S-C

How long until you finally received the card?

Only took about a week after approval!

Thank you all so much! The way it was worded saying the card was ordered to be produced had us worried it would be a long wait. Just wanted to be sure it was safe to start applying to jobs ASAP!

Hello everyone!

My EAD and AP got approved on 3 April 2015. We were wondering how long it takes from approval to us receiving the actually them in the mail?

Cheers!

Chelsea and Sam

Use Transferwise.com and get it deposited it into your UK account. Not only are the fees from banks a lot higher, but the exchange rates they give you will be a lot less.

I have used Transferwise for about two years and they are absolutely exceptional. Best rates and lowest fees, compared to everyone.

Don't worry. It's all good. I didn't realise folding it was alright hahaha

Seems weird there was no alien number either.

Hello all. I have what is probably a strange question. How did you all transport the massive white envelope you receive and need to show to immigration on your POE? (Note: I'm a K-1, not sure if its the same for everyone). The envelope is huge and I don't want to risk ripping it if I fold it. However it's so massive it won't fit in my laptop bag, and may possibly not fit in my carry on luggage either. This is a real issue, because holding the envelope may become troublesome for an 8 hour flight.

All suggestions welcome!

No problem.

Pretty much everything I've been through in the process has followed the time guidelines and expectations. Once you get towards the back end of things, it'll seem easier once your interview date has been granted etc.

That was something I found as well. Once you book the medical it all seems to flow rather easily.

I suppose there are a lot of people in this country who may not even qualify for credit and have to use checks. Or they don't embrace new technology easily and want to write checks. I tend to pay bills online via credit card or BillPay out of my bank account. About the only checks I have to write are to my yard guy, but he probably doesn't qualify to be in this country.

For the photo deposit you have to log in with a password to the bank app, so can only deposit to that account.

The latest thing we are just beginning to use is ApplePay. You hold your phone up to the credit card swiping device and it pays with our Visa card. It didn't work yesterday in Best Buy. We asked the guy what was the deal with techno savvy Best Buy since it even works in Petco.

I get some people wouldn't want to transition to the newer technology. I have no issue with having the option to pay by cheque. It's more that it is the only option, or worse, that it's the cheaper option. How it's the cheaper option when the person you are paying actually needs to spend time to deposit it and then record the payment, as opposed to just receiving the money in your account and having an automatic receipt, is beyond me.

I remember back in Australia they were bringing in something like that when I left. It wasn't ApplePay, but it was similar, with the whole phone to pay business. It will be interesting to see if it takes off.

Our apartment community charges $25 to pay your rent online while writing a check and hand delivering it to the office is free.

I don't know why anyone would waste $25 just for the convenience. It's absurd that they even charge that ridiculous fee.

That is just so silly. Why wouldn't they want the money directly into their account with absolutely no chance of that payment bouncing?

Thanks for your replies. May I ask what field is everyone in? I only ask since I'm going for info or timeframe for Accounting. Thanks!

I'm not an accountant, but I am fairly certain you will have to be accredited in the state you wish to work. Or at least at a federal level. Definitely something to look up, as that will add time on. Once again, I wish to repeat, I AM NOT AN ACCOUNTANT hahaha

Also, I am flying out at the start of December on a K-1, but I am fortunate that one of Chelsea's family friends is going to help me with the job. I am an Economist by trade, having done a lot of analytical and policy work in my time.

Hate cheques!

I've been here 10 years (initially for work only, now married to a USC) and small things still catch me off guard. I opened a bank account on my 3rd day here, and I was shocked that the bank's customer service rep recommended a checking account. I asked her why and she looked at me like I was crazy, "so you can write checks of course!" "Who accepts checks?" "Can you show me how to fill one out correctly?" "Which country did you say you were from?" That's when I realized we have an expectation gulf, she thought I came from an under developed country where cheques are not an option, but really no one in Australia uses personal cheques, I had never filled out one out. She was rather shocked that we basically used phone and online banking ALL THE TIME

Making friends is not always easy, I particularly found it hard with the logistics of organizing a get together in LA, everyone lives so far from each other and you are always at the mercy of the freeways. I ended up meeting a lot of friends through colleagues at work, but in general, community activities, volunteer events, fitness clubs are the places that I've heard most people say had allowed them to meet like minded people.

I find the whole medical care situation here very scary, I work for a large company so we are able to have a little more bargaining power when it comes to negotiating for better policies, but trying to use your benefits is always fraught with confusion and risk of having claims rejected.

People generally understand my accent, however, they don't always understand my word choice e.g. "fortnightly" vs. "bi-weekly", "efficacy vs. effectiveness", in my experience, many American English speakers do not seem to focus as much on specificity or accuracy, so I often have to explain myself, which really defeats the purpose of using the right words to be concise

The first time I used the word fortnightly Chelsea laughed and said I talked like an 80 year old man hahahah

I also thought that people writing cheques was weird. Given the level of fraud and likelihood of the cheque getting lost, I would have thought internet banking would be bigger. Blew my mind when I found out you still have to write a cheque AND deliver it to certain water companies and such.

I didn't call them. I emailed them regarding getting an interview date as soon as possible. It will take them approx 5 days to get back to you. However, I had my medical on 28 October and my interview on 12 November. So it definitely works. it also helps if you put down your wedding date as a time not too far into the future on your forms (I put mine as 4 December).

The contact details can be found in the UK forum under the London Specific thread.

Honestly, I have no concerns about moving to Mississippi. I am from Australia, I moved to London just after my 29th birthday and I will now be moving to the US. Driving isn't an issue for me (been driving since I was 16), even if they have some crazy crazy laws. Four way stops do not make logical sense to me at all.

