Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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Event |
Description |
Review Date : |
September 10, 2020 |
Embassy Review : |
I had my interview on Monday, August 24, 2020. I arrived at the embassy at around 8AM for a 9AM interview. I was coming outside of London so I wanted to leave earlier in case there were any delays with the trains. I made my way to the South Pavilion where someone checked my passport and DS 260. Then, I went through airport-like security screening. After security, you make your way to the main building. Someone at the reception looked at my DS 260 again and stuck a note on it with my interview number. Because I was there so early, I was told to wait in the courtyard there until 8:45AM.
Then I went to the 1st floor, turned left and left again to a small waiting area and waited for my number to be called. When I got upstairs, someone there told me to go wait on the right side, and I told him my appointment was for an immigrant visa, and then told me to go to the left. So make sure you let them know you’re immigrant visa if they tell you to go somewhere other than to the left. I waited for about 10 minutes before I was called. At the first window they asked for my passport, marriage certificate, birth certificate, police certificates, and a photo. I was not asked for anything else, however I had with me the AOS, Tax Transcripts and W2s, DS-5540 (which I was not asked for), all other documents that I uploaded on CEAC (petitioner’s passport copy, address proof, pay stubs, and joint sponsor’s documents—passport and proof of address), and bonafide relationship proofs (pictures, plane tickets, letters). Reading other reviews, I saw that they usually don’t ask for other documents, but I preferred to be safe rather than sorry haha. Then they took my fingerprints and asked me to take a seat until they called me again.
Then I waited for 15-20 more minutes and was called to another window. This one was the actually interview. It was pretty short and felt more like a conversation than an interview. The consular officer asked me:
- How did my husband and I meet?
- When did we get married?
- Why did we decide to get married (after just 6 months of dating)? Did we have a wedding?
- Who our joint sponsor is? (his mother)
- Did I meet his family? Did he meet my family?
- What my husband works?
- If I will have health insurance?
He then let me know that my medical had not arrived so he couldn’t give me an approval on the day but told me I would be approved once my medical arrives. My medical arrived at the embassy on the same day in the afternoon and then my case status had gone from “Refused†to “Administrative Processing†on Wednesday, Aug 26, 2020 (2 days later). On Wednesday, Sep 2, 2020 my status changed from “Administrative Processing†to “Readyâ€. It then changed back into “Administrative Processing†on Tuesday, Sep 8, 2020 in the morning and then later that day it was issued. I had my passport delivered on Sep 10, 2020.
It was a stress free experience and the staff was very friendly and nice. Good luck to anyone going in for their interview! |
Rating : |
Very Good |
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