EB1A interview wait time in London, UK

[kennyHM 1]

Hi All,

 

I need some guidance. My EB1A got approved 24/03/2025 and awaiting NVC email. I live in London and my wife is a student on F1 visa in the USA. I need advice on how we both navigate the adjustment of status process respectively as I intend to remain in London cos of my job to go through the NVC consular process and she remains in USA to continue her education.

 

Your advise is greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you.

 

 

[ChiefB 1]

On 3/21/2025 at 5:39 PM, Ricky07 said:

Hello!

 

My first post here. I've learned a lot from you all so I thought I'll pay it forward by sharing my story and the timeline:

 

EB1-A (sent as normal and then updated to Premium Processing after 3.5weeks)

I-140 Sent: 2024-09-16

I-140 Approval: 2024-10-23

Package received by NVC: 2024-11-15

DQ: 2024-12-04

IL: 2025-01-28

Interview: 2025-03-12

Three questions asked:

1. What is your profession?
2. Are you planning to work in your field?
3. Have you lived anywhere else?

Issued: 2025-03-13

Passport collection: 2025-03-20

 

People who were recently approved might find this information useful. Just before our interview at the embassy on 12th March, we were given an information slip stating that the courier service would change from DX to Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) two days later (14th March), and providing the address of the new courier.

 

Our visa status changed to 'issued' the next day (the 13th), and we patiently waited until the 19th with no tracking number or updates. Frustrated, we went to MBE to inquire. A slightly rude staff member dismissed us with a blunt "no tracking number, no passport here, bye." When we tried to explain and ask further questions, we received minimal information, along with some smirks and slight mockery from other staff.

 

I emailed UK.Visas@gdit-gss.com for clarification and received a response yesterday morning:

 

"Please be advised that your passport is in transit between the previous courier and the new courier, Mail Boxes Etc. As soon as your passport is received at the new location, you will receive an email notification confirming that you can come and collect it."

 

Determined to find answers, we legged it to DX. Initially, the staff tried to brush us off, but after some pleading, one reluctantly agreed to check. There was no record of our passports ever being picked up, no trace of anything. He mentioned that the transfer from DX to MBE should take a maximum of one day, and if our passports hadn’t surfaced by now, they might be lost.

 

We then hurried back to Mail Boxes Etc. for a second, more persistent attempt. This time, a slightly more helpful staff member confirmed that my wife and I were in their system but noted that it had a status of 'no tracking number'. They weren’t sure what it means, tried to tell us this is some in-between stage but nobody seemed to know anything. After checking their basement where they store the passports and the visa packets, they claimed our passports were definitely not there.

 

A lovely French gentleman came to our rescue, agreeing to dig deeper and email the embassy. He must have received some information because, after an hour of searching through their unsorted pile downstairs, our packet was finally found. It had been sitting there for seven days (since last Friday), addressed to DX with no proper tracking code. It must have been picked up from the embassy by DX and then dropped at MBE as part of a larger batch of documents, but the staff didn't even bother to go through them for the best part of the week. The level of incompetence, ignorance, and disregard for how they handle people’s lives was truly astounding.

 

While we were there, we witnessed four other individuals in a similar situation who, unfortunately, were turned away because they weren’t as persistent.

 

Good luck to everyone, and I hope this helps someone on the final leg of their journey toward their American Dream.

 

Hi Hearty Congratulations on your recent success. I look forward to joining you in this category. So sorry to bother you. I just signed up in my bid to get information about wait times at the London Embassy. I had made some earlier mistakes as per decisions on what to do and don’t want to anymore. My timeline is as follows;

 

Priority Date September 2023 because of an earlier EB2 approval

EB1 (I-140) - 8 January 2024

EB1 (I-140) - 31 December 2024 (Approved) Normal Processing 

DQ - 7 March 2025

 

When do you think I will get invitation Letter? Also what are the steps to do including Medical’s and the interview and fees to pay. There are 5 of us in the family. I read in one of your responses we have to take some documents to the embassy on the day of the Medical’s. What documents? Photocopies or originals?

 

When and how do we schedule the Medical’s?  Do we receive the medical report and take it to the embassy?

 

Am so sorry I have asked a lot of questions. Am just worried and want to be prepared. Thank you in anticipation of your very prompt and favorable response.

[EB1Aspirant 9]

Hi Everyone,

update on my case. We had our interview on 24th March. the questions were very straightforward and similar to asked before in the forum:

• What is your profession
• Do you intent to work in your profession after going to US
• Where have you lived before coming to UK?
• Where were your children born

The VO said he's happy to approve my visa and I should receive passport in the next 7-10 days.

