Interview date issued for DCF London already!

[lost_at_sea 995]

Blimey!

So, I had my documents for Packet 3 returned on the 17th, received 18th and CEAC updated 19th, which I'm almost certain is the touch date of them updating the system with my documents.

Had medical on the 20th, if they were delivered 4 working days later, they'd have been logged on the 25th June. The CEAC touch date updated on this day, so I'd assume that's the logging of these results.

I called the London embassy today on the extortion line, and the chap said they'd sent out the Packet 4 letter on the 25th of June (it's not falling on my door step yet)! This goes against the legend I've heard around here that they only schedule interviews at the start of the month.

My interview is 16th July.

Question:

Is this because DCF cases never have anything to do with NVC and the embassy is able to squeeze people in with more flexibility?

How is everyone else in this DCF London summer crew finding it?

I'm trying to gather information for a London DCF guide, and I'd like to know whether everyone else in the same situation finds that London schedules their interviews at seemingly anytime, and pretty much immediately upon receiving forms/medical results. Also, I'd be curious to know if anyone is stating a travel date in their cover letter. I provided a somewhat fuzzy one, saying that my husband's UK visa expires 30th July and we'd like to travel on or before that date together.

Edited June 27, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Jviddy 1]

That's great news

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

I called the London embassy today on the extortion line, and the chap said they'd sent out the Packet 4 letter on the 25th of June (it's not falling on my door step yet)! This goes against the legend I've heard around here that they only schedule interviews at the start of the month.

Question:

Is this because DCF cases never have anything to do with NVC and the embassy is able to squeeze people in with more flexibility?

Blimey indeed! The NVC does the scheduling for regular spouse visas and have that first of the month pattern. London schedules DCF just like for K1 interviews...anywhere they can fit you in.

My interview is 16th July.

Also, I'd be curious to know if anyone is stating a travel date in their cover letter. I provided a somewhat fuzzy one, saying that my husband's UK visa expires 30th July and we'd like to travel on or before that date together.

The travel date they ask for in a cover letter (or wedding date from K1s) is for scheduling purposes. You gave a good reason so they were able to accommodate you. From my longtime observations, if no date is given, then they just slot you in somewhere down the line. If you had put a travel date of October, you may have been pushed to September so the girl begging to make it to her wedding August 1 or the bloke getting shipped out from the US Air Force Base on July 30 could be accommodated.

Edit: Forgot to add-- The Dept of State would also have the info that your appointment letter had been sent out as well as tell you the date. If you have a cheap way to call the US, then it might save money over paying £1.23/minute to call the embassy.

Edited June 27, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[lost_at_sea 995]

Blimey indeed! The NVC does the scheduling for regular spouse visas and have that first of the month pattern. London schedules DCF just like for K1 interviews...anywhere they can fit you in.

The travel date they ask for in a cover letter (or wedding date from K1s) is for scheduling purposes. You gave a good reason so they were able to accommodate you. From my longtime observations, if no date is given, then they just slot you in somewhere down the line. If you had put a travel date of October, you may have been pushed to September so the girl begging to make it to her wedding August 1 or the bloke getting shipped out from the US Air Force Base on July 30 could be accommodated.

Edit: Forgot to add-- The Dept of State would also have the info that your appointment letter had been sent out as well as tell you the date. If you have a cheap way to call the US, then it might save money over paying £1.23/minute to call the embassy.

Yes, that all makes sense and I've always agreed that you're likely right about the scheduling. It's just interesting to have those expectations met.

I called the DoS line (2026631225), I think it was the right one, but I couldn't work out how to get to a human being (maybe I just called too early in the day, I wasn't sure what timezone that line is in), so then I just decided to try the embassy and got straight through to a human who was very helpful. I don't mind spending £1.23 a minute if the news is good.

I can't believe the number on my timeline - 63 days NOA1 -> Interview. I think we've done a pretty much optimal timeline (knock wood, no issues at interview).

As I said the other day, I've noted everything we did and in what order so once we've done the interview and have passport in hand I'll start a new thread with something that might resemble a guide for this.

Thank you so much, Nich-Nick. Pretty sure I'd have been way less optimal without your patience and help.

Edited June 27, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Jviddy 1]

I may have just shot myself in the foot then.

I put that we are hoping to move on the 2nd November although we are holding off booking tillthe visa is confirmed.

Hopefully that doesnt delay things too much

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

I may have just shot myself in the foot then.

I put that we are hoping to move on the 2nd November although we are holding off booking tillthe visa is confirmed.

