London 2012- K1s from NOA2 to interview thread

[ZC117 0]

BTW, I forgot to add - if you are worried call DOS and ask.

its 202-663-1225 in the US (+1 202 663 1225). After you call, press 1 then 0. You will get an operator and if you ask them for an update on your case, they will tell you if the forms were received which might give you peace of mind!

I called from Skype by the way, which makes it incredibly cheap, certainly way more so than calling the expensive UK Operator Assisted phone service!

I'm confused, I'm a UKC thought the number to call would be 09042-450-100. The address you stated was the correct one to send too, I'm pretty sure I used as it was the header address. I will check using one of the numbers. The info I receive was from here http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=United%20Kingdom&cty=Londo

Thank you for responding

[Zoe&Chris 5]

I'm confused, I'm a UKC thought the number to call would be 09042-450-100. The address you stated was the correct one to send too, I'm pretty sure I used as it was the header address. I will check using one of the numbers. The info I receive was from here http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=United%20Kingdom&cty=Londo

Thank you for responding

Yeah, that page hasn't been updated in a while, so I wouldn't use that address. (Nich-Nick, how do we get someone to update that page?)

Ok so the phone numbers we're talking about are two different things:

The number you quoted is correct for contacting the embassy in the UK. This helps fo some things, like paying the fee and trying to reshcedule an interview. However, I never tried them at this stage as people on this forum thread report they say they cannot tell you wether the forms are received or not until the interview is scheduled.

However, when the London embassy puts something in their electronic system, this is part of the US Department of State (DOS) also (as are all embassys I assume). You can call them directly in the States on the number I quoted - they're not specifically for London but if you give them you case number they will look on their system. You said you saw your status was "ready" so I assume you have already checked the CEAC tracker - this is also part of DOS.

I saw my status updated date change on the CEAC tracker, so I called this DOS number I mentioned and lo and behold, they informed me that both my forms and the medical had been received. As this is a different service to the embassy number, it costs different (less) too. Feel free to ring both, but from what I've read the DOS may give you more luck at this stage. You will have to ring the other number when you pay the fee, of course, but I have yet to do that. The DOS people have been really friendly every time too, and I've called them 6 times now

Zoe

[ZC117 0]

Yeah, that page hasn't been updated in a while, so I wouldn't use that address. (Nich-Nick, how do we get someone to update that page?)

Ok so the phone numbers we're talking about are two different things:

The number you quoted is correct for contacting the embassy in the UK. This helps fo some things, like paying the fee and trying to reshcedule an interview. However, I never tried them at this stage as people on this forum thread report they say they cannot tell you wether the forms are received or not until the interview is scheduled.

However, when the London embassy puts something in their electronic system, this is part of the US Department of State (DOS) also (as are all embassys I assume). You can call them directly in the States on the number I quoted - they're not specifically for London but if you give them you case number they will look on their system. You said you saw your status was "ready" so I assume you have already checked the CEAC tracker - this is also part of DOS.

I saw my status updated date change on the CEAC tracker, so I called this DOS number I mentioned and lo and behold, they informed me that both my forms and the medical had been received. As this is a different service to the embassy number, it costs different (less) too. Feel free to ring both, but from what I've read the DOS may give you more luck at this stage. You will have to ring the other number when you pay the fee, of course, but I have yet to do that. The DOS people have been really friendly every time too, and I've called them 6 times now

Zoe

Thank you so much!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I'm worried that the consulate may not have received my forms. I checked the status of and it states Ready. But I was looking at the mailing address for my DS-2001 and I nearly put the Immigrant Visa Branch address post code: W1K 6AH. Not the as stated K1 address with the post code W1A 2JB. This is concerning me as I'm not sure which I put the Packet 3 response in. It may havebeen the former. What would happen if this was the case? This is a huge concern.

According to the embassy K1 instruction page things are to be mailed to:

Immigrant Visa Unit

US Embassy

24 Grosvenor Square

London W1K 6AH

Where did you get the W1A 2JB?

[ZC117 0]

According to the embassy K1 instruction page things are to be mailed to:

Immigrant Visa Unit

US Embassy

24 Grosvenor Square

London W1K 6AH

Where did you get the W1A 2JB?

Address for K1 Packet:

Immigrant Visa Branch

United States Embassy

5 Upper Grosvenor Street

London

W1A 2JB

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=United%20Kingdom&cty=London

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Address for K1 Packet:

Immigrant Visa Branch

United States Embassy

5 Upper Grosvenor Street

London

W1A 2JB

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=United%20Kingdom&cty=London

Ahh...the VJ page that is a mix of ancient and newer stuff. That is the address that was on my Packet 3, but it was posted on VJ way before that. Why don't you go delete that one?

