London 2012- K1s from NOA2 to interview thread

[Shezi 108]

I wrote a pretty pathetic email pleading with them and stressing how pushed for time I was, then I just got what seemed like a pretty generic response.

I guess I will explain how that will leave me with only a few days to actually get there once I get my passport back and that's providing everything is ok at the interview.

I put my wedding date in my cover letter (sent cover letter, readiness form, all other forms together). I also said if they could advise if the date was realistic or not, I would appreciate it. I had medical on a Friday, sent forms following Monday, they assigned an interview 2 days later for the following week. For clarity, when I sent the forms in (Oct 1st), our wedding date was November 10th. Interview Oct 12th, once we got that date we booked flights.

When the schedule is pretty tight, there have to be some risks and compromises. For example, I confirmed that I would be available for interview at short notice and (since my fiancé came to the UK to get me) there were 2 flights to pay for without being sure we would get to travel. My visa and passport arrived 4 days before flying. It can be very nerve-wracking but at least we were able to keep our wedding date. In our case, we have 5 kids between us who needed flights paid for so a lot of money had been invested in the date! Fortunately for us, DoS were very accommodating.

Edited January 18, 2013 by Shezita

[Lewis F 2]

I put my wedding date in my cover letter (sent cover letter, readiness form, all other forms together). I also said if they could advise if the date was realistic or not, I would appreciate it. I had medical on a Friday, sent forms following Monday, they assigned an interview 2 days later for the following week. For clarity, when I sent the forms in (Oct 1st), our wedding date was November 10th. Interview Oct 12th, once we got that date we booked flights.

When the schedule is pretty tight, there have to be some risks and compromises. For example, I confirmed that I would be available for interview at short notice and (since my fiancé came to the UK to get me) there were 2 flights to pay for without being sure we would get to travel. My visa and passport arrived 4 days before flying. It can be very nerve-wracking but at least we were able to keep our wedding date. In our case, we have 5 kids between us who needed flights paid for so a lot of money had been invested in the date! Fortunately for us, DoS were very accommodating.

Was this just to rub it in that i'm extremely pushed for time and don't have the ability to be in America a month before my wedding ? haha

I'm not being horrible with you, it's just that you explaining your situation has made me feel worse about mine, I had my medical on the 26th of November, Then sent in my DS-2001 with cover sheet and all other forms a couple days after that, now i have only just been given an interview date, almost 2 months later, and the interview date is the 8th of February when my wedding is on the 22nd of that same month, I also mentioned my wedding date on the cover letter as well as being hopeful to be there for my fiancee's birthday (which i missed btw),I also mentioned being available for short notice, How could they process yours so quick yet leave me feeling tortured and stressed beyond my limit !

Edited January 19, 2013 by Lewis F

[Shezi 108]

Sorry Lewis - that wasn't my intention - was just trying to give a view on what can be done if you're pushed for time. Like you, I was reading constantly about others' experiences to try to gain a perspective on what was realistic - we'd moved our wedding date so many times because Vermont took so long to approve the petition and I was supposed to give 3 months' notice at work which was a bit of a killer. Sorry it made you feel worse

[lost_at_sea 995]

Hi,

Little query - I see the list of supporting documents includes my birth certificate (which I already ordered a new long form copy of). Just to be totally clear: do I also need to bring the USC's birth certificate?

Thanks

[lost_at_sea 995]

Also - the letters of intent, I noticed on that handy picture of "packet" 3 it says "notarized". That's an american thing, right? We're both in London, so are we going to have to track down someone to notarise? Although I note that appears to be absent from the document list: http://london.usembassy.gov/application_documents.html I assume I am being blind

Edited January 22, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Lewis F 2]

Hi,

Little query - I see the list of supporting documents includes my birth certificate (which I already ordered a new long form copy of). Just to be totally clear: do I also need to bring the USC's birth certificate?

Thanks

as far as i'm aware you don't need the US citizens birth certificate, there is no mention of it on the embassy websites checklist and i havent seen it mentioned on any checklists on this forum, i'm not too sure about the intent to marry though.

Now i have a question (another!) for anybody who can help,

Once i get my passport delivered after the interview (providing all goes well), will the brown packet be with it ? and if so, once i have received these can i fly immediately, like the next day ?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi,

Little query - I see the list of supporting documents includes my birth certificate (which I already ordered a new long form copy of). Just to be totally clear: do I also need to bring the USC's birth certificate?

Thanks

NO to US birth certificate. There is a photocopy in the file if they wanted to look at it. ( I'm the USC and nobody in this whole process all the way to citizenship ever saw my original BC, only photocopies.)

Also - the letters of intent, I noticed on that handy picture of "packet" 3 it says "notarized". That's an american thing, right? We're both in London, so are we going to have to track down someone to notarise? Although I note that appears to be absent from the document list: http://london.usembassy.gov/application_documents.html I assume I am being blind

If you get on with sending your forms in to London, you don't need another letter from US. fiancé. If you drag your heels for six months and dont do anything until well past your NOA2 expiration, then they want to make sure the USC Is still on board with the plan. Most don't need that letter. The UK fiancé reaffirms their intent, not with a letter, but when they take the oath and sign the DS-156K in front of the officer. (Read what the form says.)

Now i have a question (another!) for anybody who can help,

Once i get my passport delivered after the interview (providing all goes well), will the brown packet be with it ? and if so, once i have received these can i fly immediately, like the next day ?

