Lisa-O

I dont see that anywhere on the police certificate forms that you need transcripts http://www.acro.police.uk/uploadedFiles/Police%20Certificate%20Application%20Form%20V18%20PDF.pdf . Or do you mean for the interview etc?

For the police certificate, it does ask you to provide details on the continuation page where you will need to write about it.

Looking on the London Embassy website it states this under the checklist for 'the interview' 2nd para is in question - it states I need one then in the same sentance states not needed if this happened in the UK?? I just dont want to turn up to the interview and be turned away because I dont have enough info, even worse be denied an interview. I've already been to the embassy about this for a travel visa in the past so it shouldnt be an issue, Im just trying to cover all bases!! Thanks

Police Certificates for the United Kingdom: A visa applicant who has resided in the United Kingdom for 6 months or more since the age of 16, is required to obtain a police certificate from the ACPO Criminal Records Office (ACRO). Further information is available from their website at www.acro.police.uk. This police certificate will serve to advise the U.S. Embassy, London whether or not any criminal conviction is held against him/her. The police certificate will be sent to the applicant's address provided at the time of application. Please note that the Immigrant Visa Unit considers the police certificate valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, not six months as stated on the certificate. If the police certifiate states "No Trace" or "No Live Trace", please be prepared to discuss your arrests/cautions/convictions with the consular officer on the day of the interview.

******Court and Prison Records: Persons who have been convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each court record and any prison record, regardless of the fact that he or she may have subsequently benefited from an amnesty, pardon or other act of clemency or the United Kingdom Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. (DOES NOT APPLY TO APPLICANTS CONVICTED IN THE United Kingdom)

Court records should include:Complete information regarding the circumstance surrounding the crime of which the applicant was convicted and the disposition of the case, including sentence or other penalty or fine imposed

I'm in the process of sending off for my police certificate. Unfortunately I was convicted of a driving offence some years ago, and was wondering if I need to get the court transcripts - the checklist has in red that if this happened in the UK then I do not. Is this correct?

Thanks

Hi Everyone,

I know this question has probably been asked many times before, but Im a little confused. We have our NOA2 letter, A number and LND number. Instead of me receiving my next instruction, I received a letter stating that the embassy had not heard from me...so I called the embassy and they stated that the letter was asking me to fill out the following forms: DS230I, DS156, DS157, IV15 and I134. My question is this, do all forms need to be sent at the same time, or can I send some and take the affidavit of support with me to the Embassy, and when can I book the medical, and do I take the police cert with me or send it with the DS230 form?

Sorry if this sounds silly, but I dont have the letter to refer to, and the Embassy were unable to send a duplicate?!?!

Thanks for your help!

Yeah, I thought this may be the answer. I know it isnt long, but it's an important birthday and I'd like to be able to celebrate it, I'd also like to spend my last Christmas here with my family...suppose I cant have the best of both worlds eh...thanks

Hey everyone,

Just sending off paperwork to US Embassy in London...and a thought had come to me...I'd like to visit my fiance in November for his birthday, and we are hoping to have had the interview by then. After a few delays, we were expecting to get married in November, but have pushed the wedding back to March, and I'm looking to move over in December. This is my question...if I'm approved before November, can I still travel to the USA on a tourist visa, or will I be forced to start my fiance visa then? I say I cant go without starting the fiance visa, my fiance says I should be able to come on a tourist visa? Im confused - any advice?

Thanks, Lisa

Hello:

To all my VJ Family this is just an update.

Good News and a little not so good .

CSC is great fast service less then four months and my case been touched that the good news.

But have a RFE today not so good but im SO HAPPY that it's a step closer to my love .

I Have not gotten my letter but i know what the RFE might be about ( I forgt to put in the Proof of having met in person) But any way im still SOOOOOOOOOO Happy .

Will update when i know what it is for.

The same happened to me, I put in secondary proof rather than primary and secondary, I thought I had to take it to the interview...so as soon as this is sent hopefully we shall hear something shortly after...good luck on your visa journey

Hi all,

Just wanted to see what is going on with VSC and when any of us Feb filers will hear anything. Seemingly to get no news at the moment about anything?

Also anything i can be doing in the meantime to get everything in order when i do eventually get NOA2 ?

Thanks

Mark

6 months tomorrow for us...we got a 'request for more information' on 1st August, so that'll push the application back a month. Hope you hear something soon!

Hey Everyone,

So we're currently waiting for NOA2 and it'll be 6mnths on 6th Aug since receiving NOA1...checked the USCIS website which states there is a request for evidence! I rang them, and they can't tell me anything as Im not the petitioner. Can anyone tell me what reasons/sorts of evidence others have needed to send? Is this just concerning the petitioner or could it be a problem with me? I'm just a little worried as it's taken them so long to get in touch?

Thanks for any advice/info - I know no-one here can give me answers as to why this has happened to us, but your own experiences would be appreciated!

