UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[Rosie1563 6]

I called them at this number 603 334 0700. Your fiancé has to be the one to call though. I'm the US citizen. He has to know the case number and your name and date of birth. They verify your phone number and email address as well. If the info is in the system they'll tell you the interview date and the date your packet 4 was mailed out.

[Pheebs1201 269]

I called them at this number 603 334 0700. Your fiancé has to be the one to call though. I'm the US citizen. He has to know the case number and your name and date of birth. They verify your phone number and email address as well. If the info is in the system they'll tell you the interview date and the date your packet 4 was mailed out.

Perfect I'll let him know! Thank you!

[Wooderz 314]

LoL Nich-Nick. I promise it wasn't me. I always book middle aisle, aisle seat. And I definitely would not have let your husband move into that seat in the first place. I would have had my bags in the seat. You betcha I'm staking my claim on any potentially empty seat before anyone else has the chance.

If he had somehow outsmarted me though, I would have totally got up in a total pout and found another seat if there were any. I'm really not at my peak charm levels while flying.

Edited January 30, 2015 by April+Daniel

[-Shana- 152]

Dayum, people, I've NEVER had an empty seat next to me on a long distance flight!! I feel robbed. I'm not anti-social, I'm quite happy to chat to someone when taking off and landing, but I do get into the zone in the bulk of the flight and like to be left to it. Not to say I wouldn't mind some chit chat but most people are busy sleeping. Gawd, I'm so envious of people who can sleep on planes...

Hi there, I saw this thread pop up.

We are currently in the post-NOA2 --> NVC portion of our journey. I got trigger happy and gave the NVC a call today to see if they received my case. After 35 minutes of listening to that "lovely" music, I finally landed on a nice gentlemen who told me that it was probably too soon to call and that I should call back later. I so wish CSC would update our status when the case is actually shipped.

However, my fault probably since it hasn't even been a full 2 weeks yet (not to mention the snow storm from earlier this week). He said to call back in mid-February. I'll probably call again though at the middle of next week.

As for flights from PDX-->LHR, I typically have found myself watching about 3 movies and trying to sleep. Usually on the way to London, sleeping isn't that difficult as it's typically a night flight...

Coming back, however, is difficult as it's day time when you leave.

Let me just check my timeline...Yeah, it took almost a month for me to hear anything after the NOA2. I actually got my letter from London faster than the letter from the NVC. I remember getting a bit panicky about it after a while but it all turned out to be fine!

This made me laugh because we were telling our friends a story last night at Starbucks about a flight my husband took.

My husband was flying from Heathrow. There was a bulkhead/exit row seat with the extra legroom unoccupied. He asked the flight attendant if he could move to that seat.

He moved to the middle of three seats....window and aisle occupied.
Window lady got irate. "You can't sit there. It's not your seat."
"Did you purchase your seat and this empty seat?"
"No"
"Then I can sit in it."
She was so mad, she gathered her things and moved back in the plane to another seat.
He eventually moved to the window seat.
She got up and came back to him and said "you can't sit there because that is my seat."
"I'm sorry. Do you want to sit here? I will move back to the middle seat."
She stormed off again.

Methinks it might have been April.


I snagged a row of five seats once. I got extra pillows and stretched out prone and slept from after dinner service until they started serving breakfast. Flights do seem to be filled up all of the time now. I always sleep on transatlantic flights. I would go seriously mad just sitting there. Going to England, as soon as things settle down after food service, I make myself sleep. Don't even start a movie.

hahaha, that's so funny. She was clearly looking forward to curling up into a ball

Quick update on our case. My fiancé had his medical on the 19th of January. We haven't received his interview letter yet. I just got off the phone with NVC. I was on hold for 2 minutes before I spoke with a really nice lady which told me his interview letter was mailed out on the 27th and his interview date is Feb 20th at 9:30. Fingers crossed everything goes well as he has to be here soon since our baby is due March 21st. I was shocked at how quickly I got through to them. Everytime I've called in the morning or at night I always get the message to call back. So happy that we know his interview has now been scheduled. Now we can look for a flight and hotel for him since he'll be flying in from Scotland to London.

Congrats! It's good to know time frames of when people get their letter sent.

[chrismorrison 96]

Dayum, people, I've NEVER had an empty seat next to me on a long distance flight!! I feel robbed. I'm not anti-social, I'm quite happy to chat to someone when taking off and landing, but I do get into the zone in the bulk of the flight and like to be left to it. Not to say I wouldn't mind some chit chat but most people are busy sleeping. Gawd, I'm so envious of people who can sleep on planes...

Let me just check my timeline...Yeah, it took almost a month for me to hear anything after the NOA2. I actually got my letter from London faster than the letter from the NVC. I remember getting a bit panicky about it after a while but it all turned out to be fine!

hahaha, that's so funny. She was clearly looking forward to curling up into a ball

Congrats! It's good to know time frames of when people get their letter sent.

