cornwallloz

My husband had four attempts going to the DMV for his license here in Florida... it is not one of his more liked "Welcome to America" experiences.... Here are a couple of links that may prove useful. The GoGatherGet one, is very useful as it will tell you exactly what you need to bring based on your immigration status.

http://www.gathergoget.com/

http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/dlnew.html

Thanks for the links, and all the ones above, they are all ones that I have read before. What confuses me is the Florida DMV website at first says that once they see the right ID, a card will be issued within 30 days. But then underneath that it goes on about needing to take a first time drivers test and alcohol course. Getting to the DMV is a very long way for me, I can't really afford to go without knowing if its just a matter of bringing documents or if I need to complete tests etc. I don't want to go down there and just be turned away. Did your husband have to take a test?

I've been trying to read what to do online, but I'm still not sure if I have to take a driving test and what sort of appointment I should schedule to get my licence here. I have a UK drivers licence, and I'm now living in Florida. I have probably been driving on my foreign licence for far too long and I've been putting it off because I'm not sure how to do it! Please help!

hey guys - I had a letter a month ago saying that i was a potential interview waiver case, and just today received the NOA2 for my AOS "welcome to the united states!" so it says my petition for permanent residency was approved, and my new permanent resident card should arrive in the next couple of weeks. so if you've just had that letter, hopefully youre just one short month away! im so excited that now we may be able to take a trip outside of the states, and I dont feel like i would be stuck here if something were to happen suddenly back home.

that was only 5 short months for me since I arrived! much faster than I expected. good luck everyone and merry christmas to all the other newlyweds!

Finally I have my Green Card interview date. I can't wait. What did you guys are taking with you for the interview or have taken? Thank you!

Btw, so far, nothing about my EAD/WP...

your green card interview?? wow that was fast...I wasn't expecting to hear anything about that for another 6 months or something. Do you mean your interview or your biometrics???

Yeah, I will keep you updated!

APPROVED!! just checked the case status, and it has moved to "document production". now to fine tune my CV and get applications ready for when it arrives

I hope you get yours soon! I checked your timeline and we're both in Florida, and our boimetrics appts were only like a day apart.

The end of my 5 months of unemployment is so close I can smell it!!

Thanks

I want to watch Scandal too. Heard it is very good.

Sadly we are also in a finantial situation when I have to start work asap too. Hope it wont be delayed.

USCIS is working, had to call them yesterday and they work as usual so we can get the EAD in time.

Phew that's great thanks for telling me that! I was on the verge of the old call home to mum&dad with a speech prepared about why they should loan me money! Post on here if you get your EAD first, then ill know mine is around the corner

On second thoughts the website says that "all USCIS offices are open"...which do we think it is people??? :/

Hey,

Same here: 7-10 days until the EAD. I can't wait either, checking my case status several times a day. Hope it will come soon.

What shows do you watch?

Have you watched the Orange is the new black? I think that is a Netflix one, but I am not sure. It's great!

Oh and we moved to a new apartment and now I bake and cook

Haha congrats! I tried orange is the new black but wasn't a fan - I've watched the entire series of lost, scandal, once upon a time...!

We're so close to getting the EAD - but here is something I just read on the BBC website about the government shutdown:

"Under the shutdown, national parks and Washington's Smithsonian museums will close, pension and veterans' benefit cheques will be delayed, and visa and passport applications will go unprocessed"

I don't know about you, but I can't afford to be delayed! I think this puts us at least 2/3 weeks behind schedule...hope they sort it out soon

anyone had their work permission through yet?? i should be about 10 days away from approval and i cant wait to be earning again! netflix only has so many decent shows!

how is everyone getting on?

hey! I am in the same boat - they received my work authorisation and adjustment forms on august 9th - all the processing times say 3 months right now for employment form so I really hope it doesnt take more than that or that we will get an RFE or something. I want to start working! Ive already done 6 weeks of tanning and reading and decorating the apartment...i want to earn some money!!

Ok so I arrived in the states on my K1 visa, and I have almost completed my AOS and employment authorisation forms. I had my medical in London, and have a copy of my vaccination records from them - all up to date, I don't need any more vaccinations before applying for AOS.

