biggish data

Missing home

Wow, where do you find Heinz beans in the US! I miss them when I go over there! I have a UK driving licence but will I need to take a US test in order to get a licence? Driving is different in the US but I think it is quite easy to get used to, the roads are soooo wide lol.
I have thought a lot about the things I will miss, my family mostly but being with my American Beauty is what its all about! If the food and driving makes you miserable then I can't help feeling there something wrong, who cares about anything else when you are finally able to stay with the love of your life!

david b

Male

England

2010-01-09 16:54:00

us form photos in the uK

Does anyone know where I can get passport pictures in the US size ( 2' by 2' I think...?)
I might try and print my own as someone on the embassy forum suggested.

david b

Male

England

2010-01-15 16:48:00

DS-157 form help

I didn't receive the packet from the US embassy and waited too long. I called them and they told me to download the forms and send them in. I went to the link but I can't get the DS157 form to load, it says moved or not available, can anyone help?
Also, on one of the forms it says do I need a replacement SSN? I don't have one obviously but it seems I need to say YES to one of them in order to get one..? Do I just put NO to all that part?
Also, at first I thought my own money did not count when I move there.... my fiancee does not have anything but we have a sponsor, I told her I won't take any money from her and we did it just for show it you know what I mean. She meets all the requirements and I have her statements and everything.
So does any money I have count or not? What if I could prove that my father was giving me enough money to support me until I can find a job..
All these forms is starting to confuse me now lol

david b

Male

England

2010-01-06 17:02:00

Yes, I am making 2 trips, having to stay overnight when I go for the interview at 9am. I found a hotel in Newbury park just outside london that has free parking and right near a tube station.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 18:02:00

I can drive there and back for around £50 of petrol. The train was going to be around £120 return. I was thinking of parking near heathrow, the car parks are around £15 per day.
I am really short of cash so I need the cheapest option, i am even using my dads car as its a diesel!
If I could find a cheaper train, I would take that.
I am in Stockton on Tees, in the North East.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 14:01:00

Thanks! You guys n girls on here are priceless! I will be sure to add any info after I have my interview and medical.
One other question, I was planning on driving to london for my medical and parking near Heathrow and getting the tube to Bond street, I have done this before and it took about 50mins to Kings cross so I'm guessing Bond street is about the same..
Train fares from up north are rediculous so I thought this would be my best bet. Does anyone else have any better ideas?

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 13:27:00

Thanks for all your help, wow I will have to stand in that loong queue?
My interview is at 9am, does that just mean arrive then and just wait in the queue?

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 12:41:00

English Muffin, when I type in us embassy, london, it give me an address in Grosvenor Square, that is not where I need to go for the interview is it? The address on the letter is 5 upper grosvenor STREET.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 11:27:00

I have been trying to SEE the place I need to go to on Google maps STREET VIEW and can't find it. When I type in 5 Upper Grosvenor st. it gives back a different post code than the one on the interview letter I received.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 11:25:00

I have driven in the US many times and I prefer that to London! US roads are designed to be driven on, not like over here.
Thanks for the replies, I'll have another look.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 11:14:00

I have my interview on 18th March and I don't know where 5 upper grosvenor street is..?
I can find Upper grosvenor street on google maps but can't seem to find number 5...
I am staying at a hotel on the outskirts, I chose Holiday Inn Newbury Park and I will be getting the tube to Bond Street, they have free parking and very good rates. I didn't want to drive in to London as I have done this before and had a nightmare!
Can anyone help me out..
I also have my medical next week and this seems quite easy to find on the map, I am going to Bentick Street.

Thanks in advance!

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 10:44:00

Travel to US between receivig PKT4 and interview date

Thanks for sharing! Just wondering, will I have to take a physical and theory test to get a US driving licence? I do have a UK licence and have drove rental cars in the US.
Also, how long does it take to get a marriage certificate?

david b

Male

England

2010-03-10 16:07:00

had 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.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-12 18:33:00

had medical today at bentick mansions

i had my medical today and fear the worst, i thought I was fine but i was so nervous and the doc said my pulse and blood pressure were high....
She said its the adrenaline in my system due to the nerves, hopefully I will pass... they said if theres any problems they would let me know.
£190 is a lot for what they actually do! Chest X-ray, blood test and a quick check over and that was it, I didnt even have to remove my jeans or underwear or shoes! I thought they did a full check of 'everywhere'.

