TeeKol

A quick question on SSN ... is there any issue with applying for the SSN after our marriage? She has no plans to work right away, so I'd think for our situation it'd be just as easy to do it after and not have to change the name. Are their cons to this I am missing? Thanks!

I used my SSN to open a bank account and have been asked for it nurmerous times without work being the main topic (I even kept the SSN card attached to the card it was sent on and used it as proof of my address which was invaluable). As it is free and mostly hassle-free, why not get one anyway? you dont know when you may need it

We finally have a date. August 28th!

Is this a wedding date or a date for your reunion? Sounds an exciting day whichever it is

Wedding.

We don't know yet when, exactly, I'll be showing up in the US. Probably very beginning of August.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Now you can start REALLY planning

how do i do that my friend?

Hi there!!

You can usually find it by searching in the VJ forum (at the top left of the page) or by clicking the UK flag will give you current UK topics which you may find useful.

However, I stumbled across your posting and I have recently been through the London Embassy visa process (February of this year). Dont worry it isnt as bad as you think it may be. Make sure you get there as early as you can, it didnt really matter to the guards outside what time my appointment was, you just get in the queue and wait your turn. Dont take your mobile phone or you will be turned away and will have to deposit it somewhere and come back (there is a chemist not far that charges a huge amount 10.00 pounds I believe, if you have nowhere else to leave it).

You stand in the queue and have to show your passport and your appointment letter to the guards when you get to them, then they let you continue to wait. You then get to go through security in the x-ray building to the right of the queue. Needless to say everything goes through the machine. A note of advice, if you take any proof of ongoing relationships that include musical cards, leave them behind. They cant go through as they are electronic so not allowed in the Embassy....I had to bin mine

Once through the x-ray you then go into the main building, take a ticket number (K1s should get a number begining 5) and then the waiting process begins........a long wait. Numbers are called and shown on the screen and when called it gives you your number and booth to take your ticket to. When you are first called they check that you have all the correct documents, and get you to go and pay your fee. Also be aware they do not take Maestro cards. If, like me you didnt realise that, they can give you your passport back and allow you to leave to go and get some money and return, so its not like once you are in if you forget something they wont let you go and get it. But when you come back you still have to go through x-ray checks. If you have children dont forget that you have to pay for them too.

When all of that is sorted you go to wait again, and for us this was the longest wait. A book if you can focus or a paper will help the time pass by if you can concentrate.

You are then eventually called again and this time its for your interview. The woman that interviewed me just made general chit chat about when we were marrying, what my fiance did for work, has he been over to the UK? Have I been over to the States before? that kind of thing, so no spotlight questions lol. I didnt even know she had granted me the visa! I had to ask, she was so casual and very friendly.

Then you get a pink slip and are told to take it to the courier station and arrange for your visa to be delivered. They hold onto your passport so they can attach the visa inside and this is what they deliver to you along with an envelope which YOU MUST NOT OPEN!! It says not to on the front of it so dont panic. You need to put this in your hand luggage as at the airport border control they will need this envelope and it must be sealed.

The whole Embassy process for me was an anti climax. It was exciting being in such a huge building that few get to see inside, but the waiting brings it back down to earth. I would advise that if you dont have two US passport sized photos to get them done before hand rather than to depend on getting them done in the Embassy as when I was there one of the two were out of order.

Drinks and snacks are available also in the waiting area if needed.

I hope that this helps with your anxiety. If you want to ask anything further please pm me, I will try to answer any questions. Good luck on your interview and I hope that you are with your loved one soon!!

Hi All..

Just an update..

I received my NOA's for AOS, EAD and I-130 on 5/18..

Big relief.. I can sleep better now.. =)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I know what you mean about sleeping better at night once you get the NOAs. I cant wait to get ours so I too dont continue with dreams of deportation.

So pleased for you!!!

We finally have a date. August 28th!

Is this a wedding date or a date for your reunion? Sounds an exciting day whichever it is

People must be really busy....no posting on here for 2 days!!! Hope everyone is having fun!!

Fred is in the air... which is probably why we managed to get one thread away from page three.

It's kind of weird but all kinds of people have offered my wife work, and even a few jobs posted online that interest her... but the kicker is almost all of this work is very short hours stuff, odd hours, etc... at this rate she'll have full time employment via 10 different people/businesses (well, she's not actually working anywhere yet but things are lining up like that).

