Limited Visa Services July - August 2012

[LeftCoastLady 441]

I noticed this on the Embassy site. The combo of summertime vacations in the quest to escape the Olympics will make it a bit crazy.

Visa Services during the Summer

Nonimmigrant visa services will be limited during the period July through to the end of August 2012. Travelers requiring visas are, therefore, advised to apply early to avoid disappointment. The appointment calendar is open through until the end of June. If you have plans to travel during the summer, book now as appointment availability cannot be guaranteed. Our call center is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 9:00 pm and on Saturday between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.

If you are a national of one of the 36 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries you should check your eligibility to enter the United States visa free under the VWP. If you are not qualified, you will require a visa. If you will be entering the United States by air or sea carrier under the VWP you should also ensure that you have obtained travel authorization under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel. Although it is possible to register up to 72 hours before departure, we recommend that you register now for summer travel in case the registration is denied and you will require a visa.

http://london.usembassy.gov/visanews014.html

[sara80 17]

That is what I was fearing.... I hope it won't slow down too much should we get NOA2 around june... I hope they will give still priority to K1 visa rather than tourist visas.

[Elora & Rob 15]

i should get na02 in july. any idea if this will slow us down?

[kittylondon 47]

great

although, K1 isn't listed under it's list of non-immigrant visas here - http://london.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant-visas.html - so hopefully we won't be too affected, although it sounds like we definitely have to expect to wait even longer for an interview than normal, and london is already kinda slow, right?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Happens every year, and everyone seems to feel there is a slightly perceptible slowdown, but data never supports it, if I recall correctly. (I will of course defer to the wise Nich-Nick on this matter if incorrect, as some time has passed since I paid attention to this. ) If you want to investigate, do a timeline search for previous summers to see if there is a pattern of slowdown.

K1s will be processed as normal -- they may be technically a non-immigrant visa but once you're at the consulate stage in London you're processed through the IV unit. The advice given is for tourist and other non-immigrant visas only; the K1 is not affected despite its hybrid immigrant/non-immigrant nature.

I would beseech you to heed the wise words of Douglas Adams: DON'T PANIC.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Happens every year, and everyone seems to feel there is a slightly perceptible slowdown, but data never supports it, if I recall correctly. (I will of course defer to the wise Nich-Nick on this matter if incorrect, as some time has passed since I paid attention to this. ) If you want to investigate, do a timeline search for previous summers to see if there is a pattern of slowdown.

K1s will be processed as normal -- they may be technically a non-immigrant visa but once you're at the consulate stage in London you're processed through the IV unit. The advice given is for tourist and other non-immigrant visas only; the K1 is not affected despite its hybrid immigrant/non-immigrant nature.

I would beseech you to heed the wise words of Douglas Adams: DON'T PANIC.

I agree with all the above. The problems this summer may be just getting to London and around town for several weeks during the Olympics. I don't follow timelines anymore either. Pretty much got over that with the NOA2. <--Me in 2008

By the time the naturalization application came around, I was pretty much over cover letters too. Didn't bother and still processed just fine. Amazing! Same with evidence. Submitted a bare minimum of the required (photocopies). Prepared a folder with the originals and a few more joint things for the interview. They wern't bothered to even ask to see one document. This whole process is over and nobody has ever laid eyes on my original US birth certificate or our marriage license. I guess we're just too old to look suspicious.

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Thanks all! My fiancé knows London like the back of his hand and is not looking forward to going there this summer for the medical and interview. Assuming our timeline estimate is in the correct ballpark, he may have to go right in the middle of the Olympic festivities since they kick off on 27 July and go through 12 August.

[MissAAA 9]

Our best bet is to remain positive and make sure we get all the documents needed as we await the NoA2....so once that comes we can try to get the earliest appointment dates before the Olympics Slowdown...

[Knope2012 10]

Ouch. Assuming that my fiance and I get our NOA2 in the next few weeks, we'll probably have an interview date in that time period. I wonder if I could convince my office to work less during the summer