Edward&Wendy

Really helpful site. Fedex wanted double what UPS are looking to charge.

Just a quick question, did you ship to an apartment in the US? My concern is UPS are a bit funny about delivering round my fiancé's way, and I'd be worried where everything would end up if they didn't deliver direct to the door.

Just as an update:

I will be filing for AOS before the new fiscal year (April) using my co-sponsor's 2014 tax return. My co-sponsor will be filing an extension for 2015 taxes. If my interview falls after April 2016, will proof of the extension as granted by the IRS plus current income proof (2015 W2s, recent pay stubs, and employment letter) suffice?

Well, I have to say I really do appreciate the responses to this. I had been browsing the forums for a similar situation to the one we find ourselves in, but without a clear or decisive answer.

Just as an update, we're in touch with our co-sponsor and emphasising the importance of this hoping that they can get their tax return done in good time for our sake, since we just don't have the option of finding ourselves a new co-sponsor.

Well, I know we're getting ahead of ourselves a little here, but my fiancé and I are just keen to make sure everything is ready.

Long and the short of it, we have a co-sponsor for the I-864 affidavit of support, however, they have an extension for filing their most recent tax return, which means they subsequently can't supply it for the form, and the same will happen when the new tax year begins in April (should we be filing for AOS after that date). When that's the case, how is the most suited means for supplying appropriate information?

Also, would the income displayed on the W2 for 2014 be sufficient for answering the part on question 19.a., or does the total income have to come directly from the tax return?

Please forgive any naivety or confusion in what I'm asking, I'm still learning about US taxes and everything involved, but any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Well, I had my medical examination yesterday, just before the Tube strikes this week, which have subsequently been called off. Despite currently being in the best shape I’ve ever been in, I’m still unsettled by the prospect of anything like this, and I was a bit of a bundle of nerves prior to and on arrival.

I had mine at Bentinck Mansions, which was easy enough to find. Arrived fifteen minutes prior to my appointment (1:10pm), so I checked in, handed over my documents, and received the more specific questionnaire to fill in. Only ticked yes to weight loss and previous tobacco use, the rest was fine. Handed that back, and went to sit down again. There were two other people waiting besides me, and shortly after a couple of guys came in as well.

I was waiting about ten minutes before a pleasant man took me for my chest x-ray. He had a friendly demeanour, remarking to clip my long hair up ‘like a samurai’, to which I chuckled and said I’ve always been terrible at clipping my hair to the top of my head. He had to take the x-ray twice, the second time with the plate lengthways because it seemed my chest was too broad and was getting cut off the picture, but that wasn’t a problem. Afterwards, went back to the waiting room.

About fifteen minutes or so later, I was met by a friendly female doctor, and we went through the form I’d filled in. She asked me about my weight loss and when I’d stopped smoking (six and a half years ago), both of which seemed to please her, along with saying no to all the other questions. After that, we started with the eye test, which I felt didn’t go so well, but she had no complaints with. Then came the usual routine: eyes, ears, nose, and throat, then heart, blood pressure, lungs, stomach. Having anticipated being asked to strip altogether, she merely asked me to lie down and lower my trousers and underwear to my knees, which was far less hassle, though a bit of a challenge to pull up when she was through. After she was content my nethers were fine, she took my blood while I was still lying down, at which point I redressed while she signed the paperwork. She said she seemed happy with it all, and wished me good luck, at which point I was back in the waiting room. I guess the part I found a little strange was, despite the initial medical questionnaire I had to fill in prior to the examination asking for my height and weight, she didn’t measure either during the physical part, going on the premise that what I penned in myself was sufficient.

The waiting room itself was filling up now; a family of three and another of four had come in, occupying a majority of the seats. Another five or ten minutes later, I was taken by lovely lady to go over my vaccinations. While no one there was unpleasant, she was by far the nicest person I saw that day, chatting casually amongst everything. After confirming a history of chicken pox, the only vaccination I needed was a tetanus shot, since my last one was 2002. Being left-handed, she was initially going to put it in my right arm, but was apprehensive about sticking the needle into the tattoo there, which she asked about, and we agreed it was probably best to aim for my left arm. She asked where I was going, and also wished me the best of luck with everything, which was sweet.

After that, I wasn’t in the waiting room for long before one of the girls from reception called me to pay and hand all my documents back. She said they’d contact me if there was any concern regarding anything, but beyond that it’d all just go on to the embassy and be fine. She wished me all the best as well, and that was it. I was in there for about 40 minutes over all, relieved it had gone quickly and painlessly.

When people say it isn’t nearly as bad as how you build it up in your head, they’re not wrong. Everyone I saw was nice and made me feel at ease. Even still, I couldn’t help but treat myself to a couple of ales while waiting for the train home.

Just a quick question for those who have had their medical/filled in their medical questionnaire post May 2015. Question 5: 'Have you ever used drugs?' is throwing me a little, because it seems so vague and broad. Are they including the likes of alcohol and tobacco in that spectrum, or am I just making more of a meal of this than I should? Just curious as to what other people have put.

I'd hoped to avoid starting a new thread, but I suppose it'll also be handy for anyone else in the same boat.

My fiancee has a non-family member - a close friend who meets all necessary guidelines - as a co-sponsor for me, and we're just a little uncertain of what to put on the I-134 in terms of their relationship to me, the beneficiary. I've scoured the forums, but any questions and answers I've seen have been regarding family members being a co-sponsor, which we don't unfortunately have the luxury of. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I deliberated making a new thread, but since I've got a similar sort of question I figured I'd post it here to save unnecessary clutter.

My fiancee has a non-family member - a close friend who meets all necessary guidelines - as a co-sponsor for me, and we're just a little uncertain of what to put on the I-134 in terms of their relationship to me, the beneficiary. I've scoured the forums, but any questions and answers I've seen have been regarding family members being a co-sponsor, which we don't unfortunately have the luxury of. Any help would be greatly appreciated.