Finally got my interview date but...

[james_michael_hill 0]

Finally got my interview date at the London embassy but.... I'm on holiday!

I got package 4 from the enbassy and they've given me the interview date of Jan 2nd. Thr trouble is Im away until the 4th - I could just not go on holiday but I'd rather try and change the date to a week later! Has anyone changed their interview date before, especially with London? Is it easy? It said in the package that I need to send a letter to change the date, but surely an email would be ok, wouldn't it?

Also my package 4 was incomplete - there wasnt any payment slip in it. In fact there was only a letter and a map in it! Does anyone know if I can download the payment slip?

Thanks in advance,

James

[Mags 112]

Most people have managed to change their interviews, at London, via email. Send them an email, with your case number in the subject box. Explain about your holiday and also mention the lack of payment slip aswell.

You shouldn't have any problems. Good luck!

[james_michael_hill 0]

Cool - I'll give the email a go then. Thanks for your help.

[james_michael_hill 0]

I sent an email to the embassy last night and got the below automated response. As far I can tell its basically telling me that I should call them on the super expensive number, as i was not expressly invited to send them an email! Or do you think I should just wait a few days and see if they reply? I just don't want to leave it any longer than neccesary, but equally don't want to spend £1.20 a minute calling them! does anyone have an alternative email address to the standard embassy one, that perhaps deals with just the interview process?

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED REPLY. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL.

IF YOU WERE ASKED TO USE THIS ADDRESS, WE WILL ANSWER IN THE ORDER YOUR

E-MAIL WAS RECEIVED.

IF YOU WERE NOT ASKED TO USE THIS ADDRESS, YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER

RESPONSE.

This e-mail address is solely for individuals who have been authorized

to contact the Consular Information Unit about a specific matter.

This address is not for general inquiries from the public, attorneys or

agents of record. Unauthorized inquiries will be deleted without

response.

Highly detailed visa information is available from the Embassy's

website

at http://london.usembassy.gov. Due to our heavy workload, we cannot

respond to email inquiries when the subject matter is addressed on the

website.

We also cannot respond to requests for expedited processing, or

nonimmigrant visa "case status" inquiries which are still within the

estimated time frame given on the website, or by the interviewing

Consular Officer, whichever is longer.

If you still have questions after reading all of the content on the

website, please call the Embassy's Operator Assisted Information

Service

for personalized service. Contact information can be found on this

page: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/index.html.

[no name 1]

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED REPLY. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL.

IF YOU WERE ASKED TO USE THIS ADDRESS, WE WILL ANSWER IN THE ORDER YOUR

E-MAIL WAS RECEIVED.

IF YOU WERE NOT ASKED TO USE THIS ADDRESS, YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER

RESPONSE.

This e-mail address is solely for individuals who have been authorized

to contact the Consular Information Unit about a specific matter.

This address is not for general inquiries from the public, attorneys or

agents of record. Unauthorized inquiries will be deleted without

response.

Highly detailed visa information is available from the Embassy's

website

at http://london.usembassy.gov. Due to our heavy workload, we cannot respond to email inquiries when the subject matter is addressed on the website.

We also cannot respond to requests for expedited processing, or

nonimmigrant visa "case status" inquiries which are still within the

estimated time frame given on the website, or by the interviewing

Consular Officer, whichever is longer.

If you still have questions after reading all of the content on the

website, please call the Embassy's Operator Assisted Information

Service

for personalized service. Contact information can be found on this

page: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/index.html.

Um, read what I highlighted in bold. It's fine! Hopefully your case # was in the subject field.

Edited December 4, 2006 by devilette

[james_michael_hill 0]

Yeah, I think Im probably worrying about nothing. I didnt put my case number in the title, though I did put it at the top of the email, so hopefully that'll be fine. Anyone any idea how long they usually take to respond? I know it says 'in the order it was recieved' but does that generally mean a few days or a week? anyone have any experience with the london embassy? i know their generally meant to be quite speedy.

[Mags 112]

That's a standard email receipt reply. I think it is designed to put off lawyers and the like sending unsolicited mail.

They will know you have a pending case and should reply pretty soon. Word of warning though, they took about 10 days to reply to an email of mine. So, don't panic if you don't hear anything right away.

[milimelo 4,467]

I also had to postpone my interview for CR1 - was scheduled for 14 December but I only received the package 4 this past Saturday. Of course, I have yet to take the medical and gather all the documents on the checklist and that takes time.

So, I just emailed the Embassy [subject: my case number and change of appointment] and asked to postpone the interview for a later date due to my circumstances (described above) and even asked for the second week of January. The reply was almost instantaneous - you can come on 9 January.

I am sure they will postpone your interview as well and I am sure you will receive a reply.

Best of luck!

[felnfrank 1]

goodluck!

[james_michael_hill 0]

Cheers guys - i still haven't had a reply from the embassy so tried to give them a call. I got through to the helpdesk in Scotland where the gentleman on the other end of the phone really didnt seem to know if I would be able to change the date of my interview. He then said it was probably best to not even ask as this could delay my application and I might end up getting an interview date 2 months later! Well Im so glad I called and paid £1.20 a minute for such useful and positvie advice!

Think I'll send another email tonight (this time with my case number in the title) chasing up my last email, especially since Milimelo recieved a reply so quick! It would just be nice to know one way or the other so i can solidfy plans for my last New Years in the UK.

By the way does anyone have a phone number that actually gets through to the London embassy rather than Scotland?!

[no name 1]

By the way does anyone have a phone number that actually gets through to the London embassy rather than Scotland?!

There isn't one, unfortunately! Email is it.

[james_michael_hill 0]

The 'londonconsular@state.gov' email address, right? I sent another email last night, chasing up the last one so hopefully I'll get a response soon.

[james_michael_hill 0]

Ok - this is starting to get a bit ridiculous. I've still not had a reply to my first email sent on the 3rd. I sent a chaseup email on the 7th my case number in the title, and still nothing. I've since spoken to the helpdesk and they advised me to put some code in the title of the email and resend it and I should get a response straight away, so I did yesterday. Ive still not had a reply to any of the 3 emails I've sent, and have no idea if I'm even sending them to the correct place!

Im just getting annoyed as my interview is/was/may be in 3 weeks time! Has anyone any ideas how to get a response from the embassy one way or the other? A different email address to the 'londonconsular@state.gov', maybe?

Thanks for your help so far guys,

James

[no name 1]

Ok - this is starting to get a bit ridiculous. I've still not had a reply to my first email sent on the 3rd. I sent a chaseup email on the 7th my case number in the title, and still nothing. I've since spoken to the helpdesk and they advised me to put some code in the title of the email and resend it and I should get a response straight away, so I did yesterday. Ive still not had a reply to any of the 3 emails I've sent, and have no idea if I'm even sending them to the correct place!

Im just getting annoyed as my interview is/was/may be in 3 weeks time! Has anyone any ideas how to get a response from the embassy one way or the other? A different email address to the 'londonconsular@state.gov', maybe?

Thanks for your help so far guys,

James

That's the right one. I'm assuming with the holidays they willbe all sorts of screwed up...all you can do is wait. Mags sent an email that took them 10 days to reply to.

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/inde...&cty=London

[james_michael_hill 0]

Cheers - I know Im getting impatient. i guess its because I work on a government helpdesk and we manage to reply to emails within a few days. It boggles my mind how it can take them 9 days (so far) just to write a few sentences.

Oh and just to confirm with anyone who has had their interview recently - you do need to pay in advance right? I haven't got a slip yet so was wondering if worst comes to the worst, if I can just pay on the day?