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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on December 1, 2009: |
inhopeofglory
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
It's funny how adrenaline/nerves can affect your memory. Normally I find it easy to recall details of events, but on this occasion I've had some trouble - consequently things may be slightly out of order, and a few things missed/altered.
My appointment was at 8.30am, but I went extra-early to make sure I was there in plenty of time. I dropped my things off at Gould's Pharmacy - they charge just £3 per item; I ended up paying £6 for my phone and my rucksack, when I should have just put the phone in the rucksack - and made my way to the Embassy, less than a minute down the road. There was virtually no queue, as it was barely 8 o'clock. I showed the guy my passport and interview letter, and he asked whether I had any electronics on me before pointing me to the Security building, where my stuff - paperwork, umbrella (I didn't need it, unlike yesterday) and a plastic bag they give you for your wallet, belt, and keys - was X-rayed. After passing through the metal detector I took my stuff and made my way round the corner into the Embassy. The guy at the desk took my letter and printed me my appointment ticket, and I made my way up the stairs to the waiting area.
I went in at 8:01, and my number was called at 8:45. The kindly English gentleman who served me took my passport and asked me to sign a couple of documents (the DS-156 I think) before asking me to pay the $131 for the visa. When I returned with the receipt he asked me for my birth certificate (and copy), police certificate (and copy), and finally the Affidavit of Support and supporting evidence. I gave him my fiancée's statement from her employer (and copy), a couple of pay stubs (and copies), and last year's tax return. Having already attached photos to the DS-156's, I wasn't asked for more. Then the guy took my fingerprints (eventually - for some reason they struggled with my smallest fingers) before giving me my chest X-ray and the pink courier sheet to fill in and sending me back to wait.
It took perhaps another 45 minutes before I was called through for the visa interview itself. The consul officer was a very nice, friendly, patient man in his early fifties (I'm guessing). After giving me the originals of the documents I'd submitted and verifying my fingerprints, he asked me to print my fiancée's name at the bottom of another document and sign. I have no idea which one this was - I was so jittery my hand trembled, and I actually wrote my fiancée's name where I was supposed to sign! Thankfully the officer graciously took back the form, used correction tape on my error, and got me to write and sign again. Then he told me to raise my right hand and swear to the accuracy of all my papers.
At this point he stopped going through my papers and kinda leaned forward to ask me some questions - how long I've known my fiancée, when and how we met, how much time we've spent together (in person), whether my fiancée has visited England, when we got engaged, where my fiancée lives, when I'm intending to leave the UK, and probably a couple of others that I'm afraid I can't remember. I answered politely, volunteering information on a couple of questions whenever I felt it would help, e.g. noting that both sets of parents approve of our marriage. The officer concluded with (something like) "well that's all fine" and proceeded to explain what happens next - that I should pay the courier fee, and that I'd receive an envelope with all the paperwork in it that I mustn't open, that I must enter the US within six months and get married within 90 days of entry, and so on. I was approved! 
All the months of preparation, the numerous checks that I had all the paperwork, all the backup forms and evidence that I'd brought with me but didn't use... it was all worth it! I can't thank the people of VisaJourney enough for all the advice and tips. Your support and answers to my questions helped so much to give me confidence for the application and interview.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5330