Anna Grant
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Posts posted by Anna Grant
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Chicago sucks.... moved from may 2nd to may 11th a month... stupid idiots....
Yes - I saw that this morning. Crazy! The last update was 31 October. So are they really saying that they've only processed 9 days of applications in nearly 3 months?!
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Okay, finally an update: We called the DOS (202-485-7600) on Friday, we wanted to wait a business week after Knightsbridge had couriered the medical to the Embassy before calling to allow them time to process it and schedule the interview. Still said "No Status" on the CEAC website. DOS told me that the Embassy DID in fact have the medical, but had not yet scheduled the interview. No, they couldn't give me any further info on when the interview would be scheduled, but I could call them. Waited the weekend and MLK day, then called the London Embassy today (703-439-2367) to find out when they would be scheduling my interview, when the status would be updated, etc. Come to find out, they told me we could schedule the interview, right then, over the phone... they even had openings this afternoon! If I had known we could just call to schedule our interview we would have done it earlier!
We ended up scheduling the interview for this coming Monday, gave us time to schedule a flight from Edinburgh down to London... very excited!
If this is not common knowledge, do you think we should create a new post to let people know they can schedule their interviews?
Thanks all,
Rob and Adrian
As this seems so out of kilter with other people's experience, are you absolutely certain that you have been scheduled a K1 visa appointment and not a visitor's visa? Did they e-mail you confirmation?
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As well as 'a letter of proof of employment from my fiance's employer', you will need evidence to show how much they earn. London are fairly relaxed on how you prove that income but copies of tax transcripts and/or photocopies of a few recent pay slips are usually sufficient.
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About high blood pressure - note my post from last summer:
Anna Grant, on 31 Jul 2013 - 5:56 PM, said:
I am technically overweight but she just said 'You know your BMI is ....'. I said 'Yes, I know'. My BP was above the allowed measure for my age and gender - I think it had raised to 158/105 by the end of the medical. I did feel like saying 'You have prodded and poked me about - no wonder it's gone up instead of down.' However, I know I get 'white coat hypertension' i.e. it raises when I'm in a doctor's surgery. I asked her for another chance. I know if I'm given 30 minutes of quietness, I can get it to go down. It got down to the acceptable level and I was through.
I suggest that if yours is raised in the medical, to ask for some quiet time to see if it goes down.
However, since moving to the US my 'white coat' hypertension has developed into real hypertension. I am under an awful lot of stress at the moment - my husband has some serious health issues, I have had employment issues and my mother passed away and I couldn't go back to the UK. I registered with a doctor and am having some blood tests and an ECG to see what is going on with my blood pressure. I have put on weight since arriving in the US, so the doctor has told me to lose weight and reduce my salt intake.
Whether this will be covered with health insurance will depend on your health insurance policy and it is wrong of that doctor at Knightsbridge to scare one of you by saying how much it costs to treat in the US. There are many generic drugs which can help and do not cost the earth. Most health insurance has a deductible (in the the UK, that would be called an excess). You have to spend that amount of money a year before you can start using your health insurance. Luckily, my policy pays out 'per visit' to the doctor - 'per test' for blood tests. So, by shopping around, I have found that it is covering me fine for the moment.
So. If you do manage to get through the Embassy medical with 'whit coat', please still keep a watch on your blood pressure when you get the US.
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About high blood pressure - note my post from last summer:
I am technically overweight but she just said 'You know your BMI is ....'. I said 'Yes, I know'. My BP was above the allowed measure for my age and gender - I think it had raised to 158/105 by the end of the medical. I did feel like saying 'You have prodded and poked me about - no wonder it's gone up instead of down.' However, I know I get 'white coat hypertension' i.e. it raises when I'm in a doctor's surgery. I asked her for another chance. I know if I'm given 30 minutes of quietness, I can get it to go down. It got down to the acceptable level and I was through.
I suggest that if yours is raised in the medical, to ask for some quiet time to see if it goes down.
However, since moving to the US my 'white coat' hypertension has developed into real hypertension. I am under an awful lot of stress at the moment - my husband has some serious health issues, I have had employment issues and my mother passed away and I couldn't go back to the UK. I registered with a doctor and am having some blood tests and an ECG to see what is going on with my blood pressure. I have put on weight since arriving in the US, so the doctor has told me to lose weight and reduce my salt intake.
