chicagok1

Hi All,

We got the visa in hand this week and my fiancee describes her experience (in her words) below:

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Finally got my K1 visa in hand yesterday. I am not a UK citizen - I have been in London for a year on a work permit. So here is a short summary of my experience so that all of you in a similar situation can relax... well, at least a bit.

The initial getting-into-London-embassy part went off without a hitch thanks to tips from VJ-ers. After a really long wait, got to the first document collection window. All the lady at that window wanted was my passport, interview letter, police certificates, birth certificate and support documentation (I-134, bank statements and last year's tax return all from my fiance). She looked through my passport at all my visas. I had a previous US business visitor (B1) visa, a US student (F1) visa and a current UK work permit visa. She paused at the F1 and asked me if I am a student in the US. I said I was before, but graduated in 2007. She bookmarked it anyway. She also checked to make sure that my UK work permit visa is valid. Since I had submitted photocopies of some documents, she said I will get my originals back after the interview, and gave me my X-Ray from the medical.

After another really long wait, I got called to the interview window. The friendly american visa officer asked me just four questions:

1. Where did you meet your fiance? (I said we went to college together years ago.)

2. Is that the <US University Name on my F1 visa>? (I said no, before that. During undergrad in India.)

3. What does your fiance do? (I told him the job title.)

4. Are you still a student at <US University Name on my F1 visa>? (I repeated my earlier answer to the lady: Was, but graduated in 2007.)

And that was it, no further questions, no more proof shown, though I had the usual tons of documentation - photos, boarding passes, emails, phone records etc - with me. On the 9th day after the interview, I got my passport with visa and the package for the immigration officer in courier. And they have stamped "Cancelled without prejudice" on my previous US visas.

Like I said, I'm happy and proud to live in the USA. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Small Business owners do quite well there, so it's probably best you stay here. You realize that since the dollar has gone up, all of those amounts I quoted about median house price and median salary (per person) are much higher.

Just remember which of the G20 was the first to increase their interest rate. Their savings account are paying up to 4.5% interest.

uh.....na, i think he's more needed here in the good ol' US of A

I would need to clone a good 5,000 booyahs to make any progress. My friend is Syrian and his family has done well in AUS. Started from nothing as well.

I must say that all rankings are shmankings...I have been in the UK (ranked number 1 in your list) and the standard of living to me appeared to be far below US standards. Everything is tiny - houses, cars........

Give me the good ol' USA any day (I do admit we have major problems like health care etc. but I won't trade this country for any other...booyah or otherwise:))

Got the NOA 2 email today!

Received NOA 1

Just filed. Fingers crossed