NealandCari

Neal got his appointment letter yesterday. His interview is indeed August 7 at 9:30 AM (I had forgotten the time).

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, Linababe, ashp; July: RGNSCOT, robburnsefc, msu17, Teddy-406, TimsDaisy, linzzee, cindi, ValWesUKUS....

Approvals Pending

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

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

justbee&robbie.....CR1.......05/12......06/27.....05/30...........7/11..........PENDING 2006 TAX RETURN

July 2007 Interviews

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

TQMAngie.............K1.........06/08...................06/28..........7/17....09:30....APPROVED

selly.....................K1........05/23......06/06......06/12.........7/19....10:00....APPROVED

Jennymc11............K1........05/29....06/07.......06/11..........7/20.......APPROVED

halcut..................K1........05/31......06/07.......06/12..........7/24....09:00...

Jake & Ali..............K1.......06/04......06/12.......06/22..........7/25....

psho.....................K1.......07/06.......07/16.........................7/31....8:00

Dan&Tiffany.........K1........06/25......07/03.........................7/31....9:00

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.......

Neal&Cari.............K1........06/23......07/03.......................08/07..09:30

JenandBarney....K1.........7/07........07/27........................08/08..10:00

Converse34..........K1........06/26......07/20......................08/08..10:30

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

JandC..................K1........06/29......07/26.......................08/10...08:30

Dawny&Tommy..K1..........06/07.....08/15........07/11.......08/16..10:00

Mothy................CR1.......06/11.....07/02......06/27.......08/21.....08:00....

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.....

adi77..................K1.........07/01......06/22........

CardiffIan............K1.........07/04......07/30........

paulinespens....K1...........................08/10

I am now officially in panic mode. I have all my extra evidence gathered to send over to Neal, and my affidavit. But I still need to get all the paperwork from my co-sponsor. I probably should have gotten that already, but I was worried if I did it too soon, and then our interview was way in the future, it would be out of date. I was originally going to use my dad as a cosponsor, but since he owns a business and most of his income is from investments, it seemed it would be a bit tricky going that route, what with all the supporting evidence he'd need. So my uncle agreed to do it, since he is employed as an engineer and earns a good income from his employer (and my aunt, who used to work in an immigration attorney's office, said it would be easier). But my aunt is also heavily pregnant and due any day (official due date is July 29), so I am paranoid that things will get crazier and now the affidavit won't get done in time. Eek!

Sorry, just had to rant. I hate being such a worrier!

Still waiting for them to give us an interview date already.

Looks like you got that interview date...looking at the sig...so you ready? I know I was when I had mine...

Yes, I got it just after that! It was funny because just a few days before that I got an email from the Consulate saying they would schedule an appointment in September. I emailed back asking if I could have an appointment in August (figured it'd be worth a try), and next thing I knew, I had an interview August 7th! I was hoping to go over for the interview, but don't think I'll make it that soon, so now I've just got to get all the affidavit of support and evidence I have in an envelope ready to go.

Neal uses 1899 (http://www.call1899.co.uk), which charges a 4p connection fee, then it is 1p per minute. His monthly bill is always low, even though we talk every day. And the other great part is that all his statements are online (with dialed numbers), so he can easily print them out and bring tham as evidence to the interview!

Yay! Congratulations!!!

Thanks guys!!

I don't think I'll be making it for the interview, but I still want to go out there to help Neal get everything in order to come here (plus I do miss England a little bit ). And then I thought we could travel back here together (the first time we'd actually fly together!).

Cari, any news yet?

I just got through to DoS and we have an interview date on August 7!!

I was so excited I completely blanked what time it is though. It's so soon, I'm not sure I'll be able to make it over that early! I was planning to go over for the interview, but I guess we'll just have to see.

Yay! Congrats JandC!!!!

Still waiting for them to give us an interview date already.

Congratulations Converse!!

And thank you Daisy, I will look into that. And I've been taking the DoS info with a grain of salt because I always seem to get the same cranky lady.

Cari, I think they will accomodate you. I've watched this stuff for well over two years and I truly believe London attempts to meet the needs of its customers. No small feat when you consider the amount of traffic they have, and the fact that they really don't have too. After all, it's written all over every document they send out to not plan travel until the visa is approved.

I know you are anxious with the Sept 1 date looming and I know that because oddly you are almost on exactly the same schedule we were two years ago. We returned P3 in early July and were requesting a Sept 1 travel date with an Oct 1 wedding date. The consulate provided us an interview of Sept 6 - plenty of time for our wedding to take place.

I don't believe the consulate has not 'taken into account' your request. They just haven't gotten to you yet. This consulate really is one of the fastest and most customer friendly in the system. IMO under normal circumstances there is no need to 'over manage' your case with phone calls and emails. If someone hasn't heard from them in a month - that's a long time. Anything less than that is simply the normal process.

Try to relax and breath deep. London will get to you. They got to us. I've got a two-year anniversary coming up and a stack of my husband's dirty laundry to prove it.

All things worthwhile are worth waiting for.

