A truly upsetting day in London

[sharky 2]

I must admit when I woke up yesterday, I has positive thoughts, despite my situation with my visa....

and my positivity kept me going.......

it kept me from not having a panic attack on the most crowded tube trains I've ever seen (and being claustrophobic that isn't easy) going to the embassy...

and through the zero temp when waiting outside the embassy, when it proceeded to snow slightly (ask Tom to confirm this one, it was bloody freezing)

it also kept me going when I had to wait an hour to hand in my documents.....(after entering at 11 am)

however the positivity started to dwindle after this..........the waiting and waiting was endless. I can't remember when I stopped listening or looking at the board telling people to go to booth no. x. I watched one after one immigrant visa applicant (that arrived after me) handed their pink form and then go out the door with happy smiles, only to sit and wait and stress....

this continued until 4 PM, THEY MADE ME WAIT 4 HOURS IN THERE AT THE END OF MY TETHER. I realise that there are a lot of applicants, I have been there before to get a tourist visa.... but why so long??, it was cruel to make someone wait so long without not knowing how things would go. I sopke to another man who had been waiting since 1 pm and he had three young children with him, and the poor things were so tired and upset.

anyway after having been called I spoke to a nice man who spoke positively and this raised my hopes..... until they all came crashing down and he said that I would need to submit a waiver. I asked him why and he said that my previous convictions constituted CIMT and that I HAD TWO of them, and if there is more than one involved then this applies (any other person in the same situation should remember this)

By this time I didn't have the energy or strength to disagree with him and that I had checked in the US dept of state official guidelines which state that having more than 1 conviction does not necessarily indicate a visa deniel etc...

and so I paid my money and handed over our waiver......... I'm sorry if this sounds sceptical guys but I really wonder some times if there are "border line" cases and that they say you need a waiver just for the revenue it generates.

anyhow just when I thought "get me out of here" the guy then had to take my fingerprints. This was the low point of the day.......... it made me feel so like a criminal......... and it unearthed feelings and thoughts that had happened from a previous matter that happened a long time ago and should have stayed buried in the past, where they belonged. It didn't help matters much when he said it was standard procedure.

and so at 4.30pm I walked out of there absolutely broken..........

I'm sorry If this message sounds so down guys, it was just a terrible day, and it helps to share things you know. I know things didn't go too bad, just plan B eh? I mean we had a good waiver (hopefully) prepared and I'm putting this in the back of my mind now for a while............ i just wanted him to say "approved" so much it overoad my rationality.

It great news to here about Tom, and I hope there are many more approved's to come... but for now I'm gonna have to go to "pending"

good to luck to everyone out there, I'll be taking a "backseat" for a while

best wishes to all VJ members

Paul

[Keigwyn 1]

Well thanks for sharing the experience, I know it must have been tough. On a positive note - pending is far better than a denial.

[munchkins 0]

Paul, I am so terribly sorry to hear that you had such a bad day, but please take heart, you had an idea that you would have to file a waiver, and as you say you had a good one prepared. It just means a little longer to wait and please do not take this the wrong way, but your loved one is definitely worth it isn't she.

I know that the dissapointment must have been really hard but you will be through all this soon and then you can put it all behind you. Thoughts and good wished your way Paul

[pax 0]

Best of everything to you, Paul, and do know that it seems that London is fairly easy with approving waivers.

(And also, I assure you that the fingerprinting IS standard procedure--no need to feel bad about it!)

[MaryandMian 1]

Paul sorry to hear you had to file the waiver. Try and stay positive if you look at my timeline I have not seen my husband in over one year. Just take each day as it comes. Try not to look at it long term or it will bother you. At least you were prepared that you might need a waiver so you are ahead of someone that would need to get the information together and then to submit it at a later date. Will remember you in my thoughts and prayers and stay strong.

Mary

[TracyTN 237]

Best wishes to you, Paul.

[gimygirl 0]

of course, i mirror everyone's sentiments here. give yourself some credit because you were prepared with your waiver and had the fee.

as for the fingerprints ... everyone has to get them, not just you. my husband had to make a special trip to london JUST for fingerprints prior to his interview because he had been denied at the POE. he was fingerprinted again at his interview ... it's SOP.

hopefully you'll hear something in about 8 weeks!!! chin up!

[ladybutterfly 0]

Im sorry to hear about your terrible day. Hope things get better for you.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

i just wanted him to say "approved" so much it overoad my rationality.

I'm glad you recognize that.

Good luck!

[KTMMAN(non compus mentis) 0]

Surely you must have realised that you had CMT otherwise you would not have have your waiver ready so why do you feel so hard done by?I too have CMTs and am ready with my waiver and prepared for the extra wait,do you think that they will make exceptions to the rules?maybe this will remind people on here to get ther act together and if they dont understand things then consult some one who does and by that I mean a professional type,ie,lawyer or ask someone who has gone through the same thing.

[Cassie 8]

so why do you feel so hard done by?

I think it's more of a cumulative thing than just being upset over the waiver. Dealing with the possibility of panic attacks and claustophobia is draining in and of itself on a good day (trust me, I know!). Add to that crappy weather, a LONG wait, and the disappointment of having to do the waiver (despite being prepared for it, deep down one usually always hopes to not have to use it anyways).

To the OP : I know it wasn't the greatest of days for you, but like others have said, you were well-prepared with the waiver being ready and waiting if needed -- at least extra days aren't being spent preparing that now, it's all done. Go have a relaxing night and a glass of wine.

[usuklove 0]

i hope things work out for you and if you have submitted a good waiver then hopefully all you have is a little longer to wait rather than a denial and all teh trouble that comes with it.

[Peggy 1]

Hoping this gets approved fast for you.........

[lovenlife 0]

Surely you must have realised that you had CMT otherwise you would not have have your waiver ready so why do you feel so hard done by?I too have CMTs and am ready with my waiver and prepared for the extra wait,do you think that they will make exceptions to the rules?maybe this will remind people on here to get ther act together and if they dont understand things then consult some one who does and by that I mean a professional type,ie,lawyer or ask someone who has gone through the same thing.

Why do you think he is on this board? He’s trying to get advice/opinions from people that have already been there, and give some insight to others whom may find themselves in a similar position. I wouldn’t say he’s “hard done by”, and neither did he, take that chip off your shoulder and give constructive substance to the OP’s post. We’ve been on this dreaded USCIS roller coaster ride since 2002, I can understand how the OP feels, and it keeps on going, and going, and going.

[RichiJenny 14]

Very good point.

The sh1te some people throw on these boards pi55es me off. The guy is clearly pee'd off and people still take the 'ride with it, holier than thou' attitude'.

Still, it goes on in all forums, just best to ignore it, sometimes its tough to do so though.

Nothing like kicking a bloke when he's down is there?!

Good luck Paul, Im sure it wont be too long

I think if I were Paul, the sex and travel message would apply to certain individuals!