Damian&Kelly

I wouldn't advise you to wait but I will say that my husband and I waited over 6 months after his I-94 expired to apply for AOS. The only reason we wait was because of money. We had no issues at all but keep in mind, the K-1 medical is only good for 1 year. Also I wouldn't apply for AP with the AOS because it's said if you wait too long to apply, it causes issues with the AP and coming back to the US. So with waiting comes not being able to leave the US and also not being able to work.

We're planning on doing the same thing, maybe not quite 3 years as we've already been in the US together almost 2. But we're looking to move back to England after my husband gets his US dual citizenship. We feel we put so much money into getting him here that we don't want to just give it all up and we'd love to be done with immigration (at least on the US side) before settling down and starting a family.

As for the financial side, they're sponsoring system looks quite complicated. There's no real set amount you have to make; you just have to show enough income to pay your bills, I believe. and there's no co-sponsoring. I believe your UKC spouse will have to go over and set up shop before you can move yourself. We're planning on saving up and going over together (me on VWP) and finding an apartment or house and him finding a job and me coming back to the US to get the visa. I think it's quite a bit faster processing but within 3 years time the UK immigration system is going to change. so it's not worth looking into it this early, I'd wait til 2011 when the big changes are going to happen.

I've had trouble almost every single time visiting England!! I've told the truth every time, I've left when I told them I'd leave, I never did anything at all to make them think I'd break the law in any way. And They still give me a hard time! The last time was the easiest because my husband traveled with me and we were just visiting his parents now that he lives here in the US.

You shouldn't have a problem if you take enough ties to the US. Just tell the truth and bring ties.

When I went to the UK to visit after applying for the K-1, I showed my NOA1, and they had no clue what it was. I actually said, "we're applying for a US visa so my English husband can live in American so I will not be staying in the UK as we are trying to move together in the US" She looked at me and said "oh you must have had trouble a lot with immigration with the amount of paperwork you brought this time."

I think buying a phone card and calling DOS from England would cost less then phoning the embassy!

You can call department of state (DOS) which is free to call from the US, compared to calling the Embassy which cost something like 1.20GBP a minute. When calling DOS, you have to talk to someone and give them your LND number and they will tell you the status of your visa which should be something along the lines of having packet 3 and what not. London are taking quite a long time to schedule appointments at the minute and it's not unusual to wait more than a month at the minute.

DOS: Dial 202-663-1225 Then press 1 and then 0 for an operator.

I don't think a permit holder can driver to the test alone seeing as they asked for the license of the person who accompanied my husband to his test. But if you have your UK license and can prove it's been less then a year then what's stopping you from driving alone? My husband waited over the year mark so his UK license was no longer valid.

As for scheduling a date, you can do that online. My husband wanted to get in before the end of this January and we were only scheduling the first week of Jan. So we got in a week and a half later but had to drive an 40 minutes for that opening.

They recommend 50 hours between permit and driving test. They give you a book that you're suppose to fill out but I believe it's only for the new drivers. My husband didn't fill out the book nor did they ask for it. The permit (written test) is taken on a computer, you have to get 15 out of 18 correct. It's dead simple mainly about drinking and driving. As for the driving test, they told my husband to drive about 5 miles, did 3 left turns and a right, and like 3 or 4 stop signs. Along with the parking and knowing how to work your lights.

I believe you can call DOS and they'll let you know what's going on. It's not always right but it's free from the US.

My husband moved here to PA from England as well. He could drive with his UK license for 1 year from the date of entry to the US. He didn't need an international drivers permit because his UK license is in English. Now I called my car insurance and made sure he was covered while driving with his UK license. And Allstate said He's covered as long as he has permission from me to drive.

He had to get a PA permit (written test) and also take the driving test. To get the permit all you need is EAD(or Green Card), Marriage certificate, passport, social security card, 2 pieces of mail to prove you live in PA (we used the NOA from the AOS and a bank statement). He also needed to get a physical, very simple really, nothing like the physical to come to the US!! For the driving test, He needed to show proof of insurance for the car he'd be taking the test in, ID and permit. He had to show he could work the lights, parallel park and drive on the road for about 5 minutes, it was very very easy!

