nickyducky

So.

I had my interview on Monday this week. Echoing what everyone else has largely been saying, the whole process was very easy going.

I was terribly nervous while waiting to be seen, but the guys I spoke too were very good at putting me at ease with the situation and talked through everything very calmly. 
 

one moment of anxiety hit as the first chap I spoke to, advised me that they still had not received my medical from Visa Medicals. He advised that I give them a call before the immigration officer called me up.

I did as they asked and was informed by Visa medicals that my information had been submitted on October 27th, but not to worry because if the immigration officer couldn’t find it, there would be no problem sending copies over.

about 20 minutes later I was called up to speak to the immigration officer. Again, the nerves kicked in, until I approached the window and he immediately commented on my tattoos. 😂 he said it was clear I’m more of a PlayStation fan than Xbox (I have the PlayStation button logos tattooed on my right hand fingers) and he also commented that I’ve “got the entire justice league on your other arm” he also asked me if my wife was allowing me to buy a PS5... because his wasn’t!! 
 

after we got down to business, I was asked if I’d lived and worked in America before, and why I wanted to go back again, he asked me if we’d looked into medical insurance and where we’d be staying. Then he asked about the medical information. I relayed what Visa Medicals had told me and he made a note of it on my file. 
 

he gave me the dreaded green “refused” paper, but explained not to worry because I was technically approved, but they couldn’t issue an approval until they found the medical notes.

I was in the embassy for a total of about 50 minutes. 
 

just today, my status online has changed from Refused to “Administrative processing” so it looks like they found my notes!!

finally we can start making solid plans!!

Stay positive everyone who’s still waiting! Best of luck to everyone! 

4 hours ago, Stuwoolf said:

THE FINAL ACT.

 

Today I arrived at Miami airport and submitted my Immigration Packet to the Immigration Officer at Passport Control.

 

The Passport Control line at Miami airport was huge! However it didnt take too long.

 

I got to the Passport Control desk and submitted my passport, open at my visa page, along with the Immigration Packet sent to me by the London Embassy....unopened, of course!

 

The officer took my pic and asked my wife and I to wait for a second officer to take me to the next stage. The second officer arrived and asked us to follow him in to a side room. There were about 10 others in the room and most of whom were receiving what appeared to be some sort of interview. The second officer retained my Packet and passport.

 

About 40 minutes later I was called up to a booth in that sideroom and the officer manning the booth asked what address did I want my Green Card sent to. I gave a different address to that which was on the Packet. This was not a problem. The officer updated his IT Record with my revised delivery address.The officer explained my Visa would act as a Green Card for up to 12 months or until my GC arrived, usually within 6 months.

 

That was it! The officer handed back my passport and my wife and I left the sideroom to go collect our luggage. The officer even gave us helpful directions on where to go. Everyone was very pleasant.

 

So there you have it. My Visa Journey began on March 05 2020 and was brought to conclusion today, November 04 2020 at Miami Airport.

 

Once again, a sincere thank you to all who have helped and encouraged me. It was all worthwhile.

So happy for you Stu. All the best!! 

1 hour ago, samoajoel said:

Hi 

My interview is on the 16th of Nov and my medical is the 8th.

I just spoke with the medical clinic and they told me they have had word from the Embassy that they are staying open and continuing with interview as 'normal'!

 

There was a meeting yesterday (Monday Nov 2nd) and they decided to stay open. 

Obviously this could change but I thought you guys would like to know. 

I was extremely happy to find this out. 

 

VERY happy to see this info. I’m booked for the 16th also! Good luck! Let’s hope nothing changes between now and then. Almost there!  

17 minutes ago, RadChan said:

Hi all,

 

I'm sure you all heard that Boris announced a new 4-week lockdown lasting until Dec 2nd. I'm really hoping that this won't impact the US embassy in London and that they'll still carry on interviews as planned and scheduling the next set of interviews without closing down or postponing. 

 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I'm scheduled on Nov 17th and I'm really worried. 

 

I guess I'll keep an eye on the website tomorrow!

Hi pal. I’m scheduled on Monday 16th November, so am equally as worried. 
 

im holding out some hope that we will be ok simply since it seems that hotels can stay open and courts are also staying open so I would hope that the US Embassy will be deemed essential work as well as long as they keep their measures in place. 
 

I would think we’ll know for sure by Thursday when the lockdown goes into effect, but I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that we’ll be ok. 
 

good luck to you. 

