|
|
| London, United Kingdom |  Review on August 26, 2021: |
colinm
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-5 Visa
We had our interview yesterday booked for 10.25 am.
My wife and I are emigrating to the US through our son who is an American citizen.
We travelled by train to Waterloo and took a taxi to the Embassy. We arrived two hours early and had breakfast at The District, a cafe opposite the entrance to the visa section of the Embassy. There is also a cafe at Waitrose, which is a three minute walk away, but it was closed.
We went to the Visa entrance at 9.45. There was no queue for immigration visas. We went to a window and handed over our passports, DS260s and our appointment confirmations. A sticker was placed on our appointment confirmation with our interview number on it. We then went to the door to the right of the window and we’re let into security.
The security was like airport security. I had one backpack and my wife a handbag. The security people we very polite and friendly, but efficient.
We were then directed through another door into an open area, walked along a path to the door to the main building.
We then went through another door to a reception area where the receptionist directed us up to the first floor.
We turned left and left again after coming out of the lifts and came to the immigration area. It’s all well signposted.
There are six interview booths and seating opposite them with video monitors. It was about 10.10 when we arrived.
At 10.25, our number appeared on the monitor and we went to the booth.
We were asked for our original birth certificates, our son’s birth certificate, our marriage certificate, one photograph and a our police certificate. We were also finger printed. The lady was very pleasant.
That’s when things went wrong. We had employed a US attorney who had put together a pack of documents for the interview and I had done the same, so
I thought I had everything doubly covered.
What I didn’t know was that in the UK certified copies of birth certificates are not exact copies. The serial numbers are different to the original certificates. I had brought certified copies of the certificates to the interview, the attorney uploaded the originals.
The Embassy lady apologised and said there was a problem with a certificate and it would be explained at the interview.
We then waited for five minutes and we’re called to another window, where another lady asked us to swear an oath and then asked about our relationship with our son. She then explained that all of our certificates were rejected. She gave me back the ones that I had given them and an explanation sheet of how to upload them onto the immigration system.
She said if we uploaded them that day, they would approve our visas the following day.
She said that we had passed the interview and not to worry as it is a common problem. She was very helpful and sympathetic.
We then left, having been there less than an hour.
I have uploaded the documents into the Embassy system, but the Submit button wouldn’t work. So as of today I don’t know whether Embassy has got our certificates or not. Our attorney had the same problem, but managed to submit them as part of our sons papers.
If anybody knows the answer to this I would be grateful for an answer.
Overall the Embassy experience was fine apart from the certificates problem, that should have been picked up by my attorney.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #30052