A.P

Hi, I received instructions from the London embassy to print off a 'courier-in' receipt to send additional documents via DX courier services free of charge. 

On the USVisa website, the nearest location to me is over an hour away.

Do people usually have to go in-person to their nearest DX location to drop it off or is there another easier way?

Hi, so there is some complication about my birth certificate and my name.

I am interviewing in London in a few days and have a Pakistani birth certificate.

My birth certificate had a minor spelling error (think ‘a’ to ‘e) in my surname, whereas I’ve been using the ‘correct’ passport spelling of my name all my life.

During the NVC stage, my birth certificate was initially  rejected on the basis that it was an ‘older’, type-writer version that is no longer used today. Because that was all I had at the time, I was told to just resubmit with some comments stating this and I got a deedpoll to support the ‘name change’ just in case which got it approved.

However, after I was close to being DQ’d, I infact was able to get a hold of the ‘new’, digitalized birth certificate which had my correct spelling all along. So I guess my name wasn’t spelled incorrectly on the system after all, I just didn’t know.

My question is should I bring the new birth certificate with me to the interview or just take the older one only since it did eventually get accepted at the NVC.
 

& if so, should I upload it CEAC beforehand or wait to see if they ask me to at the interview since I know I am not getting approved straightaway (medical is after interview) so will have to wait for the approval anyways.

12 minutes ago, Saqib-s said:

You'll be doing yourself a huge service if you read back through this thread, as you'll find many of your present and future questions have been answered already. 

 

At the interview ask for a certified copy of your passport to take to your medical. 

Great, thank you!

3 hours ago, PjD001 said:

No keep both appointments as they are. Have your interview, your approval will be held off until your medical results are received( 5 days to transfer results)If you reschedule your interview there’s a chance you’ll have to wait another month for a date. 

I just realised the embassy keep your passport after the interview, so how will I be able to provide it for my Medical that’s in the afternoon?

Has anyone had experience with having the interview before the medical?

41 minutes ago, Chi.sam said:

I advice you go and do not reschedule your interview but go for both appointment for the said day. Its difficult getting am earlier medicals. That's y people are adviced to schedule for medicals once they are being dq'ed

Is there a possibility of being turned away for interview if I say my medical is yet to be completed later on in the day?

Hi, I was DQ’d on April 8th and soon after booked my Medical for May 9th at 1pm. 

I received my IL letter today for an interview, but on the same day as my Medical at 8:30am.

Therefore, I contacted VisaMedicals in hopes of an earlier date but they were fully booked.

Would I just need to reschedule the interview to a later date now and how would I do that?

Hi, just got DQ’d today 9/4/22.

When can I expect to have interview at the current rate?

Also, what would I need to do/prepare now? Should I be booking the medical now?

Does anyone know how long the current wait between DQ and the interview date is, or which month they are currently working on?

Just wondering if there is a way to re-upload a civil document that is already submitted. 

One of my documents was rejected by NVC and upon calling, was told to either re-upload the same one with comments or get another document of the same kind.

I ended up re-uploading the same document, but I have now gotten hold of an updated version of the document, however it does not let me upload anything under the actions tab.

Do I have to wait 3+ months for it to be reviewed, most likely rejected again and than upload the correct one or is there a way to override it?

I am travelling soon on an esta to visit my husband.

I have collected work documentation to prove ties and a copy of my NOA2 approval letter.

I was just wondering if I should also bring my original marriage certificate with me, a scanned copy of it or nothing at all (in case it looks too suspicious I am taking civil documents to move)?

HI, for the employment section in the DS-260 form, I was wondering if I would put down 'not employed' or the 'education' sector.

I recently graduated and qualified to be a teacher in the UK, but do not hold a permanent teacher job at a school. 

Instead, I am with a teaching agency that finds me temporary day to day work at different schools as a supply/cover/subsititute teacher whenever I wish to work. If I was to put down employed, would the address for my employment be the address for the recruitment agency?

Also, for previous job history, do I need to put down a part-time job I did through my university or is it not necessary?

On 9/25/2021 at 10:20 PM, jakelake said:

I am not being aggressive. She should certainly try to get a visa. I am just being realistic.

We all wish things would go faster or a certain way. Unfortunately, that is not how things go in life.

Many people are in the same situation of not being able to celebrate a marriage. You have the chance of getting a visa, that many people don't, then do so.

It's just that you don't have very convincing evidence that shows you intend on going back to your country.

The only way to find out is if you apply.

 

 

I understand there are MANY people in similar or perhaps worse conditions than myself.

With my situation, I have more of an opportunity to go visit my husband than he has coming to my country so of course I will try to make the most of it- that doesn't seek to disregard anyone else's experience with reuniting with their loved ones.

All I was asking was what sort of additional evidence could strenghten my case to either other people who have successfully gained entry with 'weak' evidence or to more experienced members of VJ. 

I appreciate your input nonetheless.

1 hour ago, jakelake said:

Not sure what a proper wedding means but you did a legal wedding and so that is what matters. 

You have a pending case and so in the eyes of USCIS, you may decide not to return to your country and instead file to adjust your status.

If you and your family really want to see your husband, he can visit you and your family in your country.

As @SusieQQQ explained, whilst we are legally married, we do not get to celebrate a 'wedding' due to Covid last year, which is also very important in our culture to be viewed as a married couple officially.

My husband has visited my country, but it is hard for the rest of his family to come visit as oppose to mines going to the US to have a wedding celebration.