What I can't work out is whether or not I actually need to submit the I-693 or not. The instructions sort of make it sound like I just need to include the vaccination supplement from my London medical (the DS-3025)...and then others make it sound like I still need to fill out the I-693. But there doesn't seem to be very much that I could fill out myself - as most of it comes under the heading "to be completed by civil surgeon".

So just send in the copy of vaccination record given to me at my London medical? Or am I supposed to fill out the I-693?

Thanks for the help...much confused :/

I had my interview in London yesterday and we were approved not an altogether smooth day - forgot about the phone charger in my bag so was subsequently thrown out at security and had to queue again having dumped the charger in a bush. The ticket with my number on it stated that I arrived in the hall at 9.21am and I finally left at 1.05pm. So much for their "you can expect to be at the embassy for 2-3 hours"!! But I'm not complaining because I'm moving to the states in 10 days!!! Wooohoooo

Two copies of DS156 and two copies of DS157

having seen all that...am i to return a completed DS- 156k form as well with the others am returning???

Yes. DS230 part one, DS156 and DS157 in duplicate, DS156K and then form 2001 when you're ready for interview

@cornwallloz...pls i need ur help towards this my application...when my application was 3 months old with USCIS...i called to update my address which they confirmed done but when my packet was sent to london US embassy ...i called on friday to confirm after i tracked it and realise they already had it on d 30th...so i try to confirm the address they had surprisingly they had my previous address which i dont have any assess to anymore...and they told me they already mailed me my packet to that old address on thursday which means my call on friday was too late..but i called the london US embassy this afternoon and i was told it doesnt really matter cos it was only a link of me printing d necessary forms was sent to me that i should go online and see it then know the completed forms am meant to return to them...but i dont wanna place anything n complacement...so i like to double check...could u pls tell me the forms and any other documents am expected to mail out to the london US embassy with the DS-2001 form...i will really appreciate this..

Thanks in anticipation..

The link they send you is http://london.usembassy.gov/mobile//iv_15.html

This is literally all they send you. But make sure they have your correct address because that's where they will send your passport with visa in it once you're approved

Ahhhhhhhh, give us patience Lord!

Approved since April 2 but still not Packet 3. Contacted the embassy in Trinidad and they said it will be sent out "shortly".

I miss my honey so much:(

I know it's frustrating - we are in a similar boat. Approved since April 10 and London estimates mean another 8 weeks until interview. I hate that some embassies take one month from NOA2 - mine takes 3! It's been so long since I saw my fiancé also keep your chin up - once they send your packet 3 I'm sure it will all move super quickly!!

Yeah sounds like we do have similar journeys!

Well we met in November 2006 on a chatroom called IMVU (you get an avatar and you can dress it up and then you can either just have your friends on there or have someone randomly connected to you) So I opted to randomly connect to someone and just happened to connect with my future husband So I guess it's been almost 7 years now.

We met in person 3 and a half years after we met online and got engaged near the end of our first month together but we couldn't file the petition until I was done with my A Levels so we had to wait 2 years after we got engaged to even get this on the road

How about you guys? Tell me your story

Wow that's a long time to be talking! It sounds like fate really intervened to make you guys meet!

I met my fiancé two years ago...when you're a student at university you can apply to work at Walt Disney in Florida for a summer and I knew someone who had done that, so I applied and got in (best summer of my life) and he was working in the restaurant where I was stationed so we spent the summer together then stayed together, and since then he's been here twice and I've been there 4 times. We didn't talk about marriage and visas and stuff until after I had graduated last july so again very similar! Sometimes wish we had started this earlier so when people ask me what I did for the first year after I got my degree I didn't have to say "nothing just sat around and waited for my petition to go through"! But I wouldn't have changed anything. If you were doing your a levels you must have gone through alot of the same stuff as me with friends not understanding why you would chose to be in a long distance relationship when everyone else just wants to go out and have fun. It's a tough path we chose! But you make a decision for love and it pays off and I could do alot worse than moving out of the Cornish drizzle into glorious Florida sunshine!

What do you want to do once you're out there?