Whether this will be covered with health insurance will depend on your health insurance policy and it is wrong of that doctor at Knightsbridge to scare one of you by saying how much it costs to treat in the US. There are many generic drugs which can help and do not cost the earth. Most health insurance has a deductible (in the the UK, that would be called an excess). You have to spend that amount of money a year before you can start using your health insurance. Luckily, my policy pays out 'per visit' to the doctor - 'per test' for blood tests. So, by shopping around, I have found that it is covering me fine for the moment.
So. If you do manage to get through the Embassy medical with 'whit coat', please still keep a watch on your blood pressure when you get the US.
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I tend to agree with you, though she doesn't know how she will get caught.
How she will get caught is IF in the future you go down the K1 route. You will have to provide a story of how you met with evidence that you have physically met in the previous 2 years. Naturally, the beginning of your relationship will pre-date her interview for her B2 visa. So that lie will be found out.
There have been people who have lied in their B2 visa interview about their reason for wanting to visit the US and then been denied their K1 visa because of those lies.
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Relationship:
- I was able to give my Wife a proper cultural wedding in our hometown as opposed to the shenanigan I was gearing up for in the US. My Mum, her Mum and all of her siblings were there at the ceremony. This wouldn't have been possible with a K1.
- As my Wife she afforded me all the privileges of being married in the eyes of my employer and the US government. Insurance, both health and automobile were better, tax bracket was also better.
- Cheaper overall (but they did tack on a $165 fee during our process - aaaaarggghhhh).
Immigration
- This is my opinion not based on anything but that and others may disagree, but due to the age difference between me and my Wife (22 years) I believe that my embassy looks more favorably towards married folks. Not a guarantee that they'll give you a visa but I can take the "maybe he's trying to get his young relative to the US with a K1 visa" right off of the table.
- She became a resident as soon as we stepped out of the airport. No AOS clusterfudging with USCIS.
- No need for AP/AED or what not, she can go back home in case she needed to the day after POE. No panic posts about getting AP, making appointments with field office, etc
Good luck to you on the process.
Look at the process as a whole, that K1 is faster now may be gone in a sec as they do shift back and forth in speed between K1 and CR1.
I would add to your list that I would not have had the issues I had with DMV regarding my driving license had I got my green card. It shouldn't be a problem with just my EAD but it has proved to be a problem.
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Hi all,
OK I'm due to fly to Texas (Houston,Corpus) in February 27th for 11 days to celebrate my birthday, I've just come back from a Christmas visit for 10 days on the 5th January.
I'm just making sure early that i have enough proof of ties with me just incase:
1. Return ticket - Can this be a print out from online confirmation
2. Copy of Noa1
3. Letter from employer stating my intended date to return to work.
4. Employer extended contract letter showing i have work until Jan 2015
5. Latest bank statement showing funds in bank account
What else would be good ?? as i now live with parents again while the petition is process so i can save money so no proof of rent/mortgage
Thank you
Paul
For my return ticket, I just printed out my onine confirmation. Don;t forget to print out a copy of your ESTA. Although it says you don;t need it printed, I have seen people on here be asked for it.
Do you own a car? Car insurance? Phone contract?
Having said that, your list would seem fine.
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I wished we had married and AOSed from with the US whilst I was in the US in July 2012. Instead we submitted the K1 and I went back to the UK and the whole transatlantic relationship continued. We never realized at that stage that it would take 11 months until I could return for good to the US.
Other than that, same as Gowon, I wished we had gone the CR1 route. Cheaper and you can work as soon as you're back in the US.
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I didn't want to read an run, so I will just suggest one thing. Start to document his outbursts. Log the time, date and the detail of the outburst i.e. what triggered it, what he said, how long it lasted. This may be useful in the future when you have to say to someone 'He had terrible outbursts' and he says 'what outbursts?'.
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This is what I found out.----
I looked up on my phone list, and have 3 numbers for DX.
Courier 0870 950 1760. tel:01604 496 798
Courier collection tel:0871 562 6666
So I just now rang up the collection one. Got the same lady I spoke to last August when the courier system changed...she sounds Indian.
