T and M

I went to my local USCIS office today to ask some questions about expedited naturalization. The person answering questions had no idea what I was talking about and claimed its not possible even though I was holding a USCIS document in my hand explaining it. I've called the USCIS customer service number a few times and get the same response. At least today she agreed to have a "USCIS lawyer" call me. I asked if I'd get a phone call today and the response was, "ha, yeah right." I'm attempting to do this without hiring a lawyer, but it is looking like I'll have to get one anyway.

Hi I just did my Naturalization under 319b last March and did get an interview on june 08 and have the oath at the same day.. There is a lot of people that are not aware about 319 b. If you are a contractor working overseas, and your wife is coming with you A letter of Authorization or LOA, LOI will support her application for her. I did try asking a lot of question to different people before I filed the n400 in March 08.. I figure since nobody can give me information I will just go ahead and submit all the requirements they were asking.. I dont care if I will lose hundred dollars what matters is I tried it, since my GC will expired in Nov 08, I just told myself I will give it a try and I've made it.

Here is what I enclosed in the packet (in order)

1. Cover letter (stating you are working overseas and you are applying under 319b, your job, your company) I can send you sample if you want.

2. Filled N400

3. PICTURE

4. Tax info (for for years, joint or not)

5. a letter from the company (notarized)

6. employment letter (job offer-notarized)

7. Employment agreement (notarized)

8. (2 )fingerprint card (done in US Embassy overseas)

9. Greencard (photocopy)

9. Passport (copy)

10 CAC (DOD id of my husband) or any ID from the US company you work for overseas.

11. LOI or a letter authorizing you to deployed overseas.

12. husband passport

13. marriage certificate

14. if you have a child include a copy of his birth certificate/

let me know if you still have questions. I am done with immigration finally!!!!

Hi,

I just wanted to say that your success has inspired me to go ahead and apply for my wife's citizenship.

My main question is that items 5, 6, 7, and 11 seem very similar. Since my employer is a small business (indeed it is my business), could it be that I can include all pieces in one letter on company letterhead? What is a letter of authorization, by the way?

Many thanks.

Oh, and if we are already overseas and are expected to remain overseas (other than occasional visits home every 6 months or so), we can apparently apply to any USCIS service center. Does anyone recommend or specifically NOT recommend any? I hear that Fairfax has experience in these, but we normally live in Georgia.

I went to my local USCIS office today to ask some questions about expedited naturalization. The person answering questions had no idea what I was talking about and claimed its not possible even though I was holding a USCIS document in my hand explaining it. I've called the USCIS customer service number a few times and get the same response. At least today she agreed to have a "USCIS lawyer" call me. I asked if I'd get a phone call today and the response was, "ha, yeah right." I'm attempting to do this without hiring a lawyer, but it is looking like I'll have to get one anyway.

Hi I just did my Naturalization under 319b last March and did get an interview on june 08 and have the oath at the same day.. There is a lot of people that are not aware about 319 b. If you are a contractor working overseas, and your wife is coming with you A letter of Authorization or LOA, LOI will support her application for her. I did try asking a lot of question to different people before I filed the n400 in March 08.. I figure since nobody can give me information I will just go ahead and submit all the requirements they were asking.. I dont care if I will lose hundred dollars what matters is I tried it, since my GC will expired in Nov 08, I just told myself I will give it a try and I've made it.

Here is what I enclosed in the packet (in order)

1. Cover letter (stating you are working overseas and you are applying under 319b, your job, your company) I can send you sample if you want.

2. Filled N400

3. PICTURE

4. Tax info (for for years, joint or not)

5. a letter from the company (notarized)

6. employment letter (job offer-notarized)

7. Employment agreement (notarized)

8. (2 )fingerprint card (done in US Embassy overseas)

9. Greencard (photocopy)

9. Passport (copy)

10 CAC (DOD id of my husband) or any ID from the US company you work for overseas.

11. LOI or a letter authorizing you to deployed overseas.

12. husband passport

13. marriage certificate

14. if you have a child include a copy of his birth certificate/

let me know if you still have questions. I am done with immigration finally!!!!