Want to see the old style paper packets that we got in the mail before the one page letter you guys get? Sometimes I think the instructions were laid out better then. Have a read if you are bored looking up timelines. Much is the same procedure except pay in advance and no interview until medical received.

https://picasaweb.google.com/NichandNick/LondonP3?authuser=0&feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/NichandNick/LondonP4?authuser=0&feat=directlink

[ZC117 0]

It turns out I sent my forms to the correct address. I wanted to thank Nich-Nick and Zoe for their fantastic help.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I missed the Zoe posts earlier. Excellent information. Anybody can update the embassy info on VJ. Just Click "Update / Add Information. Sometimes people add but are afraid to alter previous info. Just do it. The K1 address is outdated.

[Maple79 1]

Hi all,

I am trying to put my packet together to send to the embassy in London but am slightly confused by the many contradictions on the embassy website. I want to be totally confident that what I send is right, this is what I have so please correct me if I have anything wrong....

Cover letter, DS2001 (1 copy), DS230 part 1 for both me and my 2 daughters (1 copy of each)- Do I need to keep part 2 or should I send this also?, DS156 for me and both my daughters (2 copies of each), DS156K for just me (2 copies), DS157 for all 3 of us (2 copies of each)

Do I then put a copy of each of the above with my I129F package ready for the interview? Our medicals are booked for next Tuesday, should I send the packet once I have it together correctly or wait until after the medical? (Do I sent it recorded or just normal mail?)

I got my LND number from NVC 2 weeks ago, (NOA2 May 21st), but they still haven't sent our file to the embassy in London. Should I still proceed with my medical and sending my packet?

I can't believe how painfully slow this process is and how much paperwork is involved..

My next concern is how long do I wait for an interview after medical? I see it says 10-12 weeks but then there are people on here who seem to have them within 3 weeks! We had planned to marry on August 18th and for my daughters to be in school for the start of the new school year, is this going to be possible?

Thanks

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

K1 or K2 never needs DS-230 part 2 (unless somebody at the embassy doesn't know their job). It is part of the spouse visa application. Your similar form is the DS-156 K.

Your K1 forms:

• 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)

Your daughters' forms:

• Form DS-230 Part I and Part II
• Form DS-156 (2 copies)
• Form DS-157 (2 copies)

By 2 copies, that means print it twice. It doesn't mean the first print plus 2 more photocopies. Mail those with nothing else as soon as you have confirmed that London has your file. You know they have it by receiving a letter from the embassy or calling DOS in the US and asking if you can't wait on a letter. Always send immigration stuff with some way to know it was delivered for your peace of mind.

Do I then put a copy of each of the above with my I129F package ready for the interview?

Not quite sure what you mean? You don't need your I-129F petition for anything. It was approved and over. Taking extra copies of the DS- forms to the interview isn't part of the interview. It is only a tip for the rare chance that you get there and they say they can't find those forms. Voila! You have more to pull out.

I got my LND number from NVC 2 weeks ago, (NOA2 May 21st), but they still haven't sent our file to the embassy in London. Should I still proceed with my medical and sending my packet?

You are premature without your file at the embassy, but hopefully they will find your medical results when you file arrives and put with it. It takes a few days for the medical results to arrive so maybe your case will arrive first.

I can't believe how painfully slow this process is and how much paperwork is involved..

My next concern is how long do I wait for an interview after medical? I see it says 10-12 weeks but then there are people on here who seem to have them within 3 weeks! We had planned to marry on August 18th and for my daughters to be in school for the start of the new school year, is this going to be possible?

Slow and paperwork just gets worse. You have only begun. There is more waiting in the US.

"How long" is the big unanswerable question. What if your attempts to speed it up by attending the medical before London has your case ends with your medical in the "unknown" box and meanwhile your case file sits waiting for medical results before they will give an interview. There are three parts to getting an interview and nobody does them in the same order so how long after just one part isn't a good measure. Three parts:

DS- forms mailed

Medical results

DS-2001 form with cover letter mailed

I would suggest that you mail your readiness form DS-2001 separately so it doesn't get lost among the other forms. Include the information they ask for in the cover letter. And tell them you need to interview by [date] because of needing to get the girls in school. And are you aware that you may need permission from their father to take them out of the UK.? Not sure the website says that.