 

One question to @KVVO @banang @Ricky07 and others who received their passports with visa stamped - did you receive any envelope that you're not supposed to open until you reach US? I read online that not every visa applicant gets this. Nothing was handed over to us after the interview.

 

Also, how do you track the status of passport? Is this the website below:

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

 

Thanks for everyone on the forum for all your help.

 

[EB1Aspirant 9]

11 hours ago, ChiefB said:

 

Hi Hearty Congratulations on your recent success. I look forward to joining you in this category. So sorry to bother you. I just signed up in my bid to get information about wait times at the London Embassy. I had made some earlier mistakes as per decisions on what to do and don’t want to anymore. My timeline is as follows;

 

Priority Date September 2023 because of an earlier EB2 approval

EB1 (I-140) - 8 January 2024

EB1 (I-140) - 31 December 2024 (Approved) Normal Processing 

DQ - 7 March 2025

 

When do you think I will get invitation Letter? Also what are the steps to do including Medical’s and the interview and fees to pay. There are 5 of us in the family. I read in one of your responses we have to take some documents to the embassy on the day of the Medical’s. What documents? Photocopies or originals?

 

When and how do we schedule the Medical’s?  Do we receive the medical report and take it to the embassy?

 

Am so sorry I have asked a lot of questions. Am just worried and want to be prepared. Thank you in anticipation of your very prompt and favorable response.

• Invitation letters normally arrive end of month - you could get one this week, if not it could be end of April (as per previous members' experience)
• You should have all information in the invitation letter on medical booking, next steps
• List of docs will be in email from embassy/medical booking
• Call VisaMedicals (only after you receive interview date)
• VisaMedicals sends report directly to embassy

Don't worry, you shall have all the information ahead of time in detailed manner.

 

[KVVO 20]

44 minutes ago, EB1Aspirant said:

Hi Everyone,

update on my case. We had our interview on 24th March. the questions were very straightforward and similar to asked before in the forum:

• What is your profession
• Do you intent to work in your profession after going to US
• Where have you lived before coming to UK?
• Where were your children born

The VO said he's happy to approve my visa and I should receive passport in the next 7-10 days.

 

One question to @KVVO @banang @Ricky07 and others who received their passports with visa stamped - did you receive any envelope that you're not supposed to open until you reach US? I read online that not every visa applicant gets this. Nothing was handed over to us after the interview.

 

Also, how do you track the status of passport? Is this the website below:

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

 

Thanks for everyone on the forum for all your help.

 

Hi! When you go to pick up the passports (this was my preference) from the DX office in Chancery Lane then they also handed me the HUGE brown envelopes. Does anyone know what is inside them?? K 

[KVVO 20]

46 minutes ago, EB1Aspirant said:

Hi Everyone,

update on my case. We had our interview on 24th March. the questions were very straightforward and similar to asked before in the forum:

• What is your profession
• Do you intent to work in your profession after going to US
• Where have you lived before coming to UK?
• Where were your children born

The VO said he's happy to approve my visa and I should receive passport in the next 7-10 days.

 

One question to @KVVO @banang @Ricky07 and others who received their passports with visa stamped - did you receive any envelope that you're not supposed to open until you reach US? I read online that not every visa applicant gets this. Nothing was handed over to us after the interview.

 

Also, how do you track the status of passport? Is this the website below:

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

 

Thanks for everyone on the forum for all your help.

 

I received a shipment notice via email 2 days after the interview to let me know that passports were on their way. 

[banang 9]

41 minutes ago, EB1Aspirant said:

Hi Everyone,

update on my case. We had our interview on 24th March. the questions were very straightforward and similar to asked before in the forum:

• What is your profession
• Do you intent to work in your profession after going to US
• Where have you lived before coming to UK?
• Where were your children born

The VO said he's happy to approve my visa and I should receive passport in the next 7-10 days.

 

One question to @KVVO @banang @Ricky07 and others who received their passports with visa stamped - did you receive any envelope that you're not supposed to open until you reach US? I read online that not every visa applicant gets this. Nothing was handed over to us after the interview.

 

Also, how do you track the status of passport? Is this the website below:

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

 

Thanks for everyone on the forum for all your help.

 

 

@EB1Aspirant Congratulations!
Yes, we received passports with Visa and a hard envelop for each member (named and yellowish with DO NOT OPEN tags). Haven't you received your original documents after the interview?

 

CEACStatTracker only shows you when the Visa is issued, if you see "Issued" for your case, that's fine. My status was changed to "Issued" at the end of the interview day.