Hi,

I just wanted to say that your success has inspired me to go ahead and apply for my wife's citizenship.

My main question is that items 5, 6, 7, and 11 seem very similar. Since my employer is a small business (indeed it is my business), could it be that I can include all pieces in one letter on company letterhead? What is a letter of authorization, by the way?

Many thanks.

Due to the difficult time frame and the fact that my local USCIS office has probably never done a case like this, I decided to hire a lawyer. I'll keep updating through the process.

Do you have to be married 3 years before applying for this? We were married in September 2007, but my wife did not receive her permanent residency until July 2008. I am always stationed abroad for various reasons, and I'm not sure which would be the best way to go:

1. Self-employment as contractor for a UK bank.

2. Researcher who could potentially obtain a grant from a US foundation.

3. Maybe could get a contract via an international organization.

4. Maybe could get a contract via a US bank.

The first would be the easiest for me, but I'm not sure it qualifies. The second is more possible and the third and fourth are difficult but possible. We would really like to do this citizenship thing without the physical presence requirement. We spend half our time in the US, half our time in South America, and half our time in Europe. Ugh.

The 3 year period is waived. It does NOT speed up the application process, but it does waive the 3 year wait period completely. You'll have to talk to a lawyer to determine if you qualify. According to the USCIS document above these are the employment requirements.

The U.S. citizen must be “regularly stationed abroad” in the employment of:

• The U.S. government; or

• An American institution of research recognized as such by the Attorney General; or

• An American firm or corporation engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and

commerce of the U.S., or a subsidiary thereof; or

• A Public International Organization in which the U.S. participates by treaty. Per Title 8 of the Code of

Federal Regulations, Part 319.5, these organizations are: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization and

The UN and all agencies and organizations which are a part thereof; or

• Is authorized to perform the ministerial or priestly functions of a religious denomination having a bona

fide organization within the U.S. or is engaged solely as a missionary by a religious denomination or by

an interdenominational mission organization having a bona fide organization within the U.S.; and

I'm afraid you are correct about needing to hire a lawyer. The trouble is that so few have been able to help up to now. The term "engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the US," is painfully vague. I am an independent contractor for foreign firms needing international political analysis in foreign languages. That's foreign trade if services are considered equal to goods, no? But as an independent contractor I am my own boss via self-employment. The application process appears to require that the firm be incorporated within the US. Does that mean I just need to incorporate it, set up an 18-month period of time during which I will be stationed in the UK or elsewhere and then begin the 319b application?

It seems unfair to "send myself" overseas, but that's exactly what I would do, as my own boss. And I would love not to have to choose between my career and my wife's permanent residence status/naturalization.

I'm so glad I found this thread by the way. Even if I do not qualify at the moment, I hope that eventually I will be sponsored by a US organization as my current travels do not appear to be slowing down as I thought they would when we applied for the PR.

I am not up to date on this, but use to be if you took a job with a US Defense contractor installing some of kind a defense thingy, had to be out of the country for the full 18 months to be tax free. If you came back to the US even for one day, would be liable for the full 18 months worth of taxes which would be quite a bundle. You were sent to areas where you wouldn't want to bring a spouse along, but was a chance to get quite a nest egg. Just saying something else to check into. Tax laws are changing every five minutes.

Certainly something to think about. Need to check with an accountant i suppose. But still, I'm more interested in doing three things simultaneously, live with my family, work abroad, and not lose my wife's permanent residence. I have almost decided to give the 319b a shot, b/c getting rejected just means we are back where we started, with her permanent resident status secure but annoying.

Due to the difficult time frame and the fact that my local USCIS office has probably never done a case like this, I decided to hire a lawyer. I'll keep updating through the process.

Do you have to be married 3 years before applying for this? We were married in September 2007, but my wife did not receive her permanent residency until July 2008. I am always stationed abroad for various reasons, and I'm not sure which would be the best way to go:

1. Self-employment as contractor for a UK bank.

2. Researcher who could potentially obtain a grant from a US foundation.

3. Maybe could get a contract via an international organization.

4. Maybe could get a contract via a US bank.

The first would be the easiest for me, but I'm not sure it qualifies. The second is more possible and the third and fourth are difficult but possible. We would really like to do this citizenship thing without the physical presence requirement. We spend half our time in the US, half our time in South America, and half our time in Europe. Ugh.

