August 2014 Interviews

[Gee&Cee 41]

Approved!!! I'll write a review and post later!

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/view-dos-cis-reviews.php?entry=14872

[Sukie 1,461]

Sounds great, thanks!

I'm not sure that every terminal (those who have immigration desks) at JFK works in exactly the same way. We got in at about 1:15 p.m. in Terminal 7. Since I (the USC) was with my spouse, I took her with me through the USC line. The officer stamped my passport and put the "official" stamp by her CR-1 visa, then he took BOTH of us to the processing office. He opened her packet and just checked to see that her medical report was in the stack of papers. The officer in the processing office looked through the whole packet and told us everything would be mailed to us at our US address.

WJones - I think your spouse will have to ask as etrangais suggested. At which terminal, and at what time will your spouse arrive?

Sukie

[bruins 14]

Congrats to all with recent approvals and interview dates! My wife has her medical tomorrow and I'm really nervous.

[wjones4736966 8]

I'm not sure that every terminal (those who have immigration desks) at JFK works in exactly the same way. We got in at about 1:15 p.m. in Terminal 7. Since I (the USC) was with my spouse, I took her with me through the USC line.

At which terminal, and at what time will your spouse arrive?

Thanks for the info, Sukie. We haven't booked tix yet as we're waiting until the passports/visas to arrive, but most likely she'll arrive around 6 pm at Terminal 1.

Bill

[Sukie 1,461]

Thanks for the info, Sukie. We haven't booked tix yet as we're waiting until the passports/visas to arrive, but most likely she'll arrive around 6 pm at Terminal 1.

Bill

Bill - I think 5-6 p.m. is the busiest time at JFK. I remember finding a website (and I'm sorry - I didn't bookmark it) that had immigration stats that said this was "prime time". The only difference this would make is in stress levels, both for you, as you wait, and your spouse, as she has to stand in line.

On the other hand, if they really do expedite first timers, then you have no worries!

Best to you both!

Sukie

[Ashiraz 16]

My wife got a call to pick up her visa on the 24th. Her visa status now states Issued. Can't wait to book that ticket. After 13 looong months!

[Gee&Cee 41]

Hi there! Anxiously waiting for my passport back. What are the changes I should see in the CEAC page, if any and when? Right now it says "Ready" and status updated shows my interview date 07-18. We were so happy at the end of the interview, that we forgot to ask how long it usually take for the passport to be back. Thanks a lot!

[Ashiraz 16]

Hi there! Anxiously waiting for my passport back. What are the changes I should see in the CEAC page, if any and when? Right now it says "Ready" and status updated shows my interview date 07-18. We were so happy at the end of the interview, that we forgot to ask how long it usually take for the passport to be back. Thanks a lot!

I would say within a week but it depends on the country. Your CEAC page should change from "READY" to "ISSUED".

[B & G 200]

Finally visa in hand!!! Thank you everyone for the support throughout all this!

[wjones4736966 8]

Does anyone have experience with two people interviewing together, but then one person receiving their passport back earlier than the other? My wife and her son both interviewed on Friday in Moscow, and his passport and POE package were delivered today, which was a very pleasant surprise. But my wife's passport did not come yet, and CEAC still shows Administrative Processing. If this continues tomorrow, is there any benefit to calling the embassy to ask the reason for the delay, or do we just need to wait?

Thanks,

Bill

[benipals4 72]

Done with Biometrics today!!! Now just waiting for the interview date

[k.dlg 300]

For UK applicants, here's my husband's review of his medical exam if anyone is curious (also posted in the UK forum):

Firstly, it's a little bit awkward to find if you're travelling by public transport and I wouldn't advise going by car as I don't believe there is anywhere nearby to park. So aim to get there half an hour before your appt.

On arrival, I told them who I was and they asked me for all the necessary documents which as you know are form of photo ID (Passport, Driving License etc.) Vaccination records/history, one UK sized passport photo (Obviously this is probably different if your medical exam is not in the UK), Police record certificate and the completed medical questionnaire form (with any additional info on separate sheet, if applicable).

With that done, they then handed me another form and wouldn't you just know it? It's almost exactly the same questions as the Medical Questionnaire form I already filled in and handed to them. Oh well! So off I went around the corner to the waiting area and filled in the form again. They were very busy but all very friendly people and after handing the new form back to reception, I sat with quite a few others, waiting for my turn to have my chest X-Ray. My turn came after about 10 minutes of waiting and it was very straight forward and the consultant who took it was very friendly and made me feel at ease.

I watched him download the scan right there on his screen and then off I went back to the waiting area for my exam. It was a longer wait this time as they were very busy but I was seen after about 25-30 minutes.The examiner was, again, a very friendly guy and made me feel completely at ease. We sat and he went through my questionnaire with me, making sure everything I had answered was correct and there were no mistakes. No tricky questions, very straight forward and simple.

After that was a height and weight check then an eye test, then I was asked to remove my top and sit on the bed while he checked my ears, eyes and mouth. He then listened to my lungs and heart, then I was asked to lie down and he checked my stomach, then I was asked to stand up and, in his words, 'the part that everybody hates', it was pants (TROUSERS!) down to ankles and time to explore the Netherlands. Guys, this part is extremely quick, literally no more than a few seconds and it's a quick cough for 'Lefty' and then again for 'Righty' and that is literally about it, pants up. Each and every little check was extremely quick and all in all the whole exam could've only been a few minutes. Lastly, I was asked to lie down again and blood was taken from my right arm, anyone with needle or blood phobias, you see nothing at all.

After that I was all done, a very quick discussion about the doctor preliminary findings (which for me was that everything looked great) and I was told that if I did not hear from him by Wednesday then I could consider that as everything was fine and no issues. Shook the man's hand, back to reception to pay the £245 pound, the feint sound of my debit card grumbling in protest could be heard, I was then given a vaccination record printout which you MUST keep and that was that!

[BOS_LHR 829]

After that was a height and weight check then an eye test, then I was asked to remove my top and sit on the bed while he checked my ears, eyes and mouth. He then listened to my lungs and heart, then I was asked to lie down and he checked my stomach, then I was asked to stand up and, in his words, 'the part that everybody hates', it was pants (TROUSERS!) down to ankles and time to explore the Netherlands. Guys, this part is extremely quick, literally no more than a few seconds and it's a quick cough for 'Lefty' and then again for 'Righty' and that is literally about it, pants up. Each and every little check was extremely quick and all in all the whole exam could've only been a few minutes.

Hahaha, Netherlands! Add that to the list of legendary euphemisms from our UK men Glad it went well for him!

[k.dlg 300]

Hahaha, Netherlands! Add that to the list of legendary euphemisms from our UK men Glad it went well for him!

I know! And thanks! I couldn't help but shake my head at "lefty" and "righty" too. Ah well, I wouldn't have him any other way though.

[chappell09 38]

I was wondering if anyone has experienced a delay in their status changing from "In Transit" to "Ready" once their package has arrived at the US Embassy?

We received our interview date on 10 July for 21 August. I've followed a package through DHL sent from Portsmouth to Bridgetown, Barbados (which is where our US Embassy is). It left on 15 July and, after a little detour to Venezuela, arrived at the embassy in Bridgetown this past Friday 18 July. I have been constantly checking the CEAC status and it still says "In Transit".

Have people experienced this type of delay in their status changing to "Ready" from when they think their package arrived? Or is this abnormal and might point to that DHL package not having included our case?

We are really on pins and needles because we want to ask for an earlier interview, but the status won't change to "Ready"!! haha

Thanks for any input.