Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

My wife and I have been allocated an interview in London (I-130 visa - sponsored by our daughter). The date is in Mid-November (we are planning to move to the US early next year).
We are in the process of selling our house here in the UK (got a buyer; ready to move in by Christmas - then we'll rent for a while).
So, with all the chaos that involves (along with significant work-related issues) we want to postpone the interview (and medical) until early/mid Jan.
Any advice on how to go about this; i.e. what is the best approach with respect to not jeopardising our case and how to contact the right department (is there an e-mail address? Or do we have to call the premium rate number?)

Ta,

John Boy

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

The visa is valid for 6 months - does that figure into your timeline? It'll give you until mid-May to arrive in the US to validate your visas.


Probably not what you want to hear, but you really should try to keep the appointment. Even if you get confirmation that they received your request to change the appointment, there's no guarantee that they will change it... they aren't obligated to. Further, there is no guarantee that the person scheduled to interview you will get the notice that you want to alter the appointment, and if that happens, your case will be summarily closed and the visas denied.

Ian

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

You're right - it's not ideal for us, especially as the time they'e allotted is early on a Monday, so we would have to travel down on Sunday; we just don't have enough weekends at the moment...)

Anyone have any direct experience of switching/trying to switch dates?

Thanks,
John Boy

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

For an interview at a USCIS office in the US - Ian's advice goes. For an interview at the US Embassy in London, they are much better organised in this regard and it is pretty safe to change the date. Downside: you do have to call the premium rate number. They sent me a new email with a revised appointment letter.

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

Speaking from personal experience, changing dates was not a problem at all.

I made my appointment for a Friday, then called back the next day and changed it to a Monday. They confirmed via e-mail within the hour, providing all the updated documents (payment receipt, appointment letter) with the updated date and time.

They were perfectly fine with it, friendly and didn't ask for any further fees or reasons for the change. However I was calling for an H1 visa, so I'm not sure if there's any difference.

I'm going to disagree with Ian on this one because the confirmation e-mail will let you know whether they've changed it or not. But I agree that the premium rate number sucks!

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

That sounds right for non-immigrant, but not for immigrant visas.


John Boy, you can first try an email to [email protected] and ask for a reschedule. Put your case number in the subject line and include as much identifying information as you feel safe, including your case number IN the body of the email.
You may get a message back immediately saying your email was deleted. People very often still get a reply after the auto reply.

Do that now, and if you don't hear anything back after 10 days, call the call center in Scotland and you can get a code for the email address that is supposed to get your message through.

good luck.
PS: remember that part about the visa being valid for 6 months. However, the visa can not be valid past the expiration of your medical or police checks.

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

My mistake! John, follow the advice of the grown-ups and you'll be fine.

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

lol, no, no.. that's just my guess. I've never heard of IV people being able to change up that fast. They have a limited number of IV interview slots each day, that's all. :)

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

Thanks all for the prompt advice and suggestions.
I'll try the e-mail address and see how it goes.

:thumbup:

John Boy

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

I just checked out my Police Certificate.
It was issued on 27th August.
Would I be correct to assume 12 months validity?
(We haven't had the medical yet, and plan to do this a week/two prior to interview)

Thanks again for all the valuable input.

John Boy

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

Yes.

Rene

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

Assume nothing! :D
This is for the UK police certs; different countries may have different guidelines.

U.K. Police Certificates
How to obtain a police certificate for the United Kingdom

Immigrant visa applicants, who have resided in the United Kingdom for 6 months or more since the age of 16, are required to obtain a police certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Further information is available from their website at http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp. This police certificate will serve to advise the U.S. Embassy, London whether or not any criminal conviction is held against him/her.

The police certificate will be sent to the address provided at the time of application. Please note that the Immigrant Visa Unit considers the police certificate valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, not six months as stated on the certificate.

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

Thanks again for the very quick response.

Yes, to assume makes an ass out of u and me (well me anway...)
;)

Back to the (rental) house hunt!

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

Sent the e-mail to the address provided.
Pleasantly surprised by the reply -

Your message has been received by the Consular Information Unit. We arecurrently averaging three to four days to answer email correspondence. There is no mechanism for "status checks" while a visa application isbeing processed. Inquiries concerning cases which requireadministrative processing or background checks, and which have beenpending less than 90 days, will not be answered. Please do not, under any circumstances, send a duplicate or follow-one-mail. Repeat messages slow down our response time, and we reserve theright to permanently delete all e-mails from senders who transmit repeatmessages or status checks. Sincerely,Consular Information Unit


I rather expected the 'Your e-mail has been deleted; go away' that seems to have been the 'standard' response experienced by others previously.

I'll keep y'all posted if they accede to my request for a deferral.

John Boy

Re: Change Interview Date - London Embassy
 

Hi,

Latest (pretty speedy) response is as below (edited to remove sensitive info) -

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence.

At your request, your appointment for an immigrant visa interview on xxxxxxxx, 2009, has been cancelled.

A new appointment for your immigrant visa interview will be scheduled for mid-xxxxxxx. The Immigrant Visa Unit will provide you with one months notification of the date and time of this appointment.

Sincerely,

Consular Information Unit
U.S. Embassy, London
CONS/CIU/DC

This informal method of responding enables us to respond to you within a shorter time. No record is being made of this correspondence. If you need to e-mail us again, please return this e-mail.

So, I guess we just sit tight for a few weeks now.
(A little disturbing that they don't keep a record though...)

John Boy