Thanks for the messages all

[pothergavel 0]

Much appreciated. Here's hoping that I can get an approved pending the medical and everything will be alright

Heading off to London Town shortly to spend the night at the Boston Court Hotel in Marble Arch, which apparently is about half a mile from the embassy and also the Knightsbridge medical centre.

Photos to be done early doors, then interview at 9, followed by medical at 2:50 and a heart attack by half 5 I would imagine!

Will report back tomorrow night regardless.

Cheers

[Stinky Monkey 1]

you will be fine, and this time tomorrow it will all be over and you will be saying is that it..........................was it worth the sleepless night hahah

Looking forward to the good news tomorrow

[Time2gopeacefully 0]

Best of luck!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Yeah, best of luck, pal. Not long back from Villa Park, and I have to say that this game we love really is a game of two halves. Villa totally dominated the first half (and the 1-0 scoreline in Spurs' favour was in no way an accurate reflection of the game) but quite frankly, the second half was a stroll in the park for your lads. O'Neil must have gone ###### mental at his lot at the end of the game!!

[SwanTiger 0]

Much appreciated. Here's hoping that I can get an approved pending the medical and everything will be alright

Heading off to London Town shortly to spend the night at the Boston Court Hotel in Marble Arch, which apparently is about half a mile from the embassy and also the Knightsbridge medical centre.

Photos to be done early doors, then interview at 9, followed by medical at 2:50 and a heart attack by half 5 I would imagine!

Will report back tomorrow night regardless.

Cheers

Good luck!

[H&V 5]

Best of luck!

[pothergavel 0]

Quck update from an internet cafe......

Walk in the park, as you say

All approved pending the medical this afternoon. Will do all the review and all that when I get home tonight, but I wouldn't choose the Boston Court Hotel as a possible place for a romantic getaway, put it that way!

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Quck update from an internet cafe......

Walk in the park, as you say

All approved pending the medical this afternoon. Will do all the review and all that when I get home tonight, but I wouldn't choose the Boston Court Hotel as a possible place for a romantic getaway, put it that way!

Woohoooo! Keep the lucky streak goin' for the rest of us...

Magpie.

[frali 2]

Congrats

[pothergavel 0]

Right, well I posted this in the other thread, but if I can give you any advice at all for the interview, it's this:

PLEASE DO NOT WORRY, STRESS, OR OTHERWISE CONCERN YOURSELF ABOUT ANYTHING. IT IS A COMPLETE DODDLE.

Anyway, back to me and my experience:

As most of you know, I was scheduled to have a 9am interview and then a medical at 2:50pm at Bentnick Mansions so I booked into a hotel for the Sunday night. I have to admit that I picked the Boston Court Hotel for two reasons - first of all, the location (about half a mile from both embassy and medical) and secondly the price - £46 through hotels.com. Now, I wouldn't exactly recommend the BCH as a place for a romantic getaway for two. In fact, there's not much I would recommend it for, unless you are only looking for somewhere to get your head down for a few hours. And it will be only a few hours - the hard bed, one thin pillow, paper thick walls and walk up two flights of stairs for a pee will all make sure it's no more than that. Having said that there was a shower, basin and fridge in the room and they'll look after your stuff if you need.

Sunday night I decided a quick walk to the embassy was in order to work out where it was - 7 minutes later I was outside. Please bear in mind that if you decide to do this, and you're about 6 foot 2, shaved head, on the phone and walking back and forth outside the embassy in the dark, the security/police etc suddenly find you the centre of their attention.

Anyway, Goulds Pharmacy is about 90 seconds away from the embassy, and don't bother with their website, they actually open at 7:30 and not 8:30.

Monday morning I left early and headed to Goulds Pharmacy. Left my ipod and phone there (it's a fiver), got confused as to why they wanted my mobile number as they would have the phone, and had my photos done (again a fiver, for two) and was out in the sunshine in about 10 minutes flat.

There was a little queue outside the embassy on the path. It's a bit like when you go to the airport and they have that provisional passport check thing. They ask for your interview letter and passport, give you a plastic bag for your stuff and then you wait to get called into the security gatehouse. They call you in two at a time, then you go through the doorway metal detector and your stuff goes in the trays like terminal 3 at Heathrow. From there you walk round the embassy to the side entrance, again show your interview letter (useful hint #1: don't forget your interview letter), get a ticket and go into the main room. For what it's worth, I was in the first queue at 8:12 and sitting down waiting at 8:20.

