Question about Finger print checks after the interview at the US embassy London

[londonuk 0]

Hi. Just got back from the K-1 visa interview at US embassy London. I got there at 7.30am for 8am interview. Passed the security fairly quickly and received a number. Waited for the number to be called. All interviews in the embassy started at 8.05am. There was just one other person before me waiting for immigration visa interview. I waited in the waiting area where there are screens that show which number is in the queue and which number is called at which counter.

After waiting around 15 min, my number was called. I went to the counter and was asked to submit my finger prints (all 10) and to provide passport, 2 photos, birth cert, police cert and affadavit of support. The guy didn't ask me for copies but I asked if he wanted copies and he said yes. He only took copies of birth cert and police cert. He said affadavit of support needs to have originals. I was asked to go to a counter right next to the one I was at and pay the visa application fees. I paid with my credit card and came back to the counter. He asked me when I plan on travelling to the US and I told him as soon as the visa comes out. He told me to go wait for my number to be called.

I waited about 15min and my number was called. A friendly American lady greeted me. She asked me to provide 4 of my fingerprints. She gave my originals back, asked me to take the oath, sign the form and write my fiancee's name on it. I did and mentioned that my fiancee gave me a letter of intent to marry. She said, great. I gave that to her. She asked me where and how we met. What kind of job I have, what kind of job he has. She commented that I shouldn't have any problem looking for a job in the US. She told me that I wouldn't be able to leave the country once I file for AOS and if emergency occasions occur, I should make sure to apply for an approval before leaving the country. She said I have to get married within 90 days of entering U.S. She said she has to wait for my fingerprint checks to return to give me an approval which should take between 1-5 days. She told me to pay for my courier service and then I'm free to go. I asked her if I've been approved and she said she has to wait for the fingerprint checks have cleared to give me an approval which is something that has to be done before an official approval.

I thanked her, paid for the courier service (£13.50 or something for regular service but I paid £25 more to get it delivered before 8am) and left.

Question:

Did everyone wait for the fingerprints to clear before getting the approval or the actual visa? Or do they choose random people to do this fingerprint check? Or do they only do this check on people who have some reasons? (I have never committed any crimes in my life :S)

Did anyone experience getting a refusal or significant delay to getting the visa because of this finger print check?

This is all I got by searching about fingerprint checks...

Understanding the Immigration Security Process

Homeland Security fact sheet explains security checks for immigration benefit applicants

An explanation of the immigration security check system was issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services April 25, 2006 in response to some applicant frustration about delays in the process.

All applicants for a U.S. immigration benefit are subject to criminal and national security background checks to ensure they are eligible for that benefit. The agency acknowledges a small number of delays, but assures the public they are not based on race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.

Further information can be obtained here.

To ensure that immigration benefits are given only to eligible applicants, USCIS adopted background security check procedures that address a wide range of possible risk factors. Different kinds of applications undergo different levels of scrutiny. USCIS normally uses the following three background check mechanisms but maintains the authority to conduct other background investigations as necessary:

• FBI Fingerprint Check—FBI fingerprint checks are conducted for many applications. The FBI fingerprint check provides information relating to criminal background within the United States. Generally, the FBI forwards responses to USCIS within 24-48 hours. If there is a record match, the FBI forwards an electronic copy of the criminal history (RAP sheet) to USCIS. At that point, a USCIS adjudicator reviews the information to determine what effect it may have on eligibility for the benefit. Although the vast majority of inquiries yield no record or match, about 10 percent do uncover criminal history (including immigration violations). In cases involving arrests or charges without disposition, USCIS requires the applicant to provide court certified evidence of the disposition. Customers with prior arrests should provide complete information and certified disposition records at the time of filing to avoid adjudication delays or denial resulting from misrepresentation about criminal history. Even expunged or vacated convictions must be reported for immigration purposes.

Edited March 6, 2008 by londonuk

[Ian + Anne 0]

Yes, I had to wait for finger print checks to clear, this was back in August 2007, passport arrived back 3 days later with the visa in it.

Edited March 6, 2008 by Ian + Anne