I first want to thank everybody on here, without your help, we will still be in the dark.

I am part of the lost packet 3 batch sent out 11 December 2007. I have called them and made them aware of this problem. My next issue now is that i have my medical appointment next thursday and i have no idea whether i should go to Bentick branch or Knighsbridge one. I was told on the phone to come to the one on my packet 3.

Another problem is that on Knighsbridge doctors website, it says i should bring my appointment letter from the embassy, again, i haven't this letter as it was all lost in the post.

What steps should i take now? Should i call the medical centre and explain my situation? i sure do not want to lose my date. I have sent 2 emails to the embassy and still no response.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.


A big special thanks to Rosemariel who has been a fabulous guide since i joined this site

Which medical centre would you call? That answers the 'where do I go' question.

You can go to your medical but if they have no case # for you, I'm not sure I'd trust it to not get lost. And £200 is a lot fo money to have to repeat. I'd reschedule the medical when you have a case #.

Packet 3 doesn't say which place to attend, that is determined when you call and arrange the medical

If you have the case number (which you must have in order to have arranged the interview) I'd call knightsbridge doctors and ask them which branch to go to. Explain the situation, ask them their advice. They are a private company for whom 200 quid is lifeblood, so they're unlikely to tell you to take a hike..

They will not normally do the medical without the London Embassy case number. If you know the case number you don't in fact need the interview appointment letter at the medical.

How did you book your medical without the instructions in packet 3 telling where to call. I don't see that you have much choice but to call the doctor and explain it does seem the only way you will find out which office to go to. If they cancel the appointment at least you haven't wasted £200 as devilette pointed out.

Also, what # did you call to book it? Surely they told you WHERE to go????

I called the 02074867822 number found here. The person i spoke to told me to follow the direction on my P3.

I have my case number, the advise i read here was it was sufficient to schedule my medical( I thought it would be enough), i didn't expect them to ask me to bring my appointment letter with me (which i don't have).

I might be overstressing, i am one of those who want things in order. I will call them and explain my situation on monday.

So didn't they tell you where you were to go???

Also, how could you follow direction on P3 if you didn't have it yet?

The P3 gives the directions "fill in this questionaire and hand it in when you go for your interview"

If you can find the questionaire elsewhere, print it out, fill it in and hand it in. If not, tell them your dog ate it*, and can you have a spare. They make you fill in the same questionaire anyway, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Just call them, talk to them, they'll be okay, they have shareholders


*don't tell them that, make every effort to find the questionaire

devilette please be gentle with me, as you can see, i am not as experienced as you are.

No, they didn't tell me where to go. I asked and the lady i spoke to told me to follow the indication on my P3 (which i haven't). I took the initiative to book my medical when i read that i could simply do so with my case number.

P3 form can be seen on VJ forms. I am using it because mine has been lost in the post.

Thanks Tom, I have done my research and found a sample of the questionaire, i just don't want to be refused the medical for travelling ahead of the wagon.

contact julezabelle. Her SO griff is same situation.

I'm not being rough, I'm asking legit questions! When you booked your medical, she didn't tell you where to go but just gave you a date, no address at all? She didn't answer the phone & say, hello, Knightsbridge/Bentnick Doctors? I find it hard to believe when the woman told you to follow P3 (and you didn't have it) you might stop & go, oh, I better wait. Honestly it's NO BIG DEAL to wait til you get P3. You will not get an interview any faster by jumping the gun. As you can see now, it's more headache than it's worth. It's pointless to do this without P3, as things may change, the questionnaire is in it, important numbers are in it, etc, etc.

Good luck figuring it out.

As you know, Tinkerbelle, there's 3 of us on VHJ who had P3 mailed on Dec. 11, but it never arrived. My fiance called the embassy and told them what happened. They gave him a special code to reference in the body of the email. he got the standard auto-reply that they'd respond in 3 - 4 business days. The next day they called him, told him they'd mail him the medical form and offered him an interview for the same date as the medical.

I don't fault you for scheduling your medical. We did so once we knew P3 was on its way. How were we to know it would get lost????

When you emailed the embassy, did you have the special code?

You can PM me with more questions, but I do have to leave now on some errands.

ETA: dev - unless you have constructive advice to offer, you can save your "constructive" criticism.

My hubby had a K-1 visa, so it is constructive advice, Julez. But hey, if you want to give bad advice, go ahead. Looks like it has been nothing but a headache for rushing into it. Remember Daisy?

Thanks for the advice. I guess i am not the first nor the last to have to deal with consequences of the post office.

