Had My CR1 (spouse) Interview in London Today and....

[MattyUK 22]

2 hours ago, JFH said:

People with criminal convictions have to go through the whole process to be denied to find out if they can apply for a waiver. That's the only way they can have the opportunity to apply for a waiver - by first being denied and finding out from the CO if a waiver will apply. Denials are harsh. We went through it when we applied for a spousal visa for my husband to live in the U.K. The person you heard at window 14 may at least have the chance to get a visa with a waiver of ineligibility (that would depend on the nature of the convictions). No such thing exists for the U.K. My husband got a denial and a lifetime ban because if a conviction for theft over 20 years previously. No waiver. No second chance. Despite being married to a British woman. I like to remind people of this when they say "oh the U.K. lets anyone in" or "the USA is the hardest place to immigrate". Depends on who you are. 

 

I think you got confused with paying fees at the embassy. K-1 and other non-immigrant categories pay at the embassy. DCF cases also pay the embassy. Immigrant categories that go through the NVC pay the NVC. However you still have the $220 GC fee to pay. You will receive instructions on how to do that with your passport. You can't do it beforehand as you need the serial number from your visa. 

 

Congrats! Reading your post brought back memories of being at the London embassy myself last December. I was at window 14 but it was a young blond man that interviewed me. He was very nice. 

Thank you, this was an excellent reply that told me everything I needed. Another question if you don't mind, I assume the passport comes inside a packet that contains other information for when I enter the US as a resident? Is it a package within a package?

[JFH 12,191]

14 minutes ago, MattyUK said:

Thank you, this was an excellent reply that told me everything I needed. Another question if you don't mind, I assume the passport comes inside a packet that contains other information for when I enter the US as a resident? Is it a package within a package?

Yes. You will receive a big plastic courier envelope/bag and inside will be your passport, a congratulations letter that tells you how to pay the fee and then a pack in a paper envelope (sealed) that says in big letters "do not open". This contains your entire file. Mine weighed several pounds because our original petition had over 300 pages of evidence due to my husband's conviction. It started to tear open before I even got it. It had been stapled by the embassy and taped. I got a big plastic zip wallet (like what kids in the U.K. take their reading books to school in but much bigger) from Staples. I kept the pack in there the whole time and took it on the plane with me like that. I was terrified it would rip even further. As I got to the immigration counters the plastic wallet broke but everything stayed in the envelope and I got through (2.5 hours in secondary but I made it in the end). 

[MattyUK 22]

1 hour ago, JFH said:

Yes. You will receive a big plastic courier envelope/bag and inside will be your passport, a congratulations letter that tells you how to pay the fee and then a pack in a paper envelope (sealed) that says in big letters "do not open". This contains your entire file. Mine weighed several pounds because our original petition had over 300 pages of evidence due to my husband's conviction. It started to tear open before I even got it. It had been stapled by the embassy and taped. I got a big plastic zip wallet (like what kids in the U.K. take their reading books to school in but much bigger) from Staples. I kept the pack in there the whole time and took it on the plane with me like that. I was terrified it would rip even further. As I got to the immigration counters the plastic wallet broke but everything stayed in the envelope and I got through (2.5 hours in secondary but I made it in the end). 

OK great.  I'm gonna see if there's a thread on here about point of entry experiences.  Mine will be Miami next month.  Hope you're enjoying life!

[MattyUK 22]

14 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

The petition you started with is to USCIS part of Homeland Security.

 

The approved petition was handed off to NVC part of the Department of State.

You applied for the visa through NVC and paid for the visa when you paid NVC.

You were approved at the embassy/consulate, still Department of State. They approved your visa and will send it to you shortly. You can check your status online via CEAC (Consular Electronic Application Center). Once your status says "issued", you know the visa is truly approved and printed. Then you will be finished with the Department of State.    https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==

 

Your green card will be issued by USCIS. You have to pay them via ELIS (Electronic Immigration System) before they will mail out the card following your arrival on the immigrant visa. You can pay once you have the visa or put it off awhile. You can still enter the US, but won't be queued up to get your greencard in the mail ASAP if you delay. You pay online. Official information starts here on the USCIS website.  https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/how-pay-uscis-immigrant-fee

 

 

 

Thank you!  Just checked and it says issued and that it 'has been printed'.  Is there a way to track it with regards to delivery?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

5 hours ago, MattyUK said:

Thank you!  Just checked and it says issued and that it 'has been printed'.  Is there a way to track it with regards to delivery?

When they turn it over to the courier 1-2 days, you will get an email with tracking. You should have it in hand by Friday. Once courier gets it, most places are next day delivery unless you live in a very remote place.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

6 hours ago, MattyUK said:

OK great.  I'm gonna see if there's a thread on here about point of entry experiences.  Mine will be Miami next month.  Hope you're enjoying life!

You don't need a thread. Look at the menu bar. Office Reviews & Info. Then you will see the choice "US Port of Entry Reviews". Pick that and then find Miami. 

[MattyUK 22]

3 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

You don't need a thread. Look at the menu bar. Office Reviews & Info. Then you will see the choice "US Port of Entry Reviews". Pick that and then find Miami. 

Cheers!

[MattyUK 22]

11 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

When they turn it over to the courier 1-2 days, you will get an email with tracking. You should have it in hand by Friday. Once courier gets it, most places are next day delivery unless you live in a very remote place.

OK that's brilliant. Cheers!