7 hours ago, Dags said:

Congrats on getting appointment booked!  I'm on the same boat right now. Got medical coming n next week - Wed 4th November. However, I'm struggling with getting an interview booked! How long did it take for you to find one? I've been checking for nearly a week right now and there is currently no slots available at all  

Sorry, Dags I only Just saw this but see that Stu already answered your question. 
 

for me, I don’t know if it was sheer coincidence, but weirdly after I’d done my medical and was on the way home from London, my wife checked and more appointments opened up. I wonder if maybe once the system registers that you’ve done the medical, your number is more likely to have a chance at getting an interview date... I don’t know. 
 

keep trying though! Fingers crossed you get lucky like I did.

12 hours ago, Stuwoolf said:

Well, thats that then! Woohoo. Had my interview today, Approved, and will receive the business "within about a week".

 

Thank you to all the help I was given from Visa Journey.

 

Thank you.

 

My report is here

 

Congratulations!!! 🎉 

So yesterday I had my visa medical. Very smooth process. I actually ended up staying over at the Holiday Inn Express Oxford circus, which is actually on the same block as the visa medical building. Literally like a one minute walk. 
 

as of this morning there still wasn’t any interview appointments available, but my wife was checking all the way home in the car refreshing the page and wouldn’t you believe November dates were released!! Needless to say we booked immediately, so as of right now, my interview will be November 16th. We could have gotten earlier but since Wales will be in a 2 week fire lockdown next week, November 16th gives us time to get through that and see what the situation is. 
 

crossing my fingers for no more holdups

4 hours ago, Robyn-n-Kris said:

Nm the above. Our status just changed to issued!!!!

Excellent news! Congratulations!

12 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Toward the end of the month is when they tend to open up another month which would be December interview dates. It is random and not really following the typical old pattern. Cancellations might pop up. I think they are keeping it pretty thin now...lack of staff? ...keeping visitor numbers down? 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for the info. I’ll keep trying. We were crossing our fingers to be back in NY by January, but it’s starting to look unlikely. Fingers crossed we get lucky with a cancellation or something 

So since my medical is set for Monday morning, we’re obviously trying to book our interview date as well. We’ve completed and submitted the DS260, and now I’m trying the AIS interview portal multiple times daily with no joy so far. 
 

does anyone have an idea of roughly when the dates get released on there, so I can plan when the best time to try is, or is it totally random?

On 10/9/2020 at 12:16 PM, Stuwoolf said:

......and if you require overnight accom try Mandevill Hotel. Its a 2 minute walk to VisaMedical at Bentinck Mansions.

Hi Stu. Since you’ve done your medical already, can you tell me if you needed to fast for blood tests? My medical is booked for 10:30am so I’m wondering if I should hold off on breakfast until after the medical. Is that a requirement? 

1 hour ago, The4Sands said:

Hooray!! Glad you got it so soon. Hope it all moves quickly for you. 

 

I'm pretty anxious about the prospect of "circuit-breaks" and local lockdowns. I fly out on Saturday and my husband and the kids on the 29th. Lots could change between now and then!! 

 

Wishing you all the best!!!

I know it’s a nervy time all around! Thank you for the well wishes, I wish you all the luck too. 

On 10/9/2020 at 12:13 PM, The4Sands said:

I second this.  The people at VisaMedical were incredibly helpful and had lots of availability.  Hang in there @nickyducky, you're nearly there!!!

Medical booked for Monday, and going to be checking out interview dates tonight hopefully to get that booked ASAP!! Everything moving quite quickly now! (We need it to as well, especially with threats of local lockdowns everywhere at the moment) ☺️

5 minutes ago, Stuwoolf said:

......and if you require overnight accom try Mandevill Hotel. Its a 2 minute walk to VisaMedical at Bentinck Mansions.

Already noted since you mentioned last time. ☺️

19 minutes ago, Stuwoolf said:

Almost there🙂

Just received my police report back this morning. Will be hopefully in London next week at my son needs his US passport renewing. Will be trying to arrange medical for one of the days while we’re in town since we’re traveling down from Wales.

then will be the adventures in arranging an interview date. 

FINALLY!!!! I GOT MY LND NUMBER!!!

we tried contacting the DOS (no help really. Just told us to keep contacting the embassy)

I sent ANOTHER email to the Embassy, only this time changed my subject line to:

”PLEASE HELP!!! STILL WAITING FOR LND SINCE FEBRUARY”

that seemed to do the trick as they replied telling me my case number has been approved!

now the mad rush for medical and interview appointments begins. 
 

SO relieved though. Finally we have some kind of light on the horizon! 😀

14 hours ago, Stuwoolf said:

Yes. I had my medical on Monday and I too had to get a shot😔. Had the choice to get it done at my GP or at the medical. For the sake of £40 thought it was best to get it done there and then.

