London 2012- K1s from NOA2 to interview thread

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

There's been many similar threads started in the last week with the topic I got my NOA2--Now what?? If all the questions are in one thread, people may find the information they need more easily. I'll start off with some general information specific to London K1s.

Advance preparation for the London part of the K1 process

When your NOA2 is near, it’s a good time to start your preparation.

Petitioner:

1. Order your tax transcripts. Only the most recent tax return is required, but you can order three years at a time for free from the IRS. Tax transcripts are summaries of your whole tax return provided free by the IRS. They can't be faked because it's a copy/summary of your whole tax return picture, basically certified by the IRS because it's issued by them. That's why you don't have to include any 1040, Schedules, W2s or 1099s if you send a transcript. They are free from the IRS. Transcripts take the place of sending a complete tax return.
   If you call 1-800-908-9946 (the transcript line) , there is an automated system for ordering transcripts. You'll have to enter your Social Security number and the numbers of your street address. It will generate an automated request to mail your transcripts. You can also order online on the IRS website http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=232168,00.html
   
2. Start filling out the I-134 Affidavit of Support. It will have to be signed and mailed to the UK the slow way. Get familiar with the form. When the NOA2 is received is a good time to finalize it with the supporting documents and get it in the mail.
   
3. Don't obsess printing Skype logs, emails, photos, or Facebook status. London does not want to look at that. Really they don't. London does not want to see a copy of your I-129F petition or NOA2. They got that in the file from NVC.
   

UK beneficiary:

1. Get some passport photos taken. You will eventually need
   2 US sized for the Embassy
   1 UK sized for the police certificate
   1 either size for the visa medical exam.
   (and for AOS in the US, 6 more US sized photos)
   You can take your own and size it using this uploader tool from the Dept of State. Scroll halfway down the page. http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html Save the jpg file and print at home or at a photo place. Also available at Snappy Snaps, Photo-Me booths, Jessops, Gould's Pharmacy (by the embassy), near the Bond St Tube station (Oxford St) which is closest Tube to the medical exam.
   
2. Go to your NHS doctor and get the immunizations you will need for Adjustment of Status. You can get a K1 visa without having any shots, but you will need them before AOS. It’s really wise to take care of it before getting to the US so you can aviold civil surgeon hassles and $$$. Many NHS doctors will do them for free, but they are not obligated to do so for immigration purposes. If you had these shots as a child, Tdap/Td must be no longer than 10 years ago or you have to do them again. Get the shots documented by your doctor to take to your visa medical exam. Here’s the shots needed for 19 through 59 years of age:
   Td or Tdap - Maybe not available in the UK, so get DT, DTP or DtaP and it will be accepted for AOS
   MMR (if born in 1957 or later) Get a second shot 4 wks later if you have time
   Varicella – Not routinely given in the UK ; a history of having chickenpox excuses you from the shot. They take your word for it at the visa medical exam.
   Influenza - During flu season only, October 1 through March 31. This was a new recommendation dated November 2010 for all ages over 6 months. Older lists will say flu shots for over age 50. It changed.
   
3. Order your police certificate. It takes some preparation because you need a passport photo signed off on by somebody officialish who’s known you two years. Here’s the application. Read the instructions. A police certificate is good for 12 months. Must take it to medical exam. http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/Application_Form.pdf
   
4. Look at your passport and make sure it will have 8 months remaining after visa issuance. If not get it renewed now. If you've damaged it or gotten it wet, it will need to be renewed.
   
5. Study the list of original documents London wants you to bring to the embassy and get those in hand or ordered. http://london.usembassy.gov/application_documents.html
   Make photocopies of any document you want back. They will verify the original and file the photocopy.
   

Ready, Set, Go!! - Ask your questions or post your tips...........

[Dan & Jenni 457]

Order your police certificate. It takes some preparation because you need a passport photo signed off on by somebody officialish who's known you two years. Here's the application. Read the instructions. A police certificate is good for 12 months. Must take it to medical exam. http://www.acpo.poli...cation_Form.pdf

if your police certificate comes back showing "no live trace" or it is anything other than spotless then there are possibly 2 things that you need to do...

1) obtain a "subject access request". this will show what your police certificate doesnt and amongst other things, court convictions, police cautions / warnings, reprimands and Penalty Notice for Disorder. this is available through your local police force so check on their website for details on how to apply. it costs £10 and takes up to 40 days so if you need it then order it early. this can be very useful for finding out dates if they are unknown.