We had less.. We live with my father so no lease, we didn't have a car so no insurance and we don't have any bills at all. We sent joint bank account and a few pictures. We were approved without an interview but we were adjusting from K-1. Not sure how much more you'd need if you had an interview tho.

My husband kept his nationwide account so that his dad can transfer bday money and things like that. Nationwide is nice, no charges. Llyods cost my husband a fortune to use the first summer he was here.

My husband and I had this discussion many times, and it all came down to how much money we put into getting him here and the fact that after he becomes a US citizen, we're looking to live in England. We really don't want to have to worry about coming back to keep the US green card. I don't remember the rules with it. We're both very young and decided we'd like to be done with immigration (at least in the US) before settling down and having kids.

As for the cons, like someone said, Uncle sam comes knocking once a year no matter where you're living. But now that taxes can be done online, it shouldn't be too bad of an issue and I believe you don't have to pay in unless you make a certain amount of money which is pretty high. Now I just learned about this con but this hasn't changed our minds at all.

Thank you very much for all your help! I've been part of this forum for over 2 years and I'm still clueless. Next I have to learn about ROC but I have a year for that yet.

That UK test scared me for sure. Will deal with that when the time comes. I got a 46% on that and just guessed on almost every question. I don't need to know most that stuff for life in the UK, as I spent a year there already, and was clueless.

Maybe you'd know this Nigel. I was told that when we return to the UK, in 3-5ish years after my husband gets dual citizenship, will my husband have to take the life in the UK test in order to regain health coverage or something like that? I don't know how that works.

I feel like we we were on the same trip. I nearly didn't make it INTO England because the miserable girl questioning me at customs thought I was trying to move there. WHERE is the K-1 and other visa training at airports?!! That most don't even know about K-1 alone bugs the hell out of me.

I did everything right, answered all questions with a smile, without reaching over the counter to snatch a handful of hair from her self-righteous head like I really wanted to. It was a nightmare. Thank GOD John was on the other side of the wall by the duty-free shops, confirming my story to customs on his cell phone.

If I had to do it again, I would definitely make sure I had proper docs showing my ties to the U.S., you just NEVER know who you'll be dealing with.

Edited to add: I recall reading just yesterday of a USC being denied entry into Canada (of all places!) to visit her fiance.

UK hates me and I've had trouble almost every visit to the UK. I had plenty of ties but they just don't trust me tho I never did anything wrong and left every time I told them I was going to. I never got denied but had to fight my way in. I was honest every time. They should know me at heathrow by now. oh well. At least they called him and confirmed, I asked them to call my then bf and they lied and told me they did. They never did and held me for over 2 hours without him knowing, ugh.

back on topic tho, if you have enough ties to your home country in this case the US, there shouldn't be any problems. Just always be honest.

I (usc) went to visit my then fiance in England when our I-129F was being processed. The netherlands wouldn't know anything about the I-129F and it wouldn't hurt if they did. because all they are worried about is if your usc fiance is going to stay in their country illegally. So if your fiance has ties to the US: a job, a house, bills... then he shouldn't have any problems visiting you. I don't believe it's much of a risk as a denied entry shouldn't have any affect on your K-1.

I showed my NOA1 when visiting England and they had no interest. They didn't know what the K-1 was just knew what I told them: that my english husband was trying to move to the US which means I'd probably not try to stay in England while I was there visiting.

Maybe I'm wrong in saying this, but I haven't seen many people get denied when marrying and adjusting from VWP. I think I've seen more denied K visas. And the amount of people I see approved makes me think I spent way too much money on the K-1 process and should have just married when we almost did on his last visit here when we were sick of the distance. I know it's illegal but it seems worth the risk especially with all these RFEs and all this extra money that's going into medicals. I just don't understand why it's so frowned apon if the US really isn't the one doing the frowning, it's people like us (K-1 filers) whove put more money then sense into bringing our SO's over when they can come freely. I understand VJ is only a small percentage of people immigrating but when AOS from VWP comes up everyone goes jumping but in the end, VJ are the only ones holding them back as US approves them.