The 3 year period is waived. It does NOT speed up the application process, but it does waive the 3 year wait period completely. You'll have to talk to a lawyer to determine if you qualify. According to the USCIS document above these are the employment requirements.

The U.S. citizen must be “regularly stationed abroad” in the employment of:

• The U.S. government; or

• An American institution of research recognized as such by the Attorney General; or

• An American firm or corporation engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and

commerce of the U.S., or a subsidiary thereof; or

• A Public International Organization in which the U.S. participates by treaty. Per Title 8 of the Code of

Federal Regulations, Part 319.5, these organizations are: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization and

The UN and all agencies and organizations which are a part thereof; or

• Is authorized to perform the ministerial or priestly functions of a religious denomination having a bona

fide organization within the U.S. or is engaged solely as a missionary by a religious denomination or by

an interdenominational mission organization having a bona fide organization within the U.S.; and

I'm afraid you are correct about needing to hire a lawyer. The trouble is that so few have been able to help up to now. The term "engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the US," is painfully vague. I am an independent contractor for foreign firms needing international political analysis in foreign languages. That's foreign trade if services are considered equal to goods, no? But as an independent contractor I am my own boss via self-employment. The application process appears to require that the firm be incorporated within the US. Does that mean I just need to incorporate it, set up an 18-month period of time during which I will be stationed in the UK or elsewhere and then begin the 319b application?

It seems unfair to "send myself" overseas, but that's exactly what I would do, as my own boss. And I would love not to have to choose between my career and my wife's permanent residence status/naturalization.

I'm so glad I found this thread by the way. Even if I do not qualify at the moment, I hope that eventually I will be sponsored by a US organization as my current travels do not appear to be slowing down as I thought they would when we applied for the PR.

Due to the difficult time frame and the fact that my local USCIS office has probably never done a case like this, I decided to hire a lawyer. I'll keep updating through the process.

Do you have to be married 3 years before applying for this? We were married in September 2007, but my wife did not receive her permanent residency until July 2008. I am always stationed abroad for various reasons, and I'm not sure which would be the best way to go:

1. Self-employment as contractor for a UK bank.

2. Researcher who could potentially obtain a grant from a US foundation.

3. Maybe could get a contract via an international organization.

4. Maybe could get a contract via a US bank.

The first would be the easiest for me, but I'm not sure it qualifies. The second is more possible and the third and fourth are difficult but possible. We would really like to do this citizenship thing without the physical presence requirement. We spend half our time in the US, half our time in South America, and half our time in Europe. Ugh.

t was very much, much ado about nothing. Got in about 0830 was seen the first time about 1000, then seen at about 1210 she was very professional in the interview asked the usual questions and that was it. paid the curiers and off i popped

Two interesting things happened, one guy started screaming because he got refused again everyne just watched with morbid fascinatin as he was escorted away and a car that i kept seeing on the trip to london had RFE on the number plate

Good work Baron! Best wishes for your medical!

sorry if this has been asked before but i couldn't find it when i searched and i wanted uk specifi answers.

I know its a bit early to be worried about this but i have 30 free prints avaliable on snapfish and its got a deadline on it.

how many photos did people take to their interview?

what sort of photos did you take ( kissing, couple, family, land mark ect)

did they even look at these or want them?

so far we have seven photos from what we sent with the petiton.

