ChadTaljaardt

The list is here for anyone else who is looking:

https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/family-immigration/required-documents/

Welcome to the party.. See my thread here: 

I am in the same boat as you.. doesn't looks good..

7 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 

I know they closed yesterday in honor of national day of mourning of George H.W. Bush.

And I know if you email asking status, they fob you off as a very low priority, dealing with actual problems that can be fixed first.  If it is indeed a security AP where additional checks are being made, they reveal nothing...not why or how long it will take. Your name doesn't sound old school British, so is there a chance your nationality is playing into this? Even if somebody with the same name is in a database worldwide, they would have to check that out to clear you as not being the same person or a relative.

I was born in South Africa, but i know my ancestors are from the UK. We moved from South Africa to the uk in 2006 and i was 9 years old at that time. 

On 11/20/2018 at 1:48 PM, Wuozopo said:

I would start counting on the 8th because the day it arrives doesn't mean it got in the hands of an immigration officer. The update on 8th may indicate a person of rank got it or maybe the mailroom indicated arrival but not to an officer yet. And it doesn't mean he had time to go back to your case even if it's on his desk. If it doesn't go to "Issued" Tuesday/Wednesday, then Thursday is another holiday where the embassy is closed. Then your guy takes Friday off for a long weekend. See how there's so many little variables?  You can't really predict it down to the day. When it says "issued", then expect email in two days and visa in three, not counting Thanksgiving or the weekend.

Hello, 

Do you know if there are any issues at the US Embassy in London?

I tried to email them on the 23rd November regarding our case but just got a generic response. 
 

Hello, 

I had my interview on the 5th November; generally, it takes 7-10 days for the visa to be approved and it has been 18 days for me so far. My medical was not there on the day of the interview, and it arrived and was processed on the 8th. I am just concerned about if there are any issues, i have not heard anything from the embassy since the interview. 

Would you possibly be able to let me know the status of the visa and if there are any issues?

Thanks, 
Chad Taljaardt

Thank you for your email.
 
To clarify, if  visa application is approved following a visa interview, the average processing time is 7-10 working days plus a further 1-2 days for delivery. However, if further information or documentation is required, additional time should be allowed. We cannot guarantee an outcome on or before any given date as processing varies in each and every case.
 
As soon as visa processing is complete and delivery arrangements have been made, you can expect the courier service to email you with information about how to track the delivery of your passport. 
 
Sincerely, 

I had my interview on the 5th November, and tried to email them for a update on the 23rd November, however i got a generic response. 

This is what ours looks like : 

On 11/14/2018 at 1:48 PM, Wuozopo said:

London does not notify you when the medical arrives. You can call the clinic and see when they sent it over. It's better to leave more time between the medical and interview because the clinic-to-embassy has been slower all of 2018 than ever before. (Since the move into the new embassy in mid January). We have suggested 10 days to 2 weeks in the UK forum because there's a lot who get to their interview this year and the medical is not in their file. Once you get out of sequence, you are in the slow queue of them backtracking to pick up cases not completely ready on interview day while they continue to interview a new group every day. 

 

There was a holiday on Monday for the embassy, so take off a day for that. And there also seems to be a group of you who just interviewed and nobody has gotten their visa. Could be an internal delay of some sort...computers down...visa printer down...etc. See the UK forum and find the discussions.

 

Also, there is no way to get an answer from the London Immigrant Visa Unit by telephone. They have a "contact us" email on their website. 

 

Edit to add: Your 7-10 days is standard for those who have everything in place on interview days. You should go with 10 days from when the medical was sent over. And don't count the holiday in there.

Okay so i contacted the visa medical, they said the embassy received it on the 7th. The case was last updated on the 8th according to CEAC, and is in administrative processing. 

So 10 days from the 7th would take it to the 17th, and then there was that 1 day holiday which would take it to the 18th, so i'm 2 days over the 10 day estimate right now. So i expect to hear back from them some time this week. 

Transferwise is best imo

4 minutes ago, adil-rafa said:

any indication u passed or did not pass the medical exam?

I haven't heard anything back from he medical exam. 

When i went they said that the medical all looked fine, but i haven't received any notifications regarding it. They obviously still had to do a blood test etc.

