Documents for EC interview question (US national)

[kr]

I'm going for my EC visa in a couple of days - decided to appear in person and avoid things getting lost in the mail. Currently in the USA, I filled out the e-fastrack forms for my VAF-1. In the e-fastrack response email, they list the documents I'll need, and I'm a bit confused about it.

The list the following:

* completed application form VAF1
* your current passport
* your old passport or a copy of it
* two recent passport photographs (not more than six months old)
- no problem, all straightforward

* If you are in the US - Valid US Immigration Status (originals not copies) e.g. Permanent Residence Card (issued before 21 April 1998) Advance Parole Document, Employment Authorisation Card etc
- I don't know what this would be. I have a Social Security Card (which I believe is the same thing as an Employment Auth Card but am not sure) and a US passport, was born in the US and have lived here my entire life... is there something else I should have?

* evidence of funds available to you, for example recent bank statements covering at least the last three months
- no problem

* either a letter confirming your period of leave from your employer together with salary slips for the last three months; or a certificate confirming you have continuing studies; or if you are self employed, evidence of your business for example company bank statements, company registration certificate (if applicable), etc.
- I am not sure I'm reading this correctly. I am still employed with my US employer, but expect to resign soon. Is it important to have a formal notice of resignation, and what would such a document say?

Thanks in advance - this board is always helpful.

[John]

If you are in the US - Valid US Immigration Status

Obviously your US passport is needed. No harm in having available your Social Security Card and indeed also your birth certificate ... simply on the grounds it is better to have too much documentation with you rather than too little.

I am still employed with my US employer, but expect to resign soon. Is it important to have a formal notice of resignation, and what would such a document say?

No I don't think so. After all, whilst there is no reason to think your UK visa application will be refused, nevertheless it would be unreasonable for the British Consulate to insist upon resignation having happened before you make your visa application. Just make it clear that your resignation will happen in the near future .... assuming the visa application is granted.

[kr]

Thanks -
I expected somebody to mention 'birth certificate', since that would be the most official thing... if only I knew where it was! I've never needed it for job applications, so probably it's buried deep in the family warehouse/treasure trove/junk collection. With the wife I'm sure it's the same thing. As an additional item, I do have some drivers' licenses which might be helpful. As you say, better too much than not enough.

re: resignation, hopefully job interviews from this past Monday and a London videoconference scheduled immediately after my trip to the ECO should be enough. That's exactly how it has played out - I'm nearing the end of the 3 month period following my HSMP letter, hoping to really tie things down before I arrive in London. I have some people coming to me under pressure to fill a spot immediately and I may need to appear in London in the short term (i.e. so I don't want to lock myself out of the UK for any reason). Anyhow, fingers crossed - getting through the process one step at a time, with all the help from the board here.

[John]

Hi, I think a birth certificate would be useful, and not just for the visa application.

I have not got a clue about the process in your country but is it possible to get a further copy of your birth certificate? Here in the UK it is always possible to get a further copy, either by post from a central office, or in person from the Register Office that registered the birth all those years ago. Same for you?

Why useful? It might help in getting a UK driving licence or indeed a National Insurance number.

If you cannot get a further copy, or locate the current one, so be it.

[kr]

Just got back from the USA(NY) consulate, visa application was successful, and wanted to document my experience.

- Because I have some job opps in-hand which might require immediate presence in London, I chose to appear at the consulate in person.

- I used e-fastrack online and paid online. I'm married, and had to do two online VAF1's... there really are two visas if there are two of you, even if one is a dependent, and you pay two fees.

- You can make an appointment with the NY consulate online, but there is a two-week delay in availability. I was cutting it a bit too close for comfort in terms of the 3 month window expiring after the initial issuance of the HSMP letter - don't do this to yourself! My concern was that if I failed to have all the right documents, I wouldn't be able to send it through the mail quickly enough to get the passport stamped by the EC deadline, and I wouldn't be able to schedule another appointment because of the two-week delay in availability. In actuality, I heard several people saying they had been at the consulate the previous day - so you don't have to be as careful as I was. The office is pretty efficient and I'm sure they will let you return the following day if you need to get another document.

- When you get an appointment, they will give you a specific time to show up. Mine was at 9:45am, but I got there at 9:15. It's actually better this way, because the counter doesn't really run on these specific times - you just show up and get in line. If you beat the crowd, it's better for you. My review was completed by 9:30am.

- I was prepared with every possible extra document because of my concerns above. However, all they wanted to see was my HSMP letter, my visas (self+wife), and my marriage certificate. My case was strong (significant bank savings) which may have helped, but they didn't actually review the documentation of said savings.

- In regard to the points above, I brought social security cards and drivers licenses. It seems that the passport itself was enough and they didn't ask to see anything else.

- Altogether the service was excellent and we were done in roughly 5 minutes.

- They give you a card with a sticker on it, so you can wait in line to pick up your finished visa. The delay is about an hour typically - i.e. I should have been ready to go at 10:30. However there was some kind of computer snag, and things got delayed. I had an 11am interview just around the corner, so I left my wife there to pick things up. This wasn't an issue. Around 11:30, the passports were ready, they called the numbers, she picked them up, and went home.

Overall I'd say the routine isn't any different from HSMP - make your case as strong as possible, so they ask fewer questions. Identify what's really supporting your story and get the documents to back it up. If there is a weak spot, bring what you think will work, but it may very well turn out that they don't ask you. Not everybody has the ability to present an open-and-shut case, but it makes it much easier.

Thanks for everyone's input to my questions here and elsewhere... this board has been really helpful in getting me through the process. Now that I have visas in hand, I probably won't be back until next year when renewals come up. But I'm truly thankful - it's saved me $$s and sleepless nights.

[John]

KR, congratulations .. glad it all worked out. And that full account will be useful to others thinking of applying in New York.

Now that I have visas in hand, I probably won't be back until next year when renewals come up.

Your renewal of the visas you obtained today will be in the UK, so that will be a different experience for you to look forward to.

Birth certificate .... if you are able to find it or get another copy I still think it would be useful to bring to the UK. And the same for your wife.

Finally .... here in the UK we don't wait in line .... we queue ... lots of new language to learn! Enjoy!