UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[-Shana- 152]

How it everyone doing?

I think starting this new temp job has really kept me busy so I'm not sat around all day thinking about things immigration related! Also, feeling much better now, I think the stomach bug is well and truly gone. I'm able to eat again - yay!

Some good news for you Brits-- my husband (from Coventry) and I just got our green card approval today!

I wrote down our experiences from here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/534975-successful-aos-interview-los-angeles-green-card-issued/

Nich-Nick helped out on the k1 side of the things- the British embassy ROYALLY (pun intended) f*cked us over during that process. They lost our documentation from Dec 2013- May 2014, and even had my husband come in for an interview for the K1 that wasn't at all necessary and lead us to believe he had been approved when actually they thought we'd abandoned the application! Only after talking to everyone on VJ did I realize they had made a huge mistake, and I hounded them for days until I spoke to someone high up at the Embassy who personally looked over my case (while making horrible insinuations that my husband had been lying to me, didn't want to come to America, etc) to see my husband had resubmitted all the stuff they had lost. In the end, it took about a year from filing until his approval for the K1.

His POE in the US was Ft Lauderdale (I had an emergency with my grandparents and he flew over to help as his POE) and his entry was smooth sailing. Got married on 9/12/14 and sent off the AOS on 10/4/14. Got NOA on 10/28/14, biometrics in the first few weeks of November, and then got mailed the EAD/AP card on 12/20/14.

Then had our interview today!

My advice would be- keep in touch with the US embassy in London. They sent mail to the wrong address, even after we had it changed, lost our paperwork, and were nasty. Calling the NVC hotline was extremely unhelpful. I just pestered the embassy daily until someone spoke to me!

Check your status online all the time. Be vigilant!

But it will work out. :) <3

Can't believe the embassy messed up so badly! Glad you got it all sorted though in the end. Fingers crossed that was a once in a blue moon incident and not something that happens to a lot of people. Thanks for sharing your experience and advice

For Shana Mike and others:

Bank accounts can usually be linked, providing you stay with the same bank. What this does is it allows you to use one account (or a combination) to fulfill the balance or income requirements for free banking, so that you don't have to maintain a minimum balance in each of your individual and joint accounts to avoid fees.

Once you are married, you should use joint accounts for all day to day expenses and to receive salaries where possible, since having an inactive joint account isn't very useful when it comes to later stages like removal of conditions and citizenship.

Oh, and I recommend you ask questions like this in separate threads. This thread seems to mostly be K1-related chat, and it's only by chance that I bothered reading through it.

Cheers .

[-Shana- 152]

Quick question - I notice people are emailing the embassy, which email do you use? Do you have to put certain information in the email before they can answer a question? I just want to confirm that they have received my readiness form and my medical results.

[Pheebs1201 269]

Quick question - I notice people are emailing the embassy, which email do you use? Do you have to put certain information in the email before they can answer a question? I just want to confirm that they have received my readiness form and my medical results.

http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/visa_contact_form.html

They reply quickest if you select "I need to change my K1 visa appointment" lol

[-Shana- 152]

http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/visa_contact_form.html

They reply quickest if you select "I need to change my K1 visa appointment" lol

Sneaky! Thanks a bunch

[chrismorrison 96]

We are in the 'in transit' stage.

[Pheebs1201 269]

We had what must have been our sixth CEAC update yesterday since our medical so hoping it's finally the interview letter

[-Shana- 152]

GOT MY LETTER!! Woohoo!

My interview is on March 5th!

[Pheebs1201 269]

GOT MY LETTER!! Woohoo!

My interview is on March 5th!

How bizarre that I don't have mine yet. Congrats though!

[Kimberley95 10]

GOT MY LETTER!! Woohoo!

My interview is on March 5th!

Woo!!! Mines 23rd February

[-Shana- 152]

How bizarre that I don't have mine yet. Congrats though!

I know, maybe they did act off your second readiness form? Makes no sense that I'd get my letter before you.

Woo!!! Mines 23rd February

Oh man, was hoping to get it on the same day! But I'm sure you can tell us all about it

[Pheebs1201 269]

JUST GOT AN EMAIL MY INTERVIEW IS FEBRUARY 17TH! SO HAPPY I COULD CRY!

[-Shana- 152]

JUST GOT AN EMAIL MY INTERVIEW IS FEBRUARY 17TH! SO HAPPY I COULD CRY!

Yaaaay!

This time next week you'll be in London celebrating!

[chrismorrison 96]

Aw, I am so excited for you guys! We booked our medical this morning for the 26th of February.

[-Shana- 152]

Have all those who've got interview dates paid for the visa yet? I did it as soon as I got the letter!! Coming up to £800 spent on this process so far, not for the poor that's for sure. I opted for home delivery since the nearest courier isn't local. Hope I don't have to wait too long! Looking into flights in a serious way too, fingers crossed should all go well, hoping to get a flight on April 20th. Will defo wait until that passport is in my hands again before I book. So exciting, things are moving forward!!

Aw, I am so excited for you guys! We booked our medical this morning for the 26th of February.

Ooh, exciting! Glad things are moving forward for you both

Edited February 10, 2015 by shana.mike

[Gary & Aubrey 23]

We are trying to call NVC, hoping an interview has been scheduled. Emailed embassy saying he is available for a short-notice cancellation if possible, but it looks like our 3rd wedding date is going to come and go as well! Haha. Congrats on dates everyone. Hopefully I can get through to NVC or the email comes back with good news!