The 2008 United Kingdom Interview Thread!

[Laura+Tom 2]

January 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
Malia & Tom (Tom_g), jmrb, Dazzler, walkies_a, julez & Griff, English Muffin, Stephen & Amber, Chris & Amy, Shorty & Nilz, NikkisPrecious, Randy & Maggie(Mustang-sally), ddkm, Gwen666, Teachmehistory, Jeff & Bev (Wellywench), Shadow42 (Andrew & Robin), Chelsea & Ed (edchels), DD2004, Barrel_roll

February 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
C and J (Cheryl & Josh), Tinkerbelle, weedebz, nacampbell (Neil & Annie), kdancer, GlenandLisa, Lil-Lost-Girl, lostpup, jodinjames, Janaus, Courtney, Gareth's Girl, ericdraven

March 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
Bforbarree, StillthePrettiest, toshtishtash, londonuk, pkscotus, lisalu100, Darren&Laura, tomsandi, DonnaB, ladyynara, babblesgirl, zoobuffalo and KJC.

April 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
Geordielover, ajeanne, jeraly, minnietheminx, Poiteen, thejoz/thesquozenone, Chorely80, brooksmc, smallz, greeneyedgirlfl, lilysintrigue, AtlantiCat, sam and nic, NickyMcMillan

May 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
Damian & Kelly, Coatsy, Saffyre, Robyn-n-Kris, Chris JennTX, Sal and Jay, ric

June 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
Glyn & Kathy, bbpatel, Roselinda, Darren & Cristina, Jennifer & Jack, Stephen & Stacie, P & P, Carly & Andrew, K & L

July 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
celtic59, Charles & Sonya, Robbie & Sarah, Barry & Debbie, valerie & andy, Verity & Neil, D & N, SMB x2, Bex & Alan, Rebecca & Dominick, Eggnut, me!, L & P, Thomas F, Gerry & Karen, Mark and Hannah, Pattilou47, Nick & Nich

August 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
The Red Baron

September 2008 Graduates of the US Embassy in London:
Nicoxcx, Welshcookie, Boobah, Thebigyard, Amy and John, SusieK, Roca

October 2008 Interviews:

Barry and Jackie.....K1................................10/02/2008 - additional docs required
BMJ....................... K1................................10/09/2008 APPROVED!!!!!!
saraswaiti007........K1................................10/14/2008 APPROVED!!!!!!
sunnybear.............K1................................10/16/2008 APPROVED!!!!!!
stevi1123...............K1................................10/16/2008 Approved pending additional documentation
Damian P................K1...............................10/20/2008
cca..........................K1...............................10/20/2008
KYLady..................CR-1.............................10/22/2008
Scarlett...................K1...............................10/29/2008
fickmoley................K1...............................10/29/2008

Still waiting:

Sad Eyes..........................................02/25/2008 – Still stuck in AP?
Guinness1969...................................09/12/2008 – Stuck in AP
Sassasdave.......................................09/30/2008 – anyone any info?

[Laura+Tom 2]

Good luck Damian and cca for tomorrow!!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Thanks - I'm as ready as I'm gonna be. I'm expecting to get blue-slipped on the W2 thing, but that aside, should be plain sailing.

[saraswati007 0]

Yeah, good luck to both of you! Let us know how you get along.

Good luck Damian and cca for tomorrow!!

[SusieK 3]

Yeah, good luck to both of you! Let us know how you get along.

Good luck Damian and cca for tomorrow!!

Good Luck and God Speed - xxxxx

[Barry and Jackie 0]

Well, after receiving a text message on friday from the couriers stating they were going to deliver today (Monday) and them instead trying to deliver on saturday when I was out, I have finally received the visa today (Monday)!!!! Absolutely brilliant, thank you to all for your help and support.

To all those that are still waiting, I hope it will all be sorted soon and you will be as happy as we are now.

[Laura+Tom 2]

That's great news!! Glad it all worked out.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Well, first things first: VISA APPROVED!!

