Scheduling appointment? (split)

[emily&gabby 1]

Hello everyone. This is my first post on Visa Journey! This thread has been really helpful for me. 

 

I have a question about scheduling a visa appointment. We completed the DS-160 and the fee has been paid to schedule an appointment, but on the scheduling website, there are only appointments open from August 17-21st, only a couple days from now. However, we need an appointment later on (preferably September) so that we have time to get the medical interview completed, which, as these handy instructions that my fiancé found say (https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/iv-dv-supplemental/SDO%20-%20Santo%20Domingo.pdf), should be done three weeks before the consulate interview. And we can't go to the medical interview without a scheduled consulate interview. When y'all scheduled your consulate appointments, were there only dates available for the next several days? And if so, how do we get the medical done far enough in advance? 

 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

17 minutes ago, emily&gabby said:

Hello everyone. This is my first post on Visa Journey! This thread has been really helpful for me. 

 

I have a question about scheduling a visa appointment. We completed the DS-160 and the fee has been paid to schedule an appointment, but on the scheduling website, there are only appointments open from August 17-21st, only a couple days from now. However, we need an appointment later on (preferably September) so that we have time to get the medical interview completed, which, as these handy instructions that my fiancé found say (https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/iv-dv-supplemental/SDO%20-%20Santo%20Domingo.pdf), should be done three weeks before the consulate interview. And we can't go to the medical interview without a scheduled consulate interview. When y'all scheduled your consulate appointments, were there only dates available for the next several days? And if so, how do we get the medical done far enough in advance? 

 

I believe it is a really embassy specific question. My embassy does the same, they only open the spots for current month and the next month. They do not open the interview dates too far out. If you want a September interview and you don't see any available dates, that's probably because all spots have been taken up by other people. You can stalk the appointment system on a daily basis and might just see an open spot for September due to cancellation and what not. 

[L&LM 75]

I would also advise contacting the medical office you intend to go to and know how they schedule. How far out are they booking? Do they keep open spaces for sudden visa interviews? Do they courier your results for an extra fee? How many days specific to that location? 

I know here in Canada, I booked my medical on Friday, and I'm already going tomorrow for my appointment. I know for an extra $20 or so, they will courier my results to me at home so I don't need to return to the city. But they book with regard to my interview (Sept 6). 

Hope that helps a bit and ease your mind if you contact the medical office

[Mr Geminian 691]

1 hour ago, emily&gabby said:

Hello everyone. This is my first post on Visa Journey! This thread has been really helpful for me. 

 

I have a question about scheduling a visa appointment. We completed the DS-160 and the fee has been paid to schedule an appointment, but on the scheduling website, there are only appointments open from August 17-21st, only a couple days from now. However, we need an appointment later on (preferably September) so that we have time to get the medical interview completed, which, as these handy instructions that my fiancé found say (https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/iv-dv-supplemental/SDO%20-%20Santo%20Domingo.pdf), should be done three weeks before the consulate interview. And we can't go to the medical interview without a scheduled consulate interview. When y'all scheduled your consulate appointments, were there only dates available for the next several days? And if so, how do we get the medical done far enough in advance? 

 

Hey Emily and Gabby...... The first thing i did after receiving the Interview Instructions package was, scheduled and did my medicals and then paid the K-1 visa fees and scheduled appointment for the interview. Keep in mind that fees once paid will be valid for 1 year (keep the receipt and the receipt number that you get from your bank because that's the receipt number you will be using to make an appointment)  and once you've paid your fees you will only have about 2 or 3 times to reschedule your appointment. When i went to the medical they ask me for one of the following a) Interview instructions letter where consulate/embassy asking you to medical exam or b) Visa Interview Letter.....I only took the printout of Interview Instructions page and it all went fine. 

 

Another important thing you will have to keep in mind is the expiry date of your I-129F. Make sure the interview date is before the I-129F expires.  

[emily&gabby 1]

Thanks everyone for your help! Interestingly, in the Dominican Republic the medical interview is not scheduled, you just show up and it's first-come first-serve. However, I do need to bring my scheduled consulate interview date to the medical, but they only have consulate interview appointment availability for scheduling for August 17-21, and we won't be able to make any of those dates. Hopefully some more consulate dates open up soon! Our I-129F expires in mid-October, so at least we have some time to get this part of the application done. 

[Mr Geminian 691]

6 hours ago, emily&gabby said:

Thanks everyone for your help! Interestingly, in the Dominican Republic the medical interview is not scheduled, you just show up and it's first-come first-serve. However, I do need to bring my scheduled consulate interview date to the medical, but they only have consulate interview appointment availability for scheduling for August 17-21, and we won't be able to make any of those dates. Hopefully some more consulate dates open up soon! Our I-129F expires in mid-October, so at least we have some time to get this part of the application done. 

Cool. All the best 

[emily&gabby 1]

Hello! In case any person having difficulty scheduling embassy interviews in the Dominican Republic in the future, I messaged some other K1 visa applicants, and this is what I learned: One said that there weren't many openings the first day they looked, and they checked back a week later and there were many others that opened. Another said that when they first looked there were many appointments, including ones that were two months out.

 

For Gabby and I, after checking for the past two days, a bunch of appointments opened up for the next month and a half. It looks like slots are usually available Sunday-Friday.

[Mr Geminian 691]

10 minutes ago, emily&gabby said:

Hello! In case any person having difficulty scheduling embassy interviews in the Dominican Republic in the future, I messaged some other K1 visa applicants, and this is what I learned: One said that there weren't many openings the first day they looked, and they checked back a week later and there were many others that opened. Another said that when they first looked there were many appointments, including ones that were two months out.

 

For Gabby and I, after checking for the past two days, a bunch of appointments opened up for the next month and a half. It looks like slots are usually available Sunday-Friday.

I'd say, book your interview date before your I-129F expires.