London Interviews 2013

[DSP 7]

I'd like to start a thread to share news/dates/experiences about 2013 London interviews. Where are you in this leg of the journey? Please share about progress and completed interviews. And if there has already been a 2013 thread established.... nevermind ..... but please send me the link.

As for us, my fiance received his packet 3 yesterday. His medical is March 1.

Edited February 16, 2013 by DSP

[mrettercap 24]

Just click on the 'embassy reviews'. People fill 'em out once they've had the interview. Link is here.

Here's my experience though:

Arrived at Grosvenor Square about 7am, nothing was open, so grabbed a starbucks while I waited; when Gould's opened I dropped off my camera and phone (their bags are pretty big, so don't worry about bringing big stuff).

Got in the queue at 7.20 just in time to see the armed guards wander in, then got called through. You have to wait outside the security hut and put your belt/watch in a bag before they let you in, then it all goes through a scanner like at the airport. After that, you leave the hut and follow the path round into the main embassy itself.

When you enter, give your appointment letter to the lady and she'll put a sticker on there. Then you wiat....

They started calling numbers at 8am, by 8.05 I-902 (me) was called. I went up to desk 14 and as soon as the guy serving me said 'hello,' I realized he was the spitting image of Lionel Ritchie(!). Sadly he was rather businesslike and humourless so he didn't do much to put me at ease. Once I was done, I headed back to the main area and sat down, but only had about 30 minutes until they called me back up to window 16.

I had a lovely African American lady, all smiles and 'awws', really put me at ease. She seemed genuinely interested in our story and it was actually really fun talking to her. After a few questions which I rambled on at her about, she grinned and told me our visa was approved! :woo:

I paid £20 for my courier and was out in just over an hour!!

[DSP 7]

Just click on the 'embassy reviews'. People fill 'em out once they've had the interview. Link is here.

Here's my experience though:

Arrived at Grosvenor Square about 7am, nothing was open, so grabbed a starbucks while I waited; when Gould's opened I dropped off my camera and phone (their bags are pretty big, so don't worry about bringing big stuff).

Got in the queue at 7.20 just in time to see the armed guards wander in, then got called through. You have to wait outside the security hut and put your belt/watch in a bag before they let you in, then it all goes through a scanner like at the airport. After that, you leave the hut and follow the path round into the main embassy itself.

When you enter, give your appointment letter to the lady and she'll put a sticker on there. Then you wiat....

They started calling numbers at 8am, by 8.05 I-902 (me) was called. I went up to desk 14 and as soon as the guy serving me said 'hello,' I realized he was the spitting image of Lionel Ritchie(!). Sadly he was rather businesslike and humourless so he didn't do much to put me at ease. Once I was done, I headed back to the main area and sat down, but only had about 30 minutes until they called me back up to window 16.

I had a lovely African American lady, all smiles and 'awws', really put me at ease. She seemed genuinely interested in our story and it was actually really fun talking to her. After a few questions which I rambled on at her about, she grinned and told me our visa was approved! :woo:

I paid £20 for my courier and was out in just over an hour!!

I'm aware of the Consulate Review thread. I'm also interested in how long it takes to get the interview date from the time of medical and responding to packet 3. Thanks for your imput!

[mrettercap 24]

Seemed like bloody ages for us. As you can see from my timeline it was just over 2 months between medical/sending off of forms to actually attending my interview.

I guess Christmas interfered in our case though.

[DSP 7]

Seemed like bloody ages for us. As you can see from my timeline it was just over 2 months between medical/sending off of forms to actually attending my interview.

I guess Christmas interfered in our case though.

Hey! From your timeline, I see your POE is this week. Congratulations and welcome to America!

[HeatherUSA 0]

My fiance is in London. This has been such a long process! We originally started in Dec 2011. He had to send in for his police certificate 3 times! It kept getting lost or something. He went to a medical last month, stating he needed more information. Had additional medical in London today, which the doctor said that everything checked out this time.

I was curious also on how long it will take for the interview. Do they send you an appointment date? Or will he need to make it? I'm so nervous that something else is going to go wrong :/ Its terrible being on this end of it (in the US).

[DSP 7]

My fiance is in London. This has been such a long process! We originally started in Dec 2011. He had to send in for his police certificate 3 times! It kept getting lost or something. He went to a medical last month, stating he needed more information. Had additional medical in London today, which the doctor said that everything checked out this time.

I was curious also on how long it will take for the interview. Do they send you an appointment date? Or will he need to make it? I'm so nervous that something else is going to go wrong :/ Its terrible being on this end of it (in the US).

