CR-1 / IR-1 Interview updates

[Xyrstine 224]

Hello all!

 

Just to chime in and state I requested for an expedite recently and have had it approved today. This was my approval timeline;

 

Expedite request- August 26th 2020
Expedite acknowledgement- September 2nd 2020
Expedite approval- September 15th 2020

 

It was an expedite on the grounds of an aggravation of a medical condition to the petitioner with proof provided. My case at NVC was not DQ'd but submitted prior to the request.

 

This was the email;

"The U.S. Embassy/Consulate General in LONDON, GRBR approved your request for expedited processing of your immigrant visa application. The National Visa Center sent your immigrant visa application to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General in LONDON, GRBR for their action. The Embassy/Consulate General will contact you soon to schedule a visa interview."

 

Good luck to everyone reading and waiting! 🤞

Edited September 15, 2020 by Xyrstine

[corntop 129]

35 minutes ago, shallot343 said:

Wondering if anyone has any input on this--just received an email that our second expedite request was forwarded to the Embassy, but obviously we already have our interview date. Should I contact NVC or the Embassy to basically tell them "nevermind", or can I just ignore it? Worried our interview might be inadvertently cancelled due to the new expedite. 

I assume (only opinion) that they will throw your second expedite request away soon as it is received, considering you already have an expedited appointment arranged. I wouldn't imagine they would cancel it just to give you an even later one when you've already been allocated a slot, or maybe you could get extra lucky and get an even earlier one. I guess it doesn't hurt to email and ask, but I would imagine your date is set now.

 

 

[shallot343 116]

2 minutes ago, corntop said:

I assume (only opinion) that they will throw your second expedite request away soon as it is received, considering you already have an expedited appointment arranged. I wouldn't imagine they would cancel it just to give you an even later one when you've already been allocated a slot, or maybe you could get extra lucky and get an even earlier one. I guess it doesn't hurt to email and ask, but I would imagine your date is set now.

 

 

That makes sense! We didn't actually have a granted expedite...we just received a normal interview appointment (our original expedite never received a response, and the day after we sent our second one we received a regular appointment!) 

 

I will call NVC tomorrow to ask them what they thing...and maybe shoot the embassy a quick message through their online form

[corntop 129]

2 minutes ago, shallot343 said:

That makes sense! We didn't actually have a granted expedite...we just received a normal interview appointment (our original expedite never received a response, and the day after we sent our second one we received a regular appointment!) 

 

I will call NVC tomorrow to ask them what they thing...and maybe shoot the embassy a quick message through their online form

It's strange you didn't hear anything but I would be very surprised if your appointment is not the expedited one, since there's people a few weeks before your DQ date still not booked in. Not that it matters now, as at least things are moving for everyone.

 

I'm not sure if NVC will answer your queries though, it's kind of like they wash their hands of us once we get sent to Embassy 😅

[loveisvein 39]

29 minutes ago, yere_and_kanbi said:

Oh, I see.. 

Did you attach any documents as proof ?

yeah, but i guess it wasn’t enough 😕

[Lewis1234 3]

I have my medical today and I have a quick question regarding the questionnaire, perhaps someone in the know can help me.

 

One of the questions asks if you've ever received a criminal offense or 'warning' for anything drug related. Well, I was actually cautioned for Marijuana possession many moons ago. This didn't show up on my ARCO police check, but I am guessing I should declare it here? What do you guys think?

 

The questions seems a bit medically irrelevant if I'm being honest!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, Lewis1234 said:

I have my medical today and I have a quick question regarding the questionnaire, perhaps someone in the know can help me.

 

One of the questions asks if you've ever received a criminal offense or 'warning' for anything drug related. Well, I was actually cautioned for Marijuana possession many moons ago. This didn't show up on my ARCO police check, but I am guessing I should declare it here? What do you guys think?

 

The questions seems a bit medically irrelevant if I'm being honest!

It is relevant on the mental health portion of the medical which includes substance abuse. If you report it, then they will add a drug test to your lab work to make sure you are clean. The will quiz you on if you ever used any kind of drugs so unless us are a really good liar you will likely give a urine sample for evaluation. 
 

For US immigration, cautions count as offenses even if the UK hides it on your police report. Does you Police report say “No Trace” meaning all clear. Or does it say “No Live Trace” meaning you have a hidden offense. If you have the latter, then order a Subject Access Report for your visa interview..

[Xyrstine 224]

I got the email to register and schedule for an interview but there were no slots available for the London embassy. I'm guessing this is normal? Do I also check daily? Does anyone know how often and when they release dates? I assumed we could see more slots into the month after etc.

[os306 103]

42 minutes ago, Xyrstine said:

I got the email to register and schedule for an interview but there were no slots available for the London embassy. I'm guessing this is normal? Do I also check daily? Does anyone know how often and when they release dates? I assumed we could see more slots into the month after etc.

