Nervous wreck. Interview date - can it be moved?

[iya 0]

I wasn't expecting to receive the NOA2 email just yet. When I saw an email from CRIS, I was expecting an RFE. Seriously. When I saw that it was an approval, I experienced first-hand that "legs turned to jell-o" experience. Unfortunately, I am now a nervous wreck. I have a ton of paperwork to finish for this!

For one, I still don't have a passport. Call me a lazy bum, but, it's such a hassle to wade through red-tape.

For another, I have to clear myself from a scholarship obligation (complicated thing. much confusion, i should've been cleared years ago.)

And, this means the interview will be scheduled sometime January or February! I was hoping it'd be sometime after March, as I'm teaching, and I don't want to leave my kids (students) on a school-day. (This is the biggest problem). This led me to wonder, would it be possible to have the interview date postponed? I would love to get it over and done with sooner, but I have responsibilities that I would rather not pass on to others.. In the event that it's not possible, I'll do the interview, of course. But... I was just hoping..

[jula 0]

once the visa is issued, you'll have 6 months to enter the US. Would that be enough time to wrap up things in your contry?

[Ken_Maria 0]

I wasn't expecting to receive the NOA2 email just yet. When I saw an email from CRIS, I was expecting an RFE. Seriously. When I saw that it was an approval, I experienced first-hand that "legs turned to jell-o" experience. Unfortunately, I am now a nervous wreck. I have a ton of paperwork to finish for this!

For one, I still don't have a passport. Call me a lazy bum, but, it's such a hassle to wade through red-tape.

For another, I have to clear myself from a scholarship obligation (complicated thing. much confusion, i should've been cleared years ago.)

And, this means the interview will be scheduled sometime January or February! I was hoping it'd be sometime after March, as I'm teaching, and I don't want to leave my kids (students) on a school-day. (This is the biggest problem). This led me to wonder, would it be possible to have the interview date postponed? I would love to get it over and done with sooner, but I have responsibilities that I would rather not pass on to others.. In the event that it's not possible, I'll do the interview, of course. But... I was just hoping..

I do dnot mean to burst ur bubble of joy, but people with NOA2s in Sept and Oct still do not have interview dates. Your Nov NOA2 will likely be Mar if not April. The average time between the Embassy receiving ur petition and the intervew date in Manila is 120 days. Good luck and the passport process is not the difficult. Payato

[iya 0]

once the visa is issued, you'll have 6 months to enter the US. Would that be enough time to wrap up things in your contry?

Actually, my concern isn't after the approval of the visa, but rather before. Approval comes after the interview, correct? And I would like to have the interview date moved to sometime after March, if possible (as statistics show that it would be February or March) because going to the embassy on a weekday during these months means missing the classes that I have to teach... Professional responsibility vs Personal gain.. I'd rather go with the latter, but.. I ought not.

I do dnot mean to burst ur bubble of joy, but people with NOA2s in Sept and Oct still do not have interview dates. Your Nov NOA2 will likely be Mar if not April. The average time between the Embassy receiving ur petition and the intervew date in Manila is 120 days. Good luck and the passport process is not the difficult. Payato

You so did not burst my bubble of joy. Rather, it's more of a comforting thing. The closer the interview date is to April, the better! I know we've no interview date set yet, but I'm guesstimating that it'd be around Jan/Feb (assuming a miracle) or March (assuming it goes with the mean). And if it happens to be around those dates, I'm in a lot of trouble. But! As you pointed out that it'll be March or April, then all's well. Thanks so much! That was very reassuring

(I really hope it's April...)

Edited November 5, 2006 by iya

[Ken_Maria 0]

once the visa is issued, you'll have 6 months to enter the US. Would that be enough time to wrap up things in your contry?

Actually, my concern isn't after the approval of the visa, but rather before. Approval comes after the interview, correct? And I would like to have the interview date moved to sometime after March, if possible (as statistics show that it would be February or March) because going to the embassy on a weekday during these months means missing the classes that I have to teach... Professional responsibility vs Personal gain.. I'd rather go with the latter, but.. I ought not.

