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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on October 16, 2007: |
Barbarella UK
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
I arrived at the Embassy 45 minutes before my appointment time. Showed my letter to the guard and was waved through to join one of four queues, each queue was for people with different appointment times - I joined the "10am" queue.
Lengthy wait ensued - note to people with forthcoming interviews: be prepared for rain. You have to wait outside for AT LEAST an hour and there is no shelter. Luckily it wasn't raining when I was there.
Eventually went through portakabin security checkpoint.
You are not allowed to take mobile phones or ipods etc into the Embassy, or any liquids. You can leave them at the cabin but I just didn't take mine with me.
Enter the Embassy - up some steps and through the door to a desk. Pleasant lady took my letter, looked at it and gave me a ticket - for KI visas the number should start with 5000 - mine was 5017.
Up some shallow stairs to my left and into large waiting area with chairs, screens and a small snack bar area. The screens show which tickets are at which desks - the numbers are also announced over a loudspeaker.
Desks 1-11 are in this room, desks 12 and upwards are down the corridor. Everything is clearly marked. Sat and waited until my number was announced (about 15 minutes) then went to my desk.
Handed over my birth certificate, passport, Police Certificate, I-34 and Fiance's Tax Return plus a photocopy of the birth certificate and Police Certificate. Signed two forms - think they were the unsigned forms that were returned to the Embassy with my other paperwork.
Did fingerprints and then went to another desk (marked "Cashier") to pay the visa fee.
Back to desk - lady handed me my xray and a pink form to complete for courier service. Told me to sit and ait for next call.
After 15 minutes was called up to another desk. Very pleasant middle aged lady greeted me. She asked me to raise my right hand and swear to tell the truth which I happily did! She then asked me: How did I meet my fiance, when did he propose, did he go down on one knee (!!!) and did I cry when he proposed!!!!!!
After that she took another set of fingerprints and said "Subject to your fingerprints coming back clear I see no reason why this visa application cannot be approved" I had a huge smile on my face and said "Thank you very much!!!!!" She told me to go to the courier desk with the pink slip and arrange for my passport and visa paperwork to be returned to me and warned me not to open the brown envelope when it was delivered.
All in all a stress free experience. I spent more time waiting outside to get in than I did in the Embassy itself. Left the Embassy and went straight to a pub for a celebratory gin and tonic!!!!!!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #2112