Umm... sorry...but yes, you will have a problem trying to travel back to the UK a week after your wedding in the US. Travelling to the UK isn't the problem, but getting back into the US afterwards will be.

If you come in on a K1 visa, and then get married, you can't leave the country until you have been given either AP (Advanced Parole) or you have completed AOS (Adjustment of Status) and been given your green card.

If you leave the US before either of those things happen, you will be deemed to have abandoned your residency application and would have to start all over again with a CR1 (as you would now be married, so the K1 is out).

Thanks Everyone...thinking about it makes sense, but I hadn't thought about what happens after I get married, I've just been fixating on the stages of the Visa being granted etc...Im glad I havent put deposits down for arrangements for anything in the UK, just a bit disapointed I cant travel home for Christmas.

Thanks again

Hey Everyone,

Currently awaiting my NOA2, should be any day now, and putting together plans for the wedding. What we are doing is getting married in the USA, and the following week have a party in the UK for family who couldnt make it to the wedding. I havent really thought about my change in status or the next stage after this tbh, but my question is this - will there be a problem travelling back to the UK after we've been married? Im aware we'll need to prove that we've been married, but I don't want to be denied back to the USA?

Any advice would be fantastic, thanks

Hi fellow VJ'ers.

As we all know from all the experiences we have had so far in our journey's planning is EVERYTHING.

So we are all already looking into our options for our lovely mini Schnauzer - Leo - to fly to Houston.

I have researched as much as I could over the weekend and my wife has phoned airlines as much as she could as well.

So far, Continental/United is absolutely useless. Very unprofessional and has no idea what is currently going on with their own "PetSafe" scheme. Several calls later we still have no idea.

British Airways is much more upfront and just came to the point by saying: "Use a pet agent to transport your dog....." Is this the norm? Pay lots of money for someone to do what seems to be something quite basic?

Searching here on VJ was also quite vague as to the actual process of getting a pet on the plane.

We already know what the requirements are for Texas - Health Check Document (not older than 3 days) and a Rabies shot not younger than 30 days. We have our own airline approved kennel for him with all the other requirements as well (water and food containers etc)....as far as I can see we just need to get him on the plane now.....and I can't see where the value is in paying £500+ for this "service"....

Anyone else experience would be nice...thanks.

Hi, I had looked into this too a few month ago...Delta and Virgin also do pet travel. All the pet couriers do, is make sure all the documents are in order, escort the dog in pen area ready to go on the plane, give them a quick walk etc then escort the dog in pen on the plane, and vice versa the other end. If you go thru the airline companies themselves, they have reps to do the same thing. I think the reason they ask to have a courier do this, is because they know the ins and outs of transporting animals and nothing goes amiss, and its piece of mind for yourself. £500 sounds about right, this should include pen and everything, I was looking at the same price for a giant bullmastiff. The best thing to do is probably call as many airlines and couriers as possible to see what they can all offer, and you'll have a better idea of which way you want to go from there. Take a look on KLM's website or youtube pet transport, and there's company videos of what happens behind the scenes, it made me feel better about the whole process. Good Luck, I hope you get everything goes well for you!!

I have used United Van Lines on a move to and from GB and they were excellent. They packed the entire household at the origin and unpacked at the destination, both ways. In addition I also shipped the car in the same container, so everything arrived at the same time and in less than 4 weeks. I would highly recommend them.

This is something I'm looking into too. I don't have quite so much but still a couple of boxes worth, so Ive been looking at Royal Mail International and DHL, and also googling some 3rd party companies...does anyone know if I have to pay duty on my stuff or would I get a small stereo and lava lamp through customs in a suit case??

She does not need a tourist visa, but I am wondering where you read it was Ok to work as a visitor.

I had read it on the visa page that if you organise the service and receive the monies in the UK then it is not classed as business within the US, but I have decided to just wait until the visa come through, as I dont want to do anything wrong, or something that may be frowned upon. Thanks

Yeah hope you really think about trying to get in with the tourist visa. I have heard a few horror stories with someone even getting banned because they entered under a false representation (lied to CBP officer when they entered). They do run your name into their computer.

Let's say you do come on tourist for visit, then you would have to go back to get your K1. Then come back again and get married. Lots of coming and going expenses adding up here. Trust me when I say we know how hard the wait is. We ALL do, but we make it. Do not get frantic here at the finish line and do something that may end up being regretted later. This immigration stuff is a "process" and there are no shortcuts, except doing it right the first time.

Good luck and best wishes on your upcoming marriage.

Hi, I have no intention of falsifying anything, as it is morally wrong and would be shooting myself in the foot, I have decided just to wait for the visa to come through, after all it should only take a few more weeks to come through. Thanks, and Best Wishes to you too

I meant it as a tongue-in-cheek comment. I hope you have a smashing wedding ceremony, with all the drama, the crying, the drinking and family-bickering at which we Americans are so good! All the more reason for you to learn breathing exercises while you wait for the visa to be approved. You will be ok. As someone else said: Hang in there!