Thanks for the a bit of info on your case happenings. I figured I was a little ahead of the game, timewise, but I'm just excited to get the next step moving!

He's got his longform birth certificate and police certificate (which arrived yesterday)--NO TRACE (yay!!)... so we should be good to go. I believe the only vaccines he needs are the 3 stages of dTaP--which unfortunately have to be given on a timeframe. But other than that, he should be good to go!!

[-Shana- 152]

Thanks for the a bit of info on your case happenings. I figured I was a little ahead of the game, timewise, but I'm just excited to get the next step moving!

He's got his longform birth certificate and police certificate (which arrived yesterday)--NO TRACE (yay!!)... so we should be good to go. I believe the only vaccines he needs are the 3 stages of dTaP--which unfortunately have to be given on a timeframe. But other than that, he should be good to go!!

I know the feeling! Unfortunately my fiance is still finishing his contract in Japan, so I've literally just had to sit and twiddle my thumbs since I don't expect him to spend loads of money calling anyone on Skype!

Does he have his vaccination records from when he was a baby? It just needs to be a print out with exact dates on. I got a flu jab done at Asda, a MMR booster and a Tetanus booster.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

. I believe the only vaccines he needs are the 3 stages of dTaP--which unfortunately have to be given on a timeframe. But other than that, he should be good to go!!

Whoa! No to three diptheria/tetanus/pertussis shots If you time it right.

What the government says is if there is a series of shots, you don't have to wait to have all of them and hold up your immigration waiting on the required time interval. So if you had no d, t, & p ever and had the Tdap#1 right before your medical exam, you wouldn't have to wait the time interval to take dose #2 to get signed off. You get a waiver marked for "insufficient time interval" and never take the rest (as long as you get signed off on the other required shots by Knightsbridge.

But if you had one DTP as a baby many years ago, there is no reason now why you couldn't safely take the next dose now, so no waiver for that since enough time has passed since your last shot. And the tetanus component must have been given within the last 10 years or a Td booster is due.

So basically If your fiancé gets a Tdap shortly before (or at) his medical, he qualifies for a waiver.

MMR is also two shots, but if the first is right before the medical, USCIS allows the "insufficient time interval" excuse to avoid dose 2.

If a person is as complete as medically possible on all shots (at least one in a series) the day the vaccination form is signed, then that sheet is good for AOS. Hope that is clear enough.

Or he can go right now and get started and see how many he can get worked in before his medical exam if he likes getting shots.

Edited January 30, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[chrismorrison 96]

Good advice, I didn't realize that. He was trying to avoid US pricing for vaccines. I'll forward this information to him. He won't have his medical for a while yet--still waiting on the Case No. from NVC. He's already been jabbed once with the Tdap, but he never made it in for the second stage within the week timeframe (no appointments available after work), so he's kind of stuck at square one again.

He's got everything else I believe. We've been a little perplexed on what he's had and what can be crossed off the list.

MMR is for sure been taken care of. He's had the yearly flu shot. Hep A+B is good, too. He's had chicken pox. So, I guess just schedule the Tdap (dTap?) shot maybe a day or two before the medical and hope for that waiver, then??

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Good advice, I didn't realize that. He was trying to avoid US pricing for vaccines. I'll forward this information to him. He won't have his medical for a while yet--still waiting on the Case No. from NVC. He's already been jabbed once with the Tdap, but he never made it in for the second stage within the week timeframe (no appointments available after work), so he's kind of stuck at square one again.

He's got everything else I believe. We've been a little perplexed on what he's had and what can be crossed off the list.

MMR is for sure been taken care of. He's had the yearly flu shot. Hep A+B is good, too. He's had chicken pox. So, I guess just schedule the Tdap (dTap?) shot maybe a day or two before the medical and hope for that waiver, then??

I don't remember the time interval for Tdap. MMR is four weeks. I was thinking one Tdap as an adult and you're good to go as long as it wasn't more than 10 years ago because of the tetanus requirement. I will look it up.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

(Continuation from post right before this one)

Okay, the Tdap answer straight from the CDC who makes these requirements up.

Indications and Guidance for Use

For prevention of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, ACIP recommends that adolescents and adults receive a one-time booster dose of Tdap. Adolescents aged 11 through 18 years who have completed the recommended childhood diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine (DTP/DTaP) vaccination series should receive a single dose of Tdap instead of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) vaccine, preferably at a preventive-care visit at age 11 or 12 years (4). For adults aged 19 through 64 years who previously have not received a dose of Tdap, a single dose of Tdap should replace a single decennial Td booster dose (3). Persons aged 65 years and older (e.g., grandparents, child-care providers, and health-care practitioners) who have or who anticipate having close contact with an infant aged less than 12 months and who previously have not received Tdap should receive a single dose of Tdap to protect against pertussis and reduce the likelihood of transmission (6). For other adults aged 65 years and older, a single dose of Tdap vaccine may be administered instead of Td vaccine in persons who previously have not received Tdap (6). Tdap can be administered regardless of interval since the last tetanus or diphtheria toxoid--containing vaccine (6). After receipt of Tdap, persons should continue to receive Td for routine booster vaccination against tetanus and diphtheria, in accordance with previously published guidelines (3,4,6).

