Consulate costs

[Gemmie 142]

I know there has been a thread like this not long ago but I can't seem to find it, and I'm starting to panic.

I was planning on visiting my fiancee in 2 and a half weeks because Virgin Atlantic granted us with free tickets for a flight delay in the past. Now he's telling me that he doesn't think it's a good idea to use them now as we're going to have so much cost when we get to the stages of Consulate. I know that what he's saying is true, and I'm not expecting a cheap and easy time with London... however, I believe we'll be able to afford it somehow. He wants to save the tickets for the future but I don't think I can handle waiting until Christmas to see him, not after expecting to see him in 2 weeks.

Assuming I get as many injections as are available on the NHS, what expenses are there exactly (on the beneficiary side of things)? Is it police certificate of 35, medical of 180, admin fees of 70? I live in the South so not too worried about travel.

I really want to figure this out so that I can be with my fiancee in a few weeks and know that we will survive the fees.

Edited August 7, 2008 by Gemmie

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Let me see, for me it's been/will be:

£35 for police certificate

£10 for photos

£180 for two courses of the HPV vaccine (you'd be extremely lucky to get this for free on the NHS!)

£42 for train ticket down to London (fortunately that's the only travel costs incurred as I'm staying for free with my brother, but you might want to factor in hotel costs too).

£180 for the medical exam (presuming you need no other vaccines; they'd be extra)

Roughly £67 for the actual visa, and then extra for delivery

I guess it's not a huge amount (just over £500); depends on how much you're earning/have set aside. I've found it to be quite expensive, but then I'm also trying to save up the money to move (that'll be another £1,000 after all).

[Gemmie 142]

Hmm, I forgot to add in the cost of the HPV; do I have to have the first two shots before I leave or can I do it when I get to AOS?

I'm a student and usually I manage to pay for everything I need including flights with my student loan. I'm wondering if this isn't going to break that.

[Gemmie 142]

Sorry for the double post, I just thought of another possibility:

Am I able to get it done bit by bit?

As in, get any free injections now, and the police certificate? When does this typically expire? (We haven't sent off the I-129 yet but within the next week, it will be gone. I'm expecting my interview to be around next spring so by then would only have to pay for the medical/HVP and visa fee)

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Of course you can do it bit by bit.

The police certificate says it's valid for six months but the consulate will accept it as being valid for a year. Personally I'd still not get it more than six months before my interview, though.

I paid for the HPV back in June, which is when I also had my free vaccinations. I had a chance to save a little money in July so I should be able to afford my visa and medical fees this month. You could also arrange to have your medical in a different month from your interview, if you don't mind making two trips to London.

You only require the first HPV shot for AOS. I just paid for two because it's a six month course and four months (injections are given at the four and six month marks) will have passed before I leave for the US.

[English Muffin 59]

Don't forget the courier fee. At the moment it is £14 if you don't mind what time of day it is delivered. Guaranteed delivery times will cost more.

[Hannah+Vito 0]

Vito phoned up his pharmacy in the USA as i was being quoted £120 a shot for hpv and i can't afford that, my doctor wont even buy it in for me and do it. he was quoted around the £89 mark per shot so i was thinking of getting my first shot in the usa? seen as you only need the first one for AOS.

Also as for photos, i paid 99 pence because i signed up to snapfish.co.uk and they gave me 30 prints for free, i paid 99 pence for their delivery and they arrived this morning. don't know if that is of interest to anyone or helps.

also what about getting your vaccination records from the doctors? dont they charge you for that?

Edited August 7, 2008 by Hannah+Vito

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Thanks English Muffin - I couldn't remember off-hand what it was.

Hannah - mine didn't, but then I didn't get a fancy record; just a handwritten note on letter-headed paper to explain what I'd had.

And yeah, I really should've ordered photos online. I'm really not happy with the ones I had done. She didn't even let me see first, just took a photo and then printed it off; I'm all shiny from the flash and the background is more grey than white. I'll have to have some re-done.

[Nicoxcx 1]

Thanks for the info on Vaccination records, my nurse is just going to photocopy the actual form (for vaccinations) in my medical records and sign it, you shouldnt have to pay to find out this info, it isnt as hard for them to get as they try to make out!.

I get my Photos from Photobox , purely because they accept Electron.

