loosegee

Thanks for the link Moomin. Appreciate it

Trying to get an idea of what things i need to do within the first few weeks after moving to California while i wait for my SSN to arrive.

I currently have a UK drivers license. I will be entering under IR-1/CR-1 January 2013 so adjustment of status isn't an issue.

I think i remember reading somewhere that new residents in California MUST apply for or exchange their drivers license within 7 or 10 days or something like that.

So my question is, as a new resident of California MUST i apply for a California license within this 7-10 day period? I understand that i will have to sit a driving test and wont be able to just exchange my license. Or can i continue to use my UK license for up to a year or so?

My wife tells me that i wont be able to get car insurance if i don't have a US license so i'm kind of a little confused about what i need to do and when.

Before anyone suggests it, i've been all over the California DMV site and can't find a clear answer to this so i'm hoping some people on here having actual experience. Cheers

Ah, ok. Thanks Holly

Just read another IR-1/CR-1 interview review and they had to pay $400???

Hi all. I have my interview at the London Embassy this coming Friday. IR-1/CR-1 Spousal Visa.

I have been on here for the past 20 minutes or so reading peoples experiences of their interviews for the same type of visa and in 2 or the reviews people have mentioned having to go to a window and pay for their visa. One person mentioned something about paying $230 and the other person just said they were asked to go to window 12 and pay for their visa.

We weren't aware that we had to pay a fee at the embassy other than the courier fee.

We have paid for everything that needed to be paid throughout the process. Is there a payment at the end just to get the actual visa itself?

So far out of the 10-20 embassy reviews i've read i only seen this mentioned in 2 reviews.

Just to state, I'm not objecting to having to pay it. I just wasn't aware of it up to now.

Thanks for the info guys

Ok I just called Bentinck Mansions and asked exactly what I need to bring. I was told the following.

Things Required

Passport

Photo

Questionnaire

Police Certificate

Things Not Required But Bring If You Can Get

Vaccination Records

Full medical history only if you are being or have ever been treated for some serious illness or disease

Hi all. I am pretty close to getting my visa. My interview date is Sept 14th and I should be leaving the UK around the end of the year. I was just wondering what the deal is with coming back to the UK again for a visit after I leave. Once I enter the USA do I have to stay in the country for a certain length of time before I can leave to visit somewhere outside the country? Do I need to get something special stamped into my passport to allow me back into the USA after a visit elsewhere?

Thanks for the reply Photo. I agree with you about my vaccination record. How can my Dr say that without having a vaccination record to look at.

As for the medical history, the page you linked to doesn't ask for it but this pages clearly states Medical History as a seperate requirement to vaccination records

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3739.html

Ok great info here. I just have a few questions.

1: My appointment is Sept 3rd with Knightsbridge Doctors at 4 Bentinck Mansions. Do I need to go to this Alliance Medical Centre?

2: I have an appointment with my GP this Wednesday to get my medical records printed out which will cost me around £50. Do I need my medical records? Also, I was at my GPs office a few weeks ago and he told me I don't have an immunisation record even though I am up to date with all childhood vaccinations. Is this common?

Lastly can someone tell me exactly what I need to bring with regard to medical paperwork.

Thanks

Suit yourself then since you've got it figured out. Not sure why you asked.

Just so you know, I don't dream up answers. I study the documents and try to give very correct information. I got this information from the official Technical Instructions for Panel Physicians for Vaccinations, specifically this paragraph:

Vaccination Documentation

Acceptable vaccination documentation must come from a vaccination record, either a personal vaccination record or a copy of a medical chart with entries made by a physician or other appropriate medical personnel. Only those records of doses of vaccines that include the dates of receipt (month, day, and year) are acceptable. The document must not appear to have been altered, and dates of vaccinations should seem reasonable.

Self-reported doses of vaccines without written documentation are not acceptable

.

If you want to learn about the entire medical exam, start reading here http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/technical-instructions-panel-physicians.html and click each link for the details on the various sub-parts.

Best of luck to you and let us know how it goes. It will be interesting to see if Knightsbridge will forego their instructions in favor of what your Mum reports.

Nonetheless, the embassy website says an immunization record is asked for but not required. The doctor will work with you to determine which shots you need. I also called Knightsbridge and the woman said a written note from my GP is fine.

Suit yourself then since you've got it figured out. Not sure why you asked.

