London EB-3 Backlog

[ukhopeful 2]

Hi - does anyone know what the current backlog is for employment-based visa interviews are in London? It seems like they issued a lot of E(B)-3 visas in December (146, per https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html) whereas pre-pandemic they were doing ~40 a month, so I'm hoping the backlog has gone down a bit... Does anyone have any insight? Thanks in advance!

[nanobot 27]

1 minute ago, ukhopeful said:

Hi - does anyone know what the current backlog is for employment-based visa interviews are in London? It seems like they issued a lot of E(B)-3 visas in December (146, per https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html) whereas pre-pandemic they were doing ~40 a month, so I'm hoping the backlog has gone down a bit... Does anyone have any insight? Thanks in advance!

I was EB1, DQ start of Jan2021, interview 19Jan 2022.

So about a year from DQ to interview, a few folks have had similar. 

Checkout my timeline if helpful.

[ukhopeful 2]

26 minutes ago, nanobot said:

I was EB1, DQ start of Jan2021, interview 19Jan 2022.

So about a year from DQ to interview, a few folks have had similar. 

Checkout my timeline if helpful.

Gotcha thanks - that seems like an absurdly long time to wait but happy you finally got through! Mind if I PM you with a couple questions?

[nanobot 27]

1 minute ago, ukhopeful said:

Gotcha thanks - that seems like an absurdly long time to wait but happy you finally got through! Mind if I PM you with a couple questions?

Sure, go for it!

[Beckz 0]

6 hours ago, ukhopeful said:

Hi - does anyone know what the current backlog is for employment-based visa interviews are in London? It seems like they issued a lot of E(B)-3 visas in December (146, per https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html) whereas pre-pandemic they were doing ~40 a month, so I'm hoping the backlog has gone down a bit... Does anyone have any insight? Thanks in 

My expedite request just got approved this month for my EB3 visa and i was dqed Aug 2021. It seems there are trying very fast to clear the backlog.

[ukhopeful 2]

7 hours ago, Beckz said:

My expedite request just got approved this month for my EB3 visa and i was dqed Aug 2021. It seems there are trying very fast to clear the backlog.

Thanks for the data point! If you don't mind me asking what was your reasoning for expedition? Hoping my lawyers can do something similar

[Beckz 0]

4 hours ago, ukhopeful said:

Thanks for the data point! If you don't mind me asking what was your reasoning for expedition? Hoping my lawyers can do something similar

My employer did about two requests that were denied, stating my job start date. Surprised the last one was finally approved.

[V1Rotate 4]

I've been plotting the IR1/CR1 and EB visa issuances backdated to March 2019 (1 year before the pandemic). You can see the high spike in EBs issued in Dec 2021. I think the recent spike is related to the fact that in November the embassies were told they don't need to use the tier system anymore and can issues visas in any category as they wish. I think this is an indication that they are speeding up EB interviewing and starting to clear the backlog. Also the removal of most covid restrictions in the UK in Jan 2022 will help and may show up in the Jan and Feb data points. But this is all just me guessing 😛

Edited February 8, 2022 by V1Rotate

[ukhopeful 2]

6 hours ago, V1Rotate said:

I've been plotting the IR1/CR1 and EB visa issuances backdated to March 2019 (1 year before the pandemic). You can see the high spike in EBs issued in Dec 2021. I think the recent spike is related to the fact that in November the embassies were told they don't need to use the tier system anymore and can issues visas in any category as they wish. I think this is an indication that they are speeding up EB interviewing and starting to clear the backlog. Also the removal of most covid restrictions in the UK in Jan 2022 will help and may show up in the Jan and Feb data points. But this is all just me guessing 😛

Thanks! Yea I'm hoping that the recent uptick will be consistent across the next few months!

[tpritc 2]

Also an EB-3 (DQ'd September 2021) here and hoping that this uptick is maintained!

[Pooleyc881 5]

Anyone had an appointment booked recently that was an approved expedited case? 

[Batista 2]

On 2/15/2022 at 10:36 AM, Pooleyc881 said:

Anyone had an appointment booked recently that was an approved expedited case? 

My QD is July 2021 and I will have my exit interview next week. Hopes this information can help. My case was expedited on the 3rd of February 2022. 

Edited February 17, 2022 by Batista

[Pooleyc881 5]

Anyone else get an appointment?

[tpritc 2]

Yesterday I got the email letting me know NVC had arranged my appointment! I'm EB-3, no expediting, DQ'd in September 2021. Appointment is for March 25, 2022. Seems like they've sped up quite a bit!

[V1Rotate 4]

10 minutes ago, tpritc said:

Yesterday I got the email letting me know NVC had arranged my appointment! I'm EB-3, no expediting, DQ'd in September 2021. Appointment is for March 25, 2022. Seems like they've sped up quite a bit!

Great news, congrats! It seems they are indeed speeding up as the data shows.