little_g

PS. Nich-Nick is the go to guru for those of us dealing with the London Embassy. I learned and gained so much from her experienced advice. Cheers Nich

I just wanted to say hi, and thank you! As a long-time lurker of these forums, I’ve found this site and everyone’s stories so helpful. It’s a tough thing being in love with someone who lives so far away, and when adding paperwork, bureaucracy, and lengthy waits to the mix, it becomes a very stressful process!

Even after countless hours of meticulous internet searching, my fiancé Paul and I are still uncertain of how exactly this process will unfold.

We received our NOA1 a month ago, and are anxiously (and probably prematurely) checking the UCIS daily, hoping for any kind of update.

Has anyone here gone through this recently with a fiancé from the UK? Do you have any insight to offer (i.e.; When is the interview scheduled? Is it okay to fill out and send in the appropriate paperwork before hand? How long will it be from NOA2 until a visa is approved?)

Thanks again!

-Julie & Paul

Hello Julie and Paul and welcome to our stressful world You are lucky to be with the California center as they tend to move faster than Vermont one does. Ours took 4 months to get our NOA2 and as you can see its been a while since then. The process is LONG I'm not gonna sugar coat it but the reward is immeasurable so well worth it in the end, or so that's my opinion

You can look at what packet 3 contains here cause really you don't need to receive you just need A. have a case number which you get with your NOA2 and B. You must be sure that the case has been received and logged by the US Embassy in London. Here are the documents for packet 3: http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

What you can do now... If you are anxious to get things moving have the British Beneficiary send off for their Police Certificate. It is good for 12 months and you MUST have it in order to schedule the medical appointment. Here is where you do that: http://www.acpo.police.uk/NationalPolicing/ACROCriminalRecordsOffice/PoliceCertificates.aspx

Feel free to ask questions we're here to help and good luck!!

so after ten yrs of bein in an ldr and no luck finding him a job in the US we have decided to go for the K1 visa so my journey is a long one at the moment,Im tryin to research all i can before starting and i was confused as to where i send everything to.Im in the US and my bf is in the UK and he wants to move here.When i get my packet with all the documents do i sent it to the embassy in the US or the one in his country? apologies if this has already been answered as i said im just starting out now so im a bit overwhelmed lol

Hi there and welcome, it is all very overwhelming and intimidating at first but stick with it and us here on the VJ site and you'll be an old pro in no time. Here is a great place to start: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guideThats a very thorough guide on what you need to fill out and send etc. As far as where you send it all to the i-129f actually tells you on it's instruction page. It's the Texas lockbox. They all go there and then get sent on to whomever handles your case. Mine was the Vermont service center some people have California and so on. Take the time to look over everything carefully and feel free to ask us for help. Good luck!!

Hi

My fiance has a Droid x and says that it is unlocked? Not banded whatever. UK Milestone (using it on AT&T in the US) I dont quite understand. Anyways, I believe that over here Verizon is the only company that supports that phone. I dont have Verizon.

My question is what do the foreign fiance do when they come over? They obviously have to wait for their SSN to get a phone, but they will not have any credit so will need to pay a massive deposit. Or do they simply get added to their US citizen fiance's plan?

I am confused. Need advise.

Seems everyone answered quite well but you should know if his phone is unlocked he can and should keep it. It will work on ATT. Just cause a phone ins't released for ATT here doesn't mean you can't use it. Britsh phones have sim slots in it just like ATT phones. My fiance has a unlocked iPhone 4 and he's already used a family plan ATT sim card in it when he's been over here visiting. Also I used a bunch of UK phones here cause I hated the selection ATT had and many were not ever released over here or on ATT. Between us both we have used soooo many different types of phones it's almost a joke hehehe

Ok, i got packet form in the mail and it says i need to go to this link:

http://londonembassy.gov/visaforms.html

Problem is, the link no longer exists on the embassy page.

The letter says something about filling out form IV19 before the interview but it's nowhere to be found on the London USA embassy site... anyone from the UK have any idea what they are asking?

Hey there, I did a little research and here is where you can breathe again. It seems that the link is old news and why they put it on the letter still is a mystery as clearly it doesn't work the IV19 is not something you fill out but it is something you must bring. It is *drum roll* your appointment letter Way to scare the pants off us London Embassy! Here is a link for you to see it listed as well http://london.usembassy.gov/visaforms.html looks a lot like the link you posted only with a dot between London and a us before embassy. Maybe that is what they meant to put?

