Had My CR1 (spouse) Interview in London Today and....

[MattyUK 22]

I was approved!  I won't bore you with a long story other than to say the entire day went as smooth as butter and was a really positive experience.  From the lady outside in the booth, to the receptionist, to window number 13 (American gentleman who collected documents) to window number 14 (American lady who interviewed me) every body was super duper nice and friendly.  Honestly, they were all really nice to me (must be my face).  All I got asked in my interview was how and where my wife and I met and how do we maintain a relationship.  After that she said she was pleased to inform me I was approved.  

 

 Couple of things to mention:

 

1. The only paperwork I was asked for was my wife W2's (he had my file but needed to see it, can't remember reason but they were returned to me straight away)

2.  All the copies I did of civil documents were not needed.

3.  I was expecting to make a payment for the actual green card (as I had read I would have to do) but I wasn't asked to.  I'm assuming myself or my wife paid already with one of the fees.

4. The woman at window 14 did not need to see my courier information, she just told me my passport will be returned within a week or so.

 

I did a whole lot of worrying and over preparation and in the end nothing was needed.  Because I was processed via the NVC and my wife put together a stunning file (brilliantly presented and organised), I think they were really impressed.  In fact the first guy at window 13 said I had made life really easy for him.  

 

So that's it in a nut shell.  I entered the building at 11.15am and left after being approved at 12.10.  God is good!

 

P.S  I forgot to say, when I arrived at window 14 for my interview, a man was already stood at the window.  His visa was denied. You can clearly hear what is being said.  She denied it on the grounds of his criminal convictions.  He wasn't really accepting what she was saying and kept asking her questions and she kept telling him it's denied and what he needs to do next.  She warned him it will take quite a while to sort out.  He finally left and I felt bad for him but I was amazed he had criminal convictions and had even gotten to this stage. How does that happen?  I don't think he was very prepared and clearly hadn't done his research or sought any sound advice.  As for the rest of you I wish you all well.  Thanks for those members who have answered questions for me in the past. 

 

Edited April 24, 2017 by MattyUK

[Ina2017 40]

Congratulations to you and your wife 😊

 

Best wishes, 

Ina

[MattyUK 22]

15 minutes ago, Inabars said:

Congratulations to you and your wife 😊

 

Best wishes, 

Ina

many thanks x

[Sarah & Alex 0]

1 hour ago, MattyUK said:

I was approved!  I won't bore you with a long story other than to say the entire day went as smooth as butter and was a really positive experience.  From the lady outside in the booth, to the receptionist, to window number 13 (American gentleman who collected documents) to window number 14 (American lady who interviewed me) every body was super duper nice and friendly.  Honestly, they were all really nice to me (must be my face).  All I got asked in my interview was how and where my wife and I met and how do we maintain a relationship.  After that she said she was pleased to inform me I was approved.  

 

 Couple of things to mention:

 

1. The only paperwork I was asked for was my wife W2's (he had my file but needed to see it, can't remember reason but they were returned to me straight away)

2.  All the copies I did of civil documents were not needed.

3.  I was expecting to make a payment for the actual green card (as I had read I would have to do) but I wasn't asked to.  I'm assuming myself or my wife paid already with one of the fees.

4. The woman at window 14 did not need to see my courier information, she just told me my passport will be returned within a week or so.

 

I did a whole lot of worrying and over preparation and in the end nothing was needed.  Because I was processed via the NVC and my wife put together a stunning file (brilliantly presented and organised), I think they were really impressed.  In fact the first guy at window 13 said I had made life really easy for him.  

 

So that's it in a nut shell.  I entered the building at 11.15am and left after being approved at 12.10.  God is good!

 

P.S  I forgot to say, when I arrived at window 14 for my interview, a man was already stood at the window.  His visa was denied. You can clearly hear what is being said.  She denied it on the grounds of his criminal convictions.  He wasn't really accepting what she was saying and kept asking her questions and she kept telling him it's denied and what he needs to do next.  She warned him it will take quite a while to sort out.  He finally left and I felt bad for him but I was amazed he had criminal convictions and had even gotten to this stage. How does that happen?  I don't think he was very prepared and clearly hadn't done his research or sought any sound advice.  As for the rest of you I wish you all well.  Thanks for those members who have answered questions for me in the past. 

 

Were you living in the US or the UK at time of interview?  Once all of our stuff is approved, we have to go back to England for consular interview.

[Sol1427 23]

Congrats to you and your wife, I'm hoping to be in your shoes soon....

[MattyUK 22]

40 minutes ago, Sarah Marie said:

Were you living in the US or the UK at time of interview?  Once all of our stuff is approved, we have to go back to England for consular interview.

We filed 4 month after our marriage in March 2015 and did so separately, me in the UK and she in the US. 

[MattyUK 22]

15 minutes ago, Sol1427 said:

Congrats to you and your wife, I'm hoping to be in your shoes soon....

