London Interview Assigned

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

I've been calling that number in the States that mindthegap passed along in a couple of threads to check if my hubby has been given an interview date. Thank heavens I did because I called everyday this week, and yesterday, I was informed that hubby's interview indeed has been booked. And it is is less than a week's time- Tuesday, 5 March!! I thought you were usually given at least 2 weeks notice?? I've not even gotten the formal letter yet & I'm wondering if it may arrive after the actual interview date! Imagine that!

So I've called the extortion line to get a code so that I could email the embassy about possibly getting a later interview date (travel Scotland to London is really expensive only booking 5 days in advance!). An auto reply said they'd respond within 3-5 business days. Really?! So, I'm just planning on having to pay excess amounts of money so hubby can make it there on Tuesday. We're just going to finalize this stressful process with a really stressful bang! In trying to look at the bright side, at least this is all coming to an end.

Any words of advice for the London interview?

[Lou29 5]

Congrats on your interview date!!! Very exciting news

Check out the London reviews, I found them really helpful and I added my own review just 2 weeks ago. I got approved and am heading out to the states to be with my husband tomorrow

I got the Virgin train down from Glasgow and stayed at the Lincoln House Hotel the night before. It was really close to the Embassy and pretty reasonably priced.

Good luck!

[tedyc 4]

Wow congratulations - you have me a little worried now that we'll miss our interview date! I assume the DCF process for assigning interview dates is different to the NVC process? We were told that March was fully-booked just a couple of days ago!!

[mindthegap 2,601]

Congrats...

Honest opinion- bite the bullet and do it.

There is no guarantee you will get another one anytime soon - march (and more than likely, april) will be full now, and you run the risk of getting put on another short notice cancellation appointment, which is what it sounds like they have given you in the first place.

Remember that the visa is valid only until 6 months from the date of the medical- not six months from the date of interview- so a longer delay for interview could leave you a much shorter time of validity, depending on when your medical was.

I practically begged them via email (via the now inactive IV email address) for a short notice appointment for urgent business reasons, but to no avail.

Edited February 28, 2013 by mindthegap

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Wow congratulations - you have me a little worried now that we'll miss our interview date! I assume the DCF process for assigning interview dates is different to the NVC process? We were told that March was fully-booked just a couple of days ago!!

I'm not sure if the DCF process is different from NVC in the way of booking the interview.

I think it's exactly like mindthegap said & we were given a cancellation appt because we indicated on the DS2001 cover letter that we hoped to travel to the USA in March. So, really, they're trying to accommodate us, but it's just come so last minute.

I've not gotten a reply to my email inquiring about other available options in March, but I think what we'll do is just bite the bullet, as suggested, and make it work.

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Congrats...

Honest opinion- bite the bullet and do it.

There is no guarantee you will get another one anytime soon - march (and more than likely, april) will be full now, and you run the risk of getting put on another short notice cancellation appointment, which is what it sounds like they have given you in the first place.

Remember that the visa is valid only until 6 months from the date of the medical- not six months from the date of interview- so a longer delay for interview could leave you a much shorter time of validity, depending on when your medical was.

I practically begged them via email (via the now inactive IV email address) for a short notice appointment for urgent business reasons, but to no avail.

Thanks for the advice, as always. I didn't realize the visa was valid 6 months after the medical. I thought it was from the interview! So, even better point with your suggestion to just make it work.

Hopefully they don't just change my appt without at least giving me the option! I just inquired about a change. I never said I couldn't actually make it. So, surely they won't just change it on me rather than give me options.

[X Factor 1,112]

ConGraTuLaTions

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Just wanted to update everyone who is interested. Though I did not hear back via email from the Embassy regarding a change of date for hubby's interview, we were reassigned an interview for March 22. I happened to call the 202 663 1225 number on Friday late afternoon (I sent the email requesting a new date on Thursday morning), and they advised me that the interview had been changed. The first interview was supposed to be tomorrow morning. I still have not heard via email, so it's a very good thing I called the number. It's obviously the 'go to' place. We received the interview letter for the appt tomorrow over the weekend, so now we'll just await the newest interview letter and go ahead and book travel, etc.

[dukespecial 0]

What is the extortion number? Do you just have to phone up a little while before you intend to email and how much does it cost?

I am glad you managed to get another date so soon! A little bit less hectic for you organizing things. I thought it was bad from the North East never mind Scotland!

I didn't get my medical call today so that should be the all clear and now this week I want to arrange an interview for as soon as possible!

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

What is the extortion number? Do you just have to phone up a little while before you intend to email and how much does it cost?

I am glad you managed to get another date so soon! A little bit less hectic for you organizing things. I thought it was bad from the North East never mind Scotland!

I didn't get my medical call today so that should be the all clear and now this week I want to arrange an interview for as soon as possible!

09042 450 100....it's £1.23/min. They'll ask for all of the beneficiary's details then give you a code to type in the subject line of your email.

You can email requesting a date, but you'll have already indicated when you plan to travel to the US on the cover letter of the DS2001. They will use that date to try to accommodate you. If I was you, I'd just call that 202 number I listed above everyday to find out if you've been given a date. Calling the extortion line/emailing can't hurt, but I'm not sure it will help either. Keep us all posted!

[mindthegap 2,601]

You can email requesting a date, but you'll have already indicated when you plan to travel to the US on the cover letter of the DS2001. They will use that date to try to accommodate you.

Calling the extortion line/emailing can't hurt, but I'm not sure it will help either.

Certainly doesn't help your phone bill.... DoS is the better one to call- they have access to the exact same info, its much cheaper, and gets answered quicker (or not at all very often in the case of the extortion line)

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Certainly doesn't help your phone bill.... DoS is the better one to call- they have access to the exact same info, its much cheaper, and gets answered quicker (or not at all very often in the case of the extortion line)

I just reread what I wrote. I meant to say that it probably won't help either.

[dukespecial 0]

Oh well, I called the Department of State and they said that everything was okay they just had not assigned my interview date yet so heres hoping! Thank you both for your help and especially that number

I guess now I wait and if it seems to be taking too long maybe then call and send an email.

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Oh well, I called the Department of State and they said that everything was okay they just had not assigned my interview date yet so heres hoping! Thank you both for your help and especially that number

I guess now I wait and if it seems to be taking too long maybe then call and send an email.

I know it's hard, but just try to be patient. It's completely normal to wait 4 or so weeks after the medical before hearing about your interview. It was just over 3 weeks for us before we heard. After a week or two, call that 202 number to inquire. Less expensive & they'll have all the info you need!

[dukespecial 0]

My situation updated slightly. I now have a small time frame in which to see my sister for the last time before moving so really needed to know my interview date as soon as possible so I decided to call the extortion line.

In case this is helpful to someone who is weighing up whether to call them I will update to see if it made any difference. The call itself took around 5-6 minutes and could have been quicker if I was not put on hold but it is not too much at the end of the day considering how much the process is costing in total! So it was about £8 altogether.

I was going to be patient but this is too important to be patient