I sent my Police certificate Application form but realised I had forgotten to add in the Continuation sheet , I didnt use it because I have lived at my house for over 5 years so I'm hoping they wont notice!.

[Gemmie 142]

God, I love this site!

Vito phoned up his pharmacy in the USA as i was being quoted £120 a shot for hpv and i can't afford that, my doctor wont even buy it in for me and do it. he was quoted around the £89 mark per shot so i was thinking of getting my first shot in the usa? unsure.gif seen as you only need the first one for AOS.

I'm thinking of having the HVP done in the US also. It's just so expensive paying everything at once!

This might be a bit too much info (sorry!), but me and my fiancee were both virgins until recently so I don't even know if it's needed. I'll have to enquire.

I called my GP surgery this morning and they had never heard of it! They got someone else to call me back and she told me that at the moment, it's £85 per shot, though as it's still very new, she advised me to call back sometime closer to when it's needed. She also told me that I can have everything else done for free (such as MMR booster, the polio, DTaP or whatever it's called).

[Hannah+Vito 0]

God, I love this site!

Vito phoned up his pharmacy in the USA as i was being quoted £120 a shot for hpv and i can't afford that, my doctor wont even buy it in for me and do it. he was quoted around the £89 mark per shot so i was thinking of getting my first shot in the usa? unsure.gif seen as you only need the first one for AOS.

I'm thinking of having the HVP done in the US also. It's just so expensive paying everything at once!

This might be a bit too much info (sorry!), but me and my fiancee were both virgins until recently so I don't even know if it's needed. I'll have to enquire.

I called my GP surgery this morning and they had never heard of it! They got someone else to call me back and she told me that at the moment, it's £85 per shot, though as it's still very new, she advised me to call back sometime closer to when it's needed. She also told me that I can have everything else done for free (such as MMR booster, the polio, DTaP or whatever it's called).

You will need it. If you are female and under 27. Its a preventative hence why its not free here unless you r under 17 the only way out I've heard was the waiver but it costs you time and money. At least it work for u and be a benefit as u know u def won't have it already.

[bakofoil 27]

Gemmie, have you applied for K1 yet? I noticed you don't yet have a timeline. Maybe your OH is concerned about the costs longterm - the visa process is really expensive when you factor everything in, application, consulate costs, flights and then adjustment of status.

Having said all of that, if you are not expecting an interview until April next year then you can factor a lot of the 'this side of the visa approval' costs into your plans and work out how much money you need to put away per month to get you through to the consulate stage. I know it's easier said than done, but it might make things more manageable in thought at least for both you and your OH. Personally, I wasn't able to keep away whenever I had the opportunity to go over and see J, whether I could *really* afford it or not, so I understand how you feel. Others have more self control

I would leave the HPV until the last minute. There may be change in legislation by next year which means it becomes a requirement for anyone under 25 and then the NHS will pay for it. Just a thought - and it might not happen. Like I said, save up for it at the very least.

Edited August 8, 2008 by babblesgirl

[Gemmie 142]

We're sending off the I-129F today/tomorrow.

We've booked the flight for September and managed to figure out a basic plan on how to afford the consulate costs. For example, I'll work a few extra days before my trip, I'll take £400 when my student money comes in, put it aside and do not touch it until it's needed for next year! Take the bus to London rather than the train (cheaper)..

Yeah, I'm not having the HVP done until I'm in the US as we checked and it appears to be cheaper. Plus there's something about how new it is that makes me want to wait a little longer.

I know exactly what you mean. I find it really hard to be apart from him for more than a couple months now as it gets harder every time I leave. Seeing as I'm in university, I get lots of time off and use my loan and financial aid to book flights (as well as support myself). If I have the opportunity, I'm there...

[Nicoxcx 1]

I am very much considering taking the Coach from Glasgow to London Victoria, 40 for 2 people Returns, 2 return flights from glasgow to London = over 100 pounds.

I am exactly the same, about to get my Diploma after 3 long college years all of my trips to the USA have been paid for threw student Finances/PT Jobs, plus paying Rent and keeping myself alive . Our I-129f, Steven paid the filing fee, I am paying the consulate costs and we are hoping for him to fly here for a couple of weeks so I can fly home with him!.

Goodluck on your filing Gemmie, I hope it is a speedy journey for you both