Start to Finish my Timeline

[Brit2Florida 0]

My US husband petitioned from Florida for UK me in January (officially received Feb 1st 2016) within the first application we included photos, affidavits from two people in Florida who confirmed our relationship. It wasn't until May 13th that Nebraska sent our application to NVC, then it took a few weeks for them to acknowledge receipt and ask for the next payment and the next set of paperwork. I was in the UK! I did the quick criminal record check, which still took about 3 weeks, but I had done it early in May, so I had it ready when NVC asked for a copy of it. So that was early June that we sent in all the paperwork and paid for the next step, then for more waiting! We started calling NVC half way through July to find out how our case was going, they told us to wait 6 weeks from receipt of case! But you can call to see just in case . On the 4th of August my case was completed and I got my interview date given to me. (Normally we wait another week or so for the interview date to be given, I was lucky!) I tried calling. The embassy in London for an earlier interview date but they would not move it unless there was a life or death situation, which thankfully there was not. This did however mean I had to wait until September 21st. I did my medical check quickly, August 10th. The Doctors I had to go to was really close to the US embassy in London! But it still took until the 15th for my results to be at the embassy awaiting my sept 21st appointment. I also paid £18 for the DX courier service SNF printed my receipt and interview letter. On the day I turned up early just before 11 for my 1230 appointment and was allowed in( showed my interview letter)! I'd emailed to let them know my US husband and our 18 week old daughter would be coming with me. First call up was to hive my originals, birth cert, marriage , criminal record check and DX courier receipt, then wait, then called up for "interview". My husband and daughter were stood with me, I swore to tell the truth, then answered a hand full of questions, how we met, when married, if baby is teething, she is! And bingo bango Congrates accepted. I spoke to the two ladies for less than 10 minutes and was out before 12. Now to wait up to 15 working days for my passport with visa and package, it arrived Tuesday morning, so 6 days later total. The next day I was at Orlando Customs with family! handed over package which means we go to secondary interview. Unfortunately lots of people were there for various reasons, good and bad, and we just had to wait our turn, even though our reason was good, so 3 hours later I exit customs and enter USA as a permanent resident. We paid for the green card as soon as we got my passport back, so now I'm waiting up to 120 days for my card to arrive at our home in Florida, but until then the visa in my passport is good enough for and travelling so that was 8 full months. Paperwork was always correct with all back up info included. Payments always paid on the first day we could pay. I hope this helps anyone reading. Good luck to all

[Goldfinch2912 3]

Thank you for posting this! Very helpful

[JFH 12,191]

Very helpful and congratulations!!

Hopefully I'm not far behind you.

I'm moving this to "progress reports", which is a more suitable section of the forum.

[JessieABC 159]

Very helpful, thanks! I'm filing for my husband, who's also from the UK so the police cert, medical timeline, and courier info in your post helped!

Hoping we'll fall within that 8 month bracket also.

Out of curiosity, did you book your flight to the US before the Visa approval or while waiting for the final visa pack to arrive?

[Brit2Florida 0]

I'm in a very fortunate position as I work for an airline, so we booked standby tickets and just changed the dates as soon as my passport and pack arrived for the next day. I would say to be safe look at prices and either book your flight for 21 days after the interview date. Or if you can't wait book a fully flexible ticket and change the dates. It's also worth looking to see where the UK school holidays are, if you are lucky you might avoid them, which will mean cheaper and more available tickets The best of luck to you !

[Brit2Florida 0]

On 9/29/2016 at 9:14 PM, Brit2Florida said:

My US husband petitioned from Florida for UK me in January (officially received Feb 1st 2016) within the first application we included photos, affidavits from two people in Florida who confirmed our relationship. It wasn't until May 13th that Nebraska sent our application to NVC, then it took a few weeks for them to acknowledge receipt and ask for the next payment and the next set of paperwork. I was in the UK! I did the quick criminal record check, which still took about 3 weeks, but I had done it early in May, so I had it ready when NVC asked for a copy of it. So that was early June that we sent in all the paperwork and paid for the next step, then for more waiting! We started calling NVC half way through July to find out how our case was going, they told us to wait 6 weeks from receipt of case! But you can call to see just in case . On the 4th of August my case was completed and I got my interview date given to me. (Normally we wait another week or so for the interview date to be given, I was lucky!) I tried calling. The embassy in London for an earlier interview date but they would not move it unless there was a life or death situation, which thankfully there was not. This did however mean I had to wait until September 21st. I did my medical check quickly, August 10th. The Doctors I had to go to was really close to the US embassy in London! But it still took until the 15th for my results to be at the embassy awaiting my sept 21st appointment. I also paid £18 for the DX courier service SNF printed my receipt and interview letter. On the day I turned up early just before 11 for my 1230 appointment and was allowed in( showed my interview letter)! I'd emailed to let them know my US husband and our 18 week old daughter would be coming with me. First call up was to hive my originals, birth cert, marriage , criminal record check and DX courier receipt, then wait, then called up for "interview". My husband and daughter were stood with me, I swore to tell the truth, then answered a hand full of questions, how we met, when married, if baby is teething, she is! And bingo bango Congrates accepted. I spoke to the two ladies for less than 10 minutes and was out before 12. Now to wait up to 15 working days for my passport with visa and package, it arrived Tuesday morning, so 6 days later total. The next day I was at Orlando Customs with family! handed over package which means we go to secondary interview. Unfortunately lots of people were there for various reasons, good and bad, and we just had to wait our turn, even though our reason was good, so 3 hours later I exit customs and enter USA as a permanent resident. We paid for the green card as soon as we got my passport back, so now I'm waiting up to 120 days for my card to arrive at our home in Florida, but until then the visa in my passport is good enough for and travelling so that was 8 full months. Paperwork was always correct with all back up info included. Payments always paid on the first day we could pay. I hope this helps anyone reading. Good luck to all

My green card arrived exactly 3 months to the day of my arrival into the States. I've now been a resident for over a year and I fly in and out of the country on a regular basis. For anyone entering the states with your green card (in Orlando at least) the video demo for using the machine is incorrect. Hold your card so you are looking at your picture the right way up, then place the card on the machine so your card is facing up, don't flip it over! The machine scans the back of your card. That'll save you trying over and over and then getting the X through your picture on the print out slips!

Edited December 1, 2017 by Brit2Florida
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