London Visa Interview Today

[londonfiancevisat 4]

I had my long awaited K1 Visa interview today at the London embassy (June 2017 filer).

 

It was a very straightforward process. I took a lot of documents that were advised in this forum and they did not ask for 70% of it i.e. visa fee payment confirmation, courier details, appointment letter, etc.

 

I handed over:

1. Passport
2. DS-160
3. Birth certificate
4. Police report
5. I-134 with original signature
6. W2 (he didn't want anything else even though I had other evidence)
7. 2x2 visa photo

 

I then waited another 30 minutes and was called up for the second time. I was handed everything back other than my passport and police report. I was also handed my cd with chest xray but wasn't told what to do with this. He asked me one question which was how did I meet my fiance and after I babbled for a bit he told me the visa is approved and I should expect my passport back in 2-3 weeks.

 

I was a bit concerned about the 2-3 weeks as I heard him saying this to everyone so I asked if it always takes this long or were there delays as I read online it should be about 7 days. He didn't really take too well to this question and advised I must be looking at non-immigrant visas as for immigrant visas they advise 15 days. I thought a K1 is a non-immigrant visa but to avoid my file being dropped in the bin I thanked him and went on my day.

 

So my question is when I should actually expect to receive my passport with visa. I selected for it to be couriered to one of the free locations (Chancery Lane) as I thought this may be quicker than home delivery which may be missed. I'm pretty keen to book my flight. Any thoughts?

[NYLondon 143]

@Cmoran72

[Wuozopo 4,293]

38 minutes ago, londonfiancevisat said:

. I was also handed my cd with chest xray but wasn't told what to do with this.

It is given to you because Knightsbridge sends it over because they don't want it once they have filled out your report. The embassy doesn't want it. It's yours to keep and do anything you want with. 

 

39 minutes ago, londonfiancevisat said:

So my question is when I should actually expect to receive my passport with visa. I selected for it to be couriered to one of the free locations (Chancery Lane) as I thought this may be quicker than home delivery which may be missed. I'm pretty keen to book my flight. Any thoughts?

More likely 7-10 calendar days. Depot and home delivery are the same. Most get an email saying delivery tomorrow or depot tomorrow. I know of a few who discovered that the day they receive the email, it is actually already at the depot. They went and got it. Then somebody else tried and was told they had to wait until the next day. If you are close to the depot, you might give it a try to have it one day faster. 

[londonfiancevisat 4]

11 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

More likely 7-10 calendar days. Depot and home delivery are the same. Most get an email saying delivery tomorrow or depot tomorrow. I know of a few who discovered that the day they receive the email, it is actually already at the depot. They went and got it. Then somebody else tried and was told they had to wait until the next day. If you are close to the depot, you might give it a try to have it one day faster. 

So I guess the safest date for me to book my flight is once I receive the email saying delivery/depot is tomorrow? Otherwise I run the risk booking too early?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

40 minutes ago, londonfiancevisat said:

So I guess the safest date for me to book my flight is once I receive the email saying delivery/depot is tomorrow? Otherwise I run the risk booking too early?

 

Weird things can happen like when I was supposed to get mine next day and didn't. The truck out for delivery broke down ☹️.  As long as you don't count on flying out the next day too, then knowing it is with the courier is a 99% sure thing you will receive it. I remember a girl who was trying to redirect hers to Heathrow because she cut it too close.

[ambrella 62]

What date did you have your medical @londonfiancevisat if you don't mind me asking? 

[londonfiancevisat 4]

3 hours ago, ambrella said:

What date did you have your medical @londonfiancevisat if you don't mind me asking? 

I think maybe the 6th or 8th? It was quite early, why?

[ambrella 62]

1 minute ago, londonfiancevisat said:

I think maybe the 6th or 8th? It was quite early, why?

Because a lot of peoples haven't made it to the embassy in time for their interview, but yours had quite a big gap so you were clearly OK.  

 

I only have 8 working days in between mine and I am getting worried.  

[londonfiancevisat 4]

15 minutes ago, ambrella said:

Because a lot of peoples haven't made it to the embassy in time for their interview, but yours had quite a big gap so you were clearly OK.  

 

I only have 8 working days in between mine and I am getting worried.  

I was given the cd with my chest x ray so they definitely got my medical. When I called up knightsbridge they hadn't sent it out for days - i had to literally tell them to send it and follow up. It seems like they just pile up and unless anyone prods them they don't get sent out until they need to be.

[ambrella 62]

2 minutes ago, londonfiancevisat said:

I was given the cd with my chest x ray so they definitely got my medical. When I called up knightsbridge they hadn't sent it out for days - i had to literally tell them to send it and follow up. It seems like they just pile up and unless anyone prods them they don't get sent out until they need to be.

OK thanks for that, I will call them after 5 days and pester them to send it.  

[londonfiancevisat 4]

1 minute ago, ambrella said:

OK thanks for that, I will call them after 5 days and pester them to send it.  

Why wait? Just call tomorrow and ask if it has been sent or not. There is no reason for them not to send it and it will still take time after that for it to be received.

[ambrella 62]

1 minute ago, londonfiancevisat said:

Why wait? Just call tomorrow and ask if it has been sent or not. There is no reason for them not to send it and it will still take time after that for it to be received.

I haven't had it yet  appointment on the 6th March 

[londonfiancevisat 4]

2 minutes ago, ambrella said:

I haven't had it yet  appointment on the 6th March 

Oh in that case no need to worry. 8 days is plenty, they actually advised 4 days when I was there.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

3 hours ago, londonfiancevisat said:

. It seems like they just pile up and unless anyone prods them they don't get sent out until they need to be.

 

Knightsbridge used to be very efficient in getting those medical out to the embassy in 3-4 days depending on when they got the blood tests back from the lab. And of course if they didn't request further information from your GP. It has only been since last month when the embassy moved to their new location that all these medicalS not being there have been reported. 

 

So It could be Knightsbridge -or- maybe it is the embassy overwhelmed with their move and not getting the couriered packages up to the correct offices and filed with the proper case file. The medical could be at the embassy but not yet put into your file. 

[WillnStace 35]

On 2/22/2018 at 9:00 PM, ambrella said:

Because a lot of peoples haven't made it to the embassy in time for their interview, but yours had quite a big gap so you were clearly OK.  

 

I only have 8 working days in between mine and I am getting worried.  

FYI - I had my interview yesterday and they had already received my medical.  I only had 5 full working days between the two, so it looks like they've sorted their act out.

 

Also, @londonfiancevisat my interview yesterday was identical to yours, except I only had about 8 minutes between booths!  9 months of waiting and I was in and out in less than 25 minutes...  Oh and I was also told 2-3 weeks to get my passport back.