People between NOA2 and Interview ~2009~

[DairyFarmer 1]

FYI - The email address is no longer accepting 'unauthorized' emails. I sent a request in and it bounced back saying it was deleted without being read by saying:

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. Please understand our workload does not allow us to

read unauthorized inquiries, but the Embassy has set up several

mechanisms to provide general and personalized guidance.

That's standard. It has always bounced emails back with that reply...since 9/11 maybe?? Sometimes they answer anyway, even though they send that automated reply. And getting the email code is supposed to make sure they answer you.

Actually this is NOT the standard reply, it has been updated in the last 2 weeks. I should know I have enough of the darn things.

I called the extortion line and this is the reply a code gets you.

Your message has been received by the Consular Information Unit. We are

currently averaging three to four days to answer email correspondence.

There is no mechanism for "status checks" while a visa application is

being processed. Inquiries concerning cases which require

administrative processing or background checks, and which have been

pending less than 90 days, will not be answered.

Please do not, under any circumstances, send a duplicate or follow-on

e-mail. Repeat messages slow down our response time, and we reserve the

right to permanently delete all e-mails from senders who transmit repeat

messages or status checks.

Sincerely,

Consular Information Unit

[mr and mrs 187]

how ya doin', ms. dairyfarmer? hope you are hanging in there. <3

[DairyFarmer 1]

I should add the extortion line said they will most likely add the email to your file but will not respond, even though they did in the past. Additionally AP response time frame has been extended from 60 to 90 days.

Oh and a small glimmer of hope apparently I am under AR and not AP according to the USE London. DOS is still saying AP though.

how ya doin', ms. dairyfarmer? hope you are hanging in there. <3

Just hanging in. Not feeling the best of late, however have been averaging 7 miles a day walking, to fill the time. Add to that volunteering at the local Barnados, washing clothes, still leaves me 10 hours a day to play stupid games on facebook.

[Bob and Patricia 0]

And for those who haven't sent in package 3 yet, you might want to considering filling out both wedding date and travel date fields even if plans aren't finalized.

The IV-15 form asks what your travel and wedding dates might be, but I wouldn't consider putting in a date just to jump to the front of the queue. I'm not sure if it's related to assigning an interview date, but question 18 on the DS-157 form asks,

"Have you made specific travel arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location."

If I'm wrong in tying this to wedding/travel plans, somebody please correct me.

Bob

[MARM 7]

And for those who haven't sent in package 3 yet, you might want to considering filling out both wedding date and travel date fields even if plans aren't finalized.

The IV-15 form asks what your travel and wedding dates might be, but I wouldn't consider putting in a date just to jump to the front of the queue. I'm not sure if it's related to assigning an interview date, but question 18 on the DS-157 form asks,

"Have you made specific travel arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location."

If I'm wrong in tying this to wedding/travel plans, somebody please correct me.

Bob

Bob,

The IV-15 form questions about travel and wedding dates are used for determining the K-1 interview date by the embassy, because this specific form, IV-15 is a checklist to inform the embassy that you are ready for the interview.

As far as the DS-157 #18, do not put in wedding/travel plans or flight/trip information. You are not supposed to make definite plans to travel until after the K-1 (technically). Just mark "no" for question #18. We did that too and so did everyone else we know.

[Bob and Patricia 0]

And for those who haven't sent in package 3 yet, you might want to considering filling out both wedding date and travel date fields even if plans aren't finalized.

The IV-15 form asks what your travel and wedding dates might be, but I wouldn't consider putting in a date just to jump to the front of the queue. I'm not sure if it's related to assigning an interview date, but question 18 on the DS-157 form asks,

"Have you made specific travel arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location."

If I'm wrong in tying this to wedding/travel plans, somebody please correct me.

Bob

Bob,

The IV-15 form questions about travel and wedding dates are used for determining the K-1 interview date by the embassy, because this specific form, IV-15 is a checklist to inform the embassy that you are ready for the interview.

As far as the DS-157 #18, do not put in wedding/travel plans or flight/trip information. You are not supposed to make definite plans to travel until after the K-1 (technically). Just mark "no" for question #18. We did that too and so did everyone else we know.

I kind of suspected that when we filled ours out, but we error'd on the side of caution and left the IV-15 dates blank. Thanks for the correction!

Bob and Patricia

[mrs_sdp 0]

And for those who haven't sent in package 3 yet, you might want to considering filling out both wedding date and travel date fields even if plans aren't finalized.

The IV-15 form asks what your travel and wedding dates might be, but I wouldn't consider putting in a date just to jump to the front of the queue. I'm not sure if it's related to assigning an interview date, but question 18 on the DS-157 form asks,

"Have you made specific travel arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location."

If I'm wrong in tying this to wedding/travel plans, somebody please correct me.

Bob

Hi All ....

I do remember seeing that Bob and I DID put NO to the DS-157 question. I have no specific travel dates - I'm doing what I'm told and am waiting until I have my visa in hand before booking my one way flight!

