queuing at the embassy?

[david b 2]

On a picture of the embassy I saw, there was a queue of people around the corner....do they all have appointments, will I have to queue when i go next week?? Or can people with appointments go to the front? Im concerned because my appt is at 9am and I was thinking of arriving at around 8-830. If I have to wait in the queue, how long does it take to go down? It might be after 9am by the time I get to the door!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Don't worry about it. The queue isn't normally as long as that picture. If you're not in the door by appointment time, it doesn't matter. Despite appointments, it's basically first come first served. Alot of people are there for other visas like tourist visas and once inside they are queued and called separately from you. You're given a "now serving" type number on a sticker when you check in at the desk inside. Immigrants have a different set of numbers than the tourist masses, but each person served on the immigrant visas takes longer to process I would say. If you want to get an earlier number to be called up, then go at 7:30. They used to line people up by appointment times and not let you get it line until they called for that particular time. There would be a line for 8:00, 8:30, 9:00 then when the 8:00s got in they might start a 9:30 queue. Since summer of 2008 (at least) they don't seem to manage the outside line or appointment times in any way. Go way early or 30 minutes before your appointment (as they suggest)...whatever time schedule suits you best.

[h1a1 5]

I started queuing at 7:35 and only got inside at 8am because of the line.... personally I'd suggest you get there between 7:30 and 8am so you can get your number and be out early.

[JMR 3]

i was going to get there for about 8:30 but i think i may get there at 8 if not earlier

thanks for bringing this to my attention =)

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

My appointment was for 8.30 and when I arrived at the embassy at about 7.40 there was a good 30 people waiting in front of me. Although the interview appointments don't run on time, if you do miss your time once you get in the building, I have heard that the wait can be much, much longer! But, even though my appt was for 8.30am I still had a 2 1/2 hour wait, but that was quick compared to some people that had to wait much longer!

I'd get there at least 1 hour before your appointment time. Think of it this way - the sooner you get in, the sooner you'll be out Good luck

Edited March 18, 2010 by RUSSandRACHEL