LouisePaul

Hello everyone!!

Jus called DOS today and they've logged our case and sent off our 'Packet 3' on monday so tomorrow Paul is going to send off packet 3, we've got all the forms ready and filled out we just need to take copies and include the copies, the only question I have is: do you need to include some sort of cover letter or note with it or just the forms? Maybe your LND number? Basically does anything else go into the envelope besides the forms and the copies of the 2 forms?

Also I need to call NVC to update my timeline, I never called for our LND number/ to see when they got it then sent it because the day I was going to start calling I got a letter with our case number lol So I know my timeline doesn't look like we're at this point yet but we are!

Thank you so much!

Louise

You can call the NVC to get the LND# if you don't want to wait until the letter is received: (603) 334-0700

Also, don't call the embassy unless you like spending lots of money. If you just want to confirm they've received your case from the NVC, call the Dept. of State, (202) 663-1225, press 1, then 0 to get confirmation of it being logged in the system.

So far, the only time I've called the embassy number was to pay the visa application fee. The DOS number is the one you want to keep on hand since they will be able to let you know when the DS forms have been logged as well as the interview date. We learned the interview date a couple of days before the letter arrived.

I got the letter and my LND number today I was just wondering where we were at in the flow chart, and your right I'll be calling DOS I said embassy but meant DOS lol

Okay so I'm excited!

And of course I have another question!

I just got a letter form NVC DOS saying they recently got our petition and within a week they'll be sending it to london, my question is: is it just a general thing letting me know whats going on and my LND number?

I'm guessing its a general letter but I thought I'd ask (so should I start calling the embassy in 5-7 business days? or should I give it a few more days than that? (basically I don't know where this falls on the flowchart lol))

Louise

It's not critical...send the day of your medical, next day, two days later, one day before. It's only my opinion that it may be better than sending weeks earlier with your other forms. I've encouraged people to start a spreadsheet to gather data on how long after the last thing arrived did they get an interview, but nobody ever did. Maybe see if there is a difference mailing with the other forms or to arrive about the time of the medical.

Previous years had this going --a thread for all the chit-chat and Yays plus times. It was a hang-out for everybody. I made some great friends who I've eventually met in person. But that format wouldn't work so well now because back then the interview wasnt dependent on receiving medical results. So measuring from returning P3 was a good comparison in 2010. There's extra variables in 2012. See example post http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/231791-2010-united-kingdom-interview-thread/page__view__findpost__p__3942392 Now there's a new thread a day saying "how long does it take?"

This is our old UK AOS spreadsheet. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ak8egWAow_WkcDR4U3RXUkRIVkc2ZFZveG1UR0FLRWc#gid=0

Thank you for the info! Ah I see I wasn't sure if there was some sort of spread sheet but I agree it does make sense that getting it all there in their order and around the same day would go through sooner/at least not delay it. See I was asking because today I was working on the google calendar we use to keep track of all our immigration dates and information and I was trying to 'guess it out' and see where things could land based on similar timelines to get a rough idea lol

Also side note to anyone else reading this I highly recommend www.wedoist.com to make lists of everything that needs to get done so you and your person can stay on top of things together. I've found it helps a lot especially to make notes lol - I wonder what other people use?

Hey everyone!

Quick question, when you say wait 3-4 days after you attend your medical to send off your readiness packet, so that your medical results will arrive on or around the same day your readiness packet will, do you mean 3-4 business days?

Louise

If you've mailed back your response, you ought to be approved within 2 weeks (unless that's changed a lot recently).

Your right, ours was approved on September 13, 12 days after we sent our RFE response.

Follow London's instructions. http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

1. DS application forms with duplicates as instructed.

2. Medical

3. Ds2001 readiness form and cover letter with additional info requested on London website No additional DS230 because they got it in #1 mailing.

Oh okay thank you!

I intend to follow London's instructions I was just double checking because the from says to send the DS230 with it but I hadn't heard anyone else mention sending that form with the readiness and cover letter.

Hello everyone!

Quick question:

On form DS-2001 at the bottom it says:

Please send this form, along with Form DS-230 Part 1 (for each applicant), to the

address of the United States Embassy or Consulate listed on the cover letter of

this information packet.

