London 2012- K1s from NOA2 to interview thread

[Anna Grant 169]

2 - my UK fiance is a primary school teacher. He did not take a contract last year so is not paid thru July and August and if he's not here by August, would not be able to take a few of the teaching positions here that a few people had possibilities for him and he would then miss out on either all this year or half unless someone gets ill or goes on pregnancy leave. He obviously could tutor or do something else but it's not ideal.

I've read differing things on what counts as financial hardship and I doubt we'd qualify for that even though not having him here by August would greatly affect our financial situation..but would we be able to notify the embassy once the NVC number is assigned to see if there was anything to do to expedite?

Your fiancé won't be able to work until he is your husband and he has submitted his AoS and is in receipt of his EAD, which will probably not be until 8 weeks after he's submitted his AoS.

So even if he was to arrive in the US next week, he would be unlikely to be able to work until September/October.

Edited June 25, 2013 by Anna Grant

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

dang - may need to get my reading comprehension checked as I know I read that post and some of the first few pages of this thread severl times - sorry!.

No apologies needed. It's a lot to take in all at once. I just didn't want to write it all again, so gave you a place to look. Yay for you actually looking at it again. I do think so many can't be bothered to go read a link pointing them in the right direction.

I realize we don't have to, but I was under the impression if you are trying to move things along as quickly as possible you would want to?

Yes you can. I pointed out the letter from NVC because the lore gets to be that it is a mandatory step to call NVC. It allows you to trick Knightsbridge into thinking you are farther along than you are. But if you have no police certificate yet, or London doesn't have your file, well.... Does it help? I dunno.

We do have a few things that having this move as quickly as possible:

1 - we haven't set a wedding date but we have a family vacation with my dad and siblings that was already booked from last year in mid August. My dad's health is failing even moreso lately with Parkinson's disease and some other blood clot issues and this may be the only time my fiance will get to spend with my dad other than meeting him for 1 day another time (my dad doesn't live close to me).

2 - my UK fiance is a primary school teacher. He did not take a contract last year so is not paid thru July and August and if he's not here by August, would not be able to take a few of the teaching positions here that a few people had possibilities for him and he would then miss out on either all this year or half unless someone gets ill or goes on pregnancy leave. He obviously could tutor or do something else but it's not ideal.

I've read differing things on what counts as financial hardship and I doubt we'd qualify for that even though not having him here by August would greatly affect our financial situation..but would we be able to notify the embassy once the NVC number is assigned to see if there was anything to do to expedite?

I made up a wedding date just to give the schedulers something to aim for. Anything you want to put before them is best done in the letter with the DS-2001. Many send it with their forms thinking it will get them ahead. My logic somehow tells me that isn't the case. I think if they read a fresh plea and see the forms and medical are there, they can act on the plea. Who's going to go back and read a cover letter buried at the back or the folder because it came a month ago, or worse yet was discarded. My twisted logic.

The job thing won't fly as you have already learned. it all depends on how fast each step goes and there is potential for a lag anywhere. Approval of petition>> VSC sending to NVC >> NVC sending to London >> London opening their masses of mail and getting your case logged in so they are ready to process>> London getting around to filing your medical and reading your DS-2001>> having an open slot in the interview schedule. Here's one of our current person's timelines. She has been on top of everything to be ahead. It's still more than two months from NOA2 to interview http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=0&id=143641

The London average over the last 6 months has been 77 days between London receiving the file and the interview date. But you will beat that average because you are learning the ropes before you need them.

I think I misread this: Start filling out the I-134 Affidavit of Support. It will have to be signed and mailed to the UK the slow way. Get familiar with the form. When the NOA2 is received is a good time to finalize it with the supporting documents and get it in the mail.

so it just gets mailed to my fiance?

Yes. If you have found the list of documents (on the website) to bring to the interview, it lists affidavit of support.

Ugh, september would be brutal. Our lawyer told us 4 weeks from the time we got NOA2 approval but he also said almost always before 5 months to get the NOA2.

Lawyer don't keep up with timelines and often make mistakes and give big promises. And he may not know a thing about London. Not sure how useful he will be for this part. It's mostly the UK person's stuff to do. Your part is only the I-134.

I will definitely go back and read more on those links.

]

Make notes and lists as you learn things. Print things you want to remember. That's how I navigated the whole thing. Edited June 25, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[Jeannie & Al 18]

Your fiancé won't be able to work until he is your husband and he has submitted his AoS and is in receipt of his EAD, which will probably not be until 8 weeks after he's submitted his AoS.

So even if he was to arrive in the US next week, he would be unlikely to be able to work until September/October.

Thanks Anna...we were completely naive to this whole process - i wish I had found this site and researched before we just contacted a lawyer. he seems to tell us only little nuggets of info when we need them.

