Was this my packet 3?

[criticalchris 13]

I got this in the post today - it sort of seems to be my packet 3, and yet I thought packet 3 was supposed to be more complete, with forms and further instructions? Did they streamline it or is this not a packet 3?

This is what I got, with my address and personal details cut off.

[Azsara 110]

I got this in the post today - it sort of seems to be my packet 3, and yet I thought packet 3 was supposed to be more complete, with forms and further instructions? Did they streamline it or is this not a packet 3?

This is what I got, with my address and personal details cut off.

It sure is

Do you have your DS forms ready to send?

P.S the packet 3 does not come with any forms it simply directs you to the website to print off the forms lol

[criticalchris 13]

I have the medical booked for the 14th, and I am going to fill out the DS forms and the rest after I join my fiancee in America on the 15th (I am going over as a tourist until the interview date). I've read that it doesn't matter what order you do the medical/forms in as long as they get them within a reasonable amount of time. The reason for waiting until I join my fiancee is so that I can go over the documents we need for the interview together and then be sure we can fill the DS-2001 (the checklist for documents you have to bring to the interview, right?) accurately before we send it all off. As soon as we hear back from the embassy with an interview date, I will book a flight back to the UK in time for the interview. Should that be fine? I can't see any reason why there would be any problem with me being out of the country; at this stage (after the medical at least) I believe all I need to do is gather forms and send them, which I of course can do in the States.

EDIT: I guess the term 'packet' (which sounds beefy) threw me off, lol

Edited August 10, 2013 by criticalchris

[Azsara 110]

I have the medical booked for the 14th, and I am going to fill out the DS forms and the rest after I join my fiancee in America on the 15th (I am going over as a tourist until the interview date). I've read that it doesn't matter what order you do the medical/forms in as long as they get them within a reasonable amount of time. The reason for waiting until I join my fiancee is so that I can go over the documents we need for the interview together and then be sure we can fill the DS-2001 (the checklist for documents you have to bring to the interview, right?) accurately before we send it all off. As soon as we hear back from the embassy with an interview date, I will book a flight back to the UK in time for the interview. Should that be fine? I can't see any reason why there would be any problem with me being out of the country; at this stage (after the medical at least) I believe all I need to do is gather forms and send them, which I of course can do in the States.

EDIT: I guess the term 'packet' (which sounds beefy) threw me off, lol

The only issue I can see with you going to America the day after your medical is if there are any problems with your medical results (BIG IF) they are supposed to contact you within 48 hours to discuss the step to resolve the issue. Will your mobile work in the states? Will you be in a position to make the necessary phone calls, doctors visits etc. if there are any problems with your medical blood tests and xray tests while ur in the states? The chances are slim but you need to consider it.

Correct it doesnt matter what order you send the forms in (i.e before your medical or after your medical). However the DS-2001 is just a form that says "Hey London I got all my forms, affadavit of support, birth cert, etc. im ready for my interview" its not a check list of anything, and actually has nothing to do with your interview apart from telling them that you are ready for it. The only reason I could think of you holding off before sending your forms is if you were going over there to collect your fiancees affadavit of support, tax returns etc. are you? or has she sent them to u already? If you dont physically have them in your hands right now i would go with your plan and send the readyness form only once u physically have those docs in ur hands in the states, if u already have them then just get all the forms sent and done with

[lost_at_sea 995]

It was called a Packet from back in the day when they mailed paper copies of the forms (I guess they still do in some countries). But yeah, seems confusing to be called that.

[criticalchris 13]

The only issue I can see with you going to America the day after your medical is if there are any problems with your medical results (BIG IF) they are supposed to contact you within 48 hours to discuss the step to resolve the issue. Will your mobile work in the states? Will you be in a position to make the necessary phone calls, doctors visits etc. if there are any problems with your medical blood tests and xray tests while ur in the states? The chances are slim but you need to consider it.

Correct it doesnt matter what order you send the forms in (i.e before your medical or after your medical). However the DS-2001 is just a form that says "Hey London I got all my forms, affadavit of support, birth cert, etc. im ready for my interview" its not a check list of anything, and actually has nothing to do with your interview apart from telling them that you are ready for it. The only reason I could think of you holding off before sending your forms is if you were going over there to collect your fiancees affadavit of support, tax returns etc. are you? or has she sent them to u already? If you dont physically have them in your hands right now i would go with your plan and send the readyness form only once u physically have those docs in ur hands in the states, if u already have them then just get all the forms sent and done with

No, we don't have it all together yet; she wanted me to help her with it so she could be confident it was all completed correctly. Thanks for your help!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

No, we don't have it all together yet; she wanted me to help her with it so she could be confident it was all completed correctly. Thanks for your help!

The London preferred order is still--

1. Forms applying for visa

2. Medical results

3. DS-2001 saying you have your documents for interview

It is all about you. It's your forms to fill out and your documents. The American provides an affidavit of support only. Suppose you get to America, then read your forms. Hmm..Every trip ever to the US in your whole life? Do you need an old passport or something back in England to help you find the dates? The long form birth certificate? Any other documents to find in England? Everything to be gathered is not in America so your post puzzles me a bit.

Packet has been out for years as a term used by the federal agencies. VJ promotes the term still.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Packet has been out for years as a term used by the federal agencies. VJ promotes the term still.

Not necessarily. The guy I spoke to at DoS a week or two ago called it Packet 3. XD Threw me off a little bit as I was expecting him to call it something more official sounding. He just said "The last update I can see here is XX XX XX which is when they sent out Packet 3.. Have you received this yet?"

