Do they keep my passport? Which side of the interview is it best to travel?

[Paulonto 29]

Good day

 

I have just made an appointment for an interview at the London US Embassy for mid July. (DCF)

 

I would like to be able to visit my family in France before I move to America.

 

I'm not too sure how things move though... do they keep my passport for a while, after my interview? (I have paid for a home delivery post interview but I'm not sure what is it that will be delivered).

If it is my passport that is delivered, then how long should I wait to travel to France with my updated passport?

 

Would it be better to travel BEFORE the interview to not have this interfere with my final US flight? (Could that be a flag)

 

Thank you so much!!!!!!!

[geowrian 22,337]

Traveling before the interview is not an issue.

Traveling after having the visa in the passport is not an issue.

 

From the point of the interview until you get the visa - assuming everything goes well and they take the passport at interview - you won't have the passport. Normally this is a matter of days to couple weeks, but can be longer.

You can technically request it back, but it would delay your case since they can't issue the visa unless they have the passport.

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

The minute you get your passport back, you can travel. My husband (from South America) and I went to Europe for over a month together with the K1 in his passport before we used it to enter the US. 

[Paulonto 29]

Thank you so much @geowrian.... my... 2 weeks -/+ .... all being well and good...

I have a 3 weeks window between the medical and the interview..... maybe that would be more suitable... 

Thank you for the continued good guidance here... I appreciate you.

 

Thank you too @Sarah&Facundo for your reassurance. That gives me real sense of peace

 

Thank you both!!!

[Nitas_man 3,100]

13 hours ago, Sylv said:

Good day

 

I have just made an appointment for an interview at the London US Embassy for mid July. (DCF)

 

I would like to be able to visit my family in France before I move to America.

 

I'm not too sure how things move though... do they keep my passport for a while, after my interview? (I have paid for a home delivery post interview but I'm not sure what is it that will be delivered).

If it is my passport that is delivered, then how long should I wait to travel to France with my updated passport?

 

Would it be better to travel BEFORE the interview to not have this interfere with my final US flight? (Could that be a flag)

 

Thank you so much!!!!!!!

They usually keep your passport for a few days.  Your passport is returned with a visa inside and you have a big (white?  brown? LOL we've had two brown, one white) envelope that you have to keep unopened and untouched until you enter the US.  You turn in the envelope at the immigration counter.

 

You have 6 months (from medical date) to use the visa to enter the US.  What you do in that 6 months doesn't matter.  You can plan to visit your family now or after your interview - just book your ticket to the US inside the visa expiration date.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

21 hours ago, Sylv said:

I'm not too sure how things move though... do they keep my passport for a while, after my interview? (I have paid for a home delivery post interview but I'm not sure what is it that will be delivered).

 

If your paperwork is in order, they keep your passport to put the visa in. It should get back to you in one week (London specific info). Sometimes things can happen that would delay a day or two but a week is average. For me the delivery truck broke down and they didn't come. So don't plan France for exactly one week after the interview. 

 

The courier will bring a white envelope of your immigration files (marked do not open) ,  and your passport, all in an outer delivery wrapper. Open the wrapper to get out your passport. Take the sealed white envelope to turn in at POE.  No problem going to France with a USA visa inside your passport. France doesn't care. 

Edited June 9, 2018 by Wuozopo

[Paulonto 29]

12 hours ago, Nitas_man said:

You have 6 months (from medical date) to use the visa to enter the US.  What you do in that 6 months doesn't matter.  You can plan to visit your family now or after your interview - just book your ticket to the US inside the visa expiration date.

Well thank you @Nitas_man ☺

This is a great piece of information!

I appreciate!!

 

4 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

If your paperwork is in order, they keep your passport to put the visa in. It should get back to you in one week (London specific info). Sometimes things can happen that would delay a day or two but a week is average. For me the delivery truck broke down and they didn't come. So don't plan France for exactly one week after the interview. 

My... this is reassuring!

Thank you @Wuozopo~