Thanks Rebecca. I know I shouldn't worry too much, but I am a little bit of a worrywort/control freak and it's been the longest I've gone without seeing Neal and I think the emotions of that get wrapped up into it a bit. I wouldn't mind an early September date, I'd just like to know when soon! And I really hope it's not too late in September. When I get a vague email reply that they will schedule an appointment in September and they still haven't set a specific date, it just gets frustrating!

Yeah, maybe I should have included a cover letter with our packet. We put our travel date as September 1st, because we need to take care of a lot of stuff before the wedding, but they haven't taken that into account. I asked on the DoS line if they take that into account, and they said no, that I just have to wait until they schedule everyone else's and see where they can fit mine. I emailed them again about it, but is it also worth calling do you think?

Congratulations JenandBarney!!!

Just out of curiosity, what did you put as your travel/wedding dates? I am still holding on to that faint glimmer of hope that we will have an interview in August, but our packet seems to have gone into the slooow pile.

Neal doesn't have a ton of stuff either, luckily. The main thing is his massive CD collection. Since a lot of his family is coming over for the wedding, we were thinking of asking some of them to carry an extra suitcase of his stuff with them and that way we can avoid shipping too much. Who knows if that will work though.

Thanks everyone! I just called DoS and all that they told me was my paperwork was received today. Last week they told me it was received July 9. None of this process makes sense to me.

I got a reply to one of my emails that was "deleted without being read" today:

The administrative processing of the application has been completed. We note that the marriage ceremony will take place in October. The appointment for the visa interview will be scheduled in September.

Sincerely

Consular Information Unit

I was hoping for August, but oh well. As long as it's not too late in September so that we'll be cutting it close, I don't mind.

Some UK shows on here

http://www.tv-links.co.uk/index.do

I love this site, it has tons of great shows. The quality isn't too terrible either. And you don't have to download the shows - they are all hosted online, so they load pretty quickly, even on my crappy 5-year-old laptop.

^Hahahaha. brilliant.

I'll bring you...a cat that looks like Hitler. Aka Kitler:

Now I am really starting to get worried. I called DoS and they still haven't qualified us for an interview date apparently. I mentioned that several other people had sent theirs around the same time and were already eligible, and asked what could be holding ours up. The lady answered with the usual "It's too soon," but also said that there could be a problem with the paperwork. She then asked if I'd sent in my affidavit of support and I told her I was under the impression that I brought that to the interview, not sent it in my P3, and she just replied she didn't know, it could be any number of things. She then told me to call London to see if there is any other paperwork they need. I am really worried we've done something wrong, though I can't think what it could be. And why do I always get the cranky ladies at DoS?

Should I call the London extortion line to find out about paperwork? Was I supposed to include the I-134? I just don't know what to do, it's making me so paranoid.

I'm sure it will all come together soon. Just make a daily call to the DOS and see where you stand! I was really paranoid that Conrad wouldve filled out a form wrong (i usually handle all this kinda stuff in normal life anyways). But I think we can agree that there is often no method to the madness. Keep us updated!!

Thanks! I'll be sure to let you know if I hear anything tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I also put Sept 1 as a travel date, but put Sept 15 as wedding date. I also had Conrad send it recorded delivery.

I couldn't really fudge about our wedding date, as everything is booked. Plus I will probably use all my vendor contracts as possible extra evidence at the interview.

Ours was sent recorded as well, signed for on June 25. They finally entered the case into the computer as received July 9. But we still aren't eligible for an interview date for some reason. We were very careful about double-checking everything on the forms, but I am paranoid we did something wrong! I need to just relax about it, but it's so dang hard.

Hmm, I wonder what's taking so long for mine then...

Hopefully tomorrow I will hear something. I'm so impatient.

Did you put dates down for travel and wedding dates? Something specific? If so, what?

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

And for the others too! You guys are close!

Yes, we put September 1st for travel date, and October 19th for wedding date. I am hoping for an interview in August if possible. I'm not so concerned about the interview being right away, I just want to know the date. It's the not knowing that just drives me crazy! Especially as I am planning to go to London for Neal's interview, but I can't really book anything or making any plans until I know the date!

Thanks for the support though! I am a worrywort, so this whole process has really been driving me mad.

Hmm, I wonder what's taking so long for mine then...

Hopefully tomorrow I will hear something. I'm so impatient.

My fiance has been saving up quite a bit of money for his move over here. I'm hoping it stays at that exchange rate for his sake! Though I am not very much looking forward to watching my money disappear when I go over for his interview!

I've been sending about two emails a day since last Friday I think, and haven't managed to get one to go through yet. I guess I'll just keep trying and hoping for the best.

I made my regular call to DoS, and still no interview date. I know there have been some people here marked "eligible" for an interview without having a date, and I have been told I do not yet "qualify" for an interview date, so today I asked if I still do not qualify or if I am at least eligible for one. The DoS woman flipped out and was like, "EVERYONE HAS TO GO FOR AN INTERVIEW. YOU CAN'T JUST NOT GO FOR AN INTERVIEW!" I wasn't even saying that. Weird!

I want "Good Luck" guy. I've never spoken to him. I seem to always get the cranky ones!

I thought you could only get the code if you are outside the usual wait time? Also, is it really $16 to call the extortion line (plus whatever my phone company charges me to call London) and is it really worth it for this code?