AmericaninLondon

On 4/4/2017 at 1:47 PM, bcking said:

Thanks for the update. I was going to say that most likely he would either need to move with you before taking Step 3, or he should have completed all of them before the interview. As you mentioned, they won't let you go in and out after your interview before "activating" your visa. 

 

Did you interview just today? My wife was there today. Her experience was very similar. The queues outside were confusing (and filled mostly with "freshers" as she put it, likely getting visas to do school trips) but once inside everyone was nice and it was quite quick. She also had a slight freak out because she found a small bottle of petroleum in her handbag before going it (it's a sort of "trophy" from a dig, she is a petroleum geologist) and was worried they would take it (It is irreplaceable, since it comes from the very beginning of a well). Luckily she had read through practically everything online and quickly found a place to get a lockbox nearby.

 

Anyway congrats! Where are you guys moving if I may ask? I'm a physician in the US (American trained). 

Hi bcking,

Interview was on Monday and we just got word that his passport with visa will be delivered to us tomorrow; very quick turnaround!  Hope it's the same for you.

To answer your question, we are moving to Chicago, where I lived before moving to the UK.  My husband is excited to work in the US and VERY happy to be almost finished with his USMLEs.  It's been a long road, especially as he began studying for Step 1 eight years after finishing medical school and at the same time working as a consultant/attending :).

Thanks for the congratulations and I hope all goes smoothly with your wife's move

Thought I'd post an update on the above.  The process at the London Embassy was simple and streamlined.  It's a bit confusing upon arrival as there were a few huge lines with no clear direction.  Thankfully, I'd researched enough online to know that these most likely weren't lines we needed to wait in (they are for tourist visas, etc).  My husband and I went to the front and were asked to stand to the side and wait for the names to be released to them.  We still arrived 30 minutes early and only got into the building about 10 minutes before our 10:30 appointment time after security.  

After we sat in the waiting room it took around 10 minutes for us to be called.  The very nice agent at the first desk went through our paperwork and removed some of what I mentioned I was going to provide in the original post.  Better safe than sorry!  I went to pay for the visa fee while this was handled with the agent and my husband.  We were asked to sit again and it took about 15 minutes for us for our number to be called again.

The next agent was just as nice and asked us a few questions - how we met (on holiday in Spain), how many days we spent together that trip (a few), when we saw each other again (a few months later in London, a few months after that in Paris, etc - we had a long distance for about a year).  Our situation is such that we've been together almost 6 years and married just under 2 years, and I'm not sure he noticed I'm 7 months pregnant, so I don't think he was too concerned about the legitimacy of our marriage. He asked about my re-establishing domicile and what I've done to do that.  I explained that I had kept a bank account for the duration, I have a storage unit there with furniture, I had a mailing address (he asked for more details on this and I explained it was "virtual" and mail is scanned and forwarded as necessary), we've been apartment hunting, have movers scheduled.  He went through the paperwork a bit and in less than 10 minutes we were approved.

We then asked him about the traveling that I mentioned above.  My husband has an exam he needs to take and would prefer to do so before we move together.  (To answer the gentleman's question above as to why I can't go with him: I will be 9 months pregnant when he would be going).  The agent was very clear that he could NOT travel beforehand without me and without activating the visa once it's issued.  We asked about "delaying the visa" as someone suggested above and the agent stated that he could deny the visa on the day, but not delay.  Then we'd have to start again.  No thank you.  Question answered.  He will need to take the exam after we move. 

I was mostly concerned about proving I was going to re-establish domicile and that wasn't an issue with the documents I provided.  I was also concerned as I don't have an income to support my husband and make sure he doesn't become a public charge in the US and we would be solely using our liquid assets.  My husband is the sole earner in my household and I'm a housewife and plan on continuing to be so upon arrival and we were honest about that.  I haven't filed US taxes as I wasn't required to do so because I don't have been under the income threshold so I had no returns to show; we've filed separately for obvious reasons.  A letter explaining this was sufficient as well as proving that we have assets (which were significantly over the requirement).  I proved this by having my bank send me a letter stating my current balances and 9-year relationship with the bank.  The letter format was created in conjunction with the consulate for this purpose and Citibank knew what was required when I asked them for it.  I also provided printouts of 12 months of statements.

Interestingly, a few days before the interview I read a review about a gentleman's experience where he stated that although the embassy's website states that a police report doesn't expire as long as that person has not resided there again, he was required to get a more recent one and wasn't issued his visa on that day because of it.  Having read this we did get an updated one to be on the safe side.  They made no mention of this at the interview, but did take both reports.  It's a shame that this happened to this man as it was very clearly stated on the checklist that this wasn't necessary.  

The whole experience was simple and much easier than expected.  My advice to all, read as much as you can beforehand on what paperwork to gather together, be very organized, be honest and forthcoming and if everything is legal and done within their guidelines, you should be approved, no problem.

Good luck all!

Thought I'd update on this as I haven't found any clear answers anywhere else.  We had our interview and it was successful.  Very simple and streamlined process at the London Embassy.  We asked the agent about traveling round trip after approval and before activating (as I couldn't go with him due to my pregnancy stage) and he was clear that he could NOT.  Simply put, the next time my husband enters the US it must be with me (as I am his sponsor; this does NOT apply to sponsors that are already in the US) as the visa MUST be activated at that time.

He couldn't activate the green card, as I (his sponsor) will not be with him, which is a requirement, and he wasn't going to bring his sealed packet, etc.  We're hoping he can just enter with his ESTA as a tourist this once then activate the green card a few weeks later together.

Thank you for your response!  Problem is, we need the visa beforehand to get a job contract and be able to get a place to live.  Then he needs to do the final exam before we enter to finalize the contract so he can have a start date.  He couldn't activate the CR-1 (IR-1) because I wouldn't be with him and he wouldn't even bring his packet.  We were hoping he could just enter on his ESTA.  I can't seem to find any rules on this...

I am a US citizen living in London with my husband.  He has his visa interview for a CR-1 (will be an IR-1 when we enter) in about a month and if this goes well and it's issued (fingers crossed), we plan on moving about 6 weeks after that.

Situation is, if/when we are approved for his visa, he will need to travel to the US before entering with me on our official move day (the day he turns over his packet/gets his visa stamped).  It will be a turnaround trip of 2 nights only to take an exam and he'll then return to the UK (to his job) for another few weeks before we officially move.  Is this going to be an issue?  We could provide a letter from his job (resignation letter with end date), working rota showing he's got surgeries scheduled, lease end date being later, proof of exam, short hotel stay and tickets for our actual move date (where he'll travel with me and our newborn), etc?