arwilson80

How about everyone else? How has the job market been for the rest of you?

I have had about 7 calls offering me interviews but i have no EAD yet so can't do much. All the folks that called have said to contact them when i get it [EAD] and they'll do whatever they can. One was McDonnell Douglas in MD.

Just been for my AOS & EAD Biometrics appointment. Arrived early and was out before i was even scheduled for the appointment. All-in-all about 30 mins.

Also got an update to say that my AOS was forwarded to CSC as they are processing applications faster.

Can someone confirm whether or not i need to include the copy of my chest X-ray (it's on a CD in a sealed envelope) when i submit my AOS forms

That's terrible. Did they at least give you a tracking number? I didn't get one at all. I hated not knowing where all my stuff was. I don't think it took weeks to clear my boxes - the longest part seemed to be them actually shipping the boxes. Don't know if it has anything to do with where you are.

No. No tracking number here either. I did 'follow' it on their website with the little details they give there. The estimated arrival date changed at least twice. I agree on the part about shipping the boxes... it took about 3-4 weeks before they appeared to have left the UK. Their people stateside seem nice though. I had a call (Fri 9th) from them when they couldn't e-mail me (they missed out a 0 in my e-mail address) and said they'd ship it out in a few days, and i got the e-mail yesterday to say it be arriving tomorrow.

After going with Seven Seas i'd say that i'll not use them again. They stated a 14 day delivery time. I've already been in the USA for 4 weeks and the items haven't even arrived stateside. It'll be a further 2 weeks once until i get them once they do.

After going with 7 Seas i'd say that i'll not use them again. They stated a 14 day delivery time. I've already been in the USA for 4 weeks and the items haven't even arrived stateside. It'll be a further 2 weeks once until i get them once they do.

Especially when I go "What ! the car drug him down the road ! - what kind of pidgin English is that !"

One of the things i'm going to have a hard time dealing with. I'm not great at 'English' but i do hate poor grammar / spelling. :s

I think you will be OK. Have a few friends in Clearwater and my future wife is Orlando. The only hurricanes i've heard mentioned that caused 'hassle' are Andrew ('91?) & Charlie.

I head off on Thursday and i suspect that i'll have a few possible hurricances to 'dodge'.

I'm using Seven Seas. I rang a few places but most didn't get back to me...

I have 3 'Book Boxes', 2 'Tea Chests' and a number of framed pictures / prints (9 of). They are all going via Air as it's 1/3 of the transit time and about 1/2 the price of sea. Go figure!

I have the added disadvantage of living 'across the water' so have to pay a little extra for collection / delivery. Oh well...

Visa now in hand. Arrived about 08:30 this morning. Looking at flights now. Possible dates are 9th, 14th or 16th (I could do Sept 11 but that's a lil more expensive).

Passport / Visa scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

And 'I'm out'!

Letter arrived yesterday asking to send in my passport.

And arwilson...my heart bleeds for you, truly. What's the word from the Embassy? xx

The word is good... I am out of AP yesterday and the passport is getting picked up tomorrow (Thurs Aug 19) morning.

waiting about 54 days too, and still nothing here either...

Just Crissie left (I think) from our gang now to get through! Happy Sunday everyone x

...and me. (

Still in AP and i'll have to watch the 'scheduled' date of the wedding pass from 3.5k miles away.

Wedding... What wedding? The one that was supposed to be a week on Saturday (24th)? Scrapped, as i have no visa (yet) and have no idea when AP will be finished.

All i will say is... Do NOT book anything until you have the visa in your hand. We had almost everything organized for July 24 and everything has had to be postponed due to not getting the visa approval on the day of the interview (mislaid document, and then put in AP).

Oh no! What went wrong at the interview to send you into AP? My fiance has his interview later in the month, and I'm so nervous!

If i knew i would tell you, and i think you will get the same response from most of the people who end up in AP.

I think every country has a right and a duty to screen immigrants for every possible risk, and as you say, when I do eventually get there it'll be in the knowledge that I have passed all the checks there are, in order that I, along with my husband, family and friends, live in the safest possible society. I would be disappointed if that were NOT the case.

I just wish that it were a little quicker

Ditto.

It's been a long time since I've worked on security clearance information. But there are several specific clearances that are run during AP(four I believe) and some of these are run on a person based upon their occupation.

Persons who travel frequently, and those who have visited certain countries, are also subjected to scrutiny.

Occupation shouldn't be a problem. I worked for a large US insurance company with offices in Belfast. Frequesnt travel... I guess that all depends on the definition of frequent. I answered that question on the form with the dates (which included 7 trips to the US, 1 to Hungary for the F1 GP and multiple trips to 'The South').

If it's a simple name hit - it can be cleared up in a matter of weeks. If there is further review required - then it may take longer. Try not to stress about it, although that can be a difficult task. My best suggestion would be to follow up weekly (ie: once a week) just to keep tabs - but try not to obsess over something that is out of your hands and probably just a few weeks delay. Good luck!

I'm not stressing, although it is a little hard to accept that someone who genuinely has no 'issues' that could really merit AP is put into it. But i guess 'Que sera sera'.

...and to TreeHugger - No offence taken. Life to too short to take offence or hold grudges.

If an immigrant from Northern Ireland gets caught in a security clearance or a namecheck, why is there always the assumption (especially from the English) that there must be some connection to the Troubles?

We are a bad lot you know...

My husband told me that when they do name checks, they don't just check an applicant's name, but variants of it and those similar to it as well. I don't know how true that is, but for anyone with a common name it does mean it takes longer.

Yeah, that's highly likely. And to be honest i don't mind if it takes longer... but i don't understand why they can't do these checks alongside the USCIS stuff in NVC, or while the case is sitting 'idle' in the embassy between P3 and the interview. And the fact they they process 2- 3 million of them in a year, yet they have 'no idea' how long they will take.

That's why I was nervous for David, who has a common last name and NO middle name! What is up with the Brits not having middle names?

I have no idea. All i know is that i do have one. In fact all our folks have at least 1 middle name. Sometimes 2.

Any idea why you're in AP?

Are you originally from another country?

I have no idea why. I kinda wish i did, at least then i would know if there was anything i could do to resolve it (or more importantly what there is against my name that would trigger any suspiciousness - as i'm not aware of anything).

I'm from N. Ireland. I guess technically it is a different country but it's still part of the UK.

I hope so - my name check has lasted 126 days so far. It exceeds all the figures quoted. The last line of the USCIS link is the most difficult to deal with, especially the status aspect.

Do you think that your name might match or be similar to someone involved in the Troubles?

I very much doubt it (and if it does it's definately not me. All i have is 1 speeding ticket... ), but i guess with a surname that is one of the most common in the western world it's entirely possible it's going to 'match' up with someone somewhere.

Well... just off phone to DoS... My AP is undergoing name checks in DC. 30-90 day wait time.

Here are a couple of links that may put minds at ease (or maybe not)...

http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress04/garrity022504.htm

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/security_checks_42506.pdf

http://www.visajourney.com/news/2009/03/

Yeah. Have called DOS once (will call them again later today as well). Just told me the usual 'You are in AP. The Embassy will contact you when they are ready, but feel free to call back and we'll tell you what we can'.

I wonder whether referring them back to this point in their 'Customer Service Statement' would have any effect on them?

We will use our available resources to fairly assist all applicants to get appointments to allow travel in time for business, study, and other important obligations.

Those were the sorts of questions i was going to ask...

When was the last action taken on it?

Is it in London or gone back to the US?

I guess the 'about to issue the visa?' one is good too.

Are there any others that would be good to ask?