Howins

8 hours ago, thatguyuknow said:

If you’ve worked all your life it’s going to be hard. I was idle for 5 months over the summer last year and was practically pulling the walls down. Did a lot of cooking, fishing,  swimming and bought a bike, things I never had time for before. 
 

I was lucky, I’m really close with my in-laws and they are so kind to me. I just did what they did and followed along. They would regularly pick me up to do stuff when my partner was at work. Even my partners grandfather would pick me up and we’d go mootchin around loving life. Maybe try and get in with your in-laws?

 

When  you do get a job and you like it, boy does it feel good. I’ve been at my  job since aug 19 and already been promoted. Working here is so much better than the uk. Geez, I used to struggle to go to work when I worked in the uk, everyone is so miserable at work, it would bring me down. 
 

You  have some  big, exciting things coming! This covid business does suck but that’ll pass. If you want maybe apply for some remote work jobs?

Thank you. I am hoping I'll be able to pick up some remote or freelance work, it's just a bad time for everyone at the moment. But you're right, I've never not worked before and it's so miserable not to have anything to do. I've been really lucky with my career back home so I miss it quite a bit.

We aren't very close (proximity-wise) to my in-laws unfortunately, but I do try to speak to family (both here and at home) regularly over the phone and Zoom. I'm hoping I'll be able to maybe see more people now that things are cautiously opening up. I think this is just a case of everything feeling like it's suddenly getting on top of me.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps to know it gets better.

13 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

I'm truly sorry you're going through this. 

 

It is understandable you feel this way. Moving to a different country is never easy; this unexpected worldwide crisis makes it even more difficult.

I think we are all overwhelmed in one way or another, and we long for happier times and familiar places.

Things get harder if your current life differs highly from what you were used to and if you tend to be more sensitive. 

 

I hope this depression is just a stage. Feel free to send me a message if you feel like talking. 😊

I think it's depression due to the circumstances and I'm hoping it will ease as things start to get better.

Thank you for responding, I really appreciate the offer to talk. Makes me feel a lot less alone.

Hi all, I don’t really know where to start but I’m basically at my breaking point due to the stress of AOS, acclimating to living in the US, Covid-19 and homesickness after coming here on a K-1.
 

I’m home alone all day. I’ve recently received my combo card, but I’ve not found any work yet. I can’t get my driver’s licence as the DMV is closed (not that we could afford a second car anyway) and there’s nothing really walkable where we live. 

I’m really struggling to fit into the American way to life and lockdown has made it nearly impossible to make new friends. 

I moved in October of last year and haven’t been able to go home yet. I expected a six month wait before I would get my AP through and so be able to travel — but the pandemic has made it even more complicated. 

I miss home desperately but I’m terrified to fly in case I’m turned away when I try to return with just an AP. I’m also terrified to fly home in case I pick up Covid-19 from another passenger, as cases are skyrocketing in the US. I would be quarantining with my sister once I arrived back in the UK, and she’s pregnant. I couldn’t risk putting her in danger.

I’m so depressed, it’s almost unbearable. I just want to go home and see my family. I’m really not enjoying my life here like I thought I would.

I never thought this would happen to me — I travelled to the States frequently before I decided to move here and always loved it, and I really didn’t expect to miss home this much. 
 

Lockdown has made things more difficult and I know that, and that’s what I try to tell myself when I get really down — but the uncertainty of everything is a real killer. I have no idea how long my green card might take and I don’t know if it’s safe to travel on AP or during the pandemic.

My husband tries his best to be supportive but it’s hard for him to understand why I’m so depressed when we worked so hard to be together, and I can’t really explain it to him. I don’t tell anyone at home how miserable I am because I don’t want them to worry, and I try to play it down when around my husband’s family in case I sound like I’m being over dramatic. 

I’m sorry this is such a bummer of a post, and I know everyone on here is going through/has gone through something similar and I shouldn’t whine about it. I’m really trying to put on a stiff upper lip but I just don’t know how long I can keep a lid on it.

I figured if anyone would understand, it would be you guys.

Thank you for the venting space, it really helps.

