London Embassy Graduates Thread

[rebeccajo 14]

For educational purposes, I thought some of you might like wander over to the AOS forum to read our account of our recent interview.

I've also posted a thread there about what happened with our vaccine supplement.

Here's also where I get to say to all of you - many thanks - and - I can't wait for all of you to feel this huge relief - this monumental weight - lifted from your shoulders. I am actually physically drained today - there REALLY REALLY is that much pressure on all of us, and I think we bear it rather well.

Of course, there are two reasons for that. We have each other here on VJ to help with the journey. And most of all we have our true love walking beside us as we travel this slippery slope.

Much love to you all, my partners in immigration.....

[Euro 3]

For educational purposes, I thought some of you might like wander over to the AOS forum to read our account of our recent interview.

I've also posted a thread there about what happened with our vaccine supplement.

Here's also where I get to say to all of you - many thanks - and - I can't wait for all of you to feel this huge relief - this monumental weight - lifted from your shoulders. I am actually physically drained today - there REALLY REALLY is that much pressure on all of us, and I think we bear it rather well.

Of course, there are two reasons for that. We have each other here on VJ to help with the journey. And most of all we have our true love walking beside us as we travel this slippery slope.

Much love to you all, my partners in immigration.....

Congratulations on the approval wes & becca ..............ya better keep the 90days to 2nd anniversary marked on ya calender

when my time comes i will have to stick post it notes all over the house imagine forgetting to do that!!(lift conditions) for all those who cant follow what i say, i know i pratle on & on & easy confuse people!!

Edited March 11, 2006 by euro

[Alison 0]

Congratulations rebeccajo and Wes, bet your glad to get it over and done with

Alison.

[rebeccajo 14]

Congratulations rebeccajo and Wes, bet your glad to get it over and done with

Alison.

Yeah, Alison, for sure we are. Had a little 'paperwork destruction' celebration Friday afternoon (binning duplicates, unused proof, etc.), had my folks down Saturday for a belated birthday dinner for Daddy (his birthday was last Saturday but we were up to our ####### in paperwork), and then today just relaxing. Life feels oddly normal.

Linking our interview account here - it was getting buried. Just thought it might be helpful to some of you as I think we are the one of the first of this group to adjust (other than Mark and Debs).

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5389

[weebeansy 0]

A HUGE congrats to Rebeccajo and Wes.....what a relief it must be to know that you're essentially done with having to "prove your love" to the government. When you think about it, it really is quite demeaning. Anyhow, thanks again for all of your help along the way. You've been another of my great guiding lights.

Andrew and I have just about finished our AOS/EAD packet...we're just waiting for the vaccination supplement to be mailed back. I'm a bit concerned about the fact that I don't stand on my own AT ALL in terms of the affidavit of support but luckily my father was willing to co-sponsor. Another question I've got is...my father has yet to file his 2005 tax returns but since they are still not due is he required to submit those records? Also, would you highly suggest obtaining joint bank accounts for when our AOS interview comes up?

Well, it's back to reality for me after quite the amazing week. I've got to say that married life is greater than I could have ever imagined. I didn't think that having some piece of paper saying that you're married could really change things but somehow it has. I can't even explain it but things are different in the best of ways. We're both just so attentive and so in love. I'm often the sort of person that second guesses things after they're done....especially big things but with the passing of each day I'm only more and more certain that Andrew is the guy for me. He's so amazing.

You know, I feel like we should all have a big party and get together and finally meet one another. It's too bad that we're spread all over the country. Ah well.......back to studying. -Weebeansy

[tamarae 0]

Congrats to wes & rebecca and weebeansy!

C & I are off to Vegas bright and early in the morning, 2 days of sightseeing, and then the wedding is on Friday. It'll be so much fun to see our friends and his family (my family declined to be present, except my mom, its all good by me, his fam is much cooler )

We'll be back in a week to whine about more AoS!

--Shawna

[rebeccajo 14]

A HUGE congrats to Rebeccajo and Wes.....what a relief it must be to know that you're essentially done with having to "prove your love" to the government. When you think about it, it really is quite demeaning. Anyhow, thanks again for all of your help along the way. You've been another of my great guiding lights.

