Visa Journey
This page is about my K1 Visa Journey!
I hired a Lawyer in March 2008 to help with the paperwork as Keith and I, were jumping in the deep end with no real clue what to do.
After 6 months and a lot of traveling and paperwork and signing form after form, we were finally ready to submit the I-129F Fiancee Visa Petition.
I also spent a lot of time researching Information on a forum called BritishExpats.com, this fountain of priceless information has helped in leaps and bounds and I have many people to thank for information, patience and support!
Once the I-129F was submitted in Sept 08 it took 4 months and it was approved Jan 09. We could then move onto the real goal the K1 (Fiancee Visa). We received “packet 3″, a letter asking me to collect certain documents and fill in more forms, it also asked me to book my medical exam.
We began collecting Evidence of our relationship, along with passports, birth certificates, police certificates, letters, photos and more.
With the help of my case-worker Ravi, we got the forms completed and sent back on March 16th. The embassy received these March 17th. I then went to London with my brother Jon and his fiancee Tasha for my medical examination.
I called the Embassy on March 26th to check they had received the forms and they informed me they had and my interview date was set for 6th April.
The interview was held at the US Embassy in London, I arrived there and had to go through security, then i went into the main building and was given a waiting number. I sat and watched the screens which look like the ones in Argos. When my number was called out i went to the window and signed some documents, had my finger prints taken and paid the fee for the visa. I was then told to sit down and that I’d be called up for the interview soon. After a very long time i was called up to a different window, was sworn in, had my fingerprints taken again and answered some basic questions on how me and keith met, how long we’ve known each other for and when and where our wedding was going to be. I was then asked to write keiths full name out on a form and sign it. I was then told that although my visa was approved they need another affidavit of support because they couldnt use keiths mum. (this basically says that if it all goes wrong they’ll help me and i wont become a public charge). I left the embassy after being there for 5 hours. I felt pretty upset and dissapointed but was already on the phone to keith sorting out the new affidavit.
2 weeks later i sent the new affidavit and all the documents, which keiths uncle did for us, to the embassy. I then get a call from the courier service telling me that the visa would be delivered in a few days.
When the via hadnt arrived in a few days i emailed the embassy and they called me back telling me i needed to go for a psychiatric review before they could send me the visa.
2 weeks later they have finally organised the review for me to go to, and i travel to taunton to do the review with a psychiatrist. He deems me perfectly fine and send the report to the embassy. 2 days later the visa finally arrives at my door. I can finally breath a sigh of relief!
I packed what belongings i could take into 4 suitcases leaving behind two for my parents to bring with them. After saying goodbye to everyone and leaving work, my parents drove me and Gin to the airport where we boarded a plane to Chicago USA.
At the Point Of Entry (POE) i had my fingerprints and photo taken, i handed the officer my Visa documents which he entered onto the computer, he then stamped my passport (and after some chitchat stamped gins too!) I then walked outside into the warm Chicago air and into the arms of Keith (awww).
We stayed in Chicago for the night and then drove home to Missouri the next day. After being hugged by everyone and anyone in the family, we set to cat proofing the basement and organising the wedding which was in 4 weeks time!
With help from a DJ called Diane, we got everything organised, my parents and friends arrived a couple of days before the wedding. On June 23rd at 4pm Keith and I were married in a cute church in our town. The reception was held in a hall down the road. It was an amzing day with pure sunshine and smiles everywhere. We then went camping with friends and family for a week for our “honeymoon”. I enjoyed every minute of it!
Once the honeymoon was over and Keith started back at work, we started working on the AOS (adjustment of status) this means i go from being a visa holder to a green card holder (ie. a permanant resident).
It took about 6 weeks after the wedding, but eventually we had all the money and documents needed plus numerous photocopies. The package was sent to the USCIS on Aug 24th and we got the NOA’s (receipts) 7 days later.
On September 11th I recieved a letter stating that my biometrics were going to be taken on Sept 29th in down town St Louis. We drove there on the day and arrived 20 minutes early with my appointment letter and passport for photo ID.
I filled out a small form, name, dob, height, weight, eye and hair colour, race, address, phone number, A# and the two reciept numbers on the appointment notice. I found out the two numbers were for my i485 and the EAD.
The really friendly lady took the form quickly typed it up on the computer took my left thumb then 4 fingers and followed this with right thumb and 4 fingers pressing them lightly on the fingerprint scanner.
She then did all fingers and both thumbs again rolling them from one side to the other. I watched my prints appear on the screen and talked about how many brits she sees a day. Once done i thanked her got told my ead should arrive in the post in 30 days. And left at 3pm (when my appointment was suppose to start).
I also got a letter at this time stating that my Green Card application was trnasfered to California Service Center (CSC), which is good news as it means it could be processed quicker and hopefully no interview and everything may be ok with my application. Crossing my fingers!
My Advance Parole and Work Permit (AP and EAD) then arrived on the 5th and 8th October respectively. I recieved a letter on our 4 month wedding anniversary saying my green card was in production and i was approved for permenant residency, YEY!
10 days later, my permenant resident card (Green Card) arrived in the mail. Im not an offical Permenant Resident of the USA, HURRAY!
This is my timeline so far for my K1 visa and AOS:
Sept 15th 2008 – I-129F visa petition submitted
Sept 18th 2008 – NOA1 received (I-129F submission)
Jan 14th 2009 – NOA2 received (I-129F Approved)
Jan 28th 2009 – K1 Packet 3 letter received
Mar 16th 2009 – K1 Packet 3 submitted
Mar 19th 2009 – Medical Examination
Apr 6th 2009 – K1 Visa Interview – RFE I-134 (affidavit)
Apr 20th 2009 – RFE I-134 submitted
May 13th 2009 – Psychiatric Review
May 27th 2009 – K1 visa recieved
May 31st 2009 – Arrive USA
Jun 23rd 2009 – Married to Keith
Aug 24th 2009 – Green Card, Work permit and travel permit applications submitted
Aug 31st 2009 – NOA’s Recived (submission)
Sept 11th 2009 – Biometrics Letter Recieved
Sept 24th 2009 – I-485 application transfered to California Service Center (CSC)
Sept 29th 2009 – Biometrics Appointment
Sept 30th 2009 – Work permit (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP) approved
Oct 5th 2009 – AP arrived
Oct 8th 2009 – EAD arrived
Oct 23rd 2009 – AOS approved, Green Card ordered
Nov 2nd 2009 – Green Card Arrives