No packet 3 and Hong Kong police cert (split)

[Dowbs 11]

Typically it does not take long for the case to leave the NVC once it has a case number, as you can see from my signature. There are on occasion some delays, I think recently. Typically if you want to be super sure it's in London, the UKC receives packet 3, which is really just a letter saying ''hey we're ready'', but sometimes this is very tardy or never arrives. So I guess the question, I'd ask is, how do you know it's not in London already? Have you checked the CEAC, were you going by what the NVC said, or were you looking for a letter?

yuna628, you're saying that sometimes packet 3 is very late / never arrives?

This makes me extremely nervous as I need packet 3 in order to apply for my police clearance from Hong Kong (I worked there for 3 years). The HK police won't issue a certificate of no conviction without a letter containing my full name and the London embassy number, as they send the certificate directly to the embassy (I assume such a letter will be in packet 3). And it takes the police 4 weeks to send the certificate to the embassy. So I'm already looking at a month's delay to my process (I can get everything else ready ahead of the NOA2) and now you're saying it might be even longer because packet 3 will be delayed?

Does anyone else have experience with packet 3 being later than expected? What's the typical time between NOA2 and packet 3 arriving?

Thanks all.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Packet 3 is the Letter of Instruction from London. Factor in other links in the chain which makes an exact timing difficult to predict.

USCIS approves Petition (NOA2)

.....wait for USCIS to send it on.........

NVC receives case

.....wait for NVC to assign a case number......

.....wait for NVC to send to London......

Case leaves NVC for London

.....four days transit....

London mail depot has case file

.....wait for London to open the mail and log it in......

....could be 2 weeks....

London sends letter of instruction

.....wait for Royal Mail to deliver it....

Yes there are people that never get their instruction letter but it is a really small percentage so hopefully not a problem for you. Unfortunately your case is just going to take longer because you lived in HongKong.

I looked up Hong Kong and they say:

2. original and a photocopy (for each applicant) of the letter from NVC which contains his/her name and the checklist of documents necessary for obtaining a visa (the one that references the need for police certificates).

I don't think the letter from NVC or the embassy is going to list need for police certificate, but each will have your name and case number.

[Dowbs 11]

Thanks Nick-Nich! So the letter from NVC is not the same as packet 3 - it arrives earlier than packet 3? That's a bit of good news.

Feel really quite down about the extra time due to this police certificate. Oh well!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks Nick-Nich! So the letter from NVC is not the same as packet 3 - it arrives earlier than packet 3? That's a bit of good news.

Feel really quite down about the extra time due to this police certificate. Oh well!

You could have the letter from London before NVC gets around to sending their letter, which goes to the petitioner. Sorry. I don't really count days anymore so don't have much to offer on time specifics.