Andrew and I have just about finished our AOS/EAD packet...we're just waiting for the vaccination supplement to be mailed back. I'm a bit concerned about the fact that I don't stand on my own AT ALL in terms of the affidavit of support but luckily my father was willing to co-sponsor. Another question I've got is...my father has yet to file his 2005 tax returns but since they are still not due is he required to submit those records? Also, would you highly suggest obtaining joint bank accounts for when our AOS interview comes up?

Well, it's back to reality for me after quite the amazing week. I've got to say that married life is greater than I could have ever imagined. I didn't think that having some piece of paper saying that you're married could really change things but somehow it has. I can't even explain it but things are different in the best of ways. We're both just so attentive and so in love. I'm often the sort of person that second guesses things after they're done....especially big things but with the passing of each day I'm only more and more certain that Andrew is the guy for me. He's so amazing.

You know, I feel like we should all have a big party and get together and finally meet one another. It's too bad that we're spread all over the country. Ah well.......back to studying. -Weebeansy

I'm all for that big party stuff if only we could find a good central spot.

At any rate, IF USING A CO-SPONSOR, don't forget to include proof of their citizenship!! It's one of the last things in the instructions....send your dad's birth certificate. I'm not sure if his 2005 tax return needs to be included or not. I would say yes....and you do know that now for AOS filed after November 2005 you only need ONE year tax returns....not three!

I would say yes get joint bank accounts between now and the interview. We were able to hand them four months worth.

Congrats to wes & rebecca and weebeansy!

C & I are off to Vegas bright and early in the morning, 2 days of sightseeing, and then the wedding is on Friday. It'll be so much fun to see our friends and his family (my family declined to be present, except my mom, its all good by me, his fam is much cooler )

We'll be back in a week to whine about more AoS!

--Shawna

Good to see you back girl! Saw you hanging about recently! Have a super trip and a very vegas wedding!!!

[pax 0]

Safe travels and VERY happy returns to Shawna and Ciaran this week!

FIVE weeks today...good Lord, it's getting close!

[weebeansy 0]

At any rate, IF USING A CO-SPONSOR, don't forget to include proof of their citizenship!! It's one of the last things in the instructions....send your dad's birth certificate. I'm not sure if his 2005 tax return needs to be included or not. I would say yes....and you do know that now for AOS filed after November 2005 you only need ONE year tax returns....not three!

I would say yes get joint bank accounts between now and the interview. We were able to hand them four months worth.

Thanks so much rebeccajo as I'd actually missed that bit about proving the co-sponsor's citizenship! Here's another technical question (I'm just full of questions lately!). All right...for the affidavit...my Dad files his tax returns jointly with my mother but is capable of meeting the financial requirements with just his income alone. So all he should have to do is submit his tax returns for the most recent year along with his W2s (for just one year on the W2s as well?). Well, he decided that it would be easier for him to just have my Mom sign the I-864A form or whatever it is saying that she also agrees to act as a co-sponsor even though he doesn't need her income to meet the requirement. So she signed the forms but I don't have any of her proof of employment or citizenship or proof of her relationship to my father because my Dad figured it wouldn't be necessary since he way more than meets the income requirements on his own. But I'm afraid that won't fly since he's essentially given me half of the required info for if you submit based on just his income and half of the required info for if you consider both parents incomes. I think I'm going to tell him I need his W2s...either that or I have to get the rest of the info for my mother. Does that sound right? Also, I already have three years of tax returns all ready to submit...do you think I should just keep it all as extra info shouldn't hurt or is it best to keep things simple? -Weebeansy

[FormerBrit 0]

Great write up - thank you Rebecca! I just have a query - do we need to do another I-864 for the AOS interview. We submitted the original already along with all the evidence with our AOS packakge.

Well, today we went along for the third time to the DMV - and guess what - I got a learner's driving permit I showed them all the docs they asked me for. Then I sat for 10 mins and did a mega quick swot of the Virginia driving rules and highway code. Then I took the written exam - 10 road signs and 25 multi choice - I passed! So, we paid the $7 and they gave me a learners licence for 30 days. After this time, I need to go back and take the road test with an examiner. If I pass that, I get my Va driving license

Kiki

PS - Although I have had a UK license for 19 years, they told me that the UK "was not on the list" so I would need to take both a written and road test. At least that is part of it out the way. Now I have 30 days to get used to driving our car and get used to the roads here in town (what's with the gear lever on the dash - funny )

Congrats to wes & rebecca and weebeansy!

