Place of issue, city?

I've just tried to rewrite my answers to where it asks when/where/length/why I have been out if the country in the last 10 years. 10 years is a long time, I can't fit it all, they don't leave enough room. My comments at the end of this thing are going to end up a mile long! I guess they don't expect people to travel much? *sighs*

I know!  I had about 9 trips, all to the UK, to put in.  I rewrote it so many times to see what would fit.  Also doesn't help that most characters aren't accepted so hard to differentiate between things.  I ended up having to write it like "3/1/03 to 19/5/03 - study,19/3/05 to 25/3/05 - holiday,29/7/07-14/8/07, visiting Chris(husband)....."  

I found the space in the additional info text box runs out very quickly too, as it's tiny as well, so might want to write things as short and to the point as humanly possible. Not easy for me

I know, I had visits to the UK since 2002, and to new zealand twice, and various countries in central america. I ended up just not adding the central american countries, because my passport was never even looked at or stamped there. I just couldnt fit anything. I'll add them to the end if I need to.

I ended up just doing it like: England visits-October 2002 two weeks, etc etc, then just gave a bunch more dates/time frames, and at the end of england put "all england vists were for vacation" did the same for my new zealand trips..and then for my honeymoon in Kefalonia I had to misspell it on purpose to make it fit. Hopefully they don't mark down for spelling errors.  They've got both my passports,my new one and my old one with all the stamps, so, they can just look at the old one for confirmation if they're confused about the dates I gave. I don't think they'll even bother though!

Did you send in letters between the two of you? I was going to, but I read on here its probably best not to so they don't have anything to read into. I mean, I've got photos of us from 2005, 2006,2007, 2008, plus from our wedding, all with dates on them done by professionals. So I think they can see we've been together and actually met before without the various "i miss you!" letters. I'm not even done yet but I feel so relieved just to finally be able to get the process going. 

Yeah, we sent in letters (as well as emails) that we sent to each other.  We thought a few from each year to/from each of us would give a good overall picture.  Ended up meaning like 24 letters were included though.  Our binder of documents was ENORMOUS - 5" and still overflowing.  We were so hung up on worries when doing it that we wanted to include everything possible and just kept thinking of more and more to include.  As has been shown on here, a ton less has been turned in by others and they've gotten their visa....but, like I saw, we were consumed with "what ifs" so included NEARLY EVERYTHING.

I just finished the online application. No I'm even more confused. Everything went fine, my husband and I both looked at it. Everything is correct on there. I went to the A. Briggs website to apply for their services under the settlement visa section, and where you sign up, settlement isnt one of the visa types they list on the drop down menu. I know they offer the service though so I'm going to have to call Monday. One more delay, but I can deal with it.

I also noticed on my biometrics confirmation for my appointment, it lists my nationality as GBR! Yet EVERYTHING on the application states I am a US citizen with no other nationalities held. I hope they don't give me grief about that. I have no clue why it would say GBR on there. It probably means nothing but now Im worried about it. Has it happened to you or anyone else whos reading?

Thanks, I will add some letters then!

Hmm, that's really weird.  It didn't happen to me.  Perhaps just a silly program glitch. 

I just had a look around the A. Briggs website.  Go here, http://www.abriggs.com/visas/b/britain_visa.php,and you should see Settlement Visa in those red boxes where it says "select visa type" - it's the 3rd option in the second row.

Thanks for this link and your research, SMS.  Very helpful!

I am disturbed at what ABriggs has a requirement:  proof of departure.  This doesn't look right as an entry clearance requirement.  Also evidence of permission to re-enter the USA.  HUH?

Andrea, Vicky, got your ears on?  Anything else on this page noteworthy before I ask for an enquiry?

Anybody?  What are other commercial partner site saying that the requirements are?

I had never heard of these people before thie thread.  I always make a point of looking at consulate advise and the rules, and not the instructions from any commercial partners, so I am not sure what the advice from elsewhere is.

Vicky

Hmm, that's really weird.  It didn't happen to me.  Perhaps just a silly program glitch. 

I just had a look around the A. Briggs website.  Go here, http://www.abriggs.com/visas/b/britain_visa.php,and you should see Settlement Visa in those red boxes where it says "select visa type" - it's the 3rd option in the second row.

I'm wondering if I selected united kingdom instead of united states for the biometrics thing...and thats why it says GBR :s I guess I need to see if I can change that..crap.

And yeah, if you go to that link, and then click the link after you click settlement visa, the thing you fill in does not offer settlement visa in the drop down menu. If you go to section 13 of this link http://www.abriggs.com/visas/b/britain_settlement_marriage.php on the order form, settlement is not listed lol.

I heard of A. Briggs from this forum, actually. I've seen it listed a lot with people using them. Perhaps I should look for another, but it was pretty slim pickings finding a courier to chicago that actually did settlement visas.

Garry-I was a bit confused about that as well. Obviously if I'm an American I wouldnt need proof I can re-enter the country. I assume the itinerary is just more of a thing so they can see you'll be leaving in time since you only have x amount of time once the visa is issued? I wont be submitting a plane ticket though. I'm just going to send the details on the flight I plan to take, but I am not booking anything just in case I would need to change it.

I just tried to look and see if I could change any information for the biometrics appointment, and apart from the time/date, I cant change any information. I'm really worried I did accidentally put nationality as united kingdom instead of united states which is why it says my nationality is GBR on the biometrics confirmation. Garry, Vicky...is this going to cause a problem? Or is it something they can change for me at the appointment? I'm really worried now. :/

Sorry it's all proving so confusing, Ashby!  I was going to see what I could find, but then I'd have to fill in some of that order form. 

I found the itinerary thing weird too.  They are asking for an actual flight to be booked which goes against what the Consulates say themselves.  As for the permission to re-enter, I took that to be for non-native US citizens.  I'm not sure why the need to know that you can re-enter, maybe you never want to. 

It's just because I'm stressing I'm sure. I'm sure once I have the documents sent off, I'll feel totally relieved and look back on this and say "why did I read into this so much??" Because half the things I found confusing with the application, I never would have been confused about had I not clicked the question mark next to the fill in spaces on the applications. It was all the further explanations that got me worked up.  I got a few numbers lined up to call tomorrow morning(about couriers) so I'm hoping after my biometrics appointment tuesday they can fix the GBR thing and then I can wash my hands of this whole process. :p

Thanks for all your help though, it's made me feel so much better! Congrats on your getting approved BTW.

SMS, stop worrying.

Vicky, et al, I have just sent an enquiry into what ABriggs has on their site.  Some of that stuff is so bang out of line, it's unreal.

Where did they dream up some of those 'requirements'?  In an opium dream?   

I think you mean me, not SMS. She's got nothing to worry about.

But thanks..

If there are any errors on the form, change them by hand.  It has nothing to do with the biometrics people, and the consulate will be used to this happening.

Vicky

Thank you Victoria, that helps a lot.