Sapphire1965

Interesting reading your story, so many of us can relate to these feelings as they are completely NORMAL. I moved here May 2011 had no UK drivers license, gave up my home and a good job and everything else I loved. This was to be with the man I loved with all of my being. Also where we live public transport is not great the bus stop is a 1 mile walk from the house, not great. My husband is originally from the UK he moved here in 93 and got citizenship, so there was no extended family of his to mingle with, just him and myself to keep each other company. When I arrived I had my SSN within 3 weeks, sorry you are having problems with this. within 5 months my husband taught me to drive and I passed my test got my license and was able to get around whilst he was at work. The first 6 months were probably the hardest as you do feel like you have no status and are not a real person I used to say to my husband I feel like I dont exist any longer. Believe me it does get better. I too have had difficulty in finding work in the field which I do, my husband plays golf and I used to go with him and now started work at the golf course as bar tender, not what I would have preferred but its a job and it gets me out the house a couple of days a week which for the meantime is good until something better comes along.

Just keep the faith it does get better, as with all things this takes time and it will come together. You are not alone. xx

Ive just gone to call up and book my medical but Ive lost my packet 3 letter. It was in my folder but now its nowhere to be found. Will the embassy send me another one? Can I call for my LDN number?

You dont need packet three letter for anything all it does is give you instructions for whats next, u cat get a link here for packet three. Also if you call DOS they can give you the LND number over the phone, so no need to panic. xx

I definately agree im from the UK an used to enjoy dressing up but people here just dont seem to care, the culture here seems to be Jeans an t's or baggy sweatshirts. My hubby who is from the UK also but now a US citizen for almost 20yrs would say why u wearing that its a bit dressy, all I had on was white trousers with a nice top and shoes to me it was casual dress lol but I aint changing I love my clothes an will continue to wear what I feel comfortable in regardless of looks or comments lol.

Hi your US fiance needs to show evidence of support which if only working part time probably she will not be above the poverty line so you would need to have her parents as a co sponser, if they are willing to do this. Also from my own experience from date of filing which was Oct 4th 2010 to entry on May 17th last year it took 8 months from start to finish. Good luck with the process it really is not as bad as you think at first it seems a little daunting but you will get there in the end and use this site it is an absolute god send for questions and answers.

Hehe....this is a fun game in our house lol.....has taken my step-daughter awhile to get used to my 'Australianisms' like:

bin= trash can

rubbish = trash

trolley = shopping cart

car park = parking lot

holidays = vacation

All of the above are the same as we say in Scotland lol. Im lucky though my husband is originally from my hometown so he is familiar with all of my funny sayings. ;-)

i was lucky and had enough airmiles saved from previous trips to US so I used them for a one way flight didnt cost me a penny. Good Luck

Just a couple of quick questions.

I've been filling in my packet 3 forms today and i'm wondering if you sign the DS-156 form or not. It does not say on the form not to and I currently have but can easily fill out another form. Some people are saying no and others yes. I've left the DS-156k form blank as per instructions. Also do you have to send the photos attached with the form when posting or is that what the 3 photos are for at the embassy?

I've currently booked my medical and will send the forms away asap. Once I have my other documentation ready is it just the DS 2001 I send away and a letter with my email address to say I am ready for an interview>

Sign DS-156 which is correct, DS-156k you sign at the Embassy and take the 3 passport photos with you to the interview. Also when ready for interview send DS2001 with your cover letter containing your Email address. Good Luck with interview its a breeze. :-)

Hi I used Goulds for usual Keys. Mobile Phone etc but here is the phone number ask they do luggage if not Euston Station deffo have lockers for luggage or mabye ur hotel will allow u to keep luggage in lobby area for a couple of hours. Good Luck fellow V.J'r.

Sorry I havent used Amazon for such purchases, but I have family send me my treats, have just received HP Brown Fruity Sauce and bisto gravy granules, sachets of curry sauce etc, its so much easier and doesnt cost me anything, just some kind words to my family. Good Luck.