I also went to the passport photo place nearby on oxford st, and that confused me to, they said for the k1 i needed a digital photo printed onto the ds160 or 156 sheet... I didn't get it, i just got 2 usa size passport photos to take with me to the interview, I have already sent off all the DS forms and have the interview date set next week... hope thats ok too, im so stressed now....

david b

Male

England

2010-03-12 12:15:00

ds160 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

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?

david b

Male

England

2010-03-14 16:29:00

ds160 form....?

My interview is next week and I keep getting different questions in my head! I have just noticed something about the new ds160 form... does this apply to the K1 visa, it says for nonimmigrant visas so I guess I'm ok.?
The K1 is an immigrant visa isn't it? When I went to the passport service in London he mentioned the DS160 form and said I needed a photo printing on to it...that makes sense after having a look at the form online.
Surely, the Embassy would contact me if they needed anything else wouldn't they? Please somebody say I don't need the DS160!

david b

Male

England

2010-03-14 16:05:00

OK, I have done some research about this and apparently most employers won't employ you even with this stamp, they still want to see the EAD. This may not be true, just what I read. Anyway, why would only JFK do this? Will it still be valid in California, as that is where I'll be heading to.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-15 16:06:00

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?

david b

Male

England

2010-03-15 14:18:00

Thanks a lot for all the replies, they are so useful.
So, I can't file for the AOS until we have been married..? When can I apply for the EAD, as I need to get work asap, as I guess most people do if possible. Can I apply for the EAD before we get married?

david b

Male

England

2010-03-15 12:55:00

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?

david b

Male

England

2010-03-15 08:03:00

I am worried as I have no savings, I did but they soon disappeared with all travelling back and forth to see my lady in the US as I'm sure you all know ! We have found a sponsor who earns a lot of money and has no dependants which is great but my fiance in the US doesn't earn anything and I send her money to live on. We are gonna be trailer trash lol! She is living in a trailer that we bought and we also have a good car now. This is the cheapest way to live but I'm really worried about the money situation.... I have the interview on Thurday 18th March, My fiance has filled out the affidivant of support forms too although she just had to put zero income....
The sponsor we have is great although I won't be taking any money from her as my father here in the UK will support me until I can find work but how can I convince the embassy of this when I have the interview. My dad said he would give me the bank statements from his business account to prove he has the money to give me, but if the sponsor earns enough won't that be enough??
I'm just so worried as I have virually no savings now and my fiance definitely has none.... Do they analyse all the forms at the interview or do they just take them from you and they get looked at later?
Also, from what I have read, I couldn't possibly claim any benefits in the US anyway so how could I become a public charge??
I have always worked and held down the same job here for the last 15 yrs so maybe they have checked that and it might be a help.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-14 11:07:00

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?

david b

Male

England

2010-03-14 08:14:00

queuing at the embassy?

On a picture of the embassy I saw, there was a queue of people around the corner....do they all have appointments, will I have to queue when i go next week?? Or can people with appointments go to the front? Im concerned because my appt is at 9am and I was thinking of arriving at around 8-830. If I have to wait in the queue, how long does it take to go down? It might be after 9am by the time I get to the door!

david b

Male

England

2010-03-13 11:48:00

Interview

I wasn't on there but I am now!
I walked past the Embassy the other day after i'd had my medical, just to make I knew where it was and it was quiet, no queues, infact nobody waiting at all... only 2 cops outside, I guess its busy on a morning then gets quieter. I went past at about 2pm.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-13 11:36:00

Interview

It seems most peoples interviews are at 9am, do they just tell everyone to arrive then? Mine is next week at 9am, I am staying overnight at Newbury park just outside london, they have free parking and it takes about 30 mins on the tube from there. I paid £70 inc, breakfast.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-13 03:09:00

visa approved today!