1 the two of us in front of a giant mickey mouse jack o lantern and disney cali

2 the two of us in front of the universal sign in cali

3 a photo Vito took of me in the cavern bar liverpool where you can see the stage in back ground

4 a photo i took of Vito in the cavern bar liverpool with the bar and sign behind him

5 me and him hugging and poseing behind the bar where i work

6 me and him together behind us is the big ferris wheel on santa monica pier just before they sold it

7 me and Vitoinfront of the star of india (ship) in san diego.

i was expecting to need a lot more for the interview but i thought i saw one poster state he had eight total. i was also not sure if what we have already is enough proof of a relationship. it must be proof enough that we have met. ( iknow thats photos are secondary and we will be providing more evidence like chat logs and copies of cards and things)

would love to know your opinions/experiences

thanks in advance

Hannah

I agree with most of the posts here that pictures don't seem to matter much and are rarely even requested during an interview. But still, it is important to consider your situation and avoid unnecessary problems. We were doing an I-130 (DCF) at the London embassy and didn't send in pictures in response to an RFE regarding our bona fide relationship. Big mistake. We got called in for an interview before even getting to the immigrant visa application stage. During that RFE interview, we took masses of evidence, and the main photo evidence that satisfied our interviewer were pictures of the wedding that included loads of people, especially our families.

Just adding this to balance out the previous posts. We read a few similar posts way back when and wished we hadn't, b/c it would have saved us about a month.

We were not asked to show the photographs again at our immigrant visa interview.

I have a related question , the passport sized photos that we need to take, its 3 Us size ones right? (50mmx50mm)

Right.

The square US ones....not the rectangular European ones.

Could anyone tell meif this sounds reasonable

My interview is nine oclock on the 11th my medical is on the 29th but im going to bring it forward would i have enough time to have it the same day at 1600hrs? you know. will i be done in time?

Unless you have some issue, you should be done by noon. Our appt was at 8:30 and we were out by 11.

Good luck! Really rooting for you.

Thomas, I totally "get" what your saying but then you go and say this :

"We really shouldn't take stereotypes too seriously, even if they are - as they tend to be - half true."

Thomas

Which kind of renders the stereotype image as half valid. Are you saying half the population of Alabama live up to the stereo type?

Ha. Or maybe ALL of them live up to it halfway!

No. I was and am 100% joking. Alabama is a lovely place. As is Georgia (my native state...just next door, where my wife has just seen for the first time.) My comment that the negative stereotypes about us might be "half true" was meant to express that we should not take any stereotype too seriously even if (and perhaps especially if) they are directed against us.

I'm gonna miss the BBC that's for sure.

To be honest the more I read up on Alabama, I've done a lot of reading since my original post, the more I think I'm going to like it. There's a fair bit of history, open spaces, and I did read today the food was good. I still have niggling doubts, but who doesn't?

Welshcookie - Don't mean to be rude but did your husband serve at RAF Molesworth? My OH thinks he recognises a badge he's wearing.

Doubts are normal. I have my doubts about the South and am not sure if my wife and I will settle here in the end! But there is a lot to learn from the South, just like I learned a lot in London. The history thing is fascinating...scary sometimes, uplifting others. But you should just go with the flow and I think you will be surprised at how much fun you have.

Good luck if you end up in Alabama!

Have a safe flight. I'll look forward to the POE review, because i'm going through there next week..

POE Review:

We were a bit confused on whether to go to the visitor line or the US citizen/PR line. We asked a million people and ended up in the visitor line. He was very friendly and began our paperwork. We then went to collect our checked bags, passed through US customs, at which point customs sent us to the side where a very friendly officer began to tell us about his recent marriage to his high school sweetheart 30 years before. He couldn't have been nicer, more laidback, or less bothered by the details of our case. He made fun of us for entering the US six months pregnant. Then wished us a happy stay. "If the Green Card doesn't arrive within six months, give this number a call and find out where the hell it is." That was it! We just handed him the envelope, had Milena's passport stamped just above the CR-1 visa, and walked on into Atlanta! It was allover in 20 minutes.

Now waiting for SSN and GC.

Best wishes and good luck!

Hey is there anyone in Alabama here? My OH is being posted there with the USAF and depending when my Visa is approved I'll be following. He can't wait and wants to stay there for quite a few years, but I have my reservations. Just want to know what it's like as I think my head is full of stereotypes.

Hi Laura,

Wow. I cannot seem to write a response to your inquiry without being bothered by the fact that - in asking it - you appear to already have your mind made up. If I - a native Southerner - came to England expecting self-righteous yobs and violent chavs, I'm not sure it would have suited me. If I had moved to Italy expecting misogynistic mafiosos, would I have succeeding in obtaining my degree there? Washington, DC, is believed to be overrun by violent crackheads, but I lived there for 5 happy years. You say that your head is full of stereotypes, but isn't that - in essence - the problem?

