Okay,

So we are in the midst of getting ready for my fiance's visa interview in London and I read somewhere on here that having an I-134 was a good thing to send him (as well as a copy of my original birth certificate?) so I sat down with my parents to work on it and my mother has begun to panic. So I thought I'd ask in here and see what people think...

I am on Social Security Disability and receive food stamps. My father (who is employed and making plenty to sponsor) is going to co-sponsor with me, but will the fact that I'm on Disability, receiving SSI, and Food stamps adversely affect my fiance? Has anyone dealt with this? I called Social Security and was told it wouldn't affect me until he was working but will he be considered as requesting public assistance because I'm on all these things?

See, now she's making me panic lol.

And, just so that I have it all under control, what does he need for his interview:

Long-Form BC
Police Cert.
Medical Exam

What else? Does he HAVE to have an original copy of my bc? Does he need this I-134?

Any help would be totally appreciated... We would both like this to be done and over with someday lol.

Thanks
~Katiekat

To get the visa, *someone* must show that they have enough money to 'support' your fiance for 90 days.

After you marry, you, or a combination of you, your spouse and a Joint Sponsor (your father) need to complete Affidavit of Support I-864. Otherwise, your FI goes back to whence he came.

Your questions are surprising to me at this point of your application. Yes, it's commonly accepted that he'll need the I-134 (there is a pinned topic about this at the top of the forum).

There are quite a few other documents required for the interview. He should have been sent the link to this webpage:
Documents Required in Support of the Visa Application

Unless your fiance is "self-sponsoring" (i.e., showing he has enough funds of his own to overcome becoming a public charge in the USA), then yes, he will need an I-134 from someone in the USA, such as your father. Make sure whoever is submitting an I-134 includes proof of current income, proof of US domicile, and a copy of at least the most recent tax return, if not the most recent 3 years.

Might be helpful for you to fill out an I-134 of your own, even if you don't qualify financially, just in case the ConOff wants to see one from his USC fiancee.

It won't go against HIM in any way, that you are on SS income or disability.

He probably does not need to show an original of your birth certificate.

Make sure someone in the USA is prepared to be a joint sponsor on the I-864 affidavit of support, when the time comes to file AOS.

Rene

Thank you so much Noorah! That was exactly what I needed to know <3

So another question,

I called the NVC last Friday, July 8th and was told it had "been and gone" and was in London. Does anyone have any guesses on how much longer with all this we have left? How long have other people waited for their packets and then their interview dates?

Thanks!

I'll guess 2-3 months before you're "done".

Here's your "packet". It's a webpage. Start reading and clicking ALL links left, right, and middle.

London K1 Instructions aka Packet 3

OOoo Thank you for that. That is awesome!

I read somewhere that it was taking most people 4-8 weeks. Does anyone else have an estimate?

Considering you have just found out what you need to do, the time factor is also in your court so to speak. Many people by the time they get their petition approval have already filled out all those forms, gotten passport photos signed off for the police certificate, ordered the police certificate, called NVC for the LND number, made the medical appointment, gotten shots from their NHS doctor, received the Affidavit of Support (snail mail from US), and gathered their documents for the interview. All that takes time.

London does not open your file the day it arrives. Could be 3 weeks.
You fill out forms. How long?
You order police certificate (needed before medical exam) 1-2 weeks
You make medical appt. Is it next week or 3 weeks off?
Takes 4 days to get medical results to get to the Embassy. They won't give interview until medical is received.
They may not reply for 7-10 days.
Interview is 4 weeks after you get the letter.
If approved, visa takes around a week to be sent via courier.

It's all quite variable, but that's a good current example of how it's been going. Add it up.

Okies, Thanks!

He'll be heading to the Library on Monday to do his forms, we sent off for his police cert. a bit ago so that should be coming this coming week or early the next week. I'll have him call for his medical appt. as soon as he gets it so we get that out of the way. As soon as we get all the I-134 stuff together I'll send that out. And then it's just a matter of waiting then for the interview appt. once he sends all the forms back in.

Whew!

Thank you lots!

Oh yay for confusion...

So he got his packet today and thanks to Moxie's link we already have all the information filled out. But I was reading up on how he got his MRV receipt and now I'm completely confused.

After his medical do WE call the Operator Assisted Line, make his appointment and then pay over the phone?

Or

Does he wait for another letter with his visa interview date on it and pay in person at the embassy...

I'm quite confused lol

I agree - he probably doesn't. But a consular or immigration officer can always ask to see the original of a photocopied document to verify the photocopy.

Sometimes people do get asked, so I guess one has to determine how well prepared they want to be for all possible contingencies.

Regards, JEff

• Mail in the four forms as outlined in Step One in the link I gave plus duplicates as explained in the text.
• Get all the documents gathered. See a link to a new page in Step Two for the list.
• Mail in Form DS-2001 readiness for interview when your documents are in hand along with a cover letter containing certain infomation. (see Step Two)
• Attend a medical exam.
• Call to pay the visa fee by phone. Print the emailed receipt to show at the interview. They want you to pay ahead of time now, not at the interview.

When they see you have done all these things, they will select an interview date for you and notify you by mail. You can not call in to make an appointment.

The order is flexible, ie. medical can be before mailing DS 2001, payment can be before or after medical, but I would get the four DS-xxx application forms in first.

Thank you Moxie!

You've been such a huge help, I really can't tell you how much a help you've been!

He got all the forms filled out right after you sent us that link so they're all ready to go on Monday, he has his medical scheduled for the 1st, so I'll probably have him call on the second or something since that seems to mesh well in my head for some reason, lol.

Thank you, thank you thank you... especially for your patience ^_^