’s received.

The 2 things that I know of for definite are: a more recent affidavit of support & the petitioners financial information .

Is there anything else?

Also, what information is required for the financial information piece? Just a letter from the bank / place of work… and what else?

I have requested my Police certificate, long birth certificate is to be collected tomorrow & need some more passport photos. All the other stuff like phone bills, boarding passes, photos, etc are sorted so I think I’m good this end. And as I filled out all the initial forms I just have to reprint them. :)


Preperation is everything [i think]. :D
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-03 06:53:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionFrom N.Ireland (UK) and have a Dublin Embassy case number from NVC...
Required documentation was e-mailed to them yesterday... I hope i got the info to them before it left (or they didn't send it out knowing it was in error).
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-13 17:34:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionFrom N.Ireland (UK) and have a Dublin Embassy case number from NVC...

It probably will still be there. They aren't as fast as they used to be.

And better to get it resolved now than add another month to your process.

Glad you got it sorted.



It only arrived with them yesterday so... fingers crossed.
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-12 11:20:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionFrom N.Ireland (UK) and have a Dublin Embassy case number from NVC...
I contacted them again this morning (they weren't too happy about it, but anyway...).

Dublin is INCORRECT as i/we thought.
NVC still have the case
E-mail is drafted, just need to attach a scan of the biographic page of my passport and send it off when i get in from work.

Lets hope the petition is still in NVC when the e-mail arrives. :dead:
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-12 10:32:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionFrom N.Ireland (UK) and have a Dublin Embassy case number from NVC...

Well, that's the North for sure. I was pretty sure you knew where you lived :lol: but I couldn't resist asking because this is indeed the first time I've ever heard of this. The usual ritual is for residents of the North to be begging NVC for the case to be sent to Dublin (or Belfast) to ease travel, and firmly being denied.

USCIS has country codes by which they classify aliens. And a lot of people in the US don't know their geography. When your data was first entered into their system, you may have been improperly classified. The codes consist of two capital alphabet letters and relate to the official name of the country. "UK" in the USCIS system is not the United Kingdom - it is the Ukraine. I do not exactly recall the alpha codes for "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" (which is your proper designation) or the code for the Republic. But at any rate, if some dolt who doesn't recognize that the plot of mud on the map known as Ireland consists of two countries, you may have coded wrong.

I only relate this story for two reasons. The first reason is because it's been known to happen before and cause green cards to be produced with the wrong nation listed. Secondly (and more importantly for you) the case could be shipped to the wrong consulate which causes delays.

If this is a new policy of NVC, it'd be lovely for all. But if I were you, I'd be checking further before it got shipped off to Dublin. Unless this is an official policy change, Dublin will end up packing the case off to London, which will slow your process down.


That is exactly what i am afraid of... wedding is July 24 so i can't afford to have a delay.

I'd guess UK might be GB???

Edited by arwilson80, 12 March 2010 - 08:55 AM.

arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-12 08:53:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionFrom N.Ireland (UK) and have a Dublin Embassy case number from NVC...

What exactly is your address? (city and county)


Almost at the top of the country in County Antrim... :)
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-12 04:34:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionFrom N.Ireland (UK) and have a Dublin Embassy case number from NVC...
Just called them back and spoke with someone else...

Dublin is indeed correct (by her as well). Apparently they assigned me to Dublin as it would be easier for me to get to. :D
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-11 12:20:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionFrom N.Ireland (UK) and have a Dublin Embassy case number from NVC...

That's really confusing. N. Ireland has always been routed through London for K1s. I'd be inclined to ask the NVC about that one.


I did but the guy didn't seem to know what i was talking about... He said "But we have Ireland for your address" to which i told him that it should be "N.Ireland and that we were part of the UK". At which point there was just silence... :whistle:

I think that i may just have to call them back (or e-mail - maybe better) and state that i believe that it is wrong. :( Mind you a 2 hour drive to Dublin would be better than flights, accommodation, etc in London.
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-11 11:45:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionFrom N.Ireland (UK) and have a Dublin Embassy case number from NVC...
I guess this is more geared to the N.Ireland folks...

