ukcharlotte

I passed the written test and applied for the permit, but they didn't take my UK licence or even ask to see it. I spoke to the police officer who was sat in the corner of the room, and asked him about returning to a 'learner' status and he told me that that was now the case. He even explained that my UK licence wasn't valid to drive on beforehand because I didn't have the international driver's permit to go with it. So, according to the state of Colorado, I have been driving illegally for the last 7 months. I am now a 'legal learner' and have booked my test with a third party driving examiner (much quicker!) for this Saturday. After all this transition paperwork I feel as though having a licence will finally allow me to sit back and relax a bit - I should have all the documents that I need!

Thanks for the replies so far. For reference, I'm living in Colorado and this is the link to the requirements for foreign nationals: http://www.colorado.gov/apps/dor/dmv/smartstart/apply/newLicenseForeignNationals.jsf I spoke to a tier 2 supervisor regarding the matter as the guy who answered the phone was unsure.

I don't mind having to take the written and road tests, I'm just annoyed that getting a US permit invalidates my UK licence. I received my EAD over a month ago and was fortunate to start working two weeks later. Being unable to drive without being accompanied is going to mess with my job, particularly when I have been driving quite happily using my UK licence since October. I'll definitely speak to someone about it tomorrow and see what happens. If I do have to be accompanied once I receive a permit then I shall try and hold off on getting the permit until closer to the road test. Alternatively, I have found a third party who conduct road tests without having to wait 4 weeks for an appointment with the DMV. Their link, if you're curious about legitimacy, etc, is as follows: http://www.excelindriving.com/packages.htm#test

I arrived in the US in October and I am waiting for my Green Card to arrive any day now (please see signature for more info). I started working as a nanny two weeks ago and thought it about time to start working towards my US driving licence (good weather, AOS finished with for 2 years, etc), but have come across a problem. I phoned the DMV to ask about the fee for the written test which I am due to take tomorrow, and during his lengthy run-through of what would happen if I passed, he mentioned that I would have to surrender my UK driving licence in order to get my US permit. I would then be 'demoted' to a learner and wouldn't be able to drive on my own.

Is that what everyone emigrating and wanting a US licence has to go through?

The earliest date available for the road test is June 14th, so it seems that if I pass the written test and get my permit I won't be able to drive alone for 4 weeks. Also, can they legally take your UK licence from you? What about driving if I go home to visit? And finally, can I take the written test and delay applying for the permit until closer to the driving test?

It seems a little fair to be demoted to learner again when you are trying to do the right thing by applying for the US licence and not relying on the UK one.

Thanks! I look forward to hearing from you and appreciate you and your husband's assistance. A similar phrase that might translate better could be 'Live the teaching'?

Thanks, I shall try and find her!

My husband's grandfather was Danish

Hello!

My husband is wanting to have a tattoo in Danish but we can't afford the $80+ to have it 'professionally' translated. He wants to have the Danish equivalent of 'Be the teaching' but is concerned that the direct google translation of 'være undervisningen' is incorrect or loses the meaning? Basically, 'Be the teaching' is a command related to the teachings of Jesus so technically it is commanding you to live the teachings. It is a mantra to live by, so we want it to translate that way instead of translating it to something like 'be a teacher' or 'be the education'. If anyone can help I would very much appreciate it!

Thank you!

Thanks Nich-Nick. I scheduled an infopass appointment for two weeks before the interview; i'm hoping that they will be able to answer some of our questions and put our minds at rest.

C

My now husband and I have been together more than 5 years. We applied for a K1 visa in January 2012 and I came to the US on October 25th, 2012. At the time of preparing for the K1 process, the estimated time frame was almost a year from submission to having the K1 visa in hand, so we decided to make wedding plans for April 2013, which gave us 15/16 months in which to get the visa, make wedding plans and respond to any RFEs should we have needed to. Anyhow, we married legally within the 90 days, but due to our faith and wanting our April 2013 wedding to be the day that we have truly dreamt about, my husband and I are not living together - I live with one of his coworkers.

We applied for the EAD/AP/AOS late January 2013 and assumed that it would be about six months or so before we would have our interview. This, we felt, would be an ideal timeframe because we would have been living together as a 'bona fide' married couple for a couple of months before the interview occurred. However, our wedding day is April 29th and our interview is April 24th!

