ChiUK

So re-asking the question. If anyone has experience with the interview slots and set up at the Paris Consulate (preferably for O visas) as i'm looking to book an renewal interview there as i can multitask and get some work done in the city.

UK citizen here and lawyers advised against London consulate (recent spate of denials and rejections)...so not going to argue with them.

Been checking for a couple of days and no appointment dates listed at all...IS this normal?....for now i'm checking everyday. My B option would be to do it  in Belfast...but will keep checking for 3 weeks b4 deciding as need stamp by Oct 1

Thanks

Is it just me or is the https://ceac.state.gov/ site down a lot....been trying to fill the ds 160 forms and even when i get on i have to save every page before it goes offline and i still haven't completed the form yet

12 hours ago, appleblossom said:

It’s a blanket policy so doesn’t vary by consulate. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-announcement-on-waivers-of-the-interview-requirement-for-certain-nonimmigrant-visas.html

 

Mine was a first O-1. 

Good to know...unfortunately it doesn't take out having to leave the US to be waived  but i'll take it

19 hours ago, appleblossom said:

Are you sure you’ll need a interview? Obviously you won’t know until you apply but I’d have thought you’d qualify for the interview waiver. 

 

My O-1 interview was waived earlier this year (London). 

Ive heard of those. but i guess ill find out once i fill out the ds 160 forms ...still need to leave US to process it tho right...does that vary by consulate or visa case.....was number renewal was yours?

Hence the reason im asking ...the plan would be to stay in Paris for 7-10 days hopefully that would give enough time to process.. cos alternatively i could do Belfast like my first time and like London with my 2nd renewal...interview went fine...4 questions asked  and picked up in designated courier within 5 days.

Not sure why London is problematic but my lawyers got me my visa 3 times now and if they say avoid London for interview i figure they know what theyre talking about.

And yeah ...lived in Paris before and have some biz to take care of so don't mind hanging out for a week or 2

Hi Everyone

Its been a while....UK citizen living in USA and I'm about to embark on 3rd approved O1 renewal and was advised against London consulate for interview (even tho thats where i did last and was easy...was told "they are problematic").

I do have business to attend to in Paris so figured i could get it done there. Anyone ever done their O1 interview there..anything to know, timelines etc...are they like the UK where you designate where to pick up passport

Thanks

On 11/19/2021 at 6:59 AM, Wuozopo said:

London is open and conducting visa interviews, if that’s what you mean. Many spouse, fiancé, and parent interviews have been reported in the UK forum https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/99-united-kingdom/

I haven’t heard of any O1s specifically or anything open as far out as January, but the embassy is open and active at this time.

ok thats good to hear i have to fly in from nyc for my interview and just hope nothing goes wrong in regards to covid numbers before then.

fingers crossed

hi 

so managed to secure an interview at the London embassy for Jan 13 for my O1 renewal (after 2 extensions being in US)...weirdly only slots available were 8 and 9.30 am (i checked several days ..same thing)

anyway has anyone actually done any interviews there yet?

here's hoping covid doesn't mess things up cos im coming back to UK from NY for this

Hi everyone

Has anyone been able to do or book an O1 interview....Im about to file my second extension which allows me to work/stay in US legally but means i cant leave without losing my work status. At this rate im prepared to go to any country if i can get an interview.

Curious to hear from others in similar situation

Hi

No. what my lawyers did was get an extension on my previous visa. so im good till september...hopefully things open in the summer

Its been a while...

I'm in NY and have had my O1 renewed for another 3 years and in order to travel I need to get an Embassy interview done.

I would do prefer to do mine in Belfast...has anyone been there post lockdown and is there a resource where i can find out approximate wait times for an interview

Thanks 

On 3/7/2019 at 6:24 PM, jake123 said:

Yea I think the London Embassy do seem to operate under their own rules as they see fit. I was told after my first interview they give a lot of musicians going for the O1 a hard time. Shame I wasn't told before I had my interview...
 

 

The one thing my lawyer insisted upon approval was under no circumstance to do my interview at the London consulate... so i chose to take mine in Ireland (i wasn't asked question as to why my filing location was different from interview)

Bear that in mind future filers...

14 hours ago, LightBendr said:

SOLVED --- thank you everyone for their input!

Glad to hear however It would be great that you update your thread on how things got solved so future seekers of answers can get some clarity. just like you did.

#Pay it forward

i never wrote anything "personal" on my rfe... my lawyers addressed everything in the RFE as should yours as they have all the pertinent info about your case and should respond in the language they undestand

Out of curiosity are doing this through premium or regular processing 

12 hours ago, LightBendr said:

There isn't one. I'm applying with an agent because I want to be able to work for multiple companies, so all the costs have to be covered by me. 

That was my scenario as well (agent)...  well bear in mind the time you have in order to get a response in.... and as someone said above don't throw good money on bad lawyers

If it were you i would swallow that bitter pill and get this mess they created cleaned up by a firm that knows what they are doing

good luck.

"nice guys often finish last"

time to put on the big boy pants and take this on hardcore as you have one chance to get this fixed or all your time and expense goes out the window .... Personally i would suggest changing firms with competent O visa lawyers who can deal with this RFE.... as an O visa holder that had to deal with RFE's i know they're no joke

Im not sure where you are located but I can recommend my NY firm who got me my O visa (msg me privately for this)

Any other questions feel free to shoot them my way 

not sure if too late...

however ...

my lawyer advised me to take my petition with me ...so yeah i printed almost 800 pages.... did they even glance at it?

of course not!

i have read cases where the consulate officer was looking for a reason to be a pain (London!!!) that they asked for it.

My advice..better be safe then sorry...i put my printer to work ...paper is recyclable ...if it gives you peace of mind...print that bad boy....the last thing u will be thinking about when u get that visa is the cost of printing anyway

good luck

i suggest you get your lawyer to pursue whats going on...the processing max times is 3 months

2 hours ago, vibeluck7 said:

Hi, How long took you to get an notification for consular processing interview in your country after your O1 petition got approved?

  

Thanks 

i got notification within a week from approval

i did regular processing (in sept 2017) ....after 5 weeks i got an rfe.

We responded and it took 86 days (because the time process restarts) to get a favorable response

there's not much you can do but wait (which is the hardest part)

hope it helps

congrats man

Hey everyone

All in all i didn't get much help in my O visa journey from this site as most here are pursuing other types and thats ok.

I had my interview and approval yesterday after a long non premium processed, RFE'd application

From start to finish from filing it took about 7 months and I'm ecstatic and VERY exhausted 

That said. I will keep my account active and if any future "O-chasers" stumble upon this site like i did and have a questions feel free to 

send me a message

To the rest of you on your journeys...

Good luck!

Just wanted to add an update

i got mailed confirmation in regards to O1 approval 

so in summary 

https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/ (GOOD)

https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do (VERY BAD)

An exact week after MyUscis notified me of my approval the Egov website *still* shows status as "rfe received"

just a heads up to everyone

(now i have to figure out how to get through the interview at the London Embassy)

54 minutes ago, doggieandsam said:

i would think so, but maybe wait for the official letter in the mail (shouldn't be long now) before you bust out the dancing and confetti!

ok...i'm practicing my splits. Just in case

So back to my original question

is the consensus that MyUscis has the more up to date details and just a matter of time to when Egov catches up?

i can assume i actually have been approved my 01 ??