DCF in London - January 2020

[The4Sands 67]

16 minutes ago, AlanD26 said:

Has anyone whos still waiting been able to speak to actual human on the telephone? I've tried a variety of number but can never seem to get through to anyone.

 

Would be really nice to just know whats going on. Has been sent and lost in the post? Am I still waiting to be processed? I dont mind the wait, it is what it is, its just the lack of information that makes me worry

I was told point blank that the Immigrant Visa Unit does not take phone calls ("they don't even have an extension I could transfer to," the person told me) and the only way to contact them is through the form on their website.  It is pretty maddening.  

[Stuwoolf 44]

2 hours ago, AlanD26 said:

Has anyone whos still waiting been able to speak to actual human on the telephone? I've tried a variety of number but can never seem to get through to anyone.

 

Would be really nice to just know whats going on. Has been sent and lost in the post? Am I still waiting to be processed? I dont mind the wait, it is what it is, its just the lack of information that makes me worry

The more I think of your point "lost in the post" and the impact of such, it beggars belief that there are precious little (if any) avenues to enquire if such a situation exists.

 

I tried to contact the embassy a couple of weeks back. Used the online Contact Form. Have heard nothing byway of a reply.

[Morgan5698 58]

21 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Seems like those that got interviews were on a Monday or Thursday so that limits availability. They’re open, but not full blown open. As far as dates, September has been open for maybe three weeks. They will open the October calendar toward the end of the month and maybe they can open another day of the week for September if they have enough people there working.

I think they may have been open to NVC on automatic selection not DCF as I have checked most days and not seen any September options. Haven’t checked today though. Up until yesterday still no appointments available, though thankfully I got mine booked earlier in the month for next Monday. 
On another note had my medical last Friday. Painless experience in every sense of the word. If I don’t hear anything by tomorrow then all good apparently so onwards and upwards. Will report back on Monday after interview how that went. I will also see if I can drop the question subtly as to what’s going on with the DCF numbers outstanding! Can’t hurt 😉

[os306 103]

Just now, Morgan5698 said:

I think they may have been open to NVC on automatic selection not DCF as I have checked most days and not seen any September options. Haven’t checked today though. Up until yesterday still no appointments available, though thankfully I got mine booked earlier in the month for next Monday. 
On another note had my medical last Friday. Painless experience in every sense of the word. If I don’t hear anything by tomorrow then all good apparently so onwards and upwards. Will report back on Monday after interview how that went. I will also see if I can drop the question subtly as to what’s going on with the DCF numbers outstanding! Can’t hurt 😉

Congrats on getting the medical done and all the best for the interview. I've checked daily too and can never seem to find any available interview slots. Admittedly, I've only really checked once or twice a day.

 

By the way, if you specifically use the term "DCF" at the Embassy you're likely to be met with a look of confusion from the Consular Officer. A retired Immigration Lawyer on the britishexpats forum pointed out that the acronym is not used outside of internet discussions! 

[DCB 19]

1 hour ago, Morgan5698 said:

I think they may have been open to NVC on automatic selection not DCF as I have checked most days and not seen any September options. Haven’t checked today though. Up until yesterday still no appointments available, though thankfully I got mine booked earlier in the month for next Monday. 
On another note had my medical last Friday. Painless experience in every sense of the word. If I don’t hear anything by tomorrow then all good apparently so onwards and upwards. Will report back on Monday after interview how that went. I will also see if I can drop the question subtly as to what’s going on with the DCF numbers outstanding! Can’t hurt 😉

I had my medical yesterday (Monday 17th) and it went well, except for the 480 bill (NHS lost my paper records, so I had no proof of vaccines). 

I'm jealous that you've got your interview on Monday, that's really the last day that I'd be able to have an interview that would allow me to leave with my wife before her UK visa expires. I've had two emails from the embassy in response to my expedite request, but they haven't confirmed anything yet. I really hope I hear from them tomorrow. 

[Mpere 11]

38 minutes ago, DCB said:

I had my medical yesterday (Monday 17th) and it went well, except for the 480 bill (NHS lost my paper records, so I had no proof of vaccines). 

I'm jealous that you've got your interview on Monday, that's really the last day that I'd be able to have an interview that would allow me to leave with my wife before her UK visa expires. I've had two emails from the embassy in response to my expedite request, but they haven't confirmed anything yet. I really hope I hear from them tomorrow. 

Did you have to get all the vaccinations there? 

[DCB 19]

8 hours ago, Mpere said:

Did you have to get all the vaccinations there? 

The nurse was really helpful and professional. Didn’t make me feel bad at all for not having the vaccine records. I’m 28, so the only one she needed to check was MMR. She offered either to give me a shot there and then for £50, or test my blood for immunity, £90 (sample already taken during physical). I knew I had the vaccine when I was younger, so opted to have the blood test done rather than be given a vaccine that can give you a fever for 48 hours 😕

 

I also knew it had been over 10 years since I’d have a tetanus vaccine, so she gave me that one, for £40. She said I could go and have the MMR test and tetanus vaccine for free at my GP and send her the proof (but I didn’t want to delay my case). Vaccine was painless, although the arm muscle starts to hurt a few hours later and lasts for a couple days or more.

 

Was relieved that the doctor performing the physical didn’t do the external genital examination that I had read about online, haha

[AlanD26 14]

21 hours ago, The4Sands said:

I was told point blank that the Immigrant Visa Unit does not take phone calls ("they don't even have an extension I could transfer to," the person told me) and the only way to contact them is through the form on their website.  It is pretty maddening.  

