How early can you start waiting outside embassy?

[Nicole72082 0]

My fiances interview is at 10:30 on Wednesday. He'll be arriving in town about 7 or so in the morning and his train leaves at 4. So here's the thing. Is it possible for him to just start waiting outside earlier.. like an hour or hour and a half before his interview.. so he'll have a little time left to do stuff before he leaves again?

[TracyTN 237]

Surely there are some shops or a Starbucks about where he can read a paper or something for a bit. I'm not sure (security wise) how they'd feel about him just standing there for 3 hours. I wouldn't want to tick them off!

[no name 1]

I'm quite sure he can't get in early, but if he really really wanted to wait in line I'm sure he could, but it would seem weird I think.

[featherB 1]

When I was waiting outside for my interview (8am, this was about 7:40am) there was a girl who had an interview at about 10:30 or 11 there - the security guy told her she was welcome to stand there for hours, but that she wouldn't get in any quicker - they divide people into separate queues depending on what interview time they have, and obviously at that time they hadn't even started lining people up for interviews beyond maybe 9am, so there was nothing they could 'do' with her. They weren't going to start her her own line especially when there were so many people waiting for earlier interviews, and they weren't going to let her join one of the other lines - she basically got told that while they weren't going to make her go away, there was absolutely no point in her being there for another couple of hours, and that she'd be better off going for a coffee! It does say on the interview letter (I think) not to turn up more than half an hour early or you'll be turned away - although I reckon if he arrives at 9:30 or a bit after, he should be ok.

And yup, there is a Starbucks (as well as another couple of cafes, I think) on North Audley Street, between the Embassy & Oxford Street. That's where I got my pre-interview breakfast to munch/drink while queuing. I went in there at about 7:30 and it looked like it had been open a while, so if your fiance wants somewhere to sit and wait, that's one of the nearest, and it'll definitely be open good 'n' early.

Hope his interview goes well.

[Mags 112]

I'm definitely sure it says on your interview letter not to get there more than half an hour beforehand. If you do it only clogs up the waiting area outside...and just means you'll wait around longer.

Edited March 26, 2007 by mags

[TimsDaisy 0]

Ha! I've been to that Starbucks too. We should have someone leave a guest book there for all VJers and other embassy attendees to sign.

[Nicole72082 0]

Well, he wasn't going to be heading there at 7! He figured an hour or so early, that way he'd at least have a chance of getting in somewhere near his actual interview time, instead of 3 hours afterwards. Sure, he'll still be standing around for awhile, but hopefully have a little bit of time left over to do a thing or two with his dad, who's going with him. That's all. Thanks for all the replies

[Buxton babe 0]

Well, he wasn't going to be heading there at 7! He figured an hour or so early, that way he'd at least have a chance of getting in somewhere near his actual interview time, instead of 3 hours afterwards. Sure, he'll still be standing around for awhile, but hopefully have a little bit of time left over to do a thing or two with his dad, who's going with him. That's all. Thanks for all the replies

My Fiancee reported that nearly two hours on her feet this morning ouside the embassy was a bit too much. her advice, especially to females is "Wear good flat shoes"

Based on her other comments, I concur with "FeatherB" above.

She was an hour early for her 1030, and didnt get in till 1130. Any backups in processing will more likely affect those with later interview times.

Edited March 26, 2007 by Buxton babe

[Mags 112]

I was lucky, my interview time was 9am, I got to the embassy at 8.50am. I was waved through 5 minutes later, at the interview desk handing over documents at 9.20am and having my interview by 9.45am. Out of the door by 10am.

I concur that the later the interview time, the longer the wait seems to be. Luck of the draw I guess.

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

Funny story for you about waiting outside for my interview - it was at 9am and the bus from Glasgow got into London at just before 6am. I was at the Embassy by six, near enough on the dot. The police officers who were the Embassy security were very kind and charming, and we actually chatted for the hours between my arriving and the interview. Many people came and went wanting to know what time the Embassy gates opened and where to get a coffee, and some were barely civil, something the officers told me happens a lot. They actually said I was the first person each of them had actually spoken to and who had actually engaged them in conversation and thought it was great. We talked about family, about immigration - they learned a lot, lol - and we had a great laugh.

As I was heading in they had just gone off shift and you can imagine the shocked looks from those in line with me when the uniformed officers wished me luck and offered congratulations to my upcoming wedding.

And as we stayed in touch, hubby and I, and let them know how it went, one of the officers and his wife have added us to their Christmas e-card list and we trade updates and news from time to time.

So in conclusion, it is - or at least 2 years ago it was - not a problem waiting outside for hours on end. Remain polite and you will be treated with respect and courtesy. Be rude and only want to know where the nearest starbucks is and you might not get a warm smile and a friendly hello. Arrive early [i would say at least 30 mins unless you are totally confident you won't be waiting for great swathes of time] because even though my appointment was at 9, so were a lot of peoples and we were split into different lines depending on who had what time slot. All the 9am-ers were stuck together and when we were in, there was more waiting. Wear comfy shoes, most definitely, and appreciate that, while your appointment may be at whatever time, so are a lot of peoples and folks are just doing their job and any excessive waiting should not be taken personally.

All in all I had a great time, and didn't mind nor did I have any problems with the waiting whatsoever. And, to cap it all, I even made a friend.

Hope that helps

Annie

[Mags 112]

Mmmmn, I wonder if they'd be as accommodating with a man...

[munchkins 0]

Alan and I arrived a bit too early and we also had a chat with the policeman but not as long as you, however we were also told that we would not get in any earlier than our designated time so we found a really nice little coffee shop just at the other side of the park and then we walked back in time for the interview and still had to wait ages, so yes, make sure comfy shoes are worn and an umbrella is handy!!!! just in case

[britty 1]

You won't get into the embassy earlier than your alloted time, so he will be waiting in a queue watching others go in before him. I arrived about 20 mins before my interview and I was about 10th in line. My whole experience, including queueing, took about 1 hour in total, and I was amazed it was all so fast. I was led to believe I could be there for about 5 hours but no one ive spoken to has ever been there that long.

[Nicole72082 0]

Didn't actually think he'd be getting in earlier. That wasn't the plan at all. I figured if he was going to be waiting an hour or three, might as well be one of the first 10:30 interviewers to go in, that way he'd have more time later on. He'll have to be waiting somewhere, might as well be there. And no, not from 7 on..

[featherB 1]

Didn't actually think he'd be getting in earlier. That wasn't the plan at all. I figured if he was going to be waiting an hour or three, might as well be one of the first 10:30 interviewers to go in, that way he'd have more time later on. He'll have to be waiting somewhere, might as well be there. And no, not from 7 on..

I think you misunderstood my comment about 7 o'clock (as you mentioned it above as well) - *I* was at the Embassy at about 7:30, because I had an 8 o'clock interview. I wasn't suggesting that your fiance might be that desperate to get into the Embassy that he'd want to be queueing from 7 onwards - just that, in the event that he'd travelled down on an early train from wherever, and had a ton of stuff with him, he could do worse than sitting in Starbucks for a couple of hours while he waited!! Was just trying to help, specifically with your question in the title of this thread - 'how early can you start waiting outside the Embassy?'...