LMB

Yeah - there's definitely something afoot here. LMB's experience makes me think this is now what they want done - but I guess we won't really know until the interview and whether or not there are any issues.

So here's the update. I went to the embassy this morning. Visa approved!!!

While I was there I noticed the DS-15xx forms were in my file at the top of the pile. These were obviously being used for this final part of the process. I was asked for photos and these were clipped to the forms.

This means the DS156 156K and 157 are still needed!

I would suggest anyone receiving packet 3 to make sure they go to this link: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/iv/iv_15.html

Follow these instructions AND the instructions on whatever weblink the embassy letter itself gives you, and send off all the forms.

Personally, I put a cover letter with my DS 15xx forms explaining that I thought there may have been a mistake in my original instructions on the packet 3 letter, and that I thought it best to send these as well, just in case.

Seems to have worked anyway!

Well, K1s should see some of those forms again, because one of the DS forms gets signed in front of the consular officer. If you don't see it again, then you know they didn't use it -- might be a good time to do some intel for us here on VJ and make a comment/ask a question about the "change" to the instruction packet and see what they say.

Will you then also be preparing a I134 and I864 (as that seems to be requested for the immigrant visa)?

I'll try to report/update anything I discover on 14th after the interview.

We prepared the I134 only at this point (with co-sponsor as my fiance is a grad student and no regular income till next year).

Still seems that the I864 is only needed at AOS stage (I read a clear note on the webpage links they sent me that states 864 is not needed for the K1).

My fiance received packet 3 from the London embassy on Aug 15, with the SAME link you are referencing. Maybe its a new process? If you get any more information about this I would be very interested.

I have no idea what the correct procedure is. I mailed off the packet of DS156/156k/157 forms the following day as a precaution anyway with a cover letter saying that I wasn't sure if there had been a mistake, and that I had called the helpline. This is a race for us as we have planned our wedding on Oct 3 so I didn't want to waste any time with potential mistakes. A week after (Aug 24) I recevied my interview letter scheduled for Sept 14. There was no mention of the forms/packet 3 being correct or incorrect. But so far it's all falling into place as long as there are no problems or delays are the interview! Cutting it close but I'm keeping a positive outlook. We made it this far which I didn't think we would get to!

My gut feeling says it's a mistake and you should follow the K1 directions http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/iv_15.html

For one thing the page sent you is for an immigrant visa where documents would have been processed at NVC...like CR1 or IR1. You are getting a NON-immigrant visa.

Back when there were paper packets sent out, the whole packet 3 was called the IV-15..about 10 pages of instructions with a checklist. Maybe when you said IV15, she was thinking of the old paper form. They've sent out wrong forms before. Somebody here got the Packet 4 instructions instead of Packet 3. It was called the IV19 back when they sent out paper packets instead web links. That was prior to Jan '09.

Thank you.

Yes, I noticed it said immigrant visa instead of K non-immigrant visa, and that's another thing that worried me.

I think you are right. I'll try calling one more time tomorrow to see if I get a clearer explanation, but will send out the documents as per the K1 instructions web page anyway. I have no desire to have their mistake hold up my application!

Hi

I am so happy to have received packet 3 today. However I am really confused.

I am applying for the K-1 fiancee visa (not the K3).

My letter gave me a link to a US embassy London web page which details the instructions and forms to fill out.

My concern is that it is a different page to the one I had seen during my (weeks of waiting!) and research. I was of the understanding that checklist & IV-15, along with DS 156 156k and 157 were needed.

This link informs me ONLY to return DS 2001 with checklist; and the DS 230 part 1.

It tells me to collect the police certificates, medical stuff etc to bring to the interview.

There is NO information anywhere on this page regarding the other forms DS 156 / 156k / 157.

I called the expensive helpline, and the lady simply said that the DS 2001 and DS 230 part 1 are all I should send in.

The other forms should be brought with me and the instructions should be on the web page. She told me the IV-15/checklist was the OLD form used.

I thanked her and hung up thinking I may have just missed the information about the 156 16k and 157. But I STILL can't see that anywhere on the link provided to me http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/iv/ds2001.html

Has there been a mistake or has anyone else been asked to submit the DS 2001 and not the IV-15?

And what do I do about the other forms? Just fill them in anyway and bring to the interview (assuming I don't get some other instructions later).

Lastly my letter also instructed me to return everything by asap because the Program ends Sept 30th. I hadn't heard anyone else mention this kind of deadline before. Of course everything is going back well before Sept 30, but I'm wondering if it's normal, or what it would mean?!

Thanks for any help or advice anyone has!

Hi Thanks for raising this. I'm the beneficiary in the UK, and just waiting for packet 3 to arrive. The sponsor and co-sponsor (his father) are right now preparing the affidavits. I am keen to know the answer to this too so we can make sure they are filled in correctly!

just to add to the topic, do you know if we are supposed to tick yes we want the SSN on the DS230 part II?