Thanks, I'm sure you will be!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

8 hours ago, MattyUK said:

I was amazed he had criminal convictions and had even gotten to this stage. How does that happen?  

 

You can only be denied for a visa by the interviewing officer. NVC just gathers papers but makes no judgement. 

 

Congratulations.

You pay the greencard fee online now or after you arrive. Nothing to do with the embassy which only does visas.  They collected a visa fee at the NVC stage. 

[MattyUK 22]

47 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 

You can only be denied for a visa by the interviewing officer. NVC just gathers papers but makes no judgement. 

 

Congratulations.

You pay the greencard fee online now or after you arrive. Nothing to do with the embassy which only does visas.  They collected a visa fee at the NVC stage. 

Where do I go to pay that? Who am I paying exactly? Also how can you see your status after you have been granted your spouse visa at the embassy?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

The petition you started with is to USCIS part of Homeland Security.

 

The approved petition was handed off to NVC part of the Department of State.

You applied for the visa through NVC and paid for the visa when you paid NVC.

You were approved at the embassy/consulate, still Department of State. They approved your visa and will send it to you shortly. You can check your status online via CEAC (Consular Electronic Application Center). Once your status says "issued", you know the visa is truly approved and printed. Then you will be finished with the Department of State.    https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==

 

Your green card will be issued by USCIS. You have to pay them via ELIS (Electronic Immigration System) before they will mail out the card following your arrival on the immigrant visa. You can pay once you have the visa or put it off awhile. You can still enter the US, but won't be queued up to get your greencard in the mail ASAP if you delay. You pay online. Official information starts here on the USCIS website.  https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/how-pay-uscis-immigrant-fee

 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2017 by Wuozopo

[Michael and Ganna 104]

Congrats :)......I think the interview letter will include a link on how to pay your green card fees

[Yeonin 127]

20 hours ago, MattyUK said:

I was approved!  I won't bore you with a long story other than to say the entire day went as smooth as butter and was a really positive experience.  From the lady outside in the booth, to the receptionist, to window number 13 (American gentleman who collected documents) to window number 14 (American lady who interviewed me) every body was super duper nice and friendly.  Honestly, they were all really nice to me (must be my face).  All I got asked in my interview was how and where my wife and I met and how do we maintain a relationship.  After that she said she was pleased to inform me I was approved.  

 

 Couple of things to mention:

 

1. The only paperwork I was asked for was my wife W2's (he had my file but needed to see it, can't remember reason but they were returned to me straight away)

2.  All the copies I did of civil documents were not needed.

3.  I was expecting to make a payment for the actual green card (as I had read I would have to do) but I wasn't asked to.  I'm assuming myself or my wife paid already with one of the fees.

4. The woman at window 14 did not need to see my courier information, she just told me my passport will be returned within a week or so.

 

I did a whole lot of worrying and over preparation and in the end nothing was needed.  Because I was processed via the NVC and my wife put together a stunning file (brilliantly presented and organised), I think they were really impressed.  In fact the first guy at window 13 said I had made life really easy for him.  

 

So that's it in a nut shell.  I entered the building at 11.15am and left after being approved at 12.10.  God is good!

 

P.S  I forgot to say, when I arrived at window 14 for my interview, a man was already stood at the window.  His visa was denied. You can clearly hear what is being said.  She denied it on the grounds of his criminal convictions.  He wasn't really accepting what she was saying and kept asking her questions and she kept telling him it's denied and what he needs to do next.  She warned him it will take quite a while to sort out.  He finally left and I felt bad for him but I was amazed he had criminal convictions and had even gotten to this stage. How does that happen?  I don't think he was very prepared and clearly hadn't done his research or sought any sound advice.  As for the rest of you I wish you all well.  Thanks for those members who have answered questions for me in the past. 

 

congratulations!

[JFH 12,190]

People with criminal convictions have to go through the whole process to be denied to find out if they can apply for a waiver. That's the only way they can have the opportunity to apply for a waiver - by first being denied and finding out from the CO if a waiver will apply. Denials are harsh. We went through it when we applied for a spousal visa for my husband to live in the U.K. The person you heard at window 14 may at least have the chance to get a visa with a waiver of ineligibility (that would depend on the nature of the convictions). No such thing exists for the U.K. My husband got a denial and a lifetime ban because if a conviction for theft over 20 years previously. No waiver. No second chance. Despite being married to a British woman. I like to remind people of this when they say "oh the U.K. lets anyone in" or "the USA is the hardest place to immigrate". Depends on who you are. 

 

I think you got confused with paying fees at the embassy. K-1 and other non-immigrant categories pay at the embassy. DCF cases also pay the embassy. Immigrant categories that go through the NVC pay the NVC. However you still have the $220 GC fee to pay. You will receive instructions on how to do that with your passport. You can't do it beforehand as you need the serial number from your visa. 

 

Congrats! Reading your post brought back memories of being at the London embassy myself last December. I was at window 14 but it was a young blond man that interviewed me. He was very nice. 

[mounir412 101]

Congratulations !