Stage 6: After the Interview
Stage 6: After the interview. You have had your interview. Most recorded London outcomes are approvals: the passport is retained for visa printing and returned by courier, typically 2–3 working days after interview for pick-up or 5–7 days for home delivery. A 221(g) pauses the case until you supply exactly what the ticked boxes ask for. Do this first: add the courier emails to your safe senders, and pay the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee.
Action list
- Beneficiary: Add donotreply@usvisa-info.com and noreply@mbeglobal.com to your safe senders now.
- Beneficiary: Pay the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee at my.uscis.gov. Paying before you travel is recommended.
- Beneficiary: Track the case at ceac.state.gov with your LND case number and passport number.
- Either: Set up myUSCIS accounts: the beneficiary’s own, and the petitioner’s and any joint sponsor’s linked to the case.
- Beneficiary: Handed a 221(g)? Supply exactly what the ticked boxes ask for, using the 221(g) guide.
Reached a milestone in this section? Add your visa approval date and passport in hand date to the community tracker →
Possible outcomes
Passport retained for visa printing. No further documents required. Community data: 94% of recorded outcomes at London are approved at interview.
Case paused pending additional items, issued at the window on a green Consular Section: Immigrant Visa Unit sheet with the applicable boxes ticked. Most common cause at London: financial sponsorship issues, such as a missing IRS transcript or income judged too low without a joint sponsor. The ticked boxes are the entire bar to clear; supply exactly what is asked and the case resumes.
Almost every London 221(g) is preventable. Our dedicated page reproduces the green sheet, explains every box on it, sets out the mitigations to have in place before interview day, and covers how to resolve one if you get it, including the one-year §203(g) deadline.
Full guide: how to prevent and resolve a 221(g) →The January 2026 pause on immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries was struck down by a federal court on 21 August 2026. The State Department has since told all posts that the pause is no longer in effect, that no applicant may be refused under it, and that cases refused solely on that basis are to be reconsidered, beginning with those refused first. See the nationality visa pause, struck down. If the beneficiary also holds another, unaffected passport, use it: ensure it is uploaded to CEAC.
The consular officer will explain the refusal and whether recourse is available. If eligible, you may file Form I-601 (Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility). Form I-601 must be sent to a US address even if you are outside the United States. See the I-601 flowchart for filing guidance.
CEAC status tracking
Track at ceac.state.gov using your LND case number and passport number.
- Ready: case at embassy or pending final processing
- Administrative Processing: normal during final checks and printing after approval. Short-term AP after a successful interview is routine and is not the same as a 221(g).
- Issued: visa approved and printed. Passport will be handed to courier next.
Tracking your passport
AIS tracking mostly stays at "Appointment" and doesn't reflect where the passport actually is. The most reliable signal is the email notification when the passport is released to courier.
donotreply@usvisa-info.com, subject: "Yatri: U.S. Department of State Visa Documents Ready for Pickup". This confirms your passport has been released to the courier.
noreply@mbeglobal.com: home delivery notification from Mail Boxes Etc.
Passport return timelines
Typically 2–3 working days after interview. Example: Thursday interview → Monday/Tuesday pickup. Community average: 4 days.
You'll be notified by email when your documents are ready for pick-up. Bring proof of identity (see ID requirements below) and your tracking number. Passports not retrieved within 30 days are returned to the originating Consular Section.
Holborn: 19 Bury Place WC1A 2JB, Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00
Angel: 8 Duncan Street N1 8BW
Belfast: 38 Montgomery Business Park BT6 9HL, Mon–Fri 08:30–16:30
Visa queries: 0208 064 1342
Typically 5–7 days after interview, up to 2 weeks depending on routing. Community average: 11 days.
The courier will attempt delivery up to 3 times at the requested address; if unsuccessful, the package is returned to the originating consular section. At a home address the parcel is released only to an adult willing to sign for it; at a business address it is released to personnel authorized to sign for packages.
If the first attempt fails, the courier leaves a calling card. For redelivery attempts, the applicant must prove their identity at the time of delivery (see ID requirements below). Watch for email from noreply@mbeglobal.com. Weekends and UK bank holidays may delay delivery: late-week interviews often shift into the following week.
