Recent interviewees - do you have your passport yet??

[Azsara 110]

Glad to hear you're getting back on track. Hopefully since the visa process is funded by our fees, there shouldn't be too much of an issue there. I have warned my fiance to expect a lengthy delay though at her POE next Tuesday if this isn't cleared up soon. Luckily she doesn't have to worry about catching a connecting flight

Oh yea u reckon the POE's will be delayed? How come? Lack of staff?

[ChicagoSarah 127]

Oh yea u reckon the POE's will be delayed? How come? Lack of staff?

I was thinking the same thing!

I read this morning that airport personnel would remain as usual to get people in and out successfully. I guess there is a chance of it taking a bit longer if they do minimize staff, but they still have to keep those borders safe!

Fingers crossed, everyone!

[UK-USA-K1 128]

Oh yea u reckon the POE's will be delayed? How come? Lack of staff?

I read today that TSA is keeping it's security forces at pretty much full strength, and are cutting about 7% of their overall staff (mostly administrative), but POE can be a tricky thing anyway, so any kind of cuts will mean things like lowered moral and generally less function. With having to process the visa, we already expect it to be slower than the norm coming through....especially since she's so used to the VWP, but with all this on top of it, we figure it's just best to expect a little extra delay, then be happy if that doesn't occur. I think this whole "showdown" will be relatively short lived, and hopefully non-effectual on any of us here.

[Kiwinyc 62]

Picked up our passports today, exactly 7 days after interview. Very happy, Fiancé coming over this weekend and we all fly back together 12 Oct!

Whole process took exactly 10 months.

Good luck everybody else, it won't be long!

[ChicagoSarah 127]

Picked up our passports today, exactly 7 days after interview. Very happy, Fiancé coming over this weekend and we all fly back together 12 Oct!

Whole process took exactly 10 months.

Good luck everybody else, it won't be long!

Congrats!

[topoftherock2013 23]

Picked up our passports today, exactly 7 days after interview. Very happy, Fiancé coming over this weekend and we all fly back together 12 Oct!

Whole process took exactly 10 months.

Good luck everybody else, it won't be long!

congrats and good luck!

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

Well, there may be plenty of staff working at the POEs, but if they are working without pay, they may not be in the best of moods.

[UK-USA-K1 128]

Well, there may be plenty of staff working at the POEs, but if they are working without pay, they may not be in the best of moods.

My thinking exactly, some are going to be crabby and others may work slower, and just an overall bad vibe is what concerns me the most. You already hear about the occasional traveler that runs into a customs official or whomever who seems to be taking out their bad day on others, this can't make the situation any better. Going to keep my fingers crossed that things go smoothly for all those with a POE date during this time, and hopefully it'll be over sooner rather than later

[MattNickless 2]

How long after the interview do CEAC updates commence? We were approved Tues (1st) had an update yesterday (2nd) but still states ready for interview. Just a little anxious as our flights booked for Oct 9th (next Wednesday - 8 days after interview)

I did tell the officer this and he said they'd do what they could, and it's not impossible

Edited October 3, 2013 by MattNickless

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

How long after the interview do CEAC updates commence? We were approved Tues (1st) had an update yesterday (2nd) but still states ready for interview. Just a little anxious as our flights booked for Oct 9th (next Wednesday - 8 days after interview)

I did tell the officer this and he said they'd do what they could, and it's not impossible

We had our visa in hand, delivered to our house 6 days after interview. Approved on Tuesday the 24th, CEAC stated READY the rest of the day. Wednesday morning the 25th CEAC stated AP. Two hours later, still on Wed, CEAC stated ISSUED. Email concerning delivery received Friday afternoon the 27th. Visa delivered Monday the 30th.

[MattNickless 2]

We had our visa in hand, delivered to our house 6 days after interview. Approved on Tuesday the 24th, CEAC stated READY the rest of the day. Wednesday morning the 25th CEAC stated AP. Two hours later, still on Wed, CEAC stated ISSUED. Email concerning delivery received Friday afternoon the 27th. Visa delivered Monday the 30th.

Thank you for the reply.

As our case still states ready I'm just fearing the worst. Should I hold out until tomorrow before considering the cancellation of my flight for next Wednesday can anyone recommend?

I have it insured to only lose a small amount of money but it needs 24 hours notice

[Jeannie & Al 18]

Thank you for the reply.

As our case still states ready I'm just fearing the worst. Should I hold out until tomorrow before considering the cancellation of my flight for next Wednesday can anyone recommend?

I have it insured to only lose a small amount of money but it needs 24 hours notice

It's really tough to say...it depends on how busy they are - we were approved on 8/13, changed to AP for a few hours and then to issued and he didn't have it in hand until 8/24 (11 days later)...his POE was 8/25..but I've seen people wait longer and I've seen rare people only wait 4-5 days. If it were me, i would wait a little longer before postponing...you have some time.

[Kiwinyc 62]

Thank you for the reply.

As our case still states ready I'm just fearing the worst. Should I hold out until tomorrow before considering the cancellation of my flight for next Wednesday can anyone recommend?

I have it insured to only lose a small amount of money but it needs 24 hours notice

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I would hang tight until next week - my timeline is almost identical to Glyn & Cathy - Approved Sept 24, AP later that night, ISSUED Sept 26. On Mon Sept 30 I got an email from the Visa Unit with Tracking Number, I picked up passports (3) from the DX depot on Tues exactly one week after interview.

There's another person on here that interviewed Mon Sept 23 and had his passport back Fri Sept 27.

Fingers crossed for you

[Azsara 110]

Im still in AP since sending my new passport to London. Been in AP since the interview which was the 24th september.

They logged my passport as received on the 2nd october.

[nobbie 105]

My thinking exactly, some are going to be crabby and others may work slower, and just an overall bad vibe is what concerns me the most. You already hear about the occasional traveler that runs into a customs official or whomever who seems to be taking out their bad day on others, this can't make the situation any better. Going to keep my fingers crossed that things go smoothly for all those with a POE date during this time, and hopefully it'll be over sooner rather than later

I entered the US on the first day of the shutdown, it was no different to any of the other times i have entered.

Stop finding things to worry about.