Sharkano

Ok, thanks.

I read somewhere that if you come on a K-1 you are far less likely to get an interview, and thus more likely to be buried forever in the train wreck at NBC? Anyone know if that's true, or if K-1's are just like everyone else: random as to whether you get an interview?

Thanks, all.

Ok, so here is the question: Assume your fiancee is here legally on a K-1, timely marries and filed AOS (thus letting her stay here legally while awaiting green card), but the K-1 visa facial expiration date of 90 days expires. Now your fiancee wants to fly domestically. Will the airlines create an issue because the visa in her passport is "expired," even though because she has filed AOS she is still legal? Just trying to avoid any upcoming flight issue. Thanks!

Yeah, weird -- guess we will see, lol.

Nich-Nick, or anyone else: As you may recall, we went through London, and Knightsbridge would not do the MMR vaccine as allegedly it was not available from them in the U.K. We then went to a civil surgeon in the U.S., who did not do the 693 form, but instead filled in another DS-3025 with the MMR. Thus, we are submitting the two DS-3025's -- one from Knightsbridge showing MMR still needed, one from local civil surgeon saying they did MMR but nothing else. Think this will draw an RFE (I know this is just educated guessing)? The two forms together from civil surgeons show all vaccinations. Thanks!

My wife and I (just married -- woot!) are in the process of waiting the 3+ months for her conditional green card so she can work, and I was wondering if she would be running afoul of any immigration nonsense if she were to do volunteer work at a local women's shelter? Anyone know if that's an issue?

B2 visas are tough to get from the UK. I don't think the "crime" issue will be your problem, but just the general presumption of illegal immigration. They refused to even look at my fiancee's paperwork and just denied on the spot (no criminal record, tons of ties to UK to go back, but could not use ESTA as had denial of a B2 10 years earlier).Try for it, but don't make plans based on getting it. Good luck.

Yeah, I may. One way or the other the AOS is going to get submitted asap so we can get started and try to get the GC in time.

Yes, you MUST call DOS weekly at least so as to get the date and not miss your interview. Many posters here have missed theirs while waiting for mail that never arrives.

Ok, will do.

Yeah, Lynk, I agree most of the AP horror stories are overstays. However, if for some reason you are out of the country and your AOS is denied while you are out, you are doomed. You will not be let back in, as the courts have ruled that the promise you received to get back in was 100% dependent on your having a pending petition. Granted, the risk of denial in a short time window may be a slight chance, but I am not sure I want to risk it.

Ok, assume the following facts:

1. My fiancee arrives on a K-1 visa, and we timely marry and then file all required AOS papers by end of January

2. We have no red flags or RFE's

3. We are doing everything in San Diego

Now the question: given the above facts, what is the over/under date on when we get her green card? The reason I ask is that we would like to take her back home in August to see her elderly father, but I would like to avoid risking it on advance parole if we can (the risk may be slim, but if there were an idiotic denial of the AOS while abroad we would be hosed as you then can be denied re-entry, and I can't bear to be without her another year+ for a spousal visa). I am trying to get educated guesses (and I realize that is all they are) as to when the GC might arrive. Thanks in advance!

Read up on AP a lot online. There are risks. However, may be ok if person never had any issues and is 100% compliant. I would study it first if I were you.

Advanced Parole has risks also. You better read up a lot. I would honeymoon in the States. Risking 1 year+ for spouse visa (which has happened to honeymooners) is way too great.

I think people just ignore it, and many don't even know it exists.

Yup, I concur with all your comment, Nich-Nick. I can't judge other embassies cause I only dealt with this one, but you really have to be hyper aggressive in following stuff with them, or you get tossed off the carousel. I agree we cannot write up a definitive guideline or it will be kaput in short order. However, I think we can tell people general facts that probably will remain true for awhile such as:

1. Once your NOA2 exists, you need to get your State Department case # from them by phone.

2. Once you have that number, you need to follow the CEAC site religiously and watch for updates. You need to call the State Department during the NVC process and watch for it to transit to London.

3. You need to get your medical scheduled and follow whatever Book of the Month Club instructions they have for telling them you are ready for the interview, and for applying (DS-160, or whatever)

4. You need to talk to the State Dept. by phone regularly to try and see what your interview date is.

Nich-Nick, this "I missed the interview" stuff is becoming an unfortunate refrain at this Embassy. I know you have been on here a while and been a great help to many. If you could do a post that they would PIN that warns people how once they submit their readiness form they must watch and contact CEAC regularly so they don't miss their interview it would be a great help. Lots of people just seem to wait to hear from the Embassy, which for many is fatal. If you can, thanks! (I would do it, but don't know if they would pin it.)

Social security notice is the least of your issues. That quote above is just the requirement to let them know -- you don't have to do it in 12 minutes.

Yes -- if AP lasts more than 3-4 days you might have cause for concern, but at London it's normally just a day or so.

Yeah, I think for those who face anything like this in the future, you need to physically go to the courier and stand there and ask them to check everywhere in their office. FYI, my fiancee's envelope was also misspelled (though just by one letter), and she had to argue with the courier to get it. This system is very silly, and you have to plow through it. Grats, hjm!

Mine never updated on the CEAC site (and we have the visa now), but others I know have updated. I also never received an e-mail from the Embassy or courier, it just showed up at the courier's office.

It is true that many approvals are granted without the other person there. However, the OP is also correct: it MIGHT make all the difference. If someone is going through all the nonsense these visa's require, he/she should think about going that "extra mile" at the very end to be there. We had an "easy" embassy. My fiancee speaks better English than probably 90% of the beneficiaries on this site. Nonetheless, she was asked a question that the consular office meant to mean "X," but my fiancee thought -- due to the ambiguity in the question -- it meant "Y," and thus they started down a problematic road that could have led to a denial. I stepped in to clarify what he meant, he said "X," and she then understood and dealt with the actual question. If I had not been there who knows what might have happened? Similarly, they never called our number. Instead, it just suddenly showed up on a board, with a lot of other numbers, at Window 13. I told her there it is let's go -- she tells me we are not called yet. I told her nope, we are going up there -- and lo and behold they were waiting for us. What if I had been there and she never went up, due to her background in strictly following governmental directions? These are the kinds of goofy things that can happen, and why two heads ARE generally better than one.

I think you have miraculously been given a second chance if the Knightsbridge doctors have referred you to the specialist (If I am reading you correctly). To me, the Embassy will absolutely ignore your doctors, but would have a hard time ignoring Knightsbridge's own specialist. You MUST win with this specialist or you are doomed for a year. I would go over everything in detail, including telling him/her about cancer-stricken fiancee (any empathy will help you). Best to you and to her!

P.S.: I would demand a second test. Then , if the results come back far different, you may actually get the specialist on your side saying your THC levels could not drop that fast, and the first test must be in error. I have seen this be effective in drunk driving cases.

HJM, I am sending you a private message