gwenneh

Yes, we did mention it. It was just a short description under one of the questions, if I recall correctly -- just the visa and the issue date.

I don't think you will run into any problems. We did pretty much the same thing -- left after the wedding without filing for AOS, then a year later filed DCF for the CR-1. They asked about the K-1 at the interview, but other than that there were no issues at all.

No, a green card is a green card. What you get after the DCF interview is an IR-1/CR-1 visa, which is valid for multiple entry.

If you have either of these, you'll be fine to leave and re-enter.

You read right. A friend of mine did this just this week so she could go on holiday with me. She applied at the NY Hudson St. regional office.

This happened to quite a few Vermont filers back in January when we filed. It didn't have any bearing on the case at all. Our only problem with it was that the NOA1 is what gives the extension to the green card while the case is processing, so we made an Infopass appointment to get an I-551 stamp so we could travel out of the country without having to worry about an expired green card.

Card production ordered -- yay!!

California Service Center (32 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

CARL&SUSAN..........01/02/10..........01/04/10.......02/03/10........02/10/10....

ETRIPKE.............01/04/10..........01/05/10.......02/12/10........03/04/10.... (CR 3/11)

ZAHRA...............01/05/10..........01/06/10.......02/03/10........02/16/10.... (early bio 1/26/10)(CR 2/24)

ROSIE420............01/06/10..........01/07/10.......02/12/10........03/09/10....

JAMES77.............01/06/10..........01/07/10.......02/03/10........02/09/10....

CK&TYDI.............01/06/10..........01/19/10.......02/16/10........03/04/10....

SARATARA............01/07/10..........--/--/10.......02/11/10........03/03/10.... (CR 3/11)

NECROTICA...........01/07/10..........01/11/10.......02/10/10........02/03/10.... (early bio on 1/28/10)

ALEJANDRA2..........01/11/10..........01/12/10.......02/22/10........03/19/10....

LISA AND PHIL.......01/11/10..........01/12/10.......02/22/10........--/--/10.... (RFE received 03/20) (bio retaken on 3/23)

BUSYCHARLIE.........01/11/10..........01/12/10.......skipped ........02/03/10....

KALIS...............01/11/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

HAPPILYCONTENT......01/12/10..........01/14/10.......02/25/10........03/29/10.... (early bio on 2/22/10)(CR 4/3)

QBERTZ7.............01/12/10..........01/13/10.......02/11/10........03/16/10....

JOECANUK............01/12/10..........01/14/10.......02/09/10........03/08/10.... (NOA received 2/23/10)

SHAMI...............01/13/10..........--/--/10.......02/17/10........03/11/10....

SCIPIO..............01/13/10..........--/--/10.......02/22/10........03/22/10....

CH1CH1..............01/13/10..........--/--/10.......02/26/10........03/11/10....

LYNAMON.............01/14/10..........01/19/10.......02/23/10........03/17/10.... (CR 03/22)

OHIODUTCHIE.........01/15/10..........01/19/10.......02/19/10........03/04/10.... (CR 03/12)

ELGUEVON............01/16/10..........01/19/10.......02/18/10........03/04/10....

KARMASXOCEAN........01/16/10..........01/19/10.......02/18/10........03/04/10....

MIRCIOV.............01/19/10..........01/20/10.......02/24/10........03/15/10.... (CR 03/23)

CONVERSE34..........01/19/10..........01/25/10.......02/19/10........03/05/10....

DAKOTAK1............01/20/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

RAVENSCROFT.........01/21/10..........01/22/10.......02/17/10........03/03/10....

PHXCASC.............01/22/10..........01/28/10.......02/23/10........04/05/10.... (RFE received 3/18)

IMABACK.............01/23/10..........01/25/10.......02/16/10........03/12/10....