It appears that i am going to Dublin for my interview (NVC case # is DBL******) even though i'm technically from the UK and 'should' be going to London. :blink:

While this is better for me (in that i can drive there rather than flights, etc) i'm just wondering if it's likely to cause any problems? :wacko:
arwilson80MaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-11 10:50:00
United KingdomLondon Medical - 3rd May 2006
Hello, VJ!

I had my K1 medical yesterday (03 May) at the Knightsbridge Doctors
office in Bulstrode Place. It was an interesting experience!

I travelled all the way from Belfast, and my route was as follows:

- Easyjet to Stansted
- Stansted Express to Liverpool Street station
- Tube from Liverpool St. to Bond Street
- Bulstrode Place is a five minute walk away

On arriving at the Alliance Imaging Centre, I pushed the button at the
left of the doors and got buzzed in. Told the receptionist I had an
appointment with Knightsbridge Doctors, and she directed me to the
lift at the rear of the lobby, telling me to go up to the second floor.

When I got up there, the receptionist was going into the lift just as I
was stepping out. She told me to take a seat, that she'd be back in
a minute or two. There was another young man waiting about who
seemed to have just done his x-ray.

When the receptionist returned, she took my passport, picture, medical
questionnaire from packet 3, vaccination history, and had a look at my
embassy appointment letter to verify the case number. Then, she handed
me a clipboard with another medical questionnaire to fill out, and an HIV
test waiver thing to sign. After that, it was only a couple of minutes before
I was called for the chest x-ray.

The technician was a rather amiable Antipodean chap with blond curly
hair, and he walked me through the process with a good dose of friendly
banter. The x-ray is simple, and no removal of clothing was necessary.

Back out to reception, and the immunisation nurse was there to tell me I
was all up to date (I'd gotten the MMR and TD jabs free from my GP last
week), so I could go on down and see the doctor for the exam. The
receptionist gave me a blue folder with all the documents in it, and told
me to go down to the first floor and take a seat.

In the waiting area downstairs, I started to take a look through the folder,
but it wasn't long before the doc came out and called me in. I got Dr.
Sayed, a petite, young woman, of Middle Eastern/Asian descent, and
she seemed quite friendly. I took a seat along side her desk, and we went
over my answers to the medical questionnaire I'd filled out at reception,
then she had me countersign my passport photo, and sign the questionnaire.

I was then told to go behind the screen and remove all clothing except
for socks and underwear, and my glasses. First, she measured weight
and height, had me read the eye chart, then I sat on the bed for a throat
and gland exam. I lay down, and was told to raise each leg in turn,
followed by Dr. Sayed examining my abdomen and taking a quick peek
under my boxers (!).

Now the fun part... She got out the stethoscope and listened to my heart.
Let's just say I was a little nervous (at what, I don't know), so my heart
was pounding in my chest a bit. Dr. Sayed's first question was if I had
a heart murmur. I said no, and she listened a bit more. All of a sudden,
she told me I really needed to calm down, that I was tachycardic and
she could hear my heart beating in my stomach and legs. Out came the
blood pressure equipment, and I was 160 systolic! When I went to see
the nurse at my GP's office for the vaccinations, she took my pressure
and it was a perfect 120/80 (and I usually have a resting heart rate of
60-70bpm), so I guess that just goes to show how nervous I really was!

The doc seemed to be genuinely concerned for me, and was asking if
my pulse is always so high. Of course, I told her no. I made some joke
about being worried about coughing up the 160 quid at the end, but she
seemed to think I was serious. Anyway, she continued with the exam by
listening to my lungs, and taking a blood sample. By that time, I'd relaxed
a little and asked her to try listening to my chest again. She said it was
much better and could actually hear what was going on now. I got her
to try taking my pressure again, but it hadn't gone down any.

