Hi Everyone,
Update is that I sent off fiance visa app (in a nice organized binder), rec'd email from consulate on Tuesday July 1st stating the docs were rec'd, further enquiries were being made and to allow up to 20 days!!!
So meanwhile I am trying to go over every possible case scenario in my head for why they might deny me, and rather than bombard poor Vicky (the Lovely & Amazing) with every little neurotic concern I have, let me ask you guys for your opinions (& reassurance!!!!).
Here is a list of what I sent in:
Section I: Application
1. Application with photo and biometrics form
2. Diana's statement
3. Duncan's statement
4. My passport & birth certificate
5. Duncan's passport
6. Address of previous visit visa refusal with original refusal attached
7. Information re my speeding ticket
Section II: Maintenance & Accommodation Key Documents
We are able to easily support ourselves on his salary of £2,095 pcm after tax and my savings of £5,023. We are the sole occupants of a double room (162.5 sq ft) in a 3 bedroom house with 2 other occupants.
1. Statement summarizing our assets & monthly budget (£2,723 combined monthly assets vs. £1,430 fixed expenses)
2. Duncan's payslips (6 mos), bank statements (3 mos), savings & credit card statements
3. Bank certified printout of my current account & bank affidavit confirming these funds
4. Previous savings account statements
5. Signed parental statement confirming their $10,000 gift, as well as certified copies of the withdrawal and deposit slips & parents' bank statements evidencing both the origination & transfer of funds.
6. Signed joint tenancy agreement & pictures as proof of our accomodation.
7. Duncan's current employment contract with Ryobi
8. Statement & documents regarding my employability after we are wed
9. Statement confirming Dunc's student loans are paid in full
10. Duncan's previous tenancy agreements & employment contract
Section III: Relationship & Wedding Plans
1. Statements from my father, his mother, our friends, and his best friend's parents
2. Statement of preliminary wedding plans & related documents
3. Pictures of us, cards, flights to see each other, phone bill, email screen shots.
My biggest two worries are this:
1) British immigration doesn't like me. Last 3 entry stamps were coded; on the first notes were recorded about my visiting my b/f, the second IO (entering in May with Duncan) took notes about my PGCE interview AND my boyfriend, and the third (again with Dunc on returning from Italy, when the woman almost didn't let me in and put a little 'W' for warning next to my coded entry) made extensive notes, on my failed PGCE interview & the fact that I will be returning home to apply for a fiance visa, being now engaged.
So, my worry is that I didn't mention the PGCE interview in my fiance app, though I did mention eventual wish to become a teacher. Deception? Thought it irrelevant and didn't want to cloud their view of my intentions to be with Duncan. Also, have a feeling they will be suspicious of me having been a 'genuine' visitor, especially for the initial 6-month chunk last year. Can they deny me a visa because they don't like my piss-taking American flippancy, basically because they don't like how I've played their system?
Christ, I'm really driving myself nuts over here.
2)Also, and Vicky has already addressed this to me but I am still compulsively obsessing over it, the 3 bank statements for Dunc show overdraft, though explained and ending with positive balance for the last two of 980(May 9th) & 1200 (June 9th). Also enclosed a transaction history from June 23-June 30, showing a 300 GBP golf purchase, and only 85 pence left over before 2095 gbp salary credit. Suspicious gap between June 9th & June 23rd? Totally screwed with the 85 p thing? His overdraft is fixed, btw. We explained that using it was due to excessive recreational spending, itemized transactions and budget demonstrate this as well. Can they deny us, for being poor money managers even though we are able to support ourselves?
Please offer any opinions and soothing words, I just can't imagine they will issue the visa as this would be the just and humane outcome; rather I think they will do everything in their power to twist my case, pick every hole they can, and come up with some fluffy, elaborately worded refusal, as happened with the visitor visa. I know I fundamentally didn't qualify for that, having an obvious intent to stay in the UK long-term, which might explain their motivation to pick holes in the first place, but I am afraid that even though I do qualify as a fiance and my intentions are now in line with my application, they will still seek to screw me in some way, being heartless. Paranoia?
Thanks to all who had the patience for reading the latest chapter in my novel ;-) It really does make me feel better to write it all down, though.
Diana