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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on August 2, 2007: |
dropinboy
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My Fiancee`'s experience:
With excitement and I guess a little paranoia of oversleeping I got up with the sun on the day of my interview. Did some double checking of paper work on my own and then involved my house mate in calling out required documents whilst I presented them and securely placed them in a document folder. I left home just after 7am, caught the train to London Waterloo and then took the Jubilee line to Bond street station. At the tube station I took the exit by cranberry and went up the stairs. Once you leave turn left out of the station and it is the 7th road to your left that takes you to Grosvenor square. I was a little early so I grabbed a soya latte from Starbucks. I arrived at the embassy at 8:20; my interview was scheduled for 8:30. I was greeted by a really big ‘bouncer’ looking guy that asked to see my passport and visa interview letter. I displayed both to him and was palmed off to another official that checked for electronic devices, asked me to turn off my mobile and place it in a clear packet. I went down column posts that demarcate the queue. The line that I was channelled down was empty so to my surprise I went straight to the security checks, very similar to those at the airport. I gave them my clear bagged mobile and received a number to retrieve it when I returned.
Stage one was complete in no time. I smiled at all the armed men on the way in. I proceeded to reception where I once again had to show my appointment letter and passport. I was given a number that appeared on 2 sticky labels with a barcode and the date on them. I proceeded in to the waiting area, by this time it was 8:30. I was thrilled as I appeared to be running ahead of schedule. I sat in the waiting area with the Argos style customer calling system until 10:30am. I tried to read but that made me even sleepier so I pressed through by observing people. When my number was called, I went to window 14 where my finger prints were taken and the gentlemen behind the glass took my fat pile of papers and sifted through extracting what he needed. He gave me a yellow slip which had the first visa category selected with $100 marked at the top. He asked me to go to window 12 and pay the cashier. I paid using my mastercard. I returned to the gentleman at window 14 and was given pink coloured courier slip that I needed to complete for passport delivery. I parted with the relevant documents and my passport and then made my way back to the waiting area with my pink courier form in hand.
Stage 2 down and another 2 hours passed before I was called to window 16 for the final stage. When I got to the window, a friendly American accented lady asked me how I was. I responded fine thank you. Gave me a form to fill my fiancé’s name on and sign at the bottom. She asked me how I met my fiancé and I responded. We had met ages ago so she wanted to know how we got reconnected so I told her and ended with a ‘so we obviously hit it off and that is why I am here.’ She proceeded to ask me how I felt about going to a new country. I told her I was really excited and that the transition of coming from South Africa to England was good preparation. She then said that all my paperwork is in order so she would be happy to grant me my visa. I thanked her very much and skipped down the passage happy and relieved. I got my mobile and called a sleeping Mr at 13:15 UK time to tell him the great news!!! Tra la la la la!!! Praise God!!!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1862