We have plenty of documentation aside from the marriage license ( my name is Mrs ********* on our health insurance, car insurance, house lease and other utilities, for example) and we have plenty of paperwork showing that we have spent thousands on a wedding that will occur in 4 days from our interview date. We have even considered getting our pastor to sign an affidavit stating our faith and that our relationship is real, but I am still worried that they will deny us based upon the fact that we are not yet living together.

I know that it is tricky to know exactly what the immigration officials will say or do, but I was wondering if anyone else had been in a similar situation? I love my husband dearly, and can't wait to start living with him, we just want to respect our faith, have the big wedding with all of our friends and family (who, coincidently, fly in the day of the interview!) and start married life on our terms and in a way that is special to us.

If anyone has some helpful thoughts/comments please share. I appreciate you reading this.

C

Oh and congrats on getting your visa!

Thanks! And ditto!

Mine arrived today in an unmarked, white Fiat Punto - not what I was expecting at all! I had the same 8am-6pm window so yours should be with you imminently! It's so pretty; I keep looking at it as I can't believe I have waited 9 months just for that sticker to be put into my passport.

Edit: Glad you have yours now! Shame about the other 10+ people who have been waiting for theirs to arrive today.

Hey! I was approved for my Visa today so just thought I'd pop by and thank everyone for their advice and support! Much appreciated!

I have my interview date!! It's on the 2nd of October, 2012 - two weeks from today! I'm so excited!!

Update

After phoning the DOS number (202-663-1225) last week to be told that I was ineligible for an interview I re-submitted the whole of packet 3 and made sure that it was delivered and signed for. I phoned the DOS just minutes ago and was told that I am now elible although they could not tell me when an interview date would be arranged. So, for now it seems, I am playing the waiting game once more. An early October POE is looking less and less likely.

*sigh*

Thanks for your response. I resent the forms yesterday with a cover note explaining that they were duplicates of forms sent in previously. Hopefully they won't be required and they'll just use the old ones, but I didn't want to wait another week before discovering that they had been mislaid.

I hope that we both hear soon.

So I phoned the number and spoke to a a lady who informed me that they haven't received my forms... or, at least, they don't think that they have. I sent the first batch (everything but the DS-2001) in on the 27th of July and I know they got there because I had them signed for. The DS-2001 was sent in on the 6th of July but wasn't tracked.

I feel gutted about this response and wonder what I can do next? Wait and hope that it was in a backlog of paperwork or send the forms again?

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

First off, did you call the Embassy or the Department of State?

The Embassy itself doesn't usually handle calls, so if you called something like the operator assisted visa information line, then they don't have full access to your notes.

Processing of files sent can take 7-10 days however this can vary. Just be prepared for a short notice interview.

I would call the DOS and ask directly if they have received the DS2001 ad if an interview date has been assigned if you haven't already.

Other things that could be holding it up are things like your medical results.

Did you have any missing shots? If you did and you haven't gotten them and updated the doctors they can delay sending your medical results off. So if you call the DOS, ask if the medical results have been received.

Otherwise I wouldn't sweat it. Yes it's taking longer than usual but it's not completely outside the norm. This is the busiest period for that office

Hi Photomile. Is the number to phone from the UK: 001 202 663 1225? I just wanted to check before making a potentially expensive call. Forgive me, but it seems odd to be phoning the US to see if they have received my forms when they were sent to the Embassy in London. But is that what I need to do? It's been just over three weeks since I submitted the forms, and over a month since my medical. Time is ticking away and I'm desperate for a date.

Charlotte

That's not correct. They will accept anything that clearly shows income or assets. Just figure out how you can best convince them you are currently employed with adequate income.

I'm glad that someone asked this question as I don't have my fiances tax return. The supporting docs that I have are a signed letter from his employer stating his earnings and three recent pay stubs. On the affidavit it actually says something along the lines of 'If self-employed a tax return is enclosed'... Since my fiancé isn't self-employed I figured his was an unnecessary extra. I hope this to be the case!

Okay doke. Thanks! I'll hopefully receive mine at some point next week.

It's been just over two weeks since I sent off the 'Application of Readiness for Interview' form, and around 3 weeks since I sent back the other forms for packet 3. I phoned the embassy yesterday and asked if they had received them and the guy said that they weren't showing on his system as received. I know that they got there as I had them signed for (both were received the day after they were sent) but it just seems that this is taking longer than it should do. He said not to panic because they have my medical results and they will imput the info from packet 3 right before they send out the interview date, but I was wondering if it should really take this long? I'm hoping to leave for the US on the 6th of October and I am concerned that 7 weeks isn't enough to get this last bit sorted.