13 hours ago, InRainbows14 said:

Hi @Howins . If you don't mind me asking, in light of this specific situation, how did you answer the 'Have you ever had any mental disorder or depression?' question on the medical questionnaire for Knightsbridge/ how did this play out at your medical? 

 

I only ask because I am in a similar situation. To cut a long story short, about a year ago, I was referred by my GP to an online/ telephone-based CBT course, as I was suffering from a bit of over-worrying/ anxiety about my health. I completed the course and was discharged without any follow-up, and wasn't formally 'diagnosed' with anything. However, I am now wondering if this constitutes answering 'Yes' to the above question. I have seen other users discuss having to obtain letters from their GPs about mental health issues, but generally for more severe/ ongoing mental health issues.

 

I don't want to be dishonest at my medical, especially as something is bound to appear in the medical records I give them, but I also don't want to make a big situation out of nothing. 

 

Anyway, any advice would be much appreciated, although I fully understand this is a personal matter, so no worries if not! 

 

 

Hi there!

I answered 'no' to any history of mental health disorder, but I also took my referral/dismissal letters with me and had a note from my GP that just said in general that I was of good physical and mental health.

At my medical exam, the doctor didn't even mention it and didn't ask for any of the letters I had brought! I was the one who brought it up (I wanted to be completely honest about everything!) and he read the letters/we discussed what had happened. He said he was perfectly happy that I was of sound mental health and happy to sign me off as such, after recording our discussion in his notes.

I think it was because there was no formal diagnosis of anything and my GP had vouched that I was healthy, as well as me having no history of mental health issues. 

I would say go prepared, but you'll probably find it's not even brought up during your appointment.

Best of luck!

On 8/2/2019 at 12:58 PM, futurecoloradogrl said:

Thank you!!

 

I bet! I know you'll be so excited to make your new home together though! 

 

I've just been horribly stressed and anxious since for no specific reason. Making appointments, scheduling in indecisive friends who I'll need to travel to see before I leave, will I remember everything I need, hopefully my parents won't miss me too much, will I miss living here more than expected? And all the 'boring' stuff that needs sorting out before leaving and doing that correctly. I was expecting to cry or scream with happiness once it arrived but I've just been in a state of panic! 😂

How are you feeling now you've had a bit longer for it all to sink in? Are things starting to calm down for you at all?

On 7/31/2019 at 5:29 PM, futurecoloradogrl said:

Issued!!!!

 

Still in shock so don't know how to react!!

Congratulations!! I'm in that 'getting teary about leaving home' phase currently, as I start getting rid of all the stuff I won't be taking with me!

On 7/27/2019 at 11:39 AM, ConnorS said:

So now that you have it in hand, when are you hoping to fly out?

Not until October! I wanted to get things sorted as soon as possible so I could try and save money on booking flights etc, but it's a bit like being in limbo at the moment -- I've been so focused on getting the visa that I can't really wrap my head around the fact I've got it and I can stop worrying about it.

I've been wondering how anyone who had a medical or embassy interview in London yesterday/today has fared.  Public transport is hell on Earth right now.

Still, congrats on the medical completion - just the final hurdle now!

27 minutes ago, wbeem said:

Wow! That was quick for London!  The gods are on your side Congratulations! 

Thank you -- I know! I was expecting it to be in AP for a few weeks, but my passport and visa have been delivered today!

3 hours ago, Islandlifer said:

Congrats!! I'm in the same situation today. 

Congratulations!

45 minutes ago, futurecoloradogrl said:

Forgot to mention: on my interview confirmation email, it says to bring any previous passports, especially those showing previous visas or previous trips to the US. Though from what I've read everywhere else it hasn't been mentioned. I doubt it's a real necessity, but I have my old passport anyway so thought I may as well take it with everything else. If I get probed about details of previous trips it could be useful to have on hand. 

Crikey -- I have no idea where any of my previous passports are. I last renewed mine in 2016, which definitely has previous trips to the States on it.  I'll have a hunt this week but I have a horrid feeling it's long since disappeared!

3 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Take what you feel like you want to take. The comments about what they really want are just to let you know it's a bit easier than you are envisioning. You should feel well prepared instead of nervous that you need to find more to bring. You got this. 

Thank you -- I know I'm overthinking everything. I just cannot wait until this whole process is over!

