The 2009 United Kingdom Interview Thread!

[Nik+Heather 121]

It's so good you told me that...KLM/Northwest told me I wouldn't have to grab my baggage. Because this whole process has made me a paranoid spaz , I just want to clarify:

1) My first flight is to Amsterdam, I won't need to collect baggage/take to the next point

2) Flight to Minneapolis -- I have to go to the New Immigrants line and give my fat brown envelope to the Dude

3) Grab baggage from baggage reclaim in Minneapolis and then change to Anchorage flight

4) Don't have to deal with that kinda process in Anchorage

Sounds right to me. The last time I had a few stops on an international flight (Berlin-London-Chicago) we had to check in a second time, but NOT handle luggage on the middle stop - Amsterdam for you. Be sure you confirm whether or not you have to make that extra step when you check in at London.

Also, the reasoning for the luggage pickup in Minneapolis is that YOU have to take them thru customs. They want the person and the goods together (if possible - if your luggage misses your flight from Amsterdam, then they'll send it along a few days later). Usually just past customs there is a little mini-checkin area where you just drop it off again to go on to your final destination. Just for future reference, if you aren't going thru customs (just connecting to another international destination), then you don't usually have to pick up luggage.

Edited May 15, 2009 by Nik+Heather

[Damian P 92]

It's so good you told me that...KLM/Northwest told me I wouldn't have to grab my baggage. Because this whole process has made me a paranoid spaz , I just want to clarify:

1) My first flight is to Amsterdam, I won't need to collect baggage/take to the next point

2) Flight to Minneapolis -- I have to go to the New Immigrants line and give my fat brown envelope to the Dude

3) Grab baggage from baggage reclaim in Minneapolis and then change to Anchorage flight

4) Don't have to deal with that kinda process in Anchorage

Sounds right to me. The last time I had a few stops on an international flight (Berlin-London-Chicago) we had to check in a second time, but NOT handle luggage on the middle stop - Amsterdam for you. Be sure you confirm whether or not you have to make that extra step when you check in at London.

You are correct, Magpie. And what I think KLM/Northwest meant when they told you you wouldn't have to grab your luggage (I flew the same airline, btw ) is that it would be checked thru to the U.S. from your U.K. starting point, hence not having to collect it in Amsterdam. Double check that though. But you absolutely WILL have to pick it up in Minneapolis, and re-check it onto the Anchorage flight. That much I can guarantee.

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Sounds right to me. The last time I had a few stops on an international flight (Berlin-London-Chicago) we had to check in a second time, but NOT handle luggage on the middle stop - Amsterdam for you. Be sure you confirm whether or not you have to make that extra step when you check in at London.

You are correct, Magpie. And what I think KLM/Northwest meant when they told you you wouldn't have to grab your luggage (I flew the same airline, btw ) is that it would be checked thru to the U.S. from your U.K. starting point, hence not having to collect it in Amsterdam. Double check that though. But you absolutely WILL have to pick it up in Minneapolis, and re-check it onto the Anchorage flight. That much I can guarantee.

Fantastic advice, guys -- thank you. Hopefully this will prevent me making a right prat of myself when I get to Minneapolis. I will be sure to heckle the poor check-in dude/dudette with questions to ensure that my luggage doesn't end up far from its intended destination.

Woohoo! A trip to Thorpe Park before I go seems in order...

That said: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Or that's what I should be squealing, but it simply hasn't sunk in yet, even looking at the ominous brown envelope with "EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER" and "SURRENDER THIS TO AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER" on the front.

Magpie.

[Lisa and Ian 7]

Sounds right to me. The last time I had a few stops on an international flight (Berlin-London-Chicago) we had to check in a second time, but NOT handle luggage on the middle stop - Amsterdam for you. Be sure you confirm whether or not you have to make that extra step when you check in at London.

You are correct, Magpie. And what I think KLM/Northwest meant when they told you you wouldn't have to grab your luggage (I flew the same airline, btw ) is that it would be checked thru to the U.S. from your U.K. starting point, hence not having to collect it in Amsterdam. Double check that though. But you absolutely WILL have to pick it up in Minneapolis, and re-check it onto the Anchorage flight. That much I can guarantee.

Fantastic advice, guys -- thank you. Hopefully this will prevent me making a right prat of myself when I get to Minneapolis. I will be sure to heckle the poor check-in dude/dudette with questions to ensure that my luggage doesn't end up far from its intended destination.

Woohoo! A trip to Thorpe Park before I go seems in order...

That said: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Or that's what I should be squealing, but it simply hasn't sunk in yet, even looking at the ominous brown envelope with "EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER" and "SURRENDER THIS TO AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER" on the front.

Magpie.

Have a good trip! How exciting!!

I just went Heathrow - Chicago - Omaha (Ian recently came Heathrow - Minneapolis - Omaha), and we had to recheck our bags at the first US stop. I think it's a US security thing. Get ready to take your shoes off again, too.

Does anyone know what is in the ominous brown envelope, or does only immigration ever see what it is?

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Does anyone know what is in the ominous brown envelope, or does only immigration ever see what it is?

You whole K1 file, London Embassy file, and your medical report.

[MARM 7]

Does anyone know what is in the ominous brown envelope, or does only immigration ever see what it is?

You whole K1 file, London Embassy file, and your medical report.

