smilingstone

Yes they can be filed concurrently, but we warned that the current processing times for AP are long. It may not be received in time if you already have travel planned.

Nerves are normal at this stage now, as everything will quickly ramp up after sitting waiting for approval. In my case, there was 26 days for NVC to receive my petition, and then a further month for it to reach London. Once you have confirmation that it's at London, you will receive an LND case number. When you have that, you can look into booking your medical. For me, I called Visa Medicals in early November and they gave me an appointment on the 19th (they had sooner). When that was booked, I kept checking the interview booker on https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/iv. I booked my interview for 1 week after my medical. You can book them whenever you have the time/money to do-so. They seem to release slots in 3/4 week chunks. A word of warning: I had trouble getting the documents required for my medical. My GP practice didn't understand what I needed, kept sending me the wrong thing, not enough info, etc. People say you can access it all on the NHS app - this is only true if your GP surgery has already granted you access. It took me around a month to get what I needed from them, with a lot of pushy phone calls right up until days I was due to travel to London. Start working on this ASAP to avoid headaches. Also, if you know of any vaccination boosters you will need, ask your GP what they can offer. I got a few through mine, so it was free. In the end I only had to pay for Heb B, Covid and Flu (although chance is Flu may not be applicable to you due to time of year). Good luck!

Update for me: Filed AOS and EAD on 04/07/2025 NOA1 for both on 04/16/2025 Biometrics appointment letter uploaded to myUSCIS on 04/18/2025, scheduled for 05/09/2025 myProgress estimates AOS decision in 21 months and EAD decision in 2 months. 🤞

Sounds perfect, thank you! I also used my married name on my AOS but wondered if previous name on my SS card would be an issue. Thank you!

Hi all, Found out today that my biometrics have been scheduled for 9th May, so much sooner than I had expected! The letter says as follows: My UK passport has my maiden name, so I am assuming it would be a good idea to take our marriage certificate. Would that be enough? If not, I could also get a credit card statement printed showing me as an authorised user with my married name. Unfortunately I'm yet to schedule an appointment with SSA to get my SSN name updated, otherwise would take that, and I don't think just over 2 weeks would be enough time to send off for and receive an updated SS card. Thanks

Ah, that sounds more promising than what I've been reading! Is there any way to get confirmation of this from them without roping myself into giving them all my current details? I'm just scared to put more financial pressure on our single income household before I'm able to work. 😔

I did, yes, going to keep it active, see no reason to close it as I also have some direct debits I need to continue paying. I updated my UK account with my US address. I guess my question really revolves around if anyone can provide info on how they determine the repayment amounts and frequency if you're not in the UK and not earning. I've read some say that they update details and SFE just starts to demand money immediately at a much less forgiving rate than the typical UK wage deduction.

Hi VJers, I'm interested in hearing from those who have immigrated from the UK to the US and took student debt with them (specifically Student Finance England debt) and how to approached it. Before moving, my repayments were taken straight from my pay at my last employer. My last pay was in January and since moving to the US in mid-January, I have no income, my husband (USC) is the current sole earner. I'm aware that I should be updating my personal details with them, so that they can chase and rinse me for repayments keep their records up to date, but would like to hear about other's accounts before I move forward with it. Thanks.

Marketing is such a competitive field as it is, even more so in a place like LA, it is unlikely you would get sponsorship with only an undergrad and some work experience. Most people in that field end up doing internships for god knows how long and not even getting paid. There's queues around the corner of citizens who are willing to do that, so really little reason a company would outsource for international candidates. You would be best getting a job in the UK for a company that has offices in the US and eventually requesting a transfer of opportunity presents. It would probably take just as much time securing a sponsor and jumping through those hoops as it would a spousal visa.

Ah sorry about that! Silly me thinking they'd have all local offices directly contactable.....

No idea why they're so insistent on making you call the national number. The wait times are ridiculous. I've had good results with using the Social Security Office Locator, entering my zip and it should provide the address, phone number and fax of your nearest office. Much shorter wait times.

