Entry to the Embassy

[victoria]

Did you get sent some papers to gain access? A form to pay at the US Embassy approved Bank to pay for your visa? If so when did you get these?

[Emmalee25]

Hiya,
I was told they get sent to you via VA when appt is confirmed!!!!
obv have no experience myself but thats what happened with parents and some E2 Friends
Em x

[victoria]

thanks Emma - your visa attorney in the US? We also used a visa service in the UK so worried they might be going there - but they also asked for home address in UK so no idea where to be frantically checking the mail - other than all three places....

[haytonmac]

hi not sure if this would help but when we went for our greencards as we won them on the lottery ,they first wanted us to go Amsterdam as that is my country of birth but we were able to change to London,but there was another family and they had been forced to fly back to London from San fransico but that was two years ago so no doubt that all could have changed again!!as you say check everywhere and expect that you may have to fly back.Good luck

[kebab king]

Hi Victoria

Earlier this year, E-2 appointments were being made with the embassy via e-mail and the paperwork was mailed to the UK address. Don't know if this has changed.

Andy has recently renewed his L-1, and it was a different process all together.

-Kristina

[victoria]

Attorney has told us simply to take the email asking husband to come to interview & pay $100 over phone on embassy line who will then send email confirmation of receipt - anyone else do this recently and did it work...? Thanks

[kebab king]

That sounds similar to what Andy has recently done...

Received the approval notice - called the embassy to schedule an appointment & paid $100 over the telephone - was sent an e-mail confirming the appointment & a receipt for the $100 - printed them both and took them with him on the day (both were checked before he was allowed in to the embassy).

-Kristina

[victoria]

excellent thanks - this is supposed to be what happens - once you get through the phone lines at an outrageous GBP 1.20 a minute.

[Redsox]

Our VA received an official invite by fax. She paid the fees for the processing for us.

It is very important to have a receipt with you with your I156.

When your visa is approved, you need to pay another $105 per person, but they take credit cards.

Good luck.

[mark]

hi not sure if this would help but when we went for our greencards as we won them on the lottery ,they first wanted us to go Amsterdam as that is my country of birth but we were able to change to London,but there was another family and they had been forced to fly back to London from San fransico but that was two years ago so no doubt that all could have changed again!!as you say check everywhere and expect that you may have to fly back.Good luck


Hi and welcome

Wow, you were lucky to win the lottery!

Dp you know what the odds of winning were?

[victoria]

Hi Redsox - thanks for your helpful posts - what's an I156 - our Attorney hasnt mentioned this one.. nor receiving the official invite by fax - have a call into her.

[Redsox]

Hi Victoria,

I will check the exact form number tomorrow when I have more than my BlackBerry with me, but its effectively an 'application' stating where you will live etc when in the usa. It also asks for passport numbers, countries visited etc.

Males below a certain age also have to complete a second similar form (I157 I think). Our VA sent us an example through to help us.

If she doesn't have them send me a private message and I will look for them for you.

[kebab king]

Victoria-

Links to the DS-156 & DS-157:

http://foia.state.gov/Forms/Visa/ds0157.pdf

https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp

Is it an L-1 or and E-2 that you're waiting on (if you don't mind me asking)?

-Kristina

[victoria]

thanks so much. It's an E2

[kebab king]

Victoria-

The paying of the $100 as I described up in post # 7 was relevant to Andy's renewal of his L-1.

For E-2 it is, or it was, different in that the applicant had to have - on arrival at the embassy (and you didn't get in without it) - a receipt (or receipts, if there was more than one person on the petition) for the £63.00 paid to the embassy approved bank (Barclays).

The other $105.00 (again per person on the petition) was payable after you had been interviewed (and approval was confirmed) at the 'second window'.

It may have changed, hopefully Redsox will know as they have done it very recently.

-Kristina

[victoria]

Thanks - we've found out that you can pay that over the phone with the Embassy line & get an email receipt. Which of the two forms will I need to complete for an E2? Attorney awol & have no idea.. thanks

[ChrisG]

Victoria,
Everybody needs the DS156 completing ONLINE this is then printed and taken with you, they scan the barcode that is printed to us as reference. The following link takes you to the write up about it.

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/electronic.html

The DS157 needs completing for any MALE between the ages of 14 and 45 (apparently you can not be a security risk (Terr***st)after 45)
All visa forms can be found at:-
http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/forms/visaforms.html

Chris

[victoria]

thanks so much Chris. Honestly, my attorney is a disgrace...

[Ron]

Hi Chris

Very heplful, thanks