Packet 3

[Ellesse 11]

Hi there everyone

I am currently completing the documents for packet 3 (DS-230 Part 1, DS-156 - 2 copies, DS-156k, DS-157 - 2 copies) and wanted to check something.

Do all the above documents need to be sent into the Embassy prior to interview? As I'm reading through the forms, it appears that DS-156 and DS-156k need to be taken to interview rather than posted in - is that correct? Do I then only need to post in DS-230 Part 1 and DS-157? I haven't completed DS-2001 as yet as I'm still waiting for a couple of the documents to take to interview - my understanding is that is the other document that must be posted in.

I'd appreciate any responses on this.

Thanks

L

[kutakendra 3]

Yes. they all need to be sent in, now. We asked a few times, hoping to get confirmation from someone here, but didn't. We were just so fearful that we would forget something. We have read to keep multiple copies of everything. My poor fiancee is going to have to hire a car to go to his interview in two weeks:) with all the ####### he has.

It's more frustrating that it can take several weeks (and for my neurotic type 1 personality) for them to log it in, so you don't know if you did it correct.

We sent everything.

We were considered complete at about 10 days.

We got the interview date scheduled (packet 4 issued) about 14 days after medical results (7 days after medical).

We kept copies (just in case)

(We have no visa, but have had no RFEs thus far. Interview 7/11, 9AM; flight 7/21-flexible; wedding 8/19)

[Ellesse 11]

Hi there

Thanks for that response - I just wanted to check, really, as I'm a little confused, particularly as there are then forms which I won't have signed before sending them to the Embassy (specifically DS-156k)!

Thanks again, and I hope your fiance's interview goes well!

L

[sam.luns 0]

Hi there

Thanks for that response - I just wanted to check, really, as I'm a little confused, particularly as there are then forms which I won't have signed before sending them to the Embassy (specifically DS-156k)!

Thanks again, and I hope your fiance's interview goes well!

L

Hi,

Documents I submitted to log in my case are as follows:

1 copy of DS-230 Part 1, signed

2 copies of DS-156, signed

1 copy of DS-156k, No signature

2 copies of DS-157, No place to sign

I've read somewhere that DS-157 should be submitted by only male applicants between the age of 16 and 45 but I wasn't sure about it with Embassy in London so I submitted all the 4 types of docs regardless on May 28, 2011. So far I haven't heard from them. Hoping though I didn't do anything wrong...

[Ellesse 11]

Hi,

Documents I submitted to log in my case are as follows:

1 copy of DS-230 Part 1, signed

2 copies of DS-156, signed

1 copy of DS-156k, No signature

2 copies of DS-157, No place to sign

I've read somewhere that DS-157 should be submitted by only male applicants between the age of 16 and 45 but I wasn't sure about it with Embassy in London so I submitted all the 4 types of docs regardless on May 28, 2011. So far I haven't heard from them. Hoping though I didn't do anything wrong...

Thanks for your reply, Sam. I had been advised of that too, but the documents as I was looking at them today confused me slightly. I hadn't read about the DS-157 thing either, and am filling that out regardless. At least it's one more thing out of the way. Just (!) the medical and interview to go...for this part, at least!

L

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi there everyone

I am currently completing the documents for packet 3 (DS-230 Part 1, DS-156 - 2 copies, DS-156k, DS-157 - 2 copies) and wanted to check something.

Do all the above documents need to be sent into the Embassy prior to interview? As I'm reading through the forms, it appears that DS-156 and DS-156k need to be taken to interview rather than posted in - is that correct? Do I then only need to post in DS-230 Part 1 and DS-157? I haven't completed DS-2001 as yet as I'm still waiting for a couple of the documents to take to interview - my understanding is that is the other document that must be posted in.

I'd appreciate any responses on this.

Thanks

L

You mail in to London all four forms plus the duplicates where requested. Read the London website. They tell you to do that. It wouldn't hurt to make a spare copy of each to have handy in case yours got misfiled or something. From the website:

Step One

Complete the Form DS-230-Part 1, Form DS-156 and DS-157 for each family member applying for a visa. In addition, the principal applicant is also required to complete form DS-156K. Note: Forms DS-156 and DS-157 must be completed in duplicate. If a question does not apply to you, please mark it with a N/A.

The completed form(s) should be mailed to the Immigrant Visa Unit.

See "Contact and Mailing Address" on the right-hand side of the page. Note: The failure to return the forms promptly will delay the processing of your application.