I just don't understand how the US wonders why there are so many illegal immigrants as they make the process harder for those who actually are trying to do everything by the book. But it's not just the US as I heard the UK immigration process is due to change big time next year, dreading that in the future.

Thank you very much Nigel! As that's all new to me. My husband won't want to hear that as this is his first year dealing with the IRS and he wasn't too happy about it. The reason we're still in the US at the minute is so my husband can become a dual citizen. We've decided to stick around until we're done with US immigration and then deal with the UK side, which is going to change next year I heard.

Thanks everyone for all the help! Not sure what we're doing next, I believe my father-in-law doesn't want to move forward until he retires next year. He's too busy and stressed right now to deal with the B-2.

Best of luck to you JustJ! and I'm sorry for taking over the topic a bit.

Born and raised in central PA. My husband seems to like it here, though would like to move back to England, but the main reason he wants to move back is because of his father. My parents really don't have the money to visit England if we were to move but are free to visit as they have clean records, as for his parents, they have the money and would love to visit but are unable to do so. So we're unsure how it's going to play out. but we're both very young and have time on our side and will probably end up in England is the future.

Thank you very much. Not sure what we'll do yet, maybe just meet somewhere until we can move back to England. Last visit to England cost us a fortune.

I thought the US didn't recognize the forgiven rule? maybe I'm wrong. I don't remember what it's called, but I thought the US seen all crimes no matter what.

I know nothing at all about waivers! and I wish you the best of luck, I hope everything goes smoothly and speeds up for you.

As for the VWP, My father-in-law has a 30 year old CIMT, I thought he was unable to use the VWP? I see that your husband used the VWP with this CIMT. While traveling on the VWP, did he tick yes to the question? and has he tried using the VWP since ESTA came into affect.

My husband is heartbroken that his father can't come visit us. I don't understand how any of this works, and my father-in-law has no intention at all of moving or living here in the US.

Not to mention when the fees went up the last time, I believe August 2007, everyone filed all at the same time, July 2007. Caused a lot of delays and loads of backlog. Not so much for the embassies but for the service centers.

We also just sent the DS-3025 and had no problem at all, actually was waiting for the RFE as we waited to file and by the time we got transferred to CSC, my husband's medical was expired. but they approved us no problems. I'm very shocked at the number of RFEs for medicals at the minute, as most shouldn't have a problem seeing as they approved us with an expired medical. We filed March 2009 and the medical expired April 2009, we were transferred to CSC early May 2009 and approved in July.

in duplicate.. just 2 copies from you. I forget which ones you need 2 of tho. My husband made copies of everything anyways just in case he didn't send them in right, he had unsigned copies he took with him to the interview.

We also didn't have an interview, so my husband still had his I-94 when we went back to England in December. At the airport before leaving the US, They were asking for people to turn in their Green I-94w I think. but didn't ask for the white ones. But when we got back to the US, the women at immigration made a comment and said "oh why didn't they take this?" and ripped it out and stamped his passport. No big deal at all.

I think you can prove you're intention of you're visit wasn't to marry and stay because you say you still have a job in the UK. If you could prove that at the time of the AOS interview then it shows you had no intention to marry but the situation with your fiancee's sick grandparents made marriage essential at this time.

I wouldn't advise you do this, but I am yet to see anyone get denied for doing so. Maybe I'm wrong but many I see who come over on the VWP and even plan on marrying and adjusting status come out the end with a Green Card. It is illegal and no lawyer should be advising you to do this as well! So I wouldn't trust that lawyer. And not to mention every process I've seen that a lawyer was involved, the process seemed a lot more stressful and some time longer and quite a bit more money.

Just keep in mind if you file AOS, even before the 90 days, you can't leave the US until Green Card is in hand or the Advanced parole.