UK AOS 2009 Thread

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

By the time that I got my green card, I had only just started getting responses (after I got my EAD in hand). It varies from case to case, I suspect .

Also, Knight got sworn into the Air National Guard by his dad on Friday! We were all so proud of him, and it meant so much to Knight that his dad got up in his old uniform to do it. Means that we can start using the BX on base and all that good stuff, and we're not entirely sure when he's going to go off to basic training. He'll be actually going into Aerospace Maintenance now, as what he originally wanted to do has no slots left. It also means that he'll be away for twenty-five weeks...I think I'll be able to manage it, but it was a bit of a shock more so than the fourteen weeks before was. At least he won't have to disappear on me again after that, I hope.

Hugs to all I've gotten over the cold now, or most of it, anyhow. Alaskan colds are mean!

Magpie.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Interview today! We were procrastinators, and didn't get the wedding album pictures picked out and to the book maker guy in time, so we just have some digital ones that we printed out yesterday. It might be better, as there are a variety of days involved, and more than just the few days around the wedding (including our Halloween costumes - The Newly-deads!) so...

Actually, we spent the whole weekend NOT thinking about the interview as the robotics team we mentor (www.usfirst.org) had their regional competition Thurs - Sat. Exciting. High pressure. Stressful! but GREAT FUN! We were seeded 6th going into the final rounds, and made it to the semifinals! Between that and working ~60 hour weeks I haven't had any time to worry about this stuff.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Well, the interview was......interesting.

Seemed to go alright with just a few bumps (Nik gave us a blank stare when she asked him to "Tell me about your trip last March 2009" and I got in trouble for saying two words: "Wedding - Hawaii" trying to shake something loose for him). A bit later, she seemed to make a decision, and she says, "Oh, there's just one more thing...about this I693...." And my heart sank.

The person who had filled it out had signed on Part 6 instead of Part 5!!! I hadn't thought to look because at the time I didn't realize that CS's were doing that. Anyway, the IO thought that it should be a simple thing to take it back to the CS and explain they filled it out wrong and get them to sign part 5. She wrote a little note on the interview letter to give to the security guys on our way out which said we would be back in a couple of hours.

We went to the CS, and we weren't even allowed to talk to the Dr. The Nurse informed us that she doesn't sign that part, and despite my pointing out on the RFE we were handed that only part 5 was missing, they flatly and adamantly refused. They did refund our money though, which was OK, I guess...Rushed home, got our phones working trying to find someone who would do it, found one guy on the way back to the office who said "cash only" and when I insisted he sign part 5, suddenly he balked.

We went back to the USCIS office (she told us come back no matter what, so she could give us a 30 day RFE if unsuccessful - no phone numbers etc), told her what happened - To her astonished disbelief, apparently... (REALLY?! We can't be the only ones!!!) She went and got a supervisor, and meanwhile, we networked in the waiting room where someone mentioned that they had gone to such and such doctor for their medicals and found them reasonable.

Anyway, Supervisor IO gave us a spiel about the medicals and also adamantly said that only part 1 part 2 vaccination section AND part 5 were required...I'm like, Lady, you're preaching to the choir here! They said that other CS's in the area regularly did the I-693's correctly, but they naturally couldn't recommend any. *sigh*

Anyway, we were issued a 30 day RFE for the vaccination supplement, and she said she would keep an eye out for it, because we were having so much trouble. She was actually pretty friendly, and seemed to want to help - just had her hands tied by policy or whatever.

We went to the Dr. recommended in the waiting room, and got it done for $20! Then I'm standing out in the parking lot checking things over - because NO WAY am I sending anything back which doesn't look right this time! They had spelled Nik's last name wrong. ARGH! She fixed it and sealed it up again, gave us a fresh copy and off we went to the post office. $4 and it should be across town tomorrow.

Hope this nightmare is over now! She definitely said we are approved pending a fixed up I-693. Oh yeah, and I totally have a head cold today. Not a good day to tick me off.

[Gemmie 142]

Woah, VJ has changed! It's thrown me off a little.

Nik and Heather, your ordeal at USCIS sounds so stressful! I know when a mistake happens, you feel like you're the only ones it happens to, so everyone's attitude seems even worse, but judging by this forum alone, so many things get screwed up along the way, that it's probably a norm for them at the office. How frustrating. At least now you can relax knowing that you're approved pending the new form, and you have 2 years off.

Good luck with the ROC, Damian, I hope it goes well.

Magpie, when is Knight going to be away? It's so great that he got into the ANG. I think Bill would love to do something like that as flying/planes are his passion, but what a bum that he has to be away for 25 weeks.

Feeling better, Nich? I don't know how long it takes to recover from something like that. Make sure Nick spoils you!