Wow, its good to know that people are prepared to employ non-Americans. It gives us all hope. If she has a few different jobs she shouldnt get bored either, there would be quite a bit of variation.

Freddy.....TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Better hurry with the last minute preparations!!!! so excited for ya!!!

Finally Filed Yesterday!!

Congratulations!!! Welcome to the waiting room

Hi again all! Just wanted to give a quick update. I went to Japan this past week, and on Friday, my fiancee and I came back to the states together We will be getting married this Friday!

Now time to start figuring out what we need to get together for her AoS and to get advance parole ... hopefully she can be eligible to travel outside the US by mid-September!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! So pleased for you and thanks for the update. Now you can begin your new life...together!!!

Mohammed:- TOMORROW!!!!!! You are nearly re-united

You must be sooooooooooooo excited!!!!!

Goodnight everyone! Need some sleep, had to take care of my mommy the whole night coz she's sick.

Sleep well Freddy you need to keep rested ready for your family reunion in 3 days!!!!!! Hope your Mum is better soon.

I received my biometrics appointment today!!! Yay! I am scheduled for June 1st.

IDK what is next or when I should be expecting it. *Off to check out some timelines!*

Yeahhhhh well done, congrats! You are moving!!

.....but I graduated today.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is so fantastic Aubrey!!!!! So pleased for you!!

Haha Dani, I hope you like it!!!!

For me I think the hardest part at times is how different food is, driving on the wrong side of the road/car and the odd word that in Australia means something totally different.

For the most bit however I have found people here have been really friendly to me and "love my accent" and want to hear more about where I am from

Yeah, I think the American family will be surprised at how different the language is when my British family come to visit. I try not to use those words so they're going to see just how British I can be.

I have a pretty normal accent as far as being English goes, but the ol' Yanks love it. One thing I can't get used to is the volume levels.. we always get Americans over here shouting to each other, no matter where they are, and it's the same in the U.S, everyone seems to shout; and I always get told to speak up! But my volume is pretty normal, it's that ya'll used to shouting!

Congrats on the EAD! It's the same in the U.K with foreigners, I think.. people are generally quite friendly, but I have heard my housemates (who are Japanese and Turkish) say that they've experienced some negative things, apparantly when they hear your name (even if you have an English accent).

I know exactly how you feel.

I also find that so many words are the same but have different meanings. I sometimes feel really tired if I have been with a group of Americans as my brain has had to ignore the accent, listen to the words, translate to English and then I have to form a reply in English and then convert to American, all in seconds. Most of the time its ok but when they speak fast it really does seem a different language lol. But in the end it is quite naive of me to think Americans speak English as Americans speak American the clue is in the title lol.

Life is great though and I love our family being together, its all well worth it.

So we got no answer from USCIS again.... I am so surprised....

Seeing all these people who have been approved that applied at the start of this year is now starting to make me really depressed....

Hold on in there!!! You have a person who you can badger now, you didnt have that before. You are both so determined this contact name is a bonus, it is more than you had before. Come on guys, dont let them get you down, get even!! Its your NOA!!!!! you have done your time, now they owe it to you!!! KEEP FIGHTING!! you are almost there

Wow, everyone is doing so well!!! Congrats to those that have their visa and those that are with their loved ones. We are a fantastic family here. Glad to be part of it

Chelle - It's good to hear from you. I'm glad that you're doing well. All the best!

Jokalu - Congrats!!!

It's nice to hear that AOS is going so fast for everyone. I'll be there next month.

Jeremy just went through POE in Charlotte. He said he didn't have any problems Was in and out of immigration in 40 minutes. He'll be in San Francisco tonight!!!

I am so excited for you!!!! Your new life is just about to begin!!!

Some good news, the EAD card showed up today, apparently they print those a bit closer to home than the advance parole letter, it only took a day in the mail, and even better, Cherry likes the picture (unlike her state ID pic hehe). Time to start beatin the brush to see what kinda jobs are out there.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The first one there from the thread

Yay,Great,Aloe!

At least we got something from USCIS, I believe the biometrics letter will be in mailbox within this week for both you and me

Have my best.......