Other than that, Australia is more like the US than London (I understand London isn't a true reflection of the UK). I can't wait to leave London.

With regards to drive thrus, they're more if you know or have a decent idea of what you want. My accent isn't particularly thick so they don't have much trouble understanding me thankfully haha.

Have you read the thread pinned at the top of this UK Forum --K1 Guide to London process? Many of the questions you asked are in that. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/474161-london-k1-a-complete-guide/

Medical takes 3 (maybe 4) days to get sent to embassy because they have to get the blood test back from the lab.

No to bank letter. Employer letter...they love.

2013 Tax transcript can be a backup since you are OCD. Nothing else is needed. Really!

When is your actual wedding date? Way off next year? Do you plan to leave as soon as you get the visa?

Read that thread. Anything that says call DOS...ignore that because they quit helping.

Any corrections are at the end...like phones allowed now.

congrats!!! Hey I have a couple of questions. I am trying to gather some helpful tips for my fiancé so that he can start getting things together. As of now it still says "At NVC" on the website. It arrived on Friday Nov 7th. So, for him to schedule his medical does his papers need to be at the embassy already? I hear that it takes about 5 business days for medical to arrive to embassy. Also, would it be a good idea to give a wedding date on his 'ready' request form a wedding date a month or two earlier than projected wedding to ensure he goods an early interview? What financial documents did you send? did you send bank letter, employer and tax docs? When you say copies of docs do you mean copies of NOA1/2 and actual I129F application? I know the DS160 but what else? I told my fiancé to make two additional copies of his medical questionnaire too. I think I am OCD! Any helpful hints will be wonderful!

I really can not stress how helpful the London K1 thread at the top of the UK Forum (pinned) really was. It has everything you need to know.

Like I said, i wanted an early interview date because my lease ends and I wanted to be gone.

But read the London K1 Visa thread. Like Nick said, there are few changes, notably phones are now allowed so no need to go and drop it off at Gauld's before the interview.

Yay! Congrats!

We're waiting for our interview date…Matt had his medical on monday. I can only hope that it's soon…I want him here for christmas and it's not like he can board a flight the day after his interview! I'm so nervous! I know he'll pass, I'm just worried he won't get his interview on time!

Thank you! To ensure I got an interview date quickly I put our wedding date and my leaving time as early. Then emailed them a week after my medical stressing an earlier interview would be extremely beneficial. My lease runs out on 2 December so I needed to be gone by then.

Whoops sorry Yes that's what I was trying to say also

Hahaha its okay.

congrats. however I caution everyone not to assume it is easy because every consulate is different. your consulate, in particular, is one of the easiest and less scrutinized.

I know. Hence why it is posted in the UK forum, where people will be attending the interview at the London embassy. The embassy I attended.

Yay! Congratulations!

Thanks you!

In fairness, OP did post this in the regional forum so one can assume she is referring to the specific consulate, not all of them. Nonetheless, that is good advice.

I thought it was fairly obvious I was talking about London. Also I am the guy hahaha

I had my interview today and we got approved! It really is a lot easier than you make it up to be in your head. I'll make sure to write a review for the embassy.

A few points here for people about to go:

- They don't need photocopies of your documents. I had two copies of all my originals (plus the originals), but they only asked for the originals. I was too excited to ask why. Sorry!

- I freaked when I was in line outside and the embassy person was asking people for a print out of their DS-160 confirmation. Don't worry, as long as you have your appointment letter you are all good.

- Like others have said, you are allowed to bring in your phone now.

I'll link my review once I post it up. Good luck to everyone!

Glorious guys! Thanks

Just wondering what others wore to the interview. I Am planning on wearing jeans and a button up shirt with my northface (as it looks likely to rain all morning). Is it better to be dressed in business attire?

I have done the some thing you did. How long did it take them to email you back? It has been a week and a day since I emailed them.

I am from Brisbane but I'm living in London at the moment! Also not a girl hahaha just nice to see someone else from Brisbane.

I literally just sent my notification of readiness, I have my medical on Wednesday 29th October in London. Excited and nervous

I have done the same thing. My Medical is on 26 October. I really want to fly out by 2 December (as that is when my lease runs out), so I would extremely happy with a quick turnaround from them.

Did you look at United through Houston? That's what we always fly. I liked it better when it was Continental but that is more to do with frequent flyer miles, baggage allowance, etc....the perks.

What kind of prices are you finding on the various airlines? United seems to be about $880 round trip.

I've looked at Delta and BA (which is essentially AA) and they are £561 and £532 respectively. AA is much cheaper for the additional bag though which makes it work out cheaper overall. I am going to look up United today and see what they are like.

I looked into flying through Dublin, but finding a flight from Dublin to Gulfport is extremely hard. Unfortunately Virgin is not an option for me.

I would focus more on what type of plane I was flying on rather than what airlines. You should try to focus on a booking a flight on a Boeing 777 rather than an old 747 or something else that has not been updated. You will not enjoy flying Delta in the USA if you have to catch a flight between New York and Miss. It is like being cattle hearded. They pack them with very little leg room.

If you get American Airlines or any airline on a Boeing 777 direct from Europe to Dallas Fort Worth, you will be better off regardless. The connecting flight from Dallas Fort Worth over to Miss will be a very short flight so it won't matter what kind of plane you will be on for the connecting flight.

I'm not worried about the Atlanta to Gulfport (Delta) or DFW to GPT (AA) flight. it's only an hour and half and I can pretty much deal with anything for that time. My main concern is from London to DFW with American Airlines.

Has anyone done this flight on a 777 with AA?