How is the K1 Visa delivered?

[Scarlett 0]

Hi there, I have my London K1 interview scheduled for 29 October.

Can anyone tell me how the final passport with visa is delivered to us? I heard it is delivered by courier? Do we have to be there to sign for it? Does the Embassy give you any idea when it might arrive?

The reason I ask is that I am selling my house, so I will need to tell the Embassy to send it somewhere new - like my sister's house. I am just trying to picture how it will happen and make a sensible decision.

Thank you.

[Nicoxcx 1]

Hi Scarlett,

They use a Courier and they do inform you that if the Visa applicant is not the one recieving the Visa (they are out and have someone else waiting for it) they will need ID, a bank card. I was asked for a Signature.

You can pay extra to get an earlier delivery time, I paid for before 12 and got it an hour or so after 12, so that is not very reliable although I think you can pay to get it before 8am. My envelope says (1 day SMS).

[Scarlett 0]

Hi Scarlett,

They use a Courier and they do inform you that if the Visa applicant is not the one recieving the Visa (they are out and have someone else waiting for it) they will need ID, a bank card. I was asked for a Signature.

You can pay extra to get an earlier delivery time, I paid for before 12 and got it an hour or so after 12, so that is not very reliable although I think you can pay to get it before 8am. My envelope says (1 day SMS).

Thanks very much, that is very helpful. I will certainly pay to get it earlier in the day.

So do they tell you what day it is being delivered? Does the courier company tell you the delivery date? Or do you arrange this with the Embassy?

[Big Papa Zone 93]

All I know is that they'll send it to any address you like - so I'm having mine sent to my workplace. Seems the obvious option (based on the assumption that embassy mail, much like any other, is delivered whithin normal office hours).

[Jason&Sarah 0]

I read somewhere that they can send a text message the day before or the day of?

[SusieK 3]

I read somewhere that they can send a text message the day before or the day of?

Yes they "normally" send the text but dont count on it - after interview and if you are approved, SMS COURIER will deliver your package within normally two days! Some people the next day is pretty much the standard - again as long as approved and visa delivery paid for at end of your interview.

You can always call them if you dont see it within three days and they can say oh yes we tried to deliver but no one home, but dont count on the text message. They will deliver again.

They are pretty good tho about delivering as they are based at the embassy and it seems they do all their deliveries in the morn, with pick ups going back to embassy at night. Well sometimes

Cheers and gl

[SusieK 3]

All I know is that they'll send it to any address you like - so I'm having mine sent to my workplace. Seems the obvious option (based on the assumption that embassy mail, much like any other, is delivered whithin normal office hours).

Yes their hours of operation are from 8am to 6pm and ooohhh they have Saturday delivery weee (few extra quid i think it was 20 pounds) - but not to pick up anything going back to embassy, just to deliver visas.

[Scarlett 0]

All I know is that they'll send it to any address you like - so I'm having mine sent to my workplace. Seems the obvious option (based on the assumption that embassy mail, much like any other, is delivered whithin normal office hours).

Yep. Except I was hoping to finish work Friday 31 October in preparation for running to the airport as soon as the Visa comes

[SusieK 3]

All I know is that they'll send it to any address you like - so I'm having mine sent to my workplace. Seems the obvious option (based on the assumption that embassy mail, much like any other, is delivered whithin normal office hours).

Yep. Except I was hoping to finish work Friday 31 October in preparation for running to the airport as soon as the Visa comes

They can deliver to your work as stated in above thread, but again what the norm usually is two days for delivery after date of interview and passing it also .

Good Luck on your interview and God Speed

[Scarlett 0]

All I know is that they'll send it to any address you like - so I'm having mine sent to my workplace. Seems the obvious option (based on the assumption that embassy mail, much like any other, is delivered whithin normal office hours).

Yep. Except I was hoping to finish work Friday 31 October in preparation for running to the airport as soon as the Visa comes

They can deliver to your work as stated in above thread, but again what the norm usually is two days for delivery after date of interview and passing it also .

Good Luck on your interview and God Speed

Thanks. I am actually really looking forward to the interview. Anything beats waiting. I would LOVE it if they delivered in 2 days! I could be out of here the following week! Most people's timelines suggest it takes a little longer though so I shall just have to give an address and make sure I am there. I like the idea of delivery before 8am. I guess I need to talk it through at the Embassy IF I pass

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Ours took a week from the interview date, but their computer was down on interview day and the truck broke down the day it was supposed to come. We never got a text message. I was at the house to sign for Nick, and the guy didn't even ask for any id. They weren't too efficient in our case, but most people have a little better luck.

Here's their website with info and fees, etc.

http://www.securemail.co.uk/sms/embassyservices/default.asp

[Scarlett 0]

Ours took a week from the interview date, but their computer was down on interview day and the truck broke down the day it was supposed to come. We never got a text message. I was at the house to sign for Nick, and the guy didn't even ask for any id. They weren't too efficient in our case, but most people have a little better luck.

Here's their website with info and fees, etc.

http://www.securemail.co.uk/sms/embassyservices/default.asp

Oh cool, thanks. I have heard other stories of them taking money for fast delivery and then not doing it, so I guess I still shouldn't book a ticket til the thing arrives.

My new plan is to go to london for the interview and stay there at my sisters house until it is time to get on the plane. This means leaving work and Sheffield earlier, but I think it makes more sense.

Oh, and I heard that someone paid a lot of money for next day delivery (and it didn't come) and that isn't even an option on this website! I don't know what's going on but it doesn't sound very reliable.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Scarlett

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

They don't offer any service that guarantees which day you'll get it, just services which (at least attempt to) guarantee before what time you'll receive it. We paid the full supplement to receive it before 8am, but it was worth it for us as we both needed to go to work. It may be that whoever thought they bought next day delivery was actually buying the pre-8am service -- perhaps they asked for "the quickest"?

In general, waiting to book your ticket until you have the visa is a good idea. We booked our tickets back before the interview, but since our departure date wasn't until 2 months after the interview AND the ticket was changeable we felt comortable doing so. I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I was dependent on the courier getting something to me within a few days; even simple things can go wrong with no apparent reason and no AP. Just my 2p.

[Scarlett 0]

They don't offer any service that guarantees which day you'll get it, just services which (at least attempt to) guarantee before what time you'll receive it. We paid the full supplement to receive it before 8am, but it was worth it for us as we both needed to go to work. It may be that whoever thought they bought next day delivery was actually buying the pre-8am service -- perhaps they asked for "the quickest"?

In general, waiting to book your ticket until you have the visa is a good idea. We booked our tickets back before the interview, but since our departure date wasn't until 2 months after the interview AND the ticket was changeable we felt comortable doing so. I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I was dependent on the courier getting something to me within a few days; even simple things can go wrong with no apparent reason and no AP. Just my 2p.

Yep, I hear ya. I don't want to tempt fate. I want to travel on 5 November just cos that is mine and Dave's 2 year anniversary of meeting, but I'm not going to let sentimentality rock our boat.