WES AND SHIELA......01/23/10..........01/25/10.......02/19/10........03/03/10.... (CR 3/13)

KNOBBY_WHEEZER......01/25/10..........02/02/10.......02/19/10........03/05/10.... (CR 3/13)

AMY200..............01/25/10..........--/--/10.......03/05/10........03/18/10.... (early bio on 2/25)(CR 3/27)

BRENT N JOY.........01/29/10..........--/--/10.......03/03/10........03/18/10....

Vermont Service Center (32 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

DUNNY...............01/04/10.........01/06/10.......02/04/10........03/30/10.... (early bio on 1/28/10, CR 4/7/10)

SAU.................01/04/10.........01/07/10.......02/08/10........02/16/10.... (early bio on 02/05/10)

ABEFAIZI............01/04/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

GEN&PAUL............01/04/10.........01/07/10.......01/29/10........--/--/10....

GWEN666.............01/05/10.........01/14/10.......02/11/10........04/12/10.... (I-551 stamped 1/29/10)

SHUB................01/05/10.........--/--/10.......02/05/10........--/--/10.... (RFE received 4/03)

ERAMOS2.............01/06/10.........01/11/10.......02/03/10........--/--/10....

ITALO...............01/07/10.........--/--/10.......02/--/10........--/--/10....

JAGSHEE.............01/07/10.........--/--/--.......02/12/10........--/--/10.... (Never got NOA1 - what is that?)

XNY.................01/08/10.........--/--/10.......02/11/10........--/--/10.... (RFE received 4/03)

RAJ0327.............01/09/10.........01/12/10.......02/17/10........03/30/10....

KENDALL22...........01/09/10.........01/16/10.......02/19/10........04/01/10....

DJTURBO.............01/11/10.........01/15/10.......02/26/10........--/--/10....

WANGJEXI............01/11/10.........01/15/10.......02/18/10........--/--/10....

SSMA2007............01/11/10.........01/15/10.......02/17/10........--/--/10....

LADYWHITE...........01/13/10.........01/19/10.......02/17/10........04/09/10....

RANDYFABI...........01/14/10.........01/20/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

MINYA'SWIFE.........01/14/10.........01/20/10.......02/16/10........--/--/10....

IGOMO...............01/15/10.........01/19/10.......02/19/10........04/09/10....

GSIEFFE.............01/15/10.........01/20/10.......02/26/10........04/05/10....

KARENKAYE...........01/16/10.........01/20/10.......02/16/10........--/--/10....

VIKASP..............01/19/10.........01/22/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

TRAVIS&LISA.........01/21/10.........01/26/10.......02/22/10........--/--/10....

OKALIAN.............01/22/10.........01/26/10.......02/19/10........--/--/10....

KATH58..............01/24/10.........01/26/10.......02/26/10........--/--/10....

LVIVLOVERS..........01/26/10.........02/01/10.......03/02/10........--/--/10.... (early bio on 03/01/10)

ROGAIL..............01/26/10.........02/01/10.......03/02/10........--/--/10....

CHOCOLATTEGIRL......01/26/10.........02/01/10.......02/26/10........--/--/10....

RITESH-TRUPTI.......01/26/10.........01/29/10.......02/23/10........--/--/10....

OSANTO..............01/27/10.........01/29/10.......02/25/10........--/--/10....

TÄVÔLUDÔ............01/28/10.........02/02/10.......03/11/10........--/--/10....

MIAMORTURERES.......01/29/10.........02/03/10.......03/10/10........--/--/10.... (ealy bio on 02/24/10) (I-551 stamp 03/05/10)

IMPORTANT!

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Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

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Notes:

CR = Card Received

Yes, it would. If you have been denied a visa, you cannot use the VWP. This is one of the questions on the green I-94W form for the visa waiver admission.

Gwen666, How did you get your passport stamped. Did you make an infopass appointment? Or did you ask for a stamp before your biometrics without an appointment?

We made an Infopass appointment. For immigration, it was one of the more pleasant experiences we'd had! We showed up, explained why we needed the stamp, and about 40 minutes later they handed back the stamped passport.

Updating case receipt date...was able to look it up online with the biometrics letter.

