The 2008 United Kingdom Interview Thread!

[suizie 0]

Had my interview YESTERDAY! Not part of this thread but still wanted to say my visa was APPROVED!!!!

Not a scary experience AT ALL. Consulate offical asked me only THREE questions and one piece of paperwork needed an addititional signature but I was still granted the visa pending the return of the signed document.

My advice would be to:

1.Go a bit earlier than your appointment as the queues are MASSIVE.

2.Organise your paperwork - ensure all documents are fully completed as this may hinder issuing the VISA.

3.Don't be in a rush to leave as this a lengthy process - a lot of time spent waiting to be called, either for checking documents or the interview itself

4.Relax during the interview as there is nothing to be scared of - my interviewer was lovely!

GOOD LUCK to those waiting! This whole lengthy and nail biting experience is worth it!

Edited May 28, 2008 by suizie

[debbylyn 0]

Congrats Ronan & Mercedes, coatsy and suizie!

[English Muffin 59]

Congratulations to everyone! :dance:

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

Thanks guys,

And well done Suizie.

R

[Sal and Jay 2]

You know the story about the young man who arrives in London, it's raining so he goes for one pint in a great pub with great music and company, decent beer, a log fire? Well, gather round and I'll tell thee. The young man in question, his fiance, his sister and her fiancee go to the pub at 4pm, promising to leave by 6pm. Or rather, they say they're going to leave at 6pm but time slips away and they find it's 1am, they are all pretty drunk and have to get up at 6am for a rather important interview. Well, folks, that foolish young man was me.

And so it was, Mercedes and I arrived for the 9am interview at around 8.30am, took our place in the line, hung-over and on about 4 hours of sleep .... which is something I don't recommend. At 9.01am we made it into the embassy, got our ticket (Mercedes came into the Embassy with me) ... Welcome Ticket 5018. And we waited. And waited. And waited.

The waiting room was awash with people and while they were flying through the 1000's, only Windows 1 and 13 were dealing with immigrant visa - the 5000's. I thought I'd get Window 13 for sure but my luck held and, two hours later, I got called to Window 1, huge grin across my face.

The Homeland Security lady was an Asian woman and the more I spoke with her the more I thought she was the Asian doctor from Bentnick mansion's mother. You all know what I mean. She spoke quietly and abruptly through glass, not at you but into the table, and the PA is blasting "Could Ticket number ..." in the background. It doesn't make for a relaxing chat ...

She looked over my documents in the following order ... divorce certificate, police record, birth certificate, finances. She looked at Mercedes' Affidavit of Support and said it was below poverty level (she is full-time student) so I showed her Mercedes' mom's additional support and then my own - house deeds, estate agents letter, letter from bank, etc. After some confusion about where the bank deeds were ("They are there ... in your hand"), she asked if I wanted to self-sponsor and I said "Sure". She said the dates that I gotten wrong on previous visits didn't matter and actually said I had a very interesting education and career ... which she thought was admirable.

Then she brought up the issue of my previous green-card - gulp. She had my original visa application - 13 years later I was shocked to see that - in my file and asked my why I didn't just stay then. I told her the reasons - first she smiled (kindly) when I told her about deaths in the family, then she seemed to get a bit peeved (the glass and noise makes it hard to read emotions) and said "just forget about it". She really did get annoyed that the finger print machine wouldn't read my prints, told me to go get my visa receipt and bring it back to her, gave me my chest x-ray and then sent me back to wait, grin wiped off my face.

By now I was worried. I didn't think it had gone well and seeing the old green-card made me suddenly aware that this wasn't just a formality - this could all go horribly wrong.

It about 15 minutes later I got called to Window 16 (only 16 and 15 were doing 5000s) and I was expecting the worse, as you do ... or as I do anyway. The second interview was conducted by a cool American guy who, shock horror, apologised that I had to wait for so long which instantly relaxed me.

He made me swear I was telling the truth in my submission and I duly obliged. He then asked me how I met Mercedes and that was the end of the interrogation. We talked a little about my work (but not in an official capacity, just out of interest really I guess) and then he said that, pending security checks, the visa would be issued in 3-5 working days and that we were already on day 1. I told him that he had just made two people very happy and he said that that was good to hear. With that I went and paid the courier service and we were out of there at 11.42. Job done.

For those of you still in the process, the approval comes so fast it's like you're jumping of a fair ride. You go from 150 RPM to 0 in a split second ... it's all over so quick that it leaves your head reeling and 24 hours later it still hasn't sunk in ... I guess I'll believe it when I get my passport back.

So there you have it. 8 months of worry, 3 hours to conclude. If I never see a DS-230-Part 1 again it will be too soon. Until AOS that is, then the whole crazy ride begins again. Now, on AOS form I-864 Question Six, do I leave that blank or what? Lol.

R

Congrats again, your experience was very simular to mine, I found that when you go round the corner to the American Officers they are so nice and friendly.

[Damian&Kelly 16]

Congratulations to all the approvals!!!! :thumbs:

[Jeraly 4]

The Homeland Security lady was an Asian woman and the more I spoke with her the more I thought she was the Asian doctor from Bentnick mansion's mother. You all know what I mean. She spoke quietly and abruptly through glass, not at you but into the table, and the PA is blasting "Could Ticket number ..." in the background. It doesn't make for a relaxing chat ...

Oh dear!! Surely there can't be two of them!?

Well done matey - and well done to all the other approvees as well!!!

I can totally relate to the 150-0 in a second feeling. I was elated yet felt strangely empty when I got approved - SO happy that this part was over but kinda empty because this thing we have been stressing over for so long... just isn't really in your life anymore. I mean - it's like all the weight of the world has been lifted from your shoulders and you kind of float around with seemingly no direction.

Then I got my passport and my visa back. I was sooooooo happy. 24 hours later though I was $h1tting myself

And still am!! But a bit more excited now

[Sal and Jay 2]

The Homeland Security lady was an Asian woman and the more I spoke with her the more I thought she was the Asian doctor from Bentnick mansion's mother. You all know what I mean. She spoke quietly and abruptly through glass, not at you but into the table, and the PA is blasting "Could Ticket number ..." in the background. It doesn't make for a relaxing chat ...

Oh dear!! Surely there can't be two of them!?

Well done matey - and well done to all the other approvees as well!!!

I can totally relate to the 150-0 in a second feeling. I was elated yet felt strangely empty when I got approved - SO happy that this part was over but kinda empty because this thing we have been stressing over for so long... just isn't really in your life anymore. I mean - it's like all the weight of the world has been lifted from your shoulders and you kind of float around with seemingly no direction.

Then I got my passport and my visa back. I was sooooooo happy. 24 hours later though I was $h1tting myself

And still am!! But a bit more excited now

lol Jeraly too funny

[Jeraly 4]

But it's true!!!!

[Lansbury 19]

Congratulations everyone

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

A big CONGRATS to all our recent successful "graduates"!!!

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

Then I got my passport and my visa back. I was sooooooo happy. 24 hours later though I was $h1tting myself

This might help you Jeraly ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNP8AMwMwWc

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Congratulations Eli (the Barrowboy)! Thank you for your detailed write-up; it's very informative.

Congratulations too to Suizie!

I hope you both have your visas in hand very soon.

[Sal and Jay 2]

I want my visa too, waiting for my ct scan appointment

[snowfrostedlashes 0]

I want my visa too, waiting for my ct scan appointment

*hugs* I know it's probably impossible but try not to worry too much. You will get through this!