Julz has been very helpful on this one as well. Hers got lost same time as mine. I am following the steps they made in order to get their case sorted. There is no need to be dormant and pray for miracles. That is why VJ delivers when the authorities let us down.

I haven't given bad advice. There are 3 of us in the same boat, so the right thing to do is to call the embassy, advising them that P3 never arrived. She can't keep waiting for something that isn't going to arrive as its lost in the mail! Her only recourse is to call the embassy. And regarding her medical, she does have her LND #, so she can still have the medical, as Lansbury pointed out. If she needs clarification about which site she's to go to, then she merely needs to call Knightsbridge to confirm.

The problem with your so-called constcutive criticism, dev, is that its always laced with condescension.

Thank you julz, I emailed them with the code twice, i didn't even get an auto reply. I guess they lost many P3s during the festive period. I will be using the forms on VJ.

I myself have P3/medical questions, but I shld prolly read the guides

I gotta say, I didn't find any condescension in Dev's original post. I was thinking something similar.

Good luck getting this all squared away, OP!

I know it's OT but I love the piccy in your sig, Lisa

Thanks L.

Lisa - read the guides! I see David got his P3, so you guys won't have the drama of booking without it. Congrats.




And your posts to me are always scolding. Funny, that, considering I have been through it, unlike yourself. The ignore button works wonders.

Your NOA2-interview is ONE MONTH. Many have waited longer & had no problem waiting to receive the actual papers before jumping the gun. Patience is a virtue tho! You'll need it for AOS.

There are a few threads which show what some of us have been experiencing lately. That is why some people are more up to date than others. It is better to simply not answer at all than to answer with disdain.

Newbies swim in a pool of information, i am getting better.

Several asked legit questions, TO HELP YOU OUT. Don't ask if you can't handle the truth.

Also, do not assume that I am not aware of the current situation at London. We all know what assuming does...

I don't think anyone is being condescending only helpful.

You have fallen foul of the problems which can arise when someone tries to short cut the procedure, in this case booking the medical before receiving the necessary instructions to do so. Most of the time it works when it doesn't unfortunately it causes extra stress and work to sort out.

In the case of booking the medical before you receive packet 3 it gains nothing at all in processing time as there is plenty of time between the arrival of packet 3 and the interview date to arrange the medical, and the medical date doesn't effect the interview date unless you want to arrange both on the same time for travel convenience. So you can give yourself extra headaches for no gain.

As long as you have the case number all the other paperwork is available at the doctors and will be the up to date versions. You just need to call the doctors Monday, explain packet 3 has gone missing in the post, that you have your London case number and can they confirm which doctors office you should go to. Just say that and no more so your initial sentence to them ends with a question you want an answer too. They will be helpful as they don't want an appointment slot left empty that they could have earned their fee with your booking.

Your problem while seeming large to you isn't a big deal and is easily resolved.

Well said, L.

Good for you. Thanks

ty! I it too, heh. I think I went a bit overboard, but eh, D got P3 today so I'm all happy.

You can make them at photobucket.com. There's a button up top after you log in that says 'make avatar' or somesuch.



Ty as well...we're excited! I have spent so long on here that I've got the filing to NVC part down backwards and forwards and could recite it in my sleep, but I never could get to reading up on this part cos it always seemed so far away!



I don't really think anything was meant by what's been said. Dev and I are hardly the best of buddies, and we've butted heads more times that I can imagine. But her questions were valid and I didn't read any disdain in them whatsoever. Anyways, good luck to you!

Exactly what i intended to do after reading some of the earlier comments.

I initially thought i would have to wait a month before getting an appointment for the medical, like the rest of the visa steps, that is why i called. When they gave me one within a week, i jumped on it thinking myself lucky. At this stage, i knew my P3 was on its way. Little did i know it would be lost.

It does seem that normally there are medical appointments within a week of calling, I don't recall anyone on here saying they had a long wait for one unless by their choice to suit themselves.

Which is why I advise people to wait for packet 3 and not short cut the system.

Even if the doctors office were unhelpful, which they will not be, there is still plenty of time to fit in another appointment before the interview. Easier said then done I know but don't get stressed out over it.

Well, Dev I have negotiated my way quite well through the K1 despite not doing it your way. And had G waited for P3 to arrive without taking action, he'd still be waiting for something that would never arrive. THREE members from VJ had P3 mailed from the London Embassy on the same day. NOT ONE arrrived, though we know that others had theirs sent later and were received. Bearing that in mind, I am certainly glad I didn't follow your wait and see advice. I do realize we were very fortunate with an early interview date and we weren't expecting that at all, nor did we ask for it. It was a complete fluke, and for that we are grateful.

