JohnandWendyB

I got the word around 5:30 AM this morning that we were approved for our K1 Visa!!! We were so happy that I cried and he nearly did! Cannot wait until he is here! We wish everyone else good luck and speedy processing with theirs! Thanks to all who have helped us out with info. Especially NichNick. You were indispensable!!! (hope I spelled that correctly!)

I hope those of you who hang out on here often take it easy on the next batch of new ones. Remember how hard it was when you went through the process. Some of you all are pretty rough on here. But some of you were just a great help and comfort!!! Any of you UK folks who need to know timelines, etc. feel free to message me to get our info but I don't plan on hanging around here anymore. Thanks everyone!!!

it was 25th August 2010 till 20th May 2011

you can stay 180 days illegally without getting bans ... my VWP ran out 23rd Nov.

My phone has an app that calculates the number of days in between dates. I am counting 268 days total if my app is correct. I thought the VWP was 90 days total period?

See: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#vwp

"The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established to eliminate unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulating the tourism industry, and permitting the Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas. VWP eligible travelers may apply for a visa, if they prefer to do so. Nationals of VWP countries must meet eligibility requirements to travel without a visa on VWP, and therefore, some travelers from VWP countries are not eligible to use the program. VWP travelers are required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, are screened at the port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program."

If someone told you that you could stay without incurring a ban for an additional 180 days, they probably didn't think about applying for a marriage-based visa. You better do some searching because from everything I have read that will be a problem. Although I have also read about people coming over, marrying their fiance, and adjusting status right away and being ok. (That sounds pretty risky though. The more you break immigration laws the less likely I think they would be to overlook.)

Hopefully some more experienced members here can weigh in on this?

awesome how long did it take from the embassy receiving your DS-2001 or medical results to you receiving your interview date??

Thanks to everyone and good luck to you all as well!!!

Our timeline is like this:

NOA2 was 1/3

NVC received our package 1/12

NVC sent our package on 1/13 (NVC dates are approximate)

Packet 3 received 1/21 or 1/18 not sure

packet 3 sent back in with all the forms 1/24

Medical 1/27

panicked about the visa app receipt since the receipt says they need it up front (which I think now probably isn't true) so sent pkt 3 forms and copy of receipt in again 2/6

received interview letter (packet 4) today with interview set for 2/22

Hope that helps everyone!!!

We got our interview date!!!! Yayay!!!!! Hurry up London for everyone else!

Looking at the thread, I signed my receipt before the interview and gave it during it. To be honest she just glanced at it and made sure it had my name on it then just ticked it off her check list. I'm sure they would just make him/her sign it during the first part of the embassy stage when they check the documents, considering most people do not send it in advance. If you are worried i'd just take a copy of the receipt that is signed to the interview if they query it but I doubt thats the reason for the delay. I saw people who hadn't paid, being sent to another desk to pay for it and come back with their receipt. Did you put a departure date on the form? I put mid march and April as my wedding date on the cover letter and I noticed I got an appointment date before people who had submitted their paper work/medical before me but had no/ a later departure/wedding date.

Ah, good advice regarding the departure date.

The London website still says pay prior to the interview, not before sending in papers. Did London send you a letter saying to do that first before anything else? Just wondering what is the source of that info.

http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/iv_fees.html

K Visa Applicants pay the fee to the Operator Assisted Information Service prior to attending the visa interview. Instructions concerning payment will be sent to you with the appointment letter.

This is Wendy. I thought I should explain what has happened to see if what we think is going on might actually be the case...

John emailed NVC to get the LDN # and scheduled his medical for a week or so later to ensure the petition would be here and file created, etc. So then he verified the petition was at the Embassy and sent off the paperwork (DS forms mentioned in packet 3) with delivery tracking that says it was delivered the next day (1/25). Then he had the medical (1/27). He paid for the visa application fee on the day of his medical. The medical is there at the Embassy (2/2)and the paperwork, despite verification of otherwise, is still not showing as delivered on the Embassy's end.