5-6 hours in the car ouch I feel sorry for you

I did the same as you almost. I left all my skirts/dresses/boots/heels there cause they're heaviest and take up most room in my suitcase. I left some clothes and belongings with my boyfriend so I have less to take this time. Including my guitar so I haven't played in months and I miss it so much

I feel for you surviving in just work and gym clothes! I know what it feels like to wear the same stuff all the time. I dare not spend any money on treating myself to new clothes cause I'm so strict on saving...

As for wedding plans, we haven't booked anything or set any dates. We still don't have a date set, we just know that it's probably going to be in September. I didn't put any date on my form either because its so uncertain and dependent on processing times and what have you.

I thought it wouldn't look very good if I put a date on there because it would seem like I'm expecting them to give me the visa. I wanted to make sure that they know that I know they're completely in control of whether I go or not.

I mean we've decided on the venue and I picked out a wedding dress when I was there in January, but nothing is booked or paid for yet so I've got wedding plans to show them but nothing is set in stone.

Did you put a date?

That's so funny that we did exactly the same thing...I haven't shopped or bought anything new in so long! We're moving into an empty apartment so need some spending money for furniture! It seems like we've had extremely similar journeys.

I did put down June 20th...that was the day we always talked about and it's an anniversary of when we met, but we didn't set anything in stone which is good as it looks extremely unlikely! I just figured if a spot for interview opens up maybe they'll take pity on me and get me in a little earlier. You never know! How long have you two been together?

You're definitely speaking my language! Books, box sets, video games, movies...

I've even just gone for long walks on routes I've never taken before just to get lost and try to find my way home again. I feel like a kid who's parents wont take out on the Summer holidays...

Regarding moving personal belongings and costs, yeah I did actually, I was about to send a couple of boxes with Fedex for £160 until I realised that I could just pay to take an extra suitcase on the plane!! I always fly with British Airways (cause, come on. you're not going to get service like that from any other airline) and they charge £34 for 1 extra suitcase and £77 for any more after that. I'm really being reckless with sorting out what stuff I REALLY need and what stuff I don't mind giving to charity. I've worked out that I only need that 1 extra suitcase so far. If I really have to then I'll pay the £77 to take another but right now I need to save all the money I can for the wedding/keeping myself going over there while I dont have a job etc..

I'm kinda lucky to have London so near to me. Just a 2 hour drive and my friend's offered to take me. Or if not its just £19 for a National Express ticket. It is 3 hours on a coach but you gotta put up with that if you want stuff cheap

That's about the same as what I was looking at - virgin (who compare pretty highly to BA in my opinion especially if you get one of their new planes) and Delta (horrible but cheap) both charge roughly £30 for the first extra and £70 after that. The trips to London are what's killing me - one for the medical already then again for interview and then to fly. It's 5/6 hours in the car for me. I go through phases...one week I decided I'm packing and taking everything I own and then I change my mind and decide to go frugal. I planned way ahead and left 90% of my wardrobe in Florida on my last visit, and have been surviving on my work uniform and gym clothes since February! So at least I don't have to take clothes with me now. I think even if a suitcase cost £77 it's still a hell of a lot cheaper than what we would pay to FedEx 23kg of stuff!

Did you guys make/have plans for your wedding? Out of interest did you put a wedding date on your form 2001?

Aww you'll get your letter soon!! It will be 5 months since I saw my fiance at the end of June. I plan on leaving pretty much as soon as I have my visa haha! Can't wait to get out there

At least you have a job!! I've been looking for a job since Febuary and its hopeless! Only just been offered a job interview for Wednesday which I'm gunna go to but if I get that job I expect it'll be too late to start it! Oh well I suggest reading books if you've got nothing to do. And I always hated reading but I started on Wuthering Heights a couple weeks ago and it definitely passed the time quicker. Made my heart just that little bit heavier though.. *sob*

Haha yep I am reading alot and also going through entire box sets of shows. At least I can say with some certainty that 8 more weeks of waiting is the maximum, and then no more! As you say we will feel blessed just to behave like a normal couple haha I think this process can only make us stronger and hopefully we will never stop appreciating how great it is to be on the same continent as our fiances! I am so sick of Skype I am definitely ready to rejoin the land of non-virtual relationships.