Thanks everyone for comments, I must admit I feel as though I have lied to you all! The interview went great and the officer told me I am approved, but they need an up to date 'letter of intent' from the petitioner as it has expired. I should have told you all this in the first place but I was just soo excited, all I could think about was the word approved!
I have added my timeline now too, some dates are a bit rough as I don't know exactly when stuff arrived at the NVC and consulate. My NOA and interview dates are correct.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-20 16:15:00

visa approved today!

I just wanted to tell everyone that I had my interview and I'm approved!!! I wouldn't even call that an interview, it was sooo easy. It was more a case of sit there for 2 hours waiting, then hand over your paperwork and your approved...
I got asked about 2 or 3 questions, not that the officer seemed very interested in my answers, and that was that, your approved.
You can't really call it an interview at all. Maybe I got lucky, i don't know but I'm soo excited and scared at the same time...
A bit of advice to anyone going to their interview, remember that electronic devices are not allowed, including car key fobs! I never thought about those and had to dash off to store the keys at the pharmacy.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-18 19:22:00

Travelling after returning Packet 3...

I travelled to California to visit my fiance, 2 weeks before the interview date and had no problems. I didn't even take the interview letter with me and they didn't ask anything different that they have ever asked before... made me wonder if they even knew I had applied for a visa!
I don't think you will have a problem.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-19 17:53:00

2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

I got my interview on Thursday, March 18th at 9am!

david b

Male

England

2010-03-13 11:19:00

Attending visa interview before embassy receives medical exam results?

I'm pretty sure that as long as the medical is booked, then the interview will take place. I only wanted to travel to London once too, and do the medical and interview on the same day, but then thought it would speed things up if i had the medical first, so the results were at the embassy when I had the interview.
I have my medical next week and the interview the week after.
I also thought that if I did do them both on the same day, would I have to go back to get the results and get the visa..?
There seems to be more evidence that you can have the interview before the medical, so I would assume that this is correct.
Hopefully someone knows for sure and can let us know.

david b

Male

England

2010-03-07 17:51:00

Brits in the USA

David ( Stockton-on-Tees, UK) I will be moving to California in the next 6 months or so to marry Debra (us citizen).

david b

Male

England

2010-03-14 16:22:00

Ok, thanks but my fiancee and myself don't have a lawyer, can we get them done at a courthouse or somewhere..?

david b

Male

England

2010-01-04 15:19:00

Thank you everyone for your help and replies. I EVENTUALLY got through to the US embassy in London today and explained what has happened. Apparently, they sent me the information in September 09, which I never received. He didn't seem bothered about where it disappeared to, but he gave me the weblink so I can fill out the DS forms etc and then send the checklist off when I'm ready for the interview. My fiancee in the US and myself both have to send another letter of intent to marry as our petition expired.
He said we must get the letters notarized, does anyone know how and where this can be done?
He said by a lawyer or notarized public or something...I didn't quite catch what he said.
I'm gutted, I could have been doing this ages ago.

david b

Male

England

2010-01-04 15:01:00

Wow I can't believe we have waited this long! I should have called the embassy months ago. Will it be a problem now that months have passed?
Was I supposed to call before they would send me the next papers to fill in before the interview, I didn't know this, I thought they would automatically do it.

david b

Male

England

2010-01-03 08:12:00

So you think when it got sent from US to UK it never arrived? I am the beneficiary, will I be able to call the US embassy to check if arrived or will my fiancee in US have to do that?

david b

Male

England

2010-01-02 19:55:00

My fiancee received the single white letter saying it has been forwarded to my country. When I go on the uscis site and check the status it says post decision activity.

david b

Male

England

2010-01-02 19:46:00

Thanks for the reply. I have not received any paperwork at all yet. I just thought I had to wait, did I do something wrong? I knew I would eventually recieve information on the interview and medical etc but I haven't yet.

david b

Male

England

2010-01-02 19:43:00

My fiancee and I filed for the petition in April 09 and it got approved fairly quickly. She received the letter saying it had been sent to the US embassy in London in July but I am still waiting for the next stage..... My fiancee lives in California and I live in England. Do I just wait now to hear from the US embassy?
I'm worried something has gone wrong, shouldn't I have heard something by now?

david b

Male

England

2010-01-02 19:35:00

confused

Thanks for that!
Now I can fill it out online and print!

david b

Male

England

2010-01-09 20:20:00