2) if you appeared in court then you might also need to obtain a "memorandum of conviction". this is the court report and is available from the clerk of the court you attended. im not sure of cost but i believe it can take up to 60 days to obtain, so again... if you need it then order it early.

[xjoseyx 19]

[*]Start filling out the I-134 Affidavit of Support. It will have to be signed and mailed to the UK the slow way. Get familiar with the form. When the NOA2 is received is a good time to finalize it with the supporting documents and get it in the mail.

This is a great post, thanks. My fiance is unemployed and has been for 2 years so he cannot support me. His parents are doing the Affidavit of Support for me. Does my finace have to fill one out too because hes the petitioner? He has no wage so cant really provide much information for this form. Do both his parents have to one out or just his Dad who earns a 6 figure salary?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

This is a great post, thanks. My fiance is unemployed and has been for 2 years so he cannot support me. His parents are doing the Affidavit of Support for me. Does my finace have to fill one out too because hes the petitioner? He has no wage so cant really provide much information for this form. Do both his parents have to one out or just his Dad who earns a 6 figure salary?

Actually for the I-134 just a sponsor (Dad) will do it. He needs to show some proof of his separate income. His tax return probably is joint with Mom, but his W2 along with it will show his portion. He could also show pay stubs or an employer letter to show his income. With that kind of salary, he does not need to list his assets---bank accounts, stocks, house value, etc. He can leave that part blank. Since he's not your fiance, I suggest he ticks "intend" on Question #11 and write out something like- Provide for all monetary needs, room and board, medical care, an apartment, use of a car...just whatever the arrangements will be kinda summed up in a sentence. Hahahaha...how about "a new Mercedes, new pair of shoes each week".

When you get to the US and do Adjustment of Status, there is another Affidavit of Support (i-864) with stricter rules. Your Fiance(husband) will fill out one even with zero income. Dad can be joint sponsor.

[photomile 101]

Most of what I'm about to post has been mentioned by others, but I thought I'd add it here also

Passport & Visa Photos

PhotoMe booths are available for normal passport photos and are usually found in Asda and UK passport issuing postoffices however they also now do Visa shots at a price of £7. it isn't immediately obvious either so check the machine you are using carefully. Most of these machines issue 4 Visa photographs however others have reported 5 being issued. Sit with your back flush against the wall if you can and make sure theres room in the guide on screen at the bottom. The visa shots they take come VERY close to the mark.

You can also get passport photos for free

epassportphoto.com allows you to upload a shot you've taken yourself or one you've scanned from a PhotoMe booth. It's free, then you download a 4x6 image to print at your local Tesco / Asda / Photocenter or Snapfish.com (Hint: Tesco and Snapfish offer free shots when you first sign up. I used Tesco and apart from the initial passport photos I haven't paid a penny for photographs since I had 50 free shots)

Remember to follow the guidelines for photographs. DON'T SMILE

UKBA Passport Guidelines - (PDF File)

US Passport Photo Requirements

Birth, Death, Adoption and Marriage Certificates

You may as well order this when you read this but Birth Certificate replacements no longer require a trip the the Births Deaths and Marriages office. You can now order online through the General Register Office at £9.25 for a birth certificate

General Register Office

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Wondering about the Packet 3 you've read about for months in the K1 forum????

There is no "packet". That's old talk. Your instructions and forms are posted on the London website. You can start working on the forms at any time. London will send a letter to the UK beneficiary when they have received your file and are ready for you to apply for the visa. That letter will tell you to go to the website.

Here's where you start Instructions for Immigrant Visa (K) Applicants Applying for a Visa in London.

The forms are on the right. If you filled them in early, then you can post them off to London the day you get the letter. Don't send them before London has your case.

Here's the basics of what London needs to get before they assign an interview:

1. Visa application forms sent in by you to get in the queue. Only forms. No passport photos or documents like birth certificate, police certificate, etc.
   
   • Form DS-230 Part I and Part II
     
   • Form DS-156 (2 copies)
     
   • Form DS-157 (2 copies)
     
   • Form DS-156-K (Do not sign it. You will sign at the interview while the officer witnesses. It's an oath)
     

[*]Medical results. They arrive at the embassy by courier 3-4 days after your medical exam.