Hope this helped. It's not an exact science, order or time line.

[Maple79 1]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply it has been very helpful!

Ok so no DS-230 part II needed. I have printed the forms 3 times just incase (no photocopies) but I only need to send 2 copies of the ones you stated. (Probably a bit excessive I know but I keep reading 'copy copy copy' everywhere) I realise that there is a lot more form filling ahead of me once in America but that I can cope with much better as I will be with my fiance, not here on my own trying to figure stuff out with him over a bad skype connection at one in the morning! Very frustrating.

I see what you are saying about not sending before London have my file, perhaps I will wait and send the DS forms next week once we have done the medical. NVC told my fiance today that our file will be with London shortly so fingers crossed. I will send the pack with proof of postage. If I don't hear from London by the end of next week about our file being received I guess the following week I will owe a call to the extortion hotline.

As for the I-129f, I read that I need to have copies of the whole process so far, is that not the case? I have read so much conflicting stuff I don't know which way is up half the time.

I am aware I need permission to take the girls with me, I should have the notarised letter of consent any day from their father.

Just more waiting now and absolutely everything crossed for an interview before August!

What is DOS and CEAC by the way?.. is there a way to tell when our file finally heads across the Atlantic?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I see what you are saying about not sending before London have my file, perhaps I will wait and send the DS forms next week once we have done the medical. NVC told my fiance today that our file will be with London shortly so fingers crossed. I will send the pack with proof of postage. If I don't hear from London by the end of next week about our file being received I guess the following week I will owe a call to the extortion hotline.

The Dept of State in the US has the same info and you don't pay per minute. In fact, they probably have better info. Your fiance can make the call. Zoe explained it in this post yesterday http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/?p=6289353

NVC should have passed on your case in about 3 days, but that's an example of the unpredictability of timelines.

As for the I-129f, I read that I need to have copies of the whole process so far, is that not the case? I have read so much conflicting stuff I don't know which way is up half the time.

That is a myth perpetuated in the K1 forums. The embassy does NOT need it. If you need it as a study guide to learn your fiance's name, where he works, or how you met, then it might be useful to you. I think VJ guides suggest it as useful for fiance's who don't speak the same language and got engaged days after their first in-person meeting. I doubt you need a study guide to know about your fiancé.

Just more waiting now and absolutely everything crossed for an interview before August!

What is DOS and CEAC by the way?.. is there a way to tell when our file finally heads across the Atlantic?

Dept of State is over the embassy and visas. You are done with USCIS for now. DOS is the leader or this part.

CEAC is this newish online status checker https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx? You can't check USCIS anymore because your case left them with NOA2.

NVC will tell you when the case left by calling them. But it doesn't mean London has opened the mail and logged in your info. A phone call to DOS can tell you if case is received. If they say no, it just isn't logged in yet. Could take a week or more after arrival. DOS can tell you if your documents or medical results have been logged in as received, your interview has been assigned, or your visa printed. No charge and better info. The embassy phone number is a call center in Scotland and they have little access to your file info.

[Maple79 1]

Hmm.. NVC have had our case for 10 days, they gave us the LND number the Monday before last.. I didn't see a number for DOS on that link, do you have it? I guess that would be more desirable for my fiance to call them than the embassy at $20 a pop.

I certainly don't need a study guide, so that's less paperwork for the interview folder then! Thanks again

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hmm.. NVC have had our case for 10 days, they gave us the LND number the Monday before last.. I didn't see a number for DOS on that link, do you have it? I guess that would be more desirable for my fiance to call them than the embassy at $20 a pop.

I certainly don't need a study guide, so that's less paperwork for the interview folder then! Thanks again

DOS 202-663-1225

Ask if London has logged in your file from NVC or sent out the instruction letter to the beneficiary (you).

If you haven't read this whole thread, post 6 is good and post 18 has a copy of the letter you will get.

I have heard of NVC kinda holding up petitions on occasion,even for a month, but normally they assign the LND number and it's outta there. It takes roughly 4 days to make it to London to the sorting station, which I don't believe is onsite at the embassy.

Edited June 13, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[okieag 6]

Fiancee received letter from embassy stating file is received. She is currently finishing up all the documents as listed above. She has medical exam scheduled for later this month.

When do we pay the visa fee of $240?

What do we send with the cover letter? Just the ds-2001, or a statement with the fact medical is scheduled on xx date, forms have been mailed in, etc?

Thanks.