I thought I'd put up a post with a review of my medical and my interview as it seems only fair as I found other people's reviews extremely helpful.
Medical - Thursday 9th August 11.10am
I had my medical on Thursday 9th August at Knightsbridge Doctors. Initially, when I had received my interview date (21st August), I had called to make my medical appointment and was advised that the first available one was 23rd August. I wasn't happy about this and so called again a few days later and was informed that there was now an appointment available for 9th August which was better!
My appointment was at 11.10 and I flew from Glasgow to Gatwick early in the morning and then got a train to Victoria Station and a tube to Bond Street. I walked from Bond Street which took around 10 minutes. When I got to Bentinck Mansions, I was a bit early so went to the pub across the street for a coke while I waited. I went in around 10.45 and went to the desk and was told to go to the waiting room and come back to the desk at my appointment time. I went back at 11.10 and handed over my passport and a photocopy which I had made, my police certificate and a photocopy, 4 passport size photos, my completed medical questionnaire and my vaccination record. I was given a questionnaire and asked to complete it and return it. It was pretty much the same questions as the one I had to print and take with me but maybe a bit more in depth.
When I took this back to the desk, I was given a bottle for a urine sample and asked to return this when completed. There is only one toilet there so I had to wait as there were a few others there. When I handed it back I was told to go back to the waiting room. About 5 minutes later a nurse called me and took me to a room where we discussed my vaccination record. I had a problem where my GP didn't have much information on record for my vaccinations when I was a child as they were done by a community doctor so to be safe (and save some coin!), I had my tetanus updated at my GP beforehand and went to a travel clinic for 2 x MMR vaccines (1month apart). I had chickenpox when I was 6 and she was happy with verbal confirmation of that. I didn't need anymore vaccinations so she signed that part off and took me to another room for a chest x-ray and then I was told to go back to the waiting room.
I waited about 20 minutes and then was called by the doctor. He was very nice and told me his name was Prof. Poulter. I sat at his desk and we discussed my medical questionnaire. I have no major health issues so he wasn't worried. He asked did I have any history of alcohol or drug abuse, I told him none(I've never taken drugs and am teetotal). He asked if I had ever been in trouble with the police which I hadn't and we had a joke about that as I come from a family of police officers. He asked again about drugs and again I said none. I told him I was an ex-smoker and had stopped 4 years ago. He asked about a depressive episode (due to work related stress) which I had back in 2009 and i gave him further information and a doctors letter which I had obtained before my interview (thanks to advice from you guys!!!). He said he wasn't overly worried as I had finished taking medication in 2012 and hadn't had any problems since then.
He then told me he had to do an examination and did I require a chaperone which I declined as I had no problem with it. I had to put on a gown and he checked my eyes, ears, throat, prodded my stomach and then checked knee reflexes and feet. He took my blood pressure and pulse on my ankle. Then he took a blood test. He had trouble getting the tourniquet off and had to shake it around a bit and I think because of this, when he took the needle out, my arm wouldn't stop oozing. I had to put pressure on it for about 10 minutes. During this time he measured my height, weight and checked my eyesight with a chart.
He said he was happy with everything and didn't need anything further when I asked if my GP letter was alright. He wished me luck and then I went back to the waiting room. I was there for about 5 minutes and the receptionist called me back to the reception and I paid £330 and she gave me back my passport and a record of vaccinations which was for me to keep. I asked when it would be sent to the embassy and she said 7 working days. I asked was she sure they didn't require anything else as I live in Scotland so would be kinda difficult to get back and she said no and that the doctor had signed me off pending results of tests!
All in all, it was a pleasant experience. It took around 1 hour 45 minutes in total. The only negative was that I had an almighty bruise on my arm after the blood incident and my flight home was cancelled which was a nightmare but the whole experience was fine and the doctor was so friendly and put me at ease.
Interview - Tuesday 21st August 9.30am
After my flight nightmare for the medical, my dad and I drove to London (which took about 7 hours) the night before and stayed with a relative in Surrey. I called Knightsbridge on Monday 20th August to check if my medical results had been sent (since I've noticed people having problems with that recently on this site) and the lady on the phone confirmed that they were sent the week before.
I arrived at the embassy on Tuesday 21st August around 8.40am and went to the kiosk where I was told to go back at 9am as this was the earliest they could let me in and skip the queue and go straight to the desk. My dad meanwhile parked in Waitrose just at the corner where you can park for 2 hours as long as you are using the shop and he went into the cafe there. I went back to the kiosk at 9am and the lady asked for my passport and DS160 and told me to go through the security, into the building and go straight to the desk and don't wait in any queues as they are for non-immigrant visas. I went through the airport style security and into the main building and when I went to the desk, the lady stuck a sticker with a number and instructions on where to go on the front of my DS160. She explained to get the lift to 1st floor and then go to window 20. Once on the first floor, it was clearly signposted. There were some seats and a few people waiting and when my number came up on the screen, it told me what window to go to.