... and we have to start the AOS process.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond, everyone. I really appreciate it. Think I'm just about ready!

1 hour ago, ellieflo said:

is a wet sigature necessary for the interview? ive had people tell me a copy is okay  i hope so as my interview is tomorrow!!

I'm really not 100% sure so I don't want to give you any misinformation, but I have also seen that a copy of the I-134 is acceptable. I had my fiance send me an original with a wet signature just in case because I'm a worrier and it was the only way to shut me up!

1 hour ago, LisaUK said:

I took with my photos, wore my engagement ring etc to back up my relationship. They briefly asked and scanned through but I know others they didn't even ask. Don't stress about it but if you have a couple of things you can take it certainly wouldn't hurt.

Thank you! I've got my engagement ring and a few screenshots of our WhatsApp conversations, as well as a couple of pictures of us (although we sent most of the photos of us together with the original application an have only seen each other once since then!)

So, I've got my interview scheduled for Monday and, predictably, I'm an anxious mess.

I've been through the required documents list on the London embassy website multiple times, and I just wanted to run through my checklist here so I've got a second (third, fourth...) pair of eyes on it:

• Passport
• Four US passport style photos
• Certified copy of my long form birth certificate (and photocopy)
• ACRO police report (and photocopy)
• I-134 with wet signature (and  photocopy)
• Supporting evidence for I-134; petitioner's 2018 tax return (federal and state), two recent payslips; a letter from his bank confirming its balance and total deposits from the last year; letter from employer confirming wage and full time employment status
• Print out of payment/confirmation of embassy appointment and courier page
• Print out of DS-160 confirmation

I do also have copies of our I-129F, NOA2, receipt for my medical and evidence of our ongoing relationship, but from what I can tell, none of this is needed for London.

Have I missed anything from my list? Thanks so much.

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

The priority date is the date you became eligible to apply for a visa (because the petition was approved). Don't panic over having an interview by a certain deadline. If you don't interview in London by 9/13 you simply bring a new letter of intent from the American fiancé to the interview. No hassles at all. 

Thank you so much -- you've put my mind at ease.

4 minutes ago, EmilyTim said:

I have a very similar question. I had my medical on 5th July and have my interview scheduled for the 19th. Our case also shows as "ready" online. I haven't received ANYTHING from the Embassy - no email, no letter, nothing about my case. The only thing I have from the Embassy is the email detailing my interview info (date, time, etc). I do have the email and letter from the NVC though. Just wanted to confirm that I definitely don't need anything else? 

 

If it's any help, I only just received my letter today from the embassy -- and our application arrived there from NVC on 2 July. 

28 minutes ago, Howins said:

Hi again everyone,

 

I have received my letter from the embassy confirming they have our case. However, it lists our priority date as 14 May 2019 -- the date of our NOA2.

 

I am very confused (and now panicked) because I thought the priority date was the date our visa would expire by if I hadn't entered the US -- but, obviously, 14 May is two months ago!

 

Could anyone clarify this for me?

 

Thank you.

Sorry -- my mistake. My understanding is the priority date is the date when I need to have had my interview by. On our NOA2, it seems correct. It states:

Valid from: 05/14/2019 - 09/13/2019.

Should the letter from the embassy not list the 13 September as our priority date?

Sometimes, I don't think I'm going to survive this process...! 

Hi again everyone,

I have received my letter from the embassy confirming they have our case. However, it lists our priority date as 14 May 2019 -- the date of our NOA2.

I am very confused (and now panicked) because I thought the priority date was the date our visa would expire by if I hadn't entered the US -- but, obviously, 14 May is two months ago!

Could anyone clarify this for me?

Thank you.

Thank you both for the help.

Hi all -- our case has been showing as 'Ready' since 2 July, but I have yet to receive a letter from the embassy. Is this a normal length of time to have not heard anything, or should I call to ensure that our case has arrived from the NVC and everything is progressing as it should? 

Can I also confirm that London no longer needs applicants to fill out the 'notification of applicant readiness' form? That seems to be the case from previous posts I have found on this forum, and there is nothing on the embassy website about it, but I just wanted to confirm I was correct in thinking this.

Thanks again.

Thanks so much for your help both!