C & I are off to Vegas bright and early in the morning, 2 days of sightseeing, and then the wedding is on Friday. It'll be so much fun to see our friends and his family (my family declined to be present, except my mom, its all good by me, his fam is much cooler )

We'll be back in a week to whine about more AoS!

--Shawna

Good luck!

Well, it's back to reality for me after quite the amazing week. I've got to say that married life is greater than I could have ever imagined. I didn't think that having some piece of paper saying that you're married could really change things but somehow it has. I can't even explain it but things are different in the best of ways.

Weebeansy, CONGRATS on your wedding!

Edited March 14, 2006 by KikiDoug

[weebeansy 0]

Hey Kiki, thanks for the congrats! I just had to tell you something I'm sure you'll love. So I was in a pub in Scotland one night when the song "Alive and Kicking" came on...only I didn't know that's what it was called as I started singing along loudly to the chorus with my own version of the lyrics....instead of Alive and Kicking....I'm screaming, "I love you Kiki!!!" at the top of my lungs which is what I always thought were the lyrics. Of course, Andrew found this to be hilarious. I think the song is even by a Scottish band, but could be wrong. So that one's for you Kiki...you can sing my version next time you hear it!

[rebeccajo 14]

Well, he decided that it would be easier for him to just have my Mom sign the I-864A form or whatever it is saying that she also agrees to act as a co-sponsor even though he doesn't need her income to meet the requirement. So she signed the forms but I don't have any of her proof of employment or citizenship or proof of her relationship to my father because my Dad figured it wouldn't be necessary since he way more than meets the income requirements on his own. But I'm afraid that won't fly since he's essentially given me half of the required info for if you submit based on just his income and half of the required info for if you consider both parents incomes. I think I'm going to tell him I need his W2s...either that or I have to get the rest of the info for my mother. Does that sound right? Also, I already have three years of tax returns all ready to submit...do you think I should just keep it all as extra info shouldn't hurt or is it best to keep things simple? -Weebeansy

Hmmm....I'm not sure how to answer you about your mom. But I believe that as she signed the I-864A, which is the attachment, then you need proof of citizenship for both of them. Use birth certificates (certified ones) or passports.

You only need ONE year tax returns now. With the attachments - W2's. Since she signed you need your mothers W-2s also. The regs state that if line 22 of the tax return meets the income requirements, no further documentation is necessary - you know bank statements, blah blah. The reg states that the adjudicator is to approve the affidavit if this criteria is met, unless there is some indication that something about that income is not quite right.

Or go back and re-do it all - just do a simple I-864 for him alone. That was how I did mine. USCIS didn't use it, but they never said it was filled out wrong.

Great write up - thank you Rebecca! I just have a query - do we need to do another I-864 for the AOS interview. We submitted the original already along with all the evidence with our AOS packakge.

Re-do it just in case. We did. They didn't ask for it. But it had only been 4 months since the filing. If they don't ask for it you can burn it - LOL. It's thereapeutic.

[FormerBrit 0]

Hey Kiki, thanks for the congrats! I just had to tell you something I'm sure you'll love. So I was in a pub in Scotland one night when the song "Alive and Kicking" came on...only I didn't know that's what it was called as I started singing along loudly to the chorus with my own version of the lyrics....instead of Alive and Kicking....I'm screaming, "I love you Kiki!!!" at the top of my lungs which is what I always thought were the lyrics. Of course, Andrew found this to be hilarious. I think the song is even by a Scottish band, but could be wrong. So that one's for you Kiki...you can sing my version next time you hear it!

(Was the group Simple Minds - I have that CD!)

Re-do it just in case. We did. They didn't ask for it. But it had only been 4 months since the filing. If they don't ask for it you can burn it - LOL. It's thereapeutic.

Thank you for the info Rebecca. We won't need to photocopy all the evidence again will we (since we've already sent it in)? It will be no problems to print off a new I-864 and have it re-notarised though...

Kiki

Edited March 14, 2006 by KikiDoug

[litlemo-nosleep 0]

Many many congrats to you both wes and rebbecca, thats great news, bet its a weight of your minds

I'm so happy for you both

[techgirl 0]

Peeeek A BoooO We got our approval today at the embassy, so I thought I would check in and say hello My luv flys home on April 6th

~Techie~