Going without the Visa

Jon asked me to post this. Shows how he's starting to get nervous. (ha ha! it's about time!)  

Has anyone moved to the UK without the visa and then applied once in the country? Is this even possible?

I think he's nervous about the L.A. Embassy taking a long time and us missing our plane and wants to know all the options. We plan on going there on a Monday and our plane leaves that Thursday.

Geez the time has absolutely flown!! Thinking about it only makes me more nervous. Is this fluttering feeling in my stomach normal?  

Ten more days till the wedding, 16 till we move.  God, I think I'm going to be sick.

Ashley,

If you two get married, you will not be able to enter the country without a marriage visa.  It's about that simple.

If you are not married, you can enter the country - though I can't overstate how risky this is...especially if you're traveling together! - but it can be done.  However, as your intentions are clearly to stay, this would involve lying to immigrations, which is never a good idea.

If you go to the LA Embassy, be prepared for them to take your passports....both of them....and keep them until they grant or deny the visa.  If the process gets drawn out, you won't have your passport to leave the US.

But to put your mind at ease, I've never heard of anyone's visa taking more than two days when they have shown up in person at any consulate.

Hope that helps!

Don't worry! The LA Embassy tends to get things processed in a day or two for those who go in person. I got my fiance visa in two days last year from them. It would have been done in one day, but we didn't have one peice of paperwork they wanted.

Goodluck to you.

I'm currently just here on a tourist visa.  Since I'm not working and am doing a lot of travelling, I think that's accurate enough.  My husband is also here on a tourist visa, but he's doing some work for his company while here.  There are certain conditions that make this okay (only staying for a short time, still getting paid in the us, not doing any management type work, just doing/recieving training, etc)  Anyway, it looks like we're going to be transferred here for 'real', so we're heading back to the US next week to get visas straightened out.  

Good luck on your move over!

Thanks for the reply guys. It helps!

Ashley-

If you take everything on that list i gave you ..  you will walk out of there within 2 hours with your visa. I went in there at 10am and was out at 11:30 with my visa.. there were a handful of people in there both days i went. There really wasnt a wait at all. Go for the visa.. you will be glad you did it here cus there it can take 6 months!

svdlux
 I'd like to see that list you gave Ashley as I am in a nearly identical situation.Since I was uncertain about the visa process I have not booked a flight yet.We are getting married in three weeks and I was planning to wait til after I had the visa in hand before I booked a flight-but do intend to move as soon as I have it.

Ashley I think everyone has covered the bases here.  I would not recommend flying without the visa.  In fact, when I called the consular's office in Chicago, I did ask them about this because I was worried that the visa wouldn't be ready in time.  The guy said no can do and not to do it.  Plane tickets can be changed, albeit a pricey move, but that's better than being denied access to the country because you don't have your visa.  

Since I've no experience with the LA consular's office, I'll bow to the wisdom of the others.  I got my visa in one day at the Chicago consulate.  Hopefully the process goes well for you and you'll walk out with a pretty pink sticker in your passport!

I cannot stress it enough - GET THE VISA!!!

Trust me on this.

Really.

Sure here is the list i gave Ashley:
Well, the things that were most important were bank statements.  His were
> not satisfactory enough so his parents sent me theirs. We put on the
> application that we would be living with his parents for a start, which
is
> not really true but it just made it easier.  So these are the things i
> needed with me:
>
> -A letter outlining our relationship.. i.e. how we met, things we've done
> together, how we have maintained consistent contact etc.
>
> - The bank statements, mine, his and his parents. As long as you can show
> about 4-5k in funds between the 2 of you, you should be ok. I pulled
every
> dollar i had together..savings, checking, IRA, stock..but they really
wanted
> to see his funds cus he is gonna be "supporting" you.  In my case.. i am
> walking into a job and they were glad to hear that.
>
> - CV (Resume), if you haven't looked for work yet, bring a copy of your
> resume. and tell them you have been looking for work on the net.
>
> - Letter from his employer.. a letter stating he has been employed by
such
> and such for so long etc.
>
> - Copy of his lease or mortgage papers.. or like us a copy of his
parents..
> i also brought a letter from his parents saying that i could live there.
>
> - His and your passports.. i don't know if he is here with you, but i
> brought his passport.. he mailed it to me.. they make a copy of it.
>
> - Pictures of the 2 of you at different points in your relationship..
they
> just want about 5 pics to show you at different times doing different
> things..
>
> -Emails, letters, bday cards, phone bills.. anything that shows your
> contact.. i felt really wierd about giving someone emails of mine but i
gave
> them the least personal ones i could find. This is just more proof of
your
> continous contact.

I also had his birth certificate.. so you should bring that if you can .. i can't recall if she made a copy of it but just incase bring it along.  

I leave the 24th.. i am so excited.. but these last few days are mucho busy.. i am stressed!

i hope this helps!

Stacey

OH i forgot!.. your marriage certificate ofcourse!  and not the one you get at the ceremony .. the one from the county recorders office.. i ordered mine online and got it within 3 days.

good luck guys!

Stacey

svdlux
Thanks,I am planning to do this by mail as none of the visa issuing posts are close to me and I want to make sure I get it right the first time-I am leaving as soon as I get the visa and I am anxious to go