UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[derppis 1]

Yay for you! Bet you are relieved. Won't take long now, I promise. Get all that paperwork ready for the NVC, and you'll be moving along nicely!

I have my medical tomorrow! Getting a little nervous/stressed. I don't have any issues, but just hate this kind of thing. Any advice from anyone who's done their medical in London?

Yes, 4 steps: Go in, pay their insane price, get out, think "what was I worrying about".

Blood pressure seems to be a big thing for them if it's even slightly higher than normal. Apart from that, they don't really care.

[simonschus 58]

Re: the conversation on Knightsbridge being interested in medical conditions.

I was wearing flip flop when I went to my medical in Knightsbridge (I tend to wear flip flops all the time). The doctor asked if I was cold, pointing to my feet. I told her that I did not. She then launched into a short 40-second or so discussion about whether I had any circulation issues that lead to me keeping my feet out. It was very odd!

However, I think that this really was one-off, off the cuff comment given that it was raining outside - I don't think many people wore flip flops around that time of year! I chime in with other to highlight that the medical really isn't problematic assuming no existing health conditions (and even with those conditions, with good preparation you should be fine!).

Simon.

Edited July 21, 2016 by simonschus

[Tashas mom 6]

Yay for you! Bet you are relieved. Won't take long now, I promise. Get all that paperwork ready for the NVC, and you'll be moving along nicely!

I have my medical tomorrow! Getting a little nervous/stressed. I don't have any issues, but just hate this kind of thing. Any advice from anyone who's done their medical in London?

Good luck with your medical tomorrow I also have mine in London tomorrow...also not good with those sort of things so know how you're feeling!! I've been told by someone who has done this recently that it really is nothing to worry about and everyone is real nice...may see you there!!

[NicolaRobert 7]

Yes, 4 steps: Go in, pay their insane price, get out, think "what was I worrying about".

Blood pressure seems to be a big thing for them if it's even slightly higher than normal. Apart from that, they don't really care.

Ok, those steps sound pretty good to me. I just need to get it done, and keep my fingers crossed it gets to the Embassy in time for my interview on the 1st.

I do tend to have high blood pressure, but as far as I can tell from all the info I've read that isn't the kind of thing they are really looking for.

I just really want all this stuff to be over and done with. Will be so happy to have it all behind me.

Good luck with your medical tomorrow I also have mine in London tomorrow...also not good with those sort of things so know how you're feeling!! I've been told by someone who has done this recently that it really is nothing to worry about and everyone is real nice...may see you there!!

Good luck to you too. Mine is in the afternoon. Very happy it's so close to Oxford Street as plan on doing a little retail therapy afterwards!

[JFH 12,191]

I have very low blood pressure (both values well below 100) but that might be connected with my epilepsy and the medications I take. It's one less thing to worry about. I haven't heard any horror stories on here about the medical apart from the outrageous price.

[Kat&Jon 86]

2 things:

-How did you meet? If you met online and you checked "no" to the IMB question, some additional proof that the site you met on is NOT an IMB is a good idea.

-For the passport stamps, I read after having sent mine that you should also include the bio page for each passport. I did not, and I got approved, but might as well just to be safe.

Otherwise looks good to me

Thanks for your response! We met through an MMO so not a dating website. I did not include the TOS items since another VJer said that they met the same way and were never asked to clarify that video game is not a marriage broker so hopefully that works for me! Fingers, toes and anything else that I can cross will be! lol

I did include copies of the bio pages for both Jon and my passports, I just hope they don't RFE me for not sending them all passport pages because I did send them the front and back of my birth certificate... but I wouldn't be super shocked if they did for some silly reason!

NOA2!!!!!!! Finally!!!!!!!

Congrats!!! Moving along now! I am sure your medical will be fine! Just think of it as a normal check up with your NHS doctor (hopefully those visits don't make you nervous) just in a totally different location then normal where you could possibly get some sight seeing in!

