Process from NOA2 to Arrival in the US - Notes

[Protocol417 161]

I've put together a list that contains lots of information which I thought might eventually be useful, however, I'm having difficulty confirming the validity of much of it. So I thought I would put it here in its entirety in the hopes that it will be picked apart until it is correct.

(This is the information that I've gathered reading through forums and various websites that would pertain to a kind of "basic" childless couple with clean police records applying for a K-1 visa... so essentially, it doesn't cover things like adoptees, people who are bringing their children or pets with, people who are self-employed, etc. Also, sorry for using Americanized spellings. And for the format going a bit wonky.)

NOTE: THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL.

This is what I think the process is, and some of these things are guesses. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE correct me when and where I'm wrong.

. Instructions/Timeline:

1. Around NOA2:
   • Start gathering documents from “Documents to bring to embassy” (except for MVR fee receipt)
   • Get immunizations
   • Get police certificate
2. After NOA2 – File is sent from USCIS to NVC:
   1. After about two weeks, begin calling NVC at (603) 334-0700 until able to obtain LND#
   2. Start filling out DS forms (fka “packet 3”)
   3. Begin practicing questions with fiancé/e (see embassy reviews for example of questions asked)
   4. Get immunizations and police certificate (if you haven’t already)
3. File is sent from NVC to London Embassy – no actions needed from Petitioner/Beneficiary
4. London Embassy will send a letter to the Beneficiary – at this point, Beneficiary sends “packet 3” containing all DS forms with DS2001 as cover letter (address will be on letter from the Embassy)
5. Go for Medical
   1. Office will forward results to Embassy – nothing for Beneficiary to bring to interview
   2. Must be completed no less than four days before interview
   3. Should be completed no sooner than receiving above letter from the Embassy
6. London Embassy will send an Appointment Letter to the Beneficiary with the appointment time and instructions on how to pay the visa/MRV fee
7. Beneficiary attends appointment/interview and brings the documents from the checklist - leave all electronics (including things like headphones and key fobs) at home or check them in Goulds Pharmacy across the street (£3 fee)
8. Beneficiary is approved (hopefully) and is directed to pay courier fee
9. Approximately a week later, London Embassy will send passport with visa and a sealed envelope which is to remain unopened.

(This is the part I struggled with the most, so your feedback would be greatly appreciated!)

Petitioner provides:

• Completed I-134 Affidavit of Support (note: I-864 does not apply to K-1 visas)
• Most recent tax transcripts and/or W-2
• Letter from employer stating
  • Date and nature of employment
  • Salary paid
  • Lists position as permanent (as opposed to temporary)
• Paystubs (how many???)

Beneficiary provides:

• Passport photos of Beneficiary:
  • 3 US-sized - 2 for embassy, 1 for medical http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html
  • 1 UK-sized for police certificate https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports
  • Must have been taken within the last six months
  • (During adjustment of status in the US, 6 more US-sized photos are needed)
• Immunizations:
  • These are not needed to be approved for the K-1 visa but are highly recommended while still in the UK so that you don’t have to deal with US doctors once you go to adjust status in the US
  • Many NHS doctors will do them for free, but they aren’t required to
  • Shots required:
    • Td or Tdap:
      • Must have been received within the last 10 years
      • May not be available in the UK – if this is the case, get DT, DTP, or DtaP
    • MMR – Get a 2^nd shot 4 weeks after your first, if you have time.
    • Varicella – If you’ve had chicken pox you don’t need this (they will take your word for it during the visa medical exam)
    • Influenza – Only applicable October 1^st through March 31^st
• Police certificate:
  • Application form is here: http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx
  • Items required for application:
    • Two items proving current address required, showing name and address and dated within the last six months
    • Copy of passport
    • One passport photo - (UK-sized) must be endorsed by someone who has known you for a minimum of 2 years, is 18 or older, and not a relative (see list on application for acceptable endorsements).
    • Payment - £45.00, £6 for additional copies (Fee can be paid by check, bankers draft/cashier’s check, bank transfer, or Postal Order - made payable to ‘PCC for Hampshire’)
  • Should come back saying “no trace”, which indicates a clean police record
  • If it comes back saying “no live trace”, this means there is something on your record that has been “spent” (ignored after a set time according to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act) – further documents may be required by the embassy
  • Takes about two weeks to obtain
  • Items sent with application will not be returned
  • Good for 12 months, and must be taken to medical exam
• Medical Exam (http://www.visamedicals.info/us.asp):
  • Call 020 7486 7822 for appointment (M-F, 9-5)
  • Police certificate and Case number (LND#) needed when calling for appointment
• “Packet 3” (all forms found here http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html):
  • DS-230 Part I
  • DS-156 (completed in duplicate – fill out online to get barcode, optimal browser is IE)
  • DS-157 (completed in duplicate)
  • DS-156K (do not sign)
  • DS-2001