I'm happy for you that you're satisfied with the way things worked for you, but I wouldn't say I've done anything wrong in the way I've gotten through the process thus far. I'm sure we'll manage AOS just as well.

Finally, Good luck Tinkerbelle! I do hope the embassy responds to you soon!

Two things you (conveniently) forgot to mention...

It's not my way to wait for P3, it's the US government's way. HUGE difference! Good god is that a gem!

Secondly, I never gave you any advice.

I'm also one of those lost in the Dec 11 shuffle, as juleza already knows, and now I have another question.

Amy and I have decided to just do the forms and mail them in ourselves, screw waiting for the embassy. I've heard she could schedule the medical with the LND# which she (I) have, but...

Ya'll are making it sound like she'll need some other specific form to do so?

I mean, we can't really 'follow the instructions on P3' since we don't have it, and I don't right see the point in mailing them forms then requesting the same forms or w/e.

So...how can she go about getting her medical booked?

Once we realized P3 was never going to arrive, we called the embassy to inform them. So I recommend that you have Amy call the Embassy and tell them P3 never arrived. They will give her a special code to put in the body of the email, where you can tell them that after nearly 4 weeks of waiting for P3, it still has not arrived. If our experience is any guide, they will get back to you within a few days and tell you how to proceed. In our case, they had already received our P3 the same day we called, so they just mailed G his interview appointment letter and the medical form, which he recieved just 2 days later.

Once he knew P3 had been mailed, my fiance called and booked his medical by calling Knightsbridge, which, I believe, the number is referenced in this thread here somewhere. They need your LND # to book it (at least, that was our experience). The form that others are referencing is the medical form that needs to be completed and brought with Amy to her medical.

So, I would have Amy call the embassy and tell them what has happened so she can get the forms she needs. Please bear in mind that this is merely advice I am sharing with you since we have experienced the same situation. Only you guys can decide on how you want to handle this situation.

Yes, dev, they want you to wait for P3. BUT what you keep conveniently ignoring is the FACT that our P3's were lost in the mail. Seems a bit foolhardy to for that which will never arrive.

Correct, you've never specifically given me advice, but its the overall message you promote, and unfortunately it does not apply in the OP's situation.

I think we'll just need to agree to disagree in this situation.

...Is it possible to download the form(s) off VJ somewhere? Or is calling them and getting something sent to her the only way she'll get what's necessary?

I suddenly thought last night. If the telephone number you found on VJ is the appointment service for both doctors offices how did they known which office to book you into if you didn't have that information from packet 3.

The medical form scans are not anywhere on VJ that I know of! weedebz did scan and send them to Griff, but he's in London as I type this and didn't bring his laptop, so I can't have him send them to you. However, you could PM weedebz as she might still have the scans or the item in her sent items so she could email them to you or Amy. If you do get them from someone else, just make sure Amy has the LND # with her the day of the medical.

Though I must say, I'd still call. Aside from the cost its painless! I just think it would be good for them to realize that so many P3s from Dec. 11th never arrived.

For the last time, it is not MY message. It is how this very site VJ promotes getting a visa, and it's HOW THE US EMBASSY WANTS YOU TO PROCEED. And I stick by how the gov't wants me to do it, yes. You have done it differently, but it is not the way that is condoned on VJ.

So do as you say (see below), not as you do? Talk about contradiction.




--------------




Good question. But apparently not one the operator had, as she said to follow P3.

When I booked my medical I was asked did I have my interview date. The answer was no.
I was then asked if I had received my application information pack (packet 3).The answered was yes.
I gave them my number and booked the medical.
I know in theory anyone can book the medical with the LND****** but was anyone asked if they had received packet 3 as I was and if so what did you answer?

Just wondering

For the last time Dev....THREE OF US HAD PACKET 3 LOST IN THE MAIL...what don't YOU understand about that???????? Seriously, would you just wait and NEVER do ANYTHING about it, hoping the P3 fairy would somehow drop the P3 on your doorstep???? I think its time you drop this bone.

For the last time, in plain (American) English.

YOU TOLD THEJOX TO EMAIL THE EMBASSY FOR A NEW PACKET and NOT to go ahead with it all. Yet, you did not follow your own advice & mailed a P3 to the embassy acquired off the internet, one that missing important medical information. You also booked a P3 without actually having the P3 in your hand.