Yes, if you want to speculate it will actually arrive. Things happen, like the truck broke down and our Monday delivery became a Tuesday delivery. Oh the suspense of this process

[lucy884 3]

Hi everyone - I have a few last minute checks with the 'packet 3' forms - planning on mailing these by Friday so they're almost all done!

Firstly, on form DS-230 Part 1: for question 24 it asks for mother's family name at birth. My mother was adopted as a baby so do I put her birth family name or adopted family name? I'm guessing her birth name, but I wrote her maiden name as her adopted name on the G-325a that was sent as part of the original visa petition so hope it's not a problem.

Secondly, on form DS-156: for question 14 it asks for national identification number. Is this my national insurance number that is on my payslips etc? I know the VJ example says to put 'none' but wanted to check in the UK forums specifically as their example is for an Italian.

Lastly, on form DS-156k it says that certain documents such as birth certificate, evidence of financial support etc "must be attached" - I haven't read about anyone sending these documents with the packet 3 but the way the form is worded has confused me. Am I right in thinking that the officer actually attaches the documents at the interview and you don't send them back with these forms.. ?

Thanks for any help sorry if these questions seem silly but the last thing I want to do is make a mistake.

[lucy884 3]

Oh also! The instructions say to include your wedding date in your cover letter, but we don't have a date yet. We haven't felt comfortable planning anything when we've had no idea when I would actually be able to move. Do I just leave out the wedding date in the letter, or do I explain why we don't have one? Should I give a provisional date, or just say 'an undetermined date in April'? What do people recommend?

[MmmBlondie 8]

Secondly, on form DS-156: for question 14 it asks for national identification number. Is this my national insurance number that is on my payslips etc? I know the VJ example says to put 'none' but wanted to check in the UK forums specifically as their example is for an Italian.

Lastly, on form DS-156k it says that certain documents such as birth certificate, evidence of financial support etc "must be attached" - I haven't read about anyone sending these documents with the packet 3 but the way the form is worded has confused me. Am I right in thinking that the officer actually attaches the documents at the interview and you don't send them back with these forms.. ?

Hi,

I cant help with question one but I asked the same question for question 2. We dont have a National Identification number and no it is not the same as our national insurance numbers. Im sure someone else can clarify if im wrong but I didnt put anything down.

I didn't attach any forms..i think that's for the officer, if not....oops

[lucy884 3]

Hi,

I cant help with question one but I asked the same question for question 2. We dont have a National Identification number and no it is not the same as our national insurance numbers. Im sure someone else can clarify if im wrong but I didnt put anything down.

I didn't attach any forms..i think that's for the officer, if not....oops

Thanks for the answers! I'm glad it's not the national insurance number because I already printed the form with 'none' for that question and didn't want to have to go back and change it!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi everyone - I have a few last minute checks with the 'packet 3' forms - planning on mailing these by Friday so they're almost all done!

Firstly, on form DS-230 Part 1: for question 24 it asks for mother's family name at birth. My mother was adopted as a baby so do I put her birth family name or adopted family name? I'm guessing her birth name, but I wrote her maiden name as her adopted name on the G-325a that was sent as part of the original visa petition so hope it's not a problem.

Totally an opinion, but I'd go with the same name you put on the G-325A, especially if that name also appears on your birth certificate.

Secondly, on form DS-156: for question 14 it asks for national identification number. Is this my national insurance number that is on my payslips etc? I know the VJ example says to put 'none' but wanted to check in the UK forums specifically as their example is for an Italian.

None

Lastly, on form DS-156k it says that certain documents such as birth certificate, evidence of financial support etc "must be attached" - I haven't read about anyone sending these documents with the packet 3 but the way the form is worded has confused me. Am I right in thinking that the officer actually attaches the documents at the interview and you don't send them back with these forms.. ?

Your thinking is exactly right.

Oh also! The instructions say to include your wedding date in your cover letter, but we don't have a date yet. We haven't felt comfortable planning anything when we've had no idea when I would actually be able to move. Do I just leave out the wedding date in the letter, or do I explain why we don't have one? Should I give a provisional date, or just say 'an undetermined date in April'? What do people recommend?

My opinion (and what I did) is made up a date a month earlier than the one we were planning. If you say August and "Mary" says March, then "Mary" is going to get the quicker interview, even if her stuff gets there a week after yours. If you say no date, "Mary" is still going to interview before you because they try to accommodate plans when possible. She has a date she is trying to meet and you don't care when you get there because you have no plans listed. It's your choice what you want to say, if anything. It's just to help them schedule and not an immigration form put in your file.

[lucy884 3]

You're awesome, Nich-Nick, thanks again

[MmmBlondie 8]

Just checked my emails after emailing the embassy on Monday and they assigned me an interview date on February 11th!!! Little later than I was hoping for but grateful all the same. If everything goes smoothly I may just be able to be in Florida ready for my fiance's homecoming from Afghan

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Just checked my emails after emailing the embassy on Monday and they assigned me an interview date on February 11th!!! Little later than I was hoping for but grateful all the same. If everything goes smoothly I may just be able to be in Florida ready for my fiance's homecoming from Afghan

Oh yay for you. It's so reassuring to finally have a date. I really, really hope you are there for the homecoming. Does he have an exact date yet?