2010 United Kingdom Interview Thread

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

As for places to stay, my fiance is strongly considering Lincoln house - http://www.lincoln-house-hotel.co.uk/ or maybe Boston Court Hotel.

It's $59 pounds for the night before his interview at Lincoln House, and it's walking distance from the embassy, apparently. I'm not very familiar with London, but it seems close, based on Nich's map - http://www.click2map.com/maps/nichnick/Embassy_London

We stayed at Lincoln House. Click around on their website on places that say "discounts" and "special offers." Also you can get cheaper rates if you call them. It's like negotiating in the big market in Mexico City. Work a deal. It's an old home and looks fairly grand on the stairways and such. The rooms are very small, but ours had a mini fridge and tea kettle and was very clean. We ate the breakfast they serve before the interview then checked out. They held our luggage including electronic items, so no trip to Gould's Pharmacy to check those. After the interview, we went back to get our phones and cameras, but left the luggage with them while we did the tour of Buckingham Palace and other fun things around London all afternoon. There's a computer for guest use tucked under the stairway so you can quickly post your good news on VJ or Facebook.

If anybody is going into London on the coach, a lot of the coaches stop first on Baker Street (next street over from hotel) coming into London before going to Victoria or other stations. And the last stop leaving London is on Gloucester Place (the hotel's street). If you zoom that map right in, near the Lincoln House, the bus symbols show up. Check your coach route and get on and off near Lincoln House if you stay there.

[Leenie 15]

We stayed at Lincoln House. Click around on their website on places that say "discounts" and "special offers." Also you can get cheaper rates if you call them. It's like negotiating in the big market in Mexico City. Work a deal. It's an old home and looks fairly grand on the stairways and such. The rooms are very small, but ours had a mini fridge and tea kettle and was very clean. We ate the breakfast they serve before the interview then checked out. They held our luggage including electronic items, so no trip to Gould's Pharmacy to check those. After the interview, we went back to get our phones and cameras, but left the luggage with them while we did the tour of Buckingham Palace and other fun things around London all afternoon. There's a computer for guest use tucked under the stairway so you can quickly post your good news on VJ or Facebook.

If anybody is going into London on the coach, a lot of the coaches stop first on Baker Street (next street over from hotel) coming into London before going to Victoria or other stations. And the last stop leaving London is on Gloucester Place (the hotel's street). If you zoom that map right in, near the Lincoln House, the bus symbols show up. Check your coach route and get on and off near Lincoln House if you stay there.

Thank you so so much!! You are so helpful!! I've already passed on this info to my fiance. It's good to hear that Lincoln House is a decent place, since we basically just picked it based on your map and the rates

Edit: for my crappy grammar!

Edited April 30, 2010 by Leenie

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

As someone who used to live across the street from the Boston Court Hotel, I can assure you that you do not want to stay there. I had family coming into town so I checked out the local B&Bs. There's a reason why it has an extremely low rating on TripAdvisor. I wouldn't have my evil ex-roommate stay there, and she was pure evil. Avoid.

[W + R 0]

YAAAAYYYY i got ma packet 4 today and the interview is on 8 of june 8 am wish u guy all good luck

[Rito 28]

YYESSS! I've been checking our DX tracking number every day, waiting for the message to change from "we have no record," and now it says:

Due for delivery on the date below. Rearrange online or call 0844 371 3331

05/05/2010

:dance:

[SunDrop 59]

January 2010 Graduates of the US Embassy, London

Jewel-8, Claire and Troy, lirwin2000, laura00412, beatlesrebel, Kimmy and PJ, NotworkSte, xSweeTiex, FrostyMist, viol8torUK, TeamMoran

D_G, Andrew + Bethany, RUSSandRACHEL, david'sgirl/Scotinmass, Nikki-UK, earlgreygirl, jonoger1984, jenanddan2010, amykathleen2005

February 2010 Graduates of the US Embassy, London

Hindocha, munkeynuts, yorkshirerose22, .Jay'n'Terri, ajbe1986, brit la, Think~Pink, h1a1, karenista

March 2010 Graduates of the US Embassy, London

kjrrem, MattHeartCass, jkminney, pwac, Justine+David, moss, ruth_a

April 2010 Graduates of the US Embassy, London

May 2010 Graduates of the US Embassy, London

June 2010 Graduates of the US Embassy, London

March Interviews (* days between (K1) returning P3/ (CR1) returning DS-3032 and Interview)

K-1..........david b..............18 Mar 2010 approved pending additional documentation

April Interviews (* days between (K1) returning P3/ (CR1) returning DS-3032 and Interview)