California Service Center (27 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

CARL&SUSAN..........01/02/10..........01/04/10.......02/03/10........--/--/10....

ETRIPKE.............01/04/10..........01/05/10.......02/12/10........--/--/10....

ZAHRA...............01/05/10..........01/06/10.......02/03/10........--/--/10....

ROSIE420............01/06/10..........01/07/10.......02/12/10........--/--/10....

JAMES77.............01/06/10..........01/07/10.......02/03/10........--/--/10....

CK&TYDI.............01/06/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

SARATARA............01/07/10..........--/--/10.......02/11/10........--/--/10....

NECROTICA...........01/07/10..........01/11/10.......02/10/10........--/--/10.... (early bio on 1/28/10)

ALEJANDRA2..........01/11/10..........01/12/10.......02/22/10........--/--/10....

LISA AND PHIL.......01/11/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

BUSYCHARLIE.........01/11/10..........01/12/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

KALIS...............01/11/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

HAPPILYCONTENT......01/12/10..........01/14/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

GBERTZ7.............01/12/10..........01/13/10.......02/11/10........--/--/10....

JOECANUK............01/12/10..........--/--/10.......02/09/10........--/--/10....

SHAMI...............01/13/10..........--/--/10.......02/17/10........--/--/10....

SCIPIO..............01/13/10..........--/--/10.......02/22/10........--/--/10....

LYNAMON.............01/14/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

OHIODUTCHIE.........01/15/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

ELGUEVON............01/16/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

KARMASXOCEAN........01/16/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

MIRCIOV.............01/19/10..........01/20/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

CONVERSE34..........01/19/10..........01/25/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

DAKOTAK1............01/20/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

RAVENSCROFT.........01/21/10..........01/22/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

IMABACK.............01/23/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

KNOBBY_WHEEZER......01/25/10......... 02/02/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

Vermont Service Center (29 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

DUNNY...............01/04/10.........01/06/10.......02/04/10........--/--/10.... (early bio on 1/28/10)

SAU.................01/04/10.........01/07/10.......02/08/10........--/--/10....

ABEFAIZI............01/04/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

GEN&PAUL............01/04/10.........01/07/10.......01/29/10........--/--/10....

GWEN666.............01/05/10.........01/14/10.......02/11/10........--/--/10.... (I-551 stamped 1/29/10)

SHUB................01/05/10.........--/--/10.......02/05/10........--/--/10....

ERAMOS2.............01/06/10.........01/11/10.......02/03/10........--/--/10....

ITALO...............01/07/10.........--/--/10.......02/--/10........--/--/10....

XNY.................01/08/10.........--/--/10.......02/11/10........--/--/10....

RAJ0327.............01/09/10.........01/12/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

DJTURBO.............01/11/10.........01/15/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

WANGJEXI............01/11/10.........01/15/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

SSMA2007............01/11/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

LADYWHITE...........01/13/10.........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

RANDYFABI...........01/14/10.........01/20/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

MINYA'SWIFE.........01/14/10.........01/20/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

IGOMO...............01/15/10.........01/19/10.......02/19/10........--/--/10....

GSIEFFE.............01/15/10.........01/20/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

KARENKAYE...........01/16/10.........01/25/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

VIKASP..............01/19/10.........01/22/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

TRAVIS&LISA.........01/21/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

OKALIAN.............01/22/10.........01/26/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

LVIVLOVERS..........01/22/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

KATH58..............01/24/10.........01/26/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

ROGAIL..............01/26/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

CHOCOLATTEGIRL......01/26/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

RITESH-TRUPTI.......01/26/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

TÄVÔLUDÔ............01/28/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

MIAMORTURERES.......01/29/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

IMPORTANT!

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Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

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Do you know if I can still get the stamp if my passport is expired? Do I get it at the biometrics appointment?

You can't get the stamp if your passport is expired. I only know this based on cases which I overheard while we were waiting for a stamp in my husband's passport for the same reasons. We did it before the biometrics appointment, but I suppose it depends on what facility you are going to.

