TeamMoran

What time is your interview? I arrived in the queue at 0815 for a 0900 appointment, and was in the door at 0830.

Once you find the embassy, there are two queues outside. One for US citizens, and the other for visa applicants. You'll go through security, and take a number then sit and wait!

Your list of documents looks absolutely fine. I wasn't asked for any supplementary evidence, and nor were they interested in Morgan's pay slips or anything like that.

You'll be fine. Good luck!

Hi, after a 6 hour bus journey home, I can finally get on to say that we've been approved. I can't explain the relief! I think I was in there for just over 4 hours, which wasn't too bad. The guy at the courier desk apologised for me having to wait an extra 2 minutes at the end, but that didn't really seem to matter by that point.

The first stage of the interview was really easy and straightforward, and they weren't interested in any other support information apart from the tax return.

The second stage of the interview though, for me, seemed to not go as smoothly as it could have done. I was asked when and how we met. Like a lot of people on here, we met on the internet, but because it was 7 or 8 years ago, neither of us can remember where it was that we first got in touch. I hadn't really thought that it was a huge issue before today, and that the 7 years of contact would be a lot more important. But, what started off as a really light-hearted and friendly interview changed fairly quickly when I couldn't tell her for certain where we met. I was absolutely terrified at this point, and really thought that it was going to be a no. I think I probably got grilled on this one point for 20 minutes or so, before I got an unceremonious "you're approved". She wasn't interested in any of the reams of evidence that I had, either.

So, don't be too alarmed if they try to pick you up on something, and perhaps try to be a little more prepared with definite answers than I was!

Good luck for those with interviews tomorrow!

My bag is packed, and the documents are triple-checked. I'm all set for Wednesday, and look forward to hopefully being able to write the review and see that star!

Hi! Good idea starting this thread. I've been lurking around the 2009 thread and patiently waiting for my interview date. We were given it today. 20th January @0900. Perfect timing for me as I'm going away over Christmas, so wouldn't have been able to leave my passport with the embassy, anyway.

The nerves are really starting to kick in now!

My understanding of the SLC situation is that the onus is on you to give them details of your new address, and income, and arrange monthly payments to them.

The threshold for repayments is calculated by the SLC annually, based on cost of living indexes, and is currently £12,000 equivalent. Anything over that, you pay 9% of to SLC. All fine and dandy, until you work it out... Unless I start earning A LOT of money, I won't pay it off. I'll barely even dent the annual interest on my loan, which until the interest rates were cut was piling up at something like £70 per month! So I have to earn over $35k to even cover the interest.

There is the option of not informing them. I don't know how likely they would be to find you, but if they do, and in extreme circumstances, they can demand payments of about £296 per month (from memory). I don't fancy risking that!

Do you mind if I ask what was wrong with your BC? After reading this, I've checked mine, and my Mother's maiden name was misspelt and corrected, obviously at the time of them generating the certificate. I'm now thinking I might need to get this seen to. What do you think? I'm so conscious, like everyone I'm sure, of he tiniest thing tripping the whole process up!

Claire (beneficiary in the UK) was looking over her documents and discovered that her long form BC had her mother's maiden name misspelled. There was no correction, just the misspelled last name. It wasn't easily found since the spelling as it currently appears is nearly identical to the actual spelling. Apparently someone made an error and it was overlooked by her father when he signed off on the BC so that's how it is on file. She had to call the office she obtained her BC from and asked what she needed to make the correction, gathered up the necessary documents and posted it off today, next day post with tracking. Included in the packet sent was a signed letter from her father stating the request for change, a copy of her mother's marriage cert and a cover letter briefly explaining the contents and what needs to be done.

I suggested to Claire that she get the name of the person she spoke to and request her direct line so she had a contact there that was familiar with the nature of her situation. Claire explained that this is very time sensitive and is required for her visa processing. The woman at the office was very nice and gave her name and direct number saying she would be happy to oversee it and it would take about 2 weeks, possibly up to 4 depending on how much the judge had on his plate.

I can fully understand being very conscious of every detail, and you're right to do so. One wouldn't think that a document like a BC would have incorrect info, but this one did. Like you and so many others, we want everything to be perfect so as to avoid unnecessary delays or problems.

If you don't mind me asking, what did yours look like? You mentioned it was misspelled and then corrected? I'm assuming they didn't do the correction directly to the actual BC making it look dodgy. If so, I think I'd request another one that looked like it is supposed to look.

Thanks for your reply. Sounds like you're well ahead of the game!

My BC is a replacement, as I've misplaced the original which is irritating. It's typewritten (whereas my old copy was the handwritten original) so I asume it's the archive copy. The name was misspelt, omitting one letter, and then struck through with the typewriter. It was then re-typed alongside, with a number in brackets. I'm hoping it's all going to be okay!

Do you mind if I ask what was wrong with your BC? After reading this, I've checked mine, and my Mother's maiden name was misspelt and corrected, obviously at the time of them generating the certificate. I'm now thinking I might need to get this seen to. What do you think? I'm so conscious, like everyone I'm sure, of he tiniest thing tripping the whole process up!

"Maybe it will come in the mail like mine did

I called NVC today and the Package has already been sent to the Embassy!

It was sent last week."

Yes, as a note to all, don't assume NVC will send an email message when they ship your package to the Embassy. Keep calling every day and pestering them to find out if/when it's been shipped!

Send all of the forms back with the checklist. You will want to turn up at the embassy on interview day with your birth certificate, police certificate, and all the original supporting evidence (the originals of everything submitted to USCIS, plus all the more recent evidence.) Hope this helps!