I was contesting with an arrest from 2005 (I was 14 at the time) for shoplifting. It didn't affect my personal nor professional life either - clean DBS and a productive career. When it came to me gathering everything for my own visa journey, I had similar feelings to you. This was something I did as a stupid teenager, thinking I was cool. I got so down about the thought of some mistake in my past possibly ruining the plans me and my now-husband had for our future, because how was I supposed to know back then that I'd be in the position I was when filing? I'm having the same feelings now that I'm filing for my GC, as I've had to tick YES on the very scary questions of having ever been arrested or convicted of any crime, at any time, anywhere. But you will move past it. I find comfort in the thought that 20 years have passed since my arrest and that is to my advantage. I am unsure if my arrest was less than 5 years ago if I'd still be in the same position. Your last arrest was only 4 years ago. I read online people advise to apply after 5 years from the arrest, but some say 10, perhaps to do with severity. The wound is fresh because you're missing out on a good time with your friends, and as you say, they got to go despite apparent dishonesty - however, this may come back to bite them in the future, who knows what plans they may have. It is always best to be truthful and transparent with these things. You did the right thing, even if it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

There's a few success stories on here of people doing stints in prison for much more serious crimes and as they waited a much longer time and evidenced good character through employment and other ventures, were able to successfully obtain a tourist visa. Not what you want to hear, but keep things in perspective, atleast you're only missing out on a wrestling show. Plenty more of the world to see with no visa requirements. You'll have opportunity to visit in future, you just need to wait this one out and make an effort in the mean time to better yourself on paper to appease the CO. Good luck!

I found an older post from someone who had a request for their CV, from London embassy: OP's country of origin and/or education/emploment history (if TAL related) may have flagged a need for more detail.

Wow, really bad idea to just hand that off to a stranger with a copy of your CV, which I imagine includes your personal details like email, number, etc. If you have to provide your CV to the embassy, you should post it properly in an addressed envelope and I would also include a cover letter detailing your name, case number, interview date, etc.

Why didn't you put it in an envelope addressed to the embassy, like any other post? :S Are you from the UK? Did your interview instructions state to bring your CV? I had my interview only 6 months ago and nothing asked for my CV. Although I did actually take a copy in case I required supporting evidence of good character as I had a criminal charge from 2005, in any event, it wasn't asked for and I wouldn't have taken it if I wasn't contesting with a charge.

Conversely, I left boxes blank as I hated the idea of putting N/A for things like a previous name or spouse and it being taken as me stating my previous name or spouse was "N/A" and didn't want an RFE asking me to evidence as much. Perhaps stupidly, I didn't refer to the USCIS instructions, but followed some YouTube videos which left boxes blank. I guess I'll be interested to find out if this comes back to bite me.

You really can't plan out a schedule like this. You should get in the mindset that it may take 12+ months to get approval, and then it is anyone's guess as to when the interview will be arranged, visa received, travel planned, etc. There are many factors that could cause delays on processing, namely RFEs but more recently reported potential staff cuts within USCIS which, if this happens, will no doubt have an impact on processing timeframes. The majority of K1s have to continue our relationships while apart from our partners before approval, this is just the reality of the situation. It is probably best that you both come to terms with this becoming your reality also. If it isn't, then that would be amazing for you. Good luck.

Sorry, that was a typo - I meant 1 year. If your vaccination worksheet was ticked as complete, as @alliejourney advised, then you don't need either, but considering you have a separate thread asking for a vaccination waiver, I assume this isn't the case for you.

I had the same confusion and followed the same advice given here. Along with a copy of my DS3025, I also included a cover letter which quoted the I-693 instructions specific to non-requirement to K1s filing within 1 month and specified the date and location of my medical.

Under what circumstances will you be staying in the US while your I-129F is pending? From what I understand, Canadians can stay up to 6 months, but processing time will exceed this.

It's always a risk but a sling as she arrives with plenty of evidence to prove her ties to home country, it shouldn't be a problem. Also important to note, has she visited previously? If so, for how long for each trip? Has she spent any amount of time in the US that may make CBP think that she is trying to live here and subvert the visa process? General rule is to spend twice the amount of time outside the US, compared to within. I visited with my K1 pending, it was en route to the embassy. I did what I advised above, took employment contract, letter from employer, rental contract, bank statements, etc. They didn't ask for any of it and I got through, but if they did and I didn't have it, it may have been a different story. I didn't want to risk it.

Wow, 2 days? That's crazy fast!

In theory, yes, but the general rule is to spend at least twice the amount of time outside the US than within the US, in order to not get hassled at POE for trying to live here (not guaranteed).

Recent AOS filer here also and I didn't bother with the I-131. It's too costly both in terms of time and money, defeating the purpose of enabling travel with little warning if needed.