[gbuk]

Hi VJ'ers - I've been using this fantastic resource for months now, and this is the first time I've felt the need to post and ask for help from you guys.

I received an email from NVC last night confirming my CR-1 Visa interview at the London Embassy on the 1st October :-) What is confusing me is the requirements regarding the DS-2001 (notification of applicant readiness) and DS-230 (Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Readiness) forms.

I understood that both forms needed to be sent to the US Embassy in London ahead of the interview (to let them know that I'm ready and have all documents needed), however as the interview has already been scheduled, do I still need to send them?

To confuse me even more, when I called the (very expensive) Embassy helpline, the guy I spoke to told me I need to send the docs to the NVC, because that's where we filed for the visa.

Thanks in advance,

GB

[Nich-Nick]

I understood that both forms needed to be sent to the US Embassy in London ahead of the interview (to let them know that I'm ready and have all documents needed), however as the interview has already been scheduled, do I still need to send them?

There's two different ways a CR1 processes at London.

• Those who sent the I-130 to the US Lockbox address, go through NVC and submit all forms to NVC, which assigns the interview when all things are received. They don't take much to the interview because it went to NVC.
  
• Those who live with their spouse in the UK can submit the I-130 to the USCIS office in London (DCF). They don't go through NVC. Their approved petition goes straight to the visa unit at the embassy. So they have to apply for the visa (DS-230) by sending it to the embassy. They let the embassy know they have gathered all their documents by sending DS-2001. Then the embassy assigns the interview date. Applicants take the documents to the interview rather than mailing in.

Their website sometimes is instructing everybody and every visa so that might be confusing you. The items you are puzzling over are for DCF. Your stuff is submitted already.

[gbuk]

Thanks! I suspected that may be the case, even while I was being told the contrary by the guy from the Embassy.

There seem to be contradictions and grey areas at every stage of the process - it'll be such a relief once it's all done.........

[Ryan H]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to UK regional forum; OP's questions are specific to procedures at the Embassy.