Requesting earlier interview date at Embassy-- good reasons to use?

[longwhitecloud 0]

Hello everyone,

I've found some useful information on here with regards to expediting a case, especially when it's at NVC, but less information on requesting an earlier interview date when your case has been moved to an embassy. And most of the reasons for expediting seem to be medical or military, which doesn't apply in our case. Does anyone have experience requesting an earlier interview date from an embassy (we're assigned to Naples), and what types or reasons for the request do you think would work?

I've spoken with the Naples embassy by email already and they've told me that it's looking like September is the earliest we could get an interview scheduled since they are closed for 2 weeks in August and appointments are filling fast. Our case was just completed at NVC on June 24 but I haven't received any official notice of this, I just know because I called NVC today. So who knows how long until our interview is actually scheduled at Naples, but it's at least trying to be scheduled now.

My husband is interviewing for his dream job in the US and if he gets an offer (he's at the last interview stage), I'm not sure they could wait until October for him to start. And it would be really horrible if he lost his dream job because of the US government taking their sweet slow time on processing our application (it's been almost a year since we first applied). But even if he does have the job offer, it doesn't seem like that reason would go over well at the embassy... is he even technically allowed to apply for jobs before he gets his visa? What about saying his very close friend is getting married at the end of August and he would really like to be there (also true)?

Anyway, if anyone has any experience requesting an earlier interview date or to fill a potential cancellation and NOT for military or medical reasons, please share! I read on another webiste a woman in the UK got an earlier interview date approved because she wanted to be with her husband for Christmas, but it was years ago so they could be less flexible now.

Also should I sit tight until I receive my actual interview date to contact the embassy about going earlier, or contact them now to nicely ask my request?

Thank you in advance!

[dwheels76 5,468]

Hello everyone,

I've found some useful information on here with regards to expediting a case, especially when it's at NVC, but less information on requesting an earlier interview date when your case has been moved to an embassy. And most of the reasons for expediting seem to be medical or military, which doesn't apply in our case. Does anyone have experience requesting an earlier interview date from an embassy (we're assigned to Naples), and what types or reasons for the request do you think would work?

I've spoken with the Naples embassy by email already and they've told me that it's looking like September is the earliest we could get an interview scheduled since they are closed for 2 weeks in August and appointments are filling fast. Our case was just completed at NVC on June 24 but I haven't received any official notice of this, I just know because I called NVC today. So who knows how long until our interview is actually scheduled at Naples, but it's at least trying to be scheduled now.

My husband is interviewing for his dream job in the US and if he gets an offer (he's at the last interview stage), I'm not sure they could wait until October for him to start. And it would be really horrible if he lost his dream job because of the US government taking their sweet slow time on processing our application (it's been almost a year since we first applied). But even if he does have the job offer, it doesn't seem like that reason would go over well at the embassy... is he even technically allowed to apply for jobs before he gets his visa? What about saying his very close friend is getting married at the end of August and he would really like to be there (also true)?

Anyway, if anyone has any experience requesting an earlier interview date or to fill a potential cancellation and NOT for military or medical reasons, please share! I read on another webiste a woman in the UK got an earlier interview date approved because she wanted to be with her husband for Christmas, but it was years ago so they could be less flexible now.

Also should I sit tight until I receive my actual interview date to contact the embassy about going earlier, or contact them now to nicely ask my request?

Thank you in advance!

Well hopefully they are still scheduling for August. I have a Italy on my list who has Case Complete 6/14 just got August interview on the 24th.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtbvTEwLyHz1dEhlZjdKczRMRmJrSnc5MTk1SkVrYVE&usp=sharing#gid=0

You need no reason to move the date unless you want to offer one. Since its not an expedite (where you must give reason). All you can do is wait until you get interview date and once your petition reaches the embassy you request an earlier slot if they have room they may accommodate you. No guarantee.

Here is the Interview thread come join us I did add you to the spreadsheet.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/498772-july-2014-interviews/page-99#entry7098166

Edited June 27, 2014 by dwheels76

[longwhitecloud 0]

Thank you for sending the spreadsheet link...I didn't know about that and it's very helpful to see! Also a bit disconcerting how long it takes to even find out when schedule an interview from when the NVC case was completed (looks like average of a month for Italy, with some only a week and a half), but I guess I shouldn't be so surprised given how slow everything else is!

