United Kingdom Interview Thread 2007

[Converse34 1]

I agree! Good work. Plesantly Persistant!

[NealandCari 0]

I called DOS today, because I saw that our Packet 3 had been received (i.e. signed for), but they don't have acknowledgement of receipt in their system yet. Oh well.

I am wondering, we never sent a cover letter with our Packet 3 explaining our wedding plans or anything. Neal only sent a cover letter explaining the contents of his packet. We put our travel date as September 1st and our wedding date as October 19 on the form, but provided no supplementary letter about this. Do you think we'll need one? I mean, i am still holding out hope for an interview date end of August/beginning of September, just so Neal can come to the States a little early to help out with final wedding plans. We have already put down deposits for October 19th, but have not booked flights or anything yet. I just don't want to have to have the interview too close to the wedding date so we have to scramble to get everything together over here. Is there anything we can do to indicate this or will the dates on the form be enough?

Thanks in advance!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

You don't need an additional letter - the dates on the form will be fine.

If you are in line with current processing averages of NVC-interview date on the site (83 days), you will probably be fine.

[NealandCari 0]

I take those dates with a grain of salt too, because there are some people who take longer than others to send back Packet 3. 83 days is based on people who have both sent their Packet 3 before even recieving it, and those who have taken a month to send it back, since it is based from when the Embassy receives the case from the NVC rather than when they receive Packet 3. We sent our packet back two days after receiving it, so I'm hoping in my heart of hearts for slightly faster turn-around. Though on the other hand I know there is no rhyme or reason to this process in the slightest.

[TimsDaisy 0]

I take those dates with a grain of salt too, because there are some people who take longer than others to send back Packet 3. 83 days is based on people who have both sent their Packet 3 before even recieving it, and those who have taken a month to send it back, since it is based from when the Embassy receives the case from the NVC rather than when they receive Packet 3. We sent our packet back two days after receiving it, so I'm hoping in my heart of hearts for slightly faster turn-around. Though on the other hand I know there is no rhyme or reason to this process in the slightest.

I think the fact that you put real dates should help you.

If they get back to you with a date that really messes up your plans, you can always try emailing them to beg for indulgences and a faster date! but i bet your having put down a date will certainly help a lot!!!

I'll cross my fingers for you

[psho 0]

I think we had (have?) several strikes against us getting a speedy date:

:: not sending in the checklist (D'OH!)

:: changing the medical to a later date

:: not being specific re: travel plans/wedding plans

But I'll keep chugging along.

Edited June 29, 2007 by psho

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Recent London 'graduates'

May: JamalNTam, Oath/Leney, Tigersden, Marina+Dave, Mark&Steph, tonyeck, AlienUKGirl; June: jac, kins, TracyTN, bevray, REP&KMM, elmcitymaven, wodge2003, craigandkym, FutureAmerican...

June 2007 Interviews

Name..................Visa....P3Sent..MedDate.....P4Rec'd...IntDate/Time........Status

Linababe..............K1....................06/06.......................06/07....10.00....PENDING FURTHER INFORMATION FOR MEDICAL

ashp.....................K1........05/01...................................06/11................PENDING DUTCH POLICE CERT

Duffbeer.............CR1........04/24....04/30.....................06/12.....09:30...PENDING I-864

Justchillin...............K1.......05/01....05/11........05/05......06/15....08:00...PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

July 2007 Interviews

Name..................Visa....P3Sent..MedDate.....P4Rec'd...IntDate/Time........Status

RGNSCOT..............K1...................05/24..........................07/03....10:30....

robburnsefc...........K1........05/29....06/07.........................07/03...09:00....

msu17..................K1........05/29.....................................07/03...09:00...

Teddy-406............K1.......03/15.....03/19..........05/10........07/06............

linzzee.................K1................................................07/10...10:30...

cindi....................IR1........05/09.....................05/31.........07/11..............

ValWesUKUS..........K1........05/30....06/06.......06/14.........07/11..............

TQMAngie.............K1.........06/08...................06/28........07/17....09:30....

selly.....................K1........05/23......06/06......06/12........07/19....10:00....

Jennymc11............K1........05/29....06/07.......06/11.........07/20.......

halcut..................K1........05/31....06/07.......06/12.........07/24....09:00...

August 2007 Interviews

Name..................Visa....P3Sent..MedDate.....P4Rec'd...IntDate/Time........Status

dropinboy.............K1........06/11.....06/12.......................08/01...08:30...

UK-to-USA..........CR1.....05/29......................06/12.........08/06.......

Rubycon/Disco..K1...........06/01.....................05/09.........08/10...09:30

TimsDaisy.............K1........05/29....06/07.......06/25......08/21.......

uzume................K1.........05/29....06/14........06/23......08/31........

September 2007 Interviews

Name..................Visa....P3Sent..MedDate.....P4Rec'd...IntDate/Time........Status

blspicer...............K1........06/12.....07/16......06/26.......09/04.....09:30....

Waiting for Interview

Name..................Visa....P3Sent..MedDate.....P4Rec'd...IntDate/Time........Status

justbee&robbie.....CR1......05/12.............................

psho.....................K1.......06/20....07/16................

Jake & Ali..............K1........06/04....06/12...............

Dawny&Tommy.....K1.......06/07.............................

