The 2008 United Kingdom Interview Thread!

[T and M 1]

Had interview this morning ....Approved

yay!! congratulations!

Heading over to the embassy now! Fingers crossed......

[The Red Baron 0]

Fingers crossed for you hope it all goes real smooth

[L & P 0]

Visa interview was yesterday.....I left Embassy @ 10.10 am ....got visa delivered this morning

[The Red Baron 0]

Congratulations :D

[Sal and Jay 2]

Visa interview was yesterday.....I left Embassy @ 10.10 am ....got visa delivered this morning

Congrats

[T and M 1]

Approved!

Milena and I arrived at 8am. No cellphones, laptop, but I DID have my USB key/chip and car keys which had an electronic fob for unlocking. Both were considered an "electronic" item. The girls mentioned there were some cafes on the corner. I found the pharmacy that stores one small bag for 10 pounds. That seemed ridiculous, so I went to Starbucks, and "left" my keys at the counter. The girl was not happy with me, but I was not going to pay 10 pounds to leave a tiny, tiny rental car key! I threw away my USB key as it was a corporate gift.

So we got in.

Were called up after around 45 minutes...by now it's 9:15am. We showed our paperwork, copies AND originals (definitely have copies of everything, b/c they WILL keep a copy of everything.) He asked me about my PhD, and whether or not I had proof from my university that I could complete my research from the US. Of course I did not, and he said that maybe it wouldn't matter...that "it depends on the officer." He then asked us to go to window 13 and pay 400 dollars. (We already paid 355 so I was shocked, but what are you going to do?)

We left our US credit card at home, and the cashier said they give a 2:1 exchange rate. I left the building, took out 200 pounds from a nearby ATM and returned just as they were re-calling our number.

The officer was very nice, and warned us not to lose her permanent residence by setting up domicile in another country. The whole interview lasted 10 minutes. Oh, he wanted to see proof that I maintain US domicile. Drivers license and copies of bank statements to my US address were enough.

We then paid 14 pounds for the courier service and were told it would arrive betwen Tues-Thurs! We are thrilled and can't believe it is over! So anticlimactic as other VJers have pointed out.

We certainly could not have done it without you guys. Now that it's over I think i need to see a shrink for post-traumatic stress syndrome. What do I worry about now???!!! Oh, yeah...our baby that is on the way!

All best regards to all of you!

Thomas and Milena

[psiprez 3]

My fiance had his interview this morning as well, and was of course APPROVED!!!

You all must have been in the waiting area together... LOL. He said he was number 17 out of 21, or something like that.

I'll leave it to him to come post a recap, but he did say is was easy-peasy.

[The Red Baron 0]

Stoked for you guys

[me! 0]

We had our interview on monday the 14th, but didin't get approved. :-( It was because of the police certificate. He lives in Scotland and requested his police certiicate in March. I thought he had received it in the mail, but when I got there just before the interview he only had the receipt for the 10 pounds that he paid. I guess he thought the form was being sent directly to the embassy. He said he never got it in the mail.

So we went to the interview anyway, and not surprisingly they said they can't approve until the police certificate is sent to them by courier. The trouble is it never came in the mail. So I called the number given to us by the police station for information. They said they mailed it to him on April 4th, but that they will mail him another copy. However the woman on the phone also said something that I didn't understand. She said that a form was also mailed to him from LONDON but that that can not be mailed again. What is this paper from london? Does he need both this and the paper from Scotland?

I'm confused and a little disheartened. Thought he'd be here for my sister's wedding in September, but now it's not looking so good. Has anyone else had to mail stuff after the interview. How long did approval take then? What worries me the most is that they said he may be requested to come for a second interview. It was a long trip down to london the first time and cost a bit. Not to mention it could take them a while again to fit him in the schedule. I thought we were doing so well when we ordered this police certificate in march, and now it got spoiled anyway.

[T and M 1]

We had our interview on monday the 14th, but didin't get approved. :-( It was because of the police certificate. He lives in Scotland and requested his police certiicate in March. I thought he had received it in the mail, but when I got there just before the interview he only had the receipt for the 10 pounds that he paid. I guess he thought the form was being sent directly to the embassy. He said he never got it in the mail.

