Britlover

Thanks again. Can I get the "secret code" by calling that number? I noticed on the London Embassy web site that the extortion line is NOT a London number. I won't mind paying $16 if I can get the code.

I can't answer that I'm afraid because I've only ever needed to call from within the UK. Someone else may come along who has called from the US soon. The people who answer the extortion line are in Scotland, not London.

Thank you very much for your help

Thanks. A couple of questions-1) Can I dial it from the US? & 2) Do they naormally put you on hold for a long time & charge you for the hold time?

Nope, you can't dial it from the US. To ring the Embassy from the US you need to dial 1-866-382-3589 and this costs a flat-rate fee of $16.00 which you can pay by credit card. More info here http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/...assistance.html

Thanks again. Can I get the "secret code" by calling that number? I noticed on the London Embassy web site that the extortion line is NOT a London number. I won't mind paying $16 if I can get the code.

Thanks. A couple of questions-1) Can I dial it from the US? & 2) Do they naormally put you on hold for a long time & charge you for the hold time?

I need to send an email or two to the London embassy regarding our K1 case. I understand that it is best to call & get a code so that they will respond to your email. What is the phone number & can I call it from the US? Thanks

Thanks so much-this is all very helpful information.

Just to make sure I am totally clear...Form DS-156 is sent in duplicate but not signed, & DS-156K is a single copy but the beneficiary does sign it-correct?

One more thing-my fiancee's 11-year-old son is immigrating with her (K2). I know each of the forms has to be completed separately for him-but who signs them? Does he sign them or his mother?

Thanks again

Now that our file has been put in the mail to the London embassy we are getting all of the required forms ready so that she can send them as soon as packet 3 arrives. I have three questions about the forms that hopefully some of you who have gone through the process can answer.

First question- The DS-156K form states that several documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, police certificates, etc.) must be submitted with the application. But the IV-15 checklist says to gather the forms & NOT send them to the embassy. Should these documents be sent with the packet 3 forms?

Second question- The IV-15 asks for marriage certificates & divorce decrees for previous marriages. Does this only apply to the beneficiary, or is it for the petitioner as well?

Third question- Should she send the completed (but unsigned) DS-230I Part II form to the embassy with the packet 3 forms, or just bring it with her to the interview?

I'm sure these questions have been answered before but I searched & couldn't find the info. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Called the NVC tonight & found out that they mailed our file to the London Embassy today.

Interesting...

I got a letter from the NVC today that states

"The State Department's National Visa Center has recently received an approved I-129F petition filed on behalf of your fiance. This letter is to let you know that within a week the petition will be forwarded to the appropriate visa-issuing post where your visa interview will take place...

Your fiance will soon receive a packet with instructions from the consular section on how to apply for the K1 visa at that post and what documents will be required.

Sincerely, Bureau of Consular Affairs"

The letter was dated June 13 (last Friday). As I stated earlier I called the NVC this morning & was told they were still processing the application (administrative processing). So...

does this letter mean that the file has already been sent to the London Embassy & the NVC is behind in updating their computer database, or do they normally send out the letter before the processing is complete?

Is "administrative processing" the same as "administrative review"? From what I have read if your case is under AR then there is a red flag that requires more extensive background/security checks which can delay the process by weeks or months. Hopefully this is not the same as administrative processing. Anybody know?

Our file was received at the NVC lst Tuesday (June 11); I called this morning & they still have the file. They are doing "administrative processing" and have been waiting on the security checks for several days.

I have looked at a lot of the timelines for K1's for UK fiancees, & almost all of them are showing that the NVC mailed their file to the London Embassy from 2 to 4 days after they received it; we are already up to 8 days so far.

Has anyone else's file stayed at the NVC over a week (lately)? Also, I am wondering if the file has already been mailed out but they haven't keyed this into their system yet. Any thoughts?

Also, is there any way that I can check to see if the embassy has received the file yet-maybe by calling or emailing the DOS?

As a matter of fact we have. Anna & her son were here a couple of weeks ago & the principal & assistant principal at the better school met with us & talked to her son, & they said there will be no problems. They will place him in an "age appropriate" grade (sixth grade). Up until a week & a half ago even the principal was under the impression that based on where I live her son would go to his school. We all got a great impression of the school & everybody had a warm & fuzzy feeling until the principal called me & explained that the district re-zoned last year & he would have to go to the other school. Needless to say his mum (& I) were not too happy.

Concerning the difference bewteen the two school systems they actually have a longer school year than we do, so if anything he may be a little bit ahead of kids here, although I am not very impressed with the school he attends. They live in a small village & they have two classes to teach kids that are from 4 years to 11 years old. But the principal here seems to think he will do fine. The biggest adjustment he will have is homework-they don't have to do any in his school. Boy is he in for a big surprise!

I was surprised to find out that they finish grade school there at age 16; what they call "college" is more similar to our high school.

Thanks PJ-that's reassuring. I know my fiancee will be glad to hear it; she has already said that she will not let her son go to the one school & that we will have to move if that is what it takes to get him into the right school. I support her decision-I know how hard it must be for her to move herself & her son to a foreign country & she doesn't need to worry about the quality of the school he attends after he moves here.

Thanks for sharing your experience

Thanks Don-that sounds like great advice-I believe I will do that. As you stated it is very important to be polite (not demanding) and I think that giving them assurance that she will be fully ready by the interview date will go a long way. I take it this is how you handled your situation?

Well hello to everyone-I have been hanging around here for a while but had not made a posts until now. From our timeline you can see that I am engaged to a wonderful British lady & we are well along in the ridiculously complex and stressful fiancee visa process. She has an 11 year old son who will be moving here with her.

Our file was received at the NVC a couple of days ago so it should be on its way to London soon (hopefully today). Like everyone else we are waiting on that all-important interview date with anticipation. In our case we are hoping for a very quick turnaround time. The new school year in my district starts August 18 & we would like for them to be here before then, so that her son can start with the local kids. More importantly, based on where I live he is supposed to go to a school that is, well lets just say it's not exactly the best school in the area. I have gotten the school district to agree to allowing him to attend one of the best schools in our area (which is not far from my apartment), but the catch is he has to be enrolled prior to the start of the school year in order to change schools.

I have read that the London Embassy is pretty good about moving up interview dates for extenuating circumstances; is that true? Also do you think they would move up the date (if necessary) for this reason? Hopefully packet 4 will come back with a quick date & it won't be an issue but we want to be prepared in case the date is later.

Also what is the best way to go about requesting an earlier date? I was thinking that she should send an explanation of the school situation with packet 3 & very nicely ask if they could give her an early interview date. Any suggestions?

As a side note this site has been (and continues to be) an invaluable resource to us throughout the process & I would like to say thank you to all who contribute to the site.