woki1986

My interview is on March 4th for immigration to The States. (I can see that Cass Errol's already on the list - my Fiancee)

I was going half mad waiting for the letter, now it's here, I'm getting panicky. I'm so worried I'm going to stuff it up after waiting for so very long.

Those of you who have had your interviews, how was it?

I'm a bit frustrated over my medical situation.

I admitted that I self harmed in 2004 on my questionnaire, and have a letter that my doctor has to sign, or, one of the doctors at the practice I go to. I went to see one of them today and he said that he felt he wasn't qualified to sign the letter the Knightsbridge doctor has given me. By the time I had my appointment Knightsbridge was already closed for the day, so now I'll have to call back from work in the morning to make sure I understood exactly what I have to do.

If I can't get my doctor to sign about the two underlined sentences that basically say that chances are I won't self-harm again or that I likely won't need psychiatric help later on in life... I'll have to have a complete assessment, and I have no idea how / where I'd get one done.

It's turning into a bit of a nightmare.

All of this so that Knightsbridge can send my completed medical info to the Embassy.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to be too honest. They go by the information you give them and the test results that they take. They don't check anything. They don't ask your doctor's name. If you don't tell them they won't know.

Well I just thought if I didn't tell them and they noticed, it would be worse for me, so I told them. Well I'm trying to get a signature but I'm going to try one of the other doctors and see what happens. I just don't want this to get in the way of everything after getting over it in the first place and then having a chance to be happy, only to let it get in my way.

I'm a bit frustrated over my medical situation.

I admitted that I self harmed in 2004 on my questionnaire, and have a letter that my doctor has to sign, or, one of the doctors at the practice I go to. I went to see one of them today and he said that he felt he wasn't qualified to sign the letter the Knightsbridge doctor has given me. By the time I had my appointment Knightsbridge was already closed for the day, so now I'll have to call back from work in the morning to make sure I understood exactly what I have to do.

If I can't get my doctor to sign about the two underlined sentences that basically say that chances are I won't self-harm again or that I likely won't need psychiatric help later on in life... I'll have to have a complete assessment, and I have no idea how / where I'd get one done.

It's turning into a bit of a nightmare.

All of this so that Knightsbridge can send my completed medical info to the Embassy.

To MattHeartCass---

We were much like you on the K3. Nick had planned a trip to the US for a few weeks around the 4th of July not knowing when the NOA2 approval would come through. So as it played out, it looked like it was possible an interview could be granted before or in the middle of his trip. So he included a cover letter with the Packet 3 returned items listing what was sent. Then in bold this statement:

Please can you schedule an interview appointment from July 15 onwards as I will be unable to attend prior to that date. (July 15 was a week after his return so he would have time to prepare and make London plans if the appointment letter arrived while he was away.)

The interview appointment letter arrived before his trip, but the appointment date was July 31. I believe we had stated an August travel date (about 6 weeks earlier than the real date). I'm sure they scheduled him based on the cover letter request because the others with our same timeline all interviewed late June or first week of July. He wanted to have the visa in hand before giving a month's notice at work. Then he wanted to have time to spend preparing for the move and selling off things without having to go to work. It worked out well not being in a super rush.

And there should be no problem getting in the country if you haven't overstayed before. They don't know at the airport immigration line that you have appled for anything. I personally asked that question of the US officer when I went through. It is perfectly normal to be coming to spend Christmas with your loved one. You can say boyfriend or girlfriend. If they asked if you are engaged or going to marry, then say "yes, after my K1 visa goes through." The people turned away often are coming for the full 90 days, multiple times a year. They are unemployed and aren't in school. They draw suspicion. But a person with a job to return to, coming for a short Christmas visit is not likely to draw much extra questioning.

Thank you Nich-Nick for your reply. It's just a worry I have. I haven't written a travel date yet but we're planning it for around May time next year, so it's going to be a long while. I'm thinking that sort of time frame because I'd need time to sell things that I have and to tie up at work and everything, plus a few extra months of income would be useful, too.

I last went out there in march for two weeks and I'm going out there for a month this time and there is no way we are going to marry until the visa goes through. Thanks, it's made me feel a lot better about everything

The visa is good for 6 months. That is certain...no worries there. Would you want to move to the states by Christmas? or do you need to come back before leaving again? If so, you can put on the checklist that you wish to have a January interview date and I can get that you will get one. We got notice of ours yesterday that it is in 10 days, which we are very happy about but if you want to insure that you do not get scheduled while you are away I would put a date for later in January to be sure. There are so many people wanting to have December interviews, I am sure that the Embassy will be happy to schedule one for a later date.

I'm going over there for christmas and then coming back home to the UK and returning to work. I intend to come back. Mm hmm. At the moment I'm just worried that Customs won't let me in because I'm going for the K1 visa... on top of getting an interview scheduled for while I'm actually away.

We've always planned/hoped that we'd get me over there somewhen around May, we expected that everything would take a while to get done: Getting the forms, having the medical and everything else, which it actually has. So while we want to be together (and not have to part again) as soon as we can, getting everything sorted so that this can take place takes a lot of work.