So we went to the interview anyway, and not surprisingly they said they can't approve until the police certificate is sent to them by courier. The trouble is it never came in the mail. So I called the number given to us by the police station for information. They said they mailed it to him on April 4th, but that they will mail him another copy. However the woman on the phone also said something that I didn't understand. She said that a form was also mailed to him from LONDON but that that can not be mailed again. What is this paper from london? Does he need both this and the paper from Scotland?

I'm confused and a little disheartened. Thought he'd be here for my sister's wedding in September, but now it's not looking so good. Has anyone else had to mail stuff after the interview. How long did approval take then? What worries me the most is that they said he may be requested to come for a second interview. It was a long trip down to london the first time and cost a bit. Not to mention it could take them a while again to fit him in the schedule. I thought we were doing so well when we ordered this police certificate in march, and now it got spoiled anyway.

Sorry to hear about this. We had our fair share of detours, missed a few big family events that we had planned on attending, and made some misteps. But I promise you this is almost over.

First of all, if you were approved pending the police certificate, the visa will be readied almost immediately after you courier the police certificate in. Fine, you may say...but how do you get another police certificate. Here's the important part.

The local police certificates, which may or may not still be accepted, take forever. The newer certificate, APCO, is much quicker...you should have it within 10 working days or less! Although it costs around 35 pounds, it is worth it. I recommend applying for immediately. Note that you need a witness to sign your spouse's photo...someone "important" in the community like a Pharmacist, doctor, or lecturer.

If you send of for this right away, and courier it to the embassy as soon as you receive it, you just might get this thing back on track with minimal delay.

APCO: http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp

Embassy reference to APCO: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/iv/ukpc.html

I wish you a lot of luck. Don't dishearten just yet!

[The Red Baron 0]

Were called up after around 45 minutes...by now it's 9:15am. We showed our paperwork, copies AND originals (definitely have copies of everything, b/c they WILL keep a copy of everything.)

Just photocopies not certified or notarized? Sorry for the silly question

Edited July 21, 2008 by The Red Baron

[NickyMcMillan 0]

Me!

Applying for the police certificate has changed. The one your OH paid ten pounds for will no longer be accepted by the US embassy, thus delaying your visa further.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/ukpc.html

Follow the steps on that page. You can have the certificate off to the embassy by next week. The embassy requested further info from me, took around 10 days for them to send me the visa.

Don't be disheartened. It sounds like your case has been approved pending the police certificate. If you apply for the police papers quickly, September should still be on for you guys.

All the best,

Nicky

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Were called up after around 45 minutes...by now it's 9:15am. We showed our paperwork, copies AND originals (definitely have copies of everything, b/c they WILL keep a copy of everything.)

Just photocopies not certified or notarized? Sorry for the silly question

Copies only -- no need for anything to be notarised for the DCF folk.

[me! 0]

Thanks so much for all your help. I'm going to the site now. It is so wonderful to have a place to go to with my questions where there are caring people to help!

[snowfrostedlashes 0]

Had my interview today and was approved pending one final security check.

The actual interview took about 5 minutes... but the waiting around was a nightmare. I won't bore you with my complaining about getting there at 08:40 (after dropping off my phone and keys as directed) and then not getting out until 12:30, but these are the questions I was asked:

What does your fiance do for a living?

How did you meet?

When did your relationship get serious? (the interviewer then queried my still being married at that time and I simply explained that I was separated from my ex-husband)

Where is your ex-husband from?

How many times have you been married?

How many times has your fiance been married?

When are you planning to travel to the US?

Have you visited your fiance where he lives?

Did you like it there?

When are you getting married?

Where are you getting married?

Are your family attending the wedding?

What did your fiance get you for Christmas last year?

I was very nervous and must have looked exhausted since I went overnight on the train and barely slept at all and was feeling sick from being in a hot crowded room for hours, but the interviewer was very pleasant and I got a positive result so I'm happy (and also happy that it is over and done with!).

Oh, and they didn't ask for any additional evidence of our relationship, even though I took some with me just in case.

Edited July 21, 2008 by Mark and Hannah