Iya, All you have at his point is your NOA2 right? If so, look through the NVC forum and notice it has been taking an average of 3-4 weeks before the NVC actually sends the petiton to the Embassy. In all likelyhood the embassy will not receive your petition until Dec then it will be an average of 120 days form them which puts you in Apri. Once you get and interview date, you can adjust it at your request to a later date. First thing is the passport. Without it, you can not do much of anything. Good luck, Payato

[payxibka 10,045]

Iya, All you have at his point is your NOA2 right? If so, look through the NVC forum and notice it has been taking an average of 3-4 weeks before the NVC actually sends the petiton to the Embassy. In all likelyhood the embassy will not receive your petition until Dec then it will be an average of 120 days form them which puts you in Apri. Once you get and interview date, you can adjust it at your request to a later date. First thing is the passport. Without it, you can not do much of anything. Good luck, Payato

Also remember that things may come to a crawl for a few weeks starting in mid-December with all the year end holiday activities.....

[GaryC 7]

My NOA2 is in Sept and I am hoping for a jan or feb interview. Realistically it will prolly be around mid Feb. (Valentines day for an interview?)

So you should be good for a april interview date.

[trey 0]

I had 4½ months between the NOA2 and interview. Something else to consider is the day spent getting the medical before that.

[Ken_Maria 0]

My NOA2 is in Sept and I am hoping for a jan or feb interview. Realistically it will prolly be around mid Feb. (Valentines day for an interview?)

So you should be good for a april interview date.

I am with you Gary, but look at our timelines. We received our NOA2 18 Sept but our package got to Manila before yours... now that just does not make any sense does it? I will be interesting in the line for the interview to see just how many VJ folks we recognize. Payato

[felnfrank 1]

My NOA2 is in Sept and I am hoping for a jan or feb interview. Realistically it will prolly be around mid Feb. (Valentines day for an interview?)

So you should be good for a april interview date.

I am with you Gary, but look at our timelines. We received our NOA2 18 Sept but our package got to Manila before yours... now that just does not make any sense does it? I will be interesting in the line for the interview to see just how many VJ folks we recognize. Payato

as for me i wanna have it as soon as possible!!! i miss my honey !!!

[Ladylethal 12]

Hey, the consulate won't schedule you an interview until you send them packet 3 indicating you're ready to have an interview. Of course that if you don't do that before your NOA2 expires you'll need to contact them and ask for an extension, which is usually easily granted. So go ahead and get your paperwork done and don't worry 'cus they won't schedule an interview for you before you're ready.

[iya 0]

Hey, the consulate won't schedule you an interview until you send them packet 3 indicating you're ready to have an interview. Of course that if you don't do that before your NOA2 expires you'll need to contact them and ask for an extension, which is usually easily granted. So go ahead and get your paperwork done and don't worry 'cus they won't schedule an interview for you before you're ready.

Thanks for all the replies. They've certainly done a lot in terms of calming down my nerves, but L&L, yours is just gold! This means I still have a modicum of control over when the interview date will be.

I'd love to do the interview at the soonest possible date, as I DO miss my hun.. but sometimes what we want and what we must do don't always coincide. Again, thanks all

[rebeccajo 14]

For one, I still don't have a passport. Call me a lazy bum, but, it's such a hassle to wade through red-tape.

You've done immigration paperwork and you think passport paperwork is red-tape?

[iya 0]

You've done immigration paperwork and you think passport paperwork is red-tape?

-laugh- oh yes. immigration paperwork means mailing stuff in. passport paperwork in manila? good heavens...

just think, getting a birth certificate will take more than half a day if you're lucky, unless you're willing to pay 6x the price to have them deliver it to you in 3-5 days. I chose the latter as it meant I could work and not waste time waiting in line. Unfortunately, I can't do the same for a passport...

Edited November 6, 2006 by iya

[mychelle 1]

^getting your Phil. passport will not take months or won't cost a fortune and for normal/regular expidited passport...it's about a week (apply, then come back to pick-up) & about 1000 pesos ($20)...probably even less. i think the 1000 pesos is for fast/rush expidite.

in case you are assigned an interview date sooner than expected...and you'll ask for a reschedule...prepare to wait a few months for a new interview (Manila embassy is back-logged). it's always advisable to go ahead with the scheduled interview as it is not a guarantee that you will be get your visa right then. you might be lucky enough to be put on AR (administrative review) and have to wait for months for your visa...even after you get it...you do have 6 months to decide when to leave.

barring a natural catastrophe (typhoon, earthquake...) or a personal emergency (death, illness...) i don't see why you can't give up whatever it is you're doing to go to an interview that will be the one big step to be with someone you love and be with for the rest of your life.

Edited November 6, 2006 by mychelle