2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

[SunDrop 59]

Could the DCF/ CR-1 ers please let me know if there's a better date to use to base your "time betweens" that we K-1ers use our NOA2/ P3 dates for gauging compared to other K-1ers? I just am not familiar enough with your processes to know what date to look for and use, that's helpful to you

Thanks

[doghandler 2]

Aw man. I thought I'd read somewhere on here that if you sent your P3 recorded delivery it got rejected cos they wouldn't sign for stuff, so I just sent mine regular mail. I'm not Royal Mail's biggest fan so if I'd realised I could I would have definitely got a signature on delivery

Well, I nearly had a heart attack when I read that as I had sent my packet 3 by recorded delivery. So, I just tracked it on Royal Mail site and thankfully it was signed for and accepted. Signed by someone called "KOKO". As long as it wasn't Coco the clown, that's OK.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I think the "sign for" confusion is you can't send a courier straight to the visa unit (whatever it's called.) They want it to go through mail channels rather than trying hand deliver or have a bicycle courier show up and try to deliver. And maybe that's why they only allow their contracted courier to bring your passport back to the embassy if they didn't approve your case at the interview. It probably has a lot to do with security.

[Rito 28]

I have my contingency plan in the form of a Megabus ticket that I really hope I don't have to use...the Megabus smells.

Harsh! When I studied in London, I took the Megabus almost every other weekend to visit my boyfriend (now fiance) in Manchester... I gotta say it grew on me a little. It's not the sweetest smelling, but it has character. Also, UK train prices are outrageous!

[ohlpomr 0]

Could the DCF/ CR-1 ers please let me know if there's a better date to use to base your "time betweens" that we K-1ers use our NOA2/ P3 dates for gauging compared to other K-1ers?

Hey SunDrop, I think you have it right.

(DCF though isn't a visa category its actually just the I-130 process but it cuts out the USCIS service centers because the USC petitioner is living abroad so they deal directly with DHS at their nearest embassy instead.)

CR1/IR1 apps at London send back P3 which = a DS-230 "bio" page + a DS-2011 "give me an interview" page, then we wait impatiently for an interview date.

[thatbritishlass 2]

Harsh! When I studied in London, I took the Megabus almost every other weekend to visit my boyfriend (now fiance) in Manchester... I gotta say it grew on me a little. It's not the sweetest smelling, but it has character. Also, UK train prices are outrageous!

Oh, don't get me wrong!! The megabus is an amazing (and cheap!) thing...but they do tend to be a bit whiffy and are either boiling hot or freezing cold lol.

And I'm with you on the train prices - I had to move offices because my 25-minute train ride commute was bankrupting me. But the advance singles, if you can get in there early enough, are brill - my now-in-jeopardy train to London for my medical was the same price as the megabus and cuts 3 hours off the journey time that's why I'm so frustrated!!

[Deb+Steve 13]

Could the DCF/ CR-1 ers please let me know if there's a better date to use to base your "time betweens" that we K-1ers use our NOA2/ P3 dates for gauging compared to other K-1ers? I just am not familiar enough with your processes to know what date to look for and use, that's helpful to you

Thanks

Still no NOA2? I'm saying some Ohms for you ...

[Hellojulie 0]

My husbands interview is on the day the train strike begins as well. We are now driving - and praying we get refund on train tickets. It was a fortune for the 3 of us.

Also, starting to get a bit nervous. Can someone point me to the size of bag you are allowed to bring in?

We have now decided that for sure my son and I will try to attend with my husband. I want to be sure we have enough to entertain a 10 year old for hours... but it is my understanding that they will not let you bring in a backpack? Is there a link to what you can and cant bring in? (aside from electricals, I knew that bit )

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Also, starting to get a bit nervous. Can someone point me to the size of bag you are allowed to bring in?