Can someone who has recently been through the interview shed some light on why it might be taking so long?

Thanks!

That's great - thanks for the quick reply! Do let me know how you get on - it's so exciting to be in the final stages!!

I'm just waiting for the affidavit (and the supporting documents) from my fiance, so I will be ready to submit the DS-2001 very soon. However, I am concerned that I won't have enough supporting documents to show that our relationship is still ongoing. My fiance had sent the letter stating he is still in support of the application and that he is willing and able to get married within 90 days, but other than this and a Valentine's card, we don't have anything new aside from Skype conversations and e-mails.

Has anyone else been in this situation? I haven't been able to see him in the US since we filed the petition in January, so no boarding cards, tickets, receipts etc. I'd hate to get this far and then have issues because all communication has been electronic/online.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

I had my medical on Thursday (26th) at Bentinck Mansions. Here is a brief overview of everything that I can remember from the day...

When you arrive they ask you for the questionnaire, vaccination records and your passport/photograph. They hand you another questionnaire that you complete in the room next door. It's a very minimalist but elegant room complete with chandelier - pretty! You hand the form back once you have completed it and then sit back down in the room and wait.

Xray - This was in a totally separate room to the rest of the medical, right down the end of the corridor. They ask you to remove the top half of your clothing and put on a blue gown. Then they ask you to rest your chin on a chin rest up against the Xray plate, hold a lead panel across the back of your reproductove organs and take a deep breath. It's quick, painless and you then get asked to sit in a waiting room for the next part of the medical.

This room is small and for those people waiting for the main part of the medical - everyone was wearing matching blue gowns. I was in the room for about 35 minutes in total, and was facing a wall with a picture of what looked like a raw egg with a knife cutting through it. I didn't find it at all soothing! Then it was on to the main room with a short, round man who introduced himself as the medical doctor.

He sat me down beside the desk and we went through my vaccination records, my medical history (he noted down previous surgeries and current conditions). He was really quite friendly and we had a chat about my general health. He then asked me to watch him sign the piece of paper as I was do exactly the same. He started signing on my photograph and finished the signature on the paper. I had to do the same. I guess this was to make sure nobody changed the photograph at a later date?

After the talk we started the medical. This consisted of:

* Taking my height and weight

* An eyesight test - reading the letters on the wall and then he looked into my eyes with a magnifying light

* Taking my blood pressure/pulse

* A look in my ears and throat

* A reflex test on my knees

* Taking my pulse at my neck and ankles

* Listening to my breathing and heart

* Lymph node check on my neck, armpits and groin ('cough please')

* Breast check

At this stage he said that I could get dressed again (I was still wearing my lower clothing and the blue gown) although he asked me to keep my arms uncovered.

Then came to the blood test - only the one vial, so not a huge amount of blood, thankfully!

After the blood test he asks you to sit and put pressure on the arm for 15 minutes. He checked his watch and gave me a time when I could release it. I sat back down at the desk and he started signing more paperwork - ticking boxes and collating paperwork. He walked out of the office with the paperwork and (I presume) handed the paperwork to the receptionist. When he returned he wanted to look at the blood test 'wound'. He wiped away the fluff left over from the cotton wool swab and replaced it with a small, round plaster.

I was free to return to the original room and wait for the receptionist to call me and collect payment. She returned my documents, wished me luck and I was free to go!

Thanks! My GP phoned and rather unenthusiastically agreed to write me a letter regarding the anxiety. It should be ready (along with my vaccination records) on Tuesday. I'm just hoping it's a nice letter!

Can't say that I am looking forward to the medical if I am honest. I have an intense fear of needles and London is 100 miles away from home, so it's not as though I can have the medical and then be home in 10 minutes to curl up in bed. I'm much less worried about the interview, even though that is the final and most significant part to all this!

I have my medical scheduled for next Thursday - eek! On the Knightsbridge web page it says that I need to bring "Medical reports of any past or current illnesses including psychiatric."

Does this mean that I need a print out of my entire medical history? I have had a few surgeries in my life, but the only current condition that I have is anxiety. Will they want the whole history though? Your replies would be very much appreciated as I have my GP phoning tomorrow so I need to know what to ask him for.

With thanks,

Charlotte