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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on June 30, 2021: |
Ewan
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-5 Visa
I've described this at some length, as I have found reading other people's reviews and advice very helpful. I hope this might be of help to someone else.
As I live in Scotland, I took the train down the day before. I stayed at the Best Western Vauxhall, which is only a few minutes walk from Vauxhall Underground and from the embassy (although be aware that if you're using a directions app, it will try to take you through a major construction site, which you have to take a detour around). It's cheap by London standards (I paid £60), the rooms are decent and they let me leave my bag at the hotel while I went to the embassy.
I'm very glad that, before I went, I had read the embassy guide and watched a couple of videos on the embassy's YouTube channel that walk you through the security system, the entrance hall etc. This really helped me to visualise what was going to happen and made it a much more relaxed experience. For example, I knew in advance that for my documents check and interview I wouldn't be sitting at a desk but standing at a window. I also knew I could take my phone and a bottle of water with me. These little things made it a much less daunting experience.
Everyone, from security to the interviewer, was very friendly and polite. After security and the entrance hall, I took the lift to the first floor and walked out into the huge visas section, which has dozens of waiting seats and a lot of interview windows.
With so few visas currently being processed, everything was being done in a smaller side room, which had only seven or eight windows. After a few minutes in the waiting room (with about 10 other people), I was called to a window for my documents check. Despite being advised to take absolutely everything relevant to my case (and to take copies), they only asked for certain ones. You have plenty of room on a shelf in front of you to lay out your documents, which you pass through when asked. I also had fingerprints taken.
After taking a seat again for about 20 minutes, I was called to a different window for my interview. I was asked to swear an oath to tell the truth. I was asked these questions:
Who is the petitioner? (my daughter)
When and why did she move to the US?
Where does she live?
Is she married and does she have any children?
What is her occupation?
Do you have any other family in the US?
Are you planning to live with your daughter?
There was some general chat during the questions and it was all very friendly.
The officer then told me that everything was absolutely fine but that she would have to mark the case as refused until a copy of my new police certificate (the previous one had expired during lockdown) was uploaded into the CEAC system. She returned all my documents except my passport.
My interview was scheduled for 10am and I left the building at about 11.10. The new certificate was uploaded within an hour.
My status remained as Refused until the next day, when it changed to Administrative Processing. Then on day three (today) it changed again to Issued. Within two hours I also received a text from the courier company to tell me my passport is being delivered tomorrow.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #29792