[Jeannie & Al 18]

Nich-Nick - I'm going to respond to your post in the morning with a clearer head - i took your advice and read a bunch tonight and I'm a bit clearer on everything. I may have a few questions tomorrow but wanted to thank you for your response...it's a good thing I'm getting this all down because we got our NOA2 tonight - I had a feeling it was going to be this week - I'm super excited.

[Anna Grant 169]

Thanks Anna...we were completely naive to this whole process - i wish I had found this site and researched before we just contacted a lawyer. he seems to tell us only little nuggets of info when we need them.

I totally agree with you. I wish I had found this site before we engaged our lawyer. This site has been more useful than he has been! He has actually told us incorrect information. If I am being kind, it could be because he is not familiar with the 'London way'.

[Anna Grant 169]

The job thing won't fly as you have already learned. it all depends on how fast each step goes and there is potential for a lag anywhere. Approval of petition>> VSC sending to NVC >> NVC sending to London >> London opening their masses of mail and getting your case logged in so they are ready to process>> London getting around to filing your medical and reading your DS-2001>> having an open slot in the interview schedule. Here's one of our current person's timelines. She has been on top of everything to be ahead. It's still more than two months from NOA2 to interview http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=0&id=143641

The London average over the last 6 months has been 77 days between London receiving the file and the interview date. But you will beat that average because you are learning the ropes before you need them.

I managed to beat the average by being ahead of the game and having so much in place already when we got our NOA2. Even though I was in the US when the NOA2 came through, it was exactly 2 months between our NOA2 and my interview date - and that included 2 weeks in AP at NVC!

Beating the average came reading the guides, reading Nick-Nich's many helpful posts and then asking questions when I was unsure of things. And chasing! Phoning NVC. Phoning DOS. Phoning the extortion line and begging for the al important code. Booking my wedding and including the details in my covering letter (the date could have been changed with the chapel had the dates not fallen into place).

Tomorrow, I leave the UK for good, which will be 10 weeks since our NOA2

Edited June 26, 2013 by Anna Grant

[PearlyLemons 13]

Hi everyone

just wondering with the ds156 part 36 - do I answer yes because my fiance is the petitioner of the K1? Thank-you

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi everyone

just wondering with the ds156 part 36 - do I answer yes because my fiance is the petitioner of the K1? Thank-you

Copy/paste of my thoughts On #36 from the first page of this thread--

Last one! 36. Has anyone ever filed an imigrant visa petition on your behalf? My fiance filed as my petitioner for my K1. Is that what they mean? or do they mean a lawyer?

It means did you have a former USC fiance and this is your second or third go 'round with a USC filing for you. Could have been a relative filing for you. Some people list their current fiance there, but I don't consider the current one as what they want to know. Nothing to do with a lawyer filling out your papers.

[PearlyLemons 13]

Nich-Nick. Thank-you again. I owe you big time!I sent two forms with different answers( 2 of each) and wrote them a note explaining so hopefully they will pick the one that is applicable.

[Jeannie & Al 18]

I managed to beat the average by being ahead of the game and having so much in place already when we got our NOA2. Even though I was in the US when the NOA2 came through, it was exactly 2 months between our NOA2 and my interview date - and that included 2 weeks in AP at NVC!

Beating the average came reading the guides, reading Nick-Nich's many helpful posts and then asking questions when I was unsure of things. And chasing! Phoning NVC. Phoning DOS. Phoning the extortion line and begging for the al important code. Booking my wedding and including the details in my covering letter (the date could have been changed with the chapel had the dates not fallen into place).

Tomorrow, I leave the UK for good, which will be 10 weeks since our NOA2

awesome ! congrats and welcome to the US (a day early)!

I totally agree with you. I wish I had found this site before we engaged our lawyer. This site has been more useful than he has been! He has actually told us incorrect information. If I am being kind, it could be because he is not familiar with the 'London way'.

totally agree with you too - mine gave us some slightly incorrect info too and he seems a bit surprised each time we talk and I have more lingo down lol.

[Anna Grant 169]

I'm flying to the US tomorrow on the return portion of my last US flight i.e my outward journey was US to UK. I can't do online check-in as United say 'Based on the documentation provided, you must present proof of a retun ticket or onward travel at the airport before a boarding pass can be issued.'

Now I assume that the K1 visa I have now overrides this requirement as the whole point is I don't want to return! But do I need to tell United this in advance or will the people at Heathrow be used to this? I would assume that most people with K1s actually go to the US on the outward portion of their ticket and never use the return portion (as returns are usually cheaper than singles) so don't normally encounter this message.

Edited June 26, 2013 by Anna Grant

[lost_at_sea 995]

I'm flying to the US tomorrow on the return portion of my last US flight i.e my outward journey was US to UK. I can't do online check-in as United say 'Based on the documentation provided, you must present proof of a retun ticket or onward travel at the airport before a boarding pass can be issued.'

Now I assume that the K1 visa I have now overrides this requirement as the whole point is I don't want to return! But do I need to tell United this in advance or will the people at Heathrow be used to this? I would assume that most people with K1s actually go to the US on the outward portion of their ticket and never use the return portion (as returns are usually cheaper than singles) so don't normally encounter this message.

