2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Congratulations to all the recent approvals. Nice to see a bunch of virtual smiling faces making goofy virtual grins.

[marlea 84]

We had a similar wait, approved in June, but he didn't arrive until 4 months after that in October so that he could work longer and we could have more time to get AOS sorted after the wedding before the I-94 expired. My experience was that once the visa was in hand and we could book the airline tickets, it was much easier to bear. It was still hard, and was a lot like dieting in unpleasantness, denying ourselves etc. Once you have the visa, and can set a date for arrival it doesn't seem to be as long because you can adjust your expectations in exactly the way you couldn't all during the process. Anyway, hope it's all smooth so you can put the visa process to bed and move on with certainty!

I'm hoping that this is the case for us, that things are a bit easier once he has his visa and we are just waiting for him to use it. I've told him that I will try very hard not to badger him about coming over sooner. Honestly, this process went much faster for us than we expected; we were incredibly lucky as his interview date is exactly 4 months to the day after our packet arrived at the Texas lockbox. We have a fabulous wedding planned for next April and we didn't want to move it forward, so the fact that he will be able to make it over in December (and we'll do a civil thing to make it legal in January) is already better than what we had thought. But, the flip side is that I've recently moved to a new city for a job, I don't know many people, I'm working 60+hours at two jobs to help boost our savings to help cover expenses before he can work, and I'm really worn out trying to deal with all this alone. It would be great to have him here now. In the long run, a few months doesn't make a difference, but the stress I'm under right now makes three months seem like forever.

[yankepeach 2]

I'm hoping that this is the case for us, that things are a bit easier once he has his visa and we are just waiting for him to use it. I've told him that I will try very hard not to badger him about coming over sooner. Honestly, this process went much faster for us than we expected; we were incredibly lucky as his interview date is exactly 4 months to the day after our packet arrived at the Texas lockbox. We have a fabulous wedding planned for next April and we didn't want to move it forward, so the fact that he will be able to make it over in December (and we'll do a civil thing to make it legal in January) is already better than what we had thought. But, the flip side is that I've recently moved to a new city for a job, I don't know many people, I'm working 60+hours at two jobs to help boost our savings to help cover expenses before he can work, and I'm really worn out trying to deal with all this alone. It would be great to have him here now. In the long run, a few months doesn't make a difference, but the stress I'm under right now makes three months seem like forever.

I know its worth it in the end but jeesh that would be a bear. Wish I had some magical grain of wisdom that would make it better for you both.....but all I have is a hell of a lot of empathy for yall.

[marlea 84]

My fiance got this email today:

There has been a change in procedure for paying fees. All fiancé(e) and K3/4 visa applicants must each pay a fee of $350 prior to their interview. Please contact the Operator Assisted Information Service on 09042 450100 (calls cost £1.20/min). Payment is by credit or debit card - Visa, MasterCard or American Express; we do not accept Visa Electron or Maestro cards.

Anyone know anything about this? Are they trying to get everyone to pay the fees before the actual day instead of on the day itself?

[Nik+Heather 121]

My fiance got this email today:

There has been a change in procedure for paying fees. All fiancé(e) and K3/4 visa applicants must each pay a fee of $350 prior to their interview. Please contact the Operator Assisted Information Service on 09042 450100 (calls cost £1.20/min). Payment is by credit or debit card - Visa, MasterCard or American Express; we do not accept Visa Electron or Maestro cards.

Anyone know anything about this? Are they trying to get everyone to pay the fees before the actual day instead of on the day itself?

And to make you call the extortion line to get it done as well!!!!!! *HMPH!!!*

[Dodi 69]

Peter paid his at the interview, so if there has been a change it JUST happened today, which doesn't make any sense. Since it wasn't in a letter, just via email, they shouldn't be able to hold him to that. They can't verify that an email was received, and you have no way to verify that the email wasn't a spoof trying to get money out of you. If I were you, I'd go to the interview like normal and expect to pay the fees there. They shouldn't be able to MAKE you call the extortion line to pay the fee.

[marlea 84]

And to make you call the extortion line to get it done as well!!!!!! *HMPH!!!*

*HMPH* indeed!

I told my fiance to go ahead and call, I don't want anything delaying his interview on Tuesday, and I'm hopeful that if he pays it beforehand he will be in and out of there quickly. We'll have to wait and see.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I read that to mean that the payment types have changed slightly....they don't mention cash anymore. And maybe they used to take the Visa Electron or Maestro cards. So the email was for a heads up perhaps if you didn't have a Visa, Mastercard, or AmEx.

Payment has always been before the interview.

Turn in papers at a window >>> Pay for visa >>> Go to window in back room for the interview >>> Pay courier >>> Leave

[marlea 84]

I read that to mean that the payment types have changed slightly....they don't mention cash anymore. And maybe they used to take the Visa Electron or Maestro cards. So the email was for a heads up perhaps if you didn't have a Visa, Mastercard, or AmEx.

Payment has always been before the interview.

Turn in papers at a window >>> Pay for visa >>> Go to window in back room for the interview >>> Pay courier >>> Leave

I thought about that as well, but the way it's phrased isn't that they have change what payment they accept, and it doesn't say to call the phone line if you have any questions, it says there is a procedure change and the line about calling the phone line (in the original email) was in bold, as if it was a command instead of just being informative.

He said he'd call, so I'm sure they can clear it up, even if it does end up costing an extra 20 pounds to talk to someone.

[marlea 84]

Ok, I've been calm, cool and collected all week. Just two days more to go. But when I realized that he's headed to London TOMORROW for his interview on Tuesday, I felt a twinge of nerves. So close!

[RichiJenny 14]

Good luck, I did the k1 interview a few years back. It was fine. You'll be the same Im sure.

[bwelty 0]

Is there a fee for the CR1 visa interview??

[Asila 10]

Good luck, Marlea. My thoughts are with you (and I'll help share the nerves )

[Lansbury 19]

Is there a fee for the CR1 visa interview??

There isn't a fee for the interview, but if you haven't already done so you pay for the visa on the day of the interview.

[bwelty 0]

There isn't a fee for the interview, but if you haven't already done so you pay for the visa on the day of the interview.

Well...I paid the IV fee bill - the $404. IS there more?! please tell me there isn't more...