last minute questions & final document checklist

Thanks very much. Filling out the application now and am not sure whether I should answer yes or no to this question, "Have you ever voluntarily elected to depart the UK?" Do they mean regarding my regular visits or something else?

As larrabee said, that only applies to people who have been in the country illegally, have been arrested and detained, but who have elected to leave the UK voluntarily instead of waiting to be physically deported by the authorities.

2- Answer yes, explain the situation fully and enclose any paperwork that you havE.

Is that incident going to hurt my application? I know most people on here don't care for solicitors, but we spoke to two previous who advised me not to include that info because they are sealed records which means it's as if it never happened. In fact, it would not even appear on a full US government background check.

Is that incident going to hurt my application? I know most people on here don't care for solicitors, but we spoke to two previous who advised me not to include that info because they are sealed records which means it's as if it never happened. In fact, it would not even appear on a full US government background check.

No, it won't affect it at all. If the charges were dropped, then you don't have a criminal conviction anyway, so they cannot refuse the visa because of it.

However, if you DON'T disclose it, and they find out afterwards that you were arrested and didn't mention it, they could decide you were using deception on your visa application... which would be a definite visa refusal and potential ban from the UK for 10 years!

No, it won't affect it at all. If the charges were dropped, then you don't have a criminal conviction anyway, so they cannot refuse the visa because of it.

However, if you DON'T disclose it, and they find out afterwards that you were arrested and didn't mention it, they could decide you were using deception on your visa application... which would be a definite visa refusal and potential ban from the UK for 10 years!

Okay, thanks. Where should I include that paperwork in my stack of documents? If I use the barcode separators (still undecided) there is a top sheet that says "other documents." If I don't use the separators, in what section should I put it?


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Okay, thanks. Where should I include that paperwork in my stack of documents? If I use the barcode separators (still undecided) there is a top sheet that says "other documents." If I don't use the separators, in what section should I put it?

I would put it in the first section with your 'applicant documents'. I would also add a couple of sentences to your cover letter, explaining what happened and that you are including the paperwork (since that's what your cover letter is for).

I would put it in the first section with your 'applicant documents'. I would also add a couple of sentences to your cover letter, explaining what happened and that you are including the paperwork (since that's what your cover letter is for).

Thanks, I appreciate the help!

Next application question... Under the employment section it asks for my total monthly income. I am a non-exempt employee paid hourly so my monthly income varies. Should I give an average amount?

They also ask if I've ever worked for the Government (Central or Local) . I worked for the IRS for several years which is federal. Is that what they mean by central?

Lastly, do I need to provide any employment documentation of my own? I think I read in another thread that it's not necessary.

Thanks, I appreciate the help!

Next application question... Under the employment section it asks for my total monthly income. I am a non-exempt employee paid hourly so my monthly income varies. Should I give an average amount?

Yeah, just give an average - it's not relevant to the application anyway.

They also ask if I've ever worked for the Government (Central or Local) . I worked for the IRS for several years which is federal. Is that what they mean by central?

I assume so. Just doing a Wiki search, it sounds like there is a 'central government' in sovereign states (like the UK) and the equivalent is a federal government in federal states (like the US). So if you worked for the IRS, that would be considered 'central government'.

Lastly, do I need to provide any employment documentation of my own? I think I read in another thread that it's not necessary.

No, you don't, because it cannot be considered for the application.

The online application form is fairly generic and not all questions will actually be relevant to every visa type. For a fiance/spousal visa, the applicant's income cannot be considered, so is not relevant. You still answer the questions, but your income will have no bearing on the application.

However, if you were applying for a visitor visa, your income would be important, because you would need to show that you had a job to return to in the US to prove you would not attempt to overstay your visitor visa.

The online application form is fairly generic and not all questions will actually be relevant to every visa type. For a fiance/spousal visa, the applicant's income cannot be considered, so is not relevant. You still answer the questions, but your income will have no bearing on the application.

Thank you! Do you know if there's an average amount of time from when you submit the application to when you can schedule your biometrics appointment? We want to do everything while he's here in the States, but with next week being Thanksgiving I'm afraid it'll be hard to get an appointment. The office here in Cincinnati is already closed on Wednesdays and I'm sure they'll be closed on Thanksgiving day too. Is it usually a lengthy wait from when you submit the application to when you do biometrics? Or does it vary by location?

Do you know if there's an average amount of time from when you submit the application to when you can schedule your biometrics appointment? We want to do everything while he's here in the States, but with next week being Thanksgiving I'm afraid it'll be hard to get an appointment. The office here in Cincinnati is already closed on Wednesdays and I'm sure they'll be closed on Thanksgiving day too. Is it usually a lengthy wait from when you submit the application to when you do biometrics? Or does it vary by location?