Hi where it asks for a state or county you put in the town where you live, and just put UK for Unitede Kingdom, thats what I done. Good Luck

Definately not needed for London especially as the petition was sent in April had it been longer then possibly. I done a new one to cover myself but in the end not required. so no need for worry. Good Luck with interview.

He will be fine, I asked the same question when I was in the line myself appointment 10am in line for 9.30 am and was told by the staff not to worry as its absolutely OK. Good Luck youve nothing to worry about. Your almost there.

Good luck with the interview you will be absolutely fine, they only ask very simple question like where did you meet, how long have you been together, when did you get married, what job does he do etc, etc, very basic stuff. I know what you mean regarding being stressed over the process. I was a complete mess during my K1 visa process was forever anxious thinking I had forgetton something, when I actually had it all covered, my then Fiance who is now my husband kept telling me not to worry it would all be ok and there would be no problems, incidentally everything went well never had any RFE's. I moved to the States on 17th May this year and my AOS interview is on Tuesday in Chicago not as worried over that one but still get slightly anxious will be glad when this step is over. Again Good Luck you will soon be together again. xxxx

Thanks - I'll let him know!

Goulds Pharmacy does the US Passport photos 2 for 5 Pounds or 4 for 7 pounds, I had mine done there and they also store your stuff for you for a small fee, I think I paid 3 pound to have my phone and car keys etc stored, they are very safe everything is put into a large envelope sealed and marked on what items are enclosed, they give you a receipt for this, then go back and collect. No problems and staff are corteous. Good Luck with interview.

I need some advice/opinions on this topic. I left the UK in March 2010 and didn't inform the tax office. Does anyone think this will be a major issue for me if I return to the UK in the future? I only recently thought of this, as me and my husband have been talking about the possiblity and I was doing some searches, and this topic came up. He thinks it must be ok, as I worked until the end of the tax year and I don't owe them anything and I'm sure they dont owe me anything. Im just worried as I read somewhere that, when someone returned, they were lumped with a big tax/NI payment, as they didn't believe they had been living out of the country.

The only reason I didn't do it before, is that I still have debt in the UK and I'm paying it off from over here slowly. I had this thought that HM revenue would inform my bank or credit cards or something like that, and they would try and make me pay it all off before I left (probably a crazy thought)

Any advice appreciated!

I lived in UK all my life. But do have and not proud of a few unpaid debts that were chasing me, now not a huge amount of money around 2k mark, anyway was working fulltime and if you leave the UK u can apply for a tax rebate unfortunately I Left on May 17th of this year so only got what I qualified for since the new Tax year starting April 5th. Have no worries Inland Revenue have no business in ur debts and it certainly wont make a difference, I claimed my Tax back and got a refund within 2 months of filing as I felt I had earned this money and was entiled to the rebate. Regards returning to UK maybe u should inform them that you are leaving as you say you may have intentions of returning and possibly working there again some day.. Just keeps all above board. Good Luck my VJ friend xxxzx

Ok I applied for mine from ACPO I was born and raised in Scotland. lived in England for 16 years before I moved to US and I called the number on ACPO and i asked the question if I lived in Scotland do I need a seperate ACPO report, The answer NO ACPO cover the WHOLE of the UK be it England Scotland or Wales so please do not fret over this, one report is sufficient as there database is linked in the UK, Advise given to me directly from ACPO. Good Luck, Keep the Faith :-)))) xxx

Hi I am going back to March this year but as soon as I knew NVC had case I called got NLD Number then called medical got an appointment, u dont have to wait for UK Embassy to receive file to book appointment as long as you have LND number go ahead get appt booked for medical it only takes a few days for London to receive this from NVC. They will send out package 3 which is just a letter telling you to put together documents needed for interview see thread on here Nich Nick is great for these threads, when medical is done and completed they will send results to London Embassy who when they receive this usually a few business day they will log it received then just a question of waiting for interview. I have been through the process with London and know what its like. good luck with process keep the faith, its well worth it in the end, though very very stressfull, my god I ended up with 10 weeks off work with the process last year. albeit paid leave but mega takes its strain. :-)))) xxx

Just thought I would add that I was there on 31st March and never was told that I needed a flu shot. Wonder what that is about because if they had been informed in February of this then it would have applied to myself also. I had a flu shot about 4 years ago so this is most certainly out of date. Good luck with getting your interview dates hope they dont take too long.

