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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on June 11, 2010: |
thatbritishlass
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
SUMMARY:
In: 8.36am
Out: 11.30am
Questions asked during interview:
*How long have we been engaged?
*How long have we known each other?
*How did we meet?
I can't believe I am writing this, but my experience at the Embassy was exemplary from beginning to end.
I showed up at around 8.30ish (couldn't sleep) and left my iPhone at Goulds (£3 to store any electronics - great service). I then went to the Embassy and asked when I could come in given my interview was at 9.30 - they said to come in straight away (figured I may as well as I'd only end up sat somewhere else spending!!). Had my passport and letter checked, then went through the bag check and metal detectors - forgot I had my headphones in my bag, so they had to go, grr. Then he saw something 'battery shaped' which turned out to be my epipens, made me take sips of my water bottles and then in I went.
I got my I number and was sat waiting for about 2 hours at first...it's depressing seeing all the N numbers fly by, but don't lose heart!! Finally got called up to Window 1 where a lovely Vietnamese lady checked all my documentation. She asked for my birth cert, police cert, passport photos and affidavit of support (didn't ask for Jason's divorce cert, after all that!!), and gave me back my X-ray from the medical. She asked where I worked now and when I said BT she said 'BT are a rip-off, man!' and then proceeded to vent about how BT were overcharging her for her phone line!! :P It was funny so I just let her carry on.
Paid my $350 (only low point of the process!), took the lady back the receipt then sat down again and waited for my number to be called. Fortunately I only had to wait half an hour or so and got called to Window 15.
My Consular Officer was a lovely American gentleman who made me sign and date my DS-230, then I raised my right hand and swore that all information I provided was the truth. He then asked me how long we'd been engaged, how long we'd known each other, and where we'd met. When I said working at Disney he said he'd had a friend who worked there as a dwarf!! And then, I will never forget the next words...
"I've looked at your paperwork and everything looks fine, so I'm going to approve your visa this morning."
:dance:
He then explained the bag the passport would come in and the 'mysterious brown envelope' and not to open it. By this point I was grinning ear to ear and bouncing around on the spot and he said "Congratulations, welcome to the United States. Welcome to the family!!" It was an amazing moment  Then I thanked him for many 7 months of torture worthwhile and that was it! Paid for my passport delivery (their system was down, so will get my tracking number in the post) and was out the door by 11.30!
GREAT experience, everyone was friendly and welcoming and made me feel like moving to the US was going to be a great choice :D
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6192