UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

we would of started my AOS already.. well we technically have filled in the forms as we hired rapidvisa again, the visa company that helped us with my k1 visa. So we filled in the forms for AOS just we need to save up money to pay for the fees. what supporting evidence is good to include? we got home insurance in bothbour names recently as we are going to move into our own home together next weekend and we have our new place in both our names, also our marriage certificate of course , what else is good to include for AOS? we have our wedding photos.

So you paid a helper and now don't have enough money? Should have done it yourself. It is not that difficult using VJ. RapidVisa should advise you on everything to include.

[Pheebs1201 269]

No point applying for EAD without doing AOS at the same time due to the time scales. Sorry about that! Hope you guys are able to do AOS soon

[-Shana- 152]

Hey vicks, hate to say it but I agree with Nich - I'm not sure why you're hiring a company to help you with this process when you can do it all yourself using the information on this site. Is it too late to back out now? How much do they charge you for their services?

Things have been pretty busy here, mainly getting all set up in the house. We have a date for our unofficial wedding - May 1st. We're going to get the licence, go watch the new Avengers movie, get a burger and sign the papers and try our best not to get burger grease on it . It'll be a nice day for us I think. After that I'll be going ahead with AOS, made a big check list of things to fill out/copy. Fun times ahead!

Edited April 27, 2015 by -Shana-

[vicks5721 18]

Hey vicks, hate to say it but I agree with Nich - I'm not sure why you're hiring a company to help you with this process when you can do it all yourself using the information on this site. Is it too late to back out now? How much do they charge you for their services?

Things have been pretty busy here, mainly getting all set up in the house. We have a date for our unofficial wedding - May 1st. We're going to get the licence, go watch the new Avengers movie, get a burger and sign the papers and try our best not to get burger grease on it . It'll be a nice day for us I think. After that I'll be going ahead with AOS, made a big check list of things to fill out/copy. Fun times ahead!

we dont feel we can do by ourselves we feel more secure and confident that the company checks all our forms are correct and that we have all we need for it. So please I understand where you are all coming from but please don't let this turn into loads of people agree why did we hire a company.. it is our choice at the end of the day. we feel better about it with help in that way.. it's different for everyone.

[wbeem 568]

we dont feel we can do by ourselves we feel more secure and confident that the company checks all our forms are correct and that we have all we need for it. So please I understand where you are all coming from but please don't let this turn into loads of people agree why did we hire a company.. it is our choice at the end of the day. we feel better about it with help in that way.. it's different for everyone.

Ah, I don't think anyone meant to come across as critical. You've just done things a little differently to what most on here do, so it stood out a bit. You have to do what feels more comfortable for you as a couple and sometimes peace of mind is worth paying for.

So, not sure if this is an option you could explore, but you're not the only couple to have come across financial pressure with flights, a wedding and AOS all within a short time frame, and I've read posts by others who have taken out a credit card solely for the purpose of paying for AOS so that the EAD doesn't take too long. It can be paid off as soon as you have a job or are able to do so and then closed.

On a different topic, but still about you Did you do a POE review for Philadelphia? You wrote such a great, detailed one from the interview and we are seriously considering PHL as our POE if flight prices stay around where they currently are for a few weeks.

[vicks5721 18]

Ah, I don't think anyone meant to come across as critical. You've just done things a little differently to what most on here do, so it stood out a bit. You have to do what feels more comfortable for you as a couple and sometimes peace of mind is worth paying for.

So, not sure if this is an option you could explore, but you're not the only couple to have come across financial pressure with flights, a wedding and AOS all within a short time frame, and I've read posts by others who have taken out a credit card solely for the purpose of paying for AOS so that the EAD doesn't take too long. It can be paid off as soon as you have a job or are able to do so and then closed.

On a different topic, but still about you Did you do a POE review for Philadelphia? You wrote such a great, detailed one from the interview and we are seriously considering PHL as our POE if flight prices stay around where they currently are for a few weeks.

yeah you are right probably most couples on this website decide to do it themselves filing for AOS, yep we feel it does give us better piece of mind to have help and our documents are double checked before being sent of to USCIS, I probably could do it myself if I felt confident enough, but sadly I don't, so. anyway I feel like there are loads of things we need to since I have been here, we got married at the court house and wore normal clothes which saved on cost and the judge was super nice and she did proper vows etc like a ceremony, really special. I already have a SSN so that was helpful. Soon we will have to apply for me to have a state ID, we are near to closing on our new home, there is bills. Also probably I will need my passport renewed change my name on it.. the list goes on really.. but also it is exciting as well doing all these things as a married couple and life together in America. Yeah so that's life. I recently was reading threads on the AOS from family based visas forum and I found a thread about Civil Surgeons. I was told months ago that it will be expensive and I will have to do a whole new medical exam which I juat found out is not true. If you look around hard enough for a good civil surgeon who won't rip you off you have get vaccines and transcript for a reasonable price. I thought I would let people know you may of been worried about the cost.