Further, you don't even specify what you have heard? Should I assume that you saw the Ali G episode in Alabama, and defend my region by saying "No, Laura, we aren't a bunch of homophobic asses. But make fun of our football by dancing around on the field and you WILL get killed." Or maybe you saw Top Gear and think Southerners are violently pro-Bush, in which case I would say that around 40% of Alabamians voted for Kerry and Gore. Maybe the stereotype you heard was completely different - that we are all self-righteous snobs, perhaps. Should I then say, "No, Laura, we are actually very down to earth and would love to have a beer with anyone from any background, including yours....oh, despite the fact that we have heard so many awful stereotypes about Brits."

We really shouldn't take stereotypes too seriously, even if they are - as they tend to be - half true.

Thomas

I apologise if my comment offended you, I honestly didn't mean it to. No, I haven't seen Ali G or that episode of Top Gear. Just some things that I heard from people who have been there and from my OH who knows people there. Also when you tell people you are going to Alabama they come out with all sorts of stuff and I think it fuels your thoughts even more. I know these are just excuses but after reading your response I am quite ashamed about my manner of thought. I think it all comes down to the fact I will be moving somewhere totally different and am just scared that I'm not going to like it.

I hope that you will take my intemperate response as more of a friendly chiding than a reflection of any real offense I might have taken. Just remember that ignorance and stereotyping often does more harm to the person holding the stereotype than to the person being stereotyped. It takes away from the good time we can have if we drop the stereotypes! If you go to Alabama, enjoy the sweet tea, the amazing food, the unbelievably friendly people. Ignore the #######, especially the ignorant close-minded ones. That's what I try to do in England.

Hey is there anyone in Alabama here? My OH is being posted there with the USAF and depending when my Visa is approved I'll be following. He can't wait and wants to stay there for quite a few years, but I have my reservations. Just want to know what it's like as I think my head is full of stereotypes.

Hi Laura,

Wow. I cannot seem to write a response to your inquiry without being bothered by the fact that - in asking it - you appear to already have your mind made up. If I - a native Southerner - came to England expecting self-righteous yobs and violent chavs, I'm not sure it would have suited me. If I had moved to Italy expecting misogynistic mafiosos, would I have succeeding in obtaining my degree there? Washington, DC, is believed to be overrun by violent crackheads, but I lived there for 5 happy years. You say that your head is full of stereotypes, but isn't that - in essence - the problem?

Further, you don't even specify what you have heard? Should I assume that you saw the Ali G episode in Alabama, and defend my region by saying "No, Laura, we aren't a bunch of homophobic asses. But make fun of our football by dancing around on the field and you WILL get killed." Or maybe you saw Top Gear and think Southerners are violently pro-Bush, in which case I would say that around 40% of Alabamians voted for Kerry and Gore. Maybe the stereotype you heard was completely different - that we are all self-righteous snobs, perhaps. Should I then say, "No, Laura, we are actually very down to earth and would love to have a beer with anyone from any background, including yours....oh, despite the fact that we have heard so many awful stereotypes about Brits."

We really shouldn't take stereotypes too seriously, even if they are - as they tend to be - half true.

Thomas

I apologise if my comment offended you, I honestly didn't mean it to. No, I haven't seen Ali G or that episode of Top Gear. Just some things that I heard from people who have been there and from my OH who knows people there. Also when you tell people you are going to Alabama they come out with all sorts of stuff and I think it fuels your thoughts even more. I know these are just excuses but after reading your response I am quite ashamed about my manner of thought. I think it all comes down to the fact I will be moving somewhere totally different and am just scared that I'm not going to like it.

I hope that you will take my intemperate response as more of a friendly chiding than a reflection of any real offense I might have taken. Just remember that ignorance and stereotyping often does more harm to the person holding the stereotype than to the person being stereotyped. It takes away from the good time we can have if we drop the stereotypes! If you go to Alabama, enjoy the sweet tea, the amazing food, the unbelievably friendly people. Ignore the #######, especially the ignorant close-minded ones. That's what I try to do in England.