Just so you know, I don't dream up answers. I study the documents and try to give very correct information. I got this information from the official Technical Instructions for Panel Physicians for Vaccinations, specifically this paragraph:

Vaccination Documentation

Acceptable vaccination documentation must come from a vaccination record, either a personal vaccination record or a copy of a medical chart with entries made by a physician or other appropriate medical personnel. Only those records of doses of vaccines that include the dates of receipt (month, day, and year) are acceptable. The document must not appear to have been altered, and dates of vaccinations should seem reasonable.

Self-reported doses of vaccines without written documentation are not acceptable

.

If you want to learn about the entire medical exam, start reading here http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/technical-instructions-panel-physicians.html and click each link for the details on the various sub-parts.

Best of luck to you and let us know how it goes. It will be interesting to see if Knightsbridge will forego their instructions in favor of what your Mum reports.

Nonetheless, the embassy website says an immunization record is asked for but not required. The doctor will work with you to determine which shots you need.

I don´t want to rain on your parade, but I don´t think the U.S. government is really interested in what you mother says. Can you imagine the mayhem if the visa and entry process was influenced by what all of our mother´s said?

If it´s not a certified doc, generally they don´t care.

She would be there to verify my vaccs. She knows what shots and the dates. The problem is I don't have a written record just my GP verifying that my childhood immunizations are up to date.

Thank you all for your response.

My wife says I can just get an antibody titer test to determine which shots I need and to get them from my GP. I don't think this is necessary. It says on the embassy website that a vaccination record is not mandatory to bring to the exam and that they will work with you based on your medical record what vaccs you need.

My mother is accompanying me to my medical. She can confirm to the doc all my childhood shots are up to date. After all, she was there. Her word is good as gold.

I went to my GP to get my immunization record as I don't remember when the last time I got a shot. I was very young. GP says he can't find my immunization record so he wrote a note that all my childhood shots are up to date. He also said I don't need a tetanus shot as the last shot I had was in 1991 and it is not common practice in the UK anymore to do tetanus every ten years. Is the written note from my GP sufficient enough for the medical? And do I still need the tetanus shot?

You dont get it so fast give or take 6 weeks after case is closed. In the mean time you can work on setting up your signiture time line to help others.

NVC must read visa journey. I got my interview date today!

I'm getting antsy. It's been two weeks since nvc said my case is closed and still no interview appontment?

Called to check up on status and they said our case is closed! We have to wait for interview appointment from the US embassy in London! Woohoo!!

Not sure how much more we have to wait, anyone know?

I called to confirm the status of our case. The guy said I will be notified of an interview appointment. So does this mean our case is closed? I can still sign into the online payment portal so I am not sure.

Thanks Cathy

Hi all. At the beginning of last week I finally got my DS-230 application and supporting documents FedEx'd off to the NVC from the UK. all being well am I right in thinking the next thing I'll get is a letter with an interview date and instructions on arranging my medical examination?

Also, as far as what I need to bring to the interview we are getting a little confused with the London Embassey site. As part of the supporting documents I sent off last week I included some certified court records that cost me almost £300 to obtain. The UK Embassey site seems to be saying I need to bring another certified copy of these documents (which would cost me another £300) yet on another part of the site it says if I've already submitted these documents to the NVC then I only need to bring my passport and some photographs.

Could someone here who has submitted their DS-230 with supporting documents to the NVC tell me what they were required to then bring to their interview please. Thanks

Not sure where to post this but...

We just sent out our ds-230 (packet 3). I went to update my timeline and noticed that packet 3 received/sent is after Consulate Processing. As a result, the timeline is not in chronological order and causes confusion. Is there a reason why visajourney formatted it this way? Shouldn't the packet 3 sent/received dates be after the step of paying your IV bill?

I notice that others are now able to pay the $230 online. When I log into up the payment portal I am still unable to pay the IV fee , it still says total amount: $0. I called NVC and the operator said it takes 10-15 days to resolve? Is this true. It seems like 10-15 days is their answer to everything. I don't know what to do at this point, I'm already behind schedule as I was invoiced for the iv bill last month. I didn't have the funds then. Now I am able to pay I can't pay it. Should I send the payment in by snail mail or would this further delay my case?

My wife logged in this morning to pay IV fee and discovered the total fee amount was $0. As a result she couldn't select to pay the fee. She logged in last week ad it was fine, she saw the new fee amount but logged out and decided to postpone payment to today. She called NVC and the operator said they have been having issues with the payment portal system. She said it will get resolved within 10-16 days? That seems an awful long time!

Is anyone else having the same issues with the payment portal?

Wow. No one here knows how to obtain court records? Really? ?