Do you think lockdown will impact CR1 interviews?

[RadChan 84]

Hi all,

 

I'm sure you all heard that Boris announced a new 4-week lockdown lasting until Dec 2nd. I'm really hoping that this won't impact the US embassy in London and that they'll still carry on interviews as planned and scheduling the next set of interviews without closing down or postponing. 

 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I'm scheduled on Nov 17th and I'm really worried. 

 

I guess I'll keep an eye on the website tomorrow!

[nickyducky 14]

17 minutes ago, RadChan said:

Hi all,

 

I'm sure you all heard that Boris announced a new 4-week lockdown lasting until Dec 2nd. I'm really hoping that this won't impact the US embassy in London and that they'll still carry on interviews as planned and scheduling the next set of interviews without closing down or postponing. 

 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I'm scheduled on Nov 17th and I'm really worried. 

 

I guess I'll keep an eye on the website tomorrow!

Hi pal. I’m scheduled on Monday 16th November, so am equally as worried. 
 

im holding out some hope that we will be ok simply since it seems that hotels can stay open and courts are also staying open so I would hope that the US Embassy will be deemed essential work as well as long as they keep their measures in place. 
 

I would think we’ll know for sure by Thursday when the lockdown goes into effect, but I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that we’ll be ok. 
 

good luck to you. 

[RadChan 84]

5 minutes ago, nickyducky said:

Hi pal. I’m scheduled on Monday 16th November, so am equally as worried. 
 

im holding out some hope that we will be ok simply since it seems that hotels can stay open and courts are also staying open so I would hope that the US Embassy will be deemed essential work as well as long as they keep their measures in place. 
 

I would think we’ll know for sure by Thursday when the lockdown goes into effect, but I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that we’ll be ok. 
 

good luck to you. 

Thanks, and to you!

 

I am less concerned that the rules of the lockdown will say embassies have to close and more that they will spook and close of their own volition like they did earlier this year. Saying that, I am sure they have distancing measures in place etc and maybe we all feel more confident about how to interact safely with masks and sanitizing and SD etc. So fingers crossed. 

 

I actually came here expecting to find discussion about this up already but it was strangely quiet on the matter! 

[SEWI 50]

Does anybody recall the timeline/delay between the first lockdown and the closure notice that the US Embassy issued?

It would be great to understand the process as previously implemented.

 

I'm yet to receive the decision notice regarding my expedite request, and so with the expectation that the imposition of this second lockdown will introduce further visa processing delays, I'm exploring the options of flying to the US and spending this period with my wife.

[RadChan 84]

I found the following posted earlier this year:

 

"my fiance's interview was tomorrow (march 17th) and he got this today (march 16th): "As of 17^th March 2020, the United States Embassy in London, UK is reducing routine Immigrant and Non-Immigrant visa appointments.  At this time your visa appointment is cancelled. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time."

 

According to other posts around the same time, Boris made an announcement reducing certain things on March 16th, so this seems like a swift reaction. Then lockdown official was from the 23rd. 

 

I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that they'll just carry on operations as they have been so far!

[Hannahl4211 42]

I have my interview tomorrow at 10am, and have heard nothing from the embassy. I am assuming they won't email me at 8am on the day of my interview to tell me its cancelled.. I am coming from Scotland so I am flying today and will be in London and that would REALLY suck!! Crossing my fingers for you all!!

[RadChan 84]

10 minutes ago, Hannahl4211 said:

I have my interview tomorrow at 10am, and have heard nothing from the embassy. I am assuming they won't email me at 8am on the day of my interview to tell me its cancelled.. I am coming from Scotland so I am flying today and will be in London and that would REALLY suck!! Crossing my fingers for you all!!

Well, your interview will likely be fine since the lockdown rules don't start until Thursday

 

But if you have any, ahem, small talk opportunities and can casually ask if they're just planning to carry on as normal for the next month, we would all love to know! Lol

 

Anyway good luck with your interview, hope it all goes smoothly!

[Dags 134]

This is all super worrying! I'm still hoping maybe the embassy won't be affected, but I can't stop feeling like it will ..

 

[Dags 134]

I've just found out that some businesses, customer faced, ie. estate agencies are allowed to stay open. so maybe there is little bit of hope for us? 

[RadChan 84]

16 minutes ago, Dags said:

I've just found out that some businesses, customer faced, ie. estate agencies are allowed to stay open. so maybe there is little bit of hope for us? 

That is good!

 

But my concern is less that it will be ruled that they have to shut and more that they will spook and take the decision to shut on their own. That is what happened last time. Embassies are definitely essential operations but still the US embassy decided to close. Plenty of other embassies in London stayed open (I know Japan was open but you had to make an appointment) during that time.

 

Well, I guess we will have a good idea by Thursday when the next batch of interviews will likely be released. If go ahead and do it as normal, then fingers crossed scheduled interviews will be carrying on as planned!

 

[Dags 134]

1 hour ago, RadChan said:

That is good!

 

But my concern is less that it will be ruled that they have to shut and more that they will spook and take the decision to shut on their own. That is what happened last time. Embassies are definitely essential operations but still the US embassy decided to close. Plenty of other embassies in London stayed open (I know Japan was open but you had to make an appointment) during that time.

 

Well, I guess we will have a good idea by Thursday when the next batch of interviews will likely be released. If go ahead and do it as normal, then fingers crossed scheduled interviews will be carrying on as planned!

 

Yeah, the uncertainty is the worse.

 

I also found the below:

 

🤞🤞🤞🤞 

[RadChan 84]

22 minutes ago, Dags said:

Yeah, the uncertainty is the worse.

 

I also found the below:

 

🤞🤞🤞🤞 

Well, that is positive at least?! 

 

If the US embassy close I am totally screwed. I will need to find a new place to live while I wait it out  

 

I keep checking their website but they are crummy at updating at the best of times.

[RadChan 84]

2 hours ago, Dags said:

I've just found out that some businesses, customer faced, ie. estate agencies are allowed to stay open. so maybe there is little bit of hope for us? 

@Dags, did you manage to schedule your interview yet?

[Dags 134]

12 minutes ago, RadChan said:

@Dags, did you manage to schedule your interview yet?

unfortunately not yet.. there has been no slots available for a week now

[RadChan 84]

1 minute ago, Dags said:

unfortunately not yet.. there has been no slots available for a week now

Oh no! Hopefully some will open up soon (maybe when they release the next batch?)