Dan&Tiffany.........K1........06/25......07/03.......

Neal&Cari.............K1........06/23......07/03......

JandC..................K1........06/29......07/26.......

Converse34..........K1........06/26......07/20.......

Updated with the latest gleaned from the forum. Wow -- looks like next Tuesday's gonna be a busy day on the board with all the big red APPROVEDs on the horizon!

I've now graduated from "Waiting for Interview" to "Waiting to Move Home" -- 51 days and I can't wait until they're all behind me.

[Dan&Tiffany 0]

Haha - I bet you are ready to move, maven. That time will be up before you know it!

[psho 0]

Called DoS again this morning -- still no record of having received the checklist.

[JenandBarney 0]

Silly question, but what number is everyone using to call and find out if our file has reached the London embassy? I tried the embassy number and it wouldn't let me through because I am in the US. The only other number I could find said it was a $16 charge. I looked on the DOS site, and still not sure.

[TimsDaisy 0]

Silly question, but what number is everyone using to call and find out if our file has reached the London embassy? I tried the embassy number and it wouldn't let me through because I am in the US. The only other number I could find said it was a $16 charge. I looked on the DOS site, and still not sure.

1-202-663-1225, press 1 and 0 to talk to a person.

It's the visa information office in Washington DC - open between 8:30 and 5pm Eastern. You need your LND number and beneficiary name, and they are generally a friendly, helpful lot. They can see what's on the computer - they can't necessarily tell you WHY something is happening or WHEN something will happen. But they can tell you the status, same as the toll line in the UK. The only difference is that, should you want to email the embassy and need the "code," the UKC needs to call the toll line and ante up.

[JenandBarney 0]

Silly question, but what number is everyone using to call and find out if our file has reached the London embassy? I tried the embassy number and it wouldn't let me through because I am in the US. The only other number I could find said it was a $16 charge. I looked on the DOS site, and still not sure.

1-202-663-1225, press 1 and 0 to talk to a person.

It's the visa information office in Washington DC - open between 8:30 and 5pm Eastern. You need your LND number and beneficiary name, and they are generally a friendly, helpful lot. They can see what's on the computer - they can't necessarily tell you WHY something is happening or WHEN something will happen. But they can tell you the status, same as the toll line in the UK. The only difference is that, should you want to email the embassy and need the "code," the UKC needs to call the toll line and ante up.

Thanks Daisy, will give it a shot. Be back shortly. Trying to check and see if it's safe to send out P3 on Monday. Was sent from NVC on Wed morning. Tiffany said it is electronically transferred, so we should be fine to send out.

[psho 0]

Silly question, but what number is everyone using to call and find out if our file has reached the London embassy? I tried the embassy number and it wouldn't let me through because I am in the US. The only other number I could find said it was a $16 charge. I looked on the DOS site, and still not sure.

1-202-663-1225, press 1 and 0 to talk to a person.

It's the visa information office in Washington DC - open between 8:30 and 5pm Eastern. You need your LND number and beneficiary name, and they are generally a friendly, helpful lot. They can see what's on the computer - they can't necessarily tell you WHY something is happening or WHEN something will happen. But they can tell you the status, same as the toll line in the UK. The only difference is that, should you want to email the embassy and need the "code," the UKC needs to call the toll line and ante up.

Thank you for clearing up a major mystery for me -- to wit, how people got the official nod to email the embassy.

I'll see if I can talk my guy into giving them a call (although I think I'll give him a cheat-sheet of questions to ask).

[TimsDaisy 0]

Silly question, but what number is everyone using to call and find out if our file has reached the London embassy? I tried the embassy number and it wouldn't let me through because I am in the US. The only other number I could find said it was a $16 charge. I looked on the DOS site, and still not sure.

1-202-663-1225, press 1 and 0 to talk to a person.

It's the visa information office in Washington DC - open between 8:30 and 5pm Eastern. You need your LND number and beneficiary name, and they are generally a friendly, helpful lot. They can see what's on the computer - they can't necessarily tell you WHY something is happening or WHEN something will happen. But they can tell you the status, same as the toll line in the UK. The only difference is that, should you want to email the embassy and need the "code," the UKC needs to call the toll line and ante up.

Thank you for clearing up a major mystery for me -- to wit, how people got the official nod to email the embassy.

I'll see if I can talk my guy into giving them a call (although I think I'll give him a cheat-sheet of questions to ask).

It might depend on what Scotish operator you draw . . . Once, Tim called and went through this whole long explanation that ended with "and that's why we'd like to email the embassy." And the guy on the phone said, oh, if you just wanted to the code, just ask next time. Alrighty then.

But then a week or two later, he called and asked for the code straight off, and the bloke asked how long it had been and said no codes would be given if 30 days hadn't elapsed since we'd mailed the p3. Ooookedokee. In the end, that was like the day before we got the interview date, so, shrug.

He might have to commit to spending extra quid!

(Also, we never got a reply email to either email attempt, one with, and one without the code.)

[psho 0]

(Also, we never got a reply email to either email attempt, one with, and one without the code.)

ARRRGH!!!

this is a test, I know it! A test of our devotion to each other!

Well, I won't seriously nag until the end of next week (although the July 4th holiday in the middle of the week may slow things down further).

I can live without email responses, but not without an interview date!