Phone Number: |
Switchboard: [44] (0)20 7499-9000
Operator Assisted Visa Information Call 09042-450-100 (123p/min)
Monday through Friday, between 8.00 am and 9.00 pm, and Saturday, between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm
This number is a premium number and only available in the U.K., within U.K. may be unavailable from some business telephones and mobile networks. |
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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 |
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Best Contact Method: |
Best way to contact is through e-mail, although you need to phone them to get the 'code' to send them an email.
Upon sending an email, will likely receive an automated message that the email was deleted without being read, but that was instituted around the terrorist attacks in London (7/7) and has been in place since.
LondonConsular@state.gov |
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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.
If applying through London, plan for a 10-12 week wait in between the Consulate's receipt of packet 3 and the actual interview.
E-mail is definitely the best way to contact London if necessary. |
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Issues Packet 3? |
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Packet 3 Contains: |
Used to be called 'Packet three', cause they send you forms etc through the mail. Now it is just a letter containing a link of where to download all the forms and the IV-15 check-list.
Immigrant visas: http://london.usembassy.gov/ds2001.html
K visas: http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html
(The required forms to send back are in the upper right column of the page)
Explanation of checklist 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/immigrant-visas/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 downloading and completing for a K1 visa are:
DS230 - part 1 which is pages 1 & 2 - Sign page 2.
DS156 - (in duplicate) Okay to sign
DS157 - (in duplicate) no place to sign
DS156K - Do not write below the line. You sign in front of the officer.
The Checklist (which tells the embassy that you have the documents you will need to bring to the interview) |
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Issues Packet 4? |
Yes |
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Packet 4 Contents (if known): |
Appointment Letter
Instructions for interview
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_018.pdf
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_019.pdf
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Forms to Consulate? |
DS2001 and all forms requested by the link in 'Packet 3'.
The consulate will not issue an interview date without receiving the DS2001(checklist) so make sure to return it once you have procured all the forms.
However, the DS2001 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). |
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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 |
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If DCF Allowed: For all or only US citizen lawfully resident in country?
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Residents_Only |
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Can fiance(e)/spouse attend interview? |
Yes |
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Visa fee payment "same day" or "in advance"? |
Advance |
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Did embassy schedule interview or could you walk-in? |
Embassy Scheduled |
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Visa issued same day? |
No |
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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 from £14.50 for the basic service, payable by most debit/credit card only as cash is not accepted.
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 |
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Is the Medical exam same day as interview? |
Prior to Interview |
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Cost of Medical Exam? |
£227 + any necessary vaccinations (Increases to £235 after June 1, 2013.) |
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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? |
1 |
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How many Passport Photo's Required at the interview? |
2 |
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Estimated waiting time at the consulate on the day of interview? |
Varies wildly. Do not show up more than an hour before your scheduled interview time, as you will not be let in more than an hour before that time.
You just take a ticket and end up waiting.
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Vaccination requirements? |
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/39181/pdfs/vaccinechart.pdf |
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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 |
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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.
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 |
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