You're correct that this isn't unusual. Interview slots tend to get released in blocks and towards the end of the month (for the following month). Due to cancellations you'll occasionally see random slots open up at short notice, so my advice would be to check often.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, Xyrstine said:

I got the email to register and schedule for an interview but there were no slots available for the London embassy. I'm guessing this is normal? Do I also check daily? Does anyone know how often and when they release dates? I assumed we could see more slots into the month after etc.

This is Covid-normal when they are only partially staffed. They were (at reopening) only interviewing 2 days a week. Then increased to 3 days a week. Maybe they will ramp up again. Anything that opens gets grabbed quickly...supply and demand. Usually only two months are visible at a time so Sept/Oct would show now if available.  Look for November to open maybe the last week of this month. 

You could be scheduling your medical date asap so when something opens, that part is done. Do you have your shots/shot record, health summary, and police certificate ready?

Edited September 16, 2020 by Wuozopo

[Xyrstine 224]

10 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

This is Covid-normal when they are only partially staffed. They were (at reopening) only interviewing 2 days a week. Then increased to 3 days a week. Maybe they will ramp up again. Anything that opens gets grabbed quickly...supply and demand. Usually only two months are visible at a time so Sept/Oct would show now if available.  Look for November to open maybe the last week of this month. 

You could be scheduling your medical date asap so when something opens, that part is done. Do you have your shots/shot record, health summary, and police certificate ready?

I have yet to give in my work notice as I am awaiting my interview date and don't want to compromise income before i travel there. I am hoping to make the move before Christmas, so November would be fine for me. I agree with wanting things done though and having things ready. I have my immunisation/vaccination records ready for pick up from the GP although I did not request for a health summary. I don't have any health conditions however. Police certificate all ready and all our other docs. 

Is it worth going ahead and booking the medical despite not obtaining an interview? Can that be done? They have provided me with the number.

Edited September 16, 2020 by Xyrstine

[os306 103]

31 minutes ago, Xyrstine said:

I have yet to give in my work notice as I am awaiting my interview date and don't want to compromise income before i travel there. I am hoping to make the move before Christmas, so November would be fine for me. I agree with wanting things done though and having things ready. I have my immunisation/vaccination records ready for pick up from the GP although I did not request for a health summary. I don't have any health conditions however. Police certificate all ready and all our other docs. 

Is it worth going ahead and booking the medical despite not obtaining an interview? Can that be done? They have provided me with the number.

If you have your LND number you can go ahead and book your medical. It's worth noting that you have 6 months to enter the US from the date of your medical appointment not your Embassy interview. If you're planning on moving over in November then it guess this is a moot point. Visamedicals will want a summary care record from your GP - this is typically a 2-3 page document that contains any current and previous medical problems, your immunisations and list of previous visits/consultations (if any). Most practices can print one out instantly for you to collect on the day. Visamedicals want the summary to be no older than a month, so that's worth noting when booking your medical appointment.

 

I don't think the US Embassy have released any interview dates beyond the 1st of October yet. I've been checking the booking system most days for the past few weeks and the latest interview slow I came across was for the 1st of October. Up until earlier today there were a couple of slots available for the last week of September, but these appear to have been taken up now.

 

In terms of wanting things done, I can completely relate. I have some leeway in terms of when I need to move to the US, but I just wanted to get the process over and done with, especially with the unpredictability of COVID and the possibility of Embassy closures etc. at short notice.

 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2020 by os306

[Wuozopo 4,293]

37 minutes ago, Xyrstine said:

Is it worth going ahead and booking the medical despite not obtaining an interview? Can that be done? They have provided me with the number.

What os306 said.  I would book the medical at the soonest date you can take a day off and get to London. You never know when the floodgates will open more and if that will create a long queue for the medical. 

[Xyrstine 224]

Thank you very much @Wuozopo and @os306

 

I have arranged the medical for next week, Friday. They currently seem to have many slots available as they pretty much told me to pick any day next week onwards aside from Tuesday. I didn't realise the fee was an eye watering £350! Oh well. Hoping I don't need to get any additional shots. I will try and find all records of any previous vaccinations. I know I'm up to date as it is required for my role as a nurse. 

 

I'm just eagerly awaiting interview dates to show up now. 🤞

[Wuozopo 4,293]

52 minutes ago, Xyrstine said:

Thank you very much @Wuozopo and @os306

 

I have arranged the medical for next week, Friday. They currently seem to have many slots available as they pretty much told me to pick any day next week onwards aside from Tuesday. I didn't realise the fee was an eye watering £350! Oh well. Hoping I don't need to get any additional shots. I will try and find all records of any previous vaccinations. I know I'm up to date as it is required for my role as a nurse. 

 

I'm just eagerly awaiting interview dates to show up now. 🤞

Shots:

2 MMR in your life

Tdap or Td, dated in last 10 years (They give Revaxis in the UK. US gives Adacel)

Varicella -waived for “not routinely available” in UK or if you tell them you had chickenpox

Influenza -waived for “not flu season”  (It starts October 1. Good timing.)