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

It’s a little tricky when you don’t have proper ties. Possibly think of it maybe as more what not to bring.  Don’t bring all your civil documents. Don’t bring a resume. Don’t bring 3 suitcases full of clothes that will last for weather beyond the season you are arriving in. Do expect to be questioned by CBP- you can be honest about it, you miss him, you want to spend time, you want to have a celebration before going back to wait the rest if the process out. 

Just for extra clarity, why do you suggest not bringing all my civil documents -  to show I do intend on returning as I have important documents awaiting me?

On 9/22/2021 at 9:18 PM, Crazy Cat said:

Job documentation

School documentation

Lease documentation

Anything showing you need to return

A return ticket is REQUIRED for VWP travel.

 

I don't have any school nor lease documentation. & my 'job' is temporary so would end before I travel?

Is there anything else that can be possibly used?

Hi, so with the recent travel ban restrictions lifted, me (beneficiary) alongside my entire family are planning on visiting my husband in the US sometime soon.

Due to Covid-19, we didn't get to have a proper wedding and just got legally married to start this process. 

My family will be visiting for a few weeks whereas I want to stay abit longer (2 months?) to have our 'wedding' with both our families this time.

However, I have recently graduated and am currently only doing temporary work with an agency as a supply teacher (I did not apply for a full-year teaching job at the time thinking my visa would have moved much further). I also live with my parents and so do not currently own any property, car or anything of that sort.

My question is, what other proof, besides a return ticket can I bring to when travelling as I feel like my link to my home country is weak, eventhough I fully intend on returning?

I could try to get a letter from my work agency but the whole premise of that is it is temporary work (a few days to a month), I choose when to work and work is not booked until the very end.

Ok so just as I suspected, filed September 2020, received October 2020 and told it was at Nebraska.

Filed for outside of processing time last week, only to find out it is at Potomac... 

28 minutes ago, eliottreid said:

We should've gotten a response a week ago if it's based on Nebraska, but nothing!

How did you know figure out you were transferred? 

We just filed for out of processing times for Nebraska but it says we aren't so I suspect we have been moved as well.

10 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

I’m the old-timer in the UK forum on Visa Journey having been around for a dozen years or so. In the past I know that every person in your circumstance would go through AP lasting on average about four weeks. The additional security checks were always applied and those took a bit of time to resolve. In the past several years, I haven’t seen any comments to that effect. I don’t know if everything has slowed down and fewer are commenting. K1s used to dominate the UK forum and they have all but gone silent. Or perhaps technology advancement has allowed checks to go faster. All of those in the past did get their visas without any problem or further effort on their part. 

Thank you, a months wait still doesn't seem too bad when you take into account the whole process.

Hoping that's the case or faster for me as well.

Hi, I just wanted to know about other peoples experiences, if any in the London embassy as a British Muslim/Pakistani about processing times and background checks (AP).

I know everyone's case is different and an AP for background checks can take a few days to even years, depending on the country and your case complexity.

For reference, I am a female, British citizen that was born in Pakistan and moved to the UK at a young age with a clean criminal record.

1 minute ago, Linos said:

Hi 🙋‍♀️ it was Nebraska in the end

Aaah ok, thank you. hoping it's the same for me too then😭

On 10/6/2020 at 3:24 PM, Linos said:

Joining the club 👋 We just received our NOA1 hard copy in the mail - in the footer it says Potomac (online when I check the status it says Nebraska)..unsure which to believe

Hi, 

I see we have a similar case of different service centres being shown - online says Nebraska but hard-copy says Potomac.

Seeing as you received your NOA2, can I ask what centre you ended up being in ultimately?

3 hours ago, ProbeGT said:

How far off is the spelling? 

What type of document do you have (handwritten birth certificate, typed, etc)?

What type of case is this? (who is sponsoring who?  it actually matters and can make a difference)

You *may* be able to use a NADRA FRC and your CRC/B-Form in place of a birth certificate per the department of state link (others say they have been able to use this)

It's literally just one letter in my surname, an 'a' to 'e' and the birth certificate is an official English copy done with a typewriter issued in the late 1990's.

It's a CR-1 case with my husband as the petitioner.

I don't think I have a Nadra FRC or CRC/B-form, only a National Identity Card so would have to somehow find a way to get hold of that whilst I'm in the UK I guess.

6 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

As a reference, there are two in the UK who started Dec 2019 with Jan 2021 interviews. (13 months). Another with a December interview started Mar 2020. (9 months). 

Thank you, that puts things into perspective.

I know I am asking a very general question here and it depends on each individuals case and the added delays of Covid, but how long can I generally expect my visa to be approved by.

If I was to be more specific, before we first filed in September 2020, we thought I would be able to get approved and move within a year by August-September 2021, but now I am unsure of that timeline. 

The reason I am asking is because I am finishing my studies by this summer and entering the education field as a teacher. However, with teaching, unlike other jobs I believe, I would need to apply now for a September start and even if I wanted to leave my job, the earliest it would be is December. Even then, I would need to file a notice of leave in October months in advance and is generally not good practice to leave a teaching job within the first few months as a NEW teacher and leave the school hanging to find a replacement that quick. So my dilemma here is whether I should still apply for a September teaching job whilst I wait for my visa or just stay at home after summer with the risk of staying home jobless for months on end.

So what I'm asking is, what is MORE LIKELY - getting my visa approved around summer (Aug-Sep), around December 2021 or in 2022 possibly? Just so I can make suitable career plans after my studies this summer before my move.