London Interviews 2006 (NEW)

[Jahan&Veena 4]

Congrats to Richi!!

By the way we have some news too. Jahan received his Packet4 this morning, just 17 days after he returned Packet 3. The interview is on March 16, 2006 at 10:30am!!!

We were not expecting such a quick interview date. We thought it would be around April 15th so its a full month sooner. Please do say a prayer for us!!

Jahan&Chris.

[RichiJenny 14]

Thanks, and the best of luck to you, though Im sure you wont need it.

I found the hardest part was actually preparing the docs the night before. I wasnt nervous in the slightest, and, I guess as long as you have confidence in your relationship, everything is fine.

First off, You are asked to have your interview appt. letter and passport in hand whilst waiting in line outside, plus your visa fee receipt. Then you're called into a hut which leads to the entrances to the embassy. Its akin to a security check at an airport.

Once inside and greeted by further security, you proceed up some steps to the large waiting room, where you are greeted and take your ticket/number and the wait begins.

Once called to the first booth I was asked for my police doc and birth cert and provided copies too. 2 photographs and the I-134. The guy didnt have any interest in my bank docs or employers letter. I also handed over my passport. I was also given my x-rays.

I was then provided with a pink form to fill in whilst waiting, which was the visa courier service form.

Incidentally, my lucky number is 7. My ticket number was 007.

When called again, i was called to booth 13. Once again, my fiancee's lucky number is 13!

Here I had my fingerpirnts taken and asked how and when I met my fiancee, also what she does for a living. I then signed the ds-whaterver form it is, my mind's a blank, twice.

Then printed my fiancee's name on the form stating my intent to marry her.

I was then sworn in, and Interview 13 wished me the best of luck and safe travels!

Then I took my pink form to the SMS desk at the front where the courier service is paid for.

I must've walked past the Embassy twice when I arrived, as for the life of me I couldnt find 'number 5 Upper grosvenor st'. I didnt realise that it was the massive building in a block on its own, and was approaching from the reverse, so the US flag was hidden from view!!

Oh and the eagle atop the building is very impressive. If you want to save yourself 10 minutes....DONT TAKE A PHOTO, even from across the other side of the park!! Nuff said!

And, if anyone travels by coach to Victoria, there's an awesome boozer just round the corner from the coach station, The Shakespeare', where I had a well deserved celebratory pint. Bloody knackered!

[Yorkie 0]

Hello

Just wanted to let you all know that I got here ok. The flight and POE was a breeze, the only hard thing was lugging the 7 cases through the airport then finding a taxi big enough to take home.

Cheers

[Miranda&James 8]

Is there any way to call London and actually speak with someone? I'm getting really worried now that it's been four weeks since they got our Packet 3 and people who sent theirs out later have gotten interview dates and they are still saying they have no record of our case (James has a copy of the signature so someone signed for our package there, so they must have them somewhere).

[pax 0]

Miranda, it's not unusual for London to be slow with opening mail. If you sent packet 3 via recorded delivery and you know it was signed for, it's very unlikely that it's completely lost.

London was slower when Ewen and I were going through. We did indeed wait 12 full weeks between Ewen's returning packet 3 and his interview, and it was 8 weeks from when he sent back his packet until he even heard about a date.

[RichiJenny 14]

Is there any way to call London and actually speak with someone? I'm getting really worried now that it's been four weeks since they got our Packet 3 and people who sent theirs out later have gotten interview dates and they are still saying they have no record of our case (James has a copy of the signature so someone signed for our package there, so they must have them somewhere).

Only the premium rate number - 09042 450 100 ? Thats £1.20 per min+ Sometimes you get answers to queries but I doubt too much with actual interview dates.

I forget how long mine was, maybe 3 weeks or so, so try not to worry just yet, Im sure everything will be apples!

On a different note, I dropped them a 'few emails' in varying formats requesting a quick date as we had made 'plans'. Im not in any way advocating this, BUT it MAY have worked for us.

Edited March 2, 2006 by richi

[Miranda&James 8]

Is there any way to call London and actually speak with someone? I'm getting really worried now that it's been four weeks since they got our Packet 3 and people who sent theirs out later have gotten interview dates and they are still saying they have no record of our case (James has a copy of the signature so someone signed for our package there, so they must have them somewhere).

Only the premium rate number - 09042 450 100 ? Thats £1.20 per min+ Sometimes you get answers to queries but I doubt too much with actual interview dates.

I forget how long mine was, maybe 3 weeks or so, so try not to worry just yet, Im sure everything will be apples!

On a different not, I dropped them a 'few emails' in varying formats requesting a quick date as we had made 'plans'. Im not in any way advocating this, BUT it MAY have worked for us.

Well, James has told them in the emails that our wedding is booked and paid for for May 20th, so they obviously are aware of that. I'm just worried that something is wrong since people who send in P3 after us are getting through, that must mean ours is lost or something is wrong with it, or we got a really slow guy on it!!

[Englishsammy 17]

Congratulations Richi!!! Hope your passport comes soon!! When are you planning to leave then? How exciting.....!

James n Miranda - That is really worrying for you, luckily you got it signed for so at least you know it got to the embassy. I just emailed them saying I sent my packet 3 back on such a date and have I got an interview yet.....I don't know if your already doing this but if I were you I'd email them everyday! maybe it'll encourage them to get your file from the bottom of the pile!

[Baileyj96 0]

I wouldn't worry about them saying they haven't received your packet. I have been emailing them the past few days. The first statement in the email said that they had recieved our packet. then they ask me a few questions (referring to things on our paperwork so i know they have it) and said they would advise me on receipt of my answer. When I email them back with the answers to their questions the very next day I got the "canned" response saying they have not recieved out packet. blah blah blah.

I think they have several people who answer the emails. Some are helpful and others just send out the standard responses.

Good luck,

Baileyj

[rebeccajo 14]

Don't waste your money on the phone calls. Those people don't know squat. Better to stick to e-mail.

It does look to me like London is picking up the pace a bit and getting back to normal. Would be good to see things return to the way they were a year ago.

Yorkie, glad to see you made it safely....

richi...no worries....i knew you were hammered....LOL

[Miranda&James 8]

Thanks guys, we'll just keep regularly emailing them and praying for a response soon!!

[JenniferB 0]

We're still waiting also for an interview date! Getting annoyed now. We sent back our checklist on 2/8. We are doing DCF, CR1. My husband's job requires him to give 3-months notice & we wanted to move to NJ in time for my mom's birthday.

My mom has not net her new grandson who is 4 months old soon. So I'm really bummed now that is unlikely we will celebrate her birthday as a family.

My husband did email the Embassy last night enquiring about it. I assumed DCF would be quicker.

[pax 0]

PLEASE, everyone, swing by the Waivers thread and say hi to Mary and Tom. They have a letter from USCIS and they'll be opening it when Tom gets home from work. Hope this is good news for them!

[shakysgirl 1]

Congrats to Richi- good luck to everyone having interviews soon and also good luck to all those waiting for the interview date- in my opinion the waiting between sending packet 3 and the getting the interview is the worst bit, followed closely by the night before the actual interview! Good luck!

[Keigwyn 1]

Congratulations to Richi...so what's so secret about a big eagle?!!?

and thanks for sharing the interview experience.