UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

A lovely interview date for yourselves now to

Best place to look for trains is on here http://uk.megabus.com/ we got a good deal and saved some money.

My interview is at 8am and we are booked on something like a 1:30pm return, letter says it could be up to 3 hours being there, hoping it won't be nearly as long.

Eh, we had a very bad experience with megabus unfortunately. Took one of their buses to London and after stopping at a rest stop for a quick break our bus left me and my fiancé and a few others behind. Well let them know our stuff was still on the bus and they said they would grab it for us but when we arrived in London almost £250 and some belongings had been stolen. They told us they would review the CCTV and locate our stuff for us and then call us but after a few days wait we called and asked for an update and then we found out they never planned on doing that for us and because we hadn't filled a police report (they told us it was not needed, my bad for being ignorant and believing this) they weren't investigating it.

Just basically got screwed over on so many levels. We have taken virgin trains ever since and love the service so it's defiantly worth the extra cash..

[AMZJ 61]

Eh, we had a very bad experience with megabus unfortunately. Took one of their buses to London and after stopping at a rest stop for a quick break our bus left me and my fiancé and a few others behind. Well let them know our stuff was still on the bus and they said they would grab it for us but when we arrived in London almost £250 and some belongings had been stolen. They told us they would review the CCTV and locate our stuff for us and then call us but after a few days wait we called and asked for an update and then we found out they never planned on doing that for us and because we hadn't filled a police report (they told us it was not needed, my bad for being ignorant and believing this) they weren't investigating it.

Just basically got screwed over on so many levels. We have taken virgin trains ever since and love the service so it's defiantly worth the extra cash..

I usually get first great western and have never had any issues with them. But I do live about 30 mins on the fast train from London so it does help.

[PandaBound86 0]

Might as well get in on the fun...

Had my medical last Tuesday, which was not anywhere near as bad as threads that I have read on here btw, waited about an hour to see Doc, had a few checks, blood draw and a Chest X-ray and that was it

Now just impatiently waiting for my interview date to be approved and waiting on the letter - Anyone know if I can call for my date?

According to quite a few peoples VJ timelines, Interview letters are being received 10 - 12 days after the Medical so I am expecting mine tomorrow.

[AndyR82 8]

Might as well get in on the fun...

Had my medical last Tuesday, which was not anywhere near as bad as threads that I have read on here btw, waited about an hour to see Doc, had a few checks, blood draw and a Chest X-ray and that was it

Now just impatiently waiting for my interview date to be approved and waiting on the letter - Anyone know if I can call for my date?

According to quite a few peoples VJ timelines, Interview letters are being received 10 - 12 days after the Medical so I am expecting mine tomorrow.

Come and join the party, welcome

I didn't really have a problem with the medical apart from getting up at 3:45am to get up to London for it.

There is an email address on this thread somewhere you can contact somebody and see if there is one assigned.

Got my letter 16 days after the medical on the 23/01 but it was dated the 20/01.

[Nauchelle Iain 0]

Fiance just scheduled his medical for the 2nd of Feb! Very excited to finally have that date.

I was just looking through timelines and noticed that some peoples interviews happened just a couple weeks after the medical while other have been up to a month or so later.

I'm guessing this is just based on luck?

We are trying to figure out timing as I will be over visiting in the UK from March 18 to 30... we are hoping the interview doesn't fall in that time frame as we have booked a trip in the highlands but its looking like it possibly might.

Just looking for insight - or a link to another thread maybe?

[Emmylou151 44]

Fiance just scheduled his medical for the 2nd of Feb! Very excited to finally have that date.

I was just looking through timelines and noticed that some peoples interviews happened just a couple weeks after the medical while other have been up to a month or so later.

I'm guessing this is just based on luck?

We are trying to figure out timing as I will be over visiting in the UK from March 18 to 30... we are hoping the interview doesn't fall in that time frame as we have booked a trip in the highlands but its looking like it possibly might.

Just looking for insight - or a link to another thread maybe?

Good work so far awesome that the medical is booked.

It really is down to luck, for example, some people had their medical a week before me, yet I had my interview before them. There is a myth, that if you put an early date for your wedding on the readiness form, they schedule you in quicker. But really there is no evidence of this.

I personally wouldn't plan trips until you know the interview date - if they schedule it while you guys are away, it will be a pain to change and you will be waiting longer. I got my letter for interview 3 weeks after medical. I'd say it varies between 2 and 4 weeks.

In the Visa game, it's really better to play it safe...

Now that the medical is booked, and he has all his docs for interview, you can submit the readiness and DS160. They wont schedule the interview til you've done those things so if you really wanted to do the highlands you could wait until after the trip.

[Nauchelle Iain 0]

Good work so far awesome that the medical is booked.

It really is down to luck, for example, some people had their medical a week before me, yet I had my interview before them. There is a myth, that if you put an early date for your wedding on the readiness form, they schedule you in quicker. But really there is no evidence of this.

I personally wouldn't plan trips until you know the interview date - if they schedule it while you guys are away, it will be a pain to change and you will be waiting longer. I got my letter for interview 3 weeks after medical. I'd say it varies between 2 and 4 weeks.

In the Visa game, it's really better to play it safe...

Now that the medical is booked, and he has all his docs for interview, you can submit the readiness and DS160. They wont schedule the interview til you've done those things so if you really wanted to do the highlands you could wait until after the trip.

Would we be able to wait even if the I-129F expires March 30?