DCF.........ohlpomr................6 Apr 2010

K-1.........Rito...................6 Apr 2010

IR-1........Hellojulie.............6 Apr 2010

K-1.........musikgal06.............7 Apr 2010

IR-1........Hokie97...............16 Apr 2010

K-1.........Ricky+Vanessa.........19 Apr 2010

K-1.........JMR...................30 Apr 2010

May Interviews(* days between (K1) returning P3/ (CR1) returning DS-3032 and Interview)

K-1.........Kristen & David........4 May 2010 (50 days)

K-1.........Gela...................6 May 2010 (62 days)

IR-1........sveta & jeff...........6 May 2010 (61 days)

K-1.........ztaylor...............11 May 2010 (47 days)

K-1.........Archeon...............11 May 2010 (46 days)

K-1.........Amy and Michael.......12 May 2010 (46 days)

K-1.........ThomasBell............18 May 2010 (123 days)

K-1.........nickm.................18 May 2010 (61 days)

K-1.........doghandler............19 May 2010 (61 days)

K-1.........Adrian+Mike...........20 May 2010 (119 days)

K-1.........jennareid.............21 May 2010 (30 days)

CR-1........A Miller..............25 May 2010 (85 days)

IR-1........staceyafreeman........28 May 2010 (67 days)

June Interviews(* days between (K1) returning P3/ (CR1) returning DS-3032 and Interview)

K-1.........MJM....................8 June 2010 (82 days)

K-1.........W+R....................8 June 2010 (49 days)

K-1.........Leenie.................8 June 2010 (57 days)

K-1.........A and J...............10 June 2010 (51 days) *to be amended

K-1.........Memmab................14 June 2010 (55 days)

K-1.........F2C-MaDMaXX...........16 June 2010 (68 days)

= APPROVED

Waiting for interview date:

K-1..Miss Jess P3 sent 22 March

K-1..Y&E P3 sent 25 March

K-1..arwilson P3 sent 14 April

K-1..W + M P3 sent 20 April

K-1..MrStrain14 P3 sent 22 April

K-1..SunDrop P3 sent 30 April

Between NOA2 and P3

visacat - NOA2: 16 Feb

Dawn654

[A and J 4]

ok so i got a new interview date after emailing the embassy today...July 15th at 8am

Jenine

[Leenie 15]

YYESSS! I've been checking our DX tracking number every day, waiting for the message to change from "we have no record," and now it says:

Due for delivery on the date below. Rearrange online or call 0844 371 3331

05/05/2010

:dance:

Very nice!!!

[Rito 28]

VISA IN HAND! VISA IN HAND!

Delivered on a Saturday! Four days before the courier said they'd deliver! No ID required! Weird.

By the way, you might want to tell your fiance about the brown "do no open" packet. I mentioned it to mine last week, and he said if I hadn't mentioned it he might've opened it - it's not labeled very obviously!

So happy!

[Closed account 1]

VISA IN HAND! VISA IN HAND!

Delivered on a Saturday! Four days before the courier said they'd deliver! No ID required! Weird.

By the way, you might want to tell your fiance about the brown "do no open" packet. I mentioned it to mine last week, and he said if I hadn't mentioned it he might've opened it - it's not labeled very obviously!

So happy!

Congratulations! I'm so pleased for you. It's finally come together. Good luck for the next part of your journey.

Edited May 2, 2010 by ztaylor

[Kristin&David 0]

VISA IN HAND! VISA IN HAND!

Delivered on a Saturday! Four days before the courier said they'd deliver! No ID required! Weird.

By the way, you might want to tell your fiance about the brown "do no open" packet. I mentioned it to mine last week, and he said if I hadn't mentioned it he might've opened it - it's not labeled very obviously!

So happy!

That's great news, congratulations!

Good advice about the brown envelope too, I just assumed they would label it as do not open but I better let my fiance know.

[nickm 1]

If my interview appointment is at 9 am.. is 2.00pm a reasonable time to be able to get back to the train station..

How long is average for the interview?

[Justine+David 218]

You might be best getting an "open" ticket because you never know if you'll be the first one called or the last...wouldn't want you to miss your train on accident.

[F2C-MaDMaXX 1]

"by accident" sorry

But it's good advice, either that or just get a late afternoon train return, weather's getting better, have a walk round the area etc. I don't really want to spend anymore time in London than i need to, but as this whole thing's an open end, better safe than sorry.

[Kristin&David 0]

Our big interview day is tomorrow and we're so excited to finally be to this step. I'm not even as nervous as I thought I might be, then again I'm not the one that has to go to the interview! Can't wait to get a call in the middle of the night with some good news. I'll let you guys know how it goes for us!