We're debating asking to switch the embassy location to Slovakia, my husband's home country, and they seem to have a shorter wait time for an interview but a more complicated medical process. If NVC reads my email requesting the change before Italy schedules the interview we'll switch, otherwise it seems too hard to ask to switch locations once the interview is scheduled.

I'll update you on the other forum when we finally get our date! Thanks again.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Thank you for sending the spreadsheet link...I didn't know about that and it's very helpful to see! Also a bit disconcerting how long it takes to even find out when schedule an interview from when the NVC case was completed (looks like average of a month for Italy, with some only a week and a half), but I guess I shouldn't be so surprised given how slow everything else is!

We're debating asking to switch the embassy location to Slovakia, my husband's home country, and they seem to have a shorter wait time for an interview but a more complicated medical process. If NVC reads my email requesting the change before Italy schedules the interview we'll switch, otherwise it seems too hard to ask to switch locations once the interview is scheduled.

I'll update you on the other forum when we finally get our date! Thanks again.

The wait is because there is a certain window of time interviews are scheduling. NVC starts the lat few days of the month and keeps going until they either run out people or slots.

Know this also if you change embassies you could delay yourself months. It's not a quick and easy thing.

Call NVC and ask is Italy still scheduling. They just started 3 days ago so maybe they are still in process otherwise it will be wait until September interview scheduling which would start end of July.

[pushbrk 12,822]

Thank you for sending the spreadsheet link...I didn't know about that and it's very helpful to see! Also a bit disconcerting how long it takes to even find out when schedule an interview from when the NVC case was completed (looks like average of a month for Italy, with some only a week and a half), but I guess I shouldn't be so surprised given how slow everything else is!

We're debating asking to switch the embassy location to Slovakia, my husband's home country, and they seem to have a shorter wait time for an interview but a more complicated medical process. If NVC reads my email requesting the change before Italy schedules the interview we'll switch, otherwise it seems too hard to ask to switch locations once the interview is scheduled.

I'll update you on the other forum when we finally get our date! Thanks again.

Changing the interview to another country after case complete is a really bad idea, that is likely to delay your interview by months.

[jan22 3,043]

But if you are asked to provide a reason, you should not have to come to this site and ask for suggestions for reasons -- as with all other documents and response you submit, the reason you should provide is simple -- the truth. Trying to game the system and creating the "right" answer has gotten a lot of people into trouble over the years. Best to stick to the simple facts.

[NikLR 13,227]

If you're expediting at the NVC, the consulate looks at that reason why you've expedited then makes a decision on their own to expedite or not. You can't just expedite for no reason at all, and asking here makes me wonder why you need to expedite? The reasons an expedite are granted at the NVC is the same as the USCIS and will be the same at the consulate.

[pushbrk 12,822]

Questions like, what reason to use, what name to use, what address to use (USE being the operative word.) etc. are requests for assistance in lying to immigration officials. The answer is always going to be tell the truth. If the truth won't get it done, it won't get done, or worse, you'll pay a penalty for playing fast and loose with the truth.

[longwhitecloud 0]

I appreciate the insights everyone. Good to know that switching embassies slows down the process by months; we definitely will stay put with our original embassy then!

We didn't expedite at NVC because we thought they would be a bit faster and we'd have the interview by July, but now it's looking like September. I wasn't going to lie to NVC or the embassy about anything, of course... my husband has 2 important things coming up that he needs to be in the US for... one is a wedding of a close friend at the end of August, and the more important one is a potential job offer, his dream job in fact. I was worried the employer wouldn't be able to wait for him to start until September and would give the job to someone else instead. And I was wondering which reason would resonate better with the embassy if I ask them for an expedite, and if anyone has experience with this.

But the good news is I think if my husband does get the job offer, they sound willing to wait until September if needed. So I don't think we will need to ask for an expedite at the embassy after all! I wish they gave more advance notice of when the interview is scheduled for though, so we could plan our lives a little better.

[pushbrk 12,822]

I appreciate the insights everyone. Good to know that switching embassies slows down the process by months; we definitely will stay put with our original embassy then!

