K-1 Questions

[expatrica 0]

OK - long story short - my boyfriend of over four years and I got engaged this past January. He is an UK Citizen and I am American. We decided to get married in the Sates since it would mean a lot to my parents. He was mistakenly under the impression that he did not need a visa to marry since the UK has a visa waiver program. So, we went ahead and started making our plans. About a month into it I realized that he did, in fact, need a K-1 visa and we started the process. Everything has been going pretty smoothly so far but I came on here to have a look around and started freaking out. So, here is our situation:

Our petition for a fiance visa has been approved and he received a big packet from the US embassy in London.

He has all the docs from me he needs (affidavit of support etc.)

His medical exam is this Wednesday

He has not yet called for an interview appointment because he thinks he needs to get the rest (police letter - already requested but not yet receieved, birth certificate etc.) before calling. Is this true?

Also - once he calls for an interview how long can we expect for him to get a date? How long after the interview will they issue the visa? I guess what I'm really asking is that our wedding is July 23rd. Three months from yesterday. Should I be panicking yet?!??!?!?!?!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!!!!

[gym 0]

As far as i am aware you cannot call the embassy for an interview date, you have to wait for them to give one to you

[almaty 19]

most consulates are that way....

[expatrica 0]

Really? OK. When do they do this? After he has returned the forms in the packet we were just given and after his medical is complete?

How long after they receive this info is the interview usually scheduled for?

Sorry for so many questions but I'm just about freaking out as we cannot change the wedding date at this point. Worst case senario we go ahead with the party but have an official wedding once the docs are received. However, I'd really like to have the real deal as scheduled!

As far as i am aware you cannot call the embassy for an interview date, you have to wait for them to give one to you

[gym 0]

At the moment it is taking approx 8 weeks after they receive packet 3...there is a section on the checklist that asks if you have any travel arrangements etc, i would fill that in....they do in London try there best to accomadate if you have firm plans...good luck i am sure that you will be ok

[luv2teach77 41]

Take a look at this thread. It has a list of recent London applicants showing the wait times between packet 3 and interview dates etc..

As for needing all the documents before you request an interview, that all depends on how sure you are that your Fiance will have all the docs in time for his interview. if the wait from packet 3 to interview is 8 weeks then I'm pretty sure that ANYTHING that your finace may be waiting on could be obtained by the time an interview is scheduled.

Remember... when he returns packet 3 (the big envelope of forms he just received) he only has to return completed versions of the enclosed forms. All the supporting documents listed on the Checklist with those forms are not required until the day of his interview.

I know that when I sent back my packet 3 I was still waiting on a few documents to be sent over to me from the US. However... I was confident enough that they would all be with me in time.

The thread I linked you to at the top will be a great place to start getting an idea of current timelines !!

Best of luck

Mark

Edited to add : When I did send back packet 3 I included a cover letter which basically said that I had all the required documents for my interview and that I was available for an interview at their earliest convenience. I don't know if it had an effect or not but if you are on a tight timeframe it certainly can't hurt to make that clear !!

Edited April 24, 2006 by luv2teach77

[mrswooten4ever 0]

Yup Have a look at my time line.You can send back the the checklist and packet 3 forms before your have your police clearance and birth certicate too hand as it takes the embassy about 8 weeks to process the application. It takes 40 days for police clearance to be issued. MY interview date is 12 weeks after i submitted my packet 3.Once the visa is issued it is couriered to you usually in about 48 hours.

Good luck

Adele

[gag54611 1]

Unfortunately, you are cutting things rather fine. It is very important that your fiance gets those documents completed as quickly as possible. Note that London expects you to complete the electronic version of the DS-156. Once you do that, it generates a pdf file that has a 3rd page with a complicated barcode. This barcode is then read and it saves the people at the consulate from having to re-type all of your details. You can find the electronic version at this page on the London consulate web site.

Another question that you had that didn't get answered related to how long it takes to get the visa after the interview. My wife got her visa couriered back to her within 2 or 3 days of the interview.

Note that, if anything goes wrong at any stage in this process before your wedding, there is no guarantee that your fiance will be granted entry to the USA. His details are in the USCIS computer system, which the Border Patrol agents will access when he arrives here. In your position, I would seriously look into finding a way to delay your wedding date.

