LondonAlb

I've got an appointment booked for that date as well but didn't realise it wasn't an actual appointment. I'll need a waiver of ineligibility to travel and originally applied selecting the Belfast consulate but they aren't open for any visas. I got an email a few weeks ago saying they were opening more appointments and to log on at 8am on a certain date to book one. I would have done this if I knew my Nov 22 booking wasn't an actual appointment 🤦🏻‍♀️

LondonAlb

This was the email:Dear visa applicant,

The U.S. Embassy in London is planning to open further visa application appointments for dates closer than your current appointment. If you want to get an earlier appointment, we encourage you to sign-in to your account (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/niv/users/sign_in) on date November 23 and around 09:00 (or after) to check availability - select the option "Reschedule Appointment". Please note that there will be a limited number of new appointments and we cannot guarantee you will be able to find an earlier date than you currently have.

US Visa Appointment and Information Services

Rete

I believe you should be looking every day. You are not limited to only checking on the date on the email. They release new dates and times often.

shiversaint

There are B slots open for April right at this moment. Hopefully you see this message.

LondonAlb

Thank you. Saw it this morning and have moved the appointment

LondonAlb

I've just seen somebody on the embassy facebook page had an appointment in Feb 2020 whereby they were referred for a waiver of ineligibility and they're still waiting for a decision. Not looking hopefully for us that would need a visa this way and have appointments this year.

shiversaint

I wouldn't read too much into this. It entirely depends on that individual's circumstances and there are exceptional ones where waivers take a huge amount of time. Only if we saw multiple instances of this would I believe it is taking excessively long for anyone.

Regardless I don't think we've seen a single waiver case and its timeline discussed here throughout the pandemic. It's unknown territory. Prior to that waits were down to 3-4 months.

LondonAlb

That's good to hear. I previously attended my appointment in Belfast in 2019. Was advised the wait times were shorter for waiver decisions and apparently they are seen to be more lenient (how true this is I'm not sure) Anyways, I was recommended for a waiver and then it was denied. I've booked to try again to travel in 2023 but there were only London appointments available and have managed an April 22 date. If I'm not recommended for a waiver in London, then I guess what I've heard would be true, or the fact my last waiver was rejected may go against me.

shiversaint

Quite unusual for a waiver to be denied after being recommended by the consular officer.

Do you have any more information as to why it was rejected? Would you mind sharing a bit more information about your case?

LondonAlb

To be honest, I was shocked that the application was ever referred as I have an extensive (around 12) CR mainly shoplifting convictions and small amounts of cannabis possession charges with one robbery conviction when I was 16 which resulted in 18 months in a youth offenders prision. When I had my first US embassy appointment in 2019, it had been 6 years since my last conviction. The waiver of ineligibility denial letter, from what I can remember referred to, the recency of the crimes and the amount of them. It will be 10 years since my last conviction by the time I'm looking to travel in 2023 but I obviously can't change how many there are so that will go against me.

graham8219

Anyone got any ideas when B2 appointments in London will open. I’ve got the 1st November (as many of us have) and hoping things will change now restrictions here in the UK are lifting?

LondonAlb

I had the 1st November and changed it to April around two weeks ago after checking at 9am one morning. If you check every morning, they should be gradually adding earlier dates.

graham8219

thanks, and good luck with your application 👍🏻

shiversaint

B2's are open as has been mentioned above. I've been checking to try and bring mine forward and the other poster is correct, a block seems to get opened every week or 10 days or so. I think the next block will be end of april/early may appointments.

graham8219

There are some may dates on the appointment system today if you need to move your booked appointments