The letter is generic and most of your documents are already submitted. I know people who worried about the medical, but the one in their file was all that was needed. There is always the chance that somehow your whole medical didn't make it to the interview office, but I wouldn't worry about that until they actually go through your papers and say "I can't find your medical results." I also know people who fretted over the reference to I-693, but it wasn't even brought up and their DS-3025 in the file was fine for proof of immunization. You're not approved until after your interview so there's a remote chance that you get a cranky IO or something is missing from the file. Take evidence of marriage that you have gathered and some photos that weren't submitted. Take the real marriage certificate in case they want to verify it. There's lists all over this forum. But I would leave the medical just as it is until they tell you at the interview if they need something else concerning it.

Hi Nich Nick. Your info is invaluable as im sure youv'e heard a million times, it was you who advised me to do a cover letter about the DS3025, I have submitted wedding photos and various others from the last 3 and half years of our being together in different locations. I also sent my original Marriage Cert and have 2 more originals at home one of which I will be taking on the day, I think just to cover every aspect I will take copies and where applicable original of what is required from the list on the interview letter. There is no problem with this. Just the medical part, but as I said to my husband no point spending money that we may not need to as im quite confident they must have located this within my envelope submitted at my POE, but you never know they may raise a question to this on the day and if that is the case we shall just need to go to a civil surgeon and get the required document completed. I do have with me my vaccination records from my GP in England so it covers the fact that all immunization were carried out I also had a blood test done at GP's which is recorded on my medical history, a copy of which I have regarding varicella as I had chickenpox as a child so no need for that vaccination.

Thanks again for you help and advice. Will keep my timeline updated and let you know how I get on. :-)

I'm in a similar situation to you; I included a copy of my DS3025 with my AOS application, received my notice this past Thurs that my interview is Nov 9th. Took a risk not having the I-693 done, but so far, knock on wood, no RFE.

I've heard, in very rare cases, that they could give you an RFE at the interview, which would really suck!!

I'm not quite sure what to do either...

Good Luck with your interview, Im sure things will be just fine. Please let us know how you get on. I wish my interview was a little sooner as its 7 weeks away which seems so long, but cant wait until its over at least for 2 years. lol its been quite a journey but the hardest part was waiting for the K1 which im sure we all agree on. Keep the faith,

Ok this is my Question will try not to complete this, my interview letter asks for a whole host of evidence and documents all of which were submitted with my original application, my work permit and travel authorisation have been approved and am awaiting production of my EAD card. Now do I need to produce copies and or originals of all the things listed on my interview letter? Also, I was unable to locate my DS3025 when I filed my application and sent a covering letter to explain that a copy of this was inside the brown envelope submitted at POE and my medical was signed off a complete. I was never given an RFE for this and assumed they were happy with that and had located the document because I had got my interview date. Now on the letter it says you need to bring with you the I693 and vaccination supplement if not already submitted. I dont have one as I didnt bother to get one because as explained in my cover letter with original AOS application and assumed they had located it. So do I now need to go and get one of these done before my interview. Please can somebody advice me as im getting a little panicky now and really dont want to screw up at this stage. please please advise. Thank you VJ you are a god send. :-)

Hi to all, just thought I would add this as I know some of you may be in the same situation as myself. Firstly as I was preparing to file my AOS I could not for the life of me locate my DS3025 which I knew I needed for my AOS. I was advised on here by Nich-Nick just to add a cover letter explaining that I did not have this and that it was within my brown envelope submitted at my POE. Oh my DS3025 was completed and signed off in London as I had all my vaccinations done before attending my medical so nothing was outstanding.

