London CR1 / IR1 Appointment Updates

[amyarella 24]

I got my appointment in the last batch on dec 15th, email came in at 415pm

i know we all sound crazy but yes we clutch to anything because we are so desperate to see our partners I’m sure. 
praying for you guys, I remember the feeling when the interview email came through: keep checking  

[KathB 45]

I had my visa interview at the embassy in London yesterday (the 21st). We were DQ'd on Sept 21st September, and had the appointment scheduled on 15th December. I travelled down from Aberdeen for it, and I had previously travelled down in October to have my medical done. My appointment was at 9am, I turned up at 8.45 and I was the second in the queue at the window to check in. I was taken through security, and was in the building waiting to be called by 9am.

 

I initally was called up to one booth, and had to show my origial paperwork (I brought EVERYTHING with me just in case) and was asked for my birth cert, wedding cert, police checks (for Ireland and UK - I'm Irish), one US sized passport photo and my passport. He took my finger prints and asked a few questions - had I been married before, did I have a previous US visa, when am I planning on going to the US? He asked if I had had my medical, when I said yes he went into the back office and came back with my medical file (whew). He assembled them all into a folder, and asked me to sit back down. I was called to another booth a couple of minutes later, and I had to swear an oath I was telling the truth, and they checked my fingerprints again. I was given back my origial paperwork (apart from passport) and then I was asked a few questions: how had I met my husband? Where was he living at the time we met? We chatted for a couple of minutes as I explained our situation and that we were moving to the US for his work. She said ok, I will go ahead and issue your visa. Wow! It was literally that fast. I was back out on the street by 9.30. Amazing. Everyone was friendly, the set up is very efficent and clearly guided - it has been the most straightforward part of this whole process!! I'm waiting for my visa to be returned by courier, they said it will be 1 - 2 weeks for that.

 

They did make sure I knew I must enter the US before my medical expires (6 months from when you take it) which was appreciated - I had known that and it fits with our plans. But worth mentioning to anyone trying to decide if they should get their medical ahead of time (like I did) or to wait until your interview date is scheduled. I took a gamble mine would work out - and luckily for me it did, but I knew it was a risk and I might need to take the medical again if it didn't.

 

Good luck everyone - this is quite the roller coaster we are on!

[KathB 45]

20 hours ago, Zeppeli said:

Hello everyone! I hope you are all well. I just received my dreaded "Miss Appointment" email and I was wondering if anyone had any idea as to how long it can take to get another appointment? There's none available on the website as of yet.

 

I'm still devastated over getting a close quarters covid contact which has forced me to miss my assigned one, so I'd be grateful for any kind of insight.

 

On the plus side, I received my test results last back and it came beck negative!

I am so, do sorry to hear you had to miss your appointment!! I really hope you can get another one scheduled very soon - and so glad you tested negative too. Keeping everything crossed for you - good luck! 

[KathB 45]

Ooh - I forgot to give a shout out to the fantastic hotel I stayed in when I was in Vauxhall for my interview - it was lush! It's the Staybridge Suites, 100 Vauxhall Walk. Each room has a wee kitchen, a comfy bed, a small living area with tv and a fab bathroom, as well as a really great breakfast included. Super nice staff too. It's a 15 min walk to the embassy from there, and was so nice to have a kitchen and a bit more space. I called ahead to make sure they would accept my booking - thankfully they would, they said an embassy appointment is on the 'accepted' list of reasons to book. It was £77 a night - they have reduced rates at the moment, a total bargain. Really peaceful and quiet too - would really recommend!

[Christine Kapp 12]

Hi everyone, 

 

Hopefully doing this right as I'm new to VJ but just wanted to say how thankful I am for this post/site. I spent the last hour or so stalking all the different comments from the last few months and it has honestly made me feel a lot better. Immigration issues are stressful enough with countless delays, lack of communication, mistakes/compliance issues, separation from our SOs, and the financial burden of it all. On top of that add in a global pandemic, lockdowns in all of our home countries, unemployment, and other countless issues. Needless to say this is not an easy time for any of us and it is hard for people not in the situation to understand stressed and helpless I feel at times. Finding this community has really helped. 🤗

That being said, my DQ is December 21. 
I'll be checking for all of your updates but I am so glad and thankful that the US Embassy in London is operating despite of the lockdowns and I'm hoping for an interview in March or April?! Fingers crossed. 

