London DCF - Interview Date - Need to Change

[J&C.TX/UK 0]

Hi all,

Submitted online last Thursday my DS260 (had medical the week before) and received my interview letter date today - scheduled for 27th May (if that helps any other DCF London folk wondering what sort of timescales to currently be looking for). However we're off to Greece for a couple weeks on 3rd June so too close a call, thus I need to change the date.

I hoped (assumed) that there would be an email address I could fire off an email to request a new interview date for late June/whenever but it states to write back to the address at the top of the letter... Is anyone aware of an email address I could contact and ask for change of appointment date to maybe get a new date sorted quicker? Not a biggie but always easier nowadays to go via email...

One other thing - I'm sure I've read ALL visa interviews are morning (8am onwards) however my scheduled time is 1300. It states 'Preference Category IR1 - GRBR' but just wondering if this isn't a mistake on their behalf as I know I've read that all visa interviews happen in the mornings...

Any help, as always, much appreciated.

John & Christi

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Switch to afternoon interviews starting in May.

There is a contact form you can use http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/visa_contact_form.html

[J&C.TX/UK 0]

That's cool thanks Nich, great news about the afternoon appts., we can travel down on the day now, no crack of dawn alarm clocks!!

Have emailed them to see if I can get a cancellation or after holiday...

One other thing I've just thought of, who do I contact to ask if USC Wifey can be added to 'the list' to enter the embassy and be at the interview with me?

Thanks.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

One other thing I've just thought of, who do I contact to ask if USC Wifey can be added to 'the list' to enter the embassy and be at the interview with me?

Thanks.

Same form. That's one of the choices to tick. Edited April 29, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[J&C.TX/UK 0]

Happy days, cheers

[J&C.TX/UK 0]

Emailed the embassy late last night following N-N's advice above, received email reply today:

"Thank you for your inquiry.

Based on the information furnished, we recommend that you attend the visa interview appointment as scheduled. If your application is approved, you may discuss your imminent non-U.S. travel plans with the consular officer, with a request that you be permitted to submit your passport to the Embassy upon your return to the United Kingdom.

Sincerely,

Consular Information Unit
U.S. Embassy, London"

So essentially do the interview, assume/hope for approval, then keep the passport and head to Greece a few days later for a fortnight...

My only Q here (based on anyone else's experience) when they say "submit your passport to the Embassy" do you think they'd allow me to post it to them, or have to go back down in person? It'd be a pain in the a** getting off work and travelling down to London again, but if that's what it is, then fair enough, so be it. (Or maybe silly Q - is the Embassy open on Saturdays????)

Thanks as always.

[lost_at_sea 995]

My only Q here (based on anyone else's experience) when they say "submit your passport to the Embassy" do you think they'd allow me to post it to them, or have to go back down in person? It'd be a pain in the a** getting off work and travelling down to London again, but if that's what it is, then fair enough, so be it. (Or maybe silly Q - is the Embassy open on Saturdays????)

Thanks as always.

You should be able to have a courier deliver the passport, so you shouldn't need to physically go back in.

I heard they've started doing Saturday appointments, but don't know if you're able to ask for one explicitly.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Emailed the embassy late last night following N-N's advice above, received email reply today:

"Thank you for your inquiry.

Based on the information furnished, we recommend that you attend the visa interview appointment as scheduled. If your application is approved, you may discuss your imminent non-U.S. travel plans with the consular officer, with a request that you be permitted to submit your passport to the Embassy upon your return to the United Kingdom.

Sincerely,

Consular Information Unit

U.S. Embassy, London"

So essentially do the interview, assume/hope for approval, then keep the passport and head to Greece a few days later for a fortnight...

My only Q here (based on anyone else's experience) when they say "submit your passport to the Embassy" do you think they'd allow me to post it to them, or have to go back down in person? It'd be a pain in the a** getting off work and travelling down to London again, but if that's what it is, then fair enough, so be it. (Or maybe silly Q - is the Embassy open on Saturdays????)