On his receipt for the visa application fee, it states in part the following: "You are required to print the receipt, have the credit card holder sign the acknowledgment below, and submit it with your completed visa application pack. If you do not submit the signed receipt, your application will be returned to you unprocessed."

We are assuming the packet he sent in originally will not be processed because of this statement. So he is sending in another copy of the DS paperwork along with a copy of the signed receipt with delivery verification. Anyone know if we are being overly pro-active here? I know I had read that when you pay the visa fee isn't all that important but the receipt statement makes me wonder if that is an out-dated statement or if something changed recently?

I know I'm probably being a bit silly but what is the booking Reference number for, once you have paid for your Visa?

Is it to find out when your interview is?

Or do you quote it when you call?

Apparently you need to pay for your Visa before you send in your papers now.

Great post!!! We have been talking alot about this stuff as well as others. For this reason I feel much more confidence in the strength of our relationship versus others I've had in the past. There's some stuff I hadn't really thought of before, too. Thanks!

Thank you both, The only one I haven't got is Influenza they said they only give it to people over the age of 50. But I'll ask at the medical anyway just in case.

It's best to know London has logged in your case before they start receiving things from you. You know they are ready for you when you get the letter from the embassy or you call DOS who can say if it's logged in. Could be hanging in the mail room a bit so no file is set up.

London has worked out the most efficient way (in their minds) how they want to handle cases. Calling and trying to circumvent their procedures or jump the gun isn't always effective. Their plan is

1. Submit the DS 230 Part 1, DS-156, DS-156K, DS-157 with no photos or personal documents.
   
2. Medical results arrive.
   
3. Send DS-2001 notice of readiness letting them know you have all your documents in hand, have done #1 and 2, and when you are hoping to marry.
   

Nick-Nick on no.1 you have entered no photos or personal doc. Does this mean that you don't send in your Passport sized photos?

Please let me know so that I can get my filing re-organised. I have an appointment with Knightsbridge for the 27th, do I deliver the medical docs or Knightsbridge to the Embassy?

Again thank you so much for your help.

Thanks Nick Nick,

I booked my medical for next Friday hopefully they will have the documents then I tried calling the DOS number you had provided but unfortunately it is no longer in use, so I had to call the 1.20 line I was on the line for three minutes with the operator who was most helpful. He said whilst i was waiting for my medical that I could get my paperwork ready. Printing documents has never been so expensive lol

the embassy will send your fiance a letter a few days to a week after receiving your case from the nvc telling him to go here...

http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

Thank you Dan and Jenni I am John based in England and I was the person who got in contact with the NVC & US Embassy(London.

My question was does my Fiancee need to contact the Embassy to start up a temporary file as my medical is next week.

All my paperwork has been filled out in advance just waiting even though I know that's part of this process anyway.

I have being in touch with the NVC via e-mail and they have provided me with the LND number. I contacted the London Embassy after the NVC has said that they have sent the file forward to the Embassy.

Does my fiancee need to contact the Embassy to request them to start up a temporary case file or do they set the case up automatically?

As my fiancee has not personally received notification from the NVC.

I have also contacted the Embassy inquiring if they have received the case file and they have said no after a week has past. I also requested the e-mail code for which the Embassy replied that they prefered not to give that out unless it was case specific.

Thank you for your any advice you can provide.

I don't have a "like" one way or the other in this situation to be clear.

I work for the state I live in for the agency who pays for that service here. The payments we issue are not intended to serve as income for the foster parent at all. They are meant to ease the burden if caring for such children. Of course, we do not monitor where the money goes and some people take some or all for themselves as payment for their services. I don't know your state or how much you are paid so hopefully no one takes this to mean I am implying you are stealing from the kids. Each state is diffferent. I just know in our state the payments are akin to child support and therefore probably not taxable. Not taxable because it is intended to support a child not the foster parent. Our parents do not get much but it is alot more than I get for child support for my child. My GUESS is either they will look at counting your foster kids as dependants or not counting the maintenance as income. I agree some investigation is in order but rather with your company as to whether this is actually your income or considered a maintenance payment which means it is more meant to offset your cost of caring for these children.

