London DCF - any new interviews for October

[True Brit 10]

Hi to all London DCFers! I know Holly received her interview date recently which I think was about 6 weeks after her medical. Anyone else received an interview date recently? Seems the mail sent to the embassy in August wasn't getting opened for a month or so (the Olympics perhaps?)and I wondered how things were going now. Had my medical on 20 September - ouch for the TDap vaccination and a bigger ouch for the cost of the exam! Rushed to send in my DS2001 and DS230 1&2 immediately I had a date for the medical but now, of course, there's just a deadly silence. So weird to live in this strange limbo of not being able to make plans isn't it?

[Angela Murray 4]

Hey True Brit! I'm a fellow DCF'er too. My husband went for his medical on the 5th of Sept and our DS230 and DS2001 was couriered over to the embassy by our lawyer the same day. We haven't got our interview date yet but we've been running neck and neck with Holly from filing date. Given Holly's interview date I predicted around Oct 24th. If I'm right I'm playing lotto lol. I plan on posting an update once we get it though so people who've sent theirs around the same time can get an idea. Soon!

[Holly2234 66]

From the date of the medical to the interview date will be 5 weeks and 6 days. They sent the interview letter out with two weeks notice so it was 4 weeks before i heard anything. What a long 4 weeks they were!

You will both get your dates soon!

[True Brit 10]

Awwww thanks for replying Angela and Holly. Its great to know that misery has company eh? :-)

I never understood the phrase 'the silence was deafening' but I certainly do now! As I say - its so impossible to make plans, isn't it? For example, I am renting my tiny house in Shropshire when I join my (new - but after 9 years' of togetherness) hubby in the States. When will the house be available? asks the agent. Answer 'oh don't know really. Its how long is a piece of string, really - maybe early to mid November or there again could be end November early December' So that's obviously really helpful.

When should I give up my job since I have to give at least four weeks' notice? My boss would like to start looking for someone else since I'm on front line reception so she is sure to have cover. Can't help you there, missus - sorry!

Still, perhaps we still have a lot to be grateful for. At my medical appointment in London I met a very worried Filipino lady in the waiting room who was convinced she was going to have a full internal examination (yep, even the bending over part) as this is what she said her husband had experienced when applying for his visa to the US 6 years ago. YIKES! She had me worried too for a while I can tell you!

[Holly2234 66]

I know what you mean! Im almost to the point where if one more person asks me "When are you moving?" im going to lock my doors and cut off my phone until i know!

We're having the same problems leaving our house. We want to be gone by the end of October and we need to leave 1 months notice on our house. And that was yesterday and i didnt do it just in case. But the rate my landlord is going i will just leave and say nothing. They can keep my deposit as their notice as long as i dont ever have to hear from her again.

Oh that poor woman! I was worried about the medical because i hate blood tests but it was the most painless one ive ever had. That and when i got to the train station at 4:45am there was shouting coming from the toilets and nobody would go in. I was the only one on the train for a while and i was imagining being chopped to pieces at any second. For my interview im getting the 3am coach instead!

Ive just re-read that and im not normally that much of a grump.. I hope

[True Brit 10]

You're not a grump at all Holly and I know exactly where you are coming from! This website is such a blessing because we can all let off steam and know that other people are going through the same thing and understand.

Funnily enough there was a scary person on my train going home as well! I finished my medical at 3.30 pm and rushed to the station waving my off-peak ticket thinking I could jump on a train before 4pm but peak hour starts at 4.45 pm apparently and doesn't finish until 6.45 pm! I wandered up and down Oxford Street more or less all day because of course you don't want to be late for your medical and arrive hours beforehand. I got on the train and some poor man with mental health problems was wandering up and down the carriages shouting at the top of his voice for two hours! Oh dear. Was very glad to get home I can tell you.

Next day, I don't know what was more sore - my vaccinated arm or the muscles in my legs from all that walking!

Dying to hear how you get on with your interview and because you are such a great narrator I know we will get a blow by blow account so I am counting down your days too!

Sorry - should have said peak hour starts at 3.45 pm and not 4.45 pm ....

[Holly2234 66]

Oh no! Sounds like an interesting journey. Did you have to travel far to get to your medical?

