detailed London CR1 interview : DECLINED

[larnar1309 101]

Interview date: 3rd November 2017 scheduled: 10:30am Embassy: London

 

I arrived at the embassy entrance at around 9:30am. There were looooong lines of people (probably around 100ish). I went straight up to the front desk and told the woman I have a spouse visa interview at 10:30. She told me to come back to her at about 10:15 and just come straight to her - not to line up. I went for a quick cup of tea and was too excited really to sit around so I went back to the woman at 10am and she took a look at my interview letter and passport and told me to join another line which was in front of a window written "interview appointments only" there was about 15 people in this line.

 

I spoke to the woman behind me who said her appointment time was for 9:30 but she thinks there's just so many people it's impossible to get in on time. I'm not sure if she maybe lined up in the long line to get in this same line as me. The officer was letting four people in at one time to the glass entrance room. We were given small plastic bags to put keys / wallet / phone etc. in. I was asked several times whether I had a laptop which I did not. My bag went through the machine like in the airport and I went to the reception of the embassy. The receptionist checked my passport, put a sticker with a number on it on my interview letter and told me to go upstairs and go to the window when my number appears on the big screen.

 

I'd say when I sat down upstairs it was around 10am but I wasn't checking my phone much because numbers were pinging up on the big screen every few seconds and I didn't want to miss mine. About 10 minutes passed and my number flashed up and I went to the window. A nice woman pulled out my HUGE file which contained the documents submitted to USCIS and NVC. It was actually amazing to see this. haha. She went through my documents that were requested on my interview letter (birth certs, police certs, etc. ) and checked them all off on a list she had. This took about 10 minutes. She then took my fingerprints via a glass scanner (like in American airports) and asked me if I have flights booked to the US. I was surprised by this because they always tell you not to book flights in advance. I do have flights booked for thanksgiving and Xmas so I told her I have tickets to Denver for Nov 21st. She noted this down and gave me back my interview letter with the same number on it and said when it flashed up on the screen that would be for my interview.

 

I sat waiting for my number. I saw on the screen that it was written Immigrant visas are taking up to 17 working days to process which seems like a long time!

 

I waited for my number to flash up for about 25 minutes. Then went straight to my window round the corner. I was surprised because I imagined the interview to be sitting down with someone in a room or something but it was exactly like the first window. Just a guy sitting behind the glass with all my docs. He asked me where me and my husband met, when we met, when we got married, how we keep in contact, and what he does for work. He then responded saying that my husbands income does not meet the minimum requirement so I would be required to submit a joint sponsor before my application can be approved. I was shocked by this because me and my husband had initially planned a joint sponsor and were surprised that this wasn't requested at the NVC stage to submit one? I asked why it wasn't requested before today and the CO just responded with "we thought you would have kind of worked that out yourself". I was so annoyed because it says all over the building to not submit any additional documents that are not requested AND on the interview form just to bring what is asked to bring!! The CO gave me a blue piece of paper which states that my visa application is declined until the required documents have been submitted. He said he would hang onto my passport and everything until I submit them as PDF files to an email address he gave me. I asked him if I should take my passport so I can go for thanksgiving and then submit the joint sponsor docs etc. when Im back and do my POE for my xmas trip. He said that he didn't recommend that because I would probably be declined entry to the US and red flagged that I was trying to enter before completing this step of the process!!

 

He said if I submit the documents via email by Monday morning I can probably get my visa approved and passport back in time to go for thanksgiving. Luckily my husband and I already prepared for this so we have everything ready to submit for Monday. but still.. huge sigh!! I thought this would be over and was so ready for it just to all be done. Should have expected there was more to come!! haha.

 

If I can't go for thanksgiving it's not the end of the world but really hoping that I can. Just missing my husband so much.

 

Anyway - mainly wrote this for 2 reasons:

 

1) because I hope the same situation doesn't happen to anyone else regarding not submitting un-requested docs  or bringing extra with them. I now wish I had brought my joint sponsor stuff. 

2) a lot of people say to not book flights because you can't guarantee you will make them. However, I felt like in this situation they are working towards me getting my passport back IN TIME FOR MY FLIGHT. They were curious as to my flight timeline etc. so I think it helped me having them. 

 

Best wishes to everyone interviewing at London. Hope you have a smoother journey than me! 

 

[NikLR 13,227]

well that sucks but im glad you guys already have a joint sponsor! hope you get everything back in time to head to the mile high city!

[truelove29 218]

Ugh, so close! Well, you weren't denied, just delayed a bit. It sounds like you had everything else in order and it went pretty smoothly. Unfortunately I've seen this a few times on here...where NVC approves the financial docs but the CO at the interview doesn't feel the income is enough. But that's great you were already prepared & can just email everything Monday! Sounds like they were nice & helpful & will hopefully process everything quickly!

