I got my packet 3 on 8th March, yay

I have a few issues arising from it. (ok, a lot of issues) I would be very grateful for help with any of the below:

i've scanned the whole thing, and i was going to upload it here, but the uploading system is telling me the dimensions are too big. does anyone know what are the allowed dimensions? I would like to keep it as high res as possible, so people could download stuff and print it off if they needed it.

Knightsbridge Doctors seem to have set up a new office, becuase there are two locations listed on my pkt 3. unfortunately for all you people having to travel to london for a medical, the second location is also in London, Basil st. SW3 1AP

They've sent me the old vaccination table (without HPV) and two price lists for the medical. One with HPV and MCV and one without. I have to assume that they will require me to have HPV at the medical regardless, because the vaccination table on the internet is up to date?? (I'm 25)

I already have my police cert through the old system, but they have included in this packet a slip of paper that says:

'Effective February 15, 2008, immigrant visa applicants, who have resided in the UK for 6 months or more since the age of 16 are required to obtain a police certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Futher information is available from their website at http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp . This police certificate will serve to advise the U.S. Embassy, London whether or not any criminal coniction is held against him/her. The police certificate will be sent to the address provided at the time of the application. Please not that the immigrant visa unit considers the police certificate valid for 12 months from the deate of issuance, not 6 months as stated on the certificate.'

So i thought i might be able to get away with the old cert, but it looks like i might have to shell out for a new one. and it's more expensive. £35 for 10 day service. £70 for premium 3 day sevice. meanies.

The DS-230 that they sent me only includes part 1 and expired on 07/31/2007. The one on their website is the full version (part 1 and 2) and is also not expiring till 09/30/2010. I would prefer to use this one, because i can fill it out and then print it out, that should be ok, right?

FINALLY: I'm not planning to move to the US until probably August or at the latest September. I know that some May interviews have been given out already, so with the 6 month window I should be fine. I was just wondering, is there any reason that it would be better to try to have the interview later? I can't think of anything, but just in case. Otherwise I'm going to return the packet 3 sometime this week.

Thank you, sorry there is so much to ask, you'd think I'd know this stuff by now

WTF? Are they just trying to mess with us? This is really doing my head in now...

The HPV still confuses the hell out of me - do we actually need that for the K-1 or is it just for AOS like the rest of the vacs? Apparently it is a 6 month course of treatment made up of three injections... in the US it would cost me $360 and I want to know if I can just get it done there or if I need it for the K-1...

As for the police certificate... I paid for my £10 one... do we actually need a new one? If so then I am screwed if it takes too long to come through as I already sent back my packet 3... now I am panicking

Ok - this has been driving me nuts so I have set Jeremy to poking around for more info on the HPV thing. This has prolly been seen before but



http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/medexam.html

HPV is a 6 month course??? if so i need to get started very soon. I was annoyed about the money, but now I'm annoyed about the time too I'm not doing K-1, so I have to get it done to have the visa issued

A guy who was either K3/CR1/IR1 had an interview last week using the old subject access form and it was accepted no probs. He even asked his interviewing officer and for immigrant visas, they are good up until April 15th.

Heres his post
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=521788

Going by in the information that was posted on the embassy website previously (cant find it any more) it said that non immigrant visas (eg, K1) can use the subject access up until August providing that it is no more than 6 months old. I have my interview lined up for the 9th of next month and Im just going to turn up with the old one.

Will post and let you know whether its accepted or not.

Hrpmh - well that is what Jeremy found... let me see if I can get him to find me the linky...

http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm

Thanks for the info Minnie, please do keep us updated
Since I reckon I'll have my interview after April 15th, i'm considering ringing the extortion line about this. £3-5 quid on a phone call is still better than £35 on a new cert.

good luck with the interview

Defo any info you get would be really welcome here - it seems they have gone and changed a bunch of things and not told us... I will have to double check how old my police cert is but I bet it is over six months when I get my interview date... You think this will be a problem? I got it ages ago because I was a) not expecting my NOA2 to take so long and was expecting to have my interview earlier than this...

Like we need anything else to worry about

Cheers.
Tis all a bit annoying how they keep changing things up on us.

I know its not official US Embassy words, but this London based US immigration re-iterate what I thought.

http://www.usvisalawyers.co.uk/whatsnew.htm

Nonimmigrant visa applicants who have a criminal record in any country should also produce the official court record when applying for a visa. The court record(s) must indicate the nature of the offense(s) committed, the sections of law contravened and the penalty imposed by the court. A UK Subject Access police report will be accepted in lieu of an ACPO police certificate for nonimmigrant visa applications submitted on or before August 14, 2008, as long as the police report is less than 6 months old. Effective August 15, 2008 only an ACPO police report less than 6 months old will be accepted for nonimmigrant visa processing.

Effective February 15, 2008 the police certificate requirement for immigrant visa applicants was also changed. Those immigrant visa applicants who have resided in the UK for at least 6 months since the age of 16 will be required to obtain an ACPO police certificate rather than the previously used UK Subject Access police report. A grace period during which the UK Subject Access police report will be accepted will end on April 14, 2008. For purposes of immigrant visa processing the ACPO certificate is considered valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, not 6 months as indicated on the certificate.

Really sucky I know, but its not directly 'from the horses mouth' so I wouldnt treat it as gospel.

Actually it kinda is...

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/add_crime.html

But the ky point is it says "nonimmigrant" visa section... so I am not sure if that applies to K-1...

Here's some more news - I just found out that the HPV course would cost me £399 here in the UK... I am thinking that I will get it done in the US where it will cost me $360... crazy...

K1 visa is of course is a nonimmigrant visa, so I would assume we are ok. I'm not going to bother ordering the new certificate. The worst that can happen is the visa approval being put on hold until the new police certificate is sent in.

It's funny, the K1 is a nonimmigrant visa BUT at the interview you will be classed as an immigrant visa applicant. It's very confusing but I think it's merely to separate us from the huge volume of nonimmigrant (tourist/work visa)applicants on the day.

As for the police certificate, fortunately the ACPO certificate only takes 10 days to come through, so those who can afford the 10 days can chance it.

I would think it's best to take a print out of any evidence that the old certificate has a cooling off period and take it with them to the interview.

Jeraly, the HPV injection costs £80 per injection in the UK (You have to have 3 injections) - according to my doctor anyway...

I'm still a bit confused about this also as when I had my medical, the nurse said to me that I didn't actually need to have it until I adjust status. I said to her, well I will be 26 by then and she said well, don't worry then because you won't need it when you hit 26.

Everyone else has said that it's when you hit 27 though...

If you have it done on the day of your medical she told me that it would cost £120

Hmm - well I got the quote from my doctor who said it would cost £399...

Thanks for the link. I knew I had seen it somewhere on the Embassy website but I couldnt find it.
Will print it off and take it with me to the interview.

Since we've got a new police records / HPV thread.... does anyone have any opinions on my DS-230 issue?

p.s. Minnie - did you print get the checklist, and did you send it in yet? hope you guys are sorted now

I'm sure the newer version will be just fine -- does it say anywhere that you CAN'T use a newer version? I find that pretty hard to believe! Use the new one.

Started a new thread for the HPV/Police cert stuff so if you find out any info then post there so everyone can find it all in the same place I think I am just going to have a wad of papers that all support what I am saying