I thought I'd take a little break here, grab a soda (see, I'm picking up the lingo already), and address something that's caught my attention.We know that the main I-130 processing may take a long time but we're trying to be patient and prepare for what's to come.
Most things can be prepared in advance and there are various certificates to get ready for the upcoming forms but at least one is only valid for six months.
This is the "Police Certificate". As this is are a paper certificate to state that you have no criminal record it is, by definition, out of date the moment it's issued. In other countries, this doesn't seem to be an issue - in the UK, surprise surprise, it's different. This quote from the ACRO (ACPO* Criminal Records Office) form itself makes a great point: "Embassies or High Commissions will usually require you to produce a Police Certificate, which has been issued less than six (6) months before your visa interview."
This is actually quite tricky. The average waiting time for the interview (in London) from the moment you get your NOA2 (The second Notice of Approval that your I-130 generates) is currently 200 days (according to this site). But I have to send the police certificate to the NVC (National Visa Center (in the US)) as evidence with my DS-230 form. This means that my certificate stands a chance of being out of date by the time I go for my interview.
Which is why I can't get one now - I'm just going to have to play a waiting game...
(as they're only £35 I really don't mind shelling out for a second one just before the interview if that's all that's needed to get me to my wife...)
*Yes, the "A" in ACRO is, itself, an acronym. It stands for the "Association of Chief Police Officers". I know, I know...
