The 2009 United Kingdom Interview Thread!

[John & Mary 1]

WE MADE IT! John is here, right now, in my American house. We went through the Cincinnati POE yesterday and it was unbelievably fast and easy-- no secondary, no waiting in a different room, nothing. Just stamped and waved through, basically!

Thank you so much, everyone. VJ has been my lifeline for the last 8 months, and if we'd had to go through this whole process without the support and experience of the members of this forum, I'm not sure how we could have made it!

GOOD LUCK to everyone with interviews coming up and everyone readying for a POE-- I promise it's completely worth it on the other side.

[karenandtrev 0]

I can't wait to see that big shiny star beside my name - we were APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!

[MissusM09 1]

I can't wait to see that big shiny star beside my name - we were APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!

wooooooooooooow congratulations......... i know you are relieved right. well done.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :dance: :dance: :dance:

[JerrysGirlAnne 2]

I can't wait to see that big shiny star beside my name - we were APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!

[Gemmie 142]

Congrats on all the approvals and POE's. I'll never forget the feeling of running out of the embassy (over the moon) and walking out of the airport (tired, sad, but happy). I hope everyone has lots of good luck with their own dates.

[karenandtrev 0]

So, now that we are APPROVED (yey) I'm wanting to get over to the states as soon as possible!! I'm really wanting to book my flights for a week today as the visa courier man said I should have my visa by friday, but I'm not sure. The visa's seem to be getting delivered quite promptly recently, any words of wisdom? Mary and John, when did you book your tickets, cos I noticed you flew out 2 days after receiving your visa xoxox

[Nik+Heather 121]

I really can't see that airline prices go up all that much with the time frame you are considering. Booking a flight a week out vs. 5 days out is probably the same (FULL) fare.

[MissusM09 1]

I really can't see that airline prices go up all that much with the time frame you are considering. Booking a flight a week out vs. 5 days out is probably the same (FULL) fare.

hey i discovered a little trick with booking tickets, when i had to go to my grandfather's funeral i noticed that the price went down in the 24 hours before the flight dramatically, so like all the flights to Jamaica were £600, went down to £290 and thats what i paid. If you go to expedia and put in tomorrows date or the day after. I just went to expedia and looked for flights today, bearing in mind that its peak time the discount is not as much, tickets to detroit ( yeah i know) 483 30th june, on the 1st of july they are £556, not quite half like it was but if you try the other sites like Opodo a day before you want to travel you can get good discounts.

If not do it a week before, sometimes its just nice to have it done.

all the best

p

[MARM 7]

January 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
Jason&Sarah, Hannah+Vito, Mrssmith, ShannonNick, adrianandlinsay, Marmite Lovers!

February 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
Rob&Dawn, Zoe and Hal, Terri and Seb, Talyss, TeeKol

March 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
Stinky Monkey, skparker, Laurence+Lauren, pothergavel, paumanda, texpat cymru, obbynox, jhonscotland, Caminic, Furious Biscuit, ahlpo, jojo_gee

April 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
DairyFarmer, skeez&titanic, SwanTiger, miss g, LondonLad, niniel71, mr and mrs, Stinkerpotsam, Marty J, Helen&Dougie, KAT&Allie, KnightAndMagpie, paul., Kirsten UK, Colinjess, Alixhilary, prima and jay

May 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
Graziumphry, emma77, Monkey Juice, Gemmie, mrs_sdp, H&V, RBAL_TN, laura819, JM&Vid, Brookeluvsadam, Bob and Patricia, MARM

June 2009 Interviews
1st June 2009....JimandChristy................K-1
1st June 2009....krystiandjon...................K-1
4th June 2009....Nik+Heather..................K-1
8th June 2009....John and Camie.............K-1
12th June 2009...Ellie-and-David..............K-1
15th June 2009...aoifee............................K-1
23rd June 2009...John & Mary..................K-1
29th June 2009....karenandtrev...............K-1
30th June 2009...grapeeyes...................CR-1

July 2009 Interviews
7th July 2009.......JerrysGirlAnne.............DCF
9th July 2009......Julie Ivy........................K-1
14th July 2009....aidy............................CR-1
16th July 2009....Jenn and Nick.................K-1
31st July 2009....Gary_UK........................K-1

Still waiting for approval
stevi1123.........16th October 2008 - Approved pending additional documentation
Dave and Jess..10th March 2009 ?
The Dip Sticks..25th March 2009 ?
PB&JAM............22nd May 2009 - Denied, to file waiver

= APPROVED

Updates/New entries/Changes highlighted in blue - will go to normal color in the next update.