 

[Charlie87 31]

40 minutes ago, Christine Kapp said:

Hi everyone, 

 

Hopefully doing this right as I'm new to VJ but just wanted to say how thankful I am for this post/site. I spent the last hour or so stalking all the different comments from the last few months and it has honestly made me feel a lot better. Immigration issues are stressful enough with countless delays, lack of communication, mistakes/compliance issues, separation from our SOs, and the financial burden of it all. On top of that add in a global pandemic, lockdowns in all of our home countries, unemployment, and other countless issues. Needless to say this is not an easy time for any of us and it is hard for people not in the situation to understand stressed and helpless I feel at times. Finding this community has really helped. 🤗

That being said, my DQ is December 21. 
I'll be checking for all of your updates but I am so glad and thankful that the US Embassy in London is operating despite of the lockdowns and I'm hoping for an interview in March or April?! Fingers crossed. 

 

Welcome! My DQ is 14th Dec so will be interviewed same sort of time as you. Hopefully it will be March some time!

[Charlie87 31]

Does anyone know when the next interview dates will be released? Last one was Dec 15th?..

[Zeppeli 31]

Managed to miss an appointment that came up within seconds seemingly. Luck really isn't on my side at the moment 😥

[twobees 20]

3 minutes ago, Zeppeli said:

Managed to miss an appointment that came up within seconds seemingly. Luck really isn't on my side at the moment 😥

Keep checking...another will open up! Hang in there! 

[Jamie B 55]

31 minutes ago, Charlie87 said:

Does anyone know when the next interview dates will be released? Last one was Dec 15th?..

Under normal circumstances interview appointment emails tend to come out on the 1st or 2nd Thursday/Friday of the month, but with the pandemic, lockdowns, change of govt in USA, things are off kilter this month so we have to just wait and see what happens, but the Embassy is open, they are currently still interviewing so hopefully any day now. We DQ'd on Oct 8th and in the last round of interviews appointments were emailed to couples who DQ'd from 17th Aug to 2nd Oct, so we're fairly high up the queue and promise we'll post here as soon as we get any appointment news.

[Christine Kapp 12]

3 hours ago, Jamie B said:

Under normal circumstances interview appointment emails tend to come out on the 1st or 2nd Thursday/Friday of the month, but with the pandemic, lockdowns, change of govt in USA, things are off kilter this month so we have to just wait and see what happens, but the Embassy is open, they are currently still interviewing so hopefully any day now. We DQ'd on Oct 8th and in the last round of interviews appointments were emailed to couples who DQ'd from 17th Aug to 2nd Oct, so we're fairly high up the queue and promise we'll post here as soon as we get any appointment news.

Thank you so much! I appreciate this so much Fingers crossed for you

[Christine Kapp 12]

On 1/21/2021 at 11:08 AM, amyarella said:

I got my appointment in the last batch on dec 15th, email came in at 415pm

i know we all sound crazy but yes we clutch to anything because we are so desperate to see our partners I’m sure. 
praying for you guys, I remember the feeling when the interview email came through: keep checking  

When was your TQ ? Thanks and good luck with everything

[Sm4598 37]

We DQ’d on October 21 and weren’t in the last batch of appointments. Hoping for this round. Just posting to give people a better sense of where certain dates are in the queue. (Sorry for any notifications that make people think someone’s gotten their date!)

[scarletheart 9]

Hi, I was just wondering to those who are awaiting interview who was already DQ’d, when you check your case status on ceac, does it still say “At NVC”? Thanks. Can’t find the answer anywhere 

[Charlie87 31]

5 minutes ago, scarletheart said:

Hi, I was just wondering to those who are awaiting interview who was already DQ’d, when you check your case status on ceac, does it still say “At NVC”? Thanks. Can’t find the answer anywhere 

Yes it still says at NVC. I think this changes once the interview date is received.