Another magical cure for waiting around and making the time go faster is sky on demand. Don't know how I ever lived without it. Plus a pretty constant process if throwing away or taking to charity stuff I don't want. Have you looked into how much it will cost to take your stuff with you? Taking 3 suitcases on the train to London will be fun!

You're welcome!

Yeah I know its depressing when you realise that you actually have to wait a lot longer than you expected. We got our NOA2 on March 8th so I was really hoping to be leaving this month. Try not to let it upset you too much. Things can be really tough on you as a couple when you go through this process.. trust me, I've had plenty of arguments with my fiance recently because stress levels are just through the roof, but you just have to hold onto the knowledge that one day you'll be together and you'll look back on this and be proud of what you went through together just to be able to see each other like normal humans do instead of talking over a computer!

Stay strong and don't lose hope

(And yeah the interview is definitely 24th June. Still 1 more month to wait ugh )

At least now I know when to plan for.. makes things a bit easier!

Well I definitely envy you the knowledge of when you can actually expect to be leaving - a final deadline instead of feeling like its never going to happen! Our stress levels are also rising - I finish at my job in 2 weeks so have nothing to do past then and by the end of July it will have been 5 months since we saw each other. My NOA2 was April 10th so I'm roughly a month behind you. Enjoy getting ready! It's the only thing that makes me feel better congratulations again!

Got my interview date in the post today!! Scheduled for 24th June!!

Congrats I'm glad you heard and thanks for letting me know! I agree with the above comment however, this is alot longer than I was planning to wait. I was supposed to be getting married on June 20th and thought I might still pull that off until you just told me this! Nothing to be done except keep waiting and getting ready I suppose. You definitely did mean 24th of June and not may right?? (Wishful thinking!)

@cornwallloz: thanks a million..but am still confused at some things...do we need to submit any documents to NVC again cos while surfing..i could see some strange things plus...petitioner has to pay a visa fee to NVC..and from my 1st question...should my fiancee wait for the letter from NVC before mailing the documents needed for my interview here in UK to me???

You are K1 right? You don't need to send anything to NVC, they just process your case and send it on after a few days. Why would your fiancé need to wait to send you stuff? Your interview won't be for another 2 months probably, but just get everything together as soon as you can for your own organisation and peace of mind. There are no rules about when your fiancé can send you stuff...

Petitioners for K1 dont need to pay a fee to NVC - just £227 for medical and like $240 for interview. Just wait now for London to receive your case

...Its Lexzy again...pls i need more help on NVC thingy....we called NVC today and we were told our file was received yesterday and we've been issued a case number...but to be sureof the next step..my fiancee is waiting for the NVC to mail out a letter stating all these before she mail out the necessary document needed for my interview..Does this matter or she can just mail it out without getting the note from NVC..plus how do i know our application has been shipped out to beneficiary's country..

Thank u VJ members in anticipation...

Keep calling NVC, and they will tell you when the case leaves NVC. Then you start calling DOS (press 1 fr main menu then 0 for operator) and they will tell you when you case has arrived in London. Put your forms for London into the post to the embassy at this point. The best place to ask all this embassy specific advice is to post in the UK forum - there are some very experienced and helpful members there who know all about the London process post approval

Hey Guys,

I sent off my DS Forms package along with the notice of readiness on the 15th April.

Had my medical on 18th April.

I called the Embassy on the 2nd May to check that they had everything. They said my forms are currently being processed and it should take around 6 weeks from the date they received the forms. 6 weeks? Seriously? I've read that it usually only takes 4. I guess this is just me being impatient and such but it's been almost 5 weeks now.

What have the waiting times been like for others?

(I'm filing with the Embassy in London so really I'm looking to hear back from other people who are filing at the same place.)

Anyone else waiting for their interview date too?

All this waiting is driving me crazy

Oh my goodness I had no idea it was going to take that long....I had my medical on May 10th and thought I would hear about interview this week! Personally I think the worst thing about this whole process is that you have no idea when anything will happen...NOA2...interview...it's impossible to make any plans. London is a looooong way from me....I was certainly hoping to have a bit more notice so I can prepare.

I hope you have heard since you posted this, I'm also a September filer so I feel your pain! Please please please write back when you get your interview date! It would be so great to have an example to look at!