VISA APPROVED!!!
 

Hey all.

So I just wanted to let you all know that I had my interview for the K1 visa on Thursday at the US Embassy in London and got approved! Great news!

A few things that I didn't know about:

The first person who collected my forms told me that I have 6 months from the MEDICAL to enter the US. I thought it was 6 months from the date the visa gets approved? Oops. Anyone else think different?

I'm now waiting for the courier service to call me to arrange to return my passport. With the other 2 visas that I have had, I have had to pay for the courier AT the Embassy and not after. It just seemed a bit strange, but obviously they have changed it as they don't even have the old desk set up anymore in there.


Anyway. Great news! Now just wondering what the next steps are. I guess I've got some reading to do on the forum :)

As usual, thank you all so much for your advice through this process.

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

That changed in London some months ago. Now 6 months from the medical as you were told.

How the courier gets paid changed on August 1st. You are now meant to register online and pay before the interview. You obviously are one of those caught in the transition period.

Congratulations on getting the visa.

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

Thanks a lot for the information!

I'm so glad he told me about entering, as I would not have realised. I'm not sure it makes much difference with us anyway.

Wow! My interview was on August 1st (as you probably worked out) so I'm RIGHT on the line there! The interviewer told me that the courier service would call me, but I'm reading on threads and on the embassy website that I am meant to register. I'm pretty sure this would only be for people after the transition period. I'll give them a few more working days and then get cracking on it.

Thanks again! :)

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

From the London website: "Immigrant and K visa applicants who attend an interview at the Immigrant Visa Unit in London on or after July 26 are required to register with the Consular Section's Visa Information and Appointment Services contractor for the return of their documents."

Your interview was after July 26; I wouldn't wait to call.

Ian

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

Thanks Ian.

Anyway I've just got a phone call from the courier service and paid for it to be sent. I guess you just gotta trust what the official embassy employee told you. But I'm sure that after the transition period applicants will be expected to register.

Cheers.

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

Congratulations!

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

Thanks.

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

Great news on the visa.
Just got approved today myself.

Their web site for the courier isn't playing ball.
Would you have a number to ring them as I wasn't given any information except the web address to register with.

Thanks
Gareth

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

Can I jump in with a non-K1 visa question? Or is that frowned upon? Having a small moment of panic and my searches aren't helping.

If y'all are feeling generous: Does the 6 months from date of medical issue also apply to spouse visas, or just the fiancee visas? :fingerscrossed:

In our case, my husband's (applicant) medical was 12 April, interview is 20 Aug. We are hoping to move permanently by Christmas, but this would be 8 months after medical. Thanks!

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

It applies to both.

Ian

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

Well, darn. Is there any 'grandfathering' in here, like if we applied (or had the medical or sent in certain forms) prior to the change? Otherwise that's really unkind (I know - it's a government).

It's not the end of the world to get on a plane and go for a couple of weeks, just really expensive and awkward in the middle of selling a house.

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

This isn't a new thing - and certainly isn't a recent change, I'm not sure why you think it is.

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

No.


You wouldn't need to go for "a couple of weeks". You'd only need to go for one day... long enough for your husband to get his visa endorsed. Indeed, you don't even need to leave the airport before you catch a return flight.

Ian

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

You wouldn't need to go for "a couple of weeks". You'd only need to go for one day... long enough for your husband to get his visa endorsed. Indeed, you don't even need to leave the airport before you catch a return flight.

So, just long enough to catch a hockey game - the most expensive tickets in history!

Thanks, Ian

Re: VISA APPROVED!!!
 

It might be cheaper for your husband to have a second medical - he'd need to do that ahead of his interview, and if its close to the interview date, tell the ConOff so that they'd know to wait for the second medical's results before issuing the visa.