I just realized I was censored! This MUST be an American site! Maybe even a Southern site! Puritanistic fools! (Obviously joking, but I must say that I will miss hearing #### so much on TV!!! God bless the BBC!)

Hey is there anyone in Alabama here? My OH is being posted there with the USAF and depending when my Visa is approved I'll be following. He can't wait and wants to stay there for quite a few years, but I have my reservations. Just want to know what it's like as I think my head is full of stereotypes.

Hi Laura,

Wow. I cannot seem to write a response to your inquiry without being bothered by the fact that - in asking it - you appear to already have your mind made up. If I - a native Southerner - came to England expecting self-righteous yobs and violent chavs, I'm not sure it would have suited me. If I had moved to Italy expecting misogynistic mafiosos, would I have succeeding in obtaining my degree there? Washington, DC, is believed to be overrun by violent crackheads, but I lived there for 5 happy years. You say that your head is full of stereotypes, but isn't that - in essence - the problem?

Further, you don't even specify what you have heard? Should I assume that you saw the Ali G episode in Alabama, and defend my region by saying "No, Laura, we aren't a bunch of homophobic asses. But make fun of our football by dancing around on the field and you WILL get killed." Or maybe you saw Top Gear and think Southerners are violently pro-Bush, in which case I would say that around 40% of Alabamians voted for Kerry and Gore. Maybe the stereotype you heard was completely different - that we are all self-righteous snobs, perhaps. Should I then say, "No, Laura, we are actually very down to earth and would love to have a beer with anyone from any background, including yours....oh, despite the fact that we have heard so many awful stereotypes about Brits."

We really shouldn't take stereotypes too seriously, even if they are - as they tend to be - half true.

Thomas

Can the DS forms be sent before we get packet 3? or is there some sort of special stuff in this packet we have to wait for?

I read somewhere on VJ (only once!) when someone sent out the forms before they even got their packet... ...not sure how that worked out tho.

It is my understanding that you have to get your LND number...i had everything ready to sent and put it in the mail as soon as we got our LND case number...which you will also need to book the medical. Not sure how things are now...

Also, we only sent in DS-230, Part I, and the checklist once we got the Packet 3. They wanted us to swear that we had everything before giving us the interview...at that point we got our interview date and all was smooth sailing.

You will get through it. We also moved just before receiving packet 3. I called, got the code, and emailed them...no response via email, but they mailed us at the new address relatively quickly.

We had our interview on monday the 14th, but didin't get approved. :-( It was because of the police certificate. He lives in Scotland and requested his police certiicate in March. I thought he had received it in the mail, but when I got there just before the interview he only had the receipt for the 10 pounds that he paid. I guess he thought the form was being sent directly to the embassy. He said he never got it in the mail.

So we went to the interview anyway, and not surprisingly they said they can't approve until the police certificate is sent to them by courier. The trouble is it never came in the mail. So I called the number given to us by the police station for information. They said they mailed it to him on April 4th, but that they will mail him another copy. However the woman on the phone also said something that I didn't understand. She said that a form was also mailed to him from LONDON but that that can not be mailed again. What is this paper from london? Does he need both this and the paper from Scotland?

I'm confused and a little disheartened. Thought he'd be here for my sister's wedding in September, but now it's not looking so good. Has anyone else had to mail stuff after the interview. How long did approval take then? What worries me the most is that they said he may be requested to come for a second interview. It was a long trip down to london the first time and cost a bit. Not to mention it could take them a while again to fit him in the schedule. I thought we were doing so well when we ordered this police certificate in march, and now it got spoiled anyway.

Sorry to hear about this. We had our fair share of detours, missed a few big family events that we had planned on attending, and made some misteps. But I promise you this is almost over.

First of all, if you were approved pending the police certificate, the visa will be readied almost immediately after you courier the police certificate in. Fine, you may say...but how do you get another police certificate. Here's the important part.

