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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on November 8, 2008: |
armorri122
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
We're done! Woohoo, Finally. So here's how it went down: my husband's appointment was November 7, 2008 at 8am at the London Embassy. Having read reviews prior his the appointment, he promptly showed up at 7.20 looking for a long line of nervous immigrant hopefuls, and there weren't any.
He looked around for the proper entrace, since there was nobody there he couldn't figure out where he was supposed to go. Then an English security guard lead him in, and told him that new security regulations mean that the embassy is not allowed to book too many interviews in one day to avoid a Disneyland-esque line of people waiting around outside. This is perhaps why it took nearly two months from the time of our NVC approval to our actual interview date.
Once inside, he was given a number, he was the first one there. While he waited, they gave him a cup of coffee and asked him if he wanted to go get breakfest before waiting for his actual appointment. He decided to wait it out.
Around 8, he was asked up to a window. The immigration officer took a look through our files and asked a question about our affidavit of support. I was studying in 2007 and did not file taxes, but I sent my mother's tax returns and an I-864a to vouch for me. When my husband pointed this out, the guard said "that makes much more sense now." He told my husband to go wait again until his number was called, and he did.
About 20 minutes later, he was called to a second window. An American male immigration officer took his fingerprints, and made him take an oath that everything he said was true to the best of his knowledge. Then he said that our case was approved and told him to have a great time in California.
They told him to take his passport and wait in line for the carrier service. He had to wait a whopping 40 minutes because the US embassy's courier service does not open until 9.00 apparently. The courier service told him it would be about five business days before he receive the package in he mail.
When he got ready to leave the embassy, he noticed that there were loads of people in the waiting room. I suppose if your appointment is at 9.00, it would be a good idea to get there relatively early.
We had prepared a folder of mammouth proportions with wedding photos, copies of all our forms, joint bank account statements, extra copies of certificates and idenfication documents... not even glanced at. It's not the I'm suggesting future interview goers do not take these precautions, it is absolutely important to come early and have copies of all your documents just in case. But, more than likely you will probably not need them.
All in all, it was brilliant. I mean, no one likes to get up early in the morning and wait in line, but it was by far the easiest thing we've done regarding our visa. The best thing about it, knowing it's all over!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3557