CR1/IR1 - After the interview, CEAC updates?

[nbar 5]

Hi all, I had my CR1 interview today in London & I was verbally informed that we were approved at 09.00 this morning. I've already posted up my review of the consulate too. I was wondering if some people could share their experiences about what happens next - I'm particularly curious about:

 

- CEAC updates - mine still says READY, and I believe I shouldn't expect that to change until my visa/passport is ready

- Will it go straight from READY to something else? I saw on an EB2 thread that theirs changed to 'administrative processing'

- When did it change for you?

- How long did it take from approval to passport in hand for you?

 

I'm going to pick up my passport from the DX office in London, & I'm just a bit impatient so that's why I'm asking about what other's steps are like! I know that they say up to two weeks, but it seems that's not always the case. There's not a lot of data in people's VJ timelines about this final step either.

 

Thanks!

[appleblossom 2,320]

1 hour ago, nbar said:

Hi all, I had my CR1 interview today in London & I was verbally informed that we were approved at 09.00 this morning. I've already posted up my review of the consulate too. I was wondering if some people could share their experiences about what happens next - I'm particularly curious about:

 

- CEAC updates - mine still says READY, and I believe I shouldn't expect that to change until my visa/passport is ready

- Will it go straight from READY to something else? I saw on an EB2 thread that theirs changed to 'administrative processing'

- When did it change for you?

- How long did it take from approval to passport in hand for you?

 

I'm going to pick up my passport from the DX office in London, & I'm just a bit impatient so that's why I'm asking about what other's steps are like! I know that they say up to two weeks, but it seems that's not always the case. There's not a lot of data in people's VJ timelines about this final step either.

 

Thanks!

 

Mine went to Admin Processing (very briefly - for about 2 hours!), then approved, then issued. Then details of the shipping, once it had been sent, although I'd had that from the courier already by that point. 

 

Mine was interview on the Monday afternoon, passport delivered Thursday morning. No idea on how long it takes for collection though as every case I've seen has had it delivered. That was last year, London, EB case.

 

HTH, good luck. 

[nbar 5]

1 minute ago, appleblossom said:

 

Mine went to Admin Processing (very briefly - for about 2 hours!), then approved, then issued. Then details of the shipping, once it had been sent, although I'd had that from the courier already by that point. 

 

Haha, you're the person I was actually writing the EB comment about! Thank you for sharing that - how long was it between your interview & that status update (administrative processing).

[appleblossom 2,320]

5 minutes ago, nbar said:

 

Haha, you're the person I was actually writing the EB comment about! Thank you for sharing that - how long was it between your interview & that status update (administrative processing).

 

I honestly can't remember I'm afraid. But if you don't see it don't worry, you may not even notice it - the only one to look for really is 'issued' as then you know it's been printed and is in your passport.

 

Good luck. 

Edited May 8 by appleblossom

[nbar 5]

An update for any that are interested - my interview was wrapped up at around 09.30. At 15.00 my status was still 'ready', and now at 17.00 it's moved to administrative processing. 

 

Of course it's important to bear in mind that the official wait is 2 weeks, but an interesting note from the description for admin processing:

 

> If your visa application is approved, it will be processed and mailed/available within two business days

Edited May 8 by nbar

[RIchard83 1]

Thanks for sharing everything. I have my interview on 10th June and this is helpful to know the whole experience. I am really interested to hear how long it takes for your passport to be delivered. We have had flights booked for 17th June and I know its super tight for myself but optimistic!!! 

[nbar 5]

Hi all, a brief update & maybe some easier formatting for those looking in the future. I've been refreshing the CEAC immigrant visa tracker on the hour since midday yesterday (08 May). I have flights booked for next Thursday (16 May), but if I get my passport sooner then I may even do a same-day flight if it's available to change.

 

- 08 May 2024 - 08.00 visa interview

- 08 May 2024 - 09.30 interview complete, verbal approval given

- 08 May 2024 - 17.00 CEAC tracker changes from 'Ready' to 'Administrative Processing'

- 09 May 2024 - 10.00 CEAC tracker changes from 'Administrative Processing' to 'Issued'

 

I will update this timeline as it happens.

 

@RIchard83 you may want to see my London embassy review for an equally unecessarily detailed blow-by-blow of the process.

