S&J2013

For those that have already left the U.K. and arrived on a spouse visa 

• Did you buy one way travel insurance?

• Who did you purchase with?

• How long did you arrange cover for? (I was thinking 1 month to give enough time for my husband to get us added to his medical insurance etc...)

I did a quick google search and there were so many companies and random names of insurers I’d never come across so I thought I’d ask here if anyone had experience of using anyone in particular?

Thanks 

4 hours ago, Bear_and_Bunny said:

Just to add.... my wife says to say that there is seating outside for spouses to sit and it's really pretty there.  Little pond and grass and although we didnt use them there seemed to be a little porta cabin for toilets.  

Toilets weren’t open when I was there a few weeks ago, I think they’re only in use when the bar opposite is open.

But there’s lots of outdoor seating around outside the embassy, and the pond and landscaped gardens are very pretty 

1 hour ago, Melc said:

I got “approved” at the interview and it took three work days to switch to issued. Received it in hand after a full week exactly. 
 

I’m guessing that’s roughly the timeline you’re looking at now. 
 

Good luck! 

We got “approved” at our interview on 23rd July and we’ve not had a status update since that day and still waiting for our visas and passports back. They did say it could take upto 2 weeks at that time though, which will be the end of this week. 

1 hour ago, FD21 said:

hi again! did you receive your visa yet? and how long after interview did your status start to change in the portal so you could track your visa via courier? 

Not yet - still waiting 😞

And our status hasn’t updated either so can’t track anything as it’s not been issued yet. They did say it could take around 2 weeks, so that will be this Thursday. 

I never heard from the embassy when our expedite was approved, I waited a week when it was at ready status waiting to hear from them, and I just booked it in the end using the second option.

I had my interview last Thursday, they never asked to see anything about the expedite approval or an email saying “book”. We’re just waiting on our passports back now so hoping it’s soon!!

5 hours ago, FD21 said:

for those who have had interviews, any particular face covering required for the visit to the embassy? 

Yes they ask that you wear a mask / face covering as soon as you arrive at security check in (the same as supermarkets etc...) most of the staff are wearing them, even the guy who interviewed us had one on and he was behind a glass screen.

39 minutes ago, Mask said:

No don't worry about it, I had my interview last Thursday (16th) and I received my passport today. That too because I had put a DXs office as my pickup location - and they aren't allowing us to go in. The dx couriers delivered it to me for free and I think they did it soon as they received it. So maybe it's best to have it delivered at home directly from the appointment system. 

Thank you, that’s reassuring! Hopefully we will get them back within a week too so we can start making our final plans. 
I’ve requested to pick it up locally too so will wait to see whether they’ll allow that when it gets there or if it will have to be delivered.... hoping collection as I’m moving out of my flat in just over 2 weeks so it will be cutting it fine if it’s not back by then too!!
Out of interest, on ceac after your interview did you check your status? Did it ever change? 

One of the medical secretaries at my surgery just printed out an a4 sheet with my medical summary on. I had to speak to the GP and pay £30 for them to write a 2 paragraph letter regarding my previous anxiety and depression. Not heard of being able to print off the summary by yourself, but it sounds like a great idea and time saving! 

When did you have your interview? How long did it take for your passport to come back?

We had our interview and were approved yesterday and they said it could take upto 2 weeks so just trying to gauge if it is taking that long 

2 minutes ago, LondonerCat said:

Hello all! 
 

Today my husband and I emailed re expediting our case which currently on hold at the NVC (he needs surgery and I need to be there to look after him!!)

 

We only sent it off today. It is to my understanding London embassy is now accepting expedited cases? I wondered if anyone could shed some light on how long it takes to get approved after emailing and then how long they waited until the interview? 
 

Thank you. My heart goes out to you all... everyday is a step closer! 

It took a couple of days for NVC to acknowledge the expedite request and then it was another few days to hear that London had accepted it. So around a week in total, it was then sent to a London same day and showed as “Ready” the next day.

Hopefully you’ll hear some good news by early next week 🤞🏻

34 minutes ago, ohcoffeeeyes said:

Thank you so much, hmm, I will contact my medical practice and see if it will cost me anything, Knightsbridge is quite pricey.

I had my boosters done at my GP free of charge, but it was a year ago and before the virus etc... but it would definitely be worth seeing if you could get them done for free that way instead of paying at the medical 

2 minutes ago, jarrod679 said:

Of course, you too.

 

Feels so good to have this news. I actually had my medical yesterday as I was in London. 

How did you manage to book your medical without having a confirmed interview?

Just now, jarrod679 said:

Just got expedited from NVC. So much tension left my body. Will update once I hear anything new. 

We got approved expedite last Thursday and haven’t heard anything yet. It’s been sent to the embassy thought but nothing since. Keep us posted if you hear something soon. 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html
 

You can see the monthly breakdown and type on here. As London have said they’ll be focussing on Spouse visas when they resume the backlog shouldn’t be as huge as that but it will still be hundreds

My daughters cases DQ’d over a month ago, still waiting on mine. We asked to expedite earlier in April and received stock reply of no, London are closed. When they updated the website last week we sent another expedite request, had a reply yesterday to say it’s been sent to the embassy for review so we’re waiting to hear whether they’ll accept it or not.... otherwise we will be in the DQ list of waiting waiting waiting for interview.

