Phone Number: |
Switchboard: [44] (0)20 7499-9000
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E-Mail: |
LondonConsular@state.gov
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Address: |
Mailing Address:
24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1K 6AH
United Kingdom
Address for K1 Packet:
Immigrant Visa Unit
US Embassy
24 Grosvenor Square
London W1K 6AH
Physical Address (GPS & Google maps):
24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 2LQ
United Kingdom
A customized map showing the US Embassy, the medical exam office, and several hotels can be found here:
http://www.click2map.com/maps/nichnick/Embassy_London
The map can be zoomed in to see more detail or out to see more areas of London.
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Working Hours: |
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m |
Best Contact Method: |
Online contact form. |
Approx Waiting Time for Interview After Consulate Recieves
NVC Package: |
An interview date is sometimes issued more quickly if applicants can show that they have concrete wedding/travel plans, but not always.
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Issues Packet 3? |
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Packet 3 Contains: |
Used to be called 'Packet three because they sent you forms etc through the mail. Now it is just a letter containing a link to instructions found on the embassy website.
Immigrant visas: http://london.usembassy.gov/ds2001.html
K visas: http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/fiance_instructions.html
(The required forms to submit are in the upper right of the page)
Document checklist to bring to the interview:
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_and_k_interview_checklist2014.pdf
Explanation of documents to bring to the interview:
http://london.usembassy.gov/interview_documents.html
The letter also provides a link on how to book your medical
http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/medical_examination.html
New info as of mid-October 2010: The visa interview will not be scheduled until the Embassy has received the results of the medical examination, so get the medical acheduled early, but after you have returned the forms and checklist so your files will match up.
New info as of June 2011: You will be asked to bring your Police Certificate to the medical appointment.
The forms that require online completing for a K visa are:
DS-160
Readiness for Interview form (which tells the embassy that you have the documents you will need to bring to the interview) |
Issues Packet 4? |
Yes |
Packet 4 Contents (if known): |
Appointment Letter
Instructions for interview
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_and_k_interview_checklist2014.pdf
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Forms to Consulate? |
K visa: Nothing is mailed. Two online forms are submitted
The consulate will not issue an interview date without receiving the Readiness for Interview form so make sure to submit it once you have procured all the interview documents.
However, the Readiness for Interview form is required only for Direct Consular Filers and K filers (CR1/IR1 filers do not need to file a DS2001 if they are being processed through the NVC). |
Other Forms (if any)? |
Police Certificate:
Go to http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp or call 0845 6013999 (Office hours are 8:30-16:30, Monday to Friday).
U.K. police certificates are considered valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.(Get a second copy for £5 as well worth it)
Obtaining Birth Certificate:
Visit http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ to obtain a certified copy.
Better still visit:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Familyhistoryandresearch/Birthmarriageanddeathcertificates/DG_175628
Call them, ask for your local registry office, they will provide you with a number. Call your local office they will charge you £7.50 (estimate,it could change)
The main office hold est 300,000,000 copies, compared to your local office which only holds certificates for your County. Therefore it can be cheaper
Updated Notarized Letter of Intent to Marry from Petitioner only (new, not one sent to USCIS); specifically asked for in P3 letter RCVD 5/1/2012.
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Direct Consular Filing Offered? |
Yes |
If DCF Allowed: For all or only US citizen lawfully resident in country?
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Residents_Only |
Can fiance(e)/spouse attend interview? |
Yes |
Visa fee payment "same day" or "in advance"? |
Advance |
Did embassy schedule interview or could you walk-in? |
Embassy Scheduled |
Visa issued same day? |
No |
If not what's the waiting period? |
The passport with visa is delivered back to the applicant via Secure Mail Services (SMS) courier operating under the brand-name DX Secure. This takes anywhere from 24 hours to a week. The cost is $30 delivered to you home or free if you pick up at a depot.
SMS contact number 0870 950 1760
SMS website www.securemail.co.uk
SMS contact number the latest number 0871 562 6666
SMS website is www.thedx.co.uk |
Is the Medical exam same day as interview? |
Prior to Interview |
Cost of Medical Exam? |
£250 + any necessary vaccinations (correct as of 28 Sep 2015) |
List of doctors? |
Knightsbridge Doctors in London is the sole contractor for Embassy medicals. Instructions on how to schedule an appointment there are included with packet 3.
Tel: 020 7486 7822
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How many Passport Photo's Required for the medical? |
4 |
How many Passport Photo's Required at the interview? |
2 |
Estimated waiting time at the consulate on the day of interview? |
Varies wildly. It is first come first served. The line starts forming around 7AM. Security starts letting people in around 7:30. The visa processing windows open at 8AM.
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Vaccination requirements? |
The chart on the London website has been out of date since 2009. |
Cheap and good hotels near the Consulate? |
BRYANSTON COURT HOTEL - http://www.bryanstonhotel.co.uk/
MARBLE ARCH INN - http://www.marblearch-inn.co.uk/
LINCOLN HOUSE - http://www.lincoln-house-hotel.co.uk/index.html |
Additional Info? |
If you are interested in DCF in London, you must have been resident in the UK for at least 6 months with an appropriate status (LLR/ILR/spousal/long-term student/work, etc.) Tourist visas and the VWP are not acceptable for establishing residence in the UK.
What can i bring into the embassy for my appointment? The embassy have released on September 16th a new YouTube video on their YouTube site that has the Ambassador explaining what can be taken into the building. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQMJW1AEKcY&list=PLCBCE4DAABAFAA522 It's worth watching as it will save time and hastle and also cost since you may not need to use the local pharmacy's to store your gear.
Since many items are not allowed to be carried into the Embassy, you may want to make use of Gould's Pharmacy just up the street to stow your mobile phone, electronic devices, etc while you are at your interview. They should be open by 7:30am, they charge about £5, and they have a good reputation.
Gould's Pharmacy
37 North Audley Street
Mayfair
London W1K 6ZL
Telephone: 0207 495 6298
K Visa Applicants (Non-Immigrant visas)are now asked to pay the visa fee to the Operator Assisted Information Service prior to attending the visa interview. IR1/CR1 Immigrant Visa Applicants pay the fee to the Embassy cashier on the day of the visa interview. See http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/iv_fees.html
Fees may be paid in cash - sterling or dollar equivalent; by International Money Order or Bankers Draft; by Credit Card - Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Discover or American Express; or Debit Card with the Visa logo. The Embassy does not accept any other credit or debit cards, or personal checks.
There is a snack bar / coffee shop inside the consulate in the waiting area.
There is also a photo booth inside the waiting area inside the consulate. It produces the required size and format.
Fiance(e) visa processing:
http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/fiance.html
http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html
The 2009 United Kingdom Interview Thread!, Post your dates and news here!
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=168968 |