[*]Form DS-2001 Readiness for Interview with a cover letter- This is your way of saying you have gathered every document needed for the interview including the I-134 from your fiance. They are in your hands---not on the way.

Read the instructions on the website for what documents you need for the interview. It also tells about what info to include with the DS-2001 in the form of a cover letter. There are links in a list on the left side to learn about the medical, visa fees, courier, interview, FAQ. Sometimes the right side of pages give links "for more information". Click those too. There is a lot of information to learn if you will click links and read it all. Don't depend on a forum to give you all the info. We might leave something out. Best to study the source, then ask questions about things that don't make sense.

Edited February 3, 2012 by Nich-Nick

[Brando M 1]

A few pointers regards the interview, from someone who had one recently!

• It's common knowledge that you can't take any electronic items in. The obvious being things such as cell/mobiles, MP3 players, laptops, e-readers. It also means electronic car keys AND internet banking security keys (such as those issued by HSBC).
  
• Have your interview letter / email and passport ready as you arrive. The first 'checkpoint' is before you start waiting in line, and you have to show your passport and letter.
  
• Be ready for the weather, it's the UK after all You have to wait outside initially (although wait time was only a few minutes when I went), so bring a brolly / rain coat.
  
• When waiting to be called for your 'interview', listen out for announcments. The vast majority are called via numbers which flash up cleary on the screens. But occasionally they call by name. That happened to me, and I was glad I wasn't reading, but rather looking and listening, as it really wasn't that loud or obvious.
  

[orangedesk 27]

This is a great thread as I prepare to get my NOA2 (hopefully) sometime soon. Can we ask one of the moderators to have this pinned at the top?

[Dan & Jenni 457]

A few pointers regards the interview, from someone who had one recently!

• It's common knowledge that you can't take any electronic items in. The obvious being things such as cell/mobiles, MP3 players, laptops, e-readers. It also means electronic car keys AND internet banking security keys (such as those issued by HSBC)

anything that you cant or dont want to take inside the embassy can be left at Goulds pharmacy just around the corner. they are supposed to be reliable and safe and it costs just a few pounds. you can also get US sized passport photos done there too.

[Stu4Lee 66]

[*]Order your police certificate. It takes some preparation because you need a passport photo signed off on by somebody officialish who’s known you two years. Here’s the application. Read the instructions. A police certificate is good for 12 months. Must take it to medical exam. http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/Application_Form.pdf

I think that link is incorrect Nick or no longer works????

Anyway it should be from the ACRO site (ACPO Criminal Records Office)

http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx (word or pdf here)

if your police certificate comes back showing "no live trace" or it is anything other than spotless then there are possibly 2 things that you need to do...

1) obtain a "subject access request". this will show what your police certificate doesnt and amongst other things, court convictions, police cautions / warnings, reprimands and Penalty Notice for Disorder. this is available through your local police force so check on their website for details on how to apply. it costs £10 and takes up to 40 days so if you need it then order it early. this can be very useful for finding out dates if they are unknown.

2) if you appeared in court then you might also need to obtain a "memorandum of conviction". this is the court report and is available from the clerk of the court you attended. im not sure of cost but i believe it can take up to 60 days to obtain, so again... if you need it then order it early.

Links for, I believe, most UK police forces are here... http://www.acro.police.uk/subject_access.aspx

There are 2 types of subject access, one from ACRO (criminal conviction history), the other your local police force (This will include information such as incident reports of calls, crime reports, statements etc).

For the purposes of the beneficiary it is the ACRO SAR that would be the one required, if at all.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I think that link is incorrect Nick or no longer works????

Anyway it should be from the ACRO site (ACPO Criminal Records Office)

http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx (word or pdf here)

Thanks. That link has indeed changed. The form for immigration purposes is found on this page http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

If it comes back NO TRACE, that's all you need. "No live trace" means there is something in your record that will need further documents to satisfy the embassy.

[Elora & Rob 15]

Nich Nick i understand that you can sort out police certificate, vacinations, I-134 etc before you recieve NOA2.....but is would there be a case of doing it to early??

Also can you change the data of the interview once the give you one? I have trips for April, June and September already booked so would need my interview to be in late september/october.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Nich Nick i understand that you can sort out police certificate, vacinations, I-134 etc before you recieve NOA2.....but is would there be a case of doing it to early??

Also can you change the data of the interview once the give you one? I have trips for April, June and September already booked so would need my interview to be in late september/october.