Usually just a couple of days, maybe a week at most... you can choose to attend any USCIS Application Support Center in the US, and you can also  book an appointment for a few days out but then just do an early walk-in.

I.e. you could submit your application on Monday, book biometrics for Thursday, but then walk in on Tuesday morning and get them done then (as far as I know, no one has been turned away for a walk-in).

That's weird - according to the USCIS Office Locator, the Cincinnati office is open Monday thru Friday. There's no mention of it being closed on Wednesdays:
https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.detail&office=XCJ&OfficeLocator.office_type=ASC&OfficeLocator.statecode=OH

Usually just a couple of days, maybe a week at most... you can choose to attend any USCIS Application Support Center in the US, and you can also  book an appointment for a few days out but then just do an early walk-in.

I.e. you could submit your application on Monday, book biometrics for Thursday, but then walk in on Tuesday morning and get them done then (as far as I know, no one has been turned away for a walk-in).

That's weird - according to the USCIS Office Locator, the Cincinnati office is open Monday thru Friday. There's no mention of it being closed on Wednesdays:
https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.detail&office=XCJ&OfficeLocator.office_type=ASC&OfficeLocator.statecode=OH

I was going by this one. Maybe it's not the right office? https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices/ohio-cincinnati-field-office
Ironically, it's the same office I had to do all my fingerprinting, etc from for when I started at the IRS.

I was going by this one. Maybe it's not the right office? https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices/ohio-cincinnati-field-office

Hmm, it's the same address, though I'm guessing they have different offices within the same building, because looking at the addresses, the Application Support Center is in room 1/524 while the Field Office is room 4001.

So, it could be that the Field Office is closed on Wednesdays but the ASC is open on Wednesdays.

Ironically, it's the same office I had to do all my fingerprinting, etc from for when I started at the IRS.

Lol - yeah, UK visa biometrics are done by US immigration on behalf of UKVI .

No, it won't affect it at all. If the charges were dropped, then you don't have a criminal conviction anyway, so they cannot refuse the visa because of it.

However, if you DON'T disclose it, and they find out afterwards that you were arrested and didn't mention it, they could decide you were using deception on your visa application... which would be a definite visa refusal and potential ban from the UK for 10 years!

Okay, so I am a little worried about this. I just went through my records and the only thing I have in relation to this case being dropped is an extremely basic letter that isn't even signed. It just states the date, case number, charge, and a short statement that says, "Congratulations, you have successfully completed the Diversion Program. The charge against you has been dismissed and you records will be sealed. Please be patient, having your case sealed will take time. Please let me know if you have any additional questions." Then it has the case worker's name and phone number, but she didn't even sign it. Will this even suffice for documentation on this issue? I tried going online to see if I could order a copy of the dismissal, but because the record is sealed it doesn't even exist in the county's court records anymore.

In the "additional information" section on the application, I added the following blurb:
"I have included a copy of my dismissal of a court case from 2014. After completing a diversion program, all charges were dropped and the records were sealed. Because the case has been sealed, it is no longer possible to access the records. If you need to obtain confirmation above and beyond the provided termination letter, you may contact the caseworker, Karolyn XXXX, at 1-513-946-XXXX.

It’s fine. Just include what you have, (along with a copy of your police record to show there is nothing on there if you can get it).

Including it is just about being honest and transparent and showing you have nothing to hide.

It’s not going to affect your visa outcome in any way, but it’s much better to mention it and have it not affect anything, than to omit it because you don’t think it matters and then have them turn around and ask why you didn’t mention it.



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It’s fine. Just include what you have, (along with a copy of your police record to show there is nothing on there if you can get it).

Including it is just about being honest and transparent and showing you have nothing to hide.

It’s not going to affect your visa outcome in any way, but it’s much better to mention it and have it not affect anything, than to omit it because you don’t think it matters and then have them turn around and ask why you didn’t mention it.



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Okay, thanks. Not sure I can get my hands on a police record, but I will include what I can.

Another question regarding the Appendix II... I started filling it out last night and we are planning to apply based on 3A only. There are about ten other pages to fill in related to using other forms of income. Should I just leave them all blank? Even the page where is asks about savings accounts? Seem strange to send a stack full of blank pages.

Another question regarding the Appendix II... I started filling it out last night and we are planning to apply based on 3A only. There are about ten other pages to fill in related to using other forms of income. Should I just leave them all blank? Even the page where is asks about savings accounts? Seem strange to send a stack full of blank pages.

Yep, leave them all blank.

You only fill out the information for category that you meet the requirements under.

You tick the box for your Category and then go to the relevant section of part 3 and fill it out.

If you fill out all the sections of part 3, they will think you are applying under all 7 categories at the same time .


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