So just how early to get to the Embassy?...

[wee carrington 33]

Alright, husband's interview is in 2 weeks time. We're staying over the night before so we're just going to leave all our stuff in the hotel room, only bringing "the folder" and our room key.

His appointment is for 10am. How early should we get there? I know in either my letter or the London Embassy instructions says something about only being 30 minutes early. I guess what I'm trying to ask is: is there any benefit to getting there even earlier? Would you suggest it? Is it first come first serve? Because we need to be out of the room by 2pm.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Alright, husband's interview is in 2 weeks time. We're staying over the night before so we're just going to leave all our stuff in the hotel room, only bringing "the folder" and our room key.

His appointment is for 10am. How early should we get there? I know in either my letter or the London Embassy instructions says something about only being 30 minutes early. I guess what I'm trying to ask is: is there any benefit to getting there even earlier? Would you suggest it? Is it first come first serve? Because we need to be out of the room by 2pm.

Hotel: you probably can pack up everything and check out, but leave your luggage with them all day. That's what we did at Lincoln House. We even went back to get our phones, then spent the day around London. We didn't go back for the luggage until 5 or 6 PM. No charge for this.

The line at the embassy: It is first come, first served. They start lining by 7AM sometimes. They call the first numbers (inside) starting at 8AM.

If you went at 9:30, the line outside would be way short compared to 7:30, but you might have a longer wait inside. But if you think about it getting in line at 7AM is waiting an hour, even if you were first called. So how early do you want to get up? How cold will it be outside?

[wee carrington 33]

Hah. Well, I'm not a morning person and it's been getting pretty nippy out as of late, so we may opt for that 9:30 arrival after all. Thanks for clearing things up for me!

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

Matthew's interview was at 10 AM, also....he was in line by 9 AM and they let him in by 9:15 AM. But...I'm sure 9:30 would be fine. He said that once he was inside the embassy it was "crazy". He said the waiting area was packed with people. Even though his appointment was at 10 AM, his number wasn't called until 11:45. Overall, he said everyone was very friendly, and he didn't mind waiting. Best of luck to you!!!

[diath 6]

Good luck for your husbands interview!

[cathy2904 97]

My interview was at 8.30. I was staying in a hotel too and I was awake at the crack of dawn (nervous/excited) so I joined the queue at 7am - I was third in line. They opened the doors at 7.30 and we were allowed into the waiting area. They started calling the numbers (mostly I and N) at 8am. There were a lot more N numbers than I and they went up much more frequently. I was the second I number and was called about 8.10 for the document check. That was the longest part but I was back in my seat in the waiting area by 8.30. I was called up again just before 9am and that part took no more than a few minutes. I paid the courier and was out by 9am. there was no visa queue outside at that point but there were a lot of people inside.

Good luck.

PS I checked out of my room and left my bag with the hotel - no problem.

PPS they told me my visa would take 7-10 days to reach me - it took 2!

Edited November 12, 2011 by cathy2904

[wee carrington 33]

My interview was at 8.30. I was staying in a hotel too and I was awake at the crack of dawn (nervous/excited) so I joined the queue at 7am - I was third in line. They opened the doors at 7.30 and we were allowed into the waiting area. They started calling the numbers (mostly I and N) at 8am. There were a lot more N numbers than I and they went up much more frequently. I was the second I number and was called about 8.10 for the document check. That was the longest part but I was back in my seat in the waiting area by 8.30. I was called up again just before 9am and that part took no more than a few minutes. I paid the courier and was out by 9am. there was no visa queue outside at that point but there were a lot of people inside.

Good luck.

PS I checked out of my room and left my bag with the hotel - no problem.

PPS they told me my visa would take 7-10 days to reach me - it took 2!

That's great! Thanks very much for this

One more question you may be able to answer: When you go up to give them all your paper work will they specifically ask you for everything they need? I mean I am coming with a bunch of documents-- most of which are just-in-casers. For example we've been married over 3 years and I've been living in the UK the entire time (on appropriate, valid visas) I'm bringing pictures, bank statements, council tax forms with both our names on it ect. I just feel like I'd rather have too much than too little.

[cathy2904 97]

That's great! Thanks very much for this

One more question you may be able to answer: When you go up to give them all your paper work will they specifically ask you for everything they need? I mean I am coming with a bunch of documents-- most of which are just-in-casers. For example we've been married over 3 years and I've been living in the UK the entire time (on appropriate, valid visas) I'm bringing pictures, bank statements, council tax forms with both our names on it ect. I just feel like I'd rather have too much than too little.

They had a checklist which they went through and ticked off. It was all there already as they had everything that had been sent to NVC, although I did have another set of originals of my civil documents and a set of photocopies of everything. In fact I had two folders with me - one full of evidence and the other full of documents and I didn't open either of them!

[wee carrington 33]

They had a checklist which they went through and ticked off. It was all there already as they had everything that had been sent to NVC, although I did have another set of originals of my civil documents and a set of photocopies of everything. In fact I had two folders with me - one full of evidence and the other full of documents and I didn't open either of them!

Thanks again Cathy!!

[cathy2904 97]

Thanks again Cathy!!

You're very welcome. Good luck.

[Holly and Patrick 3]

I would go for an hour before, it can't hurt.

[wee carrington 33]

I would go for an hour before, it can't hurt.

Yeah. That's what we decided to do-- just get there for 9am.

I am looking forward to reading your review! Best of luck on Friday!!

[Holly and Patrick 3]

Yeah. That's what we decided to do-- just get there for 9am.

I am looking forward to reading your review! Best of luck on Friday!!

Thank you! Less than a week left for you guys!

[qwerty1974 11]

I have an appointment for 9am and have two children with me. They're so excited and hate being couped up in hotel rooms so much that they're ASKING if we can wait in line earlier. Guess that's my schedule made up FOR me then. Hope they serve a super early breakfast at the hotel!

Edited November 17, 2011 by qwerty1974