UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[vicks5721 18]

Nich-Nick's warnings about getting the shots done was very helpful in spurring me to get mine sorted, and it's also mentioned in the I-129F guides. Hearing some of the horror stories of people being charged the earth by US civil surgeons for their AOS medical/ shots, it seems so much better to get them done now and avoid all that. Even if I were charged £45 per shot (x 3), it would still work out WAY cheaper than getting them done in the US.

And yes, once you have had your medical it's too late to get subsequent shots recorded even if you have them done in the UK after the medical and prior to going to the USA.

I hope you get yours sorted and at a reasonable price. Good luck!

well from what I have heard if you look around you can find a civil surgeon who won't charge the earth. Also not nesscary always cheaper in UK than USA for vaccinations.. I am sure some civil surgeons will charge a reasonable price.. it depends on what vaccination you need anyway.. as some are more expensive than others. I remember at my medical exam the nurse said I don't need the heptatis vaccines. Not whooping cough etc either as some of those kinds you have as a baby/toddler in UK. I only had to say I had chickenpox when little. Yeah so I am kind that it is possible to find a goid civil surgeon just need to look.

[2ndMessiah 184]

well from what I have heard if you look around you can find a civil surgeon who won't charge the earth. Also not nesscary always cheaper in UK than USA for vaccinations.. I am sure some civil surgeons will charge a reasonable price.. it depends on what vaccination you need anyway.. as some are more expensive than others. I remember at my medical exam the nurse said I don't need the heptatis vaccines. Not whooping cough etc either as some of those kinds you have as a baby/toddler in UK. I only had to say I had chickenpox when little. Yeah so I am kind that it is possible to find a goid civil surgeon just need to look.

Sorry but if you have enough time before your medical (you know it was coming, didn't you) just go to your GP with the list of vaccinations from the CDC. Tell him you are emigrating to the US and you need these.

I did this and they were all done for free Well all the ones they could do in the UK. You gotta love the NHS. I miss it.

Edited April 28, 2015 by 2ndMessiah

[ChasUno 101]

well from what I have heard if you look around you can find a civil surgeon who won't charge the earth. Also not nesscary always cheaper in UK than USA for vaccinations.. I am sure some civil surgeons will charge a reasonable price.. it depends on what vaccination you need anyway.. as some are more expensive than others.

From what I've read, it's not so much the cost of the vaccines that is high, it's more due to the fact that the Civil Surgeons insist that you have a full medical as well as they aren't that familiar with K1/ AOS process. It's the full medical that costs $$$'s, and you may have a hard time convincing them that you only need them to sign you off for your vaccinations. You don't need a full medical for AOS, you ONLY need them to confirm that your shots are up to date.

As mentioned above, I only needed Tdap and MMR, and as I'm a healthcare professional I'm getting them free. Even if I had to pay £135 (3 x £45), it is likely to be much less than paying for them in the USA AND having to pay for a Civil Surgeon full medical. Plus it also means one less thing to worry about when it comes to the AOS, as getting them done in the UK will mean you are ahead of the game.

Regardless, I hope you do manage to find a good Civil Surgeon, and do press on them that for a K1 visa you've already had your medical and that you only need them to verify your shots. Good luck!

[ChasUno 101]

Checked our case status on the USCIS website this morning. After submitting our RFE1 on the 13th April, we are now APPROVED as of the 29th April! A big relief, and now we are another step closer to being together permanently

[chrismorrison 96]

I am happy for you both! Now the fun begins!...

[ChasUno 101]

I am happy for you both! Now the fun begins!...

Thanks Chris!

Hopefully the rest of the process will go smoothly and quickly.

I do feel for those stuck at TSC though, as it seems so unfair that many submitted their I-129F months before we did and they're still waiting for approval.

[-Shana- 152]

Spent the best part of 4 hours printing and putting together the AOS packet yesterday. Just need the 6 pictures now and a copy of our marriage certificate then I can send it away! It wasn't as difficult as I initially thought, Nich's Checklist really helped (thanks a bunch for having this!) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FIsgnb7Tfj7tcRNnqRMKUOXQdEfR6HTUDY2vX6zKqqU/mobilebasic?authkey=CNXN_oQH

The only thing I had to do different was the I-864 since my boyfriends Dad is being the joint sponsor, so I've had the fiance fill one out, his Dad fill one out and a I-864A completed too. Feels like I can't officially settle in here until all this paper work is out the way so I'm really looking forward to getting it done!

