Alex&Brittany

thanks for the helpful and supportive posts, i'll ask for this to be closed now as things are gearing past factual and heading towards personal.

To those who have offered their factual support or kind words, thanks for your time

well, there is no cautionary tale here unfortunatley, the situation is at it is financially through no fault of our own... as my wife was the only person able to work, she was involved in a major car accident and was rendered unable to work, followed by a series of no support from her employer, followed by now numerous ONGOING legal cases which don't end quickly, not to mention to amount of time it will take my wife to heal... the money we had saved... has helped us keep a roof over our head and food. for those who are thinking it, the car wreck was not her fault.

Im not willing to go into it in any more detail, but we are where we are and I'm trying to find the best solution.

Baron555, we're getting to the point now where we are going to be able to apply for the AoS, if I had to wait an extra month to save for an attorney IF it was the right thing to do, then I would have worked it out somehow.

I guess it goes down to what Sisj said, you never know what situation people are in.

-1

Why is it only men that "bring over" "wifey." Not everyone here is a man who looks for wives in foreign countries online, and plenty of women are the sponsor for their husband's immigration.

Strange you mention this, as the OP, I am a male and my wife was my sponsor to come to the US, and... we did have plenty of money saved up for the poster who wwas talking about not planning, however, as my OP set out, there are personal reasons as to why we had financial difficulties, and it was not from bad planning... I don't want to list out the reasons, but they are more than valid.

as for everything else, yeah I thought the medical might run us a few hundred, but that's great news about not needing the police records again.

And thanks for letting me know its a civil surgeon that would have to complete the medical, I can get quotes now (and yes...indeed so they can make the monthly payment on their lexus lol)

thanks just bob,

Im guessing my original medical and police certificates will have expired by now too huh ?

Will I need to get new medical and police records, like when applying for the K1 ?

thankyou for all your replies, you have made 2 very worried people very happy today

but given the timeframe its taken me to apply for my AOS, is that going to be an issue ? should I get myself an attorney ?

Hi All

I'm in the US on a K1 visa, and we married within the 90 days no problem

However since then, alot of personal events have occured which I wont detail, but all in all, due to financial difficulty, we havent been able to apply for my AOS and EAD yet

Here's the biggy, we have been married almost 1 year in Feb.... but we still havent been able to afford the AOS and EAD>

I spoke to a paralegal who advised me they never heard of an AOS being rejected from length of time taken to apply, but she had only seen cases up to 1a couple of months after the marriage.

Anyone have any advice for us ?

We are basically wanting to get me eligible to work, however we can do that, should I still go after my AOS and EAD or is there some other method ? or is it all together fubar'd ?

Thanks for any time anyone gives to this subject.

Hi all,

I'm currently working on my paperwork to submit my Adjustment of Status and have a question regarding the medical section

After my approval at the London Consulate I was given two sealed and stamped brown envelopes,

One was for the immigration officer which obv now I don't have having entered, the other I believe contains my medical results, chest xray and form I-693

The instructions for adjustment of status say I don't need to submit chest xray, I only need to submit the I-693

Does this mean I open the sealed medical results envelope to gain access to my I-693 and only submit that ?

I know it sounds simple, but as it's sealed and stamped, I daren't open it unless I have to get to my I-693, otherwise I might have to submit the entire medical envelope including chest xrays

Thanks so much advance for any help !

Hi

the tickets aren't refundable,

The lady at the embassy said that I was going it all in plenty of time to make the 9th they didn't seem at all phased that I had already booked the flights and they even asked me about who I was flying with as a point of interest.

Anyone help ?

Hi all

I went for my interview at the embassy on Thursday 19th November, and then had my medical in the afteroon,

At the time of the interview I told the lady that I had my flights booked for Wednesday 9th December (this wednesday coming)

The embassy received my medical results (which I passed) on the 24th November

I have called the embassy helpline (the £1.20 a minute) and they just say my case is open and it hasn't bee 'sent to print' yet...

Unless I get the passport back by tuesday, I am going to lose my flights and not be able to make the journey !!

Can anyone please help , and let me know if there is anything I can do to let the embassy know that I need this back by Tuesday ?!

Please help !

Thanks

Alex

Hi all

Yesterday I had my interview and Medical experience in London at the US Embassy and Knightsbridge doctors (Basil Street)

I travelled down to the London the night before, and stayed in a hotel so I could be up early and raring to go

I didn't get much sleep as I was really nervous about the day coming up, but had my fiance on the laptop with me all night to keep me sane, and she's my alarm clock too, so woke me up right on time.