I was definitely nervous, and she noted my palms were all clammy. She
said she'd put down on the forms that I was anxious so the embassy
wouldn't kick up a fuss and I'd still get the visa, and she took my GP's
details incase she (or the embassy?) wanted to review my medical history.

Anyway, that was that for the medical. I brought the folder back upstairs,
and paid the receptionist. I mentioned to her the fiasco about being anxious
and it affecting my blood pressure, and she said they get that a lot there,
so not to worry - the embassy is more interested in whether or not you're
carrying STDs or something worse.

Off back to the tube I went (after little more than half an hour from start
to finish), feeling like a fool for getting anxious over nothing. But that's
one big step closer to marrying my fiancee and spending my life with
her - the humiliation is more than worth it! :)

Good luck to all! (And don't worry! :thumbs: )
elwintroMaleUnited Kingdom2006-05-04 09:31:00
United KingdomMedical, then interview...

I had thought that the medical and interview basically took place at the same time - that is, you had the medical then went for the interview, but I find now that they're completely seperate, and it takes a couple of days for the medical results to go out for the interview

Does this mean I have to travel down to London for the medical, then travel back down again a few days later for the interview? I'm based in the north of Scotland, so it's a bit of a journey.. but if that's the way it's done, I guess, then that's the way it's done..

Sorry for all the dumb questions today btw, it's just that I just got my interview date today, and it's raised all these issues that I wasn't aware of. I'm just glad this forum exists, as it's the one place I've had any straight answers about anything this whole time!


I'm based in N.Ireland, and, yes, you have to make two trips because the
medical and interview don't happen on the same day anymore. That used
to be the setup a year or two ago, then the embassy changed their panel
physician to the Nuffield hospitals in Edinburgh, Birmingham, and London.
This changed again at the end of last year so that only the Knightsbridge
Doctors in London are the embassy-approved panel physicians.

You don't need to have your medical done before the interview, but your
visa will not be granted and sent out until the embassy can review the
medical results.

The instructions for all of this were provided with the Packet 3 forms you
received from the embassy. If you've just received your interview date,
I'm assuming it's still a month or so away, so you can still schedule the
medical and have it done long before the interview.

Good luck.
elwintroMaleUnited Kingdom2006-05-17 11:08:00
United KingdomLondon Interviews 2006 (NEW)
Hello,

Just an update for the list. I received packet 4 on April 22nd, had my
medical on May 3rd, and the interview is on May 15th.

Cheers.
elwintroMaleUnited Kingdom2006-05-10 16:17:00
United KingdomLondon Interviews 2006 (NEW)
Hello,

If someone could add me to the list...

I received Packet 3 today, April 20th. Packet 3 was also returned today.

My medical is scheduled for May 3rd.

Cheers.
elwintroMaleUnited Kingdom2006-04-20 12:35:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionForm DS-230 (in pkt 3) - London

Im not 100% sure of they want the I134, affadavit of support returned with the packet 3 - I'll have to see if I can find a post on the darn thing (the reason Im not sure is cos the end of the IV15 it says 'enclosures and names the I134 yet it isnt mentioned in 'step one', which forms to return)


Thanks, Jaylen. My packet 3 arrived yesterday. I sent back the following
yesterday afternoon:

1) DS-230 Part I, signed
2) DS-156, barcoded, unsigned, in duplicate
3) DS-156K, unsigned (says it has to be signed infront of consular officer)
4) DS-157
5) IV-15, first 4 pages only, boxes ticked, signed, dated

Don't send them the I-134. Bring it to the interview along with the supporting
evidence. Just tick off the box on the checklist next to "Evidence of Support"
which lets them know you have that evidence ready (or will have by the time
of the interview).

I'm just hoping I don't have to wait months for my interview. Seems like this
process is taking the maximum possible amount of time. But I guess it could
always be worse - we could get sucked into that mouth of hell known as
"Administrative Review"! :o

Good luck!

Edited by elwintro, 21 April 2006 - 10:30 AM.

elwintroMaleUnited Kingdom2006-04-21 10:29:00