Best of luck,

G

[expatrica 0]

Thank you - this is all very helpful. I still have a couple of questions.

1) If he mails the forms tomorrow morning and they get it within a few days does 8 weeks processing time mean that we won't even hear from them for 8 weeks or does it mean that we'll be contacted sooner but the interview will be in about 8 (or more) weeks?

2) Say he submits the forms and is granted an interview date in early August which is theoretically after the wedding is supposed to take place. Could he still come over in July and we have the party without the legal wedding, he then returns to the UK and conducts the interview and then comes back with the visa in hand and we have a private civil/legal ceremony then?

The reason I'm asking is that if we were to change the wedding date now not only would we lose a lot of money but many of our guests would as well. Changing it at this point just does not seem like an option.

I'm completely freaking out over this. Since we had our petition approved so quickly I had no idea that this would take so long. :-(

Unfortunately, you are cutting things rather fine. It is very important that your fiance gets those documents completed as quickly as possible. Note that London expects you to complete the electronic version of the DS-156. Once you do that, it generates a pdf file that has a 3rd page with a complicated barcode. This barcode is then read and it saves the people at the consulate from having to re-type all of your details. You can find the electronic version at this page on the London consulate web site.

Another question that you had that didn't get answered related to how long it takes to get the visa after the interview. My wife got her visa couriered back to her within 2 or 3 days of the interview.

Note that, if anything goes wrong at any stage in this process before your wedding, there is no guarantee that your fiance will be granted entry to the USA. His details are in the USCIS computer system, which the Border Patrol agents will access when he arrives here. In your position, I would seriously look into finding a way to delay your wedding date.

Best of luck,

G

[gag54611 1]

1) From what I've been reading recently on VJ, yes it could take 8 weeks or so until his interview date. My suggestion is that he sends the documents back by courier. Once he knows that they have arrived, send an email to the consulate (londonconsular@state.gov) asking for an interview date as soon as possible. Admit your mistake and see if they are sympathetic.

2) This is a difficult one to answer. There is every possibility that he could be denied entry. But, I have heard of it being accomplished. He should have documentary evidence indicating that he has something to go back to the UK for. For example, home ownership documents, a letter from his employer stating that he's expected back at work on whatever date. Also, a good argument to use if denial of entry seems likely is that you've gone this far in the process so why would you jeopardise the granting of the visa now. If he hasn't been interviewed by the time you get to the wedding date, he should certainly have the letter from the consulate with his interview date. Make sure he brings that. Oh, and don't forget to have a return ticket!!

I wish you the best.

G

[Linababe 0]

Im confused with the OP's timeline - she says he is a UK Citizen then why does it say on timeline that the consulate is Armenia?? shouldnt that be London??? If so please amend

Confused Lina (UKC)

[NewYorktoStafford05 0]

Hello All,

Basically, My fiance and I started filing our papers in January 06. We received everything back within a month. He got his papers from the embassy on Feb. 8th. However, he was still in the US. As we knew he would not be allowed back in the country once the Visa process had started. Of my own personal experience the US immigration tends to be a bit more rigid lately. As I am a US citizen and I have been questioned about having a british accent and all. And, my passport says born in NY. My fiance has also received a bit of questioning. Our wedding date is set for Sept. 17th, 2006. However, we were hoping he would come back before so that he could get a SSN # and look for work before we got married. As if he waits until after we get married and status change could take a few months. And, would have to wait for his EAD from immigration. Basically, he had his medical done at the end of March and his papers have been sent off for like two weeks now. And, as of yet have heard from the Embassy. And, when he called they basically told him that the whole process could take up to six months. Also, he had to chase up his Police report as they tend to be very lax with that. As when he went on his medical he met a couple that were moving over and they said it took them 70 days or something similar for their report. However, he needs to send in his checklist ASAP. Even if he doesn't have the police report as he will get it definately before the interview. So, basically, we are patiently waiting.

Edited April 25, 2006 by NewYorktoStafford05

[john_and_marlene 162]

Should I be panicking yet?!??!?!?!?!

yeah ... go ahead and panic ... you have reason