Fingers crossed. You'll have to let us know. I'm just waiting on the petition going through the NVC and being passed on to the embassy. How long did you have to wait between NOA2 and Packet 3?

Was booking the medical easy enough? Plenty of dates available?

Mark

*EDIT* Yes, I think all the forms need to go back to the embassy. They will produce the DS-230 for you to sign at your interview apparently. They certainly don't make it easy!

Congrats! Its only Wednesday so I think we'll see alot more by Friday.

Has anyone tried calling NVC yet to see if they have your case? I made my first call today and they don't have it. Avg time from what I gather looking at timelines is about 2-3 days after the NOA2. So they should have Friday's approvals today or tomorrow. I'll try again tomorrow, hope it doesn't sit there for a month as I've seen happen to some people.

We have not tried calling yet but Wade told me he'd call them up sometime today and if we don't hear anything then, we'll just keep calling them until it shows up. Like you I don't want it to be caught up in the middle of the NVC process.

I just got home from my medical and it's approved! My vaccination program here in Norway was also sufficient so no need for extra shots. I'm happy Now all we need is to see more approvals at CSC and it would be a truly awesome wednesday!

I just called yesterday, and the woman seemed a little irritated by my eagerness.

"Ma'am, this could take at least 2 weeks to reach us. Please try calling back then."

But apparently, some of you are being told to call back later this week. (Which I was planning on doing anyway!)

I assume that second touch most of us received involved preparing the forms to be sent out. So I am going to annoy NVC as much as humanly possible until I know they've received our case. Yes...I like that plan.

Really keeping our fingers crossed for you all... Surely it's just a case of any day now. The approvals seem to come in batches, for whatever reason, so let's hope there's a big lump of approvals sometime soon!

Congratulations to all the other NOA2ers today, and thanks for everyone's wishes. It's amazing that things seem to be moving so much quicker now! I think it's a really positive sign for the week coming up, and just shows that your USCIS status isn't automatically updated as soon as you're approved. Keep checking those emails! What's everyone planning on doing to celebrate?!

Mark

On a side note: Does anyone know to whom we should be addressing official statements (i.e. letter from employer, letter from bank official, our own letter of intent to marry) for the next process?

I know he has to take all of the paperwork to the interview with him, so I'm not sure how to head the letters.

Thanks for the help!

Ours was the same: Updated today, but it says the decision was made yesterday (10/02). It's such a relief to have this, and two in one day looks very good for the rest of July filers. Fingers crossed for you all. Who knows, maybe I'll see you at the POE!

Mark

Our petition was approved! Our petition was approved! Oh dear god - man your emails everyone! I just got the message today!!!!

Though I'm not a wedding photographer, I feel the same pains when I see happy couples frolicking about or having romantic dinners. And more so, when I see couples taking each other for granted...I just want to shake them and shout (as you said), "Do you realize how LUCKY you are to be able to laugh and play and argue all day if you want?!"

It's hard to see love all around you when your own is across the ocean. And it's painful to see love squandered before your eyes.

In any case, I guess it's good medicine to keeps us attuned to how lucky we are to have found our other halves. Here's to showing them just how much we love them every day, for all days, when we can finally be together.

--Morgan

Man skype is a good thing. He has a skype cell phone so i get to talk to him while he is driving to work, on his lunch break and I wake up early to talk to him before he goes to bed, and believe me thats early. Ok I admit it, i probably talk to him more than I sleep. So not only will it be great when he gets here, but I'll get sleep as well! haha. Well eventually.....

Excuse me?! Skype cell phone? I would be the most annoying fiance EVER if Mark had that.

"Put it on while you're eating dinner. Take me to work with you. Let me see what you order from the vending machine."

Do any of you feel like every day you are at a casino playing a game?

What do I mean? Every time I look up on Igor's list or USCIS.GOV that moment that it takes for the update to load up on my screen feels like I'm waiting for the little white ball in roulette to land on my choice of color or the wheels on the slot machines to land at 7 7 7 or to hit that infamous 21 in blackjack... then the screen reloads and guess what ... i'm NOT A WINNER!

That's how I feel lately - bc we are so close ... I feel any day now I'll hit the jackpot ... just not yet! ugh!!!!!

How is this fabulous group doing today????

I completely agree! I check it about 30 times a day...sometimes hitting refresh while letting my eyes glaze over on the computer screen.

Guess all this waiting, all this anxiety and sublime excitement, will only make the approval that much greater.

We all have such tremendous love stories, though - it's a shame to put them on hold.

- The "Morgan" of Mark & Morgan

Hi Everyone,

So, I think I should introduce ourselves as we've been reading the VJ forums for quite a while, but have only just found this thread.

I'm Mark, I'm the UKC and my fiancee, Morgan is from WI. We met online something like 8(!) years ago, and have been in touch ever since. It started out as just friendly chatting, but I guess we both secretly hoped for something more! Then, one of us dared make the move of saying what we really wanted and the floodgates opened! As soon as I'd finished my degree (literally as soon - about 2 days after) I flew to Chicago and we met each other for the first time.

We filed I-129f shortly after I arrived back in the UK after researching our options here, and began the long wait... Morgan came here in early September for a fortnight and we, like everyone else here, are hoping for an October NOA2.

Having this forum is a great way to ease the waiting period, and it's good to see other people making genuine progress!

How far have people got with preparing the next stage of forms? I don't know whether now is too early, or if it's better to be prepared?

Hopefully October 1st will be a good date for some of us. Fingers crossed!

Mark

We've come a long way - it could be any day now until we hear more!

On a side note: Has anyone begun collecting the necessary bank data that needs to be submitted along with the I-134?

And if so, has anyone else's bank given them hell for needing a year's worth of deposit figures?!