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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on May 19, 2006: |
Jet_Lag
Rating:  | Review Topic: K3 Visa
 Dreary weather for the trip form Swindon to London on the train , appointment is scheduled for 10:30am so let the morning London rush past (or so i thought !!) and caught the 08:00am train. Not croweded so feeling relaxed..got into paddington and head off to the tube * note Marble Arch is definetly the closest station (ok so much for the rush being over tube stations were 15 peeps deep could have done with a wee japanese chappie to shove us on with cattle prod!!)
Arrive at Marble Arch in good time with ribcage just in tact clutching document bag. * Note if you use this tube station take the "park street" exit turning left then right and follow Park street all the way down until it intersects Upper Grovesnor street turn left and you will see the embassy (cant miss the guys with guns all around it)
Time was now about 09:30 and i could see the queueing ahead, polite chap in flourescent jacket is organising the ever building queue 10:00 am only on left hand side..11:00 am on right hand side. US citizens to far left ..
Erm hold on im 10:30 yikes left or right..I step into the left-hand queue and drink my coffee.. "mr Jacket" checks the line asking for appt letter.. glares at mine at first then laughs when I pointed out his earlier command and keeps me in the left hand side ..
Just as we start moving we are told to stand back and wait as along comes a veritable horde of US citizens and gets ushered past the waiting foreigners standing in the steady drizzle ...(mustn grumble it is thier embassy after all).
tis now just past 10:00 and they are letting a trickle go through after showing a different security guard with face like thunder at getting wet passport and letters.
As i near my turn to go forward the fellow roundly ticks off a elderly gentelman before me and says "your not 10:00am got to the back of the other queue/line..oh hell i think..as "mr flourescent jacket" has disappeared will i suffer the same fate..
Half expecting this i go forward letter and passport in hand he looks at it.looks at me i quickly mention fact that mr jacket said stay in theis line , he mutters at me and waves me on PHEW!
Next its the metal detector hut.. through that safely.. and then a trek round the side of the building (glad i brought my sodding brolly).
On entering the building another chap checks your on the list.. then waves you to the left..he did say how did you get in thought they were doing 10:00 o clocks.. i shrug and smile ..
Through doors on left to the airport lounge style hall.. with monitors and all the seats nearly full, very friendly chap greet me with ok lets see your letter.. oh immigrant visa take this your number 14..( im about to point out that the K3 is a non immigrant visa" when my keep your mouth chut mantra comes to mind..
Take ticket and watch screen and read book...the screen is split with an "Argos" (apprecaite only the brits will know what I mean there ) style TV monitor showing on the left DHL ( dont ask no clue) Immigrant and Non-immigrant
the all the window numbers , number left in queue and numbers being seen.
Holy cow.. there only one person ahead of me ..and ive barely got through chapter one (its now 10:25) before my number is called and off i go to window 18 , a brit chappie asks for my number ticket. then goes off returns with file.
shuffles thru it.. and then asks for copies and originals of marriage certificate , police cert and birth cert, and the affadavit of support..I-134
noting else.. in fact he removes all the bits (bank statments Lisa W2's etc) supporting the I-134 and chucks them at me dont need that !
Then he takes the photos.. and sticks them on DS156 , 157 etc then asks me to sign them. He then extract the elephatine sized medical envelope and gives it to me grunting i can fold it..
Ok go and sit back down ...( thinking to self ok that was painless especially as its now only 10:35)
Ive just got to the seating area and contemplating a coffee from the overpriced embassy selection , when im called back to a differnt window 16 , oh pooh i think he forgot something or i did !!
Nope tis a pleasant but serious looking american lady.. shes already started to swear me on oath to tell the truth as im arriving at the window !!
i solemnly do so..
She hands me te orginals of the docs i gave the previous chap.
Leafs through the file.. looks up Well the doctor is conerned about your smoking but other wise your in excellent health When did you first meet..I answer...June 1998
What profession are you in and why do you travel so much ...answer IT consultant
clients you know
When and where did you get married and honey moon ..answer Las Vegas 17th Jan 2005 then Hawaii..
She nods.. closes file and say place you right index figure on the scanner.. then left.. etc...
You are approved..
Welcome to the United States
Clutching my courier slip i got to the counter at the back of the hall and pay my £9.50 get a receipt and do a fair imitation of Sammy Davis jr's Mr bojangles..down the stairs and out the door (ok so im really old jeez gimme a break)
Wow its only 10:45 and im done whole thing in about an hour from the time i got there.. fantastic..( I think the queue confusion had a lot to do with it being so quick)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #585