bunsk2007

Hi all

Happy Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours...

I really need help with a Packet 3 question- 'Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants'-

Regrading the check list of documents I need to get together, I don't understand this one:

(9). Original Documents

I guess mine is a family-based immigration visa petition as my husband is the american, but I don't understand what they are asking for.

My marriage certificate (no. 8) would establish our relationship, is that enough?

What did other people use for this one?

I really hope someone can help!! Thanks everyone.

It's been a good day today....my police certificate and Packet 3 came through my letter box together!!

With Christmas and all that, i wasn't expecting it until after the 2nd, so I'm feeling lucky today

A couple of Questions about Packet 3:

in particular, 'Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants':

1/ I obviously have my Marriage Certificate for no. (8); but I'm don't understand what (9.) means- what they want.

I am the beneficiary of a family-based immigrant visa petition (being the wife of an American)- do I need to this one? Is my marriage certificate enough? (We have been married for 16 years....it's not like a few months!)

2/ Actually, this seems to me like a really stupid question, but I just feel I should check.......

It is only me, right, that needs to fill in the OF-230 Part 1....which says 'Complete one copy of this form for yourself and each member of your family who will immigrate with you.....'

It's our children I'm wondering about....

They were born in England, British passports etc; but we registered their births at the US Embassy so from days old they had their american passports and social security numbers etc. They leave the UK on the Uk passports and land in the US on their US passports, and while we're visiting the family in the States they are. to all intent and purposes, american.

So, I haven't included them in any of this, other than when asked if I have children...they don't need to fill in these forms, do they??!! They're not immigrating, they're 'going home' (although that's not quiet how they see it!)

Anyway...just need to check that one with you guys

3/ Re: the Medical Form

Does the examing doctor or the US Embassy contact my doctor for information on me? Or get to see my notes?

I am 100% fit, I'm sure so I cna't see why they would need to....but I am worried about the first question on the medical form, asking if I have ever been hospitalised?

I was involved in the Kings Cross (underground fire) disaster, after which I was hospitalised for almost 2 years in a psychiatric ward because I had post traumatic stress. This was a long time ago....in 1987-89 and I can't see it's relevance now, to this application.

I would rather leave that information out because I am concerned that if I say yes, I have been hospitalised; they will insist I have to have a psychiatric evaluation and that will prolong and delay everything. I have read that it is standard policy with London that if you answer yes to having had a psychiatric record that is what they do.

Help. What do you guys think?

This has turned out to be more than the couple of short questions I thought....thanks for your patience guys, and of course for your help with the answers and advice!!!

Ok..thanks, Elmcitymaven! This seems very straightforward Feel better now!

I'm just dying to get there. The waiting sucks.

You're DCF, right? You'll be doing the I-864 which does NOT need to be notarised so not an issue for you. I also assume your husband is not living with his mother, so they must both complete separate I-864s; your husband is the main sponsor, and his mother is the joint sponsor. For DCF you bring the I-864s with you to the interview -- do NOT send them to the Embassy!

Don't worry too much about the job offer/contract issue, as London is fairly relaxed about the whole domicile issue. I had no job offer, contract, tenancy, etc (although I did have a US bank account and a letter from my UK boss saying I had resigned contingent on my husband getting the CR1) and this was not an issue. A written job offer is, however, great proof and you should definitely bring it along if you have it.

A quick question about my mother-in-law's affidavit of support for me-

Who does the notorisation? It is the value of her house that is being used as her assets I guess, can that be done by an American estate agent who has just valued the house for her? Or does it need to be a lawyer as well?

Does her paperwork then get sent in with mine, or seperately?

My husband is out there at the minute visiting, but when I send Packet 3 back in January, he won't have started a job in the States yet; he'll still be living/ working here with me. Will it be sufficient for him to produce a written job offer, with salary listed? Or will he need to show a job contract?

On this basis, is this sufficient for my husband to be joint affidavit of support with his mother? I'm assuming they would they fill in seperate forms?

Thanks everyone

Oh.... Do I feel silly now!

You're absolutely right- there is an x only in part 1! I didn't even notice the x or the shading...must have been a very long day for me!!

Thanks for clearing that up for me

My packet should come very soon then...maybe between Christmas and the New Year.

Thanks ladyynara!

I recieved my notice of approval on the 14th, and got my packet today, so it should just be a few days

Looking at mine, the only bit that mentions I-485 is part 4, which doesn't have an X by it for me, only number 1 does which is the bit that pertains to me, the rest I'm supposed to ignore. Is this what you mean? I have they X'ed the wrong one for you?

Thanks for the reply

I feel better after eading your post. I was beginning to worry about why they were talking about Form I-485, especially after I looked up the form on the forum and saw that it was definietly for folks already in the US. I hope they haven't sent me the wrong reply!!

It sounds like they don't have a NOA2 letter for those who are doing DCF, which is really stupid and confusing. You should not be doing a I-485 so it is stupid for the NOA2 to have mentioned it. You should receive Packet 3 soon, which will contain the DS-230, DS-2001 checklist, and info about the medical. Hopefully you will have it within the week, but it might be different around Christmas time. If you do not have it by the new year, I would contact the embassy.

As for saying when you are not available for interview - first, it is very unlikely they would schedule it that quickly, and secondly, you only have to say that you are "unavailable" between - and - dates.

If you want to have the visa and move to the states end of February, I would try hard to get everything in around the start of January. You only send them the DS-230 Part 1 and the DS-2001 checklist, and you can include a letter about the dates when you are not available. You hold on to the I-864 forms and police check, etc. to bring with you to the interview. So I wouldn't wait for all the forms to be finished before sending off the DS-230 and DS-2001 as you would have time to finish them before the interview.

EDIT - I should clarify that I don't mean it will likely take two whole months. I just mean that is a much safer amount of time to allow.

Thanks for the reply

I feel better after eading your post. I was beginning to worry about why they were talking about Form I-485, especially after I looked up the form on the forum and saw that it was definietly for folks already in the US. I hope they haven't sent me the wrong reply!!

It sounds like they don't have a NOA2 letter for those who are doing DCF, which is really stupid and confusing. You should not be doing a I-485 so it is stupid for the NOA2 to have mentioned it. You should receive Packet 3 soon, which will contain the DS-230, DS-2001 checklist, and info about the medical. Hopefully you will have it within the week, but it might be different around Christmas time. If you do not have it by the new year, I would contact the embassy.

As for saying when you are not available for interview - first, it is very unlikely they would schedule it that quickly, and secondly, you only have to say that you are "unavailable" between - and - dates.

If you want to have the visa and move to the states end of February, I would try hard to get everything in around the start of January. You only send them the DS-230 Part 1 and the DS-2001 checklist, and you can include a letter about the dates when you are not available. You hold on to the I-864 forms and police check, etc. to bring with you to the interview. So I wouldn't wait for all the forms to be finished before sending off the DS-230 and DS-2001 as you would have time to finish them before the interview.

EDIT - I should clarify that I don't mean it will likely take two whole months. I just mean that is a much safer amount of time to allow.

Am very excited this morning:)

Have just received the 'Notice of Approval of Relative Immigrant Visa Petition'- at last!

I have some questions though.....not least of all, what happens next!

1/ Do I (the beneficiary) receive a packet of paers in the post for my application, and how long does that usually take to come?

2/ The letter states that the petition has been forwarded to the US Consulkate at London etc...

Then it says:

The Petition states that the beneficiary is in the United States and will apply to become a lawful permanant residence. The enclosed application for this purpose (Form I-485) should be completed and submitted wby the beneficiary within 30 days .......'

So my question is this- firstly, I am not in the States, I'm in England- so is this a mistake on their part? Does it matter that it says i am in the States?!! (Panic setting in!)

Also- there wasn't anything enclosed with the letter, so what do they mean by the 'enclosed application'??

My police check is due back later this week, then I have to wait for my husband to come back from the States on Christams Eve- he needs to do the affidavit of support for me (his parents also)- he will be coming back with a job offer and we'll put his parents house down as our intended address...

So- last question. If I get my paperwork back to the Embassy by mid January, could the green card be granted by late February? Does that timescale sound possible to you guys, or will it be likely to take longer than that?

We are away in the States mid Jnauary for 2 weeks, so I will have to tell them I am not available during those times for the interview. Should I be honest and say where I am going? Or be vague and just say that I will be away?

Thanks for any thoughts and info- all will be much appreciated!

There's also an expiration date printed on the top of the forms.

The one I downloaded says Expires 10/31/10

Thanks to you both for replying, you guys are all so helpful. I was giving my in-laws the I-184A to fill out so I'm glad I checked first!!

There's also an expiration date printed on the top of the forms.

The one I downloaded says Expires 10/31/10

Thanks to you both for replying, you guys are all so helpful. I was giving my in-laws the I-184A to fill out so I'm glad I checked first!!

There's also an expiration date printed on the top of the forms.

The one I downloaded says Expires 10/31/10

Thanks to you both for replying, you guys are all so helpful. I was giving my in-laws the I-184A to fill out so I'm glad I checked first!!

Thanks! Sounds good to me!

This is exactly what I did. The guys at the IRS took a photocopy of each return which they stamped and handed over to me, and these copies were sufficient for evidentiary purposes at the interview. No waiting at all, except to get into the Embassy!

Also, he doesn't need an appointment to do this -- it's on a walk-in basis. Just make sure he brings his passport with him, and lets the marshal know that he's there to see the IRS.

Hi all

Re. Affidavit of support, London filing

Is the I-864 form on the USCIS website the correct one for my husband to use to sponsor me?

Also, his parents will be co-sponsors. Is their form the I-864A from the same website?

I read somewhere that some forms were out of date, so jsut wnat to make sure I print off the correct ones.

Thanks!

Jessica

Hi

My US husband needs to do the same thing- file his taxes for the last 3 years. If he goes down to the IRS office at the London Embassy and does this in one appointment (which he has been told he can do), will that speed it up?

Thanks everyone

My US husband has not filed any taxes since 2003 since being in the UK. We now need these done for my immigration application. How long after we send them off can we get a transcript for immigration? Do they send a receipt that they've been filed?

In order to comply to the I-130 requirements, I had to file my tax returns for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006.

I did all of these at the same time, using the Income Tax Exclusion to reduce my owed taxes to 0.

As I recall, I sent in my tax returns on about Aug 19. On about Oct 12, I called the IRS about the status of my tax returns. They said they had already processed the returns by that time, and I requested tax transcripts to be sent to my home address. I also requested a fax of my transcripts to be sent, so I could e-mail the fax images to my wife as e-mail attachments.

On the transcript it said that the IRS received the returns on Aug 29, a little more than one week after I had sent them.

It also said the processing date was Oct 1 (or close to that date). By the way, the paper and fax versions of the tax transcripts differ slightly in the information they contain. However, I prefer the fax version since it can be sent through e-mail as an attachment (if your spouse lives overseas, they can print out the image of the fax and give it to the interviewer). However, the fax version, I believe, must be requested by talking to a customer service representative. The paper version can be requested through the automated process, although it takes longer to arrive at your home.

In my case, the total time it took, including both mailing the returns and processing by the IRS, was about 6 weeks.

This would have been true even if I had filed only 1 return. I am confident that filing as many as 3 tax returns at once will not slow down the process, since you can use the same supporting documents for the Income Tax Exclusion, and the delay caused by the Postal Service will be concurrent for the 3 returns.

When i saw that the US Embassy in London are now dealing with I-130's filed on Sept 18th, i was so happy because that's my date! And when the letter from the US Embassy fell on ly doormat this morning, I was thrilled- I was so sure it had been granted!

But it hasn't! Instead, they have sent a letter saying:

our application has been found incomplete for the reasons they list, and that once we have got the information required we have to 'post all the relevant documents in on submission to the London Embassy in the uK.'

The reasons listed are:

1/ I changed my surname by deed poll a while back, and although I provided them with a photocopy of the original deed poll, they are saying I have to provide a Statutory Decleration which has been executed under the Statutory declerations Act of 1835.

(We assume that means that a deed poll is not good enough and are going to a solicitor first thing tomorrow to pay for a Statutory Decleration.)

2/ My husband (the petitioner) didn't know the year his parents were born, or the cities they were born in, so he only filled in his parents names and day and month of birth. The Embassy are saying his G-325A is incomplete without his parents full details! I know he is unusual in not knowing these details but they are not close!

Anyway, we are gutted! We can get the in the next few days- asap- but we honestly expected the letter would be telling us it was approved!!

My question is this- has anyone had an experience like this when they were told they hadn't sent in everything correctly? And if so, how long did it delay everything? We are worried. Will the Embassy just pick it up as soon as we send it back in and process it, so it may only delay it a couple of weeks; or will this application be put at the bottom of the pile, meaning we have to wait another 11 weeks??

Also, should we just send in the letter with the 2 pieces of information, or should we send in the complete lot of paperwork and documents that we originally sent in?

Sob, sob

This was not the 'good news' we expected when we opened the letter today. I hope soemone can help, thanks.

