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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on August 12, 2020: |
Bear_and_Bunny
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
IR1 Spousal Visa 10th August 2020
TL:DR - Really friendly, helpful and relaxed place and friendly staff. Cant rate my experience highly enough. Be warned though, the doors are heavy! Give them a bit of a push/pull.
My appointment time was 11:30. My wife and I arrived at around 10:50 and there was a movable countertop (looked a little like the drink carts on planes but sideways) with two people stood at it in masks. I approached and they asked what I was there for, I told them for an interview. They asked me what time, to show my passport and confirmation of my DS-260. I handed them over and the guy signed my 260 and wrote the time on it. He told me that I couldn't go in just yet but would let me know in about 15 minutes to go through. I asked if my wife was allowed in with me, but this is a no at the moment due to COVID (understandable).
The area around the south pavilion entrance is really pretty. There is a little pond nearby outside another building, grass areas and big cube blocks of concrete to sit on. My wife and I sat on one of the blocks as others were doing and waited nervously.
About 10 minutes later, the movable desk was wheeled inside and I waited to see if they would give me a call. We sat on the block until around 11:15, 15 minutes before my interview as stated on the guidance and I then headed to the security building, caught eye contact with the guy and he nodded me in.
There is typical airport security with a guy behind a desk, a xray machine, trays to empty your pockets into and a metal detector. I went through these with no problems other than having to take a sip of my drink to prove it wasn't anything volatile.
From here you walk through a heavy door (push) and up a slight slope to the main building. There are signs so you wont get lost. There are some roped off barrier queueing things outside the main doors and the middle one was for visas. Although once inside through security I didn't see anyone waiting or anything, I felt like I was the only one there. Through these doors (also heavy and pull) there are two reception desks, the second one had a guy behind it and I approached and he asked for my DS-260 and place a sticker much like an Argos receipt to it. With window number and my number. He told me to take the lifts (to the left of his desk) up to the 1st floor (the lift button is labelled visa) and then proceed to the left when exiting the lift.
Just a warning, the lift has that thing where you walk in one set of doors and turn to face them but when you arrive to the floor, the doors behind you open and you feel a bit daft, so walk in to the lift, press floor one and stay facing the opposite side you walked in 
On the first floor, there are seats and windows but you need to head left and then there are signs for visa area. You pass some private rooms on the left and windows on the right. In this area are several windows from (I think) number 19 - 26. 19 was the cashier window.
Take a seat in the area closest to the window number on your DS260 Argos receipt and then watch the TV for your number to display. It will tell you which window to go to. Each window has a TV screen above them with their number and also your number when it is ready to go. I sat down an was expecting to be waiting some time, but within a couple of minutes if that I was called to window 21.
At this window, the lady said I could sanitise my hand and take off my mask. Here I handed over documents they requested such as DS260 confirmation, Passport (plus photocopy of Biometric page), marriage certificate (plus photocopy), proof of divorce (plus photocopy), birth certificate (plus photocopy), Police certificate (plus photocopy), affidavit of support document (I-864) plus supporting tax transcript for last year, US passport style photographs (they only took one and gave me the other back).
They confirmed with me that I had now been married for over two years and changed our visa type from CR1 to IR1 due to this.
They then took my fingerprints with the little scanner next to the window and gave me 2 pieces of paper one regarding domestic abuse and what to do if you are a spouse in a violent relationship in the US and the other with my visa type on and a price, telling me to head to the cashier window to pay.
At the cashier window they asked for the paper and my payment card (they weren't taking cash which I had on me, so a hasty check of online banking to make sure there was enough funds!). He handed me a few receipts which you will need to hold on to.
After paying I took a seat and text my wife to update her.
By the time I had sent the text, my number called me to another window with a guy behind. He didn't mention removing my mask so I assume the first window was to confirm it was me with my picture.
This guy asked a few questions about how we met, why we wanted to move to the US and why now. Somehow knew I lived close to my mum and stepdad and asked if I would miss them. Asked if I had considered what work I would look for in the USA, asked if my wife had a job in the USA and to confirm her salary (he didn't want the payslips I had with me). Finally he asked a few questions about my wife and I as we met on a poetry website based in the UK so asked why she was on a UK site and, strangely, asked if we critique each others writing and how that is. After those questions he said it sounds like an awesome relationship (aww, it is btw) and wrote "OK" on the cover of the folder of documents and told me that he was happy with everything and that I would receive my documents in a 2 weeks and handed me a little piece of paper with the Embassy picture on and the link to the site you book your interview saying how to track the package.
Then I headed back the way I came and outside to see my wife and tell her the good news, somewhat in a state of shock at how quick and painless it all was (and with a whole folder of other documents I thought I may need which were not called upon).
All in all, from entering the Embassy to the time stamp on my phone call to tell my mum, it was less than 35 minutes!
Everyone was so friendly, from the initial couple outside, the security inside, the downstairs desk guy, the women and two guys upstairs. Great experience, albeit somewhat surreal as I was basically in tears when he said it was approved. I will admit, I did a few fist pumps in the lift!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #28443