As for me, I passed my drivers theory test and got my permit - the woman was SO lovely, she told me that the people at the other office were basically incorrect because I didn't need all of the documents they were asking for - and my husband has been training me behind the wheel. I'm doing great so far, he says, and I'm apparently ready to try out an actual road tonight after just 90 minutes in a parking lot. Excited.. on the job front, I had a few rejections but I got a response from Harvard Medical School asking me for an interview for their psychiatry department as a research assistant! Really surprised they were interested as I only have a Bachelor degree and most of them are psychologists. I'm just waiting on the date. It will be great if I work there, I would love to work in central Boston and their benefits package is amazing. Driving and working in the city is my dream at the moment, and coming home to the countryside won't seem so bad.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Gemmie

[obbynox 0]

Oh my Gerrard do i wish i never got up this morning

Got a Response of intent to deny this morning on my sons AOS, Due to having no evidence of receieving a medical exam during the K1 process....... i am kinda lost for words, though not surprised.....i sent them receipts and a copy of the vaccination form (twice). So i'm guessing due to some halfwhits incompetence they have lost his entire medical We need to submit a full medical report within the next 30 days or he will automatically be denied. The main worry is the section on his 'mental health'. He suffers from aspergers and for the K1 medical we needed to provide written statements from his hospital doc and his school to state that he would not cause harm to himself or others....these documents were faxed direct to the Knightbridge docs, so i never even saw them let alone received a copy. so now we are racking our brains trying to figure whats the best way to go, 30 days isn't alot of time (in the warped world that is immigration), do we contact our congressman or just go for medical and hope for the best! What the bob do we pay the 1 thousand and odd dollars for these people to do?

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

On a brighter note, comgrats Gemmie, seems like its all finally going your way

Good luck everyone else.

A very disgruntled Selina

[n1dom 0]

Hi all,

GC showed up in the mail this morning, ironically featuring the tiniest Union Jack ever on the back!

Nick+Heather glad to hear that the nightmare is nearly over for you, it concerns me that there's been so many issues with medical RFEs for a variety of reasons. It's almost like USCIS took a correspondence course in incompetence and passed with flying colours. I took the chance of questioning the IO regarding mine and did get the response that I was looking for insofar as it was incorrectly issued. However I have doubts that the facts will ever filter up or down the chain to improve things for others in the future.

Gemmie, keep on motoring and good luck with the interview. Those rejections, whilst a little disheartening, at least let you know where you stand. I've had only one rejection out of over 30 applications to date, so I'm like an eager puppy still when the mailman calls!

Still, it's turning out to be a gorgeous evening in Boston, ideal for a stroll after being marooned since Sunday! 60F and sunny tomorrow....

Dom

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi all!

First of all, I updated the UK AOS timeline. There were lots of bits to fill in and I added John and Camie. I'm doing okay...surgery was 2 weeks ago tomorrow. Not sure the digestion is working out so quickly...or maybe it was the chili dogs I ate when I'm supposed to be on an easy diet. Oh well. I ate two of them even. And I haven't been offically released to drive yet, but I don't like being grounded so I went to the garden center Sunday and Monday.

Selina, I would be calling my congressman so fast your head would spin. They need to have them send for the A-file and get that kid's medical. Emphasize that he is a special needs child (or something that will make them sympathize) and you went to great lenths to document his situation to get approval for the visa. Now the new contractors at USCIS not doing their job to order/locate a file that is in the hands of the US government. Also explain to them that since the new contractors have been in place at the National Benefits Center (Fall 2009) there is chaos with K visa holders and the medicals.

Gemmie--glad you're driving. I really want to visit Boston someday. I've never been there. Hope it works out you can commute to the city. Harvard Medical would be awesome. ::crossing fingers::

So Magpie, does he know when his 25 weeks will be? Does he get a choice? What about July 4th??!?

And yipee to the rest of you who got cards and approvals. Poor Heather....always another glitch to overcome. I can't even believe there was one more at an otherwise good interview.

xxx

[Allie and Nigel 2]

Well nothing new with us over here, Nigel's biometrics was the beginning of this month, so hopefully we'll have some progress soon regarding EAD, greencard etc....so we'll see, he's getting antsy not working but we got him into volunteering a bit so he's ok, plus he's fixing stuff round the house and baking lots of cookies! lol.

