i have some questions.... if u can help i would be very grateful

[neil wood 0]

Hi visa journey users.

First i would like to say how wonderful i think this site is, i think it's so great to have somewhere to find information about a subject that can be very confusing.

Me and my fiance have both said we will continue to come to sites like this once i am there and settled, so we can try our best to help couples in this situation.

Okay well the usual story. We met online about a year and a half ago, since i have visited her in Seattle, Washington 3 times (for a total of 6 months) and she has visited me here in England twice (for a total of 8 weeks).

When she was here the last time (about a month ago) we found out she was pregnant. The blessing came a little sooner than we had planned but we were over joyed none the less. Seeing as she became pregnant we realized it was time to get things rolling immigration wise. I had proposed whilst in Seattle a few weeks before she came to england for the second time so the fact of getting married was never an issue for us.

So she sent off all the required applications and documents for the K-1 visa about 2 weeks ago. (today being september 3rd 2008). to the california service centre.

So this is why i am posting. We are slowly coming to terms with the fact that there is a good chance i am going to miss the birth of our child (due date march 9th 2009), i was just wondering if anybody has any advice.

can anything be done to speed up the process slightly so i don't have to miss it?

is there ever cases of people moving from England to the USA that have not taken the usual 6 to 8 months?

once there what do i need to do to get a american driving license?

Maybe if you have read our story you have some advice on what we should do now?

any help would be much appreciated. Or maybe just some encouraging words because that is always helpful at times like this.

Thank you for your time reading all this.

Neil.

Edited September 3, 2008 by neil wood

[Zee Bee 61]

So this is why i am posting. We are slowly coming to terms with the fact that there is a good chance i am going to miss the birth of our child (due date march 9th 2009), i was just wondering if anybody has any advice. Congrats on the baby

can anything be done to speed up the process slightly so i don't have to miss it? There is nothing you can do to speed up the process. Some take longer than others. There are people who have been able to visit the US on VWP while their K1s are processing. Maybe that is an option you can think about.

is there ever cases of people moving from England to the USA that have not taken the usual 6 to 8 months? Yes there are. Some people get through it quickly, others take longer. Its all luck of the draw really.

once there what do i need to do to get a american driving license? Depends on the state. You may want to check out the weebsite for the DMV for the state you are planning to move to.

Maybe if you have read our story you have some advice on what we should do now? Just sit back and wait. And be very patient

[Gemmie 142]

can anything be done to speed up the process slightly so i don't have to miss it?

There's not really anything that can be done to speed up the process as every file gets sent to the same two centres.

How about arranging for a trip in March where you can be there for the birth? Only issue is that you'll need to be around for the process in London (packet 3, medical, interview etc) so you'll need to make sure it doesn't clash with those dates. Being a September filer, you might find that your approval is around January and the Consulate process around March.

About the driving license, there are many questions related to this in the "Moving to USA" forum. It's a long way off yet so don't worry about this yet. You may be able to use your UK license for a year or you might have to wait for your Social Security number before you can apply for a provisional (if you don't drive). It all depends on the state requirements but most find themselves driving in a reasonable time space.

[neil wood 0]

Thank you both very much for the fast reply's.

They were very helpful.

Neil.

[Giskat09 2]

You can simply visit your fiance once she give birth while ur K1 is on the processing.

[Gemmie 142]

You can simply visit your fiance once she give birth while ur K1 is on the processing.

Only issue is that you'll need to be around for the process in London (packet 3, medical, interview etc) so you'll need to make sure it doesn't clash with those dates. Being a September filer, you might find that your approval is around January and the Consulate process around March

[Devkpaik 1]

Hi visa journey users.

First i would like to say how wonderful i think this site is, i think it's so great to have somewhere to find information about a subject that can be very confusing.

Me and my fiance have both said we will continue to come to sites like this once i am there and settled, so we can try our best to help couples in this situation.

Okay well the usual story. We met online about a year and a half ago, since i have visited her in Seattle, Washington 3 times (for a total of 6 months) and she has visited me here in England twice (for a total of 8 weeks).

When she was here the last time (about a month ago) we found out she was pregnant. The blessing came a little sooner than we had planned but we were over joyed none the less. Seeing as she became pregnant we realized it was time to get things rolling immigration wise. I had proposed whilst in Seattle a few weeks before she came to england for the second time so the fact of getting married was never an issue for us.

So she sent off all the required applications and documents for the K-1 visa about 2 weeks ago. (today being september 3rd 2008). to the california service centre.

