berni: I have recently retired and intend moving to Phoenix Arizona (wifes family) post April 06 when my wife retires. She is a US/UK Citizen as are my children (not coming). We cannot go before she retires, so April is it. I have been on to the US Embassy in London but they have not been able to give me a time-scale from application for Permanent Visa to allocation. I understand that once the Visa is allocated then I would have to be in the US within six months. I will be selling my house and arranging shipment etc. so will need that six months, but it cannot be before April, it has therefore been a problem as when to apply to ensure that the visa is not allocated too soon leaving me inadequate post April to sell the house (up to three months !!) and arrange shipping etc. I do not want to put the house on the market until I know I have been allocated a Permanent Visa. I am applying on the basis of the spouse of a US Citizen, Berni states that this only took him 12 weeks, would you know if this is a standard time scale applying through the US Embassy, London? If that is the case then I would need to apply in January 06 for the visa to operate from April. Or did you get "special treatment" working for the US Government, I realise each case is taken on it's own merit and there probably is no "yard stick" to go by. But any advice would be gratefully received.