Thanks as always.

I was going to suggest that as an option, however you seemed okay to delay the interview. Your passport is sent to them via the same courier company that delivers passports and visas after interviews. It used to be easy. However with the change in courier contracts, when people call the number the embassy gives them to have the courier come get their passport, DX secure main office says "we no longer handle visa passports. We only deal with US passports for American citizens."

So what to do? Others have found they can go to the closest DX depot (which you select online before the interview at the same time you pay for the visa) and sort it in person for your passport to go to the embassy. Then you wait a week or two or three until they get back to your case to finish up and issue your visa. It is kind of a period of uncertainty and a little complicated is why I didn't mention the option before.

[J&C.TX/UK 0]

Ugh DX Couriers... d*cks... Great if you're an inner city London solicitors firm but a nightmare for the other 7 Billion of us... Guess I'll just have to hope, would rather get the interview sorted the new can go celebrate in the sun!!

Just thinking about your line "which you select online before the interview at the same time you pay for the visa" - will something be emailed to me to pay before the interview? Or is this something I should 'just know', or is this something I've already done at the back end of last year and forgotten about? Can't ever remember selecting a DX depot location...

Thanks

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Ugh DX Couriers... d*cks... Great if you're an inner city London solicitors firm but a nightmare for the other 7 Billion of us... Guess I'll just have to hope, would rather get the interview sorted the new can go celebrate in the sun!!

Just thinking about your line "which you select online before the interview at the same time you pay for the visa" - will something be emailed to me to pay before the interview? Or is this something I should 'just know', or is this something I've already done at the back end of last year and forgotten about? Can't ever remember selecting a DX depot location...

Thanks

Your appointment letter should have had instructions to pay for the visa and schedule it's delivery to you. It's an online thing. Hmmm...nevermind, they are still letting DCFs pay on the interview day. From the embassy website--

Immigrant Visa Applicants - pay the fee to the Embassy cashier on the day of the visa interview. Fees may be paid in cash - sterling or dollar equivalent; by International Money Order or Bankers Draft; Credit Card - Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Discover or American Express; or Debit Card with the Visa logo. The Embassy does not accept any other credit or debit cards, or personal checks.

K Visa Applicants - pay the MRV application fee via the Consular Section's Visa Information and Appointment Services contractor prior to the visa interview. Information regarding payment will be provided to you in your visa interview appointment letter.

I'm not sure how you will do the courier then. It was my understanding that the courier desk has been moved out of the big lobby. Maybe not.

[J&C.TX/UK 0]

Guess it's a gamble!! Cheers

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Guess it's a gamble!! Cheers

It will all work out for you, especially if you aren't biting your nails to leave the UK ASAP and can patiently wait for it to unfold. Do ask questions at the embassy because once you leave it is pretty hard to speak to anybody.

[J&C.TX/UK 0]

Just putting everything together for next Wednesdays interview, Father in Law is sponsoring me so he's just posted over to us Afadavit, tax returns and birth certificate - do I need to photocopy all of these as well?

Just double checking against the list here http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_and_k_interview_checklist2014.pdf and it doesn't say not to?

As always, thanks in advance.

[SarahandTom11412 0]

Hi there,

This is where you go to register with the courier! You need passport number, ds 260 number, and LND number

http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/courier.html

Sarah

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Just putting everything together for next Wednesdays interview, Father in Law is sponsoring me so he's just posted over to us Afadavit, tax returns and birth certificate - do I need to photocopy all of these as well?

Just double checking against the list here http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_and_k_interview_checklist2014.pdf and it doesn't say not to?

As always, thanks in advance.

Your link says

For each document (with the exception of your passport and photographs) please present the original document, one photocopy, and a certified translation for any documents in languages other than English.

Do that because those are your instructions. However, most who have interviewed in London in the last year have said they tell them on the day that they no longer want the photocopies and don't keep them. They collect the originals at the first window, and give them back after the interviewer has spoken to you and reviewed them.

Edited May 22, 2015 by Nich-Nick