The local police certificates, which may or may not still be accepted, take forever. The newer certificate, APCO, is much quicker...you should have it within 10 working days or less! Although it costs around 35 pounds, it is worth it. I recommend applying for immediately. Note that you need a witness to sign your spouse's photo...someone "important" in the community like a Pharmacist, doctor, or lecturer.

If you send of for this right away, and courier it to the embassy as soon as you receive it, you just might get this thing back on track with minimal delay.

APCO: http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp

Embassy reference to APCO: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/iv/ukpc.html

I wish you a lot of luck. Don't dishearten just yet!

Approved!

Milena and I arrived at 8am. No cellphones, laptop, but I DID have my USB key/chip and car keys which had an electronic fob for unlocking. Both were considered an "electronic" item. The girls mentioned there were some cafes on the corner. I found the pharmacy that stores one small bag for 10 pounds. That seemed ridiculous, so I went to Starbucks, and "left" my keys at the counter. The girl was not happy with me, but I was not going to pay 10 pounds to leave a tiny, tiny rental car key! I threw away my USB key as it was a corporate gift.

So we got in.

Were called up after around 45 minutes...by now it's 9:15am. We showed our paperwork, copies AND originals (definitely have copies of everything, b/c they WILL keep a copy of everything.) He asked me about my PhD, and whether or not I had proof from my university that I could complete my research from the US. Of course I did not, and he said that maybe it wouldn't matter...that "it depends on the officer." He then asked us to go to window 13 and pay 400 dollars. (We already paid 355 so I was shocked, but what are you going to do?)

We left our US credit card at home, and the cashier said they give a 2:1 exchange rate. I left the building, took out 200 pounds from a nearby ATM and returned just as they were re-calling our number.

The officer was very nice, and warned us not to lose her permanent residence by setting up domicile in another country. The whole interview lasted 10 minutes. Oh, he wanted to see proof that I maintain US domicile. Drivers license and copies of bank statements to my US address were enough.

We then paid 14 pounds for the courier service and were told it would arrive betwen Tues-Thurs! We are thrilled and can't believe it is over! So anticlimactic as other VJers have pointed out.

We certainly could not have done it without you guys. Now that it's over I think i need to see a shrink for post-traumatic stress syndrome. What do I worry about now???!!! Oh, yeah...our baby that is on the way!

All best regards to all of you!

Thomas and Milena

Had interview this morning ....Approved

yay!! congratulations!

Heading over to the embassy now! Fingers crossed......

Wow, the best medical ever...though I would have been concerned if Nicky found out he was pregnant after his

Supposedly the only thing more exciting one could find out is that their potential spouse isn't what they claimed. In the medical thread there is news that the doctors find a dozen or so imposters every year. The drop-the-pants test is meant to find that one out. Milena didn't mention that part of her test, but I'm assuming it protocal was followed.

To be clear, we had to go our GP to have the pregnancy test....Bentwick doesn't do pregnancy tests. And by the way, I don't recommend this method of taking the medical, as it could have led to a serious delay had we not been lucky with a really really kind GP and nurses.

Congratulations!!!

Have you thought about names yet?

We were thinking Visa would be appropriate. Or maybe Bentnick.

Thanks for all your kind words. We had some names picked out, but now that this thing is real we are reevaluating!

Hi all,

Thanks for all your help and advice and support. I just posted to the medical thread, but I thought I would say something here, given the exciting nature of our medical. When the medical approached, Milena was a couple of weeks late. This has happened before, so we did not think much of it, but I did read about the risks associated with x-rays, etc, just in case. When we filled out the forms, we of course wrote that it was possible that she was pregnant and that she was two weeks late. This meant that no MMR vaccination was possible and that we had to fill out a release form for the x-ray. We went to our GP later that morning and received a pregnancy test, POSITIVE, the Polio vaccine, and a letter confirming that she is pregnant. This was faxed to Bentwick Mansions this morning and it appears that all is on track for the embassy to receive our medical approval on Monday, just in time for our appointment next Friday!

We couldn't be happier. As I mentioned in the earlier post, this process, which was quite painful, appears to be nearing a very very exciting conclusion!

All the best to all of you. And once again, THANKS!