I read that they will not issue an SSN for K-1, and that we need to apply in person after arrival / marriage.

So do we just tick no for 43a and then 43b content to disclosure? Or do we tick yes, but let them choose to ignore it because it's not applicable?

link to the form from London site, for easy reference http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/81807.pdf

Scroll to bottom.

thanks if you have any info to share!

Thanks for your response.

I'm the USC, just to be clear. I filed the I-129f on behalf of my British fiance.

I appreciate the heads up about the webcast on Thursday. If anyone else has gone through London with a co-sponsor and can speak to this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

- Nancy

Just came across this on the official US embassy London website. Might be useful for any visa questions you need answers for:

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/index.html

VISA WEBCHAT 13 August 2009

U.S. Visas's and You: Your questions Answered

A Consular Officer from our Visa section will be on hand to answer your visa questions at 14:00 BST on Thursday, 13 August 2009. This is your chance to get plain-English answers on those visa issues on which you are unsure.

Please note that for privacy reasons we cannot accept case-specific questions but you are welcome to provide a generic question.

If you would like to participate in these webchats, please go to https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/london . No registration is needed. Simply choose "Enter as a Guest," type in your preferred screen name, and join the discussion. We accept questions and comments in advance of, and at any time during, the program.

There are a number of countries that will only send the police certificate to the embassy, so I don't think you're going to have any problems there. You might want to wait until your petition has been approved and sent to the embassy before you apply though, so they have a case to match it up with.

As for timing, I didn't have all my documents when I returned the checklist, but I had applied for them all and was reasonably certain of having them. Interviews at London seem to be taking between 4 to 8 weeks at the minute. That could change by the time you're ready though.

Packet 3 will be a letter basically telling you to go to this webpage and to follow the instructions (don't click the links at the top, they go to an older page).

Packet 4 will be another letter advising you of your appointment date with a bit of info about the interview and a map to the embassy. You'll get this after submitting your forms and checklist.

Thank you for the information. Hong Kong authority needs to recieve a copy of the letter from the NVC requesting me for the certificate, which is so annoying because I can't prepare it ahead of time, and will definitely delay the process :-(

The link especially is very helpful. thanks.

Hi,

My K-1 will (eventually!) be processed in London. I have 2 questions related to the Police Certificates.

1) I need to obtain a police certificate from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong authority has a clear process outlined on the website which is great, however I noticed that they need to receive a copy of the letter from the relevant embassy before they can issue any certificate.

I wanted to know if receiving the police certificates is one of the requirements to complete before you can send back "packet 3"? (Not entirely clear what makes up packet 3 and packet 4; and want to know how long I might have to delay sending packet 3 i this police record takes some time).

2) The Hong Kong website also states that they will only send it directly to the (US) embassy, and not to me. It's my understanding that we need to collect everything and take it to the interview, not have the required documents sent separately to the embassy (where I'm sure it would get lost if not following the requested procedure).

Has anyone encountered the same problem that the certificate was not sent to them directly, but to the embassy?

Any problems with this, or advice?!

Many thanks!

Can't you just get extra pages put into your current passport? I'm sure I have heard of this being done- never needed to do it myself though.

May be an option to look into. Seems like it would be much easier then trying to mess around with a new passport application and having a different passport at the interview.

Thanks. It would definitely be preferred, but UK stopped the option of adding pages several years ago... :-(

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's a problem to renew a (UK) passport after the K-1 application process has begun? ie is it a problem that my current passport number was provided in the application, but a new passport would have a different number (even though I could/would have both passports in my possession at the interview)?

I have received the NOA1 and now waiting for the NOA2. My new passport would arrive before the post-NOA2 requirements commence.

My current passport is still valid for 3 more years however it is very full. It has just enough room for a US visa and a couple more country entry/exit stamps, BUT I would like to do some more travelling in the months before the visa process is completed which may mean there is no more room for a US K-1 visa or entry stamps when the process is finalised (and obviously I do not want to risk that!).

Thanks for any advice...

I am wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to visit the US for a week on the VWP, and leave again, AFTER the K-1 visa has been issued in your passport?

I understand that the K-1 can only be used to enter once. But is there any way to use the VWP to enter for a short visit, return to home country, then later on enter using the K-1, with the intention to marry and apply for AOS?

I am from the UK and will return there for the next few months while waiting for K-1. I expect/ hope it would be issued in August (all going smoothly).

I have a good friend's wedding early September in the US, and my grandmother's 80th birthday 2 weeks later back in the UK. My own wedding is planned for early October in the US.

I do not want to miss my friend's wedding, nor my grandmother's landmark birthday, so ideally I would like to go into the US as a visitor, then go back to to the UK for the birthday, and after that come to the US to settle.

Is this possible if I already have been issued the K-1?!