Courier Service
In the interests of security and expediency, the U.S. Embassy has entered into a contract with Secure Mail Services Ltd, a private courier company, operating under the brand-name DX Secure which is part of the DX Group to provide courier services to the Consular Section.
Nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applicants who attend the Embassy for an interview with a consular officer will have their passports returned to them by DX Secure. There no other method of delivery available. The service can be purchased from a DX Secure representative at the Embassy on the day of the interview. Fees for this service begin at £14:20 (the fee will rise to £14:50 on January 1, 2010), payable by debit or credit card only. Next workday delivery is available for most areas of the United Kingdom once the passport has been released to the courier company. Further information will be available from the DX Secure representative on the day of your interview.
Nonimmigrant visa applicants eligible to submit their application by courier will find detailed information concerning the courier service by visiting their website.
U.S. citizens seeking passport services should visit the
U.S. passport section of this website for further information.
Why is the use of DX Secure a requirement of the visa application process?
Security and expediency. DX Secure provides for the secure delivery of documents to and from the Embassy. They also offer next workday delivery for most of the United Kingdom once they are in receipt of the passport.
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If the passport is being returned by a courier service, can I expect to receive it the next workday?
The Embassy does not offer a same day visa service. Routine visa processing takes approximately 5 workdays, petition based applications (O, P, H, L, Q-1 & R) 5 - 10 workdays. Your passport will not be released to the courier company until the application has been processed. Applicants who are advised at the time of their interview that their application requires additional administrative processing should allow 90 days for their application to be processed. Their passport will be handed back to them while the Embassy conducts the administrative processing. The Embassy will notify the applicant when they are ready to proceed with the application. The applicant will then be required to contact the courier company to arrange for the delivery of their passport to and from the Embassy. You may arrange a collection by visiting their website.
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How can I monitor the delivery status of my passport?
You can track the progress of your passport on-line by visiting www.thedx.co.uk/tracking. You will need your invoice number (given to you on the day of the interview by the courier company) and the postcode quoted on the invoice.
Reminder: Your passport will not be handed to the courier company until the Visa Section has processed your application. The average processing time for Nonimmigrant and Immigrant visa applications is 5 business days; the period is 5 – 10 business days for nonimmigrant petition based applicants.
If your passport has not been handed to the courier company, you will receive a message saying "Sorry, this combination of tracking number and postcode do not correspond with our records. Please check and try again".
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Will they accept a check, or credit or debit card for the fee?
SMS accepts debit cards and most credit cards. They do not accept cash.
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What if my visa is not issued?
Envelopes are purchased at the end of the visa interview process. Those whose application is unsuccessful, will not be required to purchase an envelope.
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I am eligible to submit your application by courier. Am I required to use the serivces of the DX Secure?
Yes. If you are eligible to submit your application by courier, or have been requested to furnish additional documents for your application to be processed, you must use the services of DX Secure. Please visit their website for further information. It is your responsibility to carefully review the requirements for submitting an application in this manner, as the courier charges are not refundable, and cannot be applied to a personal appearance if your mail-in application if found to have been submitted in error.
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Courier Service