[London] [IR1] I had my interview at the London embassy in London recently and they asked for additional documents

[fepixola12345 0]

I had the additional documents with me and I showed them to the officer. The officer was happy about them but they asked me to upload them to CEAS and gave me 221g, I then uploaded the documents to CEAC on the spot. 

Along with the 221g they gave me a form with instructions, the last instruction is to send the original documents to the embassy via DX delivery. Which I did. My questions are:

1- Did I have to do this (send them to the embassy via DX)? since the officer already looked at the original documents in the interview, but they were only concerned that they weren't uploaded?

2- Also, I sent original documents, and I need them for the future, does the US embassy return those documents along with the passport?

3- And if so how long does the US embassy in London usually take to change the status for such scenario from Refused to Issued?

Thanks in advance!

Edited September 9, 2023 by fepixola12345

[Mike E 11,739]

1 hour ago, fepixola12345 said:

Did I have to do this (send them to the embassy via DX)? since the officer already looked at the original documents in the interview, but they were only concerned that they weren't uploaded?

If the officer saw them and the embassy wants them sent, it suggests to me the embassy wants to verify authenticity.

[fepixola12345 0]

34 minutes ago, Mike E said:

If the officer saw them and the embassy wants them sent, it suggests to me the embassy wants to verify authenticity.

The officer didn't tell me to send them, they only asked me to upload them. 

But the instructions paper they gave me had "you may be required to send your documents to the embassy", so I did this. 

Do you know if they would be returned with the passport?

[Mike E 11,739]

36 minutes ago, fepixola12345 said:

The officer didn't tell me to send them, they only asked me to upload them. 

But the instructions paper they gave me had "you may be required to send your documents to the embassy", so I did this.

It said “may” and you sent them anyway. Wow. 

36 minutes ago, fepixola12345 said:

Do you know if they would be returned with the passport?

Given it said “may” not “must”, you should expect to never see those documents again. 

[fepixola12345 0]

There's no way for me to know, as I didn't get any follow-up emails from the embassy after the interview. So the safe thing is to send them.

I sent the documents via the authorized courier as well. 

Is your answer based on experience? do they never return documents?

Edited September 9, 2023 by fepixola12345

[Mike E 11,739]

I have never heard of DoS returning unsolicited   documents.

[fepixola12345 0]

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

I have never heard of DoS returning unsolicited   documents.

They are not unsolicited, they are listed in the 221g form. As clearly stated in this thread.

[powerpuff 6,604]

12 minutes ago, fepixola12345 said:

They are not unsolicited, they are listed in the 221g form. As clearly stated in this thread.

I have to agree with @Mike E. It is unsolicited as the consulate didn’t explicitly require you to send them the  originals. You can try to contact the consulate and ask for them back but no guarantees.

[fepixola12345 0]

7 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

I have to agree with @Mike E. It is unsolicited as the consulate didn’t explicitly require you to send them the  originals. You can try to contact the consulate and ask for them back but no guarantees.

So basically documents submitted for 221g are never returned? 

[powerpuff 6,604]

Just now, fepixola12345 said:

So basically documents submitted for 221g are never returned? 

Only if they specifically request you to submit originals. It’s the same principle with USCIS.

[fepixola12345 0]

Just now, powerpuff said:

Only if they specifically request you to submit originals. It’s the same principle with USCIS.

They always want originals, I went to the interview with other original documents.

 

[powerpuff 6,604]

1 minute ago, fepixola12345 said:

They always want originals, I went to the interview with other original documents.

 

Right. And they returned them to you. 

[fepixola12345 0]

4 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Right. And they returned them to you. 

And it should go without saying that the extra documents they need should be original, otherwise, the digital uploaded version should be enough. 

[fepixola12345 0]

34 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Only if they specifically request you to submit originals. It’s the same principle with USCIS.

This is exactly what the instruction says: "Once you have scanned and uploaded the documents into CEAC website, you may be required to submit the originals for review. Please log into your CSRA account to arrange the delivery of your documents. You will not be charged for this service."

[powerpuff 6,604]

4 minutes ago, fepixola12345 said:

This is exactly what the instruction says: "Once you have scanned and uploaded the documents into CEAC website, you may be required to submit the originals for review. Please log into your CSRA account to arrange the delivery of your documents. You will not be charged for this service."

Which means after uploading, the consulate MAY require you to submit originals, i.e. the consulate will look at them on CEAC and if they want originals they will ask you for that. And they didn’t, which makes the submission, in my view, unsolicited. 

Edited September 10, 2023 by powerpuff