ID requirements for passport collection and redelivery
Applicants retrieving their own documents at a pick-up location, or receiving a redelivery attempt at home: must prove their identity with any one of the following:
- Official or State issued identification card (with photo)
- Official driver's license (with photo)
- Birth Certificate
- Debit or Credit Card
- Two Utility Bills
Parents retrieving documents for their children must prove the relationship by presenting:
- A copy of the child's birth certificate or adoption decree, with at least one of the parent's full legal names displayed on the document
- The parent's own identity, proven with one of the documents in the list above, with a name matching the child's birth certificate or adoption decree
Adult applicants may authorize a third party to retrieve their passport at a pick-up location, or to accept a redelivery on their behalf. The third party must present:
- An applicant-signed letter of authorization containing the third party's full legal name
- A photocopy of one of the applicant's identification documents from the list above
- The third party's own ID from the list above. The name must match the authorization letter
USCIS Immigrant Fee ($235)
Pay the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee to start green card (Form I-551) production. [USCIS: Immigrant Fee] You can pay before or after entering the US: the timing affects when your card arrives:
- Paid before entry: card may take up to 90 days from your entry date
- Paid after entry: card may take up to 90 days from your payment date
- Not paid: card cannot be processed until you pay
Paying before you travel is recommended. It starts the clock earlier and avoids one less task after arrival.
- Pay via the direct link at my.uscis.gov, no login required to pay. Once paid, the IOE receipt number can be added to the beneficiary's myUSCIS account for tracking.
- A-Number: the Registration Number on your visa stamp. If fewer than 9 digits, the site adds a leading zero automatically
- DOS Case ID: the IV Case Number on your visa stamp, minus the last two digits (e.g. "ABC1234567801" → enter "ABC12345678"). The IV Case Number on your stamp has two extra digits at the end (such as 01 or 02). Do not include these.
- Pay at: my.uscis.gov by credit/debit card or US bank account (ACH)
If you do not pay, no physical green card will be produced. You can use the visa stamp in your passport until the card arrives, but the stamp causes issues for many employers and institutions unfamiliar with immigration status. Do not leave this fee unpaid.
Tracking your green card after payment
The green card is officially Form I-551 (Permanent Resident Card). When you pay the $235 fee, USCIS issues a receipt with an IOE number. This IOE number is associated with Form I-551. It is distinct from both your visa case number and the IOE number assigned with your I-130. Use this I-551 IOE number to track green card production.
- Track status at egov.uscis.gov or via platforms like Case Tracker using the IOE number from your payment receipt
- The beneficiary should have their own myUSCIS account: this allows them to track the case directly and submit a change of address through the portal if needed
- The petitioner (primary sponsor) and any joint sponsors should also have their own myUSCIS accounts linked to the case
If your address changes after entering the US, the beneficiary can submit an AR-11 address change through their myUSCIS portal: faster and more reliable than the paper form. Having accounts set up before the green card is in production means you can act immediately if anything needs updating.
Enumeration on Entry: applying for your SSN
Enumeration on Entry is the process of applying for both your immigrant visa and Social Security Number (SSN) simultaneously via the DS-260. If you selected "Yes" on the DS-260 question about SSN application, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will process your application and you should receive your SSN card automatically after arrival.
- If you enrolled on DS-260: SSA will initiate your application automatically. You should receive your SSN card by mail within 10 business days of arriving in the United States. SSA FAQ on Enumeration on Entry
- Appointment not required: According to the SSA, an in-person appointment is not necessary if your application was submitted via DS-260. SSA: Apply for an SSN
- If you haven't received it by 7–10 business days: Visit your local SSA field office to check the status and request expedited processing if needed. Some field offices will state that you should use your local office and may not process your request at another location. Confirm with your local office before visiting
- Some people book an appointment with the SSA in advance in case they don't receive the SSC within 10 business days
- Bring your passport with the visa stamp when visiting the SSA office. This serves as proof of entry and immigration status while you wait for your green card
Before you move on
- Beneficiary: My passport with the visa is back, collected or delivered.
- Beneficiary: The Immigrant Fee is paid, and I have the I-551 IOE receipt number to track the green card.
- Either: The beneficiary, petitioner and any joint sponsor each have a myUSCIS account.
- Beneficiary: If someone else is collecting my passport, they have my signed authorization letter, a copy of my ID and their own ID.
- Beneficiary: If I was issued a 221(g), I have supplied exactly what was ticked.