Hello, 

I had my visa interview on the 5th of November. During the interview, they had not received my medical information (i had my medical on the 31st of October) so they said that they will put the visa on hold until they get that, and then they will approve it. 

It has been 9 days since the interview, and they say that the visa will be approved in approximately 7-10 days. I have not received any sort of notification to say that they received my medical, should i call them to try to find out what is happening with that or wait longer?

I have a flight booked to the USA for the 4th December, so i have got a lot of time still, but if there is an issue id like to get it fixed asap. 

Thanks

Hello,

I had my interview today, there was a few things I wasn’t expecting and I’m wondering if anyone else had this experience.

1. My medical results from Knightsbridge hadn’t arrived, they said that this can sometimes happen. Do I need to be concerned or do anything regarding this?
    
2. They awarded my visa but said it depends on the medical results, but then they kept my passport as they said they needed it for the visa. I flew down and as a result, if I didn’t have my drivers licence I’m not sure what identification I could have given to fly back. Has anyone else experienced this? I was quite nervous to return without my passport. Might be worth putting a note if this happens often so people are aware of it.

Other than these things, the visa process at the embassy was great, very professional and organised.

@ItchyKneeSon I found this which says that they accept "scanned" copies of signatures https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/630702-i-864-photocopies-of-signatures-now-accepted

My interview is Monday and i only have the scanned version, so i'll reply back with whether or not they accept it.

Thats all i have for my immunisations, so if its missing from there, i dont have it.

Just now, Wuozopo said:

 

How do they know that?

 

 

If you don't  have a printed record of two MMRs, then you need to get the second one.

 

What about tetanus/diptheria/pertussis? What dates? 

Here is a screenshot of my immunisation record, black squares are redacted names etc. 

Not shown on this record but on a different record from Africa (where i was born ) is in the next post.

16 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

This the website for the location that does US visa medicals. http://www.visamedicals.co.uk/us-price.htm

 

They haven't offered Varicella shots in several years (at least they took it off their website). Chickenpox will get the shot waived.  No written proof is required.

  

NHS does not stock Varicella because it is not required for children in the UK. 

I haven't had chickenpox before, so i'm not sure what will happen. 

 

34 minutes ago, thatguyuknow said:

No idea, my GP has been great. I got the MMR booster and Dtap for free. 

 

They told me they dont issue the Varicella shot and wouldn't order it in.  I've already had chickenpox although there is no note on my patient summary/ records. 

 

Don't worry about it. 

 

Have you gotten an MMR booster within the last 10 years?

I got my MMR vaccine in 1998. And i haven't had Chickenpox before. 

3 minutes ago, thatguyuknow said:

From what I've heard they'll ask you 'Have you had chickenpox' If you have had chickenpox tell them the details, if not then you'll need the shot. 

 

I just got my shots for my medical. Dtap and MMR booster, nothing I can do on the NHS about Varicella.

 

If they want me to have it'll cost £50, so be it. 

Yeah, thats what i thought would happen, just wanted to make sure. I dont really care about the £50 at this point, ive had issue after issue after issue with the NHS and im pretty sick of it at this point haha. 

I wonder why the NHS doesnt give it out to people?

 

Hello, 

I'll be going to the Knightsbridge Doctor in London, however i am missing the Varicella vaccination. Does anyone know if you can get this on the day of the interview and if you need to call ahead of time to notify them?

I see on their website that they do give the vaccine : https://www.knightsbridge-doctors.com/practice-fees

Anyone know what i should do? Is this common because apparently the NHS does not give this vaccine away to everyone.

Thanks, 
Chad Taljaardt

Thanks, 
 

So i'll get her to print it, then sign it, then scan it, then email me it, then i'll print it this side, and then give them the printed version. 

 

Hello, 

Just a quick questions. For the required document it says "A signed Affidavit of Support from your petitioner and any additional financial sponsors who submitted a Form I-864 on behalf of your visa application.  Applicants may bring photocopies and scanned versions of signed Forms I-864 and associated documents. (Please note that the form must still be signed; typed names and electronic signatures will not be accepted.)".

