Which visa for this situation?

[BritishGuy36 0]

Wow. Good job I checked my passport. It expires August 2008! Have filled in the online form for the renewal on the appropriate government website.

Wow again. They turned it around in 6 working days. That's quick. I didn't even pay for the expedited service either, just the standard one. Moderately impressive.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Ok. I feel like I am getting places now.

• I finally think I have a handle on filling in the tax forms to get her last 3 years filed and up to date.
• I posted off my application for the police certificate this morning.
• My passport has been renewed and expires in 2018.
• I have a full UK birth certificate.
• I have my state-certified and stamped certificate of marriage.
• I have loads of passport-style photos ready (we got 8 of each of us from a local photo place)
• My mortgage company is about to send me a mortgage statement.

The only thing I don't have is a valuation of the property from our estate agent - I can get that at reasonably short notice. This, in conjunction with the mortgage statement will satisfy the financial requirements of the I-864.

Is there anything else I need to prepare, in order to state my readiness for the visa interview?

[Lansbury 19]

You have it all covered and are go to go.

[BritishGuy36 0]

You have it all covered and are go to go.

Woohoo - partay!

[BritishGuy36 0]

• I finally think I have a handle on filling in the tax forms to get her last 3 years filed and up to date.
• I posted off my application for the police certificate this morning.

Tax forms are in the envelope ready to go tomorrow. Received a letter from the fuzz acknowledging receipt of the access request and stating I will receive a reply within 40 days.

I did get a "market value assessment" from the Estate Agent but this is basically a one-sheet pre-prepared sheet which they write the name, address and the approx value of your house on, sign it and send it to you. It is letterheaded but has no estate agent branch address on it.

I don't know whether to risk it with this, or cough up £100+vat for a "proper" valuation report - to prove value of assets for the I-864.

Any advice?

Edited February 17, 2008 by BritishGuy36

[BritishGuy36 0]

You have it all covered and are go to go.

Apart from maybe this nightmare!

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=111015

[Lansbury 19]

• I finally think I have a handle on filling in the tax forms to get her last 3 years filed and up to date.
• I posted off my application for the police certificate this morning.

Tax forms are in the envelope ready to go tomorrow. Received a letter from the fuzz acknowledging receipt of the access request and stating I will receive a reply within 40 days.

I did get a "market value assessment" from the Estate Agent but this is basically a one-sheet pre-prepared sheet which they write the name, address and the approx value of your house on, sign it and send it to you. It is letterheaded but has no estate agent branch address on it.

I don't know whether to risk it with this, or cough up £100+vat for a "proper" valuation report - to prove value of assets for the I-864.

Any advice?

That should be good enough. All we gave them was a copy of the sales leaflet the agent produced when we put the house on the market. That had about as much standing as what you have

You have it all covered and are go to go.

Apart from maybe this nightmare!

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=111015

God that is frightening that bunch of a+++holes getting involved in the process.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Yeah tell me about it!

I am going to follow up my email with a phone call later today if I don't hear back from them.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Received copies of page one of last 3 year's tax returns (1040) stamped filed/received.

Another thing off the to-do list.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Ok. Been checking out DS-230 here: http://www.visajourney.com/examples/Form-DS-230.pdf

Item 14: It says put "Maiden or Family Name". Which? Presumably her family name is her married name? So I can put either her maiden name or married name here?

Items 15 & 16: I have no details to put here, I guess I have to go with "Unknown".

Item 23: Are they asking for all schooling here? Or just college? The right-hand column asks for "degree or diploma". You don't get those when you leave school at 16. Do I just put secondary school info here, and list O-levels/GCSEs? Presumably they aren't interested in Junior or infants education!

~~~~

It says complete one copy of the form for yourself and another for each person who will "immigrate with you". I guess that's just me, as my wife isn't immigrating, being a USC.

~~~~

The DS-230 doesn't seem to be downloadable from USCIS - correct?

Edited February 26, 2008 by BritishGuy36

[Lansbury 19]

Ok. Been checking out DS-230 here: http://www.visajourney.com/examples/Form-DS-230.pdf

Item 14: It says put "Maiden or Family Name". Which? Presumably her family name is her married name? So I can put either her maiden name or married name here?

Items 15 & 16: I have no details to put here, I guess I have to go with "Unknown".

Item 23: Are they asking for all schooling here? Or just college? The right-hand column asks for "degree or diploma". You don't get those when you leave school at 16. Do I just put secondary school info here, and list O-levels/GCSEs? Presumably they aren't interested in Junior or infants education!

~~~~

It says complete one copy of the form for yourself and another for each person who will "immigrate with you". I guess that's just me, as my wife isn't immigrating, being a USC.

~~~~

The DS-230 doesn't seem to be downloadable from USCIS - correct?

This is the DS-230 on the US Embassy London web site

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/81807.pdf

14. We put the family name as her married name

15 - 16 Yes you will have to put unknown in there. Perhaps unknown and unattainable to avoid then sending a request for that information.

23. I list all schools I had attended. Better to much information than not enough and getting a request for it.

You just need the form for yourself, you are the one applying for a visa as you say.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Cool thanks. Dunno why I couldn't find the DS-230.

I am trying to get all the docs ready for stage 2 even though I have a way to go on the I-130. My work situation is worsening so I may jack it in before too long - so will need to be off ASAP!

[Lansbury 19]

I am trying to get all the docs ready for stage 2 even though I have a way to go on the I-130.

I did that as well, better to see in advance what documents etc you need to gather, saves messing around and delaying things latter on.

Sorry to here about work, you could be without that hassle during the visa process.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Yeah it's just one of those things. You know how it goes when the powers that be try and squeeze you into a different job role that you really don't want to do.

We have some savings, enough to pay the mortgage while we sell the house anyway. Then we'd have plenty of liquid capital while the visa process was finishing off and we could stay with family anyway for a while.

I'm really not too bothered if the job goes south....I am determined not to allow myself to be shafted by them.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Ok. Something has come up.

When I filed the I-130, I put a certain address on the form for our US address. Let's say it was "38 South Street". This was the address where my wife grew up and I guess helps with "domicile" as it shows a tie to the family home.

However, we would actually be staying not with her parents, but her grandma, who lives on the same plot of land, but at "30 South Street". I didn't know (at the time of filling in the I-130 - I found out since then) that the two properties had different numbers, being on the same plot of land (I know, maybe I should have twigged - but one is kind of behind the other).

So when I come to apply for the visa, and put our US address on, do I put 30 or 38? The property is actually owned by grandma. I guess I should put 38, to keep it consistent with the I-130?

Edited March 6, 2008 by BritishGuy36