[lovelyalex 99]

As for me, I passed my drivers theory test and got my permit - the woman was SO lovely, she told me that the people at the other office were basically incorrect because I didn't need all of the documents they were asking for - and my husband has been training me behind the wheel. I'm doing great so far, he says, and I'm apparently ready to try out an actual road tonight after just 90 minutes in a parking lot. Excited.. on the job front, I had a few rejections but I got a response from Harvard Medical School asking me for an interview for their psychiatry department as a research assistant! Really surprised they were interested as I only have a Bachelor degree and most of them are psychologists. I'm just waiting on the date. It will be great if I work there, I would love to work in central Boston and their benefits package is amazing. Driving and working in the city is my dream at the moment, and coming home to the countryside won't seem so bad.

How are you finding driving Gemmie? Did you drive in the UK at all? I heard that if you have a UK license you can get a Mass one without taking the test... is that true do you know? If so I am rather gutted cos we were planning on moving down to Mass but at the moment are in (Southern) NH and I'll have to go all the way up to bloody Concord to sort out my test etc because that is their specific non citizen place that does it. I can't even get through to the office and talk to a person to ask them some specific questions about my existing UK license. Most annoying!! Thankfully in NH (live free or die!) You don't need a learners permit at all, so I have been getting out where possible to practice in my mother in laws car. Still don't like being able to turn right at red lights....

[lovelyalex 99]

I finally got my ####### in gear and started applying to some jobs today. Initially it was a bit daunting, as I was doing my old job for 5 years so it was a steep learning curve getting my CV... I mean resume... back upto speed and 'yankified' no less. I hate how some places want to know your salary requirements in your covering letter. I feel a bit funny taking about money, especially when I am new to America in that regards. My net savvy husband showed me a website to help me work out average salaries for specific roles, and then I just took it from there!

[obbynox 0]

Thanks nich-nick We emailed our congressman last night (had to do something to stop my agitation..lol) will await a reply today, and if i hear nothing will be giving them a call, been feeling a little emotionally wrecked with one thing and another but had a good nights sleep and am in fighting form again today

I'm glad your feeling better, let's hope you'll be back to normal soon

Good luck to all you job seekers out there...it really is exciting times

Selina.

[Gemmie 142]

Naughty Nich! I hope those chilli dogs were worth it!

Dom, is there a Union Jack on the back? I never noticed that. Good luck with the job hunt, I know how you feel though as I applied to dozens of jobs and only got replies from about two saying they weren't interested. The rest just leave you hanging. Isn't it BEAUTIFUL today in Mass? I'm so jealous that you get to enjoy the day in Boston.

Alex, yeah it is true that if you had a UK license, you can drive on that for a year. And there isn't a separate place for non-citizens to go (how odd..). I didn't drive in the UK, so I don't have too many bad habits to forget, and I find driving here is easy. I've only been in the driving seat three times, and already I feel I have the hang of it. Well yesterday I scared my husband to death because I accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the brakes at a stop sign but tonight I'm ready to go out on a bigger road. It's difficult because by the time he gets home from work and takes me out, we only have 20 minutes to practice before dark, and I'm not allowed to drive after dark apparently.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Nick+Heather glad to hear that the nightmare is nearly over for you, it concerns me that there's been so many issues with medical RFEs for a variety of reasons. It's almost like USCIS took a correspondence course in incompetence and passed with flying colours. I took the chance of questioning the IO regarding mine and did get the response that I was looking for insofar as it was incorrectly issued. However I have doubts that the facts will ever filter up or down the chain to improve things for others in the future.

Dom

Poor Heather....always another glitch to overcome. I can't even believe there was one more at an otherwise good interview.

Yeah, it wasn't the "out of date" thing at all. Really kicking myself about the part 5/6 thing. They are both on the same sheet, so although I looked at the copy we had more than once, All I saw was part 5 at the top, and a signature - never noticed it was under part 6! I also hadn't read on here about CSs doing the transcription but balking at signing part 5, so I didn't even know to look.She never mentioned the RFE to us specifically, and I wasn't about to bring it up at that point.

Anyway, we did get it sent off certified and it was supposed to arrive yesterday. Speaking of, I really need to double check that tracking... The officer who interviewed us said she would keep an eye out for our response. Whether she actually does or not remains to be seen. I'm hoping to hear by next week. They send out an approval letter before the card, right?

[lovelyalex 99]

Yes they do, but if you have signed up for email notifications you'll get a bunch before you get anything in the mail if they approve you

[Nik+Heather 121]

Yes they do, but if you have signed up for email notifications you'll get a bunch before you get anything in the mail if they approve you

Well, unfortunately, we haven't had much luck with the online system either. Despite having an interview, it is still stuck on our Jan 12th RFE. In fact, according to the online system our petition is still under review.

Anyway, I feel like a whiner next to Selina. I hope that medical thing gets worked out because with ours at least it's just a money issue. We don't want to go get a full medical because we don't think we should have to, but it's still possible.