Hi guys,

Just a question. We received packet 3 in the mail about a month ago. I sent off the DS-230 Part 1 within a week of receiving it. Everyone here seems to be saying they sent off all of packet 3 at the same time? I'm kind of freaked now, since the checklist said we had to send that off first? Did I screw up? We don't have packet 3 ready just yet (waiting on financials from the states and a few other bits and pieces.)

Did anyone else do it this way? Did you get a response from the embassy? (It's been 3 weeks, haven't heard anything.) How long did it take to get your police certificate back?

Thanks!
Tiffany

I'm a little bit confused by your post (maybe because it's the end of the work day for me!) but I'll try to answer. You don't have to return everything in packet 3 at the same time. It was fine that you sent DS-230 already and haven't sent the checklist yet. Other people who do it at the same time are just trying to make the process as fast as possible. I don't believe you get any repsonse from the embassy until you've sent your readiness for interview checklist and they've arranged you an interview.

What do you mean by "How long did it take to get your police certificate back?"? Do you just mean how long did it take to receive it after you sent off the form requesting it? Or have you already received the police certificate and included it with your DS-230? After requesting the certificate, it normally takes the full 40 days to receive it. I'm guessing/hoping you did not mean you sent it with the DS-230 - you're supposed to take it to the interview.

You seem to get the gist . Ok, I was hoping that was it with the DS-230. And no, we didn't send the request form to the embassy, we sent it to the folks that process the requests.

Thanks!

FWIW, London generally won't schedule an interview until they have the checklist back. So you CAN send the packet 3 forms back prior to the checklist, but it doesn't really do you any good. (They'll likely just enter that they received the forms into the system and there your case sits.)

The checklist basically tells them 'we're ready for an interview now'.

And yes, the police certificate should be taken to the interview. It normally takes the full 40 days to receive it.

Tiffany,

Like Margot said (she always beats me to answering!!!!), there is no problem to sending the DS-230 and the checklist separate so nope, you did not screw up . However, do know that no Consulate will schedule an interview without both, so don't worry about not hearing from them: you won't (unless they let you know that they received your DS-230, which I have not heard of in the boards). You send in the checklist when you have all your duckies in a row and then you're on the list for an interview. Good luck!

Peace, L.

Thanks everyone . It appears I'm going down the sloooooooooooow route

According to the London Embassy website, they say that you send in the DS-230 and then they tell you if you need a Police cert. I believe this is what the OP was waiting for. Can I ask Tiffany if you ever got anything? I haven't started yet, but I plan to order my police cert as soon as i send in the I-130. Can I then send in the checklist as soon as I get Package 3? I know I'll need certs, cos also on the website there is a list of countries that the Embassy gets your cert directly from.

Just wondering what happened in the end Tiffany,

Thanks!