Wow.. A week ago I was talking to my husband and while talking to him a female came on the line and my husband was put on hold. I asked how did she get connected to my line and she said I dialed the wrong number, she hung up and I then heard my husbands voice. He said the same thing happened to him only he was talking to a male. Never thought about ppl listening in on our conversation or recording it. We just thought it was weird.

When I was a kid we had what was called a "party line". I don't remember how it worked exactly but I know this... Several people use the same line and you could end up hearing other people's conversations cut in to yours or something. I was about 8 when we had that but I remember my parents telling me if it happened to just hang up and wait awhile. I would guess those are outdated things now but you never know...

Also there was a time when an ex of mine played me a voice mail that I supposedly left him and it was me talking to someone but you could only hear my side of the convo. I did not leave him that as a voice mail. It was a convo I was having with my mother. It was his cell phone that the vm was left on and it was my cell phone I was using at the time. I think when computers are involved anything is possible glitch-wise.

From previous posts people won't be drug tested. You admit drug use and you will need to see a psychiatrist or someone like that to determine whether your drug use is bad enough that you should be denied.

I know someone who had this issue come up and they did not even get asked about it. The situation was that the beneficiary had to turn in medical records that mentioned he used ecstacy when he was a kid. This is the difficult part of the forum. People fail to mention whether their post is opinion, speculation, or experience. I have seen all kinds of conflicting information on this site. I tend to look for certain people's answers because they seem to be more reliable, well-thought-out, most people who also seem to know alot about the process seem to agree with them, etc. I really wish this site would organize posts according to what stage you are working on in the various visas so all the past posts about the topic could be easily accessed. I sometimes have to try numerous different combinations of keywords to get what I am looking for. And, of course, policies change constantly. Sorry, Widsy, I know this kind of got hijacked from the actual topic to a side topic.

Sometimes people who admit to past drug use will be drug tested and then made to come back in six months or more for another drug test before the medical is approved

I read that in a previous post, too, but people argued against it, as well. Wish there was a way to tell if someone is expressing opinion or experience.

That seems stupid!

If my doctor on Tuesday decides to slap a 'denied due to high bp' on my papers, there will be serious words!

High bp is in my family, mother, grandfather, cousins etc.

My own gp told me that one day in the future, I will need treatment for it. But currently I'm 26 years old, of average weight, and don't think I need it yet...

You don't currently have a high bp, just genetics for it? If it was high I would think they would be treating it. Perhaps it is borderline. You might be able to get by with breathing slowly, deeply, thinking calm, relaxing thoughts. Either way, I don't think it would hold you back? I think the disease issue is more of a problem or finding yourself needing expensive medical treatment very soon that might make it likely you need assistance. This is just me speculating, though... Not real knowledge for sure.

They also ask about past drug use......which is a fail.

It is my understanding, perhaps I am wrong, that it depends on the drug use. If it was long ago history, under age, proof of treatment, etc. Those things make a huge difference. It used to be automatic fail but I thought I had read if it was over 3 years ago you should be ok or if it was an underage use-as long as no conviction of something, you should be ok. You will be asked about it but you would not necessarily fail.

They gave form, and gave him back his passport

and the form said what...?

YAY watch out America... the British are coming haha

thank you everyone... i am preparing my "oscar winning speech" right now

I have been chuckling about "The redcoats are coming..." all day and told everyone on Facebook to watch out there will soon be a British Invasion!!! hehe. John's cousin is already over here and married a girl up in Michigan... I have several friends from various parts of England here, too. I figure our countries are so closely related immigration should be a breeze!

Either way, Welcome to America! Should be just a matter of time now!

See my timeline!

Thanks!

2 years to the day that i met Jenni and 5 minutes ago.................. WE GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG i just cried like a baby hahahaha

YAY!!! Congrats! We just got approved, too! Awesome!!!

I was wondering if I could put a shout out to the London interviewers... What time line are we looking at from NOA2 to interview? Anyone who got their visa: how long before you got the visa after interview?

I looked at the timelines and such on here and it looks to me like, now that we have our NOA2, we should expect 3-4 months? 4-5 months?