The 2009 United Kingdom Interview Thread!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Very happy for you Shaz.

[Laura+Tom 2]

January 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London

Jason&Sarah, Hannah+Vito, Mrssmith, ShannonNick, adrianandlinsay, Marmite Lovers!


February 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London

Rob&Dawn, Zoe and Hal, Terri and Seb, Talyss, TeeKol

March 2009 Interviews

Stinky Monkey...............K1......................................6th March 2009 APPROVED!!!!
Dave and Jess...............K1......................................10th March 2009
pothergavel...................K1......................................16th March 2009
texpat cymru.................K1......................................18th March 2009
The Dip Sticks................K3......................................25th March 2009
Furious Biscuit...............K1......................................27th March 2009
KnightAndMagpie..........K1......................................30th March 2009


Still waiting for approval

Sad Eyes..........................................25th February 2008 - Still stuck in AP?
stevi1123.........................................16th October 2008 - Approved pending additional documentation
Marie620..........................................12th January 2009 - Denied, to file waiver
DairyFarmer.....................................5th March 2009 - Placed in AP

[Stinky Monkey 1]

Very happy for you Shaz.

Thanks honey

Hey are you gonna be moving out of State now I will be a Texas Gal

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Congrats

[paul. 0]

Thanks everyone. Is that list just for K visas though? As everything except the passport is already in the hands of the NVC and I was under the impression I would get them returned at the visa interview for my CR-1...

[Julie Ivy 0]

Many Congratulations and have a great flight over

[MARM 7]

Congrats Shaz!

:dancing: :dancing:

[MARM 7]

Anyone have any ideas about when we should be expecting our Packet4/Interview letter?

We put leave date for April 17 and Marriage date April 24. We are not in any hurry at the moment, but we were wondering what is the average time it takes from the embassy receiving packet 3 response until interview date letter received?

From what I have searched in the immigration time-lines section of this website, it seems that the interview letter shows up about 1 month- 2 weeks before the interview date assigned. Am I right in this estimation?

Also...I had some questions about purchasing air travel tickets.

This is our scenario:

When my fiance gets his K-1 visa, I will join him in London and we will be going to Pakistan from London together to spend some time with his family and attend his sister's and brother's wedding ceremonies (coincidentally, the dates are within 2 weeks of each other!). And after about 2 months in Pakistan, we plan on a flight from Pakistan to Chicago (our home and final destination ). Since this is our plan, I would be purchasing a ONE WAY air ticket from Ohare to Heathrow, and he will be purchasing both our tickets (well in advance of course) from Heathrow to Pakistan. And we were planning on purchasing the return tickets to Chicago from Pakistan (as they will be MUCH cheaper as compared to purchasing them in London). So we are concerned about two things:

A.) Is it safe (immigration wise) for me to purchase a ONE WAY ticket from Chicago to Heathrow? It does not make sense for me to purchase a round trip since I will be going to Pakistan first and then coming back with my fiance from Pakistan to Ohare. I am planning on taking proof of further travel to Pakistan to show at immigration in London in case they ask for a return ticket from me (I am the USC). Will this be ok? And if not, do you guys have any suggestions?

B.) Our other concern is on the way back from Pakistan to Chicago, will it be a problem for my fiance at his POE that we first took a ~2 month trip to Pakistan together before he decided to enter the USA on his K-1? The reason we plan on going to Pakistan for this trip is because his family lives there and after his POE and AOS and all of that, we won't be able to go back to visit them at least for the next 2-3 years.

Thanks guys if you can offer some advice or any suggestions, it would be great!

-Marm

[obbynox 0]

Anyone have any ideas about when we should be expecting our Packet4/Interview letter?

We put leave date for April 17 and Marriage date April 24. We are not in any hurry at the moment, but we were wondering what is the average time it takes from the embassy receiving packet 3 response until interview date letter received?

From what I have searched in the immigration time-lines section of this website, it seems that the interview letter shows up about 1 month- 2 weeks before the interview date assigned. Am I right in this estimation?

Also...I had some questions about purchasing air travel tickets.

This is our scenario:

When my fiance gets his K-1 visa, I will join him in London and we will be going to Pakistan from London together to spend some time with his family and attend his sister's and brother's wedding ceremonies (coincidentally, the dates are within 2 weeks of each other!). And after about 2 months in Pakistan, we plan on a flight from Pakistan to Chicago (our home and final destination ). Since this is our plan, I would be purchasing a ONE WAY air ticket from Ohare to Heathrow, and he will be purchasing both our tickets (well in advance of course) from Heathrow to Pakistan. And we were planning on purchasing the return tickets to Chicago from Pakistan (as they will be MUCH cheaper as compared to purchasing them in London). So we are concerned about two things:

A.) Is it safe (immigration wise) for me to purchase a ONE WAY ticket from Chicago to Heathrow? It does not make sense for me to purchase a round trip since I will be going to Pakistan first and then coming back with my fiance from Pakistan to Ohare. I am planning on taking proof of further travel to Pakistan to show at immigration in London in case they ask for a return ticket from me (I am the USC). Will this be ok? And if not, do you guys have any suggestions?

B.) Our other concern is on the way back from Pakistan to Chicago, will it be a problem for my fiance at his POE that we first took a ~2 month trip to Pakistan together before he decided to enter the USA on his K-1? The reason we plan on going to Pakistan for this trip is because his family lives there and after his POE and AOS and all of that, we won't be able to go back to visit them at least for the next 2-3 years.

