jkminney

Hey, congratulations to everybody who has their SIF!

I'm having a hard time though because my timeline is right up there with you guys. BUT because of this and that, my husband had to mail the IV packet from France. To mail it overnight you have to have a phone number for the NVC and he didn't have it. So he just mailed it regular (but certified) mail. That was August 13th. I'm so frustrated because we don't know when it arrived and I am not getting anything from the NVC.

I put so much effort into making that packet perfect and I feel like he threw it away by sending it regular mail. I'm sorry to complain... Feeling frustrated and down.

Even regular mail from the UK seems to get to me within a week so I would think they should have it shortly if not already! You'll be done soon and can take that big sigh of relief.

Where are you guys finding these schedules for the embassies?

I don't ever put in a start date. If you look at the time lines and click on the little arrow down mark on interview it will give you the dates from the furtherst interview out scheduled towards current or past interviews. The last I looked the furthest interview date out was Sept 29th.

Well I can tell you that the embassy holds interviews throughout the month not just the first 2 weeks. The reps will often advise that they only give out interviews within the first 2 weeks of the month so basically at this point you just have to wait and see what you are given. I do believe that once you have been given an interview date you can email the embassy and ask if you can get a different date if it's available but obviously that's not a guarantee. You can go to immigration timelines and view when people have been given interview dates. There are 9 interviews in sept at the London office.

It would be very helpful to everyone if you would fill in your timeline.

Thank you so much for the info. After I googled the acronyms in your post , I found that I had an SIF. I then called the AVR, got some confusing info, and finally spoke to an operator who informed me that the DS-230 was not yet in their system. She told me when they do receive it, it should take 20 days to process.

I'm guessing, on my poor calculations, that we should hope for an interview the 3rd or 4th week in October. Someone correct me if this sounds way off.

20 days is their standard robotic response lol. Really it's taking anywhee from 5-10 days for them to review the DS-230 once it's been received. I would recommend calling a rep daily because if there is an RFE (request for further evidence) if you dont call and find out from a rep and you wait for an email it could take a week to get it and that's a week behind getting whatever it is they ask for. I would think if you can get the case closed (the AVR will tell you when this happens) by the end of the month/beginning of next you hopefully would get an Oct interview. Really until they give us the dates we are all at their mercy.

They'll have to process that DS-230 packet and once they've done that the case will close. You can find out if it's closed by one of the following ways:

1. Try to sign into the payment portal. If you get a SIF than you cal call NVC to verify.

2. Check the AVR. However I have found that takes a day to update.

Then you wait again for them to assign an interview date.

Another sigh of relief heard around the world

Yes me too. I was so scared to get a RFE, phew.

I fly back to the UK on friday to be back for my medical and the illusive interview, at some point.

My wife is coming with me for a week, so I guess we are lucky with the amount of time we have been able to spend with each other while this process ticks along.

Doesn't make it much easier though when we are not with each other.

I think you will laugh when you finally go to that interview...you will seriously think are you kidding me? That's it? John has spent a lot of time here over the past couple years due to the economy there and not finding work. I said might as well be here when ya can because you aren't able to work there anyway lol This has been a long few months though. To only see him for 2 wks in may/june pretty much sucks and I can't wait to just be finished with it.

I figure I'll call on Fridays and that will be it. I did sorta hope that maybe September may still be open because looking at the amount of people scheduled...there aren't THAT many. I do think we are probably looking at October which still isn't too bad. I'm just glad to be done with the paperwork that was a stress I was happy to be rid of. When are you going back?

I have got 2 different answers between last night and today as far as September availability. The fella I spoke to last night said they WERE available. The gal I spoke to today said they AREN'T available. So it's a coin toss right now I'm waiting with you though so I would like to be able to keep track of who's getting what and when lol

Yes its fine, they will process your IV first and you will get a RFE for the AOS which you will be sending soon.

Which happened to me. The AVR for mine still says they are waiting for the AOS

I will update this in my signature.

I find it funny that from the beginning the dates for us have been a day apart. I sent our packet on March 17th and got SIF yesterday you sent yours March 18th and get sign in failed today. Hopefully both of you fellas get here for good soon!

I worked for a bank for years. If it didn't clear last night and you can deposit money to the bank prior to end of business today you should be fine if it were to clear tonight.

You know I can say from a customer service rep position taking call after call isnt always easy to sound excited but I can tell you that when they get someone who is polite and says thank you it means a lot. I always say I'm just the messenger and the the message unfortunately can't always be good. There's going to be someone who's just not meant for that job but I can honestly say I don't think I've talked to anyone who's been out of the norm rude..maybe some just doing their job and not any extra but even they weren't rude, just not going above and beyond.

I think I heard your sigh of relief from many states away! lol Congrats, I'm so happy for you!! Wishing you all the best for getting your interview date!

Thank you! I'm done sweating it now lol. I'm not going to call for a week to check on the interview. The fella I spoke to tonight said London still has September dates but I'm not so sure I believe him lol. So we'll see what happens....I'm thinking October for sure.

AVR hasn't updated yet. That thing always seems to be a day behind for me when I call it.

I'm sure you will be close on my tail Dave. I'm on the phone all day at work so I haven't called yet to confirm but I'm sure it's fine. I actually put the number in twice thinking I missed something the first time hahahaha.

I'm sitting here laughing because I have my neighbors at work high fiving me and I'm dancing around. I'm such a dork. I feel a huge sense of relief now

That's right folks....SIF!!!!

One down...One to go! No Whammies this week that's what I'm callin for lol

I did call NVC this morning and was told by the rep to disregard the 2 emails. So hopefully within the next few days this paperwork business will come to an end

Congratulations!

I know what you mean. I love fall too. Finally getting to wear a sweater after the summer and being able to have a fire. It's a relief everytime John comes and he hasn't been here since January and I've only seen him 2 wks in between now so this process can be done anytime now

Thanks Dave! It won't be long and all of this will be over lol. Fall will be a good time of year for all of us!

While I appreciate everyones info there have been 2 people who have told me to chill. This coming from people who have already had SIF. I find it very condicending and would appreciate if you not talk to me like I'm a 12 year old. I have been through this process twice and the first time I never received any emails. So pardon moi if I have concerns.

I just said to John you know going through this once is enough but this 2nd time around I've just had it. I'm beyond frustrated that someone else gets to delay our life. I've lost 10 lbs the last month because of this it just makes me sick and I'm to the point I could cry just because I'm frustrated and annoyed.