And seriously folks, how easy was that??? Here's how it all panned out:

My appointment was at 9, so I made sure I got there good and early. As I approached the embassy, I asked one of the coppers on duty to point me in the direction of the pharmacy that I'd been told about, where I could store my mobile/car keys (yes that's right, NO electronic devices allowed in the embassy, including car key fobs). For everyone's information, the place is called Gould's Pharmacy on S Audley St, and it'll cost you a fiver for the privilege.

Then is was onto the external line, which moved pretty quickly. Suffice to say that I was seated inside with my ticket number in hand by 08:10. I was called to a window bang on 9am (well impressed with that) and handed over all my paperwork to a nice middle-aged English lady of Afro-Carribean descent.

What she took from me:

Passport

2 photos (U.S. spec)

Police Certificate (copy and original)

Long form birth certficate (copy and original)

I-134 froms from 'er indoors and co-sponsor

Tax returns from both of them for 2007

Letters for both of them from the HR dept of their respective work places, stating their length of employment and current earnings

Letter of intent to marry

This was clearly enough, becasue I was NOT asked for the W2s!!!!!

I was then asked to go to an adjacent window, where I paid US$131 in cash for my visa. Please note that you can pay for the visa in dollars, sterling, or with plastic. I was then reassigned my original ticket number, and told to wait to be interviewed.

About 20 minutes later, I was called to another window, where a very friendly young American lady returned the original police cert/birth cert and asked me the following questions:

Bird: "How did you meet?"

Me: "Online."

Bird: "Oh really? I've never heard that before - hee hee hee..."

Me: "erm, yeah.......um........ha hah h.....ahem...."

Bird: "When did you propose?"

Me: "In 2006, just after I graduated college."

Bird: "OK, you're approved."

And that was that. I must have been talking to her for less than 2 minutes.

So then I walked up to the courier desk, paid my £14.50, and went and had coffee with wifetobe in Liverpool St!!

Piece of pi$$.

Edited October 20, 2008 by Damian P

[Laura+Tom 2]

Yay!! Congrats! Bet your glad it's all done.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Yay!! Congrats! Bet your glad it's all done.

Darn tootin' B)

[saraswati007 0]

Congratulations!!! It's so strange to have this year long buildup, only to talk to the interviewer who seems more interested in catching up on the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy.

Oh, by the way, DamianP -- I keep seeing you write "'er indoors" --- which I presume is rhyming slang... what does it mean? I'm half afraid to ask!!!!!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Congratulations!!! It's so strange to have this year long buildup, only to talk to the interviewer who seems more interested in catching up on the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy.

Oh, by the way, DamianP -- I keep seeing you write "'er indoors" --- which I presume is rhyming slang... what does it mean? I'm half afraid to ask!!!!!

Haha!! No sara, it's not rhyming slang, but it does have cockney roots! In the 80's, we had a TV program here called, "Minder" starring George Cole and Dennis Waterman, as Arthur Daley and Terry McCann respectively. One of the long running themes of the show was the constant references to Arthur's wife, whom you never actually saw during the program's entire 15 year run. He always refered to her as "'er indoors" (her indoors, but he always dropped the 'H').

Hope that clears things up for you!!

Edited October 20, 2008 by Damian P

[Damian&Kelly 16]

Congratulations on the Approval, Damian!!!

[Bexxie 0]

Congrats on the approval Damian!

My husband's visa was approved today as well!

He called me at 7am, my time (12pm his time) to tell me he'd been approved. His said it was so easy! His interview was at 8am. He got there around 7:30am. He waited in line and got a number. They called his number and he gave them the paperwork. Then he waited around some more to be called again for the "interview." She asked him how we met, who chatted up who lol and the longest period of time he's spent in the States. After that, she said he was approved! Easy peasy! I can't believe all this waiting is almost over!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Congrats on the approval Damian!

My husband's visa was approved today as well!

He called me at 7am, my time (12pm his time) to tell me he'd been approved. His said it was so easy! His interview was at 8am. He got there around 7:30am. He waited in line and got a number. They called his number and he gave them the paperwork. Then he waited around some more to be called again for the "interview." She asked him how we met, who chatted up who lol and the longest period of time he's spent in the States. After that, she said he was approved! Easy peasy! I can't believe all this waiting is almost over!

I got there at 7.30, too. What does he look like? I'll see if I can recall seeing him!