The ACPO police certificate is good for 1 year. I wouldn't get it the day you file the I-129F. Maybe order it halfway through the current estimated time for petition approval.

Shots-- can get sorted at any time. The police certificate photos have to be signed off by somebody officialish, so maybe the doctor could sign for you when you go get shots.

I-134-- in your case since it's tax season right now, wait until the 2011 return is done if you plan to use a tax return. For employer letter or paystubs, I think things dated closer to the interview would be better. If she did those the week NOA2 came or when you think your approval is a few weeks off would be best. My documents were actually 4 months old by his interview and that wasn't a problem. Keep in mind the interview will likely be 2-3 months after NOA2.

The interview can be rescheduled. See London's instructions in the right column http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/interview.html

I don't think you will have an interview by April or June so those won't be a problem. There is a readiness for interview form (DS-2001) that you send in when you have done your part and have every document you need for the interview in hand. Your cover letter could include a request like "please may I request an interview prior to September 24, as a will be _____ (on a business trip, be out of the country, having surgery...) after that date." If it's a trip that will require your passport, then you might want to request an interview after October __ and give a reason as being out of the country. After you get NOA2 and have heard from the embassy, you can better judge what you might want to say in a cover letter with the DS-2001 concerning your trip. It's too early to guess how times will change before you get to that point. But it's a suggestion to remember. My husband had tickets to the US already booked when the London things started happening. He requested an interview after the date of his return and they accommodated him. He likely would have been before/during the trip, but didn't want his K1 in the passport and for that trip to be POE. So we were a little longer getting an interview than the others with similar London timelines. Even with the requested delay, start to finish K1 was only 4.5 months. Timelines go up and down so predicting is just a ####### shoot.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Here's some questions I got today that others might also have, so posting them here. First off, the example forms on VJ are very helpful if you haven't found those yet. See the light blue menu bar above "Example Forms" http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples.

I have my packet 3 and Im filling out the DS230 and the DS156 but I have a few queries. I was wondering, if you have the time could you give me some help?

DS230 -

14. Spouses information. Im divorced and have been for several years. Do I put my previous husbands information here of leave it blank?

The answer is NONE because you currently are not married.

35. List dates of all previous visits to the US and the visa status type. Would I just list all my visits ever or just for my fiance? Do I just put the ESTA as my visa?

All your visits EVER. My fiance put VWP (Visa Waiver Program). I guess ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) would be okay. Keep in mind it didn't exist on older trips. Neither is a visa, but makes the point that you didn't have a visa and traveled visa free.

DS156

Bear with me, there are a few on here Im confused with!

14. National Identification number. Is that my national insurance number? or do i just leave this blank?

It is not the NHS number. Correct answer is NONE.

22. When do you intend to arrive in the US? Im really not sure what to put here. I'll only know when/if I get approved right?

Unknown is a good answer, or blank since it says "if known." This form is for other visas so isn't written just for a K1.

25.Name and Telephone numbers of person in the US who I'll be staying with or visiting for tourism or business? Thats just my fiances address and number I'd imagine.

Yes

26. How Long do you intend to stay in the US? unsure how to answer

VJ example says "Permanently"

27. What Is the purpose of your trip? unsure how to answer

VJ example says "Marriage and relocation to the USA

28. Who will pay for your trip? I will pay for myself.

Answer "Myself"

32. Do you intend to work in the US? Obviously I do but Im not sure what to answer. I dont have an employer yet as I wont be able to work for 90 days.

You may not be able to work longer than that. It depends on how fast your marry, file for

AOS

and

EAD

, and then wait 60-90 days beyond that filing. The answer for the form (VJ example) is "Yes" and "With work authorization, employer unknown"

Last one! 36. Has anyone ever filed an imigrant visa petition on your behalf? My fiance filed as my petitioner for my K1. Is that what they mean? or do they mean a lawyer?

It means did you have a former USC fiance and this is your second or third go 'round with a USC filing for you. Could have been a relative filing for you. Some people list their current fiance there, but I don't consider the current one as what they want to know. Nothing to do with a lawyer filling out your papers.

[RobynSway2709 0]

When filling in the affidavit of support is it true that on question 11 (i intend, do not intend to pay... ) is this left blank and in the space provided write N/A k1 visa process applicant ? if not what is put?.. both my fiance and his dad wll be doing the I-134 as my fiance is a student.. thanks