Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: K1 Visa
|
| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
January 18, 2016 |
| Embassy Review : |
Hi everyone,
I always found these embassy reviews really helpful, so hopefully I can help someone else now I've been through it myself (AND BEEN APPROVED!)
My embassy appointment in London was scheduled for 8.00 am, 11/01/16. I wanted to arrive at 7.00 am, as many people here said there was a long queue if they arrived later; however,I arrived at 07.20 am and there were only a handful of people waiting in line ahead of me. I travelled to London with my younger brother, and he queued with me until I actually entered the embassy, where afterwards he walked down the street to a Starbucks to wait. The embassy is pretty central and so there are places for people to wait if they are not entering the embassy with you.
Embassy staff and security only really began sorting and organising at around 07.30 am, and by that time the line had grown very long behind me. An embassy worker walked along the line asking those who were attending the embassy for a non-immigrant visa interview after 8.00 am to start a separate line. I overheard a man say he was waiting for his 10.00 am interview, however he was told thatline would not be starting until a while later and was advised to leave and come back after.
It began raining and the embassy have bins full of nice big umbrellas for people to use whilst waiting outside, as you are not under any sort of shade. Everybody in the queue waiting for an interview were very friendly and are all in the same boat as you, so if you didn't hear something that was announced, or were unsure of where you were meant to be, people were very helpful.
Security began at 07.35 and we were asked to have our passports, DS160 confirmation and appointment letter from the embassy to hand. They were checked under a small gazibo where they ticked off your name from an attendance register. Then, we walked into a small glass room where airport-style security began. I was aksed to remove any metal objects from my person and asked to put my phone in a clear plastic bag that was provided. I had slept over at a friend's house the night before and so I had a large handbag with me, but I was told this was fine to take into the embassy with me. There were a few people with small, hand-luggage sized wheely suitcases, and they were told they were not allowed to bring their luggage in with them. They were advised to leave their luggage at a local pharmacy a few blocks away, the directions for which were on boards all along the queue-line.
After security, I walked along to the side of the building and through the main doors. At this reception desk I received my number, and was told to take a seat and wait for my number inside a large hall.
The large room is filled with rows of chairs, all facing a very large screen on the wall. Half of the screen is solely for the list of case numbers and the corresponding interview booths they needed to attend. The rest of the screen flashed with instructions for how to organise your documents and advice on other visa-related issues. The BBC news was also playing in the top right-hand corner.
The ding sound which occurs whenever a new case number appears on the giant screen sounds like the noise a Windows PC makes when you click something too many times, almost like an error sound. It is very recognisable and loud, and the case number flashes up in large type, as well as the interview booth you must report to. Booths 12-25 are around the corner, and not in that main hall. Also, when you go to the booths, they each have smaller individual screens with the case number they are expecting on so you don't end up stood at the wrong booth.
I was called within 15 minutes of entering the embassy. A very nice man asked me for my DS160, passport, embassy appointment letter and courier registration details. He then took my fingerprints, and asked for my birth certificate, UK police certificate and i134 form. I didn't have this form filled out by my fiance, but my his father, which the embassy staff did ask about, but I read that these actions were allowed. He asked if I had previously been married or received a visa. I had an expired J-visa in my passport from when I worked at summer camp there (and where I met my fiance), although this wasn't a problem. He asked when I planned to travel over (April, as I am a bridesmaid for my friend's wedding in the Spring) and then asked me to return to the big hall.
Having read previous embassy reviews, I prepared myself for a long wait, however only 30-35 minutes later I was called to a different booth for my interview. (At 08.30 am a small food and drink kiosk was opened at the front of the hall with hot and cold snacks to purchase).
I was asked to raise my hand and take an oath, and a different man proceeded to ask me a handful of questions - the name of my fiance and where he was from; where we met; how our relationship developed; when was the proposal; who his father was (who signed the i134) and what he did for a living; and if either of us had been married or had any children. This was only a couple of minutes long and he seemed ver nice. He then said that the visa had been approved javascript:emoticon(' ') javascript:emoticon('') javascript:emoticon('') and that I would be notified when my visa package would be ready to be collected. I was extremely surprised to be in and out of the embassy within an hour; however I also realise my privilige of being a white, native english-speaker and assume this is why my entire visa process has been relatively quick and painless.
I was nervous that I had forgotten to bring adequate amounts of evidence (none of which they asked for) and had filled out the wrong forms, however i you read the list of documentation to bring from the embassy website, and read some of these reviews so you get the feel of how the embassy interview plays out, there isn't anything to worry about. Also, even though none of my evidence was looked at, I would bring enough evidence to support your continuing relationship, so you have it to hand should you need it.
TL;DR - quick, painless experience. Just make sure you read the embassy website so you know what to bring with you, and get to the embassy on time javascript:emoticon(' ') |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
|
ver 5.0