Visa Approved!! London interview review

[bettypentiér44 12]

Hey all!!

So, I had my interview yesterday in London and it was approved!! So happy!!

I just wanted to let you know about my experience so those with upcoming interviews have an idea of what to expect but also, I had an "issue" with my forms, so just incase you are in the same boat then you'll know ahead of time. So, basically, with my forms. When I had checked on CAECs site way back in August, I started printing out all the forms I needed then and filling them in. By the time I got the letter (packet 3) from the embassy in London, 2 of the forms had been replaced by the DS-260. So I had filled that in but kept the other forms as an incase. When I checked the embassy site a couple of days before my interview, it said that K-visa applicants were to fill in the DS-160 and not the DS-260. As you can imagine, I was a little freaked out. I then saw on the USCIS site, that any applications filed before Oct 7th didn't need to filled in the DS-160 if the other forms had been filled (the original 157, 156 forms.) So, I took a chance, went with all my original forms and my printout from the DS-260.

My appointment time was at 8:30, but I wanted to get there early. So I arrived at the embassy at 7:30 and the line was already long. There was a girl asking people if they had their DS-160s and then telling people to check with another girl at a desk. After checking in, I joined the line of people and then someone came along asking if we had any electrical items or anything metal on us. I didn't (or so I thought) but if you did, they told you where to go with the electrical items and gave you a bag for metal objects. I was probably in this 1st line for about 10 mins. When I got to the front of this line, a guy called me forward, checked my passport and then I joined another line which was the one for security. Here the security guys were calling 4 people at a time through to security room so they can check your bags and walk you through the metal scanner. When I got called up, my bags went through the scanner and I got called over. I had a pair of Apple headphones in my bag that I had forgotten about - these were not allowed Even though they serve no purpose on their own and weren't attached to anything electrical! So, I either had the choice of paying £7 to store them down the street or chuck them away. I ended up tying them to a fence in the park and they were still there when I came back! There was a guy behind me that had a memory stick in his bag and he also wasn't allowed to take that in. So word of warning to you all!!

So, after I had tied them up, I went back and was luckily allowed to join the security line again without having to wait in the longer 1st line. I got through just fine this time.

I followed the signs to the embassy and was greeted by a friendly guy at the main desk. He checked my form and gave me my queue number along with a bunch of barcodes.

I went and sat down in the waiting area. The waiting room is two long lines of chairs with about 4-5 chairs in each row. There are a bunch of screens at the front that make up a "tv" screen where they show videos on how great America is, and then on the left is a screen that shows you what number is being called up next. There is a small refreshment stand at the front and toilets down the side corridor.

There are no clocks anywhere that I could see, so I couldn't tell you how long I was waiting for exactly before being called up, but it must have been about 1.5 - 2 hours long. I eventually got called and went down the corridor to one of the interview windows down there. There was a friendly guy there who seemed to be teaching a new girl what to do. He took my DS-260 and scanned it and then asked if I had signed up to the courier service. It was here that it all could have gone very wrong as he questioned me on what visa I had applied for and that I should have the DS-160 not 260. I explained the whole situation to him and showed him the other forms (which at this point I was so relieved to have with me). He told me to wait while he spoke to his manager. He came back about 5 mins later and said that they could accept them all and that it wash't a problem. He took some photocopies of them (and didn't charge me like it says they would on the website). He then came back with this really huge folder, which was my file. I would love to know what was in there as it was so big! Anyway, he asked for the rest of my paperwork, took a copy of my police report (note: they need two copies of this!), took my fingerprints and then told me to go sit back down to wait for my interview. I asked how long it would be and he said about an hour.

I went back to the main room and sat down. Again, I couldn't tell you if it was actually an hour, but it definitely was less time then before.

I got called up and went back down the corridor to a different guy who interviewed me. Again, he was very friendly. He asked how I was (I said to ask me after!), took my fingerprints and got me to swear under oath. He then got me me to write my fiancés name on a form and sign it. He then asked me how we met, what his family is like and if he has siblings, if he rents or owns a place, what I planned to do when I was there and if I had had any trouble with the police. He filled stuff in on the computer as he went then he said that I was approved! He gave me an info sheet about what to do next in regards to changing my status and made it clear that the visa was a one time entry and I wouldn't be able to leave till I had the spouse visa. He told memo passport would be back in up to 10 working days and then he asked me how I was again!

When I came out, I literally skipped my way back through the park!!

Good luck to anyone else going for interviews and I hope this helps a little.

[jajaju 33]

This is a great description! I felt like I was there! I have to say I laughed at '' There are a bunch of screens at the front that make up a "tv" screen where they show videos on how great America is''

​Good for you, i hope all the rest of your transition goes well.

[makulit909 4]

Congrats!

[bettypentiér44 12]

Thanks you guys jajaju, I'm glad I made you laugh!!

[mb69 4]

Congratulations .......... Whoo hoo!!!! ????

[bettypentiér44 12]

thanks mb69!! Woo Hoo for sure!!

[EndlessStory 53]

congrats on your recent approval