We figured that the longer I can actually work while in possession of the visa (in the UK before I move to the States), 3,4,5 months - would help gather up some more savings that would help enormously once I actually get there.

Congratulations on getting your interview date

I didn't make myself clear there - I mean I got the letter from my employer saying I'm going back to work after my holiday.

Once the visa is issued you have 6 months to use it so you can get an interview at any time and still make your deadline. The London Embassy typically schedules interviews based on the dates that you put on the checklist. Is Dec 5th, the expiration date for your NOA2? I would just make sure that you get your packet 3 and checklist in by then to be on the safe side. If you have an interview in December or January, your visa would be good until June or July depending on when your interview is...

The NOA 2 expires in... I think it was December 5th.

I was sure that it's 4 months :S I've read that the visa lasts for 4 months instead of 6 on one of the embassy websites.

I'm actually planning to go there on holiday over christmas and I've got a letter from my employer to state that I am going back to work after that date. I know that I could still be turned away once I get there but we just want to spend christmas together.

I have all of the paperwork that I need, I got my police certificates last week as well.

I'm worried that I'll get a letter while I'm away as well - If I'm not stopped entering the US.

Ah, that's good then. I gave the checklist a quick glance - didn't notice those two parts with the expected marriage date / travel date.

I have a question about the sending of packet 3 and interview dates.

I've had my medical on the 12th of November but I have to have a letter signed by my doctor and the soonest appointment I can physically get is the 27th of November. I will be sending my packet 3 checklist back to the US embassy in London in a week or two, to get there before December 5th.

Is there any chance that I'd have an interview scheduled for December or January? I'm actually hoping it's a little later - I'm hoping to be moving out there (pending the result of the visa interview of course) around April/May sort of time.

If you're all getting your interviews in December, when did you all send off your final checklist to your embassy's?

I'm going to be sending mine soon but I hope I don't get an interview for December, would rather January or February. February because it would actually work out better with work.

What's the time line on returning checklists into London and getting an interview scheduled?

The smoking question is no big deal at all, seeing as my husband is a full time smoker and answered truthfully and had no problems at all.

As for the self harm, I wouldn't ever lie, but if you didn't have treatment, they have no proof that you self harmed at all. Unless they see the scars and question it. Honesty is the best policy tho, I've seen a few people have to go to further doctors after the medical to double check they won't self harm again.

I wish you the best of luck!

It's on my medical record, I went to see my doctor about it to talk about it. I wasn't referred anywhere else but it was noted that I went to see him. I'd rather be honest about my past. If I lie and it's found out it's worse than telling them the truth, at least that's how I think about it. If I have to go to another doctor that's fair enough. I've never felt the way that I did at that time. I used to have a really really short fuse and it didn't take a lot for me to feel uncomfortable or upset. Now I have a lot of patience and I think about things and everything. Even if I do get frustrated or angry or upset at things, I don't think about self harm. It doesn't even enter my mind. It's a part of my life that isn't in my life any more.

The question about using tobacco would be about whether you were a smoker for any period of time rather just a once off try.

For the self harm question...were you ever hospitalized or did you receive treatment? Obviously no one is going to tell you to lie...and you shouldn't. Explaining that to the doctor might be the best case.

No, I never went into a hospital and didn't need treatment. The marks themselves were cuts but they weren't like some that you see. Think of larger paper cuts and that's what they were.

Mm. I know that no-one is going to tell me to lie. I'm just worried that that one period of my life is going to stop me from being happy and being with who I want to be with.

Thank you for your reply.

moved from K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures to US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

Topics relating to I-134's, packets sent from consulate and medical & police certificates should be posted here.

It's that and the interview itself, but, ok. Sorry for posting in the wrong place.

Hello,

This is perhaps my first or second post here. My fiance and I have been applying for my visa to the US, and I got my letter from the US Embassy in London last week.

I have been looking up details on the medical and have been looking through the sheet that I have to fill in and take with me. I have a concern with one or two of the questions: 4 and 11. (Have you used tobacco and have you deliberately harmed yourself or others.)

Tobacco wise, I tried smoking some 5 years ago at the age of 18 and I didn't like it. I haven't used it since then.

As for question 11... Around the same time while I was at college, a friend of mine died. I was in a very dark place and as a result I self harmed. I actually used a sharpener blade on my right arm. They weren't very large, a few centimetres across. I can't remember how many times I actually did it... Once or twice. So I have a row of very faint, small scars on my arm just at where my arm bends.

I pulled myself out of that. I'm now 23 and I'm mentally a very different person to who I am now. I didn't have a mental problem, I just mean that I've changed in the in between time. Does that make sense to anyone? I've changed myself and become a different person.

I haven't self harmed at all since that time, I haven't harmed anyone else and I'm perfectly fine. What's worrying me is that I have to declare this at my medical. I am not going to hide the fact. I know that they'll look at my arms and while they are hard to see, they could be seen under the right light. I'm worried that they will deny my application for a visa because of all of this. It was 5 years ago and I have changed and matured in that time. I also didn't intend to lie about it.

Has anyone else had this worry? I'd really appreciate some advice.