So they want you to send a copy of From DS-230 Part 1 along with form DS-2001 and a cover letter?

Louise

YAY I'm SO excited!!!

Thank you for your responses!!

Louise

Hello everyone!

On August 15th we got an RFE for our I-129F petition

On September 1st we sent off our response to the RFE

On September 6th the USCIS website said they received our RFE reply and to await a mail response.

Then today I checked the USCIS website (which I do every day) they jumped from RFE past 'Decision' straight to 'Post Decision Activity' and said we were approved!

I'm so thrilled we were approved but we never got anything in the mail saying they received our RFE response or weather or not what we sent was enough the website just jumped from we got your stuff wait for a response in the mail to oh hey good news your approved.

Is this normal? Was the Approval the response? Should I have gotten something in the mail? / Have I but it hasn't come yet?

Sorry for all the questions I'm just excited/nervous lol!

Thank you everyone!

Louise

For crying out loud. I KNOW what it says. Did you read what I wrote?

To be clear, "city and country" or city and State for the USA is sufficient for an employer address on a G325a. When self employed, simply self employed with an occupation in the next field is sufficient. If you want belt and suspenders, enter the home address or just "Self Employed from home".

There is no special field or "section" for the address of an employer.

Thank you for your response!

Louise

I simply put Self-Employed without an address, then listed occupation and dates. I had no issues. If you really want to put an address there, just put your current home address.

Just put your best guess as to the month and year you began to freelance.

You do not need a letter from your employer if you are self-employed. There is no employer to get a letter from. You need your tax transcripts to prove income for the affidavit of support when self-employed.

Oh okay good idea! Of course it makes sense lol - Did you leave the address section blank or did you put N/A or?

Thank you for your help!

Louise

giving it a bump

Hello everyone!

Basically, we got an RFE for evidence of having met within the last 2 years of filling for the petition, and I needed to properly fill out form G-325A.

I'm sure we wouldn't have gotten an RFE had I been using visa journey as much as I am now! Only weeks after I sent the petition did I realize how amazing this site is!

We've covered the evidence part of it and I'm filling out the form again *Using visa journey's example forms* of course, but I'm unsure what to put for my employment. I'm a Freelance graphic artist and have been for a few years now but I don't know when I exactly started and because it's freelance I don't have an employer/address for it. I have moved so even if I did put my house address would I have to use 2 lines, fill one out for one address and another line for the old address?

I don't know what I did wrong on this form lasttime because I was in a rush and didin't get to make a copy of it *will not be making that mistake again* but it could have been this question.

Any help for what I should say for this question would be great!

Thank you so much!

Louise

There's a single fee that includes the chest X-Ray at the UK medical at £227 total.

Provided he has all his vaccinations up to date he will have nothing else to pay unless they require something like a Sputum Sample which is not very likely.

Oh okay thank you very much!

Hey everyone!

I have been looking and can't seem to find the answer so I'm hoping someone could clear this up for me

When my guy goes to the medical I know he will have to pay the 227£ because hes 15& over (of course lol) and I'm assuming he'll have to pay the 140£ for the chest x-ray. My question is, aside form the vaccinations (he already got all the ones that applied to him done) which other things on the list will he have to have done/pay for? all of them?

heres the list for a quick reference (page 6): http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv018a_medical.pdf

Thank you for your help!!

There is a way to extract the call log data from Skype. It would show the call, who it's with, and the length of the conversation in a handy-dandy spreadsheet format. This option works with both Mac and Windows on Firefox: http://stephanietan.boldersecurity.com/2011/04/analyzing-skype-chat-and-call-logs.html

Once I exported the data, I just sorted for conversations with my fiancé and have them organized by date. Like many on here, we mostly use Skype for video chats, so the only IMs are when we're sending links to something.

Awesome! Really great link!

I'm so sorry this happened! Like everyone else is saying good on ya for the amazing attitude after that!

A few years back my guy tried to come over on a student visa with the full intent to go to school here lol and my parents were sponsoring him (I was too young to get married at the time), and I just asked him about the interviewer he said the lady wore glasses had dark hair in a pony tail and was in late 20s or so - he didn't get the visa because she didn't believe friends would sponsor him (my dad signed a letter of intent and had bank statements)or that he was actually going to go to the school here - okay granted we didn't know much about the process and didn't know about VJ at the time. . .But it would be funny - in a not funny but kinda funny way if it was the same lady.

