wellywench

Here was our day... we got to the embassy about 8.35 for our 9am appointment. As Sally's pics show, there are signs that ask for you to get your appointment letter and passports ready, and also to get any electronic stuff ready to show. The first lady I saw asked for the letter and passports, gave me a clear bag for my mobile to go in, told me to put my watch in my bag and asked me to wait in the 9am queue. There were still a few people in the 8.30 lane to go in, and about 10 people before me in our lane, although I noticed a lot of people were in groups, not all individual applicants. Just before we got to the security check (a white portacabin), another person wanted to see the letter and the passports again, and checked us off a list. In security, I had to hand over my phone and they gave me a number to reclaim it after the interview had finished. My bag was placed through an x-ray machine and we went through the scanner. My daughter set the beepers off, and they asked to check the bottom of her boots, and we were allowed through. We then had to turn right (it's not signposted where to go so I had to ask a very friendly policeman!), walk along the front of the building, turn left and up some stone steps and the reception bit is through the doors. The lady there checked our letter again, gave us some stickers with a number (5009) and asked us to go up the stairs into the waiting area. I noticed that the stickers were timemarked for 9.04am, so it took us about half an hour to get in. There are loads of seats, but it was pretty busy! There were screens everywhere stating how long the queues were, and what place in the queue you were at any time. We were 4th when we go there and we seen about half an hour later. They have different number systems for each type of visa - the non-immigrant visas were all starting 1000 and something, and they were going through really quickly!!!

We were called through to booth 15 first, and were met by a nice English guy. He flicked through a stack of paperwork, and then said he was missing something and would be right back. 5 mins later he came back only to disappear again! A couple of minutes later he returned and asked me if I had any copies of the paperwork I sent to the Embassy? Luckily I had one copy of each of the forms, as it seems they had lost them!!! He said they were there when the file came down this morning, but had vanished... for once I'm glad I was over prepared! He photocopied some of my forms so he had the right number, and then asked me to sign for myself and my daughter. He then asked for our passports, all the additional paperwork including copies of originals, and photos which were scanned in and then stapled to the paperwork. My fingerprints were taken, and he then asked my to go to booth 14 and pay for the visas. For the two of them it cost me £136, with the conversion rate at $1.96 = £1.00. I was then asked to sit down again, and told I would be called back shortly. I was also given a pink sheet of paper that I had to fill out for the courier.

After 20 minutes or so of trying to stop my daughter getting more and more bored, we were called to booth 16 where there was a grumpy lady who I think was in training as there was another lady sat behind her! She gave me my original paperwork back, asked for my fingerprints again, and had a quick scan through the file. She then asked me the following questions:

- where did we meet and when? Internet chatroom 4 years ago

- when did we realise it was more than just friendship? A couple of years ago

- when did we meet for the first time? Last Christmas

- where did we meet? The UK

- how long did he stay? 3 weeks

- have we met since? This Christmas

- why haven't I been to the US to meet him? Because the visa rules might mean I might be sent home lol

- why did I love him? (gave the answer then she kept probing!!!)

- how did I know he was 'the one'? Because I've never met another man like him

- But what do you really like about him? because he has a childish sense of humour and laughs at fart jokes!

- why where we moving to the USA and not him moving to the UK? Because of his job

(Then she asked a load of questions about my daughters father, as he's not on her birth certificate)

- why wasn't he on the birth certificate? He wasn't there when I registered her birth

- does he support me and my daughter? No!

- how often does he see her? Never

- Does he know he has a daughter? Yes

- Do you know where he is? I explained the CSA had tried to trace him and no joy

I then gave her a notarised letter I had that stated I had sole parental responsibility, along with a copy. She turned to her friend and showed her, and the second lady (who was lovely!), just nodded it was ok.

She then said that as long as all the paperwork was ok we were approved! She explained the 6 month from the date of the visa thing, and the 90 days from POE thing and said I was free to leave the Embassy after I paid the courier. The courier costs £15.00 (for 2 visas), plus £10.50 to be there before 10am... and that was it! The worst bit was the second lady - she was asking questions so quickly hardly giving me a chance to answer, and I swear she didn't blink once lol. I was so nervous that when she that we were approved (pending paperwork) I didn't hear her and had to ask if we'd passed! She sighed, and then repeated what she's just said

So that was my day... I'm absolutely knackered now and am going to bed as soon as my daughter gets tired enough to let me!!! Lucky for her she slept on the train on the way home - alright for some eh?

Literally just got in the door from London, and I am happy to say we are APPROVED!!!!!!!!! I've never been so nervous about anything but it was ok! I'll post a review and my questions a bit later on when I get the wee one to bed

Thanks for such a good post and congratulations!!! Fingers crossed I'll be posting good news in a couple of days!

Evening all! Congratulations to everyone who has sailed through this week, and good luck to those in the next few days!

