just wondering...

[kaede1977]

Hello all...just wondering if you know if the photos, letters, cards,bills etc will be returned after approval, if anyone has gone thru the process and gotten their personal belongings back please let me know...otherwise would you advise photocopying everything rather than sending originals?

 

[scylla]

There's no guarantee anything will be returned. Some visa offices have a habit of returning most supporting documentation - some typically return nothing. Don't send anything that you wouldn't want to lose. Send photocopies instead.

My husband and I received nothing back after his approval through the Buffalo office.

 

[RedSox502]

Thank you for the answer and the example, I was just wondering the same thing (going to be using Buffalo office)

 

[kaede1977]

Aw sorry to hear you didnt receive your items back thats what were worried about...we have alot of cards and photos from other people at our wedding sent to us that would be great for proof but would be pretty choked if we didnt get them back. But on the otherhand, photocopies wouldnt seem as authentic as the actual cards so I'm kinda on the fence...

 

[scylla]

Aw sorry to hear you didnt receive your items back thats what were worried about...we have alot of cards and photos from other people at our wedding sent to us that would be great for proof but would be pretty choked if we didnt get them back. But on the otherhand, photocopies wouldnt seem as authentic as the actual cards so I'm kinda on the fence...

No reason to be sorry!

We knew this in advance (thanks to this forum) and didn't include anything we didn't want to lose.

Photos are easy to deal with. If you don't have a digital copy, just scan them and then print them in colour on regular paper. Or photocopy the actual photo in colour. You can do the same with the cards...

We actually included several real cards from the shower and wedding. But only those we didn't mind not getting back...

 

[scylla]

Just to add...

If you do include any originals, make sure you take a photocopy for your own records before you send the application (same goes for all of the forms). I'd recommend you do this on the off chance you're called for an interview and need to review what you included in your file.

 

[kaede1977]

So glad I found this forum!!! wow, everyone has been so helpful and loads of great advice...will def make copies of all our original documents that we send in as well as add some original cards and photos!! Do most people get called in for an interview? We are currently living in Dublin and will most likely be applying thru the London office so just also wondering if most people get called in for the interview...any thoughts?

 

[sidkrose]

Yes agree, send copies of everything, and don't forget to photocopy your entire application before you send it off! The only thing that was original that we sent was envelopes (to prove co-habitation) and we didn't mind not getting them back!

 

[pelipeli]

Yes agree, send copies of everything, and don't forget to photocopy your entire application before you send it off! The only thing that was original that we sent was envelopes (to prove co-habitation) and we didn't mind not getting them back!

i also didnt include originals , everything was scanned except for a copy of our wedding invite.. photos are all digital and printed on paper with captions and narrations ,laid out using microsoft publisher. cards and letters were all scanned. but i did provide an explanation that we kept originals for sentimental value but if they deem it necessary to have the originals then we will send it upon request.

 

[scylla]

Do most people get called in for an interview?

Most people do not get called for interviews (my husband wasn't). But it never harms to prepare for the worst. Interviews are typically bad news because they are usually called because CIC is concerned about something related to your application (most often whether the relationship is genuine).

 

[kaede1977]

alright...good to know!just wondering also when I should get medicals booked in...it says they are valid for a year but is it better to get them done sooner than later? also, do the police checks take awhile too?

 

[sidkrose]

For police checks, it depends a lot on which country they are from. FBI checks from the states take months, where as federal police checks from Germany take under two weeks. So I would try to find out how long it takes from the countries you need.

Generally it is best to do the medical at the last minute, before you apply, so that there is ample time before it expires. However, some DMPs have a long waitlist, so you should make an appointment well in advance, but just before you plan to apply, if that makes sense.

 

[kaede1977]

thats great advice thanks! and do you know how long you have to actually arrive once everything gets approved? our lease in dublin isnt up until nov this year so were hoping to stay til atleast then so we dont loose our deposit by breaking the contract...do they give you a due date for entry or can you enter even after 6months of recieving notice of approval? thanks again for your help

 

[pelipeli]

thats great advice thanks! and do you know how long you have to actually arrive once everything gets approved? our lease in dublin isnt up until nov this year so were hoping to stay til atleast then so we dont loose our deposit by breaking the contract...do they give you a due date for entry or can you enter even after 6months of recieving notice of approval? thanks again for your help

I think u have to land before ur medical or passport expires whichever comes first .for us (under fsw) we did our medical January 2010, visa July 2010 with validity until January 2011 so we did land on January 2011, went back again to our home country after a month.

 

[sidkrose]

Pelipeli is correct, you have until either your medical expires (one year from the date you got it) or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.