Huge room, like many have said, just like going to a post office. Booths down one side and chairs all arranged in rows facing the middle where there are tv screens saying what number is being called and what booth to go to. Immigrant visas start at 5000, and non-immigrant are 1000, I was 5013. Lucky for some! Genuinely, there were no nerves, I was just excited. It was really busy and the 1000 numbers start flying along. At 8:20, 5001 was called. Then not long after 5002. I was getting ahead of myself here, thinking this was going to be over sharpish. By 9:40, they were only just calling 5010. (useful hint #2: regardless of how long you think you will be there. You will be there longer. Take a book. Something like War & Peace should do it) Anyway, I got called to window 1 and the now familiar Chinese (possibly) lady at 10:10. Now, I deal with foreign students all the time, so it's usually not a problem, but the combination of her accent and the thick glass made for some comedy moments. Especially as she looked through my University record and started asking me questions about all the ones I had been to, and various others. If you get this lady and want some conversation starters, try these: her daughter is very clever. Got straight A's at A-level and is studying law at Imperial. She is one of those lucky people who can do no work, revise for a few weeks and get good grades (jammy git). Her friends daughter on the other hand, is struggling with her A-levels and doesn't really care. She even types lol on msn to window no.1 lady when she tries to offer advice. Sigh. Anyway, this is what she asked for:

The number ticket

Your passport

Birth certificate and the copy

Police certificate and the copy

The I-194F and associated evidence. I had 2007 tax return, letter from the missus employer, her bank statements and some roth info. She looked at it for about 2 seconds and only kept the I-194F, tax return and employer letter

She took my fingerprints on the mini green photocopier scanner (left hand 4 fingers, right hand 4 fingers, then both thumbs) and then sent me to another window to pay my £90 - they take credit card if you need. Walking to the payment window, I walked past both the photo booths which I hadn't noticed before: both out of order (useful hint #3: take your photos in with you). Once I had taken the receipt back to window 1 lady, you get a form to fill in for the courier and get to go and sit down again and wait to be called for the interview. Was sitting down by about 10:25.

Called for the interview at 11:05 with a thirty something American guy. Fingerprints taken from the left hand again, then raise the right hand and pledge not to lie to anything basically. That bit took me by surprise I have to admit. He then passed a form through and told me to sign it at the bottom and write my fiancee's name on it. We'd had a bit of banter before this point and he said, and I quote "this is part one of the test by the way. Get this wrong and we'll have some problems with the rest". I replied that if I got her name wrong, the repurcussions for me would be far worse than anything he could say, the missus would kill me. He laughed and reminded me that thanks to the paperwork he had her phone number and address and wouldn't hesitate to use them. Once that hurdle was safely negotiated, it was all good. More banter about life and California (where he is from and where I am going), and the questions were:

Where did you meet?

When did you meet in person?

What does fiancee do in her work?

Why have you been to the US so many times?

Why do we want to live there rather than here?

He filled in a blue form and told me that as I hadn't had my medical, then the application was temporarily suspended until that came through. However, as I had it booked for that afternoon, if they said it was all ok, I could expect my visa and information back to me within two weeks. And that was it. Done. 10 minutes from being called to being in, at most. (useful hint #4: remember what I said about not panicking).

I went out, paid the courier and wandered round London for hours til the medical.

Quick recap of the medical.

Get in, fill in a form and then get into the waiting room to, well, wait. Then called through to speak with a nice Australian nurse. She told me I needed some jabs done which I could have done there for £60 (she even winced saying that. She had just joined there from the NHS apparently. Oh, and she's not on commission, I checked. Or so she said!) As I said that I was going to get them done at the local doctors, she gave me a letter saying what I needed to get done and I had to get them sorted, have the doctors stamp it and fax it back. Back to the waiting room. Then called for the chest xray with a nice guy, who is from Stony Stratford (near Milton Keynes), and has even done the chest xray of Billie Piper. Never have I felt more of a disappointment to a man as I stood there arms in a trussed chicken/old school Mick Jagger pose whilst being blasted with radiation. Oh, if you go to the gym or work out at all, be prepared to be moved quite specifically so that you do actually fit onto the screen thing. Back to the waiting room. Then called for the examination - few quick questions, height and weight, eye check, then strip and lay on the bed. Blood pressure taken, stethoscope all over, look down the old boxer shorts, strap around the arm and the words "a little #######". Now, when I said I felt disappointing with the xray man, nothing comes anywhere near as close to the feeling of inadequacy that arrives as a femal doctor says "a little #######" approximately 8 seconds after looking down your boxer shorts. Turns out she meant she was going to take a blood sample. At least I hope so anyway. (useful hint #5: this is for guys only, but mention the coldness of the room once laying on the bed. I forgot this one). Come out, pay your £180 and head off home.

