The 2009 United Kingdom Interview Thread!

[JimandChristy 1,689]

Can we get an AMEN from the choir?? And a red approved star would be nice too. :dance:

Sorry didn't post earlier but we were busy with post-interview celebrations and just trying to get home from London. The interview went well... was kind of like flying in an plane.... Hours of boredom punctuated by seconds of sheer terror. Pat did really well even after drawing a complete memory blank and bumbling one question

The long and the short. Took the train to London the day before. Stayed at the Marble Arch Inn... small but clean and inexpensive (£65 double bed, private shower and toilet) Did the tourist thing that afternoon/evening and got to bed early.

Friday morning we left our suitcase along with laptops and mobile phones in the hotel lobby and walked to the embassy.. about a 15 minute trip. We arrived 30 min before her 9:00 appointment. There was no queue and we were ushered to security. I had to run back to Goulds with Pat's electronic remote car door opener. Once inside she was given #5015 and we sat down in the waiting area. Numbers 5003 and 5004 we just being called to the pre-screener/cashier as we sat down. We waited about 2 hours 20 minutes before we were called to the pre-screener. He took Pat's fingerprints, handed her her chest x-ray, and took the forms we needed to provide (Birth, Divorce, Police certificates, Affidavit of support and related documentation). I was directed to the cashier and paid the visa fee. We went back to our seats and waited 40 more minutes for the interview.

We were called to an interview window, where the woman took Pats fingerprints again (Supposedly it was to confirm it was actually her). Pat was then sworn in, I was cautioned to keep my mouth shut, and the questions started. As I mentioned above she handled everything well except for a memory blank. The question was what was the name of the chat program we met on. Another question that kind of threw her was "how long have you dated?" Being an internet couple there was really no formal dating period in the sense of going out to dinner and taking in the pictures. Pat tried to explain this and overall I was very proud of her. Finally minutes/hours/days later the woman smiled and said she was happy to tell us that Pat's visa application had been approved. I almost let out a shout of joy and my normally cool. calm, and reserved brit allowed herself a few tears of happiness. We paid the courer fee, left the embassy, and plopped ourselves down in the grass of Grosvenor Square where we hugged, kissed, and hugged some more.

We had lunch and a drink at a pub near the hotel. And then collected our bags, changed clothes into something more comfortable and knocked around town until it was time to catch the train home. Line problems on the main line forced a detour and we finally got back in Manchester an hour late.. very tired but happy that we were approved.

Thank you one and all for the support you've given on this ride. Looking forward to seeing success stories coming out of London in the future.

Bob and Pat

Congrats! I am due down there early Monday morning but it is the first time I've heard car keys not being allowed into the Embassy. The form I received with Packet 4 never mentioned this apart from phones, ipods etc. Was there a charge for leaving your car keys at Goulds Pharmacy?

[Ellie-and-David 38]

Congratulations Bob and Pat.

Good luck Jim and Christy!!!!!!!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Congrats! I am due down there early Monday morning but it is the first time I've heard car keys not being allowed into the Embassy. The form I received with Packet 4 never mentioned this apart from phones, ipods etc. Was there a charge for leaving your car keys at Goulds Pharmacy?

It's not the keys themselves that are the problem; it's the electronic fob that opens the central locking to which they're attached, that they won't allow in the embassy. And yes, there is a $5 charge at Goulds.

[MARM 7]

Goodluck to the following for Monday!!! :thumbs:

1st June 2009....JimandChristy................K-1

1st June 2009....krystiandjon...................K-1

It's not the keys themselves that are the problem; it's the electronic fob that opens the central locking to which they're attached, that they won't allow in the embassy. And yes, there is a $5 charge at Goulds.

minor correction: its a 5 GBP charge, not $5.

[H&V 5]

Congrats Bob&Pat - such great news to hear!!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Can we get an AMEN from the choir?? :dance:

AMEN ! Happy for you guys.

[JimandChristy 1,689]

Congrats! I am due down there early Monday morning but it is the first time I've heard car keys not being allowed into the Embassy. The form I received with Packet 4 never mentioned this apart from phones, ipods etc. Was there a charge for leaving your car keys at Goulds Pharmacy?

It's not the keys themselves that are the problem; it's the electronic fob that opens the central locking to which they're attached, that they won't allow in the embassy. And yes, there is a $5 charge at Goulds.

OK thanks...I'll just take my spare key for the car which doesn't has the fob instead.

[Gemmie 142]

Congrats Bob and Pat!!

[MARM 7]

January 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
Jason&Sarah, Hannah+Vito, Mrssmith, ShannonNick, adrianandlinsay, Marmite Lovers!

February 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
Rob&Dawn, Zoe and Hal, Terri and Seb, Talyss, TeeKol

March 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
Stinky Monkey, skparker, Laurence+Lauren, pothergavel, paumanda, texpat cymru, obbynox, jhonscotland, Caminic, Furious Biscuit, ahlpo, jojo_gee

April 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
DairyFarmer, skeez&titanic, SwanTiger, miss g, LondonLad, niniel71, mr and mrs, Stinkerpotsam, Marty J, Helen&Dougie, KAT&Allie, KnightAndMagpie, paul., Kirsten UK, Colinjess, Alixhilary

May 2009 Graduates of the US Embassy, London
Graziumphry, emma77, Monkey Juice, Gemmie, mrs_sdp, H&V, RBAL_TN, laura819, JM&Vid, Brookeluvsadam, Bob and Patricia

June 2009 Interviews
1st June 2009....JimandChristy................K-1
1st June 2009....krystiandjon...................K-1
4th June 2009....Nik+Heather...................K-1
8th June 2009....John and Camie..............K-1
12th June 2009...Ellie-and-David...............K-1
30th June 2009...grapeeyes....................CR-1

Still waiting for approval
stevi1123..........16th October 2008 - Approved pending additional documentation
Dave and Jess..10th March 2009 ?
The Dip Sticks..25th March 2009 ?
prima and jay...24th April 2009 - Approved pending additional documentation
MARM..............12th May 2009 - Approved pending passport
PB&JAM............22nd May 2009 - Denied, to file waiver

= APPROVED

Updates/New entries/changes highlighted in blue - will go to normal color in the next update.

Please let us know if you have an Interview Date to add to the list, updated information or corrections.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Goodluck to the following for Monday!!! :thumbs:

1st June 2009....JimandChristy................K-1

1st June 2009....krystiandjon...................K-1

It's not the keys themselves that are the problem; it's the electronic fob that opens the central locking to which they're attached, that they won't allow in the embassy. And yes, there is a $5 charge at Goulds.

minor correction: its a 5 GBP charge, not $5.

Do you think that I might have used the dollar symbol due to the fact I don't have a pound symbol on my US keyboard, MARM?

[Gemmie 142]

£££££££££££££££££

I want the US keyboard, already!

[Brookeluvsadam 0]

Just a silly little fact- If you press ALT 0163 on a US keyboard you come up with £

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Just a silly little fact- If you press ALT 0163 on a US keyboard you come up with £

£ £ £ Hey it works. Thanks.

0163...0163...0163...must remember.....

[Bob and Patricia 0]

Just a silly little fact- If you press ALT 0163 on a US keyboard you come up with £

£ £ £ Hey it works. Thanks.

0163...0163...0163...must remember.....

Oops, thought that was known on here.. I guess I should have said something before when people were talking cut and paste to insert the pound sterling symbol.

Bob (Home again)

33 days 07 hours 01 minutes from Pat's POE

[Nik+Heather 121]

Where are our happy June 1st interviewees! We had two today, didn't we? :-/ *crosses fingers*