Its definitely a good idea to have this thread for all the CR1/IR1 cases that are all waiting in one place 😊 hope we all hear something soon!

49 minutes ago, Gary137 said:

Yes, I had seen stories on here of people contacting the embassy with some success, sadly not so this time. It would seem likely there’s a significant backlog however you’d think they will at least address each application in order of being DQ’d.

 

On a more positive note, yes, it does seem as though the country is returning to some level of normalcy. I’ve been reading the Prime Minister’s reopening plan however, while there are some (admittedly vague) descriptions of the kind of businesses that can get back to work during stages 1, 2 and 3, it isn’t clear, at least to me, which one the embassy might fall into. I know it’s been said a thousand times on this forum and I acknowledge that this is an unprecedented situation but the wait would be made a lot more tolerable if there was any kind of way of telling how long we’ll have to endure.

I think that’s what people are struggling with the most - the unknown of how long the wait really is going to be. It’s understandable they don’t want to commit to anything as things are changing day by day but some idea of rough dates, even an update of when they’ll be rescheduling interviews for etc... would help to ease the anxiety. 

19 minutes ago, Gary137 said:

No, unfortunately no luck. I contacted the embassy who replied with a very stock answer that was far from clear. After reading and re-reading, I decided that it was suggesting that I apply for an expedite through the NVC (I was DQ’d but had not yet been sent to the embassy). I did this and received another very stock reply which told me that they couldn’t forward my request because the embassy was closed. It would seem that my application was in a kind of bureaucratic no man’s land that the embassy and the NVC regarded as the other party’s responsibility. Very disappointing but I will most likely send the request again once the embassy opens up. When that will be is of course, another matter.

That sucks. We’ve tried NVC but they won’t even forward ours on to the embassy to ask about the expedite either, getting the same standard we’re closed and try again reply. I know someone who applied direct to the embassy in another country and it worked that way so was hoping you’d have had some good news. Guess we all just need to hope and keep trying. They really must be opening up soon when everywhere else in the UK is opening again. I hope there’s not a huge backlog!

On 6/1/2020 at 9:49 PM, Gary137 said:

Hello everyone,

 

As the title suggests, I am looking for the appropriate email address to request an expedited CR1 interview from the London Embassy. Judging from the website, the only way to do so is through an online contact form which doesn’t allow me to attach supporting documents (doctor’s notes and so forth) which we feel would help our case.

 

If anyone can offer any advice, it would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

Did you have any luck with this? Did you fill in the contact form or find an email address?

7 minutes ago, ayestaci said:

Me too! I know they have a lot of cancelled interviews to reschedule, but London was never busy before the virus, so I was hoping it still wouldn't be too far out. 

Same - we need to be there by mid August for school starting so its going to be tight 😬 really hope they are opening soon 🤞🏻

On 5/25/2020 at 7:54 PM, ayestaci said:

Oof was August the closest appointment? That sounds like July immigrant appointments are already gone (not sure if DCF/K-1/CR-1 all take up the same slots).

I hope they’ve saved some appointments slots for CR1s!! We’re waiting on an interview date too

Has anyone had this happen??

We got the DQ email yesterday, all documents there and accepted, email saying will forward to embassy etc.... 

Then last night, 7 hours after the DQ email we get another one saying there’s 2 documents missing and need them uploaded, however the 2 they’ve listed are already uploaded and show as accepted!! 
 

I logged straight on and added the 2 they’ve said are missing (even though they’re still there clear as day as accepted!) 

So now.... what do we do?? Are we DQ or not? Do we now need to wait for them to review those 2 “new” submissions and DQ us again or.....??

Anyone else had this happen? 
oh and we still can’t read the messages either!

3 minutes ago, Quarknase said:

Have you tried in different browsers? For me it's been taking between 5 minutes and 30 minutes. Sometimes no success at all. The system is old and overloaded and when too many users are active at the same time, this happens. Keep trying and success shall come

Yeah I’ve tried my phone and laptop. Plus my husband is doing the same 😊

We’ve got 3 cases and 2 have both got messages on so we’re alternating trying to get on at least one of them too! 
I guess we shall keep trying! 

When NVC sends a message saying there’s an update and you try to read the email how long does it usually take to open? I’ve been trying for the last 3 hours on and off and it just won’t open. I can see from the title that they’re asking for another document but I just can’t open the message to find out exactly what it is!

I have this same question. Did you find an answer? Which i864 is needed for multiple applicants? 

31 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

There is a UK forum on here where you can ask London specific questions. 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/99-united-kingdom/ 

 

The clinic is called Visa Medicals and their website will let you know the documentation you will need to get in advance of the medical exam. http://www.visamedicals.co.uk/us-bring.htm

Thanks for your reply. 
 

This post is already on the London forum. I knew it would be the best place to ask. 

I’ve already looked over the medical website too. It was the NVC paperwork filing bit I just wanted clarification on as the link didn’t provide information for immigrant visas. I assume that everyone just uploaded the standard list of requested documents and no additional documents as it doesn’t mention anything extra.