Interview Pass/Fail

[londonhornet 0]

I am now anxiously awaiting my 'Packet 4' for an interview date after getting through the Medical Examination. I know this is going to sound pessimistic but it's really more that I want to cover all angles and ensure I am fully prepared for my interview....

Does anyone know the 'approval percentage' in comparison to being denied for a Visa on/after the interview date? On what basis do most people get refused? (I'm aware things such as criminal records/no evidence of income/documents on checklist not being brought with you would cause a problem, but hopefully most with common sense would have gathered all the obvious docs before interview)

Point I'm getting at, if for whatever reason you are 'denied', is it a case that you will be told to get A or B in order and return once you have obtained something, or is it 'NO' end of story?!

[jhphi 0]

Try not to stress too much, Jamie! You're going to drive yourself nuts! Good thing you already passed your medical, so the doc won't be scared by your high blood pressure readings.

I know it's nerve-wracking, but just keep in mind that the immigration officers/consular officials are not trying to keep the good people out-- they're just trying to make sure all the procedures are followed and that the number of successful fraud cases are minimized. From what I've read, the UK is not a "high fraud alert" country, and UK applicants are not grilled in the same way that applicants are in other countries. If you search the forums, there are some links to some of the questions they ask "suspicious" applicants, so it might ease your fears to have a look over these and see how easy the questions are to answer.

Just make sure that you have all your documents in order, and try not to worry too much. If it turns out that they need something else from you at the interview, they won't just say "NO!" and deny you. I've read that you'll be handed a blue letter which says that the application is suspended pended the return and review of additional documents-- say if they need more evidence from your co-sponsor or another translation of one of your documents, etc. We're all wishing you the best of luck!

[londonhornet 0]

Try not to stress too much, Jamie! You're going to drive yourself nuts! Good thing you already passed your medical, so the doc won't be scared by your high blood pressure readings.

I know it's nerve-wracking, but just keep in mind that the immigration officers/consular officials are not trying to keep the good people out-- they're just trying to make sure all the procedures are followed and that the number of successful fraud cases are minimized. From what I've read, the UK is not a "high fraud alert" country, and UK applicants are not grilled in the same way that applicants are in other countries. If you search the forums, there are some links to some of the questions they ask "suspicious" applicants, so it might ease your fears to have a look over these and see how easy the questions are to answer.

Just make sure that you have all your documents in order, and try not to worry too much. If it turns out that they need something else from you at the interview, they won't just say "NO!" and deny you. I've read that you'll be handed a blue letter which says that the application is suspended pended the return and review of additional documents-- say if they need more evidence from your co-sponsor or another translation of one of your documents, etc. We're all wishing you the best of luck!

Thank you for the reassurance, Joanna.... It's one thing telling myself to be calm it's another thing actually doing it!! But you're right, God forbid there are any problems but I'm sure that if there is a hitch then it wont be anything major. Could you provide any links for the questions they ask applicants in interview? I'm useless (not lazy!) at finding these things...

Let me know how Mark's medical goes!!!

[Taavy 0]

Thank you for the reassurance, Joanna.... It's one thing telling myself to be calm it's another thing actually doing it!! But you're right, God forbid there are any problems but I'm sure that if there is a hitch then it wont be anything major. Could you provide any links for the questions they ask applicants in interview? I'm useless (not lazy!) at finding these things...

Let me know how Mark's medical goes!!!

Hi guys,

I guess we are all awaiting packet 4 since we started the process around the same time. To add to what jphi said, stay calm and make sure you have got everything you need for the interview. From what I have read from other people the interview itself is under 10minutes. Good luck to us all!!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. *shakes head* You sound JUST like my husband in the lead up to his interview! He was convinced that some unknown disease was going to show up during his medical (I had been asking him questions like, "How could you possibly have TB? Have you been coughing up blood?"), or that they just wouldn't like the cut of his jib and say "No way man." It is really, REALLY uncommon for anyone going through London to get denied. How uncommon? I have never seen one case in three years (there is one case where they never came back to report the outcome of the interview, but it had involved years of AP in the lead up to the interview). I have seen some lengthy AP periods, but frankly (and this is not meant to offend anyone) you don't fit the profile as a native-born white male. The worst case -- the WORST! -- is that you are missing a document on the day and they tell you to get it sorted out and sent back to the consulate, as Joanna says.

It is easy for me -- as both the USC and from the distance of nearly 3 years (I can't even believe that) -- for me to tell you to relax, but I'll say it anyway. Relax! Just get all your docs sorted, rock up to the interview and blow them away!

[jhphi 0]

Ahhhhh, I was hoping elmcitymaven would come respond to this one. I feel like now we have the "official" word and we can all calm down now.

*bows down to our helpful friend*

It's so helpful/reassuring to read the stories of those who have gone before us-- makes it feel like it's actually all going to work out!

My husband is also convinced/nervous that he will get rejected-- it's only natural to have these fears. We will have SUCH a celebration once we walk out of the interview with the (hopeful) good news!

Jamie, I'll take a look for that link I had and send it over to you shortly. It was funny stuff like:

"Where do you keep your toothbrushes?"

"Who brushes their teeth first?"

"Who sets the alarm clock for the morning?"

"Where do you keep your car keys in the house?"

Just basic life-stuff to try to trip you up, if they think you're a fraud case. But I haven't read of any of the London Embassy DCFers being pelted with these questions.

[londonhornet 0]

As always Meagan, my hero, my inspiration!!

Seriously though, it fills me with confidence to hear your positive replies, both of you.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Happy to oblige! You guys are making me blush.

Just to be clear (in case someone who isn't doing DCF reads this and rightly points out my error): when I said no denials in London, I was specifically talking about DCF and CR1/IR1 cases. There has been one flat out, no-waiver-possible denial, and that was for a K1. (And it is a very, very sad story.)

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

And by the way, the questions my husband was asked were total softballs -- where did you meet, where did you get married, where are you going to live, what do you do for a living. If they had asked him who brushed their teeth first we would have been screwed!