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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on May 24, 2023: |
ElGrandeDoodel
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
IR-1/CR-1 Spousal Visa interview at the US Embassy, London on 24 May 2023 at 10am
Summary:
- I was in and out in under 40 minutes. Went in 30 minutes before my 10am interview, left around 1010am.
- All people I encountered were warm, friendly, and relaxed.
- Questions were conversational and not difficult.
- If your experience is anything like mine, and you bring all documents listed on the US State Department pre-interview checklist for the US Embassy, London there is no need to be nervous.
- Consisted of two parts: checking of documentation with one person first; interview with other person second.
Logistics:
- Stored my small backpack containing laptop at the nearby District Cafe; cost £14 including a free coffee.
- Very long queue outside the Embassy but as mentioned elsewhere, go straight to the desk at the front of the queue and speak to the people there.
- I spoke to the people managing the queue at 9am for my 10am appointment; they told me to come back at 0930am, i.e. 30 minutes before my appointment.
- Came back at 0930am, again went straight to the desk at the front of the queue. Was sent straight through.
- Security: looked at my phone, then airport-style metal detector, empty your pockets, walk through the archway.
- Walk through to the reception place. Again, as directed by security, just walk straight to the desk without joining the queue and tell them you're there for an immigrant visa interview. They will sign you in immediately, give you a sticker and send you to the right place in the building.
Part 1: Documentation check
- Called to window after waiting for about 10 minutes.
- Friendly man behind the desk asked to look at originals of birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, police certificate.
- Was asked the following questions:
- Do you or your spouse have any previous marriages?
- Are you adopted, have you ever changed your name, have you ever served in the military.
- Have you ever lived in another country, is so, for how long?
- When do you propose to move to the US if approved?
- Confirmed that police certificates were not needed for the two counties I had previously lived in for less than 12 months.
- Confirmed that I would have to enter the US under my visa no more than 6 months following the date of my medical.
- Sent back to waiting area; man held onto my original documents including passport.
Part 2: Interview
- Called to another window after about another 10 or so minutes waiting.
- Man behind the desk was very warm and friendly.
- Asked me the following questions:
- Where did you meet you spouse?
- When did you meet your spouse? [I couldn't really remember the year because it was over New Years. Man seemed relaxed, asked for an approximate date. I think I got it right...]
- When did you start dating?
- When was the last time you saw your spouse?
- How frequently do you see each other generally?
- Where in the US does your spouse live?
- Why does your spouse live there, to be near family? For work?
- Where is your spouse from originally?
- Have you (i.e. me, the intending immigrant) ever lived in any countries beside the US? If so, for how long?
- After the questions, which although there were quite a few didn't take very long at all, man confirmed that everything looks great and my visa is approved.
- Man gave me all my documents back, but kept the passport and said I would get that back with the visa in it in 1 to 2 weeks.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #32092