Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
September 11, 2006 |
| Embassy Review : |
My interview date was September 7th 2006. My interview appointment was at 9am, I arrived at the US Embassy in London at around 8:20am but decided to start lining up outside at about 8:30am. You get put into different lines depending on what time your interview time will be. This girl looked at my interview letter to see what time my appointment was and she told me to go into the left line for 9am appointments. This girl walked along the line also to ask if anyone had any liquid, toiletries, make up, toothpaste, things like that, if you do, you have to put in a clear plastic bag, which they give you, so I would try to avoid taking any of that stuff with you.
I waited around 20 minutes and the queue was gradually going down, you get called over by a security guy and he asks for your appointment letter and passport so he can check your name on their list, then he tells you to go secuirty hut, where you wait in like a small line, you put any folders your are carrying by hand and any bags through the x ray machine and then you walk through the metal detector (you can keep your jackets/coats on, unlike in airport security), then once you have passed through the metal detector they pass your belongings back, btw you have to make sure your mobile is switched off before you go into the building, I kept mine in my bag.
Once you've gone through the security hut, you have to walk around the outside of the building round to the other side and you go up some steps, there will be signs telling you where to go, is quite easy. Then once you enter the building there is another security guy at a desk who will want to see your appointment letter, then your go up a small flight of stairs to your left through this door (which is quite hard to open btw) then you go to your left again and a person will ask you what Visa you are here for, I said Immigrant Visa, then they give your two tickets with a number on them, but as soon as I received my number, it was called out over an intercom, which I was really shocked by and I had to go to window 1.
At the window it was like being at a bank, you have a glass panel inbetween you and the person you are talking to, the lady I spoke to for the first part was a chinese lady, very nice, kept you at ease, she went into a backroom and got my documents, I saw her looking over all the stuff we had sent for the petition and what not, she got my medical results aswell, including my chest x ray, which they will give to you to keep, then she stapled some forms together, I signed some forms, I also gave her my Police Check certificate plus a copy, my Birth Certificate plus a copy, Affidate of Support, including the letter my fiance gave me from his Employer and a letter from his bank, I had bought more evidence than this, but she didn't want anything else, plus the two photos of yourself, it was so quick! and she gave me a big pink slip to fill out for the courier service, as to where you want your passport to be delivered ( I recommened putting your mobile number on there, as today I received a text from them saying my Visa is ganna be delivered tomorrow Sept 12th), then once I filled that out, I went and sat down, but I was expecting to at least wait a little while, they have these big tv screens infront of you saying your number and what window you have to go to next, to my surprise, my number was already up, so I wasn't sure whether to go straight away as I had only just sat down, so a lady over the intercom said my number 004 go to window 16, I was like omg! so I walked round a nice american lady was there, she said hi, greeted me with a big smile, apparantly I was meant to have my finger prints taken at the first window, but the lady didn't do it, so she was slightly annoyed that she had to end up doing it, but anyway, she took my finger prints from all fingers, then you do your thumbs, (make sure you press down firm when you do this), then I saw the big massive file, all our petition stuff, the photo's we had sent in, then she asked me to put my right hand up and she said do you swear you are telling the thruth, etc etc etc, I said "I do". She then went on to ask me some questions, what I did for a living, what my fiance did, how did we meet, what website did we meet on, when was this, how long was it before you met in person, has your fiance visited here, where does he live and that was about it, they really make you feel at ease, then she was looking through our photos, then said ok, looks all ok, I'am pleased to tell you that I'm going to grant you your Visa, I had a massive grin on face and said thank you!! and that was it.
I then next walked round to where you have to pay for the courier service, which is by the door where you come in, cost £13.50, you give them the pink slip, they put your information into the computer and give you a receipt, make sure though that they have your correct address before you leave on the slip they give you before you go, they said it should arrive within 5 days, then your all set! done! I was in and out in less than an hour.
It really is true though, as long as you have all that they want from you, all the required documents, there really is nothing to worry about, before the interview I was really nervous, afterwards was such a relief, really though, don't worry so much!, you really don't need to.
Sorry for my review for being so long, but I wanted to let all you guys know what you have to do and whats done, hope it helps!  |
| Rating : |
Not Rated |
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ver 5.0