[Shacues16 18]

Hey, I thought I would reply because I had a similar experience. I also had my inteview in London, almost 3 weeks ago.

The interview went well, but I was asked to submit more documents from our joint sponsor. Once I emailed the required documents, my status changed to issued the following day. My passport was ready for collection a few days later. Hopefully it's the same for you and you get your passport back soon.  

 

 

Edited November 4, 2017 by Shacues16

[larnar1309 101]

1 hour ago, Shacues16 said:

Hey, I thought I would reply because I had a similar experience. I also had my inteview in London, almost 3 weeks ago.

The interview went well, but I was asked to submit more documents from our joint sponsor. Once I emailed the required documents, my status changed to issued the following day. My passport was ready for collection a few days later. Hopefully it's the same for you and you get your passport back soon.  

 

 

Ah wow! Thank you so much 💚🙌that is so good to hear. I also just checked my status and it mentions two business days after submission!! Eeee!!! Fingers crossed  

 

and thank you to everyone for your constant support and warm words 💚

[Gorkhali 214]

well, things could be worse right... so thank almighty and Monday when u submit ur required paper u will be granted a visa. Welcome to Colorado..

 

Have a look at this and laugh out loud. U may not understand this coz u have not lived in Boulder.. We live here in boulder and we understand the sarcasam in this video.. 

 

URL : 

 

 

[BigDaddy28 228]

4 hours ago, larnar1309 said:

Ah wow! Thank you so much 💚🙌that is so good to hear. I also just checked my status and it mentions two business days after submission!! Eeee!!! Fingers crossed  

 

and thank you to everyone for your constant support and warm words 💚

I'm not replying to complain or roast you but you should've known that they will not approve it without the minimum requirement is met. You should've at least printed them and took them with you. But it's to late now. 

All you have to do is focus on future. Submit documents ASAP and pray for them to send you back the passport quickly. 

Wish you a good luck.

[Jawaree 717]

Faster yiu get the stuff to them the faster you'll be with your spouse

[larnar1309 101]

5 hours ago, Gorkhali said:

well, things could be worse right... so thank almighty and Monday when u submit ur required paper u will be granted a visa. Welcome to Colorado..

 

Have a look at this and laugh out loud. U may not understand this coz u have not lived in Boulder.. We live here in boulder and we understand the sarcasam in this video.. 

 

URL : 

 

 

Hahahaha no I love this guy and I love what he does in Boulder.

 

although I don't live there yet I have a lot of friends there and during this process will have visited 8 times this year. 

 

My husband is a Buddhist psychotherapist and so I am very aware of how SPIRITUAL Boulder is Ahahaha. Love it 😂👌

 

Thank you - yes we have been feeling so grateful that we simply have everything scanned and that we can send it via email so it arrives Monday morning. My ceac status also states what @Shacues16 wrote that after submission my passport should be back within 2 business days!!

Edited November 5, 2017 by larnar1309

[caliliving 606]

I am confused. if you are from the UK couldnt you travel on the VWP? 

[larnar1309 101]

10 minutes ago, caliliving said:

I am confused. if you are from the UK couldnt you travel on the VWP? 

That's what I made my trips using yes 

[caliliving 606]

1 minute ago, larnar1309 said:

That's what I made my trips using yes 

yeah the UK is low fraud. you wont have a problem traveling on the VWP and waiting for a GC.

why did you apply for a b2 tho? 

[larnar1309 101]

Just now, caliliving said:

yeah the UK is low fraud. you wont have a problem traveling on the VWP and waiting for a GC.

why did you apply for a b2 tho? 

I never had a problem traveling. I am not b2. I'm CR1 spouse. 

 

They won't let me travel right now because they have my passport until I submit required docs

[caliliving 606]

Just now, larnar1309 said:

I never had a problem traveling. I am not b2. I'm CR1 spouse. 

 

They won't let me travel right now because they have my passport until I submit required docs

 i know you are a CR1 spouse. but during that time you can travel on the VWP! you did not need to apply for a B2! that was not necessary.. who told you that you needed that? as a low fraud country, traveling on your VWP while your CR1 was pending would have been no issues!

[caliliving 606]

2 minutes ago, larnar1309 said:

I never had a problem traveling. I am not b2. I'm CR1 spouse. 

 

They won't let me travel right now because they have my passport until I submit required docs

people travel all the time while a CR1 is pending.. especially low fraud counties like canada and the UK! i am confused on where you got this advice? You did not need a b2 you could have traveled on your VWP and have no problems.