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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on May 21, 2009: |
TeeKol
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I had my interview in late February 2009.
I had read these reviews and was prepared to be there early, so turned up 1 hour early not knowing whether I would be allowed to wait and the guards werent worried what time I was scheduled they told me to join the line. So get there asap is my advice as the line just gets longer.
You stand in the queue and have to show your passport and your appointment letter to the guards when you get to them, then they let you continue to wait. You then get to go through security in the x-ray building to the right of the queue. Needless to say everything goes through the machine. A note of advice, if you take any proof of ongoing relationships that include musical cards, leave them behind. They cant go through as they are electronic so not allowed in the Embassy....I had to bin mine 
Once through the x-ray you then go into the main building, take a ticket number (K1s should get a number begining 5) and then the waiting process begins........a long wait. Numbers are called and shown on the screen and when called it gives you your number and booth to take your ticket to. When you are first called they check that you have all the correct documents, and get you to go and pay your fee. Also be aware they do not take Maestro cards. If, like me you didnt realise that, they can give you your passport back and allow you to leave to go and get some money and return, so its not like once you are in if you forget something they wont let you go and get it. But when you come back you still have to go through x-ray checks. If you have children dont forget that you have to pay for them too.
When all of that is sorted you go to wait again, and for us this was the longest wait. A book if you can focus or a paper will help the time pass by if you can concentrate.
You are then eventually called again and this time its for your interview. The woman that interviewed me just made general chit chat about when we were marrying, what my fiance did for work, has he been over to the UK? Have I been over to the States before? that kind of thing, so no spotlight questions lol. I didnt even know she had granted me the visa! I had to ask, she was so casual :D and very friendly.
Then you get a pink slip and are told to take it to the courier station and arrange for your visa to be delivered. They hold onto your passport so they can attach the visa inside and this is what they deliver to you along with an envelope which YOU MUST NOT OPEN!! It says not to on the front of it so dont panic. You need to put this in your hand luggage as at the airport border control they will need this envelope and it must be sealed.
The whole Embassy process for me was an anti climax. It was exciting being in such a huge building that few get to see inside, but the waiting brings it back down to earth. I would advise that if you dont have two US passport sized photos to get them done before hand rather than to depend on getting them done in the Embassy as when I was there one of the two were out of order.
Drinks and snacks are available also in the waiting area if needed.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #4424