Hopefully that doesnt delay things too much

It will be a good comparison since you and Lost at Sea had medicals 6 days apart. We can see if your interviews are also around six days apart.

[lost_at_sea 995]

It will be a good comparison since you and Lost at Sea had medicals 6 days apart. We can see if your interviews are also around six days apart.

+1. It's like, good for visa science.

[Jviddy 1]

+1. It's like, good for visa science.

Not really an accurate test as you were much better at sending in forms than i was.

Although it will give a good idea as to how long processing a DS230 takes.

[dzatlien 1]

We had the medical on the same date as Lost at Sea but got an appointment scheduled for August 2.

[lost_at_sea 995]

We had the medical on the same date as Lost at Sea but got an appointment scheduled for August 2.

When did you return the DS forms and did you put a desired travel date on the cover letter?

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

We had the medical on the same date as Lost at Sea but got an appointment scheduled for August 2.

Is your consulate London? Your timeline says Armenia. It would be great if you could fill it out a little more.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Ergggggg. I just noticed I made a dumb mistake on my DS-230. I listed my Dad's place of birth wrong (accidentally put where he lived when he was born, instead of what his passport/birth cert actually says). It looks weird, because it's coincidentally the same as where part of the town name where my mum was born.

i.e. My dad was born in Redruth (by his passport), but I put "Ashton" as that's the town his family actually lived in - Redruth was just the nearest hospital and registry office so he's registered as that.

My mum is born in Ashton-under-Lyne (which is in an entirely different part of the UK).

It's the similarities that trip me up every time.

Am I in trouble? What should I do? The last thing I want to do is get to the interview and get sent away again because I screwed one box up.

Edited June 28, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Am I in trouble? What should I do? The last thing I want to do is get to the interview and get sent away again because I screwed one box up.

No trouble.

Are they really even going to look at that?

Do they have a copy of your Dad's passport or birth certificate to compare your answer against?

Will you be face to face with a live person who can change your answer if you want to make it more correct?

So, look at your G-325A (from the petition) and tell me what you put for Father's city/country of birth? If It says Ashton also, I would leave it be, and remember to continue to put Ashton on your future paperwork. Others may disagree with me, so mind you I am only saying what I would do and not advising. I personally don't think that mistake of a few miles up the road is significant to your immigration journey and I have traveled the entire length of the journey and crossed the finish line. Discrepancies in information from one form to the next could be noticed.

[lost_at_sea 995]

No trouble.

Are they really even going to look at that?

Do they have a copy of your Dad's passport or birth certificate to compare your answer against?

Will you be face to face with a live person who can change your answer if you want to make it more correct?

So, look at your G-325A (from the petition) and tell me what you put for Father's city/country of birth? If It says Ashton also, I would leave it be, and remember to continue to put Ashton on your future paperwork. Others may disagree with me, so mind you I am only saying what I would do and not advising. I personally don't think that mistake of a few miles up the road is significant to your immigration journey and I have traveled the entire length of the journey and crossed the finish line. Discrepancies in information from one form to the next could be noticed.

Erg. I just came home to the husband and he asked all the same as you did. No, of course they won't have his birth cert or passport. No, they likely won't ask anything about my boring parents who've lived in the same town for near 30 years.

Will they be able to change the answer there? I didn't know if they were able to annotate the forms after I've already signed them?

I went back and checked the bio form we submitted with the I-130. I put the correct town on that, so there is now that one tiny discrepancy.

I'm freaking out over nothing, right?

I could likely leave it be and put it correct on every form hereafter and just have one single anomaly. I would be confident doing that if I knew that if the interviewer notices on the 16th that they'd let me correct it there. Do they even have the i-130 package at the interview?

I'm erring on the side of ignoring it and only dealing with it in explanation if the interviewer asks. It's an honest mistake. He did live there at birth, just not listed on the documents (and I only know this because I asked my mum). Ashton is the kind of "town" too small for a stop light, you know?

Edited June 28, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

They do have the I-130 at the interview. At your citizenship interview they will have every piece of paper you ever submitted and are supposed to sift through it looking for discrepancies. Not that they would be that thorough to look at your boring parent's birthplaces.

Of course you can tell them at the interview to change it. You could even do a new one and offer it as a switch out. And when you sign the last page at the interview your are signing an oath.

I, the undersigned applicant for a United States immigrant visa, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that all statements which appear in this application, consisting of Form DS-230 Part I and Part II combined, have been made by me, including the answers to items 1 through 45 inclusive, and that they are true and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

So you are re-signing the first part so to speak. I would match the G-325A.