Gwen - did you get an email approval or just the paper one?

bunsk2007 - Did you put an email address on your I-130 form??

I'm still a long way off, but very excited to hear of any approval news

xxxxx

Hi Poiteen

Yes, my dh put his e-mail address on the form and that was what they used to notify us that it had been filed. Have just checked our emails in case...but nothing yet

It is exciting to hear when other people get good news, yes! It makes it seems all the more encouraging for us folks still waiting!

hi,

im having the medical injections carried out by my own doctor over the next few weeks, starting in an hour

could someone tell me what is required in the form of proof that i have had these please?

would a letter printed on the surgery's letterhead be adequate?

also

was anyone ill after having these injections?

also

i had chicken pox when i was a child, my doctor has no record of this in my notes, how do i prove i have had the disease and do i need the injection? if i do need it i would rather my doctor gave it as it saves £25 on the bill! (he is only charging for varicella and hepititis b ) i also got measles polio and rubella vacinations when i was at school (im 38 now) do i need these injections?

cheers for any help!

Hi there

I had my injections done by my GP 2 days ago. To answer your questions:

Firstly,

He said that if the nurse had done them I would have got a little booklet that she would have stamped and signed to show which injections were done.

But as he was doing them, I just got a computer print out of the entry he did for that day in my medical records. He had to print it out twice becuase the first one had lots of other medical notes for me that he said I wouldn't want the Embassy doctor reading..well, I wouldn't! In the end the print out just shows my name, birth date and address, doctors name and practice address, date and list of the injections I had.

Hopefully that will be enough! He seemed to think it would be adequate.

Secondly,

I was fine that day but am sore today. Not ill though, and it's not stopping me doing anything. He did both arms, one is fine and you can't even see a mark; the other one is swollen and sore around the area but paracetamol helps. He said it could be sore for up to a week or so afterwards, and that I could feel 'flu-like' symptoms but that hasn't happened so far.

Thirdly,

I have had chicken pox so he said that I should get a blood test at the local hospital to test for antibodies. He will get the result 2 days later and I will then call to see if I am immune to it. If I am, he'll give me a copy of the blood test; if not he said he'll arrange for me to get the injection. He says it is available in the UK but not widely given.

That would be the one I would have to pay for. The ones he did for me are:

pertussis

tetanus

diptheria

mumps

rubella

measles

flu

I printed off the chart form the US Embassy website to show him, and from that, he decided what I needed. I have had the mmr etc as a child but can't prove it because I have lost my little immunisation book! (Slap on the wrist )

He said I didn't need Hepaptitis B because I am older than 19....now I'm wondering if he should have given it to me?! Help!!

I think that if you get the chicken pox blood test and it shows you have immunity, you may not need the injection. If you have the medical records (or your GP does) to show you had the measles, polio etc at school, you won't need them, but I think you will need documents to prove it. If, like me you can't proove it, you will probably need to get them done again.

Good luck! Hope the first one today wasn't too bad

That's great you got it! You must be feeling so happy! At least that's the first part out of the way.

I guess mine should be here any day...although I just realised the Embassy will be closed for Thanksgiving tomorrow and maybe Friday which may push it into next week.

When you say your filing date was Sept 13th, I'm assuming that was the date the Embassy filed it, not the date you posted it to them?

I posted on the 15th Sept but being a Saturday they didn't get it/ file it until the 18th.

Anyone applied for their I-130 on or around Sept 18th through the London Embassy had approval yet?

The Embassy website has been updated to say they're now processing applications dated Sept 17th, so I'm really thinking mine must be just about approved and on it's way in the post to me now, right??!!

This waiting is terrible. I'm practically attacking the postman in the street to search through his postbag in case he's missed it. (I get a lot of wrong deliveries at my house, believe me!)

Any other 'Sept 18th's out there?!

Hi there

Anyone out there who moved their teenage children (12 and 14 yrs- or similiar ages) from the UK (or other english-speaking county) to the US? I would be interested in hearing how easy they found it to make the change;to make new friends and adjust to the new school system.

I had an expat childhood and lived in 8 countries and went to 13 different school before coming back to England aged 16. I loved my childhood and found it very easy to move on and adjust and make new friends, not that I would recommend that- the 13 schools played havoc with my education! It definitely affected me, in that I have never been able to put down roots anywhere and don't have a place I consider home, even after living in my birthcountry for the last 28 years!! Coming back here at 16 was a nightmare, awful.