I did the same, i had a wander up and down Oxford Street and then i sat on a bench near a church for an hour reading the Metro and watching the clock. I was out by 9:50 and my train home was at 11:30 so i had a wander in St.Pancras for far too long, there are no seats!

I just got a flu jab yesterday (because im a germophobe, not for the visa) Chrome says i made up that word so if i did, sorry! So the sore arm is coming back to me all over again I'm sure you were really glad to get home after needles and disruptive train journeys.

Im getting a bit nervous about the interview now. We have a really straight forward case so im hoping the interview will end up easy but i cant seem to shake the feeling that they will find something to make it difficult.

My husband always says "How do you manage to turn a 5 minute story into 20 minutes?!" and tells me to shut up after the first 5 so you guys can get my ramblings instead

Did you manage to make it in time for the off peak train?

Any good news about interview dates yet? I seriously cant wait until you both have dates!

[Angela Murray 4]

My husband just called me! We got a letter from the embassy today and the interview is October 11th!! I did not expect it to be that fast!

[Holly2234 66]

:dance: :dance: :dance:

Im so happy for you both

Waiting for your good news now Trudi!

Edited September 26, 2012 by Holly2234

[True Brit 10]

My husband just called me! We got a letter from the embassy today and the interview is October 11th!! I did not expect it to be that fast!

Congratulations Angela! Oh my goodness that was lucky! I think you should do the lottery this weekend for sure since you seem to be on a winning streak!!

Do let us know how it all goes.

xx

Oh no! Sounds like an interesting journey. Did you have to travel far to get to your medical?

I did the same, i had a wander up and down Oxford Street and then i sat on a bench near a church for an hour reading the Metro and watching the clock. I was out by 9:50 and my train home was at 11:30 so i had a wander in St.Pancras for far too long, there are no seats!

I just got a flu jab yesterday (because im a germophobe, not for the visa) Chrome says i made up that word so if i did, sorry! So the sore arm is coming back to me all over again I'm sure you were really glad to get home after needles and disruptive train journeys.

Im getting a bit nervous about the interview now. We have a really straight forward case so im hoping the interview will end up easy but i cant seem to shake the feeling that they will find something to make it difficult.

My husband always says "How do you manage to turn a 5 minute story into 20 minutes?!" and tells me to shut up after the first 5 so you guys can get my ramblings instead

Did you manage to make it in time for the off peak train?

Any good news about interview dates yet? I seriously cant wait until you both have dates!

[True Brit 10]

Hi again Holly! I cant believe you volunteered for the flu jab but well done you! My mum had one done last year and was in bed for three weeks after it so it put me off good and proper I can tell you!

My train journey to London is around about 3 hours if I buy a semi decent ticket at £51 and about 4 and a half if I go for the £23 return one!! No, sadly having arrived at the station after my medical at 3.50 pm I was forced to wander up and down Oxford Street until 7.20 pm for the first off-peak train!! I had thought I might pay a bit extra to get home early but when the 'bit extra' turned out to be £98 I dropped that idea!!

I am in Shropshire. I think you are in Sheffield aren't you? Not that much difference in journey times I think.

Isn't Angela luck getting her interview? That seems to be around 5 weeks after the medical doesn't it?

You will be absolutely fine at your interview Holly, but I know what you mean. I can't imagine being calm enough to speak and am sure I will come across as a raving lunatic at mine I will be so nervous!!

xx

[Holly2234 66]

Really?! I would have been put off having it if i heard that story yesterday! I feel absolutely fine, my arms a bit sore when i touch it but ive definitely had worse.

Wow at £98 i would have delayed it as well! Im in Nottingham so the train is only 1 hour 45 mins but unless i travel at certain times its upwards of £100. So this time ive booked onto National Express for £20 return and if i need to change the return for an earlier time i just have to pay a £5 fee which im willing to do if i get finished early. I booked the return for 1:30ish so it gives me 5 hours to get in and out.

Yeah its brilliant! It does seem to be around 5 weeks. 1 week down!

I prepared my folder with all of the forms i need and photocopies and proof if intent to domicile and relationship today. Theres half a tree in the thing! Slightly less nervous now i know ive covered everything. Going to get photos tomorrow i think.