How long on average from Packet 3 submission to interview date?

[BrentR 0]

We received Packet 3 from the embassy in London on 26 March and sent it back on 1 April. My fiancée had her medical exam (without any problems) on 5 April. She called the embassy on 14 April and confirmed that everything had been received, apparently in good order (unsure of date it was actually received), and paid the $350 fee by phone during that same call. It's now 20 April and we still haven't heard anything regarding an interview date. Is this normal? With calls to the embassy rivaling the cost of calling a sex line, we don't exactly want to keep calling to check the status.

Also wondering if the $350 is normally paid at the same time as returning Packet 3 and if the later payment by phone delayed anything. (Since I wasn't there to see exactly what was included in the packet she received, I don't know if that fee was supposed to be sent along with the rest of the packet.)

Thanks for any info,

Brent

[Otto 83]

** Topic is Embassy/Consulate and/or Interview-related and may be more appropriate in US Embassy/Consulate Discussion (rather than K-1 procedures); moving thread there.

[ameribrit 37]

We received Packet 3 from the embassy in London on 26 March and sent it back on 1 April. My fiancée had her medical exam (without any problems) on 5 April. She called the embassy on 14 April and confirmed that everything had been received, apparently in good order (unsure of date it was actually received), and paid the $350 fee by phone during that same call. It's now 20 April and we still haven't heard anything regarding an interview date. Is this normal? With calls to the embassy rivaling the cost of calling a sex line, we don't exactly want to keep calling to check the status.

Also wondering if the $350 is normally paid at the same time as returning Packet 3 and if the later payment by phone delayed anything. (Since I wasn't there to see exactly what was included in the packet she received, I don't know if that fee was supposed to be sent along with the rest of the packet.)

Thanks for any info,

Brent

Never call the Embassy for the updates on your case. DOS have exactly the same information on their computers, and will track your case all the way. And the added bonus is that the calls are a fraction of the cost of calling the embassy.

Call DOS on 1-202-663-1225 Don't listen to all the waffle, just press 1 for the main menu and 0 for an operator. You can expect to be waiting 15 minutes to be put through, but it is a very cheap call in comparison to the extortion line at the Embassy.

Note, sometimes the call volume is so much that you will get disconnected. Just keep trying if this happens.

Good luck

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

The fee just has to be paid before the interview date. They will give an appointment without payment. They will even still let you pay at the interview.

Call DOS (202) 663-1225, press 1, then 0 to speak to a person. They can answer questions about London.

[BrentR 0]

Thanks for the info, guys! Good info about the phone number, plus good info about the payment requirements.

Still wondering if the length of time we've been waiting since submitting the first packet is typical.

[ameribrit 37]

Thanks for the info, guys! Good info about the phone number, plus good info about the payment requirements.

Still wondering if the length of time we've been waiting since submitting the first packet is typical.

The group that sent in packet 3 around the time I did were typically waiting about 1 month between sending off a completed packet and interview day.

Recently though, London has been scheduling further out than that. Did you tell them an expected wedding date in your cover letter?

Give DOS a call today, and they will be able to update you on your case status.

[BrentR 0]

Just called; got through immediately. Interview date is May 18, the day before my birthday. Guess we won't celebrate it together, but it should be a great birthday present nonetheless.

[BrentR 0]

Thought I'd wrap up this thread by saying that my fiancée had her interview this morning and was approved. I was half-asleep when she called just before 5 AM to let me know so I'm fuzzy on details (I'll get more tonight) but she said it was painless, that the worst part was waiting in line, and that they really didn't care to see most of the mountain of evidence she had amassed.

Thanks again to everyone who provided info to help us get this far!