Also everyone keeps mentioning skype logs - I'd be more than willing to print them out but the only problem is we never really said anything in chat we'd always be in a call if talking on skype - so there would only be goodnight messages and calls - does that count? lol

Good luck Stu!!

After going thru a K1 process chances are he will find it a breeze...

Wish him luck and congrats to both off you!

Thank you!

Think of good ways to prove that income will continue...meaning it's not like full-time employment where he gets a regular salary each month. Bring some documentation to show it comes in month after month over a long period of time so they will be convinced it will continue to come in.

Taxes: He won't be taxed double on the same income. There are tax treaties in place between the US and UK. He'll be taxed by one or the other. If he pays in the UK, then he reports to the IRS, but gets credit for foreign taxes already paid on the money. It'll be complicated at first with the options.

He has created account ledgers/spreadsheet for each month, do you think thoese along with some bank statements form a few months back to the appointment would be enough to prove it?

1/No problem. His UK money is his and he can use it as he sees fit.

2/Once he is living in the US he will have to include any foreign income in his yearly tax returns filed in the US. I am almost sure - i.e. I may be dead wrong - he will also have to file taxes in the UK, for the money is counted as income there too; and he will still be a British citizen. Let's see if someone else had a first hand experience on a similar situation.

Wonderful! Thank you for your quick response lol

Now we just need to figure out how to move a sole trader company to the US so it will be a US company/sole proprietor lol

Thanks for good wishes, everyone. I was approved this morning! Review added but message me any particular questions you have about the big day. My top tips: bring snacks, and believe everything you thought to be true a week ago... nerves make you questions everything! No additional evidence was requested, no photos asked for, and only i-134 of my co-sponsor looked at.

Good luck!

Congratulations!! haha great top tips Thanks for posting your review!

Does the income meet the requirement for your household?

It varies monthly depending on the amount of sales but currently the average does, yes

We will be/are trying to self sponsor with his income/savings and we're hoping that because his income will continue while in the US that will help our case.

If his income is being derived from the UK he can use that money, no problem. As soon as he becomes a resident he will have to include that in his tax returns though.

Until he receives his EAD he cannot be hired in the US or be involved in any working activities that would require his employer to report his income to the Fed & State government. In other words, he cannot accept work in the US or receive any monies in the US related to work performed in the US.

If I understood correctly the money of which you speak is being deposited in the UK and he is drawing from his UK bank account. Is that correct?

Yes, since he is a sole trader and has no employees all the money from the apps (which are sold world wide on various phone app markets) goes into his UK bank account.

Another question, until he is a resident he will pay his taxes to the UK as normal even though he is living in the US, then once he is a resident he will pay taxes on the app income in the US not the UK? Is that right? I intend to do more research on this

Hello everyone!!

I've been looking into this and have had trouble finding answer to my question, although I'm sure after I ask I'll find the answer everywhere lol!

My fiancé is a Sole Trader, he sells applications for phones, because of the nature of his business his income will continue even if he is not working, meaning sales still come in without having to do anything. I don't think this would be considered working but would he be able to use the income from his app sales when he is in the US or is the money/income not allowed to be touched until he is authorized to work? I would have assumed he could because he is not working for it - it's past work still selling.

Sorry if this question is confusing

Thank you for your help!

Louise

Hey Charlotte, you don't really need to prove that ever... London has recently asked ONE person for some photos, and even then didn't specify they had to be new ones or anything! I've got my interview tomorrow and haven't asked my fiance to even do a renewed intent to marry letter, since it is not listed on embassy documents to bring to interview - http://london.usembassy.gov/application_documents.html I'm not bringing any other evidence with me. Just the i-134 and supporting docs, police cert, birth cert, a few pics to be on the safe side, and all the stuff for the actual visa issuance (passport, passport pics, receipt, debit card).

So, don't worry at all!

(I will of course update you if i come back tomorrow having been denied for no letter of intent to marry/skype logs )

Good luck for tomorrow! I hope it all goes smoothly!