Contacting the consulate about the interview date

[Mitsy]

How long should I wait before contacting the consulate about the interview date after they receive packet 3? I could wait for P4 to get here but would like to find out the date as soon as possible so that I can plan my trip. A week? 2 weeks? I heard somewhere that they schedule the next month\'s interviews in the mid previous month (in other words they schedule July interview in mid June.) Is that true? If that\'s the case, I guess there\'s no point of contacting them before mid June? It just seems like a short notice though.

I was also wondering how much in advance should I be there. I know I have to get my medical exam done, but that\'s about it, right? A week before the date should be enough?

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[rekhak]

contact them around the 14th of the previous month for interview schedules

 

 

[LC_Romantic]

Does it not dependent on which consultate you are referring to? or are all alike?

 

 

[Njie]

contacting consulate

Hi Mitsy,
Looks like we are in the same boat. Each consulate "requests" visa numbers for the following month. So in theory they should be able to tell you if they are "likely" to give you an appointment in the following month. The Visa numbers are released on the 8th of each month and the consulates may take 3/4 days to make their schedules for the following month. So once your P3 has reached there you should be able to contact them a week later and ask them likely date. If it is the following month then if you contact them again, then around the 12th of the month they should be able to give you confirm dates. In my case Sydney consulate said they have requested a Visa number for my case for the month of July. I will thus contact them after the 12th of June to find out the confirmed date of interview. Waiting for P4 will be too late.
brb

 

[Mitsy]

Thank you for all the info.

My P3 was received at the consulate on May 28. I think I\'m going to just wait till sometime around June 12-14 to contact them. I found out that they had changed the system on information services via phone or fax. Now they are going to charge on credit cards instead of phone bill. It\'s like $7 per 6 min to talk to an operator or $6 per question to get the info from prerecorded voice system or fax. I still think it\'s ridiculous that they charge us this much but at least I have an option to talk to an operator...

Thank you for the info all!