How quickly is visa usually delivered?

[*Snowdrop* 603]

I just found out that I have an interview date at the London Embassy for 17th December. I really want to be over here for Christmas but am worried about getting my passport back in time to fly over.

Assuming I am approved at the interview - when do you think I will get the passport back - in time to fly over before Christmas Day?

Lynne

[*julez* 124]

It looks like you're having your medical and interview on the same date (if I'm reading your timeline correctly, which I may not!) which means that it takes about 4 business days for the medical results to get to the embassy and then they will have to process your visa after that. For example, my husband had his interview & medical on Jan 7th this year and had his passport & visa delivered January 15th.

I think it will be very tight for you, especially since there is a slowdown at the embassy around Christmas. If you had your medical on an earlier date, I think it would be much more possible.

Just my opinion based on hanging out on VJ the last couple of years.

Edited October 29, 2008 by *julez*

[T and M 1]

It looks like you're having your medical and interview on the same date (if I'm reading your timeline correctly, which I may not!) which means that it takes about 4 business days for the medical results to get to the embassy and then they will have to process your visa after that. For example, my husband had his interview & medical on Jan 7th this year and had his passport & visa delivered January 15th.

I think it will be very tight for you, especially since there is a slowdown at the embassy around Christmas. If you had your medical on an earlier date, I think it would be much more possible.

Just my opinion based on hanging out on VJ the last couple of years.

This is exactly right. If you are rushed, you should do your medical well in advance, so that the embassy has your results on the day of the interview. In this case, you should get your visa within 2-3 working days. We got ours in 4 days...two working days, but our medical was two weeks before the interview. Your medical can really hold things up, so I would do it right away if you are trying to get to the states for Christmas. Assuming all goes well, you should have your visa on the afternoon of the 23rd, which means I would book a flight for the 24th or the 25th to be safe. If you have your medical the same day, you won't get your passport back until the 27th or later.

[*Snowdrop* 603]

Thanks for your replies - I haven't scheduled the medical yet - which is why there is no date for it in the timeline.

I will of course do the medical as early as possible before the interview.

All I need information on is how long it takes to get your passport back after the interview (assuming the interview is successful)

I am worried about booking a flight for say 23rd Dec and not getting the visa back in time.

Anyone who has got their passport back recently - how long did it take?

Thanks

[T and M 1]

Thanks for your replies - I haven't scheduled the medical yet - which is why there is no date for it in the timeline.

I will of course do the medical as early as possible before the interview.

All I need information on is how long it takes to get your passport back after the interview (assuming the interview is successful)

I am worried about booking a flight for say 23rd Dec and not getting the visa back in time.

Anyone who has got their passport back recently - how long did it take?

Thanks

As long as the medical is done at least 5 working days before the interview, you should have your passport back within 2-3 working days, the 19th or the 22nd. Our medical was on July 9th, our interview was on Friday, the 18th, and my wife's passport with visa was delivered via courier on Tuesday, the 22nd. That's two working days from the interview to the passport delivery.

Anyone with more recent experiences?

[~*Maria*~ 1]

I received my visa 2 days after the interview.

[Welshcookie 17]

My personal piece of advice is to allow some time in case something comes up....we were on a really tight time frame, London even gave us an emergency interview date so we could make our flight together....I really thought we were good to go but I was missing one document which put the receipt on our passports back by 4 days.

Edited October 30, 2008 by Welshcookie

[*Snowdrop* 603]

Is there any way to get an earlier date with the embassy?

[Damian P 92]

Just make absolutely sure that you have every piece of documentation that you need. Like the other posters in this thread, I had my visa 2 days after my interview (which was a couple of weeks ago). Secure Mail Service are not Royal Mail - there will be no problem with a heavier mail load due to Christmas.

Having said that, you only have 3 working days to play with if you're planning on leaving on the 23rd - could be a bit iffy.

[T and M 1]

Is there any way to get an earlier date with the embassy?

You could try emailing the embassy for a new date, but I have never heard of this working. When you returned your Packet 3 and Checklist there was a place where you put down your scheduled departure date, but that is no guarantee. We returned our Packet 3 on June 24, said our scheduled departure was July 15, and got an interview date on July 18th. We got our visa back on July 22nd (over the weekend), and flew out on the 25th. We had hoped to be home in late May, then moved it back to late June, then to late July. I would not count on ANYTHING, as the wait is bad enough without feeling rushed.

[*Snowdrop* 603]

Is there any way to get an earlier date with the embassy?

You could try emailing the embassy for a new date, but I have never heard of this working. When you returned your Packet 3 and Checklist there was a place where you put down your scheduled departure date, but that is no guarantee. We returned our Packet 3 on June 24, said our scheduled departure was July 15, and got an interview date on July 18th. We got our visa back on July 22nd (over the weekend), and flew out on the 25th. We had hoped to be home in late May, then moved it back to late June, then to late July. I would not count on ANYTHING, as the wait is bad enough without feeling rushed.

Because our application went through the NVC there was no packet 3 and checklist so we weren't even able to specify any departure date.

I realise one can't count on ANYTHING - the ten month wait at VSC where our file sat untouched taught us that. I just haven't got much choice with this. I'll have to book flights for me and my parents for 23rd Dec - and pray that it all works out okay. I'll book the kind you can change at the last minute and if it hasn't come on the 22nd then we'll just have to postpone Christmas for both families either side of the Atlantic.

Either way I won't get to prepare for Christmas with my husband for the second year running. I was really looking forward to decorating our home together, buying the tree, pre-Christmas parties etc.

I really hate this process.

[MargotDarko 0]

Yes, the process is much too long and complicated. I don't know if you will get you anywhere, but it wouldn't hurt to try requesting an earlier date. There's an unfortunately expensive number to call to get in touch with someone at the embassy. The silly thing is that all they do is give you a code to write in an email. So be clear from the start of the conversation that you just want that week's code so that you can send an email with your request. Just be clear and polite and see what happens.

Also, like the other said, make sure your medical is done at least five business days before the interview. And lastly, you can pay extra to have the courier deliver faster.

Even if you don't get an earlier date, as long as nothing goes wrong at the interview and you pay the extra fee to the courier, you'll be good to fly on the 23rd. So be over-prepared with documents. Good luck!

[T and M 1]

Yes, the process is much too long and complicated. I don't know if you will get you anywhere, but it wouldn't hurt to try requesting an earlier date. There's an unfortunately expensive number to call to get in touch with someone at the embassy. The silly thing is that all they do is give you a code to write in an email. So be clear from the start of the conversation that you just want that week's code so that you can send an email with your request. Just be clear and polite and see what happens.

Also, like the other said, make sure your medical is done at least five business days before the interview. And lastly, you can pay extra to have the courier deliver faster.

Even if you don't get an earlier date, as long as nothing goes wrong at the interview and you pay the extra fee to the courier, you'll be good to fly on the 23rd. So be over-prepared with documents. Good luck!

I completely agree with Margot. Call the extortion line, get the email code...this can happen in 30 seconds, so you don't pay too much, and email them to get an earlier date. See what they say. It can't hurt asking. If not, I truly hope that everything works out for your flight on the 23rd. You should get an SMS message the evening before your passport is delivered....but i'm not sure that its definite.