CR-1 Visa embassy questions

[ChadTaljaardt 4]

Hello,

 

I had my interview today, there was a few things I wasn’t expecting and I’m wondering if anyone else had this experience.

 

1. My medical results from Knightsbridge hadn’t arrived, they said that this can sometimes happen. Do I need to be concerned or do anything regarding this?
    
2. They awarded my visa but said it depends on the medical results, but then they kept my passport as they said they needed it for the visa. I flew down and as a result, if I didn’t have my drivers licence I’m not sure what identification I could have given to fly back. Has anyone else experienced this? I was quite nervous to return without my passport. Might be worth putting a note if this happens often so people are aware of it.

 

 

Other than these things, the visa process at the embassy was great, very professional and organised.

 

Edited November 5, 2018 by ChadTaljaardt

[Wuozopo 4,293]

28 minutes ago, ChadTaljaardt said:

My medical results from Knightsbridge hadn’t arrived, they said that this can sometimes happen. Do I need to be concerned or do anything regarding this?

 

No. you are "paused" until they see you are clear on medical requirements. They won't get back to your case the minute the results arrive, but it shouldn't be more than a few days. 

 

30 minutes ago, ChadTaljaardt said:

They awarded my visa but said it depends on the medical results, but then they kept my passport as they said they needed it for the visa. I flew down and as a result, if I didn’t have my drivers licence I’m not sure what identification I could have given to fly back. Has anyone else experienced this? I was quite nervous to return without my passport. Might be worth putting a note if this happens often so people are aware of it.

Your visa will not be "awarded" until they have everything. But pending medical, everything else looks like an approval by the officer. In the days before some UK airlines allowed driver licences, people did not leave their passport at the embassy. They returned home, then sent the passport via courier to the embassy to get the visa put inside.  People do the same thing when they have an urgent business trip abroad and need the passport. They send it in after their trip.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

39 minutes ago, ChadTaljaardt said:

They awarded my visa but said it depends on the medical results, but then they kept my passport as they said they needed it for the visa. I flew down and as a result, if I didn’t have my drivers licence I’m not sure what identification I could have given to fly back. Has anyone else experienced this? I was quite nervous to return without my passport. Might be worth putting a note if this happens often so people are aware of it.

 

 

 

Yes, they always keep your passport to put the visa in. Even without complications with the medical such as you had, no-one gets given their passport with visa back at the interview. (For any US visa, even tourist.) I’m not sure what you mean by “making a note” as this is usually clear. For example, the official info page on immigrant visas notes that for visa approval, “you will be informed how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you”, which should make it clear that it doesn’t get given back immediately.  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/after-the-interview.html Also most embassies require some kind of courier registration to get your passport back, as does London, again it should have been clear it would be sent some time after the interview https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/employment/registering-courier-service/ 

 

[K & R 343]

1 hour ago, ChadTaljaardt said:

Hello,

 

I had my interview today, there was a few things I wasn’t expecting and I’m wondering if anyone else had this experience.

 

1. My medical results from Knightsbridge hadn’t arrived, they said that this can sometimes happen. Do I need to be concerned or do anything regarding this?
    
2. They awarded my visa but said it depends on the medical results, but then they kept my passport as they said they needed it for the visa. I flew down and as a result, if I didn’t have my drivers licence I’m not sure what identification I could have given to fly back. Has anyone else experienced this? I was quite nervous to return without my passport. Might be worth putting a note if this happens often so people are aware of it.

 

 

Other than these things, the visa process at the embassy was great, very professional and organised.

 

We were a K-1 visa but we had our medical at Knightsbridge

 

1. How many days in between your medical and interview did you give (they recommend 5 business days). We waited exactly 5 business days and were told the same thing. Our case status updated the next day. We had our visa a week and a half later if I remember right. It's taking knightsbridge more like 7-8 business days to send the medical over.

 

2. Yeah they told us the same thing. They can't confirm without looking at your medical results. They have to keep your passport for your visa there's no other way it will be put in it. Passports being taken at interview always happens. It should return by courier in a few weeks. If your visa was denied for some reason they would send your passport back too.