Hi all,

Thank you for all the help, advice, information, and support. Milena had her medical on Wednesday morning, so here is our report!:

We were a bit late, and as my wife likes shopping, she said, "Hey, Selfridges is between Marble Arch and Bond Street. Maybe we could save some time by hopping off one stop early!" Bad idea. The turn, Marylebone Lane, is definitely just at the Bond Street stop. I should have checked my maps. Anyway, the clinic called us and we begged to give us a bit of extra time. Running down Oxford Street in the rain, we finally found Marylebone Lane (lovely little street), and turned north. It was indeed after Wigmore, but we missed the turn as we were looking at the street signs on the left, and Bentwick goes off to the right. Anyway, we arrived at Bentwick Mews, found no clinic, called, and were sent back one block to Bentwick Street. (This all is pretty typical for us....always late, always lost, but maybe telling the story will help someone else from making the same mistake...!)

They were merciful, although not pleased. We gave them the form and her passport, and they gave us a very similar form which asked a few more details, as other VJers have testified to. Milena went in for the doctor's examination, which was fairly laid back (the one surgery she has had in her life was apparently "fairly common," according to the doc. We then went to the x-ray room, where the doctor explained that, since she was two weeks late, the possibility existed that she was pregnant. We went ahead with the x-ray, since I had already read about the potential dangers, but the nurse would not give us the MMR vaccination until she received confirmation from our GP that she was not pregnant. She said that Milena would be approved once she received from our GP confirmation that she had 1) received the Polio vaccine, and 2) that she was either pregnant, or that she had received the MMR.

Well, she is pregnant! We found out in our GPs office, old school style. It was amazing. We had been trying (half-heartedly) for a few months, but her cycle had become so irregular we didn't think much for the two weeks late. We thought we would try harder this fall, but we were pleasantly surprised!!!!!!

So, our GP gave Milena the Polio vaccine but not the (live) MMR, and later faxed the info to Bentwick Mansions. I called today and Bentwick mansions informed me that they have forwarded her info to the embassy...that Milena has passed!

We couldn't be more pleased about the way things are going, the happy news of the pregnancy, and our impending interview on the 18th! This process was painful, but it appears to be nearing a very very happy conclusion.

Once again to all, thanks!

Wow, Thomas, finally!!! I'm so happy you've finally got your (visa!) interview. It's been a stressful process for you guys, hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here!

xx Poit

Thanks Poiteen!!!!

VJ has been amazing for us, not only for making sure our paperwork was ready as soon as the "next step" came, but also for the support it gives when we were about to give up!!!

By the way, does anyone know how long to expect for the visa? We have learned not to plan too much, but we would like to start making some preliminary preparations. It seems that I recall someone saying 4 business days, but then other people say 1-2. Does it help that our medical will be done well in advance?

Snags can always occur, but we do hope that this thing is almost over! We certainly owe it to you guys for the support!

Cheers!

Thomas (and Milena)

This is a happy moment for us, as I have been waiting to write on this thread for months!!! Milena and I are going on the 18th of July!!!! We can't believe it and are so happy.

Thanks to all of you for all your help all along. We certainly could not have gotten this far without you guys!

Thomas

Our file date is 4/4/08.......all we've got from them so far was the email confirming that. Waiting....waiting....waiting.

I'm flying home end of June and my husband is staying here until September. Can't wait till this is all over!!!

Well they must have reached my filing date (26 February), because we got an RFE in the mail yesterday. Starting a new post on that.....

Hey Thomas, how did you get on with your RFE did you send it back yet? any news?

We finally received word back from our RFE and we must not have sent enough proof because we were called in for an interview a month after sending in the RFE. All seems to be back on track now, and we are just waiting on that NOA2 and Packet 3!!!

Basically we returned exactly what they asked for (3 affidavits from colleagues/friends vouching for our bona fides and proof of joint accounts.) What they really wanted was info on our weddings (civil and religious), pictures, emails, etc. Our story is one of love at first sight, meeting, getting married and living the last nine plus months together (3 of those in long distance), so the embassy wanted the down-low.

We hope to receive NOA2 and Packet 3 within the next week or so, because we have had everything ready since mid-May.

Hopefully things will keep on trucking.

Thomas