We didn't expedite at NVC because we thought they would be a bit faster and we'd have the interview by July, but now it's looking like September. I wasn't going to lie to NVC or the embassy about anything, of course... my husband has 2 important things coming up that he needs to be in the US for... one is a wedding of a close friend at the end of August, and the more important one is a potential job offer, his dream job in fact. I was worried the employer wouldn't be able to wait for him to start until September and would give the job to someone else instead. And I was wondering which reason would resonate better with the embassy if I ask them for an expedite, and if anyone has experience with this.

But the good news is I think if my husband does get the job offer, they sound willing to wait until September if needed. So I don't think we will need to ask for an expedite at the embassy after all! I wish they gave more advance notice of when the interview is scheduled for though, so we could plan our lives a little better.

Neither of those reasons would have worked anyway. Good luck with the new job.

[jbry 24]

I appreciate the insights everyone. Good to know that switching embassies slows down the process by months; we definitely will stay put with our original embassy then!

We didn't expedite at NVC because we thought they would be a bit faster and we'd have the interview by July, but now it's looking like September. I wasn't going to lie to NVC or the embassy about anything, of course... my husband has 2 important things coming up that he needs to be in the US for... one is a wedding of a close friend at the end of August, and the more important one is a potential job offer, his dream job in fact. I was worried the employer wouldn't be able to wait for him to start until September and would give the job to someone else instead. And I was wondering which reason would resonate better with the embassy if I ask them for an expedite, and if anyone has experience with this.

But the good news is I think if my husband does get the job offer, they sound willing to wait until September if needed. So I don't think we will need to ask for an expedite at the embassy after all! I wish they gave more advance notice of when the interview is scheduled for though, so we could plan our lives a little better.

I was thinking about calling the embassy to ask for a sooner interview date because we got CC this week and interviews are all closed for NVC until the first week of October, which then they will be scheduling for November. We want to get back to the US because we want him to start a job asap and by that time will be over a year for this whole process. Did you end up calling and asking for a sooner interview date?

[longwhitecloud 0]

I was thinking about calling the embassy to ask for a sooner interview date because we got CC this week and interviews are all closed for NVC until the first week of October, which then they will be scheduling for November. We want to get back to the US because we want him to start a job asap and by that time will be over a year for this whole process. Did you end up calling and asking for a sooner interview date?

I didn't call anyone, but I emailed the Naples embassy several times to check on the status of our application and they were always fairly prompt to respond. I didn't end up formally asking them to schedule an earlier interview date, but emailed them many times with questions about when they were scheduling and what the likelihood of getting in during a certain week/month was, which may have helped our case but it's hard to say, there might have just been a cancellation. We were in a unique situation since the Naples embassy closed for the middle 2 weeks of August for vacation, so it was either the first week of August (which they originally said was very unlikely) or the last week of August or beginning of September. We got lucky with a August 5 appointment but they didn't give us much notice so there may have been a cancellation!

[dwheels76 5,468]

I was thinking about calling the embassy to ask for a sooner interview date because we got CC this week and interviews are all closed for NVC until the first week of October, which then they will be scheduling for November. We want to get back to the US because we want him to start a job asap and by that time will be over a year for this whole process. Did you end up calling and asking for a sooner interview date?

Contacting the Embassy would be a waste right now because they don't know of you. Your petition is at NVC. Until you get your interview scheduled than your petition gets sent to embassy once it arrives than you can request an earlier date and hope something comes through.

[jbry 24]

Contacting the Embassy would be a waste right now because they don't know of you. Your petition is at NVC. Until you get your interview scheduled than your petition gets sent to embassy once it arrives than you can request an earlier date and hope something comes through.

Thanks. I wasn't planning to call the embassy until I had the interview date and the docs at the embassy.

[jbry 24]

I didn't call anyone, but I emailed the Naples embassy several times to check on the status of our application and they were always fairly prompt to respond. I didn't end up formally asking them to schedule an earlier interview date, but emailed them many times with questions about when they were scheduling and what the likelihood of getting in during a certain week/month was, which may have helped our case but it's hard to say, there might have just been a cancellation. We were in a unique situation since the Naples embassy closed for the middle 2 weeks of August for vacation, so it was either the first week of August (which they originally said was very unlikely) or the last week of August or beginning of September. We got lucky with a August 5 appointment but they didn't give us much notice so there may have been a cancellation!

Great, thank you for the info!