Got our NOA!

[buffertortoise 0]

Hey everyone,

Me and my fiance received our NOA1 in the mail on February 5th while I was visiting her in the US (I had zero problems at border control) how exciting! I was just wondering what I (the non US citizen) can do between now and our receipt of the NOA2 so that things can speed up after getting it?

I believe I can apply for my police certificate (I am now back the UK) is that correct? How do I go about that?

Is there anything else I can do other than the police certificate and keep updated on the evidence of an ongoing relationship/having met in past 2 years?

Any responses will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Buffertortoise

[bora bora 1]

You can get your vaccines if you have not already (or have lost your vaccine card)...

[buffertortoise 0]

Thanks! Anything else?

[flutter95 4]

Yes, go get your police certificate ASAP.

It can take up to 40 days - and it seems they like to TAKE 40 days

"To obtain a Police Certificate in the UK, go to your local police station and request a form called "Subject Access". Send send this with the £10 fee to the Data Protection Officer of the police force for the area you are resident in. This form is then sent by the police to Scotland Yard and the results are supplied to the individual requesting them within a statutory 40 day time limit."

Also, gather your evidence yes.

Go to your doctors and ask for a vaccination record, they will probably just print out a piece of paper but thats fine. you will need it at your medical.

And like what was already said, get your vaccines now, instead of later.

[bora bora 1]

It's true, you can organize your proof (e-mails/letters/pictures) for the interview. You can familiarize yourself with the forms for packet 3 and the interview.

I made a scrapbook of our pictures and will be taking it with me to meet my fiance for his interview.

[flutter95 4]

Oh and I forgot -

Heres the vaccines you need.

Vaccines

See about getting any you need now from your local doctors or hospital, because your going to have to get them at some point, and if you get them at the medical exam, it costs a good chunk of money!

[TracyTN 237]

Make sure your fiance's passport won't expire for 9 months or so past the estimated interview time. My fiance had to get his renewed.

The only other thing - I can't tell what service center you're going through, but if its TSC/NSC/CSC - I do have one more suggestion. Drive yourself down to the store and buy up all the PATIENCE they have in stock...!

Edited February 23, 2007 by TracyTN

[buffertortoise 0]

Thanks for all the replies! I wasn't aware vaccinations had to be completed so early! Could they expire and have to be done again?

Thanks!

[flutter95 4]

Well, its good to start them now, cause the embassy will require you to have them before you go to the US.

Now the hep. b one will take several installments, and you only have to begin that - I haven't even had my 3rd yet.

I'm just suggesting you start now, cause you can ask your doctors or hospital about getting them done - for free. Otherwise you'll run out of time. You can pay for them at the medical exam, but its pricey.

[featherB 1]

Another thing to do is make sure you've got a (certified or original) copy of your long-form birth certificate. I think it's more usual in the UK to have the short-form one (that's the one I had, anyway) - ie the one that just has your name on it and where you were born (and when, obviously). You'll need the long-form one, with both parents' names. If you don't have the long form one, you can order it (or go along in person if you live nearby - that's what I did, it's easy) from the Family Records Centre.

Like others have said... familiarising yourself with the next stages & particularly the contents of Packet 3 and what you'll need to take to the interview is a great idea. You have plenty of time to make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations - you should be able to get any you need free (or for a small charge) on the NHS, which will save you either having to pay at the medical or once you're in the States, when you come to adjust your status.

Speaking of which... even though it seems forever away at this point, it's also not a bad idea to be getting your head around what's involved with AOS - what forms to fill out, what evidence you'll need to send, etc etc etc etc...

Congrats on the NOA1... may the rest of the process go smoothly (and quickly!) for you.

[featherB 1]

Well, its good to start them now, cause the embassy will require you to have them before you go to the US.

They won't, will they? You just have to have them done for AOS (because the K1 is a non-immigrant visa)... but having said that, there's no reason in the world NOT to get them done before the medical - that way, you can get them for free, the doctor will sign you off as having your vaccinations up to date, and you get to save paying out unnecessarily at a later date!

Edited February 24, 2007 by featherB

[flutter95 4]

Oops, forgot about that one featherb,

I was lucky, I already had both because my mother thought she'd lost my origional so had got another one years ago when we got passports, but then one day it turned up!

[featherB 1]

Oops, forgot about that one featherb,

I was lucky, I already had both because my mother thought she'd lost my origional so had got another one years ago when we got passports, but then one day it turned up!

Haha, I had the reverse experience - my mother thought she had a long-form one somewhere (I've always had the short-form one in my possession, but she swore blind she had the long form version lying around too), but... apparently not. Still, it was really easy to get a copy - went into the Family Records Centre, filled in a form, went back and collected it (to avoid paying yet more money for them to post it) the following week!

[buffertortoise 0]

I have just ordered my full birth certificate online and I'm going to request my police check and vaccination record this week.

Thanks everyone for all the help!

[buffertortoise 0]

Hey everyone,

Just a quick couple of questions. I am going to request my police check today in the UK, what do i ask for exactly? What should I take? I have chosen to do it in person as I am travelling back to the US soon and don't want to send any documents away in the post.

Also, I lived in the US for a year on a student visa, from what I have read on this forum a US police check is needed but not until later on in the process. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks very much