Also here is a list of what you need to bring to the interview: http://london.usembassy.gov/interview_documents.html

Hope that helps!

little_g how long was it before the embassy rescheduled your interview? I got my date last thursday (8th aug) and its a lot later than I wanted so I called them and they gave me the email code. I emailed them a really polite request yesterday morning but expect I wont hear anything from them for a while because of the 4th July long weekend.

I called and then emailed them early in the day and then by the next afternoon we heard back via an email reply. I think with the holiday weekend they were probably short staffed yesterday cause many people like to take extra days off. I'm guessing you will most likely hear back on Tuesday

beckys04, I just noticed you are new to the Visa Journey website so Welcome! I thought more about your question and have a few for you that can help us all help you more. You don't have a timeline set up so first up is when did you get your NOA1? Also did you guys sign up for the electronic notification? Once you are approved you will get and email, and the US Petitioner will get a letter. Once you get your approval you will get your case number and then you can call and schedule your appointment for a date just after you intend to return? As soon as you know your medical date AND you know for certain your case has been received by the London Embassy you can send in packet 3. Only reason I say this is because if the Embassy gets your packet 3 before they have your case it can cause all sorts of problems. Hope this helps a little more

Hi

I have been wondering if you can have your medical before you get your NVC case number? I am hoping that our NOA2 will come through in the next couple of weeks. I am due to go back to the states with my fiance on the 20th July under the VWP and am wondering whether I would be able to book my medical for before this date? Or if its possible to have it carried out in the states? I am figuring that way if I prepare my packet 3 documents before I go I would be able to just come back in time for my interview. Does this sound feasible?! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

You must have a case number and your police certificate in order to make your medical appointment. Unfortunately there is no way around it as Knightsbridge wont make you an appointment without that case number. Hope this helps you figure out your plans and fingers crossed for a speedy NOA2 for you both!

Hi i just asked Genee she said it is not a holiday but she did say a lot of people take a days holiday so the can have the long weekend for the july 4th parties, so the may just be under staffed.

can i ask how did your interview go at the london embassy (questions etc) i have mine on the 13th july

Jock

Congrats on the interview date and good luck too!! My fiance is going the same day/time as well! He is going light and dropping off his electricals etc, at Gould's Pharmacy. Just the essentials I guess as they got food inside although I keep telling him to bring a magazine or book or something lol! When did you send off your petition? I don't see a timeline for you

Countdown for interview is now down to 2 weeks... I'm starting to feel it... the nervousness but my lovely man is coming in 2 days After 7 months.. finally.

Hows your packing coming along?? It's such a dreadful feeling to know you're taking your life in a suitcase... Chris keeps telling me I should just take 1 outfit for every day of the week. He is such a guy

Love y'all!

Dee

My fiance is just packing all his clothes and shoes. He is giving away/selling all the rest of his stuff before he leaves. He keeps saying he cant wait to see the backside of his town but I imagine it will sink in more when the date gets closer.

AT LAST! Approved yesterday!

I thought we'd been forgotten & it was really beginning to get us down.

Now I'm in such a whirl, I don't know what to do next...

Well done to all who've got to this stage & hang in there all of you who were like us...

Paul (& Gina)

At last and congrats!! What a relief eh? Don't be a stranger keep us posted on the rest of your journey!

Congatulations!

Well then, fellow Jan filers - if you discount all the "unclickable" names on the spreadsheet, who don't seem to post anymore, then that makes us, officially, in last place!

There's almost a little pride in it

My goodness!

Have you spoke to anyone at the DOS at all?

Congrats!! Wonderful and exciting news

Did you write an embassy review at all?

My fiance's was for the 25th but we got it bumped up to the 13th at 9am as he is flying over on the 29th and that doesn't give much time for the visa to arrive, that and we are getting married August 6th and have to get things done in preparation. Cant wait for us all to be through this, with our loved ones and onto the next phase!

That was a quick response! Awesome!

Did you need to prove you had flight plans or something? I'm hoping to bring my date forward as much as possible when I eventually get my interview date.

Which should be soon, my timeline is pretty much the same as yours!

We're very relieved to say the least! To answer your question, No we didn't have to prove anything but we do have those plans and we did also include this information on our cover letter for the DS-2001 and the one of the forms in that packet 3 as well. So they had information there that correlated, not sure if that came into play or mattered though. Hope you get your interview date soon!! Did you provide a wedding date with your packet 3?