My kids have dual citizenship, born in the UK but US passports too. We have gone over to NY every year, sometimes three times a year, to visit their grandparents, cousins etc; so they are familiar with NY and the area we will be settling in. They have always loved it over there, but have been happy to return home again.

They have always been dead set against leaving England, until this year when they seem to have done a complete turn around and decided they'd love to have a chnace of living over there. Good timing!

I think that it's two things- one is that they get closer every year to their grandparents and cousins and would love to be a regular part of their lives.

The other factor is that they are both mature enough to realise that they can live in another country, and really enjoy it without being disloyal to their birth country; and that the experience of living in another culture / country and having to adapt to it is a valuable tool for adult life.

They are both confident, friendly, curious kids who are really excited and looking forward to moving to NY, but of course they are nervous too. It will help us that we will be living nearby to our in-laws becuase they will help introduce us into local life, however, we will have to work hard to make sure we make our own life out there.

We will probably be moving in March, when they will go straight into Middle School- I wish we could get them there sooner, it's so close to the start of the summer vacation...but it's in the hands of the Embassy.

If anyone has a story they can share about how they helped their teenage kids adjust etc, I'd love to hear it. Any advice, tips will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

DO NOT USE THE PET CARRIERS!! If you fly with Delta or NWest you can take your dog as accompanied baggage for $100. You still need the formal vet certificate, vaccinations and an approved transport kennel but trust me it is no hassle at all. I received loads of quotes for my lab and I fail to see how the carriers can justify 1200 pounds for something that I managed all in for approx 250 inc the extras. The websites for those two airlines have good information on travelling with your pet, you do however need to book your flight direct with the airline.

Do not worry too much about getting your dog in to the USA, it is far easier for them than us suspicious humans I can assure you.

Dont worry about the non standard vaccinations until you get over here. Heartworm testing is needed when you get here as it is a nasty mosquito carried problem.

Bess is now enjoying her retirement here in Florida and is a million times better off for being here too.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Hi Selly

Your post is very encouraging ! We have a lab and a cat to move, although not until Feb so we still have some time.

We'll be travelling with AA most likely and I will contact them, but can you tell me where you got the 'approved transport kennel'? Also, did anyone - vet or airline?- give you advice as to how to ensure the lab was happy/ healthy on board the flight?

Thank you!

'Touched' doesn't apply to you, bunsk2007, because you are happily applying through London USCIS, and they don't do touches.

You should be watching your mail closely over the next few days though, cos today's update says they're processing petitions submitted on Sept 17th!!

Oh...well, I guess it's okay I'm not being 'touched' then...I was really beginning to wonder what that was all about!!

Thanks Poiteen.

Yes, I'm practically hanging out of the window looking for the postman!!

That's funny, I was 24!

I was doing a temp nanny job - 11 days, and I came home with chicken pox. Only had it from the neck up...horrible!

Anyway- I wanted to ask you- what do you mean when you say in your timeline 'touched'?!!

I keep seeing that in everyone's timeline, except for mine, because I don't know what it means!

I'm just wondering...when we get approval for the I-130 (that's the optimistic in me:), how will it come? By post or by e-mail?

And is it one letter that comes, notifying us of approval, followed by another letter telling us what to do next? (-packet 3, or something?)

Or does it all come in one letter?

We had confirmation from the embassy that our petition was received/ dated Sept 18th and I just saw on the embassy website that as of Sept 19th they are processing petiotons filed Sept 17th.

So, we should get approval any day now, right??!!

Jessica

Thanks guys!

My GP was really helpful, although he seemd as much in the dark about the whole things as I was. He confirmed that there doesn't seem to be any record in the Uk of my childhood injections, ao maybe my memory is wrong and they were done in India where I was living at the time. I did have a tiny little yellow booklet recording what I had had done but can't find it now....not even sure that I have it.

I never thought I'd need it...how wrong was that!

Anyway, he's given me the Flu jab, Measels, Rubella, Mumps, Diptheria Tetanus, and Pertussis, so I'm a bit sopre but happy that I didn't have to pay for it! He told me to get a bloodtest to test for antibodies for chicken pox as I have already had it. I think I saw another thread about this on here- that someone had a blood test to proove they had the antibodies and that that was accepted by the US Embassy.

Now I just have to sort out my children- 13 and 14- who have american passports so don't have to go down this route; but I gather that the schools are very strict about the kids needing to have vaccinations done before they are accepted. Does anyone have any experience with that?

Thanks again, all help really appreciated!

jessica