So this is why i am posting. We are slowly coming to terms with the fact that there is a good chance i am going to miss the birth of our child (due date march 9th 2009), i was just wondering if anybody has any advice.

can anything be done to speed up the process slightly so i don't have to miss it?

is there ever cases of people moving from England to the USA that have not taken the usual 6 to 8 months?

once there what do i need to do to get a american driving license?

Maybe if you have read our story you have some advice on what we should do now?

any help would be much appreciated. Or maybe just some encouraging words because that is always helpful at times like this.

Thank you for your time reading all this.

Neil.

1. If there was anything anyone could do to speed up the process slightly, everyone would be doing it, thus it wouldn't be speeding up the process anymore. There is nothing you can do, besides expedite it, but based on your info. it won't be possible for you probably.

2. If there ever was a case, it wasn't because they were special and got to leap frog over everyone else, it was because they were lucky and happened to be quicker than others.

3. Sorry, not sure about the drivers license.

In a nutshell, no you can't do a thing to speed up the process unfortunately. You will have to endure the long, grueling process like everyone else, which majorly sucks, but you'll get through it like everyone else as well.

So good luck to you, and the time will go by quicker than you think.

[Jeff&Qingyun 0]

"once there what do i need to do to get a american driving license?"

You'll need to learn to drive on the right side of the road!!!

[neil wood 0]

"once there what do i need to do to get a american driving license?"

You'll need to learn to drive on the right side of the road!!!

yeah i have heard it isn't a good idea to continue driving on the left once there.

the other motorists get very upset

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi visa journey users.

First i would like to say how wonderful i think this site is, i think it's so great to have somewhere to find information about a subject that can be very confusing.

Me and my fiance have both said we will continue to come to sites like this once i am there and settled, so we can try our best to help couples in this situation.

Okay well the usual story. We met online about a year and a half ago, since i have visited her in Seattle, Washington 3 times (for a total of 6 months) and she has visited me here in England twice (for a total of 8 weeks).

When she was here the last time (about a month ago) we found out she was pregnant. The blessing came a little sooner than we had planned but we were over joyed none the less. Seeing as she became pregnant we realized it was time to get things rolling immigration wise. I had proposed whilst in Seattle a few weeks before she came to england for the second time so the fact of getting married was never an issue for us.

So she sent off all the required applications and documents for the K-1 visa about 2 weeks ago. (today being september 3rd 2008). to the california service centre.

So this is why i am posting. We are slowly coming to terms with the fact that there is a good chance i am going to miss the birth of our child (due date march 9th 2009), i was just wondering if anybody has any advice.

can anything be done to speed up the process slightly so i don't have to miss it?

is there ever cases of people moving from England to the USA that have not taken the usual 6 to 8 months?

once there what do i need to do to get a american driving license?

Maybe if you have read our story you have some advice on what we should do now?

any help would be much appreciated. Or maybe just some encouraging words because that is always helpful at times like this.

Thank you for your time reading all this.

Neil.

Congratulations.

The best way to speed up your process is to get all your documents ready. I downloaded packet 3 and we had everything ready when the consulate received the case and made our interview appointment that very same day. Had we been able to make the first interview date offered we would have had our visa in hand in under four months! As it was, it took about 5 months. But the CSC is slower as a rule and I do not know about the London consulate. Kiev is fairly fast. But this is the best you can do. You will not qualify for expedited service and an attorney will only slow the process, the attorney must do your case along with many others. You can have everything ready yourself.

UK citizens are, of course, free to travel to the USA, but I have heard of some having trouble once they are filing for a K-1. Better check this with other members. Your British driver's license is acceptable for a while. Most states require you get a license from that state within some amount of time, usually 30 or 60 days. Requirements vary. My state, Vermont, will issue my fiancee a license with her K-1 visa and passport. As long as she can show she is here legally, there is no problem. (remember...on the right, we drive on the right! Look LEFT when crossing the street) You may have to take a driving test. Most states will accept a valid license from another state and just issue a new license, but I do not know about a foreign license. If you can bring a driving record with you, it would be good. I think you can get this from your insurance company. All the states now can check driving records in other states, but I doubt they can from the UK.

My advice? Check everything 2-3 times before you send it in. Keep checking until you don't find anything missing or wrong. Sort of like adding a bunch of numbers, when you get the same result twice you got it right. Then get all your documents ready (at least you won't have to deal with translation...well maybe ) LOL We ARE one people separated by a common language!

Good luck.