Job, as they say, done.

Oh, and in case you forget

DON'T PANIC AT ALL. IF YOU'VE GOT AS FAR AS THE INTERVIEW, THAT'S THE HARDEST BIT DONE

[H&V 5]

Thanks for the great review pothergavel! And congrats again! I know you say don't worry or stress but I'm always wondering it'll be different for us and something will go awful - aghhh - but I am trying to take comfort in the fact that we have got this far ok.....

Anyway, I was just wondering if I could check a couple things with you:

Anyway, Goulds Pharmacy is about 90 seconds away from the embassy, and don't bother with their website, they actually open at 7:30 and not 8:30.

Did you see a place that does US passport photos by the medical place by any chance?

The number ticket

Your passport

Birth certificate and the copy

Police certificate and the copy

The I-194F and associated evidence. I had 2007 tax return, letter from the missus employer, her bank statements and some roth info. She looked at it for about 2 seconds and only kept the I-194F, tax return and employer letter

Is the I194F the same as I134? Or is this a new form i don't know about yet?!!

Where did you meet?

When did you meet in person?

What does fiancee do in her work?

Why have you been to the US so many times?

Why do we want to live there rather than here?

OK, so #4 do you literally just answer ' to see my fiance' - I mean surely it is obvious?! I just wonder what people actually answer to these questions?!

Oh and your medical review cracked me up!! Brilliant, thanks again!

[Leenie 15]

Wow, thanks for that brilliant review! That was really lovely, and I had been looking to see some more detailed information on the medical to relay to my boyfriend. But man, I feel bad that he is going to have some lady looking down his shorts just so we can be together!! A little embarrassing

And congrats on everything going so well!!!

[pothergavel 0]

Thanks for the great review pothergavel! And congrats again! I know you say don't worry or stress but I'm always wondering it'll be different for us and something will go awful - aghhh - but I am trying to take comfort in the fact that we have got this far ok.....

Anyway, I was just wondering if I could check a couple things with you:

Anyway, Goulds Pharmacy is about 90 seconds away from the embassy, and don't bother with their website, they actually open at 7:30 and not 8:30.

Did you see a place that does US passport photos by the medical place by any chance?

Yes, the pharmacy does them there and then. If I didn't say it in the review, then I meant to. You sit on a chair, they take your picture and print them out. £5 for 2.

The number ticket

Your passport

Birth certificate and the copy

Police certificate and the copy

The I-194F and associated evidence. I had 2007 tax return, letter from the missus employer, her bank statements and some roth info. She looked at it for about 2 seconds and only kept the I-194F, tax return and employer letter

Is the I194F the same as I134? Or is this a new form i don't know about yet?!!

It was me being an idiot. The I-134. The financial support document. Sorry, was very tired last night

Where did you meet?

When did you meet in person?

What does fiancee do in her work?

Why have you been to the US so many times?

Why do we want to live there rather than here?

OK, so #4 do you literally just answer ' to see my fiance' - I mean surely it is obvious?! I just wonder what people actually answer to these questions?!

Well I had been a lot of times for vacations and also for work. I just said vacations, work and seeing fiancee. He asked what work, so I just said I was a guest speaker at some conferences and that was that.

Oh and your medical review cracked me up!! Brilliant, thanks again!

No worries. Look forward to reading yours on here when you are approved!

Edited March 18, 2009 by pothergavel

[pothergavel 0]

Wow, thanks for that brilliant review! That was really lovely, and I had been looking to see some more detailed information on the medical to relay to my boyfriend. But man, I feel bad that he is going to have some lady looking down his shorts just so we can be together!! A little embarrassing

And congrats on everything going so well!!!

No worries. The medical is fine, seriously, it's no big deal at all.

Thinking about it, it's no bad thing having an attractive lady looking down your boxer shorts for medical reasons. He'll be fine

Thanks, the jabs are done now too, so it's over to you guys to keep the successful run going

[H&V 5]

Cheers for answering my questions pothergavel! I must have had a long day too though as my first one was meant to mean did you see any places that did US-size photos by the doctors in Knightsbridge? Just because I am going up for my medical in a couple weeks and thought I might as well get my photos done while in London, as there's nowhere local to me. But don't worry, I will ask in the medical thread too.

I have also been to the US for business trips (some 'long' but still less than 90days) so I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get asked about that too. Well I have a letter from my company that I took the first time to explain so I'm hoping that's ok. Also the long trips weren't all business they were some vacation time too, so I hope that's ok. We'll see....!!