I'm just double and triple checking all the paperwork, and packing my case ready to go down to London tomorrow... we leave about 10 and will get into London about 2 I think. The plan is then to cab it to the hotel and drop off the suitcase, and then have a mooch about and grab something to eat. As my 4 year old is coming with me, and we're staying close to Oxford Street I'm sure a trip to the Disney store will figure in too (she's obsessed with Hannah Montana and High School Musical!!! ). The interview is at 9 on Thursday, and I know some other VJ'ers have the same time - if you spot me feel free to come up and say hi! I'll be so nervous, and it'll be nice to chat to someone else who knows the feeling

Hi there, glad you got your forms ok!

The supporting evidence you need goes with you to the interview. As for the employment bit on the DS-156 I just put that I intended to work, but employer was 'unknown'. Hope this helps!

Good luck on Monday Sally!!! I'm nervous already and my interview's not til Thursday lol!

Standard photos are fine for the medical

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you - I hope you get it all sorted out

Hi there,

My circumstances are different as the father of my daughter is not named on her birth certificate, but I contacted the Principal Registry of the Family Division (0207 647 6980 / 0207 947 6000). They were able to confirm for me that no-one has ever made a claim for parental responsibility against me.

Again, I know our circumstances are different, but they might be able to point you in the right direction?

Good luck with both the exams and the interview

Thank you!

Good luck!! When do you plan on coming over - are you in your final year at uni?

Thank you! I plan on coming over as soon as possible! I'm in my second year at uni but can transfer my credits to one of the Michigan Universities when we've settled in.

UPDATE: Just got an email confirming the 17th from the embassy! I've got an appointment tomorrow to notarise a letter that I need to take with me, the hotel is booked so we're all ready to go!!! I can finally get excited lol!

Julez, could you take the alternative date bit off of my interview date? I'm going for the 17th lol! I see I have the same date and time as Teachmehistory so I might see you there!

Excellent, thank you guys!

I was thinking that too but just wanted to hear it from someone else lol! I'm going to go book it now...

Congratulations everyone!!! I love seeing all those red approvals mounting up!!!

Hey all,

I received an interview date for the 17th Jan and at the time I could not make it due to an exam at university so I wrote to the embassy and requested an alternative date. The letter was sent by registered post so I know it was received by the mail room, but I didn't get a reply. Just after Christmas the exam dates where confirmed and I found that they had moved the clashing one so I phoned the extortion line and told them the situation, and said that I could now make the 17th if I hadn't been allocated a different date. They told me I was still down for the 17th but to email the embassy. I got the code etc and emailed but didn't get a reply to that either, not even a confirmation, so I phoned back yesterday and was told I am still due for the 17th but to email again to confirm. I did this and received an auto confirmation back, but it said that it takes 3-4 days for them to reply!

I'm a little worried about booking a hotel with less than a week to go for interview, and as all the signs seem to point towards them having not received the original letter do you think I should just go ahead and assume the 17th is ok?

I think my nerves are getting more and more frayed the closer I get to the interview!!!

Do you need to bring her? I wouldn't go through the hassle of bringing a little one along with me unless they needed to be there.

I won't be able to find a sitter for her, so I have to take her!

Well, today's the day!!

Haven't been this nervous for a while!

kick off at 9am...

Good luck!

Evening all,

I just had a flash of worry about the interview lol! I had planned to take my 4 year old with me to the embassy interview, but notice it says on the paperwork 'If he/she is under the age of 14, he/she does not need to attend the visa interview'.... I'm taking that to mean that she doesn't have to attend but can do? Has anyone taken their children with them? I'd hate to get down there and find that they won't let her in lol

Thanks in advance x

I got my packet 4 today with an interview date of the 17th January... but I'm going to have to change it!!! I have university exams that day so am going to write to them and ask for another

Congrats to all the April Filers who have passed their interviews, and good luck to those who have their interviews coming up!

I got my packet 4 today and have a date of the 17th January - which I am going to have to change!!! I have exams at university that day so am going to write and request another date.

My packet 3 was received by the embassy on the 23rd November, and I received my packet 4 today with an interview date of the 17th January. Hope this helps!

Thank you guys!

I already have a more recent intent to marry letter (despite much huffing from J!) but I will get him to do another one when he comes over so that it has a date after our NOA2 expiry date.

Thanks again x

Evening all,

After some delay in getting our docs ready for the packet 3, it was received by the US Embassy on the 23rd of November. However, our NOA2 runs out on the 7th December! Obviously I won't get an interview before then but is it possible to ask to extend the date?, and what is the best way of going about it? I don't want to assume it will be extended and have to start all over again!!!

Thanks x

Im in the same situation...i did hear that once you move out of UK and the UK tax laws, they cant get the money from you. Is this true!?

As student loans are automatically taken from our pay here in the UK....it is up to you to arrange repaying that loan once you leave the country.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLe...998/DG_10034872

Hey all, same boat for me too!

I followed the link and it explains that the threshold is different according to which country you move to - for the US it's £12,000 so about $24,000 at the moment. My question is, as we're not able to work straight away will they count your partners' income into that amount or is it solely our income they base it on?

Wow what a fantastic week!!! Congratulations to all of you that have been approved