I think we may wait and see what we get for the interview and then go from there. He has obligations at home the whole month of April anyway so POE wouldn't be until the first week of May anyway (hopefully!).

We had scheduled everything before we even got our NOA2!! Assuming the process was going to take 7 - 8 months.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Good work so far awesome that the medical is booked.

It really is down to luck, for example, some people had their medical a week before me, yet I had my interview before them. There is a myth, that if you put an early date for your wedding on the readiness form, they schedule you in quicker. But really there is no evidence of this.

I personally wouldn't plan trips until you know the interview date - if they schedule it while you guys are away, it will be a pain to change and you will be waiting longer. I got my letter for interview 3 weeks after medical. I'd say it varies between 2 and 4 weeks.

In the Visa game, it's really better to play it safe...

Now that the medical is booked, and he has all his docs for interview, you can submit the readiness and DS160. They wont schedule the interview til you've done those things so if you really wanted to do the highlands you could wait until after the trip.

I don't think this is a myth. I have been in contact with a few other London Embassy K-1's through PMs and all of us had very similar medical dates we submitted everything for the interview within the the same week.

I put a date for this summer on for when I was planning on getting married and one other put a farther date, while another put a very close date. My medical is 3 weeks later than the one who submitted a close date and the other who put a farther off wedding date got a significantly farther interview date as well.

The kicker is that all of our interviews were scheduled and letters were sent within the same 2 days, so it seems there may be some sort of difference made by putting a different date.

[Emmylou151 44]

Would we be able to wait even if the I-129F expires March 30?

I think we may wait and see what we get for the interview and then go from there. He has obligations at home the whole month of April anyway so POE wouldn't be until the first week of May anyway (hopefully!).

We had scheduled everything before we even got our NOA2!! Assuming the process was going to take 7 - 8 months.

If it expires, I think all you need is a newly dated letters of intents from both of you so it won't be a problem. It's up to you if you are ok with delaying things, going through more processes with sending new letters etc.

I do think you should plan after you know dates. You aren't risking anything then!

[Emmylou151 44]

I don't think this is a myth. I have been in contact with a few other London Embassy K-1's through PMs and all of us had very similar medical dates we submitted everything for the interview within the the same week.

I put a date for this summer on for when I was planning on getting married and one other put a farther date, while another put a very close date. My medical is 3 weeks later than the one who submitted a close date and the other who put a farther off wedding date got a significantly farther interview date as well.

The kicker is that all of our interviews were scheduled and letters were sent within the same 2 days, so it seems there may be some sort of difference made by putting a different date.

Maybe - No one will know for sure. For example, Trudi (in this thread), used 20th Feb as her wedding date, which is the same date I used, yet her interview is for 2nd Feb, and she had her medical before me. Yet mine was scheduled for 25th Jan..... who knows!

[trudi 1,317]

I think it really is the luck of the draw, i also think it may be influenced by your petition expiry date but only guessing

As EmmyLou says i had my medical and submitted my DS160 etc before she did but my interview is a week later, however she is a Sept flier and i am an Oct flier so possibly something to do with it?

Tis the workings of the Embassy and none of us will ever know

Personally i'm just thrilled its all gone through so fast!

On another note, still don't know if the house is actually going to complete, the bottom of the chain are dicking about, completion date has moved from tomorrow to next Thurs

I'm still moving down to my mums tomorrow and just hoping it does go through!

Everything was collected by the removal men this afternoon for delivery to my sister who is most happy to be getting all my stuff - its really weird and kinda sad to be sat in the empty house, just me, the dog, a camp bed and a kettle (and my laptop and phone...)

[DJ6372 111]

I think it really is the luck of the draw, i also think it may be influenced by your petition expiry date but only guessing

As EmmyLou says i had my medical and submitted my DS160 etc before she did but my interview is a week later, however she is a Sept flier and i am an Oct flier so possibly something to do with it?

Tis the workings of the Embassy and none of us will ever know

Personally i'm just thrilled its all gone through so fast!

On another note, still don't know if the house is actually going to complete, the bottom of the chain are dicking about, completion date has moved from tomorrow to next Thurs

I'm still moving down to my mums tomorrow and just hoping it does go through!

Everything was collected by the removal men this afternoon for delivery to my sister who is most happy to be getting all my stuff - its really weird and kinda sad to be sat in the empty house, just me, the dog, a camp bed and a kettle (and my laptop and phone...)

Ah welcome to the nearly there life, we have all been there lol

PS a least you have a kettle so Pot Noodles are a tasty snack.............................

[trudi 1,317]

Ah welcome to the nearly there life, we have all been there lol

PS a least you have a kettle so Pot Noodles are a tasty snack.............................

I have a laptop and internet access - hungry house here i come

[DJ6372 111]

I have a laptop and internet access - hungry house here i come

I lived off, pub food, Indian, fish n chips, BK or KFC

[Nauchelle Iain 0]

Maybe - No one will know for sure. For example, Trudi (in this thread), used 20th Feb as her wedding date, which is the same date I used, yet her interview is for 2nd Feb, and she had her medical before me. Yet mine was scheduled for 25th Jan..... who knows!

Okay thank you all so much for the answers!

Question about wedding date: what does that mean?? We are planning on getting the legal marriage as soon as he is here - so we can get the next parts started. I'm just curious if we could put a wedding date that is earlier than he will be getting to the states. I guess I'm asking if there are any negative implications that can come from putting a wedding date that ends up being before he arrives?