ali.bobby

NArocks: Seems like this forum interferes with the links. Here's the URL again - ***removed***/forum/showthread.php?t=5691 - or, if it messes that up, just google "family based immigration life during 221".

luzhok: Yeah... but thankfully not quite so bad... ;-)

MrsJibowu: That or having a family connection to a country on their watch list... And thanks for the link. I'll definitely take a look.

Anyone else out there like to share their AP/221(g) story?

Bobby

That's a good question. My wife handled all of my visa paperwork - she wants to train as an immigration lawyer, so I figured she could do with the practice... (she's ended up getting more than she bargained for, but that's another story!)

I'll ask her how she did it and get back to you.

Bobby

I could write 435 pages about this subject

Interesting that you should say that. When I started researching what AP was all about, I briefly thought it'd be interesting to write an blog article about it. I felt it's something that needed to be brought to people's attention, seeing as it's such a crazy situation with absolutely nobody to hold accountable, no time limits, and nowhere to get information about your case, and where most people who get put into it have NO idea that it can happen before they go to the interview. (I know I didn't, and I spent *ages* researching the interview in advance...)

Bobby

I had something similar when I was filling in my bio sheet. I used to work full time at a company whilst technically contracted to another, with a different address. I don't know if there's a right or wrong answer to this, but I put down the latter as that's what the paperwork I have would show, if anyone asked to see it.

Hope that helps,

Bobby

--- NOTE: This is a copy of a thread that I posted a few days ago on the Family Based Immigration website forum - http://***removed***/forum/sh...read.php?t=5691 - but since it didn't get too many answers there, and this bulletin board seems more active, I thought I'd post it here too. I hope that's okay. ---

Apologies in advance to the moderators - I know this is slightly off-topic, but I put this thread here as I think it's still an important part of the whole 221(g) 'experience'.

I'd be interested to find out how people are getting on with their lives whilst their applications are stuck in 221(g). It strikes me that one of the big unspoken problems is with the huge degree of uncertainty involved - I know that even though I've just been in AP for a couple of weeks, I'm now having second thoughts about, for example, new accommodation leases - what if I commit to a flat for a year and then the visa suddenly comes through? Also what will prospective employers think if I'm unable to commit for a definite period of time? And what do your USC spouses do in the meantime? Do they pack up their lives in the US and rejoin you, or stay put in the hope that the visa comes through quickly?

Do other people have these, or other issues, and if so, how are they managing to cope with them?

Since I asked the question, here's a few notes about my own situation.

1) I originally told my boss that I'd be leaving in a month, as I assumed I'd have the visa by now. Now that I don't, he might be able to extend my contract by a few months, but that's just a short-term solution.

2) I'm also moving out of a flat in a month's time, and returning to my parents home. I don't want to get a new flat yet, but if I'm still here after 6 months then I'll probably have to reconsider.

3) My wife's still in the US. She's a student so fortunately she can suspend her course for a while. If I'm still in AP after xmas then she'll do that and move back to the UK. If that happens, then we might as well put the visa issue to the side and make some new plans in the UK.

All the best,

Bobby

My appointment letter reads: Any original documents that were requested by the NVC but were not submitted to the NVC must be brought to the visa interview.

When I went for my CR1 interview, I had a similar letter, but it also came with an additional sheet which listed all the possible documents, and had a letter next to each one which indicated whether an original was still required, or whether they were happy with the ones already received. On mine, the NVC had already received and accepted all the documents that were relevant to our case, so I actually didn't have to take anything other than the letter, passport and photos. (Although I took a bunch of stuff anyway just to be on the safe side.)

You should look to see if you have a similar checklist, and if so, go through it carefully, line-by-line, to determine what they want. You might be in the same situation as I was, where you're already set. : )

Hope this helps,

Bobby

have run several searches on google news and not found anything yet... not saying i don't disbelieve sunflower15, as if it's a newly breaking story then it might take a few hours for the search engines to pick up on it... i'll check again tomorrow morning. if there is anything to it, then hopefully it's just something taken out of context which won't affect anyone here...

News to me - do you have a link for more info?

One more question Bobby,

Did you tell them when they questioned you that you applied and were waiting for a visa/green card?

Thanks,

Waynetta

Last time, yes, we made it clear that I was only there for a week because I had my interview at the US Embassy the week after I got back, and that it was for a permanent residence visa. The immigration official was quite helpful, and actually gave me some advice on what to do when I return to the US with the visa. Here's what he told me, in case it's useful.

I'll get taken aside, they take a pack that I get given along with the visa, and also my chest x-ray from the medical, and then send off an application for my green card. In the meantime, I retain my passport, and can enter/leave the country whenever I want with the stamp in it that the Embassy provides.

This was at San Francisco Airport (SFO).

All the best,

Bobby

There's a small app I use to extract call logs for Skype - came in handy when compiling my own personal records.

http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=87531

Hope it's helpful. I used it about a year ago, and it was a bit on the fiddly side - hopefully might be a bit easier to use now.

Bobby

I used this for the same reason - worked pretty well for me.

http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=87531

Cheers,

Bobby

My husband (UKC) and I (USC) are filing for a CR-1. I am pregnant and wanted to know if it would be an issue for my husband to visit me in the states during the process? I know he would probably have to show proof of returning to the UK so that wouldnt be an issue...we can get that. I want him there for the birth of our child.

Thanks!!!

I'm in exactly the same situation (applying for CR-1) and have travelled out to see my wife in California on three occasions under the VWP in between filing the forms and getting my interview appointment. Most times they didn't ask anything, but last time they did a "soft secondary questioning" where they wanted to know more about me and went through my bags. However they believed my story that I was returning after a week, they were very polite about it, and they let me through after a bit.

I think that as long as your husband has a credible reason for returning to the UK, then he'll be fine. I'd advise to take some supporting documentation (I normally take proof of a return ticket, and something else like a letter from a boss or a tenancy agreement for where I'm living), just to be on the safe side, but I've never been asked to show anything.

All the best,

Bobby