Thanks guys if you can offer some advice or any suggestions, it would be great!

-Marm

Hi, the embassy received my packet 3 on the 9th feb, and i got my packet 4 this week on the 5th of March with my interview set for 20th March

Sorry i can't help much with the flights, but i do know when me and my fiance were looking into it, flights back to the US from Heathrow one way costs twice as much as a round trip ticket

Good Luck

Selina.

[DairyFarmer 1]

MARM its not whether you are returning from where you came which is important it is whether you have a ticket showing you are departing from the UK. So an onward ticket to Pakistan would show that.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

MARM its not whether you are returning from where you came which is important it is whether you have a ticket showing you are departing from the UK. So an onward ticket to Pakistan would show that.

How are you doing, been thinking bout ya

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

A few comments to MARM~~

One way to Heathrow will be more expensive that round-trip.

I think you should call Customs and Border Patrol at O'Hare and ask them. Explain like you did to us what your plans are and ask them if there is a problem of him entering with a K1 on a flight from Pakistan with visa issued in the UK. I don't see why it would matter as long as the 6 months on the visa hasn't expired. But you will be more at ease hearing an answer from the CBP people at the airport where he will POE.

Here's two phone numbers:

CBP Passenger Service Manager

Chicago - O'Hare International Airport

Patrick Salgado (773) 894-2900 Ext. 2872

PSMs are the primary point of contact to address concerns or comments about the inspections process of international travelers.

This one is actually at the airport arrivals building and is the same phone number. It seems to verify that the above guy is officed at the airport.

Name: O'Hare International Arrivals Building - T5

Phone: (773) 894-2900

Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-10:00 PM(Central)

Seven Days A Week (7)

And the last comment is a link showing a travel advisory issued February 25, 2009, just 10 days ago.

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against non-essential travel to Pakistan in light of the threat of terrorist activity.

For your safety, just read the link and be aware http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_930.html

[skeez&titanic 0]

Anyone have any ideas about when we should be expecting our Packet4/Interview letter?

We put leave date for April 17 and Marriage date April 24. We are not in any hurry at the moment, but we were wondering what is the average time it takes from the embassy receiving packet 3 response until interview date letter received?

From what I have searched in the immigration time-lines section of this website, it seems that the interview letter shows up about 1 month- 2 weeks before the interview date assigned. Am I right in this estimation?

Also...I had some questions about purchasing air travel tickets.

This is our scenario:

When my fiance gets his K-1 visa, I will join him in London and we will be going to Pakistan from London together to spend some time with his family and attend his sister's and brother's wedding ceremonies (coincidentally, the dates are within 2 weeks of each other!). And after about 2 months in Pakistan, we plan on a flight from Pakistan to Chicago (our home and final destination ). Since this is our plan, I would be purchasing a ONE WAY air ticket from Ohare to Heathrow, and he will be purchasing both our tickets (well in advance of course) from Heathrow to Pakistan. And we were planning on purchasing the return tickets to Chicago from Pakistan (as they will be MUCH cheaper as compared to purchasing them in London). So we are concerned about two things:

A.) Is it safe (immigration wise) for me to purchase a ONE WAY ticket from Chicago to Heathrow? It does not make sense for me to purchase a round trip since I will be going to Pakistan first and then coming back with my fiance from Pakistan to Ohare. I am planning on taking proof of further travel to Pakistan to show at immigration in London in case they ask for a return ticket from me (I am the USC). Will this be ok? And if not, do you guys have any suggestions?

B.) Our other concern is on the way back from Pakistan to Chicago, will it be a problem for my fiance at his POE that we first took a ~2 month trip to Pakistan together before he decided to enter the USA on his K-1? The reason we plan on going to Pakistan for this trip is because his family lives there and after his POE and AOS and all of that, we won't be able to go back to visit them at least for the next 2-3 years.

Thanks guys if you can offer some advice or any suggestions, it would be great!

-Marm

Marm,

My fiancee sent his packet 3 feb 4 and I still have no word on packet 4 think im getting the run around because we called the london embassy and they said it could take up to 6 to 8 weeks. But then again that is just my luck....

[MARM 7]

As always, you are a great help Nich!

I will call the PM at Ohare on Monday and confirm that it will be OK.

And about the travel warning...I am a native of Pakistan, was recently on a 2 month trip there (June of last year) and my mother went to visit my grandmother in Dec of 08, it is fairly safe depending on where you go and how much you know of the ins and outs, so to speak. Of course the travel warning is still serious, nonetheless, but it is for the Northern/Afghan Border Region mainly. Elsewhere, as long as you know where you are and what you are doing (e.g. US Citizens that are natives of Pakistan and travel there often), you should be fine. Both my fiance and I have a lot of relatives there that we are on contact with on a daily basis so we are more knowledgeable of the current state of affairs as compared to what is depicted in the media. The media tends to hype up everything in general to add to the tension. But I must agree that for people who have never visited Pakistan or are going there for strictly tourist purposes and are not familiar with where they are going, the travel warning should be taken seriously. And it is a trip we have to make since my fiance's immediate family lives there (my immediate family is here in the USA) and we don't know when we will get a chance to see them again, especially since the wedding in the USA will be without them present and we will need about 2-3 years to settle down properly before thinking about making a trip to Pakistan again.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

My advise to you is to call DOS much friendlier than the embassy and more helpfull