Do we post our interview reviews here too? Well, here it is copied from the timeline thingy, in case anyone is interested
July 10 interview:
I arrived outside the Embassy at around 9am (appointment time was 9.30am), having nipped to Gould's pharmacy just up N Audley road to get US style photos (2 for £5). After a 20 minute wait in the rain, I got to the front of the queue and was told the appointment letter I had with Packet 4 was incorrect. The guy checked all my papers, eventually went off and spoke to someone else and came back to tell me my appointment letter was fine, telling me "I've never seen this kind of letter before." Let that be a heads up to everyone else.
You can't take phones, usb memory sticks or anything with batteries in to the Embassy, as I was kindly informed by the policeman outside. Your wallet, spare change and belt