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Can I Choose the Interview Date for my Spouse or Fiance Visa?
January 9, 2022

By: Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa, Esq.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SELECT THE INTERVIEW DATE FOR YOUR IMMIGRATION CASE, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF CASE.

After waiting forever for your petition to be processed, the next question in many applicants’ minds are ‘When will my interview be?’ and ‘Can I choose my interview date?’


The ability to select your own interview date can be very helpful when coordinating travel and work. Many applicants have to coordinate a day off work to attend an interview. Some applicants have to travel a significant distance to attend their interview at a USCIS office or embassy/consulate.
waiting

 

Depending on your type of case, you might be able to choose your interview date:



Cases pending with USCIS


 For cases pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), such as adjustment of status cases, naturalization (U.S. citizenship) cases, and military parole-in-place cases, to name a few, you generally CANNOT select your own interview date. You will be assigned an interview date and notified by mail of this date. Typically you will be given at least 4-5 weeks advance notice of your interview date, but sometimes it will be shorter. Be sure to check your mail regularly so that you can find out this date sooner than later.



Spouse and Family Immigrant Visa Cases pending with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas


           For most (but not all) family immigration cases where your interview will be at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas, you CANNOT select your own interview date. This applies to immigrant visa cases for your spouse, child, brother, sister, parent, etc. This can be frustrating for many applicants who may feel ready with their documents but have to wait for a date to be assigned to them. However, this is just how it works.


The National Visa Center (NVC) will coordinate with the applicable U.S. Embassy/Consulate to set an interview date for your case, and both NVC and the Embassy/Consulate will notify you.



K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa Cases


 I have saved the best news for last! For the majority of K-1 Fiance(e) cases, the K-1 visa applicant CAN select their own interview date! However, this date is always based on the particular U.S. Embassy/Consulate’s calendar. That means the embassy has to be open, and you will not likely be able to select a weekend date, since most embassies are closed on the weekends. Please also note that not all embassies/consulates allow you to choose your own interview date, as each embassy has their own scheduling considerations, but most do.


Since available dates are based on the particular embassy’s calendar and staffing availability, you will have to select from the list of available dates. Sometimes not a single date is available for three months into the future (!), and you have to keep checking for a date, any date, to pop up. Regardless, at least you have the option of choosing a date for yourself at some point.



The immigration and interview process can feel very daunting if you do not know what to expect. An experienced immigration attorney can help shed light on the multiple steps and procedures that will make the process feel a lot more manageable.

 

Our EXPERIENCED IMMIGRATION LAW OFFICE would be happy to assist you with your fiancé(e), spouse, or family-based immigration case, wherever you or your loved one are in the world. Email or Call us today for a free quote for your case: (619) 431-2407.

 

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** Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa, Esq . is the founding attorney of the Law Office of Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa , an immigration law practice that provides local and remote immigration assistance to clients throughout the U.S. and worldwide.**
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DISCLAIMER : This blog provides general information and is not intended to be legal advice. Use of the information does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Any cases mentioned do not guarantee or predict outcomes in future cases. Please consult an attorney before acting on any material. Please do not submit any time-sensitive or confidential information in the comments below. Any information you send may be publicly-visible and is not protected from disclosure. Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa is the attorney responsible for the content and material on this blog. She is licensed in D.C. and HI, and exclusively practices immigration law in federal jurisdictions.