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If it were me, I think I'd prefer to fly in & out of the US, wrap up your things in the UK, and then return to the US fully. I don't think I'd take my chances with the additional processing & new medical! It takes a few weeks to receive your SSN & a few months to get your physical green card anyway. That said, I'm sure your preference will be to leave the job sooner. Perhaps you can use some vacation days.

The London embassy is quicker at scheduling interviews & processing visas than other embassies, but unfortunately the I-130 will take quite a while to get approved unless you can go through Direct Consular Filing or have a reason for expediting. You can view my timeline too if you'd like - we submitted the I-130 on March 03 2023, & I finally moved to the US about two weeks ago.

Did you need to submit any additional documents after your interview? Did they tell you if you were approved? In my situation, I was told I was approved & the CEAC tracker changed from Administrative Processing to Issued in about 24 hours.

They'll tell you exactly what floor and where to go on it - I think it was the first or the second floor, but I also can't remember if it was different since 1st floor = ground floor to Americans & I can't recall if the embassy is like that too. Don't go in the citizens line - go to the queue I describe on that review, and cut in line by standing directly next to the check in desk outside of security.

I can give you better - I can give you a novel about my experience going through the interview! It's on my London consulate review here - https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/view-dos-cis-reviews.php?entry=33165 Basically - very short, very basic, remember to print out your courier confirmation email.

Here is the timeline that I have just gone through: - 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

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.

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.

They accepted a PDF print out of the NHS COVID site for my first two vaccines (both AstraZenica), and then for my booster that I got in a CVS in the US (Moderna), it had my name + vaccine version + manufacturer + date. Have you tried the links I posted earlier that are from the same company/group as VisaMedicals? That's what they put in the email for your booking. There's no signature or company stamp or anything fancy that they look for.

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.

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

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).

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!

You can also receive your COVID vaccine from a different country - I got mine for free when I was visiting the US for other reasons.

I just went through this process. - If you're missing vaccinations they can give you some onsite. For example, I didn't have the Hep B vaccine (it's a 3 course vaccination). They gave me the first shot, charged me for it (I think it was like £40?), said I should continue it when I move, but the single shot onsite satisfies the requirement. - Varicella - they will ask you if you had chicken pox as a child. They do not request further evidence beyond verbal confirmation & you checking a box in the form. - You need to privately get the COVID vaccine before you arrive for the medical. They do not offer that vaccination at the clinic. This is what they send at the top of your booking confirmation for the medical: PLEASE NOTE: From the 01st April 2024 the COVID-19 vaccination can be obtained privately for anyone aged 12 years or above and therefore will be required for your Visa Application. You can find your nearest clinic here: https://pharmadoctor.co.uk/patient/service/covid-vaccination Or can go to our London clinic here: https://fleetstreetclinic.com/services/wellness-vaccinations/covid-vaccine/