Got an email reply this morning, they have changed our date to July 13th at 9:00, Yay!! Thank goodness, we can breathe a bit easier now about our Wedding

Whoa, that's very close!! Brave couple to plan an august wedding!

I know of at least one couple that did that and they actually got a better UK date. Hope it works for you guys as well.

I know it was a bold move to plan to wed in August but I got to admit it was before we found the VJ site. We thought that the 5 months timeline actually meant 5 months HA!

Got an email reply this morning, they have changed our date to July 13th at 9:00, Yay!! Thank goodness, we can breathe a bit easier now about our Wedding

Congrats and good luck getting an earlier date! How long has it been since they got your packet 3 etc?

I still dont know my interview date :/

Thanks for the good luck wishes we're really going to need it

In regards to date we sent Packet 3 in on 6/11/11, it arrived and was signed for on 6/14/11, was then logged at the embassy on 6/23/11 and then today 6/28/11 we found out about the interview. Two things to note, first is we called the D.O.S. direct to find out the interview date and second is that my fiance never actually received his packet 3 in the post even though the embassy said it was mailed on the 25th of May go figure Just hope the packet 4 arrives at least

Well we got our interview date this morning for July 25th. Our wedding date is August 6th and he is supposed to be coming out here on the 29th so we're afraid there isn't enough time for the Visa to get to him between those two dates so we have sent an email with an extortion line "code" on it requesting a small bump. We don't need anything huge but a few days prior be a lot better to give the visa time to arrive. Fingers crossed tight!!!

Well we got our interview date this morning for July 25th. Our wedding date is August 6th and he is supposed to be coming out here on the 29th so we're afraid there isnt enough time for the Visa to get to him between those two dates so we have sent an email with an extortion line "code" on it requesting a small bump. We don't need anything huge but a few days prior be a lot better to give the visa time to arrive. Fingers crossed tight!!!

Since I've posted on this thread before, I thought I'd let everyone know here also.

From the USCIS:

Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Your Case Status: Post Decision Activity

On June 24, 2011, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E).

Very exciting news for you and your fiance! Congrats

Thanks coconuts

but what is DOS?

DOS = Department of State

and the phone number which is a Washington DC number is: (202) 663-1225

Press 1 then 0 to speak to a human

My visa was approved today!!

My interview was at 10 am this morning, at the consulate in Vancouver. There were four K1 people that day, total, and we got to chat most of the morning which was nice. One had applied in October, and the other two in December, I believe. All of use are moving to small towns/the country, which I thought was interesting.

I only brought what I was instructed to bring in the email from the consulate, nothing more, and I just brought it in a file folder, which was good because they take it all apart as soon as you get there. The interview happened at the counter, not in a private room. They didn't ask to see any of the "evidence of ongoing relationship" that I brought. Very friendly staff. They agreed to let me pick up my passport mid-week rather than have it sent by courier.

I got there around 9:40 and was out by noon. Much less gruelling than the medical!

Good luck and godspeed!

That's Fantastic News!! Congrats!!

Our packet 3 was finally logged today, now it's just a wait to see when our interview is Hope that doesn't take too long

Our interview date is crazy far...August 31st!

Then again we did put our wedding was October 1st. We're attempting to reschedule now for earlier. We shall see

Woah the 31st?! Gosh that is far off but I am thinking it does have everything to do with your wedding date. Our wedding date is August 6th and we haven't received our interview date yet, well to be more specific they haven't even logged our packet 3 yet although it was signed for last Tuesday so we know it's there. Anyway this has got me a little worried to say the least. I'm sorry yours it set so late but I am happy that at least you'll make your wedding day! I guess that's the shiny side of the coin in all this agonizing waiting, paperwork and planning right?

Cheers, thanks for the great info TwoCats. Thank god for the DOS phone line and this VJ website cause we never actually got our packet 3 in the mail but then again his post is horrible around where he is. So many important things have never reached him sadly. Worries me a bit for his interview letter when the time comes but I also heard he can print off an interview email? I hope so at least, anyone know this for sure??

We are thinking of using Parcels2Go.com

We have used them a lot for shipping when it came to selling stuff on eBay and since we don't have much to send it seems like this might be the cheapest way.