We have now decided that for sure my son and I will try to attend with my husband. I want to be sure we have enough to entertain a 10 year old for hours... but it is my understanding that they will not let you bring in a backpack? Is there a link to what you can and cant bring in? (aside from electricals, I knew that bit )

If it helps, I'm a USC and I did not seek prior permission to attend the interview. At the head of the line where they look at the appointment letter, I had my US passport in hand and said, "I'm an American citizen. May I go in with my fiance?" He said "sure." While that's no guarantee it will work on any given day, it's worth a try. It is very crowded inside, so I assume they discourage non-essential people because of space limitations.

I took in a purse/handbag that holds a ton of stuff because of many compartments and a full flap that can be stuffed too. It measures 11 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches. You can't take in car keys with the electronic gizmo chips, electronic games, mp3 players, headphones, cameras, cell phones. Items I did see going through the x-ray scanner thing were watches and cigarette lighters. They give a plastic bag out in the line so things like watches and men's pocket items can ride through the x-ray contained in the bag. I was starting to put my watch in the plastic bag and the bag lady said I could put mine in my handbag to ride through the machine.

Edited March 29, 2010 by Nich-Nick

[SunDrop 59]

Still no NOA2? I'm saying some Ohms for you ...

Thanks Really need all the Ohms we can get! lol...

The wait and separation is starting to really wear on us. Even if our NOA2 lands today (hint, hint CSC! ) we're still talking another 12 weeks on average. Having said that, if our NOA2 lands today (nudge, whallop CSC!) the next 12 weeks ish will disappear in frantic household clearing, document sending and obsessive gym attending. hahaha

[Y&E 12]

Royal mail finally delivered my P3 documents to the embassy! I only sent them signed for 1st class on Thursday but for some reason 1st class wasn't working that day. The package was accepted at 6.30am so their day obviously starts early there! Now I guess I'll have another 4 week wait before I hear anything. Good luck with all the medicals / interviews during the train strike.

[Hellojulie 0]

If it helps, I'm a USC and I did not seek prior permission to attend the interview. At the head of the line where they look at the appointment letter, I had my US passport in hand and said, "I'm an American citizen. May I go in with my fiance?" He said "sure." While that's no guarantee it will work on any given day, it's worth a try. It is very crowded inside, so I assume they discourage non-essential people because of space limitations.

I took in a purse/handbag that holds a ton of stuff because of many compartments and a full flap that can be stuffed too. It measures 11 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches. You can't take in car keys with the electronic gizmo chips, electronic games, mp3 players, headphones, cameras, cell phones. Items I did see going through the x-ray scanner thing were watches and cigarette lighters. They give a plastic bag out in the line so things like watches and men's pocket items can ride through the x-ray contained in the bag. I was starting to put my watch in the plastic bag and the bag lady said I could put mine in my handbag to ride through the machine.

Thanks for that I have had my name added to attend but not my son. We'll just have to see how it goes! I just need enough room to bring 8,000 word searches for him to last the 5 hours we'll be waiting around. I'll just bring my biggest handbag. I thought there was some rule you cant bring in backpacks. Are messanger type / man bags ok?

[A and J 4]

Medical booked for april 20th

[Justine+David 218]

UGH this waiting is killing me! I know we're at the end, but these last few weeks have dragged on more than the wait for NOA2 or even for our interview date...

David mailed off the form for visa payment last week and it was signed for on March 25th. I think others have said takes 10-15 business days for them to take whatever you need to send in and then they send you the visa (we're on day 5-are Saturdays counted as business days?).

Of course DOS doesn't do me any good by telling me that we're in AP and that London hasn't received our payment. I remember how unreliable they have been for other people and that London even told a member to not pay attention to what they say, so keeping it all together...

[ruth_a 0]

Hi everyone,

We finally got our visa in a hand a couple of weeks ago.... have spent the last fortnight not quite believing it!.

Just wanted to say thanks for all the invaluable help and advice on this site from everybody, and good luck to everyone still going through it.

cheers!

Ruth and J