I got up to find I had forgotten my hairdryer, disaster, as the hotel didn't have one, which meant I couldn't wash my hair (its quite long) so that left me feeling a little unorganized for the day... but nevertheless, I left the hotel....

Getting to the embassy was reasonably easy, considering how busy the tubes were in the morning, I arrived approx 1 hour before my 10am appointment, and spoke to the gentlemen by the information stand outside the embassy who directed me toward Gould Pharmacy, where I could store all my electronic items. It was only 2 mins walk (if that) from the front of the embassy.

I had my laptop, mp3 player, phone etc... they charged me £3 for the electronic items, and a further £3 for the bag. Strange cos I'd heard they charge £10 ? Must have been brought down. The guys inside were very good at making sure you didnt have anything left on you that wasn't allowed by the embassy, and made you feel safe your items would be well looked after. They have a tabled section in the pharmacy where they have information on what the service offers, and they sit down with you there and talk through it all with you, it's more than just giving it to them over the counter and they hand you back a ticket, I was quite impressed.

Anyways... off to the embassy I go, cigarette shakingly in hand ! lol

There is a queue, but it's very short, firstly I was asked at the very front of the embassy to show my passport and appointment letter, then asked to transfer any jewelry, change and belts into my bag that I had with me (if you dont have a bag they provide you with a clear plastic bag), I was then asked if I had any electronic items, which I didnt)

You then move up to the next part of the entrance, where someone checks your passport again, and your appointment letter, then directs you through the small booth outside the embassy where I went through a security check (very much like airport security, put all ur stuff in a tray, then walk through a metal detector)

Once through security, you walk around the side of the embassy following the signs for 'Visas' , I passed a small smoking shelter on the way round so stopped off for another quick one, knowing I wouldn't get any nicotine for a while...

Once inside the visa department, I queued at a welcome desk where an embassy employee checked my passport and appointment letter, printed my 'number' sticker and attached it to my letter. They then ask you to go take a seat upstairs and wait for your number to be called.

When you get into the waiting room, it's bustling with people, and the noise only dampens to hear the automated announcements of numbers and window allocations. (" I567 to Window 8 please " ) etc...

Note: At this point you realise that theres a two letter system, Nxxx and Ixxx, my number was I868. The N numbers move faster as I presume they are for non immigrant visas, and the I numbers for immigrant visas (not much sense needed to figure that one out lol... )

As I was saying, my number was I868, as I sat down, they called I859, so I felt good there wasn't too many ahead of me.

So I sat......... and sat............. and sat some more............. and then sat some more................ (about 2 hours all in all waiting) and finally, I was called to window 13 (EEEK UNLUCKY NUMBER! WHY ME!) Where a young british chap was waiting, he asked me about the type of visa I was applying for, gave me a payment form and then asked me to go to window 12 to make payment for it and come straight back to window 13...

several $'s later...

The guy then asked me had I had the medical, to which I replied, I have it booked for this afternoon, which he said was fine and asked for the following:

Passport

My Birth Certificate & Copy

Police Certificate & Copy

Visa Photos

Affidavit of Support & Evidence

For the affidavit of support, we used a joint sponsor.

The documents I submitted for the Affidavit of support are as follows

i134 from fiance

fiances letter of employment

fiances bank statement

i134 from co sponsor (not a family member, and does not live in same state)

letter of employment from co sponsor

letter from bank from co sponsor

So I was then told that I had the required documents, but I had to go through an interview with a consular officer (which I knew was going to happen, but I didn't want to play the know it all, so I listened VERY intently to any instructions I was given)

I had to go sit back in the waiting room, and wait for my number to be called again...

So I sat...........and I sat.......... oh you know where this going...

Almost 2 hours later, I was called back up to window 15, where a very pleasant US lady was waiting for me, I greeted her with a smile but she could tell I was nervous, but I guess thats what they expect...

I was asked a number of questions about my application, and my relationship...

A good tip is to keep a copy of your original application to UCSIS and remember every peice of information you wrote on it, as you will be asked about it at the embassy, I nearly struggled remembering the month I met my fiance lol....

From what I can remember, I was asked at least the following

How did you and your fiance meet?

When did you meet in person for the first time?

What happened with your relationship after you met in person for the first time?

How much time have you been spending in the US this year ?

Did you propose to your fiance?

Did you get her a ring?

Has your fiance ever been to the UK to visit you?

When are you traveling to the US ?

When is the wedding?

Where is the wedding ?

Where do you plan to live ?

What does fiance do for work ?

What do you do for work ?

Have you handed your notice in at work?

Have either of you been married before ?

Do you either of you have any children ?