I know Thanks! Its a small ceremony and reception, but the day after there will be a huge party...can't wait I went to a friends wedding in America last year, and all I can say is yikes!!! Very loud ha ha...everyone had a great time

Have you got everything in place for the London part? If not there's some good information of what you should be doing right now in this thread http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/

Wow, thats very useful, thanks!! I have most of the documents, I'll get on the others! Thanks for your help

Oh gosh, even more stress! I like to have everything planned out too so when I'm left in limbo it's very frustrating. I totally understand! You can always come and vent to people on here when you're not feeling good, lots of other people are in the same boat as you. Just be glad you're nearing the end now. Once you get your NOA2, the medical and interview will be all that is left. That part goes by quite quickly

TBH I was really stressed out this past week, but I have things sorted the best I can. Like I said before, it's fantastic there are people in the same position you can talk to, puts things into perspective...and by looking at the forums, Im not the worst one off. I just rang USCIS and they said to keep waiting, but if they needed more info they would have been in touch by now! So I suppose that's a silver lining

It's ok! This is a very stressful period and so many things are going on. Arranging a wedding is hard enough in your own country, let alone when you're trying to settle into a new one and don't know where anything is. I hope you have someone who can help you arrange things when you arrive. In the meantime all you can do is try and occupy your time with other things to try and take your mind off it. Being positive is the only thing that will get you through the wait. Hang in there!

Exactly! Im lucky enough to have my fiance's parents help out as he is working away for the next 10 weeks...Im also selling my home, so that should keep me busy in the mean time. Im a control/organisational freak, and I have no control, I think this is half of the problem. Thanks for your kind words

Viva Las Vegas!

Ha ha yes this has also been suggested

You have 6 months from the time they issue your visa to enter the USA. You then have 90 days to get married. You should have a little more than 2 days. Try not to worry too much, it will be all over before you know it. Spend your time with friends and family while you still can. Go to your favourite places and try to think about something else.

Sorry I hadnt explained that one, yeah from the time the visa is issued I will have more time, Im thinking of worst case scenareo...I need to be more positive!!

Are you serious?

Why are you even going to consider this when you are so close in the process?

Hey Everyone, thanks for the information...seems I need totake the test again :'(

Why are you even going to consider this when you are so close in the process?

I was thinking of going for a longer 'holiday' (within visiting visa) and come back for the interview...it's probably me being impatient, but at the rate I'm going I'll see my fiance 2 days before our wedding, and I have a cake and flowers to organise, I just want to be there already!!!

Another VJ-er may be able to provide more advice on the freelance option, but do be careful that you don't work for a US-based employer without receiving the appropriate employer authorization document (EAD) first.

On the driver's license item, this varies by state. Click on the link in my signature below to get access to the motor vehicles department for the state where you'll live.

Thankyou for your help If I can establish myself, I want to be self employed...but definately want to do things by the books! I dont want to give the embassy any excuse to reject my visa application. I'll check that link now - enjoy your day

Hey guys,

Its me again...just trying to weight up all of my options here. I'm currently waiting for my NOA2 (next few days hopefully) I'm looking to go to the states asap on a tourist visa a few weeks before we get married, if I dont get the visa before that is! Ive had a look into freelancing, which Ive read up on, and from what I can gather, as long as my wages are paid into a UK bank account Im all good? I do not in any way want to get myself into trouble and work illegally...so I wanted to know if anyone has any experience in this field.

Also, I have held a UK driving license for 14 years, and presumed it would be ok to take this with me, but a couple of my fiance's relatives believe I will need to take a test in the US...is that correct?

Thankyou for your help, since I joined yesterday I've learned more about processing times, and it's comforting to see other couples going through the same process. Good Luck everyone

If you can move the wedding back to give yourself more time then do it. You want to be able to relax enjoy your wedding (and the time just before it) and not be a bag of nerves and stressed in the run up to it.

Thanks Lynne, yeah I agree, theres a lot of variables for it to end in tears...pushing the date back a bit would make things easier

You should be fine, took me under 7 months to get it, and the NOA2 took 5 months to arrive.

Thanks, Im getting a little anxious, as Im also selling my home for the move and dont want to end up living with my parents again if anything is delayed...Im thinking about pushing the wedding back 2-3 weeks if the venue will let us do this. It's all such a rollercoaster, but definately worth it!!! Congratulations on your visa

Hey everyone...

Just to follow on from my first post about timing...I've had a look at a lot of other couples' timelines, and they seem to be getting approved for the visa in around 8 months sometimes shorter. I should be receiving my NOA2 in the next week or so, the general time for approval after this date is 2-3 months, which would take me to beginning of August/Sept...so I'm thinking I could be OK for the wedding in October...or do you guys think this is too close and could end in disaster??

Thanks for your input, and good luck with your own applications.