To answer your question I haven't made a POE review, I forgot all about the idea. I will soon then and I think Philadelphia was okay besides I got to baggage claim and saw I had to pay $5 for a cart to put my suitcases on. I didn't havd dollars yet and I felt stuck there for like 20 minutes, then a guy came with a big flat trolley asking if I needed help, I thought how kind not realising there is a tip system more so in America, he asked for paid in tips, I gave him $5 once I changed my money. Immigration was slow in my experience, but I guess it is their job to check all the people who come in like visas etc. I was taken to secondary but was there for only 5 minutes. I got confused by the boards saying departures and arrivals in the terminal when I was getting my flight to Minneapolis, as in UK I am sure it is separate area for those. I made my flight just in time with minutes to spare, phew. I will right the full review on the POE review page.

[ChasUno 101]

Got my shots done today (MMR and TDap). I had to send in a written request to my Doctor to retrieve my paper vaccination records as the computerised records didn't go far back enough. I then got a letter showing my vaccination history from birth, and once I had this I had to book an appointment with the Travel Nurse who then gave me the vaccinations needed. All that is left for me is to get the MMR booster at the beginning of June, then request a formal statement showing all my vaccinations, which I will be able to take with me when I get to the interview stage.

Anyone getting the vaccines from their Doctor in the UK, if you work in any form of healthcare make sure you mention this as healthcare workers (front line especially) get priority and you may get them for free. Also mention that you intend to continue working in healthcare once you get to the USA as this should help too.

[Pheebs1201 269]

yeah you are right probably most couples on this website decide to do it themselves filing for AOS, yep we feel it does give us better piece of mind to have help and our documents are double checked before being sent of to USCIS, I probably could do it myself if I felt confident enough, but sadly I don't, so.

Honestly, I wish we could afford to have someone go over our paperwork for AOS with us because we are finding it a lot more complex than the initial K1 petition. I understand why you don't feel confident- the AOS process so far has been a lot more stressful and confusing for us.

Good luck with the rest of your journey!

[chrismorrison 96]

Honestly, I wish we could afford to have someone go over our paperwork for AOS with us because we are finding it a lot more complex than the initial K1 petition. I understand why you don't feel confident- the AOS process so far has been a lot more stressful and confusing for us.

Good luck with the rest of your journey!

What are you finding to be complex or hard to understand? Truthfully, I haven't looked over much-but it would be helpful to have an insight into what others are struggling with so that we can be better prepared.

[Pheebs1201 269]

What are you finding to be complex or hard to understand? Truthfully, I haven't looked over much-but it would be helpful to have an insight into what others are struggling with so that we can be better prepared.

There's a lot more forms to fill out, I personally think there's a couple of little trick questions in there and it would appear that the evidence they require, at least for income, is far more substantial. Several people have had the same RFE as me and none of us understand exactly what it is they are asking for. Its frustrating and I think having someone who really understands what they want would be really useful. However, we shall truck on and hopefully get to the end of AOS without me having died from stress

[chrismorrison 96]

At this point, can you call a tier 2 officer who can access your file and figure out exactly what it is they're after? It's a shame that some of their instructions aren't crystal clear--obviously USCIS never took a technical writing class.

What about an infopass appointment? Would someone at the local office be able to help?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Don't forget that VJ has sample forms filled out http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

Honestly, I wish we could afford to have someone go over our paperwork for AOS with us because we are finding it a lot more complex than the initial K1 petition. I understand why you don't feel confident- the AOS process so far has been a lot more stressful and confusing for us.

)

Really sorry to hear that. I thought you had it under control. I offered to help.

What are you finding to be complex or hard to understand? Truthfully, I haven't looked over much-but it would be helpful to have an insight into what others are struggling with so that we can be better prepared.

When you start, remember there are sample forms filled out on VJ http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

I think one of the forms Pheebs had trouble with was the work authorization. This one http://www.visajourney.com/examples/INS-Form-I-765.pdf Notice your eligibility category for Fiancé visa is C 9 as shown on the example. People get that wrong.

Yes, the Affidavit of Support is very detailed and there's about 13 pages of instruction I had to read at least three times before it started to click.

[Pheebs1201 269]

At this point, can you call a tier 2 officer who can access your file and figure out exactly what it is they're after? It's a shame that some of their instructions aren't crystal clear--obviously USCIS never took a technical writing class.

What about an infopass appointment? Would someone at the local office be able to help?

It says I can't book an infopass appointment until its been 45 days or something like that. I think I will give them a call when I have time but right now we are being held up waiting for our co-sponsor to get their taxes done. Thanks for the suggestions

Don't forget that VJ has sample forms filled out http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

Really sorry to hear that. I thought you had it under control. I offered to help.

Thanks Nich-Nick at the moment there is nothing that can be done as we are just sat around waiting for our co-sponsor to do their taxes. I still feel frustrated that we got the RFE in the first place as I double checked everything we sent in first time round and we weren't missing anything. It has been suggested to me that their issue is that Dan hasn't earned this wage for three consecutive years, which is annoying as they knew this when they approved my K1!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I haven't seen the exact wording of the RFE, but it is not that Dan hasn't earned for three years. That isn't required. Type out the exact words.

Also, if that form was signed and submitted prior to April 15, it isn't that the 2014 tax return wasn't included.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[chrismorrison 96]

I'm going to work on the AOS packet this weekend so that we can be well prepared once we have the marriage certificate-I'll definitely peruse the example forms before we submit the polished/finished product.