So frustrating.

 

I've just filled out the form stating my situation, hoping to get some response. At the bottom of the form it says:

 

"It is crucial that you read the webpage in full.   This is because if your question is covered on the webpage, we will be unable to reply to your email."

 

Makes me think if anyone contacts them asking for a status update of their case they are just ignoring them, which is also madness. If this goes on for much longer I'm genuinely thinking about just turning up at the embassy in person and asking to speak to anyone that can help. Its now been 18 weeks since our I-130 approval.

Edited August 19, 2020 by AlanD26

[The4Sands 67]

Just now, AlanD26 said:

So frustrating.

 

I've just filled out the form stating my situation, hoping to get some response. At the bottom of the form it says:

 

"It is crucial that you read the webpage in full.   This is because if your question is covered on the webpage, we will be unable to reply to your email."

 

Makes me think if anyone contacts them asking for a status update of their case they are just ignoring them, which is also madness. If this goes on for much longer I'm genuinely thinking about just turning up at the embassy in person and asking to speak to anyone that can help. Its now been 18 weeks since our I-130 approval.

They don't always ignore it.  They def emailed me back asking for specifics about my case.  Then they ignored it.  Somebody upthread said that they probably got a giant pile of applications that had been piling up over the lockdown from USCIS and then just started going through them willy-nilly.  No rhyme or reason to whose is getting worked on when, just trying to plow through them.  

 

But the thing about it being lost in the post is a real concern.  We have had a lot of trouble with our post this past year, items never arriving, or arriving without all the contents (that the senders were 100% sure they included) or being so damaged as to render them unusable.  As if this process isn't fraught enough, hah.

 

Hang in there, people.  Can't do much else! 

[AlanD26 14]

42 minutes ago, The4Sands said:

They don't always ignore it.  They def emailed me back asking for specifics about my case.  Then they ignored it.  Somebody upthread said that they probably got a giant pile of applications that had been piling up over the lockdown from USCIS and then just started going through them willy-nilly.  No rhyme or reason to whose is getting worked on when, just trying to plow through them.  

 

But the thing about it being lost in the post is a real concern.  We have had a lot of trouble with our post this past year, items never arriving, or arriving without all the contents (that the senders were 100% sure they included) or being so damaged as to render them unusable.  As if this process isn't fraught enough, hah.

 

Hang in there, people.  Can't do much else! 

So I just had a response in the form of the 14 questions which I've just filled out and sent back to them. I know someone on here then got a response via email with their LND number, fingers crossed.

[Stuwoolf 44]

53 minutes ago, AlanD26 said:

So I just had a response in the form of the 14 questions which I've just filled out and sent back to them. I know someone on here then got a response via email with their LND number, fingers crossed.

Good luck.

 

I just sent a 2nd Contact Form. Fingers crossed.

[os306 103]

2 hours ago, AlanD26 said:

So frustrating.

 

I've just filled out the form stating my situation, hoping to get some response. At the bottom of the form it says:

 

"It is crucial that you read the webpage in full.   This is because if your question is covered on the webpage, we will be unable to reply to your email."

 

Makes me think if anyone contacts them asking for a status update of their case they are just ignoring them, which is also madness. If this goes on for much longer I'm genuinely thinking about just turning up at the embassy in person and asking to speak to anyone that can help. Its now been 18 weeks since our I-130 approval.

If it's any consolation (which it probably won't be) having my LND number hasn't really helped (other than provide peace of mind) as I haven't been able to find a free interview slot. Here's hoping they open September dates up shortly. Hope you get our LND number soon, especially given how long you have been waiting.

[The4Sands 67]

Well, in a bit of random news, maybe 3-4 weeks ago I requested my tax transcripts from 2018 and 2019 by mail on the IRS website and today the 2018 ones arrived in the post!  Hopefully the 2019 transcript will arrive soon, but I won't be waiting for it, should I ever get my LND any time soon.

Edited August 19, 2020 by The4Sands

[Morgan5698 58]

12 hours ago, os306 said:

Congrats on getting the medical done and all the best for the interview. I've checked daily too and can never seem to find any available interview slots. Admittedly, I've only really checked once or twice a day.

Thanks! By the way I just looked at the appointment booking and the following dates have opened up in September. 2,3,9 and 10th. Wednesday and Thursdays. Also thanks for the DCF advice, they will look at me funny!

12 hours ago, DCB said:

I had my medical yesterday (Monday 17th) and it went well, except for the 480 bill (NHS lost my paper records, so I had no proof of vaccines). 

I'm jealous that you've got your interview on Monday, that's really the last day that I'd be able to have an interview that would allow me to leave with my wife before her UK visa expires. I've had two emails from the embassy in response to my expedite request, but they haven't confirmed anything yet. I really hope I hear from them tomorrow. 

 Exactly the same for me. I had to have Tdp and MMR, so 480 sheets down.... Sorry to hear about your wife having to leave. Appointments have opened up in Sep as mentioned above, hope you manage to book one! Also, I think your wife can stay an additional 30 days after her visa runs out... unless you're already into that period. 

[Morgan5698 58]

47 minutes ago, os306 said:

If it's any consolation (which it probably won't be) having my LND number hasn't really helped (other than provide peace of mind) as I haven't been able to find a free interview slot. Here's hoping they open September dates up shortly. Hope you get our LND number soon, especially given how long you have been waiting.

Interview slots in sept open now