Follow what London's procedure is over what the forms say. Do not mail the documents the DS-156 forms says to include like birth certificate, etc. Other consulates may do it differently, but London tells you what they want mailed and what they want brought to the interview. Read it from the source and there should be no confusion http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

DS-157: Yes in London it also used to be for males of a certain age. It was that way in 2008. But they started requiring it of everybody sometime in 2009. There is no place to sign it.

DS-156 and DS-230 part 1 signature: Yes sign. Read it. You are saying everything is true, etc.

DS-156K signature: Read it. DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE, so that means don't sign below the line either. The signature is an oath sworn with your hand raised at the interview. There is a place for the officer to sign that you swore/signed in front of him. He's got to see you sign your name under the oath. If you signed before you mailed it in, then he'll have you sign it again somewhere beside or above your other signature.

[Ellesse 11]

You mail in to London all four forms plus the duplicates where requested. Read the London website. They tell you to do that. It wouldn't hurt to make a spare copy of each to have handy in case yours got misfiled or something. From the website:

Step One

Complete the Form DS-230-Part 1, Form DS-156 and DS-157 for each family member applying for a visa. In addition, the principal applicant is also required to complete form DS-156K. Note: Forms DS-156 and DS-157 must be completed in duplicate. If a question does not apply to you, please mark it with a N/A.

The completed form(s) should be mailed to the Immigrant Visa Unit.

See "Contact and Mailing Address" on the right-hand side of the page. Note: The failure to return the forms promptly will delay the processing of your application.

Follow what London's procedure is over what the forms say. Do not mail the documents the DS-156 forms says to include like birth certificate, etc. Other consulates may do it differently, but London tells you what they want mailed and what they want brought to the interview. Read it from the source and there should be no confusion http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

DS-157: Yes in London it also used to be for males of a certain age. It was that way in 2008. But they started requiring it of everybody sometime in 2009. There is no place to sign it.

DS-156 and DS-230 part 1 signature: Yes sign. Read it. You are saying everything is true, etc.

DS-156K signature: Read it. DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE, so that means don't sign below the line either. The signature is an oath sworn with your hand raised at the interview. There is a place for the officer to sign that you swore/signed in front of him. He's got to see you sign your name under the oath. If you signed before you mailed it in, then he'll have you sign it again somewhere beside or above your other signature.

Nich-Nick

Thanks so much for your reply - as ever, it's great to get your advice. I had thought I was meant to send in all four forms with the duplicates where necessary, and then read the completion guidelines (particularly for DS-156) and just got..in a tizzy, basically. Fortunately, I'd noticed that I wasn't meant to write below a certain part of DS-156K and have left that part blank. I have also printed off copies today, on top of what I'm going to send in, because..well..at this point, I'd rather be safe than sorry (and then have to spend the amount of time finding all the info I need and then filling out the forms if something went astray).

No, wasn't going to post in the documents needed at interview as the letter is quite clear about that, as is the website. I'm still waiting for a couple of those and am hoping they'll come soon, although the police check we talked about on another thread looks like it could hold things up for a while. Ah well, gives me time to practice being..patient!

Thanks again,

L

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Lot's of people start second guessing when they read what the forms say or hear what K1 forum friends say to send in (to other consulates). And people are constantly asking if the documents go to the interview, so I threw that in for silent readers who don't ask. You're making progress...not too much longer for you. Summer is such a busy time at the Embassy, so people seem to be getting frustrated with the wait and trouble getting through the payment line. I read somewhere that London issued 92,000 visas in 2010. Hard for them to keep up, I'm sure.

[Ellesse 11]

Lot's of people start second guessing when they read what the forms say or hear what K1 forum friends say to send in (to other consulates). And people are constantly asking if the documents go to the interview, so I threw that in for silent readers who don't ask. You're making progress...not too much longer for you. Summer is such a busy time at the Embassy, so people seem to be getting frustrated with the wait and trouble getting through the payment line. I read somewhere that London issued 92,000 visas in 2010. Hard for them to keep up, I'm sure.

I can relate to the whole 'wondering which documents to take to interview' thing - I knew I was unsure about it until I posted on here and got some advice (thanks for that too!). And, in some ways, the forms themselves don't always help!

Over 90,000 visas? Blimey! That's going some! Understand the frustration some people have, particularly when they've been waiting a while, but I keep my fingers crossed that the process from here to POE runs smoothly. It feels like it's getting closer which is exciting, but also a bit nerve-wracking. Feels more real.

Thanks again, Nich-Nick.