Interview for IR1

[bucksy 14]

There are many posts about K1 visas, but not so much on IR1s.

 

I thought I would make a post detailing the interview which may benefit those who are confused in the future.

I will edit this post with more details as it happens.

 

Interview date: Feb 8th 2019

Location: London, Nine Elms.

 

Documents I will be taking:

 

• Case number confirmation letter 
• DS-260 confirmation page print out
• ACRO check
• Interview confirmation email print out
• I-864 evidence of support form
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• 2 US style photos
• Passport

 

 

[bucksy 14]

All the above documents are straightforward with the exception of the I-864.

We both live in the UK and have for a decade. Therefore on the I-864 I have omitted section 6 as our current incomes are UK based and will cease when we move, and instead completed section 7 (assets).

I assume the embassy is familiar with situations like this where it is entirely reasonable to have no US based income at the present time.

 

[bucksy 14]

Interview today. 9am.

Left house at 7:00 to jump on tube. Arrived Vauxhall at 7:50.

As I was getting off the tube realised I had left my photos at home.

what a moron

No time to go back home. Googled that snappy snaps in Victoria opened at 8am, so made my way there.

20 quid lighter I had fresh photos and was on my way back to Vauxhall.

 

Arrived at the Embassy at 8:55. Very obvious from the people in the queue that timing is not a massive deal - some people had 9:30 appointments some 8:45 (I was asking people as I'm nosey).

The new Embassy is a nice building. Good 10 minutes walk even for a fast walker. They separate the queues into visas and other stuff, so you queue in the visa line (the signage is very clear).

No priority in the initial queue is given based on your appointment time.

 

Quick security check - usual stuff, x-ray for your bag, metal detector. Took 2 minutes.

Then through to what I will call the main reception. Here they separated the 9am from the 9:30ams. They take your appointment print out, give you a ticket number like at argos and you go stand by your window. I was IR1 so I had to go by window 20. It's pretty clear what you need to do.

 

Very quickly my number popped on the screen so up I went. Some European guy (so clearly not an American consular officer) went through my docs. Straight forward enough and nice enough. He asked if my wife was domiciled in the US which I answered no - we've lived in the UK for 10 years. He said the officer may ask to prove US domicile - whatever that meant. So after that you're asked to go to the cashier - window 19 - to part with your money. FYI they accept AMEX so you might as well get your points.

 

Then you sit back down and they'll call you again - by the same ticket number, so pay attention. You go up to a different window (all in the same area) and you have a nice chat to an American. Youngish guy (depending on your point of view), was not intimidating.

 

Nothing major - asked were we had met (10 years ago), how long we planned to live in the states (unsure, maybe 5 years maybe indefinite), when we planned to move (unsure, maybe 2 months or so), why we wanted to move (she wants to be closer to her Mom). Asked me my income, asked about the properties I own in the UK, if I was going to rent them out or sell them. Asked us where we would live, I explained my wife owns a house in the US that we would stay in temporarily.

 

Then he said, "normally there's some reason why we can't approve immediately, but I can go ahead and approve your application right now". I assume he means "most people are impatient and schedule their interview for 10 seconds after their medical". For your information, my medical was Monday 28th Jan, my interview 8th Feb, and everything was there.

 

He gave me back the original birth cert, marriage cert, and that was the end of it. Passport back in 7 days. I didn't get a "card" that I've read some people get explaining that. I had requested my passport be sent to Wembley and I'll just collect it.

 

tl;dr

Arrived at the embassy 8:55, was outside at 9:55.

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

Congrats @bucksy, sounds like it was clean sailing for you! Hope your visa comes quickly.

[bucksy 14]

The status for my visa has changed to Issue as of 11:00 am this morning.

So that's interview Friday 9am, Issued this morning. That's pretty fast!

I'll pick the visa up from the courier in north london when it arrives.

Time to get on BA book a flight!

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

8 minutes ago, bucksy said:

The status for my visa has changed to Issue as of 11:00 am this morning.

So that's interview Friday 9am, Issued this morning. That's pretty fast!

I'll pick the visa up from the courier in north london when it arrives.

Time to get on BA book a flight!

I’m probably being over-cautious here, but you may want to wait until you’ve got your visa in hand before booking your flights - I’ve seen threads on here where people’s statuses go back and forth for some time without the visa actually being sent. It’s obviously more than likely that yours will arrive in the next couple of weeks - but it’d be sod’s law if if didn’t arrive and your flight date passes 😕.

[bucksy 14]

Yes that's a fair point. Was looking at march 12th anyway, can't find flights earlier than that (BA reward flights).

[bucksy 14]

I don't know if it's a bit silly, but I was going to fly over to get the PR stamp in my passport, find a flat to rent, sign the lease, apply for an SSN, and then come back.

Then wait another month or so before we move out properly.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

30 minutes ago, bucksy said:

I don't know if it's a bit silly, but I was going to fly over to get the PR stamp in my passport, find a flat to rent, sign the lease, apply for an SSN, and then come back.

Then wait another month or so before we move out properly.

I just want to point out to all the K1s here that you are on a spouse visa and can do that. You enter and become a permanent resident that day so are free to leave to go sort your things however you like.

 

The K1s can not leave until they marry, apply for AOS/EAD/AP, and receive approval for their Advance Parole travel document. 

[bucksy 14]

My final update on this - I've had the email saying my VISA is ready for collection from tomorrow.

 

So summary on times:

 

Medical Monday 28th Jan.

Interview Feb 8th.

Visa collection Feb 14th

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

On 2/13/2019 at 10:57 AM, bucksy said:

My final update on this - I've had the email saying my VISA is ready for collection from tomorrow.

 

So summary on times:

 

Medical Monday 28th Jan.

Interview Feb 8th.

Visa collection Feb 14th

Congratulations @bucksy, glad it’s all gone so smoothly for you!