[nbar 5]

I can't edit my post or reply anymore, so I'll also add this additional comment - I haven't received any emails about any of this up to the delivery notification (which is an email). The only way for me to check the status was to manually submit a case check on the CEAC page. I also haven't received any emails from the US Embassy in London post-interview.

 

A quick update - I received my DX tracking number at 10.05 on 10 May 2024 (Friday, today). The link now says that it's awaiting pickup, and initially showed today's date as the expected date. A few minutes ago it changed to Monday 13 May 2024.

 

This is being delivered directly to the DX collection point on Chancery Lane, London. I'm currently anticipating picking this up on Tuesday morning.

Edited May 10 by nbar

[nbar 5]

Hello all - my final update about the speed of receiving a visa, from approval to passport in hand.

 

- 08 May 2024 - 08.00 visa interview

- 08 May 2024 - 09.30 interview complete, verbal approval given

- 08 May 2024 - 17.00 CEAC tracker changes from 'Ready' to 'Administrative Processing'

- 09 May 2024 - 10.00 CEAC tracker changes from 'Administrative Processing' to 'Issued'

- 10 May 2024 - 10.05 DX tracking number received via email

- 13 May 2024 - 07.00 SMS received informing me that my passport is ready for pickup at the DX Office

- 13 May 2024 - 09.45 passport in hand

 

My flight is tomorrow. I hope that this is useful to people in the future, as this forum was useful to me. Best of luck all.

[Mrsh09 2]

On 5/13/2024 at 2:22 AM, nbar said:

Hello all - my final update about the speed of receiving a visa, from approval to passport in hand.

 

- 08 May 2024 - 08.00 visa interview

- 08 May 2024 - 09.30 interview complete, verbal approval given

- 08 May 2024 - 17.00 CEAC tracker changes from 'Ready' to 'Administrative Processing'

- 09 May 2024 - 10.00 CEAC tracker changes from 'Administrative Processing' to 'Issued'

- 10 May 2024 - 10.05 DX tracking number received via email

- 13 May 2024 - 07.00 SMS received informing me that my passport is ready for pickup at the DX Office

- 13 May 2024 - 09.45 passport in hand

 

My flight is tomorrow. I hope that this is useful to people in the future, as this forum was useful to me. Best of luck all.

Hi, maybe you can help...my husband flies out to the USA in a few weeks are there any other fees he needs to pay before hand? Thanks 😊

[appleblossom 2,320]

On 9/28/2024 at 2:12 AM, Mrsh09 said:

Hi, maybe you can help...my husband flies out to the USA in a few weeks are there any other fees he needs to pay before hand? Thanks 😊

 

Has he paid the green card fee? 

[Mrsh09 2]

On 10/3/2024 at 8:28 AM, appleblossom said:

 

Has he paid the green card fee? 

Thank you for responding.

We have now, yes. He flies out in 2 weeks. Do you know if his social automatically gets processed too? Or do we go to the office to do that? So overwhelmed right now. 

[appleblossom 2,320]

49 minutes ago, Mrsh09 said:

Thank you for responding.

We have now, yes. He flies out in 2 weeks. Do you know if his social automatically gets processed too? Or do we go to the office to do that? So overwhelmed right now. 

 

It depends - did you tick the box on the DS-260 to ask for it to be issued? If so, it'll be done when he enters the US on his immigrant visa, and doesn't take long (ours were here within about 8 days after we arrived). If not then he'll need to go to a SSA office to apply in person. 

 

Don't be overwhelmed, if you're there already then at least he's got you to help him do stuff! And it should be fairly simple if you already know how everything works in the US. I moved last year with spouse, two teenagers, two dogs, and we had to start from scratch not knowing anybody or how anything worked. It was all absolutely fine, he will be too. 

 

Best of luck. 

[Melancholic Mage 87]

On 5/8/2024 at 11:05 AM, nbar said:

 

Haha, you're the person I was actually writing the EB comment about! Thank you for sharing that - how long was it between your interview & that status update (administrative processing).

 

On 5/8/2024 at 11:10 AM, appleblossom said:

 

I honestly can't remember I'm afraid. But if you don't see it don't worry, you may not even notice it - the only one to look for really is 'issued' as then you know it's been printed and is in your passport.

 

Good luck. 

 

Just to add, my status changed three days after my interview and as Appleblossom mentioned here it ticked over to issued. I also paid expedited to home address. It looked like this:

 

 

Got my passport back three days after with visa inside. Good luck! 

Edited October 8 by Melancholic Mage