However, as you say, the IV-15 form asks if you have a date in mind for travelling and also for the wedding. I put "mid May" for travelling and "mid June" for the wedding. It's what we are hoping for, so maybe the Embassy will co-operate and maybe they won't! I know I couldn't give them specific dates, but I didn't want to just leave it blank ....

You know .... I've spent 11 days with Steve out of the last eight months and I'm really struggling to be patient .... I know I'm luckier than some people because I actually had a visit .. but OMG .. I wish they would hurry up and extract the proverbial finger!

OK .. OK ... I'm breathing ... INHALE .. EXHALE .. INHALE .. EXHALE ....

Moira x

PS .. hope you had a great visit to Manchester Bob!

[Ellie-and-David 38]

And for those who haven't sent in package 3 yet, you might want to considering filling out both wedding date and travel date fields even if plans aren't finalized.

The IV-15 form asks what your travel and wedding dates might be, but I wouldn't consider putting in a date just to jump to the front of the queue. I'm not sure if it's related to assigning an interview date, but question 18 on the DS-157 form asks,

"Have you made specific travel arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location."

If I'm wrong in tying this to wedding/travel plans, somebody please correct me.

Bob

Hi All ....

I do remember seeing that Bob and I DID put NO to the DS-157 question. I have no specific travel dates - I'm doing what I'm told and am waiting until I have my visa in hand before booking my one way flight!

However, as you say, the IV-15 form asks if you have a date in mind for travelling and also for the wedding. I put "mid May" for travelling and "mid June" for the wedding. It's what we are hoping for, so maybe the Embassy will co-operate and maybe they won't! I know I couldn't give them specific dates, but I didn't want to just leave it blank ....

You know .... I've spent 11 days with Steve out of the last eight months and I'm really struggling to be patient .... I know I'm luckier than some people because I actually had a visit .. but OMG .. I wish they would hurry up and extract the proverbial finger!

OK .. OK ... I'm breathing ... INHALE .. EXHALE .. INHALE .. EXHALE ....

Moira x

PS .. hope you had a great visit to Manchester Bob!

I had 6 weeks in the last 8 months and Im still impatient.....so your a saint in comparison to my stompy madam attitude

Soon Moira! SO soooon!

[mrs_sdp 0]

I had 6 weeks in the last 8 months and Im still impatient.....so your a saint in comparison to my stompy madam attitude

Soon Moira! SO soooon!

OMG .... I was so spoiled the year before - I was a part-time student and managed to stay in the USA with Steve for a total of 150 days!!

I guess that's why I'm feeling it so hard now ... <sighs>

I know it's soon ...

[mrs_sdp 0]

But ....

I WANT IT SOONER!!!! STOMP STOMP STOMP!!!

Madam Moira x

Edited April 15, 2009 by mrs_sdp

[H&V 5]

Just to add a quick note to this topic, when I sent my checklist back in March I just put 'June 09' for travel date and 'Aug 09' for wedding, no specific dates and even though they aren't confirmed. Well we ended up getting an interview in mid-May, but others around the same time got end of Apr, and others, I know, haven't heard at all yet (won't be long!). So don't know if that helps anyone with their estimations?!

[JimandChristy 1,689]

I've just been down to my local surgery and have been given the Tdap and MMR vaccinations. However the nurse said to me that I will need a MMR booster in one month time since the first shot isn't strong enough. Has anyone else had this explanation given to them because I thought having just the one would be sufficient.

Edited April 15, 2009 by JimandChristy

[English Muffin 59]

I've just been down to my local surgery and have been given the Tdap and MMR vaccinations. However the nurse said to me that I will need a MMR booster in one month time since the first shot isn't strong enough. Has anyone else had this explanation given to them because I thought having just the one would be sufficient.

Yes, I had to have two done as well. I don't think they were a month apart though, I'm sure I only waited 2 weeks.

[Laura+Tom 2]

I've just been down to my local surgery and have been given the Tdap and MMR vaccinations. However the nurse said to me that I will need a MMR booster in one month time since the first shot isn't strong enough. Has anyone else had this explanation given to them because I thought having just the one would be sufficient.

Have you had an MMR vaccination before? If not you need two vaccinations before it is fully effective. I had my first in 1994 and the second one a couple weeks ago. The nurse didn't say anything about going back for another so my second must have been my 'booster'.

Edited April 15, 2009 by Laura+Tom

[JimandChristy 1,689]

I've just been down to my local surgery and have been given the Tdap and MMR vaccinations. However the nurse said to me that I will need a MMR booster in one month time since the first shot isn't strong enough. Has anyone else had this explanation given to them because I thought having just the one would be sufficient.

Have you had an MMR vaccination before? If not you need two vaccinations before it is fully effective. I had my first in 1994 and the second one a couple weeks ago. The nurse didn't say anything about going back for another so my second must have been my 'booster'.

No, I've only ever had MR vaccination so thats probably why I need the two. But needing to wait a month apart, much prefer to get it out of the way sooner.