[MichelleN 0]

The best thing is exactly what's been mentioned already. And while you may not be able to attend the birth (and definitely do NOT give that as a reason for visiting the US if you do come), I can tell you from experience it's not the birth so much as everything after that matters. My fiance and I waited until well after our daughter was born to start the process and we both regret it because he's essentially missing out on her first year of life. Get the process started now so you can be there for your baby after they're born. That's what's important.

[neil wood 0]

Hi visa journey users.

First i would like to say how wonderful i think this site is, i think it's so great to have somewhere to find information about a subject that can be very confusing.

Me and my fiance have both said we will continue to come to sites like this once i am there and settled, so we can try our best to help couples in this situation.

Okay well the usual story. We met online about a year and a half ago, since i have visited her in Seattle, Washington 3 times (for a total of 6 months) and she has visited me here in England twice (for a total of 8 weeks).

When she was here the last time (about a month ago) we found out she was pregnant. The blessing came a little sooner than we had planned but we were over joyed none the less. Seeing as she became pregnant we realized it was time to get things rolling immigration wise. I had proposed whilst in Seattle a few weeks before she came to england for the second time so the fact of getting married was never an issue for us.

So she sent off all the required applications and documents for the K-1 visa about 2 weeks ago. (today being september 3rd 2008). to the california service centre.

So this is why i am posting. We are slowly coming to terms with the fact that there is a good chance i am going to miss the birth of our child (due date march 9th 2009), i was just wondering if anybody has any advice.

can anything be done to speed up the process slightly so i don't have to miss it?

is there ever cases of people moving from England to the USA that have not taken the usual 6 to 8 months?

once there what do i need to do to get a american driving license?

Maybe if you have read our story you have some advice on what we should do now?

any help would be much appreciated. Or maybe just some encouraging words because that is always helpful at times like this.

Thank you for your time reading all this.

Neil.

Congratulations.

The best way to speed up your process is to get all your documents ready. I downloaded packet 3 and we had everything ready when the consulate received the case and made our interview appointment that very same day. Had we been able to make the first interview date offered we would have had our visa in hand in under four months! As it was, it took about 5 months. But the CSC is slower as a rule and I do not know about the London consulate. Kiev is fairly fast. But this is the best you can do. You will not qualify for expedited service and an attorney will only slow the process, the attorney must do your case along with many others. You can have everything ready yourself.

UK citizens are, of course, free to travel to the USA, but I have heard of some having trouble once they are filing for a K-1. Better check this with other members. Your British driver's license is acceptable for a while. Most states require you get a license from that state within some amount of time, usually 30 or 60 days. Requirements vary. My state, Vermont, will issue my fiancee a license with her K-1 visa and passport. As long as she can show she is here legally, there is no problem. (remember...on the right, we drive on the right! Look LEFT when crossing the street) You may have to take a driving test. Most states will accept a valid license from another state and just issue a new license, but I do not know about a foreign license. If you can bring a driving record with you, it would be good. I think you can get this from your insurance company. All the states now can check driving records in other states, but I doubt they can from the UK.

My advice? Check everything 2-3 times before you send it in. Keep checking until you don't find anything missing or wrong. Sort of like adding a bunch of numbers, when you get the same result twice you got it right. Then get all your documents ready (at least you won't have to deal with translation...well maybe ) LOL We ARE one people separated by a common language!

Good luck.

Thank you very much Gary (i assume this is gary as you referred to your fiance as "her". sorry if i am mistaken though )

i wasn't aware that the packet 3 could be downloaded before the consulate sends it, but i will definitely try and find it.

That sounds like very good advice to get everything that i will need to take ready to go before i hear anything from them. Although i have read that you should wait until around the interview time to get police records etc.

thank again.

Neil

[neil wood 0]

The best thing is exactly what's been mentioned already. And while you may not be able to attend the birth (and definitely do NOT give that as a reason for visiting the US if you do come), I can tell you from experience it's not the birth so much as everything after that matters. My fiance and I waited until well after our daughter was born to start the process and we both regret it because he's essentially missing out on her first year of life. Get the process started now so you can be there for your baby after they're born. That's what's important.

Thank you very much michelle!

Yes i agree with you. It is the time after the birth that is important.

I hope things are quick for you, he will be there before you know it

Congratulations on the beautiful baby girl (i assumed that was her in the picture)

Neil.

[Laura+Tom 2]

Just want to say congratulations on the baby and good luck with your application.

[neil wood 0]

Just want to say congratulations on the baby and good luck with your application.

Thank you