Edit: Mailed the petition today!!! Hurray for 1 blue box on my timeline :joy:

Edited July 21, 2016 by Kat&Jon

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

For those who've gone through POE, did you have to fill out anything at the airport in the UK, or indicate to the airline that you would be entering on K1? When we booked my fiance's flight we weren't prompted to provide any info., and obviously we aren't doing VWP this time.

I was with my fiancé flying out of Heathrow. The line guy heading up to the airline counter kept yelling out over and over "make sure you have your ESTA. Everybody needs an ESTA." so don't panic over that. You just say to anybody checking documents in the line and at the counter. "I am traveling on a visa". Maybe ESTA was a bit new then and they are over town crier mode by now.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Speaking of NOA-2, it seems to be the case that my fiancé has lost ours now that I asked him about it as we are putting stuff in order for AOS.

So that's fun.

[JFH 12,191]

I was with my fiancé flying out of Heathrow. The line guy heading up to the airline counter kept yelling out over and over "make sure you have your ESTA. Everybody needs an ESTA." so don't panic over that. You just say to anybody checking documents in the line and at the counter. "I am traveling on a visa". Maybe ESTA was a bit new then and they are over town crier mode by now.

On my trip over to the USA last month, which was on the VWP, the gate agents asked us to form two lines. VWP with ESTA approval folks, and visa holders/LPRs/USCs. The VWP folks all had their passports scanned to check they had a valid electronic approval on file and the visa/LPR/USC folks had their passports and green cards visually checked.

For a while, after the ESTA programme was introduced, visa holders still had to complete a paper I-94 but that has been stopped now. All electronic.

[derppis 1]

Ok, those steps sound pretty good to me. I just need to get it done, and keep my fingers crossed it gets to the Embassy in time for my interview on the 1st.

I do tend to have high blood pressure, but as far as I can tell from all the info I've read that isn't the kind of thing they are really looking for.

I just really want all this stuff to be over and done with. Will be so happy to have it all behind me.

(I'm writing this from the plane on my way to my POE...)

It is not the end of the world if your medical isn't there for the interview. Mine wasn't.

For me, BP was a big issue, I needed statements from 3 specialists for them - but I'm not a UK resident and I don't have a GP. If you are, I'm sure your GP's statement will be enough. (For me they needed lipids, creatinine, and sugars, and needed a specialist assessment for all 3. Ridiculous, as every specialist said. I also used 2 other panel physicians in 2 other countries to sort everything out, everyone said the UK doc is full of sh*t).

Anyway, here's how mine went:

Late in June (19th or so I think), medical check. Need more info for alleged BP problem.

4th July, got the medical stuff done in another country. (I haven't lived in the UK for a few years, only reason I had to do the med/interview in London was because someone at NVC screwed up and didn't transfer our case to the correct embassy.)

5th July, Knightsbridge receives the statements from other doctors.

6th July, Interview. No medical, blue letter and AP.

11th July, Knightsbridge says embassy has the medical today.

14th July, Visa issued.

19th July, Visa in hand.

The delay really isn't bad, so don't stress about it. Good luck!

[MandEJ 46]

Yay for you! Bet you are relieved. Won't take long now, I promise. Get all that paperwork ready for the NVC, and you'll be moving along nicely!

I have my medical tomorrow! Getting a little nervous/stressed. I don't have any issues, but just hate this kind of thing. Any advice from anyone who's done their medical in London?

It's a smooth process granted you don't have any major health issues. But in all it's very much like any regular medical, an eye test, a blood sample, checking eyes, ears and mouth, with an added chest x-Ray which takes about 30 seconds! Hurts your bank balance though

[NicolaRobert 7]

Medical done with. Took about an hour as it was quite busy. Definitely hurt the bank balance, but one less thing to worry about now. They reckon they'll have it over to the Embassy by Thursday. Which will be in plenty of time for my interview.

Can't believe all this madness might be over in just a few weeks!

[JFH 12,191]

We are moving along nicely. Sent to NVC today.

[MandEJ 46]

My k1 was approved about 45 minutes ago!

[trudi 1,317]

My k1 was approved about 45 minutes ago!

Congratulations

My green card was approved yesterday