My translation is one Tdap if you are an adult. Suggestions for your future health is boost with Td Every 10 years, but immigration is only going to care about the first shot and that it was within the last 10 years.

By the way, babies get DTP series which is a different formula from the adult version Tdap. Adults can't take as strong of a dose. Enough had reactions to the DTP that the adolescent and adult version was created. My husband's GP didn't have Tdap so he lined up with the babies and got the DTP. He didn't die. It was accepted.

Capital letters have a meaning. For example--

d, p = smaller dose

D, P = big dose

Really! I am not making this stuff up.

Edited January 30, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[-Shana- 152]

Hey everyone, a quick question, have any of you beneficiaries thought about bank accounts? Been doing a little bit of research into accounts that have no fee's and wondering if anyone else had done the same.

Maybe someone who is already in America can answer this one - if you open a joint checking account, do both people get a debit card or just the primary account holder?

[chrismorrison 96]

My fiance already opened up one at Chase. Unfortunately, they're criminal with how much money they want in the account without charging a monthly fee. So avoid Chase unless you have $1500 lying around. x

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Maybe someone who is already in America can answer this one - if you open a joint checking account, do both people get a debit card or just the primary account holder?

Yes a joint account should get equal privileges like each having a debit/ATM card. Why are you not considering joining in the account where your fiancé already banks? Get added to his account.

I'm not sure if you are fully aware yet, but each of the fifty states have their own rights to manage many things. Banking is one of those things, as well as education, marriage/divorce, insurance, sales tax, state income tax, driver licenses. So banking laws and practices can vary depending on where you live. Of course some federal laws are enacted that all states must abide by.

One of the problems K1s complain of is getting added to a joint bank account before having a SSN and a greencard. So do get your SSN the week you arrive. Your window closes on Day 76 until you get EAD or a greencard. Some banks make it difficult for a foreign national to get a bank account.

When you arrive as a K1, you are kind of a nothing because all you have on paper is a 90 day entry. So you aren't exactly treated like an immigrant with permission to live here. If a bank gives you flack, just go to another. Not all will be so strict. And go in person rather than trying to open an account online. That seems to work better. Experiences vary. I had no problem adding my husband at my credit union. But there are many posts from people who have problems.

[Pheebs1201 269]

Hey everyone, a quick question, have any of you beneficiaries thought about bank accounts? Been doing a little bit of research into accounts that have no fee's and wondering if anyone else had done the same.

Maybe someone who is already in America can answer this one - if you open a joint checking account, do both people get a debit card or just the primary account holder?

Dan recently moved from Bank of America to OnPoint credit union and they said they were happy to add me to his account once I had a second form of US ID (I already have an SSN but they wanted to see something like an Oregon Drivers License or State ID) but the whole process seems pretty simple.

My fiance already opened up one at Chase. Unfortunately, they're criminal with how much money they want in the account without charging a monthly fee. So avoid Chase unless you have $1500 lying around. x

This is exactly why Dan left Bank of America, the monthly charges were silly. Shouldn't be charged for having your own money! We are much happier with the credit union he moved to

One of the problems K1s complain of is getting added to a joint bank account before having a SSN and a greencard. So do get your SSN the week you arrive. Your window closes on Day 76 until you get EAD or a greencard. Some banks make it difficult for a foreign national to get a bank account.

When you arrive as a K1, you are kind of a nothing because all you have on paper is a 90 day entry. So you aren't exactly treated like an immigrant with permission to live here. If a bank gives you flack, just go to another. Not all will be so strict. And go in person rather than trying to open an account online. That seems to work better. Experiences vary. I had no problem adding my husband at my credit union. But there are many posts from people who have problems.

Hoping I'll be able to get some form of ID quickly in order to fulfil the banks requirements!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

LoL Nich-Nick. I promise it wasn't me. I always book middle aisle, aisle seat. And I definitely would not have let your husband move into that seat in the first place. I would have had my bags in the seat. You betcha I'm staking my claim on any potentially empty seat before anyone else has the chance.

If he had somehow outsmarted me though, I would have totally got up in a total pout and found another seat if there were any. I'm really not at my peak charm levels while flying.

I love it when people try and pull that - I see it as a challenge! A few years back, I was travelling on a pretty full coach from London up North. There was a guy in the front seat (where there was extra leg room) and he'd done what you do, put all his stuff on the seat next to him to dissuade anyone from sitting there, and he complimented this with a dirty look, presumably to add some kind of intimidatory factor to the equation. And I just LOVED that!! "Excuse me please" says I, looking him straight in the eye all the while - cue hard man face turning to sulk face!!!

Seriously though, public transport, be it by land, air, or sea, is exactly that - public. And I always try not to be "that guy" rather try and help my fellow travelers be as comfortable as possible.