Document to bring to embassy:

• Passport (must be valid at least 8 months from date of visa)
• Birth certificate (original or certified copy – order here if needed: http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/ - costs £9.25)
• Police Certificate (see above)
• Photographs (see above)
• Receipt for MRV fee (instructions for payment will come with Appointment Letter)
• Affidavit of Support (provided by Petitioner)
• Evidence of support (provided by Petitioner)

Note: Must be originals. Make copies for your records.

Fees:

• Visa/MRV fee: $240 (paid prior to interview for K-1 visas, see Appointment Letter for instructions)
• Police Certificate: £45.00 (Sent with application)
• Courier fee at Embassy: ???

As mentioned, please correct and add to this as you feel necessary!

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

[Laura. 90]

Medical can be UK or US sized photos. I used UK.

And the DS 2001 and cover letter don't HAVE to be sent with the other DS forms. They are sent when you are ready for the interview.

[Protocol417 161]

Medical can be UK or US sized photos. I used UK.

And the DS 2001 and cover letter don't HAVE to be sent with the other DS forms. They are sent when you are ready for the interview.

THANK YOU! That was one of the things I had to take a guess on.

In response to that, though, is there a benefit to sending the other DS forms prior to sending the DS2001, instead of just waiting until you're ready and then send everything together?

[rhirhi 35]

OK I knew about all the DS forms APART from DS157...I'm reading conflicting information about whether I will need to fill that out when the time comes, as I am a female. What about DS158? No idea why these two forms are missing from my initial list :/

[Protocol417 161]

OK I knew about all the DS forms APART from DS157...I'm reading conflicting information about whether I will need to fill that out when the time comes, as I am a female. What about DS158? No idea why these two forms are missing from my initial list :/

Hmmmm. I see what you're saying about the conflicting information.

The embassy-specific website only lists those documents and there doesn't seem to be anything gender-specific to the DS-157, though. When I did a search on the London embassy website, the only mention of DS-158 stated that the form is no longer accepted.

If I had to take a guess, I'd say based on this, the DS-158 is probably an obsolete form and/or did not apply to the K-1 process. I would stick with the documents listed on the website. The forums here seem to back that up.

Edited July 20, 2013 by Protocol417

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

OK I knew about all the DS forms APART from DS157...I'm reading conflicting information about whether I will need to fill that out when the time comes, as I am a female. What about DS158? No idea why these two forms are missing from my initial list :/

DS-157 for London used to be males 16-45, and all applicants male and female who hold a passport from China, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, or Syria. (source: London document IV15 April 2008 version). I think it was early 2009 around February(?) that they started requiring every K1 to submit it. The first women were surprised to get to the interview and be told they needed it and handed a copy. Eventually London updated their instructions to include it. It is gathering information to determine if further security screenings are needed.

London does not use DS-158.

