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Do they keep my passport? Which side of the interview is it best to travel?

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Good day :)

 

I have just made an appointment for an interview at the London US Embassy for mid July. (DCF)

 

I would like to be able to visit my family in France before I move to America.

 

I'm not too sure how things move though... do they keep my passport for a while, after my interview? (I have paid for a home delivery post interview but I'm not sure what is it that will be delivered).

If it is my passport that is delivered, then how long should I wait to travel to France with my updated passport?

 

Would it be better to travel BEFORE the interview to not have this interfere with my final US flight? (Could that be a flag)

 

Thank you so much!!!!!!!

:clock:

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

Applying for IR1 through DCF London.

===============================

12/22/2017 Form i-130 posted!

DELAY: CHRISTMAS

12/28/2017 Notice of Receipt

DELAY: NEW YEAR

03/14/2018 Request For Evidence

03/28/2018 USCIS received Docs

DELAY: EASTER

04/17/2018 Petition I-130 Approved!

DELAY: SPONSOR CHANGE

05/10/2018 DS-260 Completed

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

07/16/2018 APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

07/18/2018 Visa is being printed

07/23/2018 all posted and in my hand!

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

THANK GOD 🙋‍♂️

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Traveling before the interview is not an issue.

Traveling after having the visa in the passport is not an issue.

 

From the point of the interview until you get the visa - assuming everything goes well and they take the passport at interview - you won't have the passport. Normally this is a matter of days to couple weeks, but can be longer.

You can technically request it back, but it would delay your case since they can't issue the visa unless they have the passport.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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The minute you get your passport back, you can travel. My husband (from South America) and I went to Europe for over a month together with the K1 in his passport before we used it to enter the US. 

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Thank you so much @geowrian.... my... 2 weeks -/+ .... all being well and good...

I have a 3 weeks window between the medical and the interview..... maybe that would be more suitable... 

Thank you for the continued good guidance here... I appreciate you.

 

Thank you too @Sarah&Facundo for your reassurance. That gives me real sense of peace :)

 

Thank you both!!!

:clock:

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

Applying for IR1 through DCF London.

===============================

12/22/2017 Form i-130 posted!

DELAY: CHRISTMAS

12/28/2017 Notice of Receipt

DELAY: NEW YEAR

03/14/2018 Request For Evidence

03/28/2018 USCIS received Docs

DELAY: EASTER

04/17/2018 Petition I-130 Approved!

DELAY: SPONSOR CHANGE

05/10/2018 DS-260 Completed

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

07/16/2018 APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

07/18/2018 Visa is being printed

07/23/2018 all posted and in my hand!

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

THANK GOD 🙋‍♂️

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Share on other sites

Filed: Other Country: Saudi Arabia
Timeline
13 hours ago, Sylv said:

Good day :)

 

I have just made an appointment for an interview at the London US Embassy for mid July. (DCF)

 

I would like to be able to visit my family in France before I move to America.

 

I'm not too sure how things move though... do they keep my passport for a while, after my interview? (I have paid for a home delivery post interview but I'm not sure what is it that will be delivered).

If it is my passport that is delivered, then how long should I wait to travel to France with my updated passport?

 

Would it be better to travel BEFORE the interview to not have this interfere with my final US flight? (Could that be a flag)

 

Thank you so much!!!!!!!

They usually keep your passport for a few days.  Your passport is returned with a visa inside and you have a big (white?  brown? LOL we've had two brown, one white) envelope that you have to keep unopened and untouched until you enter the US.  You turn in the envelope at the immigration counter.

 

You have 6 months (from medical date) to use the visa to enter the US.  What you do in that 6 months doesn't matter.  You can plan to visit your family now or after your interview - just book your ticket to the US inside the visa expiration date.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline
21 hours ago, Sylv said:

I'm not too sure how things move though... do they keep my passport for a while, after my interview? (I have paid for a home delivery post interview but I'm not sure what is it that will be delivered).

 

If your paperwork is in order, they keep your passport to put the visa in. It should get back to you in one week (London specific info). Sometimes things can happen that would delay a day or two but a week is average. For me the delivery truck broke down and they didn't come. So don't plan France for exactly one week after the interview. 

 

The courier will bring a white envelope of your immigration files (marked do not open) ,  and your passport, all in an outer delivery wrapper. Open the wrapper to get out your passport. Take the sealed white envelope to turn in at POE.  No problem going to France with a USA visa inside your passport. France doesn't care. 

Edited by Wuozopo
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12 hours ago, Nitas_man said:

You have 6 months (from medical date) to use the visa to enter the US.  What you do in that 6 months doesn't matter.  You can plan to visit your family now or after your interview - just book your ticket to the US inside the visa expiration date.

Well thank you @Nitas_man ☺

This is a great piece of information!

I appreciate!!

 

4 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

If your paperwork is in order, they keep your passport to put the visa in. It should get back to you in one week (London specific info). Sometimes things can happen that would delay a day or two but a week is average. For me the delivery truck broke down and they didn't come. So don't plan France for exactly one week after the interview. 

My... this is reassuring!

Thank you @Wuozopo~

 

:clock:

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

Applying for IR1 through DCF London.

===============================

12/22/2017 Form i-130 posted!

DELAY: CHRISTMAS

12/28/2017 Notice of Receipt

DELAY: NEW YEAR

03/14/2018 Request For Evidence

03/28/2018 USCIS received Docs

DELAY: EASTER

04/17/2018 Petition I-130 Approved!

DELAY: SPONSOR CHANGE

05/10/2018 DS-260 Completed

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

07/16/2018 APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

07/18/2018 Visa is being printed

07/23/2018 all posted and in my hand!

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

THANK GOD 🙋‍♂️

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