I then sent off my AOS hoping I would not get an RFE for this and today was advised by Email that my interview is booked for November 29th, whoo hoo also have been approved for work permit and travel authorisation. I would like to say a big thank you to Nich-Nick for your help and advice. And to anyone in a similar situation please try this approach first but only if you were completely signed off by your Medical examiner and did not have anything outstanding. it certainly worked in my favour. :-)

This is no longer usable by K-1s and you cannot use this to work.

Hi it stands for Employment Authorisation Document, but you will not get this until you apply for Adjustment of Status, which you will do sometime after you marry, usually before your I-94 date expires, which is 90 days. When you apply for Adjustment of Status you are applying for work permit, travel authorisation and LPR which is legal permanent resident but will need conditions lifting after 2 years. Good Luck I am just waitng for all my documents at moment I filed my I-485 and other docs 2 months ago. xxx

Don't you watch the news, read the papers?

Just a small example. You have lost your AAA rating.

Nearly 15% of the U.S. population relied on food stamps.

That's up 12% from a year ago, and 34% higher than two years ago.

I don't have to mention the national debt.

Unemployment, was there jobs created last month? No

You can go on about Europe, UK, whatever other country with it's debt crisis. The cost of living has shot up big time this last 3-4 years.

Hi I have to add my opinoin hear as I was born in Scotland and left to live in England at age 30, I much definately preferred my way of life in England and then met my now Husband who was orignally from the town in England where I was living, he moved over to Chicago in 1994 and got Citizenship and this is how I have now become to reside here myself. We live and hour and half south of Chicago and I find the people hear to be extremely polite and very friendly, albeit that I have only been living here since May but had been visiting several times a year for the last 3 years. I honestly would never live in Scotland again not that there is anything wrong with the Country just personal choice, and Scotland also has its fair share of high unemployment, social housing and very nasty areas where people live. All that said maybe me and my husband may return to our homeland of England who knows. But I love the US way of life and my husband who as I said has been here since 1994 definately agrees that the standard of living here is much higher than in the UK. Good luck to you and your family for the future and as for the person who made comments about not being unemployable because of spelling errors, I think you are extremely rude as this had nothing to do with a constructive response to the post!!!!! :-)

If you find the DS-3025, you can totally use that instead of an I-693. Actually your original DS-3025 is in with your other medical records. You could put in a cover letter or separate page so they notice it:

I was admitted as a K1 fiance and had a medical exam exam overseas less than one year ago and do not require another exam by a civil surgeon. My examination was on _________ at the Knightsbridge Doctors in London, England. My A-file should contain my medical results, as well as a properly completed DS-3025 showing that I complied with the vaccination requirements.

(That is assuming you got MMR, Tdap, and had chickenpox so your sheet was marked VH to excuse you from the varicella shot.)

From p.4 of the I-693 instructions.

Even if a new medical examination is not required, you still must show proof that you complied with the vaccination requirements.

If the vaccination record (DS-3025) was not properly completed and included as part of the original overseas medical examination report

, you will have to have the vaccination report completed by a designated civil surgeon. In this case, you are required to submit Part 1, Information About You, Part 2, the vaccination chart and Part 5, the Civil Surgeon's Certification, of Form I-693.

Thanks Nich-Nick. I did have everything up to date including MMR, TDap and Chickenpox which were all done 8 months before my medical in London so my DS3025 was signed off as complete with nothing outstanding. I think I shall just refer to this on my cover letter and mention that the DS3025 is in with my brown envelope handed in a POE. Thanks for your help. I cannot believe I have misplaced this as I am so meticulous with paperwork. P.S What should I be putting on my cover letter. Thanks