Go to the nearest depot with your documents. Take the barcodes(?) you get from the embassy website. I think it must be the confirmation that you have already paid at www.usvisa-info.com. They will deliver to the embassy at no extra charge. When your visa is issued, it will go back to the depot or to your home if you paid the equivalent of 30 American dollars. If you don't know your depot, call her at 0871 562 6666 and tell her your post code.
She asked if I was calling from London. "No, I am in Texas"
That surprised her. She wasn't even aware that people pay in advance of the interview now. I explained a bit of how it works and that if a visa can't be issued, papers are to be couriered back but she tells people they don't pick up at homes since August 1. Maybe she will be able to help a little more in the future after our conversation.You're amazing Nich-Nick! The fact that you took it upon yourself to call up the UK and find out all this is terrific. You are truly a VJ treasure.
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NO diet coke free refills in any chain restaurant........
Oh! I have got so used to this now in the US. My husband couldn't believe it when he came to London and found there were no free refills. Our local cinema also does free refills of popcorn (max 2 refills). We get to the cinema early for the film. Finish our first popcorn before the movie starts. Get another refill. Then get a final refill after the film finishes to take home.
I love the whole drive thru thing in the US. If I'm out, I can 'drive thru':
A coffee from Starbucks (McD's, Dunkin' Donuts, tec)
My bank to pay in a check or use the ATM
My pharmacy to pick up a prescription
A didn't learn to drive until we decided I was going to move to the US, so I was 49 when I passed my test. So the whole 'jump n my car to go anyway' is still quite a novelty. The only time I've taken public transport since I got here is to go 'downtown' in Chicago. You really don't want to drive there!
I also love Target but hate Walmart. The customer service in Walmart is appalling. I only ever go there if I use their 'site to store' because the item is cheaper on Walmart's website.
I love the whole coupon collecting thing over here. I did this in the UK too but it was kinda looked down on. In the US, it's a competitive sport! My husband says 'Let's go out to dinner this weekend. Where would you like to go?' I say 'Let me check where I have coupons for'. I can usually find a coupon for an all you can eat buffet type restaurant for $18.99 for 2 including beverages.
Another thing I don't miss is the drinking culture in the UK. Both my husband and I are tee-total. In the US, this doesn't stand out at all. You can go out for dinner and very few people will be drinking alcohol. At a party, most people will be more controlled in their alcohol consumption. In the UK, it was more commented that we don't drink.
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If you fly from a country using the VWP, you have to have a return ticket. If you travel from Canada, then tend to be a bit more lenient because, of course, you can come into the US by land.
We are 'old fogies' also - not young 'whipper-snappers'. But I still put together a folder of all my ties to the UK, just in case I had to demonstrate I had to go back. Of course, as the visa process goes on, your ties get weaker and weaker as you are trying to finish up your life in your home country. On my last trip, I had no house, no job, no car. The only thing I was asked to show was my return ticket. That was mainly because I was returning to the US after only being gone for 6 weeks (after a 3 month trip).
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Couldn't add to my previous post:
This person was allowed into the US but was given an I-94 for only 2 weeks:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/472890-help-not-sure-what-to-do-next/
Someone who was denied (although they were married):
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/441102-july-2013-i-130-filers/page-19#entry6615950
Denied due to lack of ties:
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My sweetie and I have been discussing me going to the US while my visa is in process. We hope to drive from B.C. out to Saskatchewan to drop stuff off at my kid's places (downsizing begins!), as well as for fiance to meet my sons and grandchildren and then carry on to Iowa. I'm concerned about crossing the border 500 miles from home, and us being together at the time. I would dearly love to take some things down in advance but I realise that's a good way to get turned back. He'll be coming to visit me on a one way ticket before we go and we wonder if that may be a problem as well. We'll be driving my truck. I plan on being in US for about 2 months to put in a garden and generally get things sorted in my (hopefully) new home, and then he will probably come back with me to go to interview and drive back after approval (yes we're optimistic types). We are both self employed. Oh, and I'll be taking my dogs too- last time I left them I vowed never again. Does this sound like a recipe for disaster? Has anyone actually been turned away at a land crossing?
Err...'recipe for disaster' IMHO.