Please let us know if you have an Interview Date to add to the list, updated information or corrections.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So, now that we are APPROVED (yey) I'm wanting to get over to the states as soon as possible!! I'm really wanting to book my flights for a week today as the visa courier man said I should have my visa by friday, but I'm not sure. The visa's seem to be getting delivered quite promptly recently, any words of wisdom? Mary and John, when did you book your tickets, cos I noticed you flew out 2 days after receiving your visa xoxox

Often a 14 day advance purchase will give you a better fare than a 5 day advance purchase. Mon-Thurs is normally cheaper. Book the return for mid-late Oct weekday, when summer holiday fares are over and it should be cheaper. Experiment with different combinations of dates til you find the cheapest. Return doesn't have to be within your 90 days. Nobody will look at your return so pick a cheap date. Round trip is usually cheaper than one way.

[Nik+Heather 121]

June 2009 Interviews

1st June 2009....JimandChristy................K-1

1st June 2009....krystiandjon...................K-1

4th June 2009....Nik+Heather..................K-1

8th June 2009....John and Camie.............K-1

12th June 2009...Ellie-and-David..............K-1

15th June 2009...aoifee............................K-1

23rd June 2009...John & Mary..................K-1

29th June 2009....karenandtrev...............K-1

30th June 2009...grapeeyes...................CR-1

c'mon grapeeyes for the CLEAN SWEEP JUNE!!! Woo Hoo!

[Ellie-and-David 38]

Congratulations Karen and Trev and Jon and Mary!!

As for flights. I booked mine before I even had my visa BUT, I allowed myself over one month from my interview until when my flights were due to leave to ensure that I had that visa in my hand. I wasn't placing my faith in anyone at the embassy getting it right!

If I had held on and waited to book my flights - I would be paying £150 more now.

They may go down more in the last week, but I didnt want to take the chance.

[John & Mary 1]

So, now that we are APPROVED (yey) I'm wanting to get over to the states as soon as possible!! I'm really wanting to book my flights for a week today as the visa courier man said I should have my visa by friday, but I'm not sure. The visa's seem to be getting delivered quite promptly recently, any words of wisdom? Mary and John, when did you book your tickets, cos I noticed you flew out 2 days after receiving your visa xoxox

We waited to book our flights until we had the visa in hand, because one thing VJ has taught us is that you just never know what could happen! As soon as the visa arrived, though (and I do mean AS SOON AS!), we got online and bought our tickets.

We did pay a great deal; even though I was just changing my return date for a round-trip ticket I already had, I wound up paying as much as the ticket originally cost. It was worth it though!

[karenandtrev 0]

Ok, thanks everyone for the advice!!! I've just checked the DX Secure website and tracked my visa and delivery date on it, and it says its due to be delivered on thursday! And I also found a great deal on a flight on expedia (thanks primahen) by booking a return for the middle of october (thanks nich-nick), so its all go! The tracking on websites is usually pretty reliable, so i'm just going with my gutt Now I actually have to think about packing, nightmare!!!! xox

[Gary_UK 17]

I'm in the same boat. I want to book my ticket now for early October but part of me is saying don't till I get the visa!.

Only problem is that at the moment 1 way tickets through aer lingus are going for £341 inclusive. and returns are more expensive. I normally fly with KLM but their prices are double the cost for a single than for a return. I want to fly "Air Fungus" as my POE would be in Dublin. And I like the idea of being cleared before the last long haul to Chicago.

I'm checking expedia, opodo and a few others daily in case there are any better deals and I'm kicking myself that I didn't book the flight a month ago when it was £250! It then jumped to £415 and has now returned to the £341.

I know there there are rumors of fuel prices going up soon which I am sure the airlines will pass onto the customer. So its almost a daily gamble if the price goes up or down.

At the moment I don't know what is worse... looking at the flight costs or counting the days to the interview.

Edited June 30, 2009 by Gary_UK