Schedule interview before or after getting documentation?

[bellsbells 3]

We just received an email from the Paris consulate that they received our petition, but I'm really confused by our next steps. The letter clearly states:

 

 

Quote

 

We are pleased to inform you that we have received an approved I-129F petition in support of your immigrant visa application. To all Beneficiaries: please visit the following website re the IMBRA pamphlet https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/imbra.html.

 

To prepare for your interview, please visit our website at https://fr.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/. See the section “How to Apply,” where you will find detailed, step-by-step instructions. Applying at U.S. Embassy Paris France, all Portugal -Azores and Madeira islands- residents must complete their DS-160 by selecting PRS (Paris) NOT LSB (Lisbon) as location/place of interview.

Once ready and ONLY ONCE READY with your documentation you need to visit the contactor’s website at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ in order to first, we repeat FIRST, pay the mandatory fee of $265; only then, you will be able to arrange your interview date.

 

However, their link to the US embassy of France website has different instructions:

 

1. Wait to receive notification from Embassy Paris that your file has been received from the National Visa Center (NVC).  Follow the instructions carefully.
2. Register, pay the visa fee, and schedule a K visa appointment through the online appointment system.  Note:  You must have a French mailing address to register.  Residents of Portugal/Azores only:  Use the Embassy address for your mailing address: Immigrant Visa Unit, 4 Ave Gabriel, Paris 75008.
3. Assemble the required documents.
4. Schedule a medical examination with the Embassy-approved physician in Paris, Lisbon, or Ponta Delgada.(PDF 814 KB) All visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination. Your medical exam results will be given to you in a sealed envelope. Opened medical exam results are invalidated and a new exam will be required at your expense. Medical exams from a doctor other than a designated panel physician will not be accepted.
5.  etc. etc

 

We really want to book the appt as soon as possible, but since he needs to obtain some police certificates from various countries, we don't know how long the documentation will take.

 

What should we do?

[payxibka 10,045]

2 minutes ago, bellsbells said:

We just received an email from the Paris consulate that they received our petition, but I'm really confused by our next steps. The letter clearly states:

 

 

However, their link to the US embassy of France website has different instructions:

 

1. Wait to receive notification from Embassy Paris that your file has been received from the National Visa Center (NVC).  Follow the instructions carefully.
2. Register, pay the visa fee, and schedule a K visa appointment through the online appointment system.  Note:  You must have a French mailing address to register.  Residents of Portugal/Azores only:  Use the Embassy address for your mailing address: Immigrant Visa Unit, 4 Ave Gabriel, Paris 75008.
3. Assemble the required documents.
4. Schedule a medical examination with the Embassy-approved physician in Paris, Lisbon, or Ponta Delgada.(PDF 814 KB) All visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination. Your medical exam results will be given to you in a sealed envelope. Opened medical exam results are invalidated and a new exam will be required at your expense. Medical exams from a doctor other than a designated panel physician will not be accepted.
5.  etc. etc

 

We really want to book the appt as soon as possible, but since he needs to obtain some police certificates from various countries, we don't know how long the documentation will take.

 

What should we do?

Get going on securing the required police certificates

[samnrong 52]

I suggest posting this in the France forum. Often the policies and procedures will be unique from one consulate to another, so you really want input from people who have dealt with Paris and have wide knowledge on that particular consulate.

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Gather the necessary documents, schedule medical exam and process all your police certificates. Once the PC are in your hands schedule the interview. That's what I take away from the email from your embassy.