Time Between DS-2001 and Interview?

[Hokie97 5]

I mailed my DS-2001 to the US Embassy in London on Jan 13, 2010, and I have confirmed delivery on Jan 14.

I'm getting a bit worried now because I haven't heard back from them. How long should I expect it to take to get my letter with our interview date? They already approved the application, so really all they have to do is pick a day and mail the letter, so I would've thought it would happen pretty quickly.

Any thoughts appreciated!

[jhphi 0]

Hi Jenny. I've just had a look on some of the timelines that have been posted, and here are some dates I've seen from London DCF (for Packet 3 returned--Packet 4 received--Interview Date):

June 15th--July 2nd--July 23rd

December 8th--January 6th--Jan 19th

Feb 4th--March 5th--March 23rd

June 15th--July 1st--July 23rd

Feb 16th--March 5th--March 30th

April 10th-April 30th--June 6th

May 6th--May 22nd--June 3rd

On another topic, I'm VERY jealous of your timeline. My I-130 petition was received at the embassy only two days after yours, and I'm still (not-so-patiently) waiting for approval (I've only received the NOA1 on Nov 12th, haven't received any RFE or any other communication yet). You're so far ahead of us already, and we were only two days behind you. It's amazing there's such a difference in timing!

[nc73 0]

I mailed my DS-2001 to the US Embassy in London on Jan 13, 2010, and I have confirmed delivery on Jan 14.

I'm getting a bit worried now because I haven't heard back from them. How long should I expect it to take to get my letter with our interview date? They already approved the application, so really all they have to do is pick a day and mail the letter, so I would've thought it would happen pretty quickly.

Any thoughts appreciated!

i mailed it a week before you did so you have a very long wait. still have not received my letter either.

[Hokie97 5]

jhphi - Thanks so much for posting those dates. I did not realize that Packet 4 was the interview letter. It gives me comfort seeing those dates. And seeing the interview dates sometimes within 20 days of the letter.

I'm sorry you haven't gotten anything back from the Embassy. It seemed like everything stopped when I mailed mine in, which I heard was because of the holidays? I hope that you hear something really soon.

nc73 - Thanks for letting me know. I hate the waiting, but knowing that this is normal helps ease my nerves some.

[jhphi 0]

Hi again Jenny. Check out some timelines that have been filled out from DCF'ers who have filed through London here: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...;op5=&cfl=0

(hope that link works-- if not, click on Immigration Timelines at the top of the page, then View IR1-CR1 Visas Advanced View on the left of the new page, then select for the UK and to show DCF only)

That will show you some history, which may help you feel better-- of course, it doesn't mean that all of ours will definitely follow the same schedule, but it will help give you a general idea.

My apologies if you already know about how to view these timelines-- I'm new to VJ, and just discovered the timelines recently. Good luck!

[Hokie97 5]

Thanks jhphi. I have looked at the time lines, but there are so many variables that sometimes it's overwhelming to try to compare situations. And the biggie for me was that I didn't realize that Packet 4 was the interview letter. Duh me. Thanks again for following up with me.

[nc73 0]

Tis friday still no interview letter. Wifey missed her medical luckily they didn't charge her the 98 pound cancellation fee. How is anyone suppose to make any plans???? Frustrating...

[Hokie97 5]

nc73 That's great they didn't charge you. I'm completely with you about making plans. People keep asking when, and I say June to July hopefully. My new landlord wants to know, I need to arrange shipping and getting rid of our things. We need to let our current landlord know we're moving. There is so much to do after the visa part that you can't do until you know for sure when. I'm not a good waiter to begin with, but I know it would be so much easier if I at least knew WHEN I was waiting till. Not this unknown month long window.

Hope you hear something soon. I'm hedging bets (hoping really) that when we get back from our vacation that the letter will be on the mat waiting for us. We'll be gone at the 30 day mark, and a lot of people seem to have gotten their letters right about then. Fingers are crossed!

[nc73 0]

nc73 That's great they didn't charge you. I'm completely with you about making plans. People keep asking when, and I say June to July hopefully. My new landlord wants to know, I need to arrange shipping and getting rid of our things. We need to let our current landlord know we're moving. There is so much to do after the visa part that you can't do until you know for sure when. I'm not a good waiter to begin with, but I know it would be so much easier if I at least knew WHEN I was waiting till. Not this unknown month long window.

Hope you hear something soon. I'm hedging bets (hoping really) that when we get back from our vacation that the letter will be on the mat waiting for us. We'll be gone at the 30 day mark, and a lot of people seem to have gotten their letters right about then. Fingers are crossed!

Yeah wife said she was sick but actually missed the train! We have to be out by march 5 since the landlord is renovating the place. BTW we're moving to Va too! Alexandria..

[jhphi 0]

ahhhhhh, the waiting...

I got sick of waiting for our I-130 approval yesterday (we filed Nov 12th), and decided to call the extortion line. They gave me the email code to email a query, and long story short, turns out they mailed me a RFE on December 22nd! So I've wasted 6 whole weeks, just because the letter got lost in the mail. ARGH!

I know all the documents say not to call, that that will just slow down processing times, but if I hadn't called and found out that the RFE was mailed and then lost by the postal service, I would have been waiting and waiting and waiting... until they cancelled my petition on Feb 21st because I didn't repond to the RFE. Not a happy person today. I know "things happen," but it still sucks to have such a setback.

Edited February 5, 2010 by jhphi

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Did they give you an idea of what the RFE was for? Just wondering, because we got an RFE as well back when we filed. They wanted various items to prove the bona fides of our relationship (never mind that we had been living together for ages). Just giving you a heads up that this *might* be what they're looking for.

[jhphi 0]

Yes, that's what it was as well-- one from me, and three from friends/family. Luckily, they emailed me the pdf of the RFE letter they'd sent, so I could mail in the affidavits today. I'd prepared them in advance, thanks to advice I found on VJ-- so glad I did, because otherwise it would've been held up even longer!

Now I'm just patiently waiting for approval day! *sprinkles fairy dust*

[nc73 0]

ahhhhhh, the waiting...

I got sick of waiting for our I-130 approval yesterday (we filed Nov 12th), and decided to call the extortion line. They gave me the email code to email a query, and long story short, turns out they mailed me a RFE on December 22nd! So I've wasted 6 whole weeks, just because the letter got lost in the mail. ARGH!

I know all the documents say not to call, that that will just slow down processing times, but if I hadn't called and found out that the RFE was mailed and then lost by the postal service, I would have been waiting and waiting and waiting... until they cancelled my petition on Feb 21st because I didn't repond to the RFE. Not a happy person today. I know "things happen," but it still sucks to have such a setback.

I've emailed them before without a code, just the word urgent. They don't care that we have to wait. Why can't it be as easy as easy as it was to get into the UK? Took me 1 day and a trip to La, but that was to make sure I got the Visa personally. AND they tell you not to call them! BS!

[Hokie97 5]

Good for you for following up. How very frustrating! I'm so glad you found out before the deadline. They have our email addresses, it would have been nice if they'd sent both an email and a letter. Even if the email just said that they were sending a letter, you know?