You can wait til the airport. It's probably just that their computer system is setup to enforce a manual human check when someone is doing something like not announcing their return ticket (since that's a fraud indicator).

Anyone who's booked 2 tickets on 2 different airlines will have had to go talk to a human, too.

As to how used to it they are... well... worst case you'll get some newbie check-in person who'll have to ask a supervisor. Heathrow is international enough that they must deal with various US visas daily.

[Jeannie & Al 18]

No apologies needed. It's a lot to take in all at once. I just didn't want to write it all again, so gave you a place to look. Yay for you actually looking at it again. I do think so many can't be bothered to go read a link pointing them in the right direction.

I hope by the time I'm done you won't be up for sainthood or an asylum.

Yes you can. I pointed out the letter from NVC because the lore gets to be that it is a mandatory step to call NVC. It allows you to trick Knightsbridge into thinking you are farther along than you are. But if you have no police certificate yet, or London doesn't have your file, well.... Does it help? I dunno.

I made up a wedding date just to give the schedulers something to aim for. Anything you want to put before them is best done in the letter with the DS-2001. Many send it with their forms thinking it will get them ahead. My logic somehow tells me that isn't the case. I think if they read a fresh plea and see the forms and medical are there, they can act on the plea. Who's going to go back and read a cover letter buried at the back or the folder because it came a month ago, or worse yet was discarded. My twisted logic.

Gotcha on the phoning the NVC. We do have the police certificate from March and he's never had law trouble. but I get what you are saying..I think..more on that later..

we are having a very small wedding this year - his parents want to come and we are going to have my parents and local siblings. We plan to put the week before our family trip in August as our wedding date and see if it helps - probably for naught but can't hurt. Anything we book can be changed because it will just be a nice dinner and a ceremony under a gazebo. Next year we are having a big wedding where all his friends and family can come over here as well as mine.

The job thing won't fly as you have already learned. it all depends on how fast each step goes and there is potential for a lag anywhere. Approval of petition>> VSC sending to NVC >> NVC sending to London >> London opening their masses of mail and getting your case logged in so they are ready to process>> London getting around to filing your medical and reading your DS-2001>> having an open slot in the interview schedule. Here's one of our current person's timelines. She has been on top of everything to be ahead. It's still more than two months from NOA2 to interview http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=0&id=143641

The London average over the last 6 months has been 77 days between London receiving the file and the interview date. But you will beat that average because you are learning the ropes before you need them.

Yes. If you have found the list of documents (on the website) to bring to the interview, it lists affidavit of support.

I see that about his ability to work here - we are blessed in that we have enough savings to deal with all this and him not working here and he's now going to rent out his flat so we'll be okay on that front...i was more worried about my ill dad missing our wedding and my fiance missing the trip with him.

got it on the list of docs.

Lawyer don't keep up with timelines and often make mistakes and give big promises. And he may not know a thing about London. Not sure how useful he will be for this part. It's mostly the UK person's stuff to do. Your part is only the I-134.

Make notes and lists as you learn things. Print things you want to remember. That's how I navigated the whole thing.

you are right on the lawyer thing and I think it's true they can't be experts on each consulate. my fiance filled out most of the forms this weekend (and used some of the samples on here as well) and we are going to have him review them.may as well let him earn the money.

I have a few timeline questions i am going to post. thanks again.

[Helen&Murray 1]

I managed to beat the average by being ahead of the game and having so much in place already when we got our NOA2. Even though I was in the US when the NOA2 came through, it was exactly 2 months between our NOA2 and my interview date - and that included 2 weeks in AP at NVC!

Beating the average came reading the guides, reading Nick-Nich's many helpful posts and then asking questions when I was unsure of things. And chasing! Phoning NVC. Phoning DOS. Phoning the extortion line and begging for the al important code. Booking my wedding and including the details in my covering letter (the date could have been changed with the chapel had the dates not fallen into place).

Tomorrow, I leave the UK for good, which will be 10 weeks since our NOA2

Congrats on getting through the k-1 stage happy living in the states. Ps thanks for the good pointer about getting a head of the game and beating the average

[Helen&Murray 1]

I managed to beat the average by being ahead of the game and having so much in place already when we got our NOA2. Even though I was in the US when the NOA2 came through, it was exactly 2 months between our NOA2 and my interview date - and that included 2 weeks in AP at NVC!

Beating the average came reading the guides, reading Nick-Nich's many helpful posts and then asking questions when I was unsure of things. And chasing! Phoning NVC. Phoning DOS. Phoning the extortion line and begging for the al important code. Booking my wedding and including the details in my covering letter (the date could have been changed with the chapel had the dates not fallen into place).

Tomorrow, I leave the UK for good, which will be 10 weeks since our NOA2

Congrats on getting through the k-1 stage happy living in the states. Ps thanks for the good pointer about getting a head of the game and beating the average