Update on E-mail Delays from London

[AFQuaid 18]

Hey folks,

Thought I'd post just recieved a reply from London (sent 11th June it is now 21st), obviously not 3-4 day reply as stated in their automatic message. I asked them if they recieved our checklist yet as it would of gotten there to next day. To say the least I expected the reply they sent;

"We have no record of having received the Document Checklist. However there is a delay of 6 - 8 weeks between the date forms are received by the Embassy and the date in which they are processed and entered on to our system. As soon as the Immigrant Visa Unit has received the Document Checklist and completed any additional processing on your application you can anticipate receiving an appointment date for an interview within 8 weeks.

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence.

Consular Information Unit

U.S. Embassy, London

CONS/CIU/SF"

At this rate I'll be lucky if we get a September interview nevermind getting to see Andy again then. Bit annoyed. Now I have a GREAT concern about our NOA2 Approval expiring 7/7/06. I emailed London a few weeks ago about that and got this jumbled up reply;

"For your information, the visa petition approval is only valid for four months. If your fiance has not obtained an interview in this time his application will NOT be cancelled , it will remain valid providing that he furnishes a sworn affidavit from you, the petitioner, confirming that you will be married within 90 days of arriving in the United States.

This letter should be furnished, together with all other supporting documents, at the visa interview.

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence.

Consular Information Unit

U.S. Embassy London

Cons/CIU/MH "

Obviously they have myself and my fiance the wrong way around. I got Andy to write another "intent to marry within 90 days" and I have it with me but what if my interview isn't by 7/7?

Btw a year tomorrow since I met andy in person for the first time and on the 4th July will be exactly a year since I last saw the face of my future for the last time that keeps slipped further out of my grasp.

Some days are harder than others and as we wait, wait and wait. Doesn't help I'm now being tested for glaucoma. If they do diagnose that thats another thing to add to the list of medical problems at the medical. Arrg, life is definently testing our strength....

Hope your journeys are going well guys I look forward to the interview and possibly meeting a VJer lol

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Hang in there Fiona it will not be long and you will have packet 4. It is my understanding the embassy revalidates the petion, so don't think you have to worry. Know how you feel we went a year without seeing one another, but we try to stay positive if we can make it through that and immigration we can make it through anything life throws our way.

Wishing you well with your glaucoma screening.

I have visited your webpage, and it seems you are both very strong people. I am very grateful to know your story and see you two making it through this journey it is a tough one even for the healthiest of people and your strength always shines through! Wish everyone would take the time to read your stories and perhaps their journey would be easier knowing there is always someone who has waited longer or who has many more obstacles to overcome. You are certainly a and I admire your courage! Looking forward to reading you have an interview date.

Bethanie

[gimygirl 0]

fiona ...

this is quite common for london ... it usually takes 4-6 from when you sent your packet back to hear anything from them so just sit tight!!

as for your NOA2 expiring ... now that the embassy has it and is processing it ... that date is automatically extended.

try not to worry yourself over things that don't need to be worried about! they'll be more opportunities for that later!!!

[rebeccajo 14]

Fiona, that's a stock standard boilerplate response that London issues to most e-mail replies. As the others have said, don't let it worry you.

[Anyta Holland 0]

Hi Fiona,

Can I ask when did you send your packet 3 back?

If you see my timeline it took a bit less than a month to send us packet 4 back....

You can expedite the process by going to your medical as soon as your tests for Glaucoma are done... Don't think you need to worry too much as it is pretty much a general medical and I read somewhere that the only reasons they would not let you in (cause of medical reasons) would be illnesses that could affect other people (i.e. HIV, AIDS) or people who are addicted/have abused drugs.

Put your mind at ease, as I read it, they are telling you that even though your petition might expire, your application will not be cancelled.

I can't even start to imagine how difficult it might be to be away from your hubby to be, but just hang in there!

[Jaylen Brit 0]

Yeah I agree with Becca - I didn't email the Embassy after I returned pkt 3 cos I had it signed for - and the post office said they had it - and when we'd enquired about the NOA2 at NVC they said they didn't have it ven when they did (what the deal with people just saying 'look we get 100's of these a day, we don't KNOW if we have it, we probably do, we'll let you know when we send it to London, if you don't hear in 3 weeks or so THEN you can email again' it would just be more honest..and accurate!) so I just sat tight and waited and lo and behold packet 4 suddenly arrived with no fanfare.

I do however have a suspicion; and I may be WAY off base with it, but I seem to have got my interview date really quickly compared to others, (some who applied way before me had dates close to mine) and the ONLY difference I could see was that they were a LOT further from London than I was. Ditto the receipt of the actual visa in passport - I got mine before Ollie (Latitudes) who paid EXTRA for fast delivery due to his flight being booked.

Either way - panic not - the Embassy was packed to the rafters the day I went - so I know how busy they are just from the amount of people who were waiting that day.