Invitation to the party

I'd also heard through the grapevine that I had to be inocculated against a whole host of illnesses, and since there was some debate as to when this new ruling would come in, I went ahead and had my arms punched full of holes. I walked around in pain for about a month while the nurse at the surgery was astonished that I should be required to do this at all. I was innoculated for or boosted for hepatitis B (three injections), tetanus, rubella, measles and mumps, pneumococcal, pneumonia, and even got a dose of polio's vile fluid, washed down with a Dolly Mixture when I complained about the taste! I had a blood test to find out if I was immune to chicken pox, but the only one I couldn't have was for 'flu - it was Summer, after all, between 'flu seasons!

Don did laugh when, at the interview, I found out that I didn't have to have any of those at all - my medical date was the last date of the old ruling! But at least I had no jabs in my rear as he had predicted...

The big day

When I got to London, and through the tube to Marble Arch, I sat in a McDonalds, drinking coffee and trying to calm down. I watched the news as Hong Kong was handed back to China, and then wandered over to Dr Phelan's surgery up the road. Already a crowd of people had gathered, each with a different story. Then at eight o'clock we were all let in, and had to fill out a registration, pay the cash fee, and wait my turn.

First came the blood tests for H.I.V., then the X-rays for T.B.. The X-ray technician was a real joker and made the process more human. Afterwards came a brief interview and stethoscope examination with the doctor, based on the medical form I'd filled in before the interview. I was handed my X-ray and sent off to the Embassy. I walked because it was such a short way.

The security guard at the Embassy had a fine sense of humour, and I was soon through the door. It was just before nine o'clock. The only miserable person I dealt with all day was the I.N.S. official in his hutch just after the door, but I only dealt with him because I made a mistake. I went into a modern waiting room and up to a counter that was just about a half foot shorter than I was. The woman there took my forms and documents, one by one, and joked that she needed coffee. It was simple and straightforward and I wondered what I'd been fussing about...

Visa to go!

I went back an hour later and a little after noon was called up for my visa. They had pasted it in my passport and gave me instructions about what I could and couldn't do. I had 6 months to enter the U.S.A. and 90 days thereafter to marry. I entered the States on August 10 1997 and married on October 18.

As for the arrival, apart from the plane circling for an hour just an hour from San Francisco, it was relatively straightforward. I came in through the immigrant channel, which apparently I shouldn't as the K-1 is a nonimmigrant visa, but the officer just gave me a hard time and sorted me out anyway. The hardest part was manoeuvring nearly 100lb of luggage on my own! I'd filled out an I-94 on the plane, an immigrant version of the visa waiver that everyone fills out, and he took this, leaving a section in the passport which will be filled out when I eventually leave to visit home. He also scribbled in an employment authorisation and took the sealed package containing my documents which had been given me at the Embassy, telling me to ensure that the A-number written on the I-94 was correct. Then I went through customs, and found Don. It was the start of a new life.

A few thoughts

The K-1 visa is one of the simplest visas, so long as you can demonstrate that you have met and that your relationship is clearly not a sham. It was introduced a few years ago to stop "marriages of convenience" while still allowing people to marry if they were committed enough to actually undergo the process. (Don has often joked, "Nobody ever better call this convenient!") I took photographs, tickets, email printouts and such to the interview but none of these were asked for. Neither did they want the supporting evidence for the Affidavit of Support once they saw the figure Don declared as his salary. I have the utmost respect for anyone who is traversing or already has got through this maze; I've read many other stories on the Net and know that I wasn't alone in going nuts while it all dragged on. And I've had nothing but courtesy, however formal, from the I.N.S. so far - for this, I'm very glad.

To all those who have yet to contemplate it: good luck. It's worth the wait and the hassle. If anyone wants to chat about K-1, they are more than welcome to drop me a line - one of my best sources of support were the immigration newsgroups, where people in the same process gave me information and calm-down messages and where I was later able to help people from the lofty position of Adjustment Applicant.

I do have one thing to ask - a postscript added in September 2000: the laws and procedures have changed significantly since I did this, and they also vary from country to country and between I.N.S. offices. Therefore, I cannot help you to fill out your forms, nor tell you "exactly" how long it took; I can only give you encouragement and congratulate you on your forthcoming marriage. You will get through it, but if you are really stuck, I am not the person to ask. An immigration lawyer will get you through it, as will your own research and patience. Good luck!