Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: K1 Visa
|
| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
May 23, 2018 |
| Embassy Review : |
This is quite a long one, so I'l start with the tl;dr version:
Getting there was easy, security was no problem, a bit of waiting around. Gave all that they asked, paid for my visa, waited some more, then had my interview. Wasn't asked very many questions. All looked good apart from them not having my latest letter of intent, since my petition expired they couldn't process there and then. Sent it to them again and now waiting to see if I've been accepted.
Having only needed to come up from Southampton, I had an easy experience getting up to the embassy in time for my interview. I got the train around 7:45 and arrived at Vauxhall Station at about 9:30. I don't know where the embassy used to be based, but I was glad for my visit it was straightforward to get to. I went down the steps and exited the station by going right. I consulted Google Maps on my phone to confirm where I needed to walk and, again, it was pretty direct. A left from where I was standing, going right of the Starbucks on the corner; not before going in to get a hot chocolate to give me a boost. Walking the end of the road full of bus stops you cross over, turning right then over the road again. If you see a Tesco Express to your right on the other side of the road, you follow the road just next to it in front of you until you hit the embassy. It's hard to miss.
Visa applicants enter through the South Pavillion, where there is airport style check in and security. I showed a lady on a desk my DS-160 and passport before ended in through the metal detectors. Heading up to the doors up a slight hill you're in the main reception where I queue with many other applicants, once again showed my DS-160. It was here I was given a number sticker and barcode they slapped on the front of the form, before being directed to the lifts on the right. Strangely they didn't want to see my appointment confirmation page that I was requested to print out. Up to level 1, immediately going left, where I was told to go, where all the K visa interviews were taking place. I took my seat and waited for my number to call on the big screen in front of me. It was here I did most of my waiting, nearly 30 mins before I was called to a counter.
I handed over all the documents they asked for: DS-160 (again), my birth certificate, police certificate, photo and passport. After giving those over and answering a few basic questions, just to see that I didn't need anything else. The X-Ray from my medical was handed back to me, it had a slight tear and my age on it was listed as wrong, even though my D.O.B was right, but I have been informed since then I don't need to worry about this. My fingerprints were then taken at this time. I was then instructed to pay for my visa, which I hadn't done yet. For that I went to the stall at the very end, where I parted with the $265 visa fee which I had got the money out for last week. With that I was given a reciept to give to my interviewer when I was next called up. Sat down again for another wait, about 15 minutes this time I think, I was called up to a different counter this time with a different clerk. I handed over my reciept, and I believe this was when I needed to hand over my affidavit of support which I did hand over along with bank statements and employment letters from my fiancee. He then instructed me to raise my right hand to swear these were all correct and the actual interview part took place. I was only asked about 5 or 6 questions from what I remember:
- When and where did I meet my fiancee?
- Where do I plan to stay in America?
- Have I lived anywhere else other than the UK? (second time I was asked this on the day)
- What do I for work?
That to me seemed to be the end of the main line of questioning. My interviewer then asked me when do I plan to fly to America? I mentioned that I planned to fly to the states when my fiancee flies over to the UK for a family holiday, then I would fly back with her. He then commented that my medical meant I had until the 24th of October to go. To me this sounded as good as an acceptance. But then a hiccup occurred. My interviewer mentioned that my petition had expired; they had sent me a letter about this back in March, me and my fiancee drew up a new letter of intent, signed it, and I emailed it to them as per their instructions, so should be good right? Nope. They didn't have it in my file, and this is where the panic began to sink into me for the first time. I didn't think to print out a copy to bring with me to interview, I had sent it and was given a message confirming they had received it. I explained this and my interviewer grabbed his colleague, whom I had spoken to the first time I went up. To their credit they tried to see if there was a way around, his colleague said that the affidavit could count since it was completed only last week, but there was a box that wasn't tick saying my fiancee saying would/would not support me, it was blank. So I couldn't be confirmed there and then. I had the letter on my phone I said I could it to them right that second, to the same email address. I did this right after I was sent away. Doing it twice to be sure and emailing through another channel to make sure they had received it (they did).
Seen then I've been on tenderhooks, waiting to see if I'm gonna be accepted and we can go through with our plans to get married in October. We've just recently settled on a beautiful old home, which hosts weddings, in Northern Kentucky. I hope everything works out, don't think my nerves can take it any more.
The one bit of advice I will say, which I got an earfull from my fiancee immediately after my interview, bring everything you've had sent, even if you think you don't need it. You may never know. |
| Rating : |
Good |
|
ver 5.0