anyone done a visa by mail?

Unless I have come into this mid-conversation and don't know what anyone is on about, I am beginning to think hubby and I have done things incorrectly...

Before we got married in 1995, I was living in Florida, he was in the UK.  I called the British consulate in Atlanta and asked them what I had to do to get a settlement visa (also called right to abode?).  They told me we had to get married BEFORE I could live in the UK (i.e., I had to enter the UK as his wife).  They told me what evidence we needed to produce, what paperwork to fill in, etc.  We got married on Saturday, 4 March, and I FedExed the application to Atlanta that day.  On Monday, 6 March, I called them to confirm that they received the FedEx.  They had, and already processed my visa and were sending my passport back to me.  We have never had any problems with the Home Office or Immigration (and we travel to the US and Europe frequently, with a child who has dual citizenship) so...have we gone wrong somewhere because we don't seem to be plagued with the same difficulties as others?!?  Or were we just lucky...?

Hi Peaches and welcome!  Doesn't sound like you did anything wrong to me.  Sounds like you did everything just right.  I'm kind of with you, really.  We've really had zero problems and when I read about the problems some are dealing with I just feel so derned lucky!

No you didn't do anything wrong at all.

You were however slightly misinformed about not being able to enter the UK unless you were already married.

You can enter the country as an engaged person, which can be somewhat tricky sometimes unless you take things step by step.

As for other's troubles....well....sometimes it comes down to bad luck and other times down to poor planning.  But you did the right thing by calling the consulate and making sure things went alright from the start.  That is usually the way to make sure you have smooth sailing!

I applied for my spousal visa through FedEx.  The paperwork that I received from the office in Los Angeles said that I could do it this way.  I sent it to them one week and got it back like 2 weeks later.  What surprised me was how lil it is for such a big process!  All it is is a sticker that they put in your passport!  I made a list of what I was enclosing so that they could see it.  The one thing that did upset me was that they didn't send everything back that they were supposed to.  Nothing big, but it did bother me.  And another thing.  We eloped to Las Vegas and we were TERRIFIED that that would count against us, but I'm here now baybah

i applied in June 2002 by mail to the Los Angekes office for a fiance visa, i was told i could not apply till december , they gave no reason for this nor could i find any answers on any site for this explanation.
Dec. 13th 2002 was my departure date to leave to the uk.
i was denied my right to ask any questions, they hung up on me several times and it upset them when i asked a question.
The new york office told me thru email that anyone at the LA office could answer my questions, wrong! no one wanted anything to do with me, it was who do you want to speak to? and no only your case manager can talk to you.
i got a total of 4 calls, 1st call she didnt know why she called me, got asked 3 questions (name, b-day and did i apply for a visa), the next 2 calls was the same 3 questions.
the 4th and final call ,3 weeks after the 1st, They decided i couldn't apply till december, why it take 3 weeks? why only 3 questions till that point?
So i paid them $384 (now 412 plus postage) to ask me the same 3 questions, not allowed to ask them anything.
i still have not recieved any answers to my questions, from the new york or uk office  www.ukvisas.gov.uk ( i believe is right for uk office

anyone get this treatment?

If you were applying in June for a December departure, then your visa would have most likely expired before you even left the country.  The Fiancee Visa is good for 6 months from the DATE OF ISSUE - NOT the date you enter the UK on the Visa.  If they knew you were leaving in December, that's probably why you were told to wait until then to apply.

Other than that, I'm sorry you had a bad experience.  Everyone I had to deal with for our visas was great and very helpful (NY Consulate) - even though our situation itself kind of stunk... :-/

thank you for that fast reply to my message, a fiance visa is valid for 6 months it can be deferred for 3 months ( ie 9 months to wich get married in) i was well within my time for getting married, the wedding was planned for feb. 19th,
which is now in doubt do to this garbage and non answers i'm getting from the uk embassy (la office etc..)
i've seen various time frames for how long it takes to get the visa ( 2weeks to 3 months or so)
Due to my lease i had to know prior to dec., if someone there would of answered my questions i could of had a way out of my lease ( lease allows me to break it for this reason)
but being i got nowhere and no one there would answer my questions and i was so poorly treated, my departure date is unknown and our wedding is having to be reschedualed
wish i found this site before now so i could of had more help

Is it at all possible for you to apply in person?    As long as you have everything, you should get the Visa that same day and not have to worry about getting it in time.