At the window, the man said he was checking my paperwork was in order. He took my passport, DS160, original birth certificate, original marriage certificate, original police certificate and one visa photograph. He took my fingerprints and completed a form and asked when I plan to travel. I told him as soon as possible if approved! He said I have to travel within 6 months. He then told me that because London is now PIVOT, I won't receive an envelope to take with me. I'll only receive my passport with visa page and a disc with my x-ray on it for me to keep. I asked if they had received my medical results already and he said yes. He kept my original documents and told me to go back to the seats and wait to be called by an immigration officer for my interview.
After about 20 minutes I was called to another window and the lady asked me to raise my right hand and swear an oath that all the information I had given was true. She then took my prints again and asked me:
1. How did I meet my husband?
2. When?
3. Where does he live?
4. Is it his own house or apartment?
I answered all the questions and she typed some information into the computer and said "I don't see any issues so we're going to go ahead and issue your visa and you'll get your passport back within two weeks". She gave me back my birth certificate, marriage certificate and police certificate. I thanked her and that was it!!!
Really easy. I was a bag of nerves but after all the worrying and stress, that was all there was to it!!!
I checked CEAC when I got home last night and it says "Issued" already (same day as interview). I haven't received anything from courier yet though so not sure when I will receive my passport back.
I hope this helps someone and if anyone has any questions, feel free to message me!
Unfortunately, the only processing time reported for MSC is for "All field offices", which is currently at 31 months. It really depends on how fast your local office is at scheduling ROC interviews, which are quite low on the priority list.
I entered my receipt date (also June 2020) on the USCIS website to see when an inquiry can be made and they said October 2023, which is ridiculous.
To be honest, the only reason I am done with USCIS is that I applied for citizenship and they processed my ROC at the same time.
I am in the same boat, GC expired August 28th, 2020. There has not been any movement at all on my case. The wait is horrendous. I was hoping with the new president, things would get moving faster ( Still hoping!!). I will be filing for citizenship at the end of May. Hopefully that helps expedite things.
Same here.
I reached out to our congressman about the delay in biometrics scheduling, and I just got a generic response about Covid.
I’ll try our senator and see if that helps, but I am not optimistic.
I called this morning and only had to wait a few minutes. They gave me the number over the phone (it is at MSC). I checked the status and it says “case received”. Just glad I can now check it for updates.
Thank you everyone for your help! 👏🏼👍🏻
Also, lots of applicants here say they are nervous or stressed and I know this feeling is coming from a good place. But don't be nervous/stressed. You are already living with your spouse and I am sure your marriage is legit. If they want more proofs, send them what they want. If they visit your residence, welcome them. If they want to interview you in person, go right ahead. You have nothing to worry because the most important thing is that you are happily living with your spouse together.
I called this morning and only had to wait a few minutes. They gave me the number over the phone (it is at MSC). I checked the status and it says “case received”. Just glad I can now check it for updates.
Thank you everyone for your help! 👏🏼👍🏻
I called this morning and only had to wait a few minutes. They gave me the number over the phone (it is at MSC). I checked the status and it says “case received”. Just glad I can now check it for updates.
Thank you everyone for your help! 👏🏼👍🏻
I called this morning and only had to wait a few minutes. They gave me the number over the phone (it is at MSC). I checked the status and it says “case received”. Just glad I can now check it for updates.
Thank you everyone for your help! 👏🏼👍🏻
As @doggieandsam said, definitely call and ask for your receipt number. People from April are still waiting for their NOA so don’t count on getting it soon. 😔
No don’t wait...just call and ask if they have a case number for you. They can search by name or A number. Worst case if they say they can’t find you. Call early in the morning first thing when they open, shorter wait times then.
What service center did you get?
You will probably get it in the mail in a few days. I bet getting a receipt number over the telephone will not be easy, if even possible. How would they be able to verify that it’s you?
That is funny! How can a person forget to file? That’s one of the most important steps in the whole process. Take responsibility, people! Typical of so much you see in today’s society.
Back on VJ after almost 2 years!
I mailed our I751 on 6/9 and it was delivered by USPS on 6/11. The check hasn’t been cashed yet and no NOA received yet.
However, after reading this thread I am now extremely concerned that I didn’t send enough evidence. I had zero issues with any paperwork when applying for the CR1 - everything was smooth albeit not very timely. The package I sent was less than 1lb in weight although I included lots of joint evidence and affidavits. How quickly will I receive an RFE if I have not sent enough evidence? My CR1 green card expires on 9/6.
Thank you!
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