In the DS-230 package, is it possible to request that the inteview be scheduled no earlier than a specific date?

[shira 4]

I'm still awaiting NOA2, but my wife (in China) is busy working on her master's thesis. She's going to be very, very busy until at least the end of May, and possibly into June, and she wants some time before the interview to prepare for it. Since I'll be using Electronic Processing, it's quite possible that if NOA2 is received in the next couple of weeks (which seems reasonable), my wife's interview could easily be scheduled for some time in May (8 weeks for NVC processing, and then the interview scheduled for a month later). I know I can "control" the process by delaying submission of the DS-230 package, but that could backfire and push her interview into late 2012 if there are a lot of RFEs or other major delays. So I want to submit the DS-230 package (and the AOS package) very fast, but delay my wife's interview until no earlier than August 1.

So my question is: At the time I submit the DS-230 package, can I request that my wife's interview be scheduled for no earlier than August 1? (Well, of course I can REQUEST this, but my question is: Will this request be honored by the NVC?) And, yes, I know that once an interview is scheduled, we can request that the date be changed. But I understand that it's unpredictable how long the delay might be until the interview is re-scheduled.

Anyone out there have any specific knowledge on this?

Thanks!

[Darnell 8,478]

I say it's safer to delay during NVC doc intake, as NVC schedules the next available slot, as they can see it.