You are seriously beyond ridiculous at this point.

I have told thejoz repeatedly, in this thread and others, to call the embassy and tell them they didn't get P3 as it must be lost in the mail. And I also said that its up to him if he wants to wait to get another or send in the scans from VJ. He has been given the link to the scans several times, and not just by me. And if its so terrible and wrong, I'd think the embassy would have rejected our packet rather than scheduling an interview appointment. They have it logged in their system that P3 was sent, so it doesn't appear to matter if the papers from the exact packet are returned or ones exactly like them from the internet are sent it.

You do love to scold and/or avoid truths & questions, those that disagree with your own...

Some might say the same about you.

But this thread isn't about you or me. Its about the true fact that 3 VJ members had P3 sent to them but never arrived. In other words, lost. Which means that people need to adjust their game plan as result. Which is what tinkerbelle is asking for help with. I've offered help to her, whereas you've made snide comments to her.

To tinkerbelle and thejoz, if you would like further help from me, personally, please feel free to PM me as I am done with this thread.

According to you alone, but several others disagree.







Oh, my bad - you *are* so helpful. No snide comments there! How do you find the time when it is so obviously hard for you?





Lied, likely.

It doesn't matter as long as they are exactly the same.

The point some of us are trying to make is that there are to my knowledge several versions of each form on the Internet. There is also one copy of each form on VJ. What nobody knows for sure is if these copies are the up to date versions the Embassy is using.

If you decide to use a form you found somewhere all well and good, if it fouls things up because it is different and doesn't now contain all the required information be prepared to deal with it.

In other words if you choose to short cut the system and it works great, if it doesn't and someone has to come on here asking for help be prepared for people to say what you did wrong. The reason for that is because people other than the person asking the question is reading it and probably some are thinking about doing the same. The replies at not just directed at the original poster but are meant to be helpful to anyone reading it now or later. If that reply stops someone else getting in the same predicament that is even better.

Some of us replying have made it all the way to the end of the visa process. Along the way we made mistakes and we try and stop others making them as well as the collective wisdom here has found out what can and cannot be done.

Like I've said many times before booking a medical before you get packet 3 saves you absolutely nothing. The interview will not be scheduled until you return packet 3 and there is plenty of time between them to have a medical without worry as you have all the forms and instructions from the Embassy. Bottom line is it is your visa application ignore what we say or not it is your choice. The worst that can happen is it takes longer to get a visa than it might have done. The best is you gain nothing

Don't know if anyone has already posted this, but these are the address details:-

Telephone number: 0207 584 9458

15 Basil Mansions, Basil Street, London, SW3 1AP (this one was not open when I booked my appointment, so Bentinck was the only option for me) - closest tube = Knightsbridge

4 Bentinck Mansions, 12-16 Bentinck Street, London, W1U 2ER - closest tube = Bond Street

You need to take: passport, 1 passport photo (can be UK size), the questionnaire from P3 (they provide you with another questionnaire anyway), vaccination records and letter from GP if you require one to explain any "yes's" on the questionnaire.

I would see nothing wrong with phoning them up to confirm which of the 2 locations you were scheduled at. Bare in mind also, that I booked my medical for 1 month after I received packet 3 and have just had it done recently, and I still have 1 month to go for my actual interview date. Booking a medical earlier does not help in the long run, especially when they are taking 2 month from receiving packet 3 back at the embassy to the interview date.

This may not still be the case, but when Bruce had his medical in May, we were told that they were now doing the US visa medicals *only* at the Bentinck Mansions location. I can't recall anyone since then reporting that they went to the Basil Street address...(though I may be wrong!).

jeez, devilette, not that I particularly feel like wandering into the murky pond of giving advice, but ease up, honestly. Julezabelle long ended the conversation with you, and it's clear she went her way, you went yours. Going on about the way VJ officially condones and blah blah, well you only had to say it once. I've honestly not been prompted to speak up at all in the way of other people's quibbles on this site, but reading this stream of messages, I can honestly say you have sounded quite condescending and goaded that poster. Big deal, you think you're right, and your way is the way of the US government. If you were secure in that knowledge, it'd hardly be something that warrants pounding other posters about. I think by admitting that she chose to go her own alternative route, which worked for her, she's saying other ways of doing things are possible in this situation, if not guaranteed. I think VJ's the most useful because it's a place where a bigger variety of people's experiences and solutions can be accessed.

Then, don't?



PS: Your post is judgement - not advice.

ffs, can we carry on talking about interviews and other less stressful things please?



thanks