At the moment, yes, that would be your best bet. The problem with using your parents for support is that while a recent court ruling has allowed that third party support is okay, this has not yet trickled down into the system. The official guidelines used for processing visas still state the following:

"If members of the couple’s families in the UK offer to maintain the couple adequately until they can do so from their own resources, such an arrangement would not satisfy the Rules, which require the couple to maintain themselves."

So, you can see where setting up, getting a job, and making arrangements for the long term can only help you right now. You'll need to have a job, proof of your pay, and an "adequate budget".

That last bit is in quotes because, unlike the US, there's no hard and fast rule as far as how much you need to be making. With a family of 2, you need to be able to pay your rent, bills, and have at least £100.95 per week left over. That's fairly ambiguous, since "bills" are different for everyone - but do note that they're only talking about essential bills like council tax and utilities, not things like credit card repayments or anything like that.

Either way, looks like you can get it sorted so you don't have to be separated during the time when you're sorting things out, so that's all to the good.

I don't think there's really an appreciable difference between the two. If you have savings and can get your hands on the information you need, you could have your visa by the end of the week. If you wanted to go back and set up shop, then have her come back and apply for the visa, she'll have it within a few days, too. It's really more up to you.

I-551 procured with a minimum of fuss today. In and out in under two hours!

What is the I-551 stamp for?

It's a temporary residence stamp which gives the same privileges as a green card, basically a stamped confirmation of the info on the NOA1.

The biometrics are scheduled for the morning we leave for our trip. Since we're not flying out until 9 at night, works for me!

Aargh. We've got our biometrics notice but still no NOA!

Got our biometrics notice, no NOA1 yet though!

California Service Center (25 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

CARL&SUSAN..........01/02/10..........01/04/10.......02/03/10........--/--/10....

ETRIPKE.............01/04/10..........01/05/10.......02/12/10........--/--/10....

ZAHRA...............01/05/10..........01/06/10.......02/03/10........--/--/10....

ROSIE420............01/06/10..........01/07/10.......02/12/10........--/--/10....

JAMES77.............01/06/10..........01/07/10.......02/03/10........--/--/10....

CK&TYDI.............01/06/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

SARATARA............01/07/10..........--/--/10.......02/11/10........--/--/10....

NECROTICA...........01/07/10..........01/11/10.......02/10/10........--/--/10....

ALEJANDRA2..........01/11/10..........01/12/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

LISA AND PHIL.......01/11/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

BUSYCHARLIE.........01/11/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

HAPPILYCONTENT......01/12/10..........01/14/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

GBERTZ7.............01/12/10..........01/13/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

JOECANUK............01/12/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

SHAMI...............01/13/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

SCIPIO..............01/13/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

LYNAMON.............01/14/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

OHIODUTCHIE.........01/15/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

ELGUEVON............01/16/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

KARMASXOCEAN........01/16/10..........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

MIRCIOV.............01/19/10..........01/20/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

CONVERSE34..........01/19/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

DAKOTAK1............01/20/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

IMABACK.............01/23/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

KNOBBY_WHEEZER......01/25/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

Vermont Service Center (21 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

DUNNY...............01/04/10.........01/06/10.......02/04/10........--/--/10....

SAU.................01/04/10.........01/07/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

ABEFAIZI............01/04/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

GEN&PAUL............01/04/10.........01/07/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

GWEN666.............01/05/10.........--/--/10.......02/11/10........--/--/10....

SHUB................01/05/10.........--/--/10.......02/05/10........--/--/10....

RAJ0327.............01/09/10.........01/12/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

DJTURBO.............01/11/10.........01/15/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

WANGJEXI............01/11/10.........01/15/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

SSMA2007............01/11/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

LADYWHITE...........01/13/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

RANDYFABI...........01/14/10.........01/20/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

IGOMO...............01/15/10.........01/19/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

GSIEFFE.............01/15/10.........01/20/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

KARENKAYE...........01/16/10.........01/25/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

VIKASP..............01/19/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

TRAVIS&LISA.........01/21/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

OKALIAN.............01/22/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

LVIVLOVERS..........01/22/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

ROGAIL..............01/26/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

CHOCOLATTEGIRL......01/26/10.........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/10....

