Very bad news for us

[American Lass 0]

I emailed the London Embassy (LondonConsular@state.gov) regarding a general timeframe to when I should get my interview date. We were both praying it was before June 1st, or at least July 29th, which is when our actual wedding is. We got a very disheartening response. Here's what it said:

We have no record of having received the forms to which you refer. However

there is a delay of 6 - 8 weeks between the date the forms are received by

the Embassy and the date in which they are processed and entered on to our

system. As soon as the Immigrant Visa Unit has received the forms and

completed any additional processing on your application you can anticipate

receiving an appointment date for an interview within 8 weeks.

We sent all the forms off on the 15th of March. I've read other people's experiences and it seems as though it took them about 2 and a half months to complete the whole process from sending off the 3rd packet and the interview date, which gave me hope -- but this news has devastated us.

Please someone tell me, surely it's not that long a wait. Please. Our wedding is already arranged. His family has bought plane tickets to be there. Is there anything we can do?

Edited March 21, 2006 by American Lass

[beaner0500 0]

You only sent your forms a week ago so I'm not surprised you got the response you did. While they forms may be at the embassy they may not be processed for another 6-8 weeks as they mentioned. I would not be devastated at all if I were you. You just need to be patient and wait a few more weeks until they get time to process everything. We sent our checklist in late February and got the same response so they just haven't gotten to it yet.

As for your wedding I would say you are hopefully safe but it's not a guarantee. Check out some of the other timelines of people going through the same situation. We have our wedding planned for the end of September so we padded everything by a few months. We're not letting our family book any plane tickets until that visa is in Nigel's hand though. And we have also made sure with all wedding vendors that our date can be changed without losing any deposit. Maybe you can try this too.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Last Wednesday they sent me that message and yesterday we got an email saying the interview was next week. Don't despair!

We sent packet 3 in early Feb, btw

[Euro 3]

I emailed the London Embassy (LondonConsular@state.gov) regarding a general timeframe to when I should get my interview date. We were both praying it was before June 1st, or at least July 29th, which is when our actual wedding is. We got a very disheartening response. Here's what it said:

We have no record of having received the forms to which you refer. However

there is a delay of 6 - 8 weeks between the date the forms are received by

the Embassy and the date in which they are processed and entered on to our

system. As soon as the Immigrant Visa Unit has received the forms and

completed any additional processing on your application you can anticipate

receiving an appointment date for an interview within 8 weeks.

We sent all the forms off on the 15th of March. I've read other people's experiences and it seems as though it took them about 2 and a half months to complete the whole process from sending off the 3rd packet and the interview date, which gave me hope -- but this news has devastated us.

Please someone tell me, surely it's not that long a wait. Please. Our wedding is already arranged. His family has bought plane tickets to be there. Is there anything we can do?

Dont take heart at that, its just one of the many heart renching responces you get from them, you could email tomorrow & have a totaly different reply..............chin up

[American Lass 0]

Thanks for all your positive responses. I don't know what I'd do without your support. This whole thing is so stressful.

[munchkins 0]

so sorry to hear that but don't give up yet, we all know how stressful this can be, you'll get there

I bet you are all done and dusted in plenty of time. Loads of ***hugs*** to you

[ladybutterfly 0]

This is just a standard response that they give you. They would rather give you the very maximum timeframe just to save aggro. I was told 8 - 12 weeks to get an interview too and I also panicked as I had quit my job early in anticipation of going to America. As it happens I got an interview date within 2-3 weeks of sending back packet 3 so I really wouldnt panic yet. Rest easy, you will get your date and you will be at the church on time! lol

[TracyTN 237]

Just another example why I won't be paying any wedding deposits until we at least have an interview date.

Then again, I am the queen of paranoia.

[gimygirl 0]

smart little grasshopper, you are tracy! B)

sorry to hear that you've gotten yourself in a tizzy over it! just one more example of why you shouldn't make definite wedding plans until you've got the visa in your passport. what happens if there's a problem at the embassy?

anyway ... like everyone else has said ... that is their generic response when you email them. you just sent the forms back last week ... there is NO WAY that they will have reached anyone's desk in that time frame. they are more than likely still sitting in a huge burlap sack on the mailroom floor ... sad, but true.

give them about 4 or 5 weeks to mail out packet 4 with your interview date. in the meantime, make sure that you have everything you need for your interview (like police cert, original petition package, I-134 info, etc). and the most important thing you can do right now is to NOT stress about it ... as hard as that is. it will only make you feel crappy and it won't change a thing.

you're in the homestretch so just get your little ducks in a row and wade it out ... get it? wade ... like wait it out, but their ducks ... water ... wade?? nevermind!

[Jaylen Brit 0]

When did you get your NOA2 Americanlass? And has it left NVC yet?

I didnt find your timeline - so sorry if you mentioned it somewhere

[American Lass 0]

When did you get your NOA2 Americanlass? And has it left NVC yet?

I didnt find your timeline - so sorry if you mentioned it somewhere

I'll post my timeline as soon as I get the chance.

Thanks for all your responses. I'm finally relaxing slightly. I emailed them back thanking them for their prompt reply. Hope they keep in contact with me if I keep in regular contact with them. Fingers crossed.

[Keigwyn 1]

I also got those emails until march 10th. Then I got one telling me my Interview was March 20th!. When I sent my paperwork off I requested an interview during the week starting the 20th. My sneaking suspicion is they do look at what they get and take notice of any requests for early dates. Especially if you got everything needed from the Packet 3 checklist!

[Crazy_Brit 0]

I got the same thing last year but with me it really did take that long but that was due to them right at the time i sent my papers back they changed the medical procedure and it was a total mess as the nuffield centres were not set up and ready and you could not get medicals sorted i had to go to Edinburgh for my medical i lived near Coventry

dont despair when is your wedding date booked for?

Crazy Brit

[American Lass 0]

I also got those emails until march 10th. Then I got one telling me my Interview was March 20th!. When I sent my paperwork off I requested an interview during the week starting the 20th. My sneaking suspicion is they do look at what they get and take notice of any requests for early dates. Especially if you got everything needed from the Packet 3 checklist!

Thanks Keigwyn, that's definitely reassuring! By the way, congratulations!

I got the same thing last year but with me it really did take that long but that was due to them right at the time i sent my papers back they changed the medical procedure and it was a total mess as the nuffield centres were not set up and ready and you could not get medicals sorted i had to go to Edinburgh for my medical i lived near Coventry

dont despair when is your wedding date booked for?

Crazy Brit

Crazy Brit, what a nightmare! I'm glad everything worked out in the end though!

My wedding is booked for 29th of July. Still a while off yet, but you never know.

Edited March 22, 2006 by American Lass

[Crazy_Brit 0]

You have plenty of time our wedding was the 2nd July and at this time last year i was in the same position as you and I had my interview on the 6th May so please do not panic i feel better knowing that your wedding is not until the end of JULY!!!!! It will be a breaze trust me I had 2 weeks notice about my interview and I was in a panic this time last year waiting to hear about it.

Crazy Brit