Queuing up on arrival at the London embassy

[simonschus 58]

Hi all,

I've been reading the reviews of the interview day experience at the US Embassy in London UK, primarily for K1 visa application.

I've noted that some people talk about there being two queues when one arrives - is it obvious which one i should go to when I first arrive?

Is there anything that I can do to get through the queue quicker, or at least not stuck waiting? Some people mention going to the front of the line and show somebody that I am applying a K1, but others say that they were simply told to go back to the end of a line. Or have I entirely misunderstood?

Simon.

Edited March 13, 2016 by simonschus

[yuna628 9,689]

Hi all,

I've been reading the reviews of the interview day experience at the US Embassy in London UK, primarily for K1 visa application.

I've noted that some people talk about there being two queues when one arrives - is it obvious which one i should go to when I first arrive?

Is there anything that I can do to get through the queue quicker, or at least not stuck waiting? Some people mention going to the front of the line and show somebody that I am applying a K1, but others say that they were simply told to go back to the end of a line. Or have I entirely misunderstood?

Simon.

Hi there,

Husband says he arrived about 45 mins early for his appointment and there was *no* queue when he arrived, and about 20-30 mins before the appointment time two people came out and started asking people what they had come for, and then telling you where to stand based on that. K1s need to go to the 'booth' on the right, if you are facing the building. Once you get through the booth, you are directed where to go every step of the way. If you aren't sure, just ask someone.

[Tracey&Greg 35]

My hubby says that when he got there, there was already a line but they ask you to have your paper out what your there for and from there they divide you into two separate lines. He said it moved pretty quickly. Then again time slows down the more nervous you are lol.

PS he came here on a K1 too

[simonschus 58]

Thank you for taking the time to provide information that makes it easier to visualise!

Simon

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thank you for taking the time to provide information that makes it easier to visualise!

Simon

I think the review descriptions vary because they switch up the outside procedure from time to time. Basically there's going to be a lot more Nonimmigrant visa people so don't get into a long line before you check to see if immigrant visa people have a separate shorter line or place to check appointment letter. You are interviewing with Immigrant Visa Unit so go with immigrant line (if they have one).

[DJ6372 111]

There are plenty of Embassy Officials organising the lines, just ask them, they will put you in the correct line

[simonschus 58]

Hi all.

Just an update of my experience, and thank you for everybody who helped me know what to expect whilst entering the US Embassy in London for my K1 interview

I arrived at around 1145 for a 1pm appointment. There were about 20 or so people milling in the area that the Visa line queue up but no Embassy Officials present (which makes sense - it was early). The British police and a few G4S staff were wandering about but that was all. Not many of the applicants around the area knew what was going on but I pressed the intercom button by the entry/security hut and they told me that the immigrant applicants would eventually get separated out from the non-immigrant applicants, and that I should just queue up in the line until then.

Around 1215, Embassy Officials came along and asked for anybody who was an immigrant applicant to come forward and form a second line, slightly separate to the non-immigrant applicants. The embassy officials checked our paperwork (i.e. the interview letter) and sent us to the security hut around 1225/1230pmish. The embassy officials forming the queue were very polite and welcoming - that was really nice as I'd imagine it'd be quite easy to get into a reunite shuffling applicant around like a package in a post office sorting facility. The immigrant queue contained both marriage and fiance visas, and about four of us had a nice chat whilst queuing.

My main advice is to just to wait and be alert to whenever the Embassy Officials come out to shuffle you aside. If I hadn't have asked or read the forum then I wouldn't have known that the Embassy Officials would have shuffled us aside, and instead would have potentially waited in line potentially wasting a good while.

Simon.

Edited March 17, 2016 by simonschus