Hi..

For some reason I still have not received NOA yet for my application.. My check hasn't been cashed either... I'm starting to worry..

Help.. =(

Have you checked to see if they have received your documents? I am sure that you should hear something soon.

Good to hear from you Chelle !

For those who sent their AOS, how long did you wait before to receive the biometrics interview date ? It was by mail ?

Thanks

I received the biometrics appointment letter today in the mail. The NOA's arrived in the mail on 5th May, so took 9 days from the receipt of the NOA's.

Chelle62: Good to hear that everything has worked out All the best!!

Yeah, I just got my appointment letter today as well. I received NOA three days ago, and my appointment is at the end of May, gosh it is fast !

Wow, things are moving fast for you, good luck!

hi guys, i just wanna share my good news, finally our visas was approved yesterday!!!!! i' really happy, all this wait and stress was making me crazy, but now i see the other side of the way, Jenny i think you are the last, in the July thread? but may 22 is around the corner!!!! and i'm pretty sure that everything is ok, congrats for the news Mr&Mrs, OMG !!! a'm in the same direction!! love you guys

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Thats fantastic news!!!!! Well done, your life is now off of hold and you can continue, together

The wife's AP document showed up today... so we went online to check if the case numbers from AP and EAD would finally show up online (the AOS stuff is not very consistant in this regard) and both numbers worked finally... the AP was approved on the 7th and took a week to get to us... the EAD was approved on the 13th... so probably next thursday she'll have work authorization in hand. Time to get more seroius about the references for her resume and start hunting for jobs!

Wow thats fantastic!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

WOW so much has happened. Congrats to you all that have gotten married You must all be so happy to be with your loves after all the process. Keith and I are talking more and we are ok. We have no definate plans as of yet but I did put in for the extension and was granted it so we will see. He has until July to decide what he is going to do and if we need to we will ask for another one. We are staying positive and like I said talking so that is a good thing. Its been 5 months since he left me but we are back together and working towards our dreams.

This time apart has showed us both just how much we love each other and it has given him the time he needs to do what he needs to do. Now we know that if it is meant to be it will be. We will also not depend on anyone else to help us with the support , I will do that on my own. Right now I am like 200 dollars short for the years income ... I am trying to find another part time job to go with the one I have along with child support so I am sure it will happen when the time is right.

I have moved into a sweet little cottage, its so cute and I have planted flowers out front so its very homey. I am working and I am working on myself now. I found out that I am alot stronger then I knew. Yes I wanted to give up but my love for Keith is so much stronger then I ever knew that I couldnt just give up without at least trying to work us out. He is doing ok and everyday sounds more like him own self. I love him and have forgiven for all and the past is in the past and the future is all there is in front of us.

I hope one day to post on here that he is back with me and have a wedding picture to share with you all. Its been a hard road but ya know what ... LOVE is worth it

again I am happy for you all and I want to still be apart of you all in this forum cause I do belong here so I am back and I wont give up as long as I can breathe I will continue to fight for what I want

hugs to you all

Love

Chelle

Chelle it is so good to hear from you again and to hear that not everything is lost for you. You both sound as though you are under a lot less stres and are working through this glitch together which is great. We have high hopes for the both of you and feel that now you have time, space, each other and renewed communications that nothing is out of your reach if you work together and want it bady enough.

Please keep posting here, you are part of our family and we care what is happening with you in your life.

So Chris went to an appointment today at USCIS to find out why we once again have no NOA1.....

After seeing 3 people and being progressively passed up the ranked he finally had an interview with the Chief of Staff of USCIS, who proceeded to tell him that he had no idea what was up with our case, nor what was happening. But he did tell us (and this I like) that it was rubbish that we didn't know anything and that its really not fair that we know nothing. So he proceeded to give Chris his number and email (and his assistants as well) and let him know that he would look into our case and that we should have our NOA2 (be it approved or denied) by the end of the week. I really hope its true, but I ain't getting my hopes up about it, I will believe it when I am holding that piece of paper in my hands.

Donna grats on your Visas hun Im glad things are finally working out for you.

This sounds like a great move forward. I am going to be positive and say.....please let us know when it arrives. Its about time you had some luck and it sounds like this guy is gonna kick some butt