That's one of the questions I'd love for people to answer... how long from medical to interview date? My fiance's medical is at the end of next week. Have you sent all your forms to the Embassy? Are they just waiting for the medical report?

So sorry to hear about the snags that you've had... hope everything works in your favor from now on!!!

[B1oob0y 0]

That's one of the questions I'd love for people to answer... how long from medical to interview date? My fiance's medical is at the end of next week. Have you sent all your forms to the Embassy? Are they just waiting for the medical report?

So sorry to hear about the snags that you've had... hope everything works in your favor from now on!!!

Seven weeks from medical to interview date for me. I posted all Packet 3 forms the minute I arrived home from the medical in the hope that they'd arrive at approximately same time.

[Holly2234 66]

I think it was about 6 weeks for me. Check my signature for accurate dates though!

[HeatherUSA 0]

I found the interview thread after I made this post. I scoured it last night, looking at everyone's timelines. Looks like anywhere from 4-6 weeks on average.

[sara80 17]

I think it is kind of difficult saying how long it takes, it probably depends on how busy they are in a certain period. I had my medical in July 30, 2012 and my interview was in August 14! And back then, I had thought the olympic games would have slowed down even more than usual!!!

[lost_at_sea 995]

Just another curious question vaguely on topic.

Has anyone noticed if providing a planned wedding date has improved their speed of getting an interview? I know they ask you to provide one in the cover letter, but does having some sort of booking confirmation help?

I looked up the cost for booking ours, and the civil ceremonies are non-refundable/changeable, but they're also only $75. To be honest, I'm totally willing to chuck away $75 to have an in-hand evidence of booking if it improves the odds of getting the interview booked in a timely fashion. If they can't, oh well...

We have the added pressure that we'd like to get it done and dusted before my other half has to go back to the states from his work assignment (he's on an ICT visa that expires July 30th that we're essentially planning all this around that date so we can travel back together, house hunt etc.).

Just wondered really... I know it sounds like tactics, but yeah, I guess it is...

Edited February 25, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Just another curious question vaguely on topic.

Has anyone noticed if providing a planned wedding date has improved their speed of getting an interview? I know they ask you to provide one in the cover letter, but does having some sort of booking confirmation help?

I looked up the cost for booking ours, and the civil ceremonies are non-refundable/changeable, but they're also only $75. To be honest, I'm totally willing to chuck away $75 to have an in-hand evidence of booking if it improves the odds of getting the interview booked in a timely fashion. If they can't, oh well...

We have the added pressure that we'd like to get it done and dusted before my other half has to go back to the states from his work assignment (he's on an ICT visa that expires July 30th that we're essentially planning all this around that date so we can travel back together, house hunt etc.).

Just wondered really... I know it sounds like tactics, but yeah, I guess it is...

Cut/paste from an answer I gave in the pinned thread which is full of tactics:

My opinion (and what I did) is made up a date a month earlier than the one we were planning. If you say August and "Mary" says March, then "Mary" is going to get the quicker interview, even if her stuff gets there a week after yours. If you say no date, "Mary" is still going to interview before you because they try to accommodate plans when possible. She has a date she is trying to meet and you don't care when you get there because you have no plans listed. It's your choice what you want to say, if anything. It's just to help them schedule and not an immigration form put in your file.

I don't think providing documentation helps and know of no cases where it helped. Make up a date and add a reason in the cover letter if you have a good one, but don't throw away money thinking it will improve your odds.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Cut/paste from an answer I gave in the pinned thread which is full of tactics:

My opinion (and what I did) is made up a date a month earlier than the one we were planning. If you say August and "Mary" says March, then "Mary" is going to get the quicker interview, even if her stuff gets there a week after yours. If you say no date, "Mary" is still going to interview before you because they try to accommodate plans when possible. She has a date she is trying to meet and you don't care when you get there because you have no plans listed. It's your choice what you want to say, if anything. It's just to help them schedule and not an immigration form put in your file.

I don't think providing documentation helps and know of no cases where it helped. Make up a date and add a reason in the cover letter if you have a good one, but don't throw away money thinking it will improve your odds.

Okay. Thanks. Worth an ask. We'll probably end up picking a date, and I will mention our other time constraints and hope for the best.

[HollyandSim 7]

Okay. Thanks. Worth an ask. We'll probably end up picking a date, and I will mention our other time constraints and hope for the best.

We gave a month before our wedding date, which assuming nothing goes wrong will be 5/25/13. We sent our forms overnight on 1/25 (recevied 1/28) and haven't heard anything yet.

I'd be interested to see if anybody has an interview scheduled that sent after mine. When I look at similar timelines, I can't see anyone that sent their earlier (unless it was a month or more before).