After answering that barrage of questions, some of which I wasn't prepared for but just told the truth and kept my answers short and simple, the lady said as I haven't had the medical yet, they will hold on to my passport until they get the results, and courier the passport with the visa in it, and a big brown envelope full of my application documents that must remain sealed and present it to the Immigration Officer at the port of entry in the united states.

APPROVED !!

A sigh of relief ran through my body, and I could only have been happier if my fiance was sat next to me... throughout the whole embassy experience, even if you KNOW for a fact that you have all the requirements, you still get extremely nervous, but it all works out

Part II

Medical Examination

I had my medical as basil street in London, not the knightsbridge practice

I found the building ok, no problem there, is down the side of harrods, and then along the road a little bit

I was greeted by a cheerful secretary who took my passport photocopy, my vaccination records, and then my medical questionnaire

I was then told to wait in the waiting room. A short while after the secretary brought me a questionnaire to fill in which I returned to her having filled it out.

I was then taken through to have my chest xray, a very scary lady who was very demanding of me took it, I had to take my shirt off and put on one of those hospital gowns.

After the xray, I was shown to another waiting room where I waited around an hour to be told I needed two vaccinations... well, the NHS are going to give me them for free so I didn't bother paying for them... i was told confirmation from my GP was enough for the adjustment of status process.

So I went in to see the doctor, Dr Sayeed, a very pleasant young lady who made the medical experience a little more relaxing.

I was asked questions about my medical history such as, had I ever been hospitalized etc...

Then I took an eye chart exam (reading the big to small letters)

Then I had my blood pressure taken

Then a throat and ear examination, followed by checking I was a guy (yup, the only way how) and then I had my blood taken.

That was it, that was all I had to do for the medical, I paid £190 and was sent on my way knowing the results will be with the embassy by tuesday next week

So All in all, a good experience, but it was a nerve wrecking one all the same... But nothing to worry about.

The coolest part of my trip (apart from getting the approval) was seeing the armed gaurds with MP5s outside the embassy (sorry, I'm a guy... lol)

If anyone has any questions please post up, otherwise I hope you have enjoyed reading, and I hope this helps a few of you prepare for your interview and medical experience.

Woodger

Hey everyone

How easy is it to re-shedule your appoitment at the Embassy in london

I may need to delay it 4 days, is this possible ? It is a situation outside of my control i.e. work will not allow me that specific day off

Thanks for any help you can offer

alex

Hi all

We've hit a little snag filling in the i-134 affidavit of support forms

My fiances Mother is going to be my co-sponsor but is worried that her income alone might not meet the requirements

However, her husband and her file their taxes together, and we're wondering what she should put down as her annual income, as together their household income as a married couple is much higher than her inidividual income

Please could someone advise on the way forward

Is their something to with filing taxes together as a married couple and what you declare on the i-134 ?

Thanks so much to anyone who can help

We got Approved !

hard Copy NOA2 received dated 25th August, which is when we got 'touched' but the online wasn't updated, still says pending.

WOOOHOOOOOO !!!

we're so happy :)

Mailed: 29/5

NOA1: 01/06

NOA2: 25/08

took em less than 3 months way to go UCSIS

PS. Admin still havent fixed the error with my timeline, i'm sorry guys I still can't update

Hi there people

Is it possible to file for an EAD after the marriage BEFORE i file for the AOS ?

I know it costs more in the long run cos ur EAD app isn't free, but we're trying to save money in the short term ?

Any help is much appreciated

Regards

Alex

We also got a touch 08/25/09 We have the same timeline, sent 29/5 NOA1 June 1st

Wooohoooo come on June Filers !!

hehee, not too long now fellow filers, igors list processing times keeps gettin faster

I wonder who'll be up first

I hope the London Embassy isn't too busy towards the end of the year, I'd love to be with my fiance for Christmas and Thanksgiving

ive also noticed the mid may filers, fairs well for us for sure not long now, I expect early june filers to start getting approved beggining of September

Hang in there friend, it will come sooner or later...we're all in the same boat...its difficult....just as me and Nigel say...."KEEP WORKING AND EARNING THEM SHECKLES!" hehehe...your money's worth more than American money so get savin'!!

Must say I had to chuckle at this thankyou, brightened up my morning

What do I need to do with regards to informing the UCSIS if I change jobs (different company) or get made redundant whilst the K1 application is processing

I am the beneficiary, not the petitioner

May 29th - Mailed in I-129F

Jun 1st - Money Order Cashed

awaiting - NOA1

I'll put myself into this Group now

Myself and Brittany filed 29/5 but western union report money order cashed June 1st

I-129F Package sent - 29th May 2009

Money Order Cashed - June 1st 2009

NOA1 Received - ........