Police Certificate Etc.

[uk2upstateny 13]

Hi there,

My fiancee visa petition was filed on October 25th 2013 with the Vermont Service Centre.. So yes, loads of time left to wait, especially judging by increasing processing times! Last time I checked it is taking 7 months and 3 days to process a fiancee visa, oh man.. It is so frustrating, I really don't know how we all put up with it. Here's hoping the processing times come down soon.

Anyway, my question is.. I want to be as prepared as humanely possible when the visa gets processed, so that I can get to interview as quickly as possible. I noticed that one person said it's sometimes possible to just send your supporting documents straight to the embassy as long as you know they have received your approved petition. Assuming this is the case..

- How do you find out when the embassy has your petition? Just keep emailing them, or...?

- RE: Police certificates, medical exams.. How far ahead can you have these done? For example, is there a timeframe within which you have to apply for your police certificate, or do you just have to wait for your approved petition to arrive and then them to mail you your required documents before you can apply for it? I want to get mine done ASAP but I don't want it to be 'out of date' because I did it too soon.

- Any advice on other supporting documents? I know I'll need my passport and birth certificate, as well as supporting evidence such as photos, tickets, letters etc. I know people say 'take as much as possible' - but really, how much should I be aiming for?

- Any general advice about any of the above.

Thank you all so much in advance.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Police certificate is valid for one year, I've already got mine done and I only sent mine off last month. Generally advised to get that done sooner as it's a it of a pain to get (have to have passport photos signed and dated by someone official, blah blah) plus it takes a little while to get it back. No harm in getting it done now.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

.. I want to be as prepared as humanely possible when the visa gets processed, so that I can get to interview as quickly as possible. .

Start reading this thread from the beginning. You have time. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/

- How do you find out when the embassy has your petition? Just keep emailing them, or...?

Call DOS. Embassy call center charges per minute and isn't often helpful.

- RE: Police certificates, medical exams.. How far ahead can you have these done? For example, is there a timeframe within which you have to apply for your police certificate, or do you just have to wait for your approved petition to arrive and then them to mail you your required documents before you can apply for it? I want to get mine done ASAP but I don't want it to be 'out of date' because I did it too soon.

- Any advice on other supporting documents? I know I'll need my passport and birth certificate, as well as supporting evidence such as photos, tickets, letters etc. I know people say 'take as much as possible' - but really, how much should I be aiming for?

All covered in that thread. Don't take as much as possible. not needed in London. Take what's on London's list. Links in that thread to their instructions.

Edited February 16, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[uk2upstateny 13]

Sorry if I'm being stupid, but call DOS? What does that stand for?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Sorry if I'm being stupid, but call DOS? What does that stand for?

Sorry, I usually spell it out but was in a hurry.

Department of State in the US. 202-663-1225 press 1, then 0

Once your petition is approved, your case is handed off from USCIS to the Dept of State at the National Visa Center (NVC). The embassy falls under DOS, so anything put in the computer in London can be viewed and reported by DOS. The embassy charges per minute to talk to you and the person on the phone has limited access to your files. If calling from the US, the fee is a flat $16.00 to talk to the embassy call center. There is no fee for DOS to answer the phone.