Scheduling interview at the US Embassy in London (CR-1)

[jennie ann 15]

Our case was completed at NVC yesterday (April 11th), and I'm confused about the process of getting an interview in London. From what I understand, for most embassies/consulates, you don't get your medical until your interview has been scheduled. But I have heard that for London, you MUST have your medical done before the interview is even scheduled (i.e. the embassy will not schedule an interview until they've received your medical results). Can anyone tell me if this is definitely true or not? (The NVC operator said that I'm supposed to wait for the interview letter to schedule the interview, but she may not have known what she was talking about.) Also, can anyone speak to how long it really takes from case completed at NVC to interview date assignment to interview? Thanks for your help!

[Rachel-Marie 1]

Hi! You absolutely do need your medical done before they will schedule your interview.

This was my process (I am the US citizen)

Once I had NOA2, I called NVC every day to see if London had our case. Once I got a "yes, here is your LDN number" I wrote the number down and passed it onto my fiance. He then immediately booked his medical. All you need is the LDN number to book it.

Then once the medical is completed I kept calling DOS to see if London had received the medical results and if they had sent packet 3 out. As soon as they said yes packet 3 has been sent, my fiance already had packet 3 filled out and then dropped them right in the mail.

The interview is usually a month from packet 3. See my timeline

hope that helps!

Our case was completed at NVC yesterday (April 11th), and I'm confused about the process of getting an interview in London. From what I understand, for most embassies/consulates, you don't get your medical until your interview has been scheduled. But I have heard that for London, you MUST have your medical done before the interview is even scheduled (i.e. the embassy will not schedule an interview until they've received your medical results). Can anyone tell me if this is definitely true or not? (The NVC operator said that I'm supposed to wait for the interview letter to schedule the interview, but she may not have known what she was talking about.) Also, can anyone speak to how long it really takes from case completed at NVC to interview date assignment to interview? Thanks for your help!

I just realized youre a different visa than k-1. not sure if that means its a different process.

[jennie ann 15]

Hi! You absolutely do need your medical done before they will schedule your interview.

This was my process (I am the US citizen)

Once I had NOA2, I called NVC every day to see if London had our case. Once I got a "yes, here is your LDN number" I wrote the number down and passed it onto my fiance. He then immediately booked his medical. All you need is the LDN number to book it.

Then once the medical is completed I kept calling DOS to see if London had received the medical results and if they had sent packet 3 out. As soon as they said yes packet 3 has been sent, my fiance already had packet 3 filled out and then dropped them right in the mail.

The interview is usually a month from packet 3. See my timeline

hope that helps!

I just realized youre a different visa than k-1. not sure if that means its a different process.

Hi, thanks for your reply! But yeah, I think the CR-1 process might be a bit different, and I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

This is what it says on the embassy website regarding interviews:

"Immediate Relative Category: In general, applicants registered in the immediate relative category will be contacted within 4 - 6 weeks of the NVC completing action on their application. Those whose application is being processed by the Embassy, will not receive an appointment date until the Immigrant Visa Unit has not only completed action on the application, but has also received the results of the medical examination.

K visa Category: The appointment for the visa interview will not be scheduled until the Immigrant Visa Unit has completed action on the application and has also received the results of the medical examination."

But then on another section regarding the medical examination, it says this (no distinction between different types of visas):

"The medical examination must take place before the visa interview. The Embassy will not schedule the interview until they have received the results of the medical examination."

Grr... conflicting information. Anyone going through the CR-1/IR-1 process know for sure?

[tea4two 0]

Same thing for the CR-1 visa - need to get the medical done first. As soon as we sent off the AOS/IV paperwork to NVC my husband booked his medical - London Embassy had the results of the medical prior to receiving our case from NVC. The physical is good for a year, so it shouldn't be a problem!

You'll need the LND # to book it, and they will give you the link for the questionnaire and advise you to bring a passport photo (UK size is totally fine) and your police certificate with you on the day.

[Sapphire1965 5]

Hi! You absolutely do need your medical done before they will schedule your interview.

This was my process (I am the US citizen)

Once I had NOA2, I called NVC every day to see if London had our case. Once I got a "yes, here is your LDN number" I wrote the number down and passed it onto my fiance. He then immediately booked his medical. All you need is the LDN number to book it.

Then once the medical is completed I kept calling DOS to see if London had received the medical results and if they had sent packet 3 out. As soon as they said yes packet 3 has been sent, my fiance already had packet 3 filled out and then dropped them right in the mail.

The interview is usually a month from packet 3. See my timeline

hope that helps!

I just realized youre a different visa than k-1. not sure if that means its a different process.

Hi just noticed your interview date, my interview is also on the 27th at 10am good luck to you both might see your fiance there on the day.

[jennie ann 15]

Same thing for the CR-1 visa - need to get the medical done first. As soon as we sent off the AOS/IV paperwork to NVC my husband booked his medical - London Embassy had the results of the medical prior to receiving our case from NVC. The physical is good for a year, so it shouldn't be a problem!

You'll need the LND # to book it, and they will give you the link for the questionnaire and advise you to bring a passport photo (UK size is totally fine) and your police certificate with you on the day.

Thanks! The only problem for us is that my husband is actually here visiting me in the states now. He has his medical booked, but not until May 11th (he's flying back to London on the 3rd, and is going to his GP in his hometown to get his vaccinations done before the medical). It sucks that we have to wait (what, a couple of weeks or so?) after the medical is done to get an interview date because it messes with our travel plans.

How did you know for sure that the medical had to be done first? The embassy website? I find it insane that they wouldn't tell you that after your case is complete at NVC.

[jennie ann 15]

OK, so you definitely DON'T need the medical done before getting an interview for CR-1 visas processed through the NVC (maybe it's just for K-visas and DCF). I know because I just got my interview date for May 31st!