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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on March 16, 2010: |
moss
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I arrived at the embassy at 8am for my 9am interview. I was expecting huge queues but I got in pretty much immediately. I think today was "student day" as there were hundreds of teenagers congregating outside under "Camp America" and "Bunac" banners. I had a little bottle of Rescue Remedy in my bag which I got asked about at the X-ray machine, but the security guy didn't care/didn't take it off me. Inside the building, I got given a number and told to take a seat at the far end of the room (a big, boring, museum-like hall full of chairs). I spoke to the guy selling drinks and he said I was lucky to have come today because it was "student day" and things moved a lot quicker. Fifteen minutes later, a woman came over and re-assigned all of us tickets as one of the staff was new and we'd been given the wrong tickets! I got 5032.
There were hundreds of students getting seen and processed really quickly, but hardly any action at the immigrant visa end of the hall, where about twelve of us were waiting. I sat in line with where the Texas flag was flying outside and waited for maybe an hour and a half before getting called to one of the windows. A youngish British guy took my passport and passport photos, then I had to pay (£87 in cash) at the adjacent window.
I returned to my guy and gave him my police certificate and a huge pile of photos of Anthony and I together. He looked through them all (he looked like he enjoyed them) and then disappeared for AGES. I got really nervous but then he returned and asked if I had brought the "confirmation" letter with me. I realised he meant NOA2 and so gave him that (glad I thought to bring it). Then he asked for the affidavit and I gave him Anthony's and his Dad's. He glanced at Anthony's tax return and said it was fine and didn't even look at his Dad's. Then he gave me my X-ray in a huge envelope, told me to have it in my suitcase when I flew, and gave me a pink form to fill out for the courier.
I went back to the waiting area, unsure if I'd passed or not, and waited perhaps 45 minutes more. Then I was called to a different window where an older American guy made me raise my right hand and swear all my information was correct, then he asked me when we had got engaged and where I'd be moving to. We chatted about Austin, then he said something about my i129f having got lost and I was like WHAT? Finally someone tells us what the hell happened when we got stuck at the NVC for three months last year! I told him we'd had no idea what had happened till now and he apologised. He said they would update my expired certificate/NOA2 for me anyway, so this is why they asked if I had my NOA2.
He explained that my passport would come to my house in a plastic bag and have the brown envelope in that I'm not allowed to open... and then I realised I was approved and he welcomed me to America! He was so friendly and nice to me, I told him he'd made my year. Then I paid at the courier desk and left at 11.30 (3.5 hours later). And possibly spent thousands of pounds calling Anthony from a phone box to tell him the good news.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5800