[chrismorrison 96]

Spent the best part of 4 hours printing and putting together the AOS packet yesterday. Just need the 6 pictures now and a copy of our marriage certificate then I can send it away! It wasn't as difficult as I initially thought, Nich's Checklist really helped (thanks a bunch for having this!) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FIsgnb7Tfj7tcRNnqRMKUOXQdEfR6HTUDY2vX6zKqqU/mobilebasic?authkey=CNXN_oQH

The only thing I had to do different was the I-864 since my boyfriends Dad is being the joint sponsor, so I've had the fiance fill one out, his Dad fill one out and a I-864A completed too. Feels like I can't officially settle in here until all this paper work is out the way so I'm really looking forward to getting it done!

I did mine last night, too! It wasn't that bad-I was originally worried, but didn't run into any difficulties!

Enjoy tomorrow! Any special plans to celebrate?

[ChasUno 101]

Shana, that checklist looks to be very helpful. I've copied it into a Word document so I will have access to it in a few months when we will need it also.

Shana and Chris - did you find the AOS easier or harder than completing/ putting together the I-129F?

Edited April 30, 2015 by ChasUno

[chrismorrison 96]

I found it about the same. The example forms on the site helped where I had questions.

[chrismorrison 96]

For the AP Portion, what do you put down as a date of intended departure and length of journey?

Kas fears his grandfather might die this year from liver cancer (he lives in Dominica), and he'll want to visit his family at Christmas. So what would you put in AP??

[-Shana- 152]

I did mine last night, too! It wasn't that bad-I was originally worried, but didn't run into any difficulties!

Enjoy tomorrow! Any special plans to celebrate?

Thanks! We're going to watch the new Avengers film and get my all time favourite burger that's about 2000 calories . You must be excited for next week!!

Shana, that checklist looks to be very helpful. I've copied it into a Word document so I will have access to it in a few months when we will need it also.

Shana and Chris - did you find the AOS easier or harder than completing/ putting together the I-129F?

Hmm...good question. AOS is more faff since you have to fill out AOS form + Affidavits again + the EAD + the AP forms and supply evidence for all of them. I think the I-129F is easier because it was just the one form + evidence.

As long as you read the instruction PDF's on USCIS, make notes on the evidence they need, look at the example forms that are filled out on VJ and cross reference your notes/questions using the VJ search then it's not too difficult. Time consuming more than anything! For the EAD form make sure you use the code (c ) (9) for question 16 - that's the one question that stumped me, but caught it when looking at the example forms here on VJ.

Edited April 30, 2015 by -Shana-

[-Shana- 152]

For the AP Portion, what do you put down as a date of intended departure and length of journey?

Kas fears his grandfather might die this year from liver cancer (he lives in Dominica), and he'll want to visit his family at Christmas. So what would you put in AP??

I'm not intending to go back this year, but rather next year, but I just made up a date I was leaving this Christmas to visit family. I'm not sure it matters, as far as I'm aware the AP doesn't have specific dates set to it. I just applied for it since it's free with AOS!

Found this thread if it helps: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/341733-do-i-really-need-to-put-a-specific-date-for-intended-departure-on-the-i-131/

From what I found it looks like it's just a document that you can use for multiple trips within the time frame it says on the document/card itself.

Edited April 30, 2015 by -Shana-

[ChasUno 101]

Thanks Chris and Shana. Not looking forward to yet more form filling and faffing around. but I guess we should just get our heads down and plough though it!

[vicks5721 18]

From my research it seems like Twin Cities Medical Clinic http://www.twincitiesmedicalclinic.com/immigration-i693.htmlis my best bet right now for a reasonable priced civil surgeon.

I like what it says on their website:Some applicants have already completed their USCIS medical exam and only require a Vaccine Update. At TCMC, Vaccine Updates cost $120, and include documenting valid proof of current immunizations on the I-693 Form, and a signature from the Civil Surgeon.

My proof of Immunizations would be the form Knightbridge doctors came me right? and the nurse did give me a letter to give to the doctor that she signed and stamped.