London Visa Interview times

[kiwirst 39]

So we have finally sent in the letter requesting the interview (this week)

Does anyone have an idea on roughly how long to process & get an interview? Not heard anything in writing so far that I need more documents. I see it says 4-6 weeks from letter request but does anyone have any actual times & lengths?

[Christi85 86]

Sounds about right. 4-6 weeks until you get a response and interviews are usually scheduled for 3-4 weeks from the date of the letter. So an average of 8 weeks from the time you send in your checklist till the date of your interview.

Also, London is really slow now in August so it may take a couple weeks more till you hear.

If you require a quicker turnaround time (i.e. an earlier interview date) because your plans are urgent, you can always email them and and let them know your timeline and ask for a priority date. It's not guaranteed that you'll get it, but they're reported to be pretty good at accomodating people who ask for it.

[Dodi 69]

What "letter requesting an interview" are you referring to? Did you send in the forms for Packet 3? You aren't required to send in a letter after that, they schedule it after they log in the forms and a scheduling block opens up. (They schedule in 2 week blocks, apparently.)

It took them 2 1/2 weeks to log in our paperwork once we sent back our forms, and then 2 additional days to schedule the interveiw. We got the date on Tuesday, 8/17, and it was scheduled for one month later, 9/17. I don't know if it makes any difference that he had his medical between the time we sent the packet back and they logged in the forms or not. Knightsbridge told him they'd have the medical results to the embassy on Friday 8/13, and they logged in our forms on that day. It could just be a coincidence.

Hope that helps!

[Christi85 86]

What "letter requesting an interview" are you referring to?

Sounds like they're referring to the DS-2001 form.

[Dodi 69]

That's what I thought, but his timeline says they sent back P3 on 8/9/10, and he says they sent the letter THIS week.

[kiwirst 39]

Sorry for the confusion.

I followed the step by step guide from the US Embassy website which says send in the documents first (DS-156 etc) then step 2 was to send in DS-2001 once you have everything in place (police certs etc).

I have booked the medical exam for next week. I heard somewhere the dates don't open until the medical results are received.

I will draft an email requesting an earlier date if possible due to my work commitments & see how that goes down.

[marlea 84]

That's what I thought, but his timeline says they sent back P3 on 8/9/10, and he says they sent the letter THIS week.

Sometimes people send the interview checklist back separately from the rest of the forms. My fiance did, as he wanted to get the forms sent back as soon as possible, but he didn't send back the checklist until after he had his medical scheduled. I think it's a bit quicker to send it all at once, as they only have to open one piece of mail, but sending one a few days after the other isn't unheard of. I think lots of people are sometimes forced to wait on the checklist due to circumstances, i.e. police certificate delayed, birth certificate delayed.

[kiwirst 39]

This was what happened to me, I didn't want to run the risk of getting an interview when I didn't have everything (highly unlikely but stranger things have happened right?)

I am also waiting on a NZ police Cert to arrive at the Embassy, I have absolutely no idea how long that will take as its inter-embassy.

I have emailed them today telling them my work situation as I am due to leave the country again on Thursday for 2-3 weeks minimum, hoping they will take that into account. Medical tomorrow so that is progressing.

We are still hoping like crazy for an Oct arrival but I have a feeling that may have to get pushed out to November, in any case as long as we get there right?

[marlea 84]

It seems that there have been a handful of people who haven't gotten interview dates assigned until their medical results are sent to the embassy. I've seen two people recently get their interview scheduled almost immediately after medical results arrived. As my fiance's medical isn't until next week, I have given up on the hope of a scheduled interview date until at least next week. Since your medical is tomorrow, you might start checking next week some time to see if they have gotten the results and if something is scheduled.

[kiwirst 39]

I emailed the Embassy today, explaining my situation with work & such, they have just replied back with the news that they have scheduled me an interview date for the 28th of September =)

So it doesn't need the medical results just how ever long it takes them to get it into the system. I will await my letter

[Bridetobe 0]

I emailed the Embassy today, explaining my situation with work & such, they have just replied back with the news that they have scheduled me an interview date for the 28th of September =)

So it doesn't need the medical results just how ever long it takes them to get it into the system. I will await my letter

2 questions if you don't mind me jumping on your thread..

1. How did you email the embassy?

2. How do people know that the Packet 3 was logged in? We're waiting on the interview date from London embassy also.

[kiwirst 39]

I phoned up the Embassy to get information regarding my Packet 3 as I had had problems with the postal service not delivering my letter. As it costs you £1.20p/min to call they gave me the following email to contact them with.

They said that not all questions are answered but providing you make the subject line your case number (NVC number will do) or give them enough info so they will reply with your case information.

I asked them for the letter saying they had received the Packet 3 documents for my records.

londonconsular@state.gov

[marlea 84]

So it doesn't need the medical results just how ever long it takes them to get it into the system.

Yep, you're right. They must have just been slow with our paperwork. It seems my fiance has an interview the same day you do!

[kiwirst 39]

Excellent news, congratulations.

Now to start the next stage of prep to do the final move, so much to deal with