Lululoveskittens's Journal, 26 Jul 17

Take it hour by hour. Breathe. Life throws stuff in your way. But stress eating will not take the stress away. I felt like that last week. Tomorrow is a new day 🤗🤗 

Hope you are having a good day today 🤗 

Hi, We have just got back after a few days in London for our interview. I know exactly what you are going through and believe me the stress is awful. I broke out in a massive rash about 4 weeks before my medical, so was then stressing even more that it looked like I was contagious. My GP said it was a virus and would go on its own. Well, one week before my medical it rapidly started to improve...phew. At the medical, the doctor wanted some extra information (I have severe asthma), which we got the GP to email to the clinic, the following day. Our interview was booked for the 25th so we hoped the stuff would get to the embassy in time. When we arrived for the interview there were quite a few people queuing, don`t get in line just go to the blue tent and speak to the person there, they will need to see your passport, letter with case number and interview confirmation letter, plus courier details, and DS-260. They will then show you where to go. When you get inside the receptionist will put a sticker on your file and that is your number that will go on the screen, it will tell you what window to go to, this is for your paperwork. Then you pay for visa at another window, card machine was not working when we went so had to nip to nearest atm. Then sit back down, until your number comes up again and you will be called to another window to take the oath and answer some questions. All very easy and the people are very nice. They asked me if I was going to be living with my daughter and that was it!! Said I was approved. I felt like I had stressed so much for months and the interview was the easiest thing ever. Basically, if you have all your paperwork in place you should be fine. So good luck. Now I feel I can start eating LCHF again stress free.  

Also, try and get a later appointment, we had ours (my son-in-law and myself) at 12 and 12.30 but they let us in together. Then its a relatively quiet time in the embassy. So hope this helps, and you can now breathe and get back on track. :) 

Hi Janwhidbey .... thank you so much for those words - and advice on the interview - phew - seems to take so long, now that my DS260 is filed I just have to wait for an interview date and that could be a month or 3 months from what I've read ....:( I am at my parents today and to be honest have abandoned my calorie recording/restrictio till Monday as there was just too much going on to be dealing with that too!! Mercifully my flat sale exchanged today so one less thing to deal with .... out of interest, how long after you submittted your DS260 did you get an interview? xx 

It might be different for you, as you filed from the States and we filed over here. When we filed our DS260, we then booked our medical ourselves, and set the interview date. We allowed 2 weeks from the medical to the interview when booking in case of any delays, which turned out well, as we had extra stuff to send to clinic before they could put my paperwork through to the Embassy. It sounds like yours is slightly different if you cannot book yourself. 

Ah yes - quite different :( I have had to file an i-130 to start with, well my husband did - that bit gets approved then I had to file my DS260 to the National Visa Centre in the USA and I have to wait now till they say I can book my medical and they send an interview date.... it is painfully slow - I reckon it will be a year between the first form we sent and my visa arriving :( 

Unfortunately, it is slower filing from the States than in London. I would say you are on the home stretch now, as this is the easy part coming up, so long as you have all the paperwork ready for them. We filed in April here so it was quite quick, flying out on the 4th September. Good luck, it might go faster than you think. What part of the States will you be going to? 

Hi Janwhidbey - sorry for the slow reply - I decided to give up the diet for a couple of weeks as it was adding to my stress levels and not helping me cope with these big changes! Now I am back to 151 bloody annoying :) .... but i am going to Athens, Georgia - in the Deep South.....:) I should think you are very excited now that your move is so close?? 

Lululoveskittens.....Good luck, I am also having trouble with sticking to my plan, as I am packing everything up for the shipping people to take tomorrow. So I have been snacking here there and everywhere, including takeouts :( I have put 2lbs on in just a few days, so its time to call a halt and get back on track. I am excited, but disappointed in myself for not keeping up with LCHF when its so close to us going. Let me know how your visa process is going, it can`t be much longer now. Fully understand the stress levels, but you will be okay, just keep positive.