My filing date for my F3 visa is currently a few months away (obviously could change a lot in the near future). The final action date is just over a year so just trying to figure out how it all works. Can I send all my paperwork in once the filing date comes up and do medicals and interview before the final action date, so then it's just a rubber stamp job as long as there is an available visa on that date? Or do we have to wait until the final action date comes up before we do medicals and interview, and therefore it will all take a lot longer? Current timescale is 11 months between both dates which gives us plenty of time to get it all done so we can emigrate quickly once the final action date comes round

'Dates for filing' means that if you have a priority date before the date given for your category and geographical location you can start gathering and sending documents to the NVC. 'Final action date' is when the visa number is available. Once your priority date is earlier than this date, you will be able to get an interview date. London won't do the medical until you have an interview date - and with good reason. The visa is only valid for 6 months after the date of the medical so leaving too big a gap between these is not wise.

Hi

you must have a PD close to me...We just got an email from NVC Monday night and paid the fee's. Feeling real now

“Dates For Filing” deals only with ability to file for stateside adjustment of status applications with USCIS. It has nothing to do with NVC. State has always had something akin to dates for filing where they would advise time to get documents and let State know. (This used to be known as “Packet 3.”)

Will the waiting time for F4 be affected as the immigration office is apparently closed? Will the quota be increased in future to make up for a shortfall now?

This governed by law. It used to be that unused visa numbers for any fiscal year disappeared at the end of the fiscal year. That has now changed somewhat - unused visa numbers do carry over to the next fiscal year but with a twist - unused family numbers go over to the employment based side of the shop and unusd EB numbers go to FB.

Do note that the numbers are allocated by black magic and voodoo by the State Department Visa Office. No one understands it and VO is presumed correct. (The only exception I am aware of is the famous Silva v. Levi litigation back around 1980which involved the allocation of numbers to Cubans who were outside of the system. There was a “recapture” of those numbers).

Thank you.