For the passport and envelops return, you can check it from DX via the link below. Have you booked DX delivery before the interview?

 https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/iv/users/sign_in

[banang 9]

5 minutes ago, KVVO said:

Hi! When you go to pick up the passports (this was my preference) from the DX office in Chancery Lane then they also handed me the HUGE brown envelopes. Does anyone know what is inside them?? K 

@KVVO Did you mean the plastic envelop? It contains our passports + yellowish envelopes which are with DO NOT OPEN tags. You should take your passport with you to travel actually.

[KVVO 20]

4 minutes ago, banang said:

@KVVO Did you mean the plastic envelop? It contains our passports + yellowish envelopes which are with DO NOT OPEN tags. You should take your passport with you to travel actually.

We received 2 very large brown envelopes along with the passports. Not to be opened until we go through immigration...

[banang 9]

5 minutes ago, KVVO said:

We received 2 very large brown envelopes along with the passports. Not to be opened until we go through immigration...

Yeah, so it's difference case by case. I just got some small A4 envelops + passports. Cheers ^^

[appleblossom 3,615]

7 minutes ago, KVVO said:

We received 2 very large brown envelopes along with the passports. Not to be opened until we go through immigration...

 

It’s got your medicals etc in. Put them in hand luggage, not hold luggage. And make sure they don’t get torn. 

[appleblossom 3,615]

12 hours ago, ChiefB said:

 

Hi Hearty Congratulations on your recent success. I look forward to joining you in this category. So sorry to bother you. I just signed up in my bid to get information about wait times at the London Embassy. I had made some earlier mistakes as per decisions on what to do and don’t want to anymore. My timeline is as follows;

 

Priority Date September 2023 because of an earlier EB2 approval

EB1 (I-140) - 8 January 2024

EB1 (I-140) - 31 December 2024 (Approved) Normal Processing 

DQ - 7 March 2025

 

When do you think I will get invitation Letter? Also what are the steps to do including Medical’s and the interview and fees to pay. There are 5 of us in the family. I read in one of your responses we have to take some documents to the embassy on the day of the Medical’s. What documents? Photocopies or originals?

 

When and how do we schedule the Medical’s?  Do we receive the medical report and take it to the embassy?

 

Am so sorry I have asked a lot of questions. Am just worried and want to be prepared. Thank you in anticipation of your very prompt and favorable response.

 

It sounds as though you’ve somehow missed the usual website for the whole process - as your questions about how to schedule medical, fees, documents etc, are all on there! Better late than never, here it is - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-10-prepare-for-the-interview.html Make sure you follow the London specific guidelines. 

 

And please fill in your timeline, thanks. 

[appleblossom 3,615]

On 3/27/2025 at 5:21 AM, kennyHM said:

Hi All,

 

I need some guidance. My EB1A got approved 24/03/2025 and awaiting NVC email. I live in London and my wife is a student on F1 visa in the USA. I need advice on how we both navigate the adjustment of status process respectively as I intend to remain in London cos of my job to go through the NVC consular process and she remains in USA to continue her education.

 

Your advise is greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

Your wife will have to fly to London for her medical and interview. When do you plan to move to the US?

 

Please fill in your timeline, thanks.

Edited Friday at 11:34 AM by appleblossom

[EB1Aspirant 9]

2 hours ago, banang said:

 

@EB1Aspirant Congratulations!
Yes, we received passports with Visa and a hard envelop for each member (named and yellowish with DO NOT OPEN tags). Haven't you received your original documents after the interview?

 

CEACStatTracker only shows you when the Visa is issued, if you see "Issued" for your case, that's fine. My status was changed to "Issued" at the end of the interview day.

For the passport and envelops return, you can check it from DX via the link below. Have you booked DX delivery before the interview?

 https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/iv/users/sign_in

@banang I received the originals on the day of interview. The next day after interview, I got email from US Embassy asking for copies of our docs - they gave us the photocopies of the originals too... not sure why we got this email.

 

The CEAC Status Tracker shows 'READY' status (it has been like that since I was DQ'd), however, the website indicates last updated was today.

 

I did pay for the DX delivery before interview, and no tracker or update on the AIS website. 

[appleblossom 3,615]

2 hours ago, banang said:

 

@EB1Aspirant Congratulations!
Yes, we received passports with Visa and a hard envelop for each member (named and yellowish with DO NOT OPEN tags). Haven't you received your original documents after the interview?

 

CEACStatTracker only shows you when the Visa is issued, if you see "Issued" for your case, that's fine. My status was changed to "Issued" at the end of the interview day.

For the passport and envelops return, you can check it from DX via the link below. Have you booked DX delivery before the interview?

 https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/iv/users/sign_in

 

CEAC can show other stages, but often it’s super quick so can be missed - mine was only ‘Administrative Processing’ for about two hours before it changed to ‘issued’. DX are no longer the couriers for London consulate, it’s now Mail Boxes Etc.