Each consulate has their own way of doing things. Forget the VJ guides and what is happening in Manila that you read in the K1 forum when your case gets to the embassy. Follow London's K1 instructions. (Still called IV15, but web based instead of a packet.) http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

[lizzyduckluv 3]

1. After NOA2 – File is sent from USCIS to NVC:
   1. After about two weeks, begin calling NVC at (603) 334-0700 until able to obtain LND#
   2. Start filling out DS forms (fka “packet 3”)
   3. Begin practicing questions with fiancé/e (see embassy reviews for example of questions asked)
   4. Get immunizations and police certificate (if you haven’t already)

Thank you very much for posting this. It is so very helpful. A question I posted earlier to the K1 discussion forum is related to your content above. I don't understand what calling the NVC to get the LND# can do for us? Is it just to track our progress or is there something more? Just a little ignorant on this specific detail.

Also does anyone know the general time frame from the time you receive your NOA2 letter to the time the beneficiary receives the letter from the Embassy confirming receipt of the case?

Thank you!

[Laura. 90]

Also does anyone know the general time frame from the time you receive your NOA2 letter to the time the beneficiary receives the letter from the Embassy confirming receipt of the case?

Thank you!

I think it's around 2 - 4 weeks. My packet 3 arrived just over 3 weeks after our approval.

[Protocol417 161]

Hey guys,

Based on the info above, should this part:

1. 4. London Embassy will send a letter to the Beneficiary – at this point, Beneficiary sends “packet 3” containing all DS forms with DS2001 as cover letter (address will be on letter from the Embassy)
2. 5. Go for Medical
   1. Office will forward results to Embassy – nothing for Beneficiary to bring to interview
   2. Must be completed no less than four days before interview
   3. Should be completed no sooner than receiving above letter from the Embassy

Read more like:

1. 4. London Embassy will send a letter to the Beneficiary (at this point, Beneficiary can send "packet 3" with all DS forms except DS2001 - address will be on letter from the Embassy)
2. 5. Go for Medical
   1. Office will forward results to Embassy – nothing for Beneficiary to bring to interview
   2. Must be completed no less than four days before interview
   3. Should be completed no sooner than receiving above letter from the Embassy
3. 6. If all documents have been collected and Beneficiary is ready for interview, Beneficiary sends DS2001 (include all other DS forms if these haven't already been sent - see address on letter from the Embassy)

????

I'm still wondering if there is some sort of benefit to sending the DS forms (except DS2001) immediately, as opposed to just waiting and sending them all together.

[Protocol417 161]

A question I posted earlier to the K1 discussion forum is related to your content above. I don't understand what calling the NVC to get the LND# can do for us? Is it just to track our progress or is there something more? Just a little ignorant on this specific detail.

The DS2001 form does ask for the case number, so it can be helpful if you're preparing your documents in advance.

Other than this, I do believe it is mostly for tracking purposes/peace of mind. If you can get you LND# it ensures things are progressing smoothly up until that point, and if your file gets "stuck" it gives you a solid reference number when you call.

[JadeyHexed 29]

Thank you so much for this, Protocol! I have this page bookmarked and have referred to it several times already since receiving my NOA2 a few days ago. This site and its members are such a blessing. =)

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thank you so much for this, Protocol! I have this page bookmarked and have referred to it several times already since receiving my NOA2 a few days ago. This site and its members are such a blessing. =)

Much has changed since this was written. All the forms have changed. It's been a crazy summer for London. See the current K1 instructions with forms here http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html

[nobbie 105]

as said above, things have changed, I only interviewed 5 weeks ago and it's different, DS160 and DS 260 and all sorts of stuff, if you read the embassy web site and do as instructed when you get the so called packet 3 all should be fine.

[Protocol417 161]

Luckily it's a bit clearer and simpler now.

Two things to note:

- Notification of Applicant Readiness Form - not linked, but it can be found here: http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/notification_of_applicant_readiness_form.html

- Medical - They still have this as step three, but it seems it can be done concurrently with step 2. Many people do the medical before sending anything back to the embassy, but some have said that if the medical arrives before the paperwork it can confuse them and something might get lost. I'm not sure how much truth there is to that, though.

That said, the process so far still seems to be about the same as what is listed above, except for the DS forms. Oh, and when you call the NVC to get the LND#, you can ask for the beneficiary and invoice numbers then, too (this is needed for the DS260, if memory serves). We're still at step #6 though.