We filled out the AOS form online, i'm a little confused by the wording of "typed names and electronic signatures will not be accepted.". If we printed the AOS form, then signed it, then scanned it back to get a electronic version and printed that for the interview, would that be valid? Also i assume that when they say "typed names" they are referencing when people type their name instead of putting a signature?

Thanks!

4 minutes ago, valentinasc said:

I had my interview last month.

Took me 30 minutes. I had everything you’ve listed but CO only asked me for :

 

• Original birth certificate of me and my husband

• All my original police certificates.

 

I had about 230 pages of documents but I only had to show those listed above .. 

as long as you know you’ve got it all you’ll be fine. Be attentive and positive. Good luck  

Wow, 230 pages is a lot. ill try take as much as possible, rather too much than too little. 

How do you know if you need to do the courier thing. I see some people doing it, but i haven't been told to do it as far as i'm aware. I received my appointment letter by email.

9 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

People write reviews. London ones are here. https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=United+Kingdom&cty=&dfilter=5

 

Find the ones for your type of visa. A K1 interview might not be exactly the same. But all reviews will indicate it's nothing to worry about. 

 

You won't need:

• Medical Exams (That goes by courier from clinic to embassy)
• Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States. (That's for a joint sponsor's I-864, not your wife's. They know already from her petition file which they will have)
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (for example, photographs and letters). London never asks for that of anybody.

 

 

 

 

Great, i'll look at the link you posted. I dont know why, just nervous about doing something wrong i guess. 

Hello, 

I have just received the visa interview notice, I'm kinda nervous for it now haha. Would someone be able to let me know what actually happens at the interview? What gets asked etc. 

Also, am I missing anything from my checklist?

• Passport
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Police Certificate
• Two colour passport photographs
• Medical Exams
• Confirmation of DS-260
• Interview appointment letter from the National Visa Center (NVC).
• Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States. (photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or legal permanent resident card).
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (for example, photographs and letters).
• Financial evidence showing your petitioner’s income, such as federal tax returns or forms W-2.
• A signed Affidavit of Support from your petitioner and any additional financial sponsors who submitted a Form I-864.

Tomorrow i'll be scheduling my medical exam in London!

Thanks, 
Chad 

7 hours ago, Dee elle said:

Read through the threads and guides on this website.. there are many many posts which talk about this very question.. take time to research then come back with specific questions.. people are always happy to help, especially if you have taken the time to do your own research...good luck. 

Thanks for your advise, i will look into it!

 

3 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

 

Some things to know up front of more importance than how long after marriage should you apply. Just a heads up in case you haven't researched it well yet.

• You marry then live back in the UK while you wait on the CR1 visa processing. Could be a year.
• Any convictions or UK cautions are reviewed to see if you are eligible.
• Any drug use ever can work against you.
• Your girlfriend needs a job making $20,300 or somebody else in the US willing to sign on as your financial support. 
• It's going to cost you a couple of thousand in immigration fees and such. 

Hello, 

Thanks for your response. 

We are planning to get married around late August this year. We will get married in the USA. Once we have completed this process, ill return home and then apply for all the visa stuff. 

I don't have any convictions, don't have any drug use, my girlfriend has a job that pays $20,800 however she has only recently started this job. I heard that you need to have 3 years worth of W-2.  Right now we are exploring the option of a sponsor. 

I have read the visa costs in total $1500 with some variable costs, of course there is other costs involved for instance travel etc. But this shouldn't be a issue. When the time comes i should have a few thousand saved up. 

Just now, Dee elle said:

There is no stipulation on how soon or long after the marriage is the rignt time or even the best time to apply. The criteria is evidence of bonafide relationship , no petition is ever guaranteed. Supply strong valid evidence and you are giving it your best 

What type of evidence can this be? Pictures of us together?

Hello,

My girlfriend and I have been in a long distance relationship for around 4 years. We met each other through Facebook when we were 16 and ever since then, we have spoken every day. We have met each other in real life 3 times, the first time was 2 weeks, and the 2nd and 3rd where for around a month. We are planning to get married so that we can live together, I will go there (North Carolina) from the UK. We are planning to meet up again around late august and will apply for the CR-1 visa shortly afterwards. My question is; Is there any time restriction that will influence the visa in terms of applying for the visa straight after marriage?

Thanks a lot!