Now that you mention it...I remember reading here on VJ that someone opened the brown envelope, made copies of all the papers for themselves and then took a trip to the embassy again to reseal the envelope before leaving the country so that it could be accepted at POE time in the USA (not a case going through London, it was for a diff embassy). What benefit would it be to the visa holder to make copies of everything inside the brown envelope when it has everything that we have already seen and submitted (so you already have a copy of everything anyway)?

Just curious

[MonkeyJuice 3]

Happy to report we are approved!!!! Wow, now the rest of my life can begin! On the train home now so will write a full report later but wanted to say thank you to everyone on here for all the help, advice and support we've received. This place has been a godsend and I intend to stay with it for all the other processes and form filling to come. So thank you!!

Gimme one of those shiny stars please!

Sorry it's late but congratulations!!! May is a great months for approvals!

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Does anyone know what is in the ominous brown envelope, or does only immigration ever see what it is?

Your whole K1 file, London Embassy file, and your medical report.

Now that you mention it...I remember reading here on VJ that someone opened the brown envelope, made copies of all the papers for themselves and then took a trip to the embassy again to reseal the envelope before leaving the country so that it could be accepted at POE time in the USA (not a case going through London, it was for a diff embassy). What benefit would it be to the visa holder to make copies of everything inside the brown envelope when it has everything that we have already seen and submitted (so you already have a copy of everything anyway)?

Just curious

There's probably a lot of people that wished they had a copy of the medical exam forms. I can't tell you how many people get RFEs for the medical during AOS. The brown envelope file is supposed to catch up with your new AOS application so the AOS file has your whole paper record. I don't know if it doesn't get sent for, it's lost somewhere or what, but they go looking for the medical exam and don't have it. The K visa people who have a medical exam abroad don't have to do it over again if it's less than a year old. But if USCIS can't find a record of that exam, they RFE for it and the applicant is stuck paying several hundred dollars to have it done again in the US. That's when I think people wish they had a copy of things from their brown envelope. (Of course the AOS adjudicator might not accept a photocopy.)

[Talyss 0]

Does anyone know what is in the ominous brown envelope, or does only immigration ever see what it is?

You whole K1 file, London Embassy file, and your medical report.

Now that you mention it...I remember reading here on VJ that someone opened the brown envelope, made copies of all the papers for themselves and then took a trip to the embassy again to reseal the envelope before leaving the country so that it could be accepted at POE time in the USA (not a case going through London, it was for a diff embassy). What benefit would it be to the visa holder to make copies of everything inside the brown envelope when it has everything that we have already seen and submitted (so you already have a copy of everything anyway)?

Just curious

No idea why they would want to copy all of it. I have read several threads recomending trying to get a photocopy of the medical as USCIS has been known to have lost them when it comes to the AOS process and the doctors who do the medicals don't keep records everything is sent to the embassy.

[Nik+Heather 121]

So what IS the recommended way to get a copy of the medical? From Knightsbridge? Open the do not open? Ask at the interview?

Looks like we will be having a brown envelope for a while before we use the visa, we DO have time to unseal, copy and take back to the embassy.

[discoduck 0]

Woo hoo!!! yay!! Congratulations Marm! a big happy dance for you

So pleased things worked out for you after all the unbelievable stress!

Congratulations Moira! Hope the medical goes well!

Such good news for May interviews, lets hope it continues!

What kind of name is Monkey Juice? Sounds really silly to me...

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Woo hoo!!! yay!! Congratulations Marm! a big happy dance for you

So pleased things worked out for you after all the unbelievable stress!

Congratulations Moira! Hope the medical goes well!

Such good news for May interviews, lets hope it continues!

What kind of name is Monkey Juice? Sounds really silly to me...

Says Discoduck...

:: Grooves ::

Magpie.

Edited May 16, 2009 by KnightAndMagpie

[discoduck 0]

Woo hoo!!! yay!! Congratulations Marm! a big happy dance for you

So pleased things worked out for you after all the unbelievable stress!

Congratulations Moira! Hope the medical goes well!

Such good news for May interviews, lets hope it continues!

What kind of name is Monkey Juice? Sounds really silly to me...

Says Discoduck...

:: Grooves ::

And when the duck quacks, immigrants listen!

Magpie.

[discoduck 0]

Woo hoo!!! yay!! Congratulations Marm! a big happy dance for you

So pleased things worked out for you after all the unbelievable stress!

Congratulations Moira! Hope the medical goes well!

Such good news for May interviews, lets hope it continues!

What kind of name is Monkey Juice? Sounds really silly to me...

Says Discoduck...

:: Grooves ::

And when the duck quacks, immigrants listen!

Magpie.

Only kidding! Shoulda put people listen!

[MissusM09 1]

Woo hoo!!! yay!! Congratulations Marm! a big happy dance for you

So pleased things worked out for you after all the unbelievable stress!

Congratulations Moira! Hope the medical goes well!

Such good news for May interviews, lets hope it continues!

What kind of name is Monkey Juice? Sounds really silly to me...

Says Discoduck...

:: Grooves ::

And when the duck quacks, immigrants listen!

Magpie.

Only kidding! Shoulda put people listen!

norway won! i mean ..........did you hear that song. Eurovision rocks for just the amount of jokes it gives you every year, its the gift that keeps on giving.

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