[criticalchris 13]

The London preferred order is still--

1. Forms applying for visa

2. Medical results

3. DS-2001 saying you have your documents for interview

It is all about you. It's your forms to fill out and your documents. The American provides an affidavit of support only. Suppose you get to America, then read your forms. Hmm..Every trip ever to the US in your whole life? Do you need an old passport or something back in England to help you find the dates? The long form birth certificate? Any other documents to find in England? Everything to be gathered is not in America so your post puzzles me a bit.

Packet has been out for years as a term used by the federal agencies. VJ promotes the term still.

Preferred order? Are you just saying that to scare me? Unless it's explicitly stated that you must fill the forms before the medical, then what is the problem?

I appreciate what you are saying, but as the only things you can think of that might be an issue are the birth certificate and my trips to America, I fail to see a problem. My birth certificate I already know the location of, and I know the precise dates of my two visits to the States. I have actually been through a visa process before for a J-1 visa, so I've had to list this stuff before. I am relatively young and (until I move to America) am still living with my parents, so they can sort out anything unforeseeable that happens when I am abroad.

Edited August 11, 2013 by criticalchris

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Preferred order? Are you just saying that to scare me? Unless it's explicitly stated that you must fill the forms before the medical, then what is the problem?

I appreciate what you are saying, but as the only things you can think of that might be an issue are the birth certificate and my trips to America, I fail to see a problem. My birth certificate I already know the location of, and I know the precise dates of my two visits to the States. I have actually been through a visa process before for a J-1 visa, so I've had to list this stuff before. I am relatively young and (until I move to America) am still living with my parents, so they can sort out anything unforeseeable that happens when I am abroad.

Well, I didn't really know that, did I? So based on the questions I've seen in the UK forum for five years, some don't read their requirements or the steps given on the website, then panic. Was only giving you something to consider if you didn't already have it covered. You seem very knowledgeable and understand what is expected.

The order is listed in the instructions your letter tells you to find on the web.. Step One, Step Two, Step Three. I guess they actually say medical last, but I have seen faster results when the readiness gets to them just after the medical results so they know nothing is pending and can go on and assign an interview right away.

Apologies for commenting. Carry on.

[criticalchris 13]

Well, I didn't really know that, did I? So based on the questions I've seen in the UK forum for five years, some don't read their requirements or the steps given on the website, then panic. Was only giving you something to consider if you didn't already have it covered. You seem very knowledgeable and understand what is expected.

The order is listed in the instructions your letter tells you to find on the web.. Step One, Step Two, Step Three. I guess they actually say medical last, but I have seen faster results when the readiness gets to them just after the medical results so they know nothing is pending and can go on and assign an interview right away.

Apologies for commenting. Carry on.

I didn't mean to come off as snarky (if I did) - thanks for your help!

[mariepear 12]

Does everybody get the requirement for "fiance(é)'s notarized statement of intent to marry within 90 day of arrival to the US" in the Packet 3???

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Does everybody get the requirement for "fiance(é)'s notarized statement of intent to marry within 90 day of arrival to the US" in the Packet 3???

Every consulate has different procedures. The LONDON letter of instruction for K1s states a date at the bottom of the letter. It is actually the NOA2 petition approval date. If you read the London letter posted at the beginning of this thread, the third paragraph says "The K1/2 petition is valid four months......". They are saying in that paragraph if you go past your four months, a notarized letter of intent from the American is required at the interview to re-validate the petition. That is only London's way of doing it. Otherwise London does not require a new letter of intent at all. Your consulate may have a different way of dealing with people who don't have their interview and visa before their petition approval expires. You should read every word of anything your consulate sends you and follow that over what VJ or someone from a different consulate says once you get to that part of the process.

[Kiwinyc 62]

Preferred order? Are you just saying that to scare me? Unless it's explicitly stated that you must fill the forms before the medical, then what is the problem?

I appreciate what you are saying, but as the only things you can think of that might be an issue are the birth certificate and my trips to America, I fail to see a problem. My birth certificate I already know the location of, and I know the precise dates of my two visits to the States. I have actually been through a visa process before for a J-1 visa, so I've had to list this stuff before. I am relatively young and (until I move to America) am still living with my parents, so they can sort out anything unforeseeable that happens when I am abroad.

Have you looked at all the forms you're required to complete? I think they ask for a heck of lot more more information than you're expecting. I've been to the US on a J1 also. And an F1 and I've held two H1B's. The K-1 forms blindsided me with the level of detail required. They also want to know what other countries (not just the U.S.) you've travelled to for the last ten years, and what years you travelled to them in. Maybe if you're that young and you haven't done anything, then listing all your travel, your last two jobs and every educational institution attended including addresses and durations for everything is easy for you. If so, you're lucky. I had to trawl through old passports, and all my files to gather the required information.

Edited August 11, 2013 by Kiwinyc

[mariepear 12]

Every consulate has different procedures. The LONDON letter of instruction for K1s states a date at the bottom of the letter. It is actually the NOA2 petition approval date. If you read the London letter posted at the beginning of this thread, the third paragraph says "The K1/2 petition is valid four months......". They are saying in that paragraph if you go past your four months, a notarized letter of intent from the American is required at the interview to re-validate the petition. That is only London's way of doing it. Otherwise London does not require a new letter of intent at all. Your consulate may have a different way of dealing with people who don't have their interview and visa before their petition approval expires. You should read every word of anything your consulate sends you and follow that over what VJ or someone from a different consulate says once you get to that part of the process.

Thank you so much!