IMPORTANT!

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Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

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I know of another VJer who had this happen to her in 2005 through London. She admitted to past drug use in the 1980's and had a similar experience to your fiance, then was placed on administrative review while waiting for the test results. When they came back clear, her visa was issued and now she lives in Texas.

It is quite accurate that he would be banned for a positive result. Personal feelings aside, USCIS doesn't feel that people have the right to be doing things which are, technically, illegal.

Thanks, we have an Infopass appointment for Friday.

The forced marriages regulation was just to raise the minimum age for spouse and fiance visas from 18 to 21. Apparently that's the demographic that was in danger.

So far there haven't been any announcements and the whole thing is still being discussed, so no one knows what is happening. All we know is ILR is gone as of July. "Probationary citizenship" is one of the ideas being kicked around, but no requirements for what you would actually have to do to earn it have been announced.

No one knows yet. They're dismantling the system and nothing has been proposed to fill the gap yet. Nice, isn't it?

ILR is being abolished this year, so by the time you get around to it, there will be something else in place.

No; the application for both is the same. You'll receive Further Leave to Enter since you've been married less than four years.

Technically it's FLE (further leave to enter) or ILE (indefinite leave to enter) if you've been married more than four years, but yes, the guidance notes are marked INF4.

Yes, she's going to need a visa. Fortunately it can be applied for and received in a day or so! We just did ours at the end of last month.

The rules on third party support (allowing someone else to sponsor your application) have just been changed, too, so this will make things worlds easier on you.

You'll need to start by getting your evidence together. It's broken down into a few categories:

-Nationality. Both of your passports go with the application.

-Your marriage. You'll need your marriage certificate and evidence you're living together as a married couple. Comingled finances like joint bank accounts, mutual life insurance policies, bills in both of your names, anything with both of your names and addresses at the same place. We included our current tenancy agreement, copies of US driving licenses with our shared address, joint bank statements from our US bank, our car insurance policy and life insurance policy.

-Accomodation. Living with your parents is fine, but they need details of the mortgage or a land registry document showing who owns the property, plus a letter stating the size of the property, how many bedrooms it has, and that you will be allowed to live there.

-Support. Since we are moving at the same time, he doesn't have a job in the UK to show support. At the time we applied, third party support was not allowed, so we showed our savings instead. Now third party support is allowed, so a letter from someone stating that they will support the both of you until you are solvent will suffice again. Also in this category are things that prove one or both of you are employable. We included our CVs, copies of our degrees and transcripts, and letters from recruiters.

Get all of this together before you make the application. Since you are living in the US you have to make the application online. It takes a little while to fill out, then you make the payment and submit the application. All that does is allow you to schedule your biometrics appointment. You pay the $1000 fee, print off the application and the biometrics confirmation letter, then you go do your biometrics. They will stamp your biometrics confirmation letter and then you can send the application, biometrics letter and all of your evidence to the UK embassy holding jurisdiction over where you live.

DO NOT SEND THEM BY MAIL OR YOU WILL BE WAITING MONTHS FOR YOUR VISA

You can't drop your case at the Embassy in person anymore. Applications sent by mail do not have priority. What you want to do is hire a courier to take the application to the Embassy for you. They are the ones that can get your visa processed in a single day. UK Yankee has a thread on couriers and reviews, including prices. It seems to range from $100 to $200 for the service and I haven't seen any really bad reviews; couriers have to be authorized by the Embassy to be able to go there and do this for you so I gather that weeds out shady businesses.

Once the courier submits it, you'll get an e-mail. Then you'll spend a nerve wracking 5-6 hours until the Embassy sends you your approval e-mail, and your courier goes and picks up the completed visa for you. Then you are done!

It sounds complex and just keeps getting more so, but compared to US immigration, still a cakewalk.