 

Hired a car. Drove down on Sunday, 7 hours, Medical at 10.10 Monday. Drove home at around 12.30PM, 7 hours again. Stayed at the Mandeville Hotel (lovely) which was 2 minutes walk (around the corner, literally) from VisaMedical in Bentinck Mansions. NCP car park, Portman Square, was 10-15 minutes walk from hotel. Prebooked 6PM to 2.30PM - £13, which for London I thought was a bargain.

 

Now need to try and get an interview slot, hopefully the tailend of October, after 21st or early November🤞

 

Good luck everyone🙂

Thanks so much for sharing this hotel info. This was one of the things that was setting off my anxiety, not knowing about any convenient hotels. I’ll definitely use this one if it’s close by. 
 

we usually book in the Holiday Inn Express Nine Elms when we need to go to the embassy as again, it’s literally a few minutes walk away. 

30 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

So disappointing, but it will happen for you. Did you try calling the DOS number and pleading for some information? Your letter could have landed in a letterbox down the street. 

My wife wanted to give it one more week just because it seems our mail has finally started coming through with some kind of regularity now after basically getting next to nothing for 3 weeks. 
 

if still not sign next week she’ll try the DOS. 

1 minute ago, Stuwoolf said:

Congratulations!

 

Best of luck. I do hope your letter us on its way to you this week.

 

Best wishes🙂

Thank you, Stu. I hope so too. 👍🏻

51 minutes ago, Cauldron said:

Hey! So, I found out on Friday that my number had been sent. I messaged the staff at my old apartment and sure enough in the postbox there was the letter dated September 15. This is odd because the address is definitely not my mailing address. Do you have different addresses it could have gone too? 

Firstly congratulations! 
 

it seems like we’re the last to get our number now. We’ve been at the same UK a address since moving back here so there’s no other address it could have been sent to, sadly. 😑

you were the last one to offer us some solidarity but now we’re all alone in the abyss 😂 

best of luck with the rest of the process! Hopefully we’ll get something soon 🥺

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

 

Seven weeks I made a suggestion but don’t think anybody tried  contacting the Department of State. My wife’s contact number has been lost.  Here is the post from page 31 of this thread—-
 

Here’s a long shot idea for you. Back when I did this, my wife discovered calling the Department  of State was a way to get all kinds of info. We had no case status CEAC and such back then. Everything was by mail and paper forms. They (DOS) can access your case online. She found out interview date, when visa issued, and things like that with no wait time for somebody to answer. That eventually spread on VJ and everybody was calling them so they quit answering visa questions. Maybe if your USC calls, you will get lucky and get a sympathetic person who will not hang up on you. I found the old cracked iPad with her list of immigration phone numbers In the notepad, but it had been wiped clean.

 

There is a current number for emergency services for American citizens 202-502-4444. 

Perhaps the USC could call and say you seem to be stuck in no man’s land and need help because...insert any hardships like mom illness, house sale and being homeless.  You want to find out if  a State Department case number has been issued so you can finish.  Your Spouse visa petition was approved on [date] by the USCIS office in London. The case has been with the consulate in London for some time but you can’t continue with the automated procedures without a case number. The embassy will not respond even though they are open and conducting interviews. Can they please help you find out if a case number has been assigned or give you more information on how to get one.

Hi there. Thanks for the info. This may be worth a shot, but as our case is embassy and not NVC related, I’m not sure how much help it’ll be. 
 

may be worth a shot at this point though, I wasn’t on this forum that long ago so I missed your original post. 
 

cheers! 

27 minutes ago, Cauldron said:

🤦🏻‍♀️ Have you thought if there is anyone we can go to on the U.K. side of authorities to investigate? My husband started a consular investigation but I am wondering if there is anyone here that can advocate for us??

I would have hoped that as we’ve had approval letters, then surely the visa center should have record of our names at least!? 
 

I don’t know why they can’t just search our name and advise whether the LND has been sent already and been lost in the mail somewhere, or surely if we’re still waiting our cases should have been investigated by now 

23 minutes ago, Cauldron said:

Yeah, less of the poor me please guys. 😆 Two of us on here are still waiting from Feb and March. Sooooooooo 

Exactly! 😂👍🏻

7 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

I ran across a DCF over in the UK forum today who has had a petition approval and LND number for 18 months, but hasn’t been able to get into the appointment system. 😳😳😳

That is carrying patience too far. 

 

Omg! I pray that’s not gonna be the case for us. It’s bad enough waiting this long!! 

48 minutes ago, Cauldron said:

Hey. Who of us here is actually left from lockdown still without the LDN?? 

🤚🏻 Still waiting lol