The dogs will be a major red flag to the CBP officer. That will strongly suggest that you are not going back to Canada and will attempt to AOS from within the US. Filling up your car with lots of personal belongings is another red flag.
What evidence can you bring with you to show that you need to go back to Canada - check here for what you need to think about:
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Please see here for the reason why you should submit your AP at the same time as AOS and EAD:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/474367-terrible-situation;-any-hope-for-us/
It doesn't cost you any more money and you don't know what the future holds. The green card could take up to a year to arrive!
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The main question is 'Are you in the US at the moment?'
The 2 years that you have been hearing about is probably about the K1 (fiance) visa. You need to have met in person during the two years prior to submitting your petition.
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Hi all,
My fiance posted the i-129f To the lockbox on Monday ;-).
Has anyone recently traveled to the us from UK after sending in the petition ? Just wondering what evidence you took to prove you will be returning home, I have planned to travel for 11 days on 27th Feb to Houston.
Also is there anything else I should sPrepare now as the beneficery.
Thanks
Paul
See guide here also:
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- Proof of having met in person in the past two years (pictures? scanned/copied boarding passes?)
Photos are secondary proof of meeting. I would include copies of the relevant pages of your passport(s) showing entry to US/Luxembourg which is primary proof of meeting.
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Hi all
Just to say thanks for all the help in the past weeks.
We posted our petition off yesterday 6th and should arrive at lockbox today on the 7th.
My US fiancee is wondering if she can visit me in UK once the petition is hopefully approved ?? I really hope to show her my home country before I move to the US.
Thanks again
Paul
Congratulations on your submission!
My fiance visited me in the UK whilst we were going through the K1 visa process - he actually accompanied me to the interview at the embassy. It was for mainly the same reason as you - I had already visited him 4 times and he wanted to see where I grew up, meet my friends who thought I was crazy to move 4000 miles away and to meet my mom (who sadly passed away three months later - but at least they got to meet and she could see how happy I was). When I visited him, I always took plenty of evidence that I had to the return to the UK. I was only asked for anything once - for my return ticket on my last visit. Check out the 'Yes you can visit' thread, if you haven't already. My fiance didn't bring anything with him to prove his ties to the US - he even forgot the address I was staying at temporarily when asked at UK Immigration! They still let him in but I suggest that your fiancee is a little more prepared than mine!
Why do you feel that this is a worrying time? Because of the wait (nowhere as bad as when we went through this when K1s were taking 9 months to approve)? Because of the approval/interview process? Is so, visit the UK sub-forum and be reassured. Although I finished my K1 journey in June, please feel free to PM me any questions. Now in the middle of AOS.
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Hi Anna! From which local office did you get your SSA? I hope it's the same case for all the offices (and that the SSA officer we get will be as competent as possibly required for their job).
From Aurora IL. Elgin was the one i had problems with (see my thread in the SSN section - can't link to it as on my cellphone) .
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Should we apply for AOS as soon as we get married or does it have a time frame??
If you can afford it, then I would suggest that you apply for AOS as soon as you can. Without your EAD/AP card, you will be unable to work in the US or travel outside of the US and return to the US.
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The K1 visa expires as soon as it is stamped when you enter the US at your POE. You have 6 months from the visa issuance date on your visa to enter the US.
The first thing is to get married, which has to happen within 90 days of your entering the US.
Once you are married and have your marriage certificate, you can apply for AOS. It will take anything from 3 months to a year to receive your green card. It depends on whether your are in the pile to be interviewed or not. Those that are interviewed generally get their GC quicker. It also depends on where your AIS paperwork goes to. I applied for AOS in July and am still waiting for any communication from USCIS for my AOS (my EAD/AP came through in September).
Read the guides on AOS to learn more.
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When you say that he received his 'passport back with a stamp', do you mean that the K1 visa is stuck to one of the pages of his passport? If so, then he should be okay and he just needs to pick up his package.
July 2013 AoS filers
in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports
Posted
Loladolly. I'm in almost the same position as you. It took 9 months for us to get our NOA2 - just over 11 months in total. I would have loved to be accepted for an interview for AOS but have received nothing since (except for EAD and AP, of course). Called USCIS and everything is in order - just nothing bloody happening! Really frustrating.