Are there specific questions you still need answered?  If you outline them here, I'm sure there are lots of us who can help.  

Hi
Theres no way i could way I could apply in person  
are thereany extra things weshould include with our application that it doesnt state in the visas own website, other tan the list they provide?
In regards to support.....whats theamount in the bank, funds etc theyre looking for?
what should the letters of supportssay? who can provide them?
In regards to emails and letters....should I sent a few or a buch?
Have u any other advice?
thanks in advance:))

As far as support - this seems to be an area that is up to the Consulate Officer's discretion.  I mean, I had almost nothing of my own, and Phil had a bit in the bank, but nothing impressive, and they hardly gave it a look.  And he was going to have to support four of us - himself, me, and my two sons!

I would send any and all correspondence you have showing "validation" of the relationship, especially as you are not going in person.  Send copies of photographs of the two of you together, if possible.

The actual "letter of support" comes from your fiancee and should state that she is able to support you without relying on public funds until the marriage and you get your FLR and are eligible to work.  It sounds hokey, but it's necessary.  If you're going to be living at her place, then copies of her mortgage/lease/permission from landlord for you to reside there are absolutely necessary.  If you're staying with someone else (say, family) you need their mortgage/lease/permission from landlord - and it helps to show proof that you're looking for your own accommodations.

When in doubt, send MORE than you think you should send.  Keep copies of EVERYTHING.  Remember you have to send your fiancee's passport as well as your own.  And make double sure all the forms are signed properly.  I went in person so I was able to ask questions when I got there about whatever confused me.  But mailing off means you don't have that luxury.   :-/

Visit www.come2uk.com and see if it might be any help.  I keep plugging this site, but for just asking questions it's pretty good.  The forum is very much more "functionary" than "supportive," so you'll have to stay here for charm and hospitality!!  

Keep us informed - and take it easy.  Everything will go just as it's supposed to.  

many thanks to you peedal
i shall keep you posted as to what happens, i'll have a look at that site you gave
my fiance lives with her mom (mam) and grandad currently till we're able to find a place
i do have the mortgage ect... so i should be ok with that?
i have letters and emails from my fiance which i will send, do they all have to have something to do with our wedding and my moving there? or just general ones as well?
i want to make sure i have everything all set to send in:)

the La office did seem to want my plane ticket as proof of when i will leave as well as proof of when the wedding will occur (seems rather drastic in my opinion)
was this the case for anyone else?

Yeah, others have mentioned having to show their tickets - which is kind of strange, as you'd hate to book without knowing you're going to get the Visa, eh?  

Anyway - we did bring proof that we knew what hoops we had to jump through to plan the wedding (we didn't - still don't... - have any set wedding plans) and possible venues and such.  They didn't seem interested - but, again, send MORE than what you think you should.

The letters/e-mails/photos are just to pretty much show that it is a "real" relationship, and not just a manufactured one so someone can get into the country.  So I would say that "every-day" type ones would go in your favour as well.

Again - hope it all goes well.  When you get ready to send it all out, maybe you could start a new thread with your list of stuff and let us all double-check it for you!  

Hi peedle Im the other half to 9iron:) hehe stuck in the UK ......thanks for all your help its a good idea to post a list of things we include for everyone to 'edit' good idea:)

i see my fiance fianlly registered with site:) thats my wendy:)
thanks again peedal i shall keep you and anyone else interested posted in how things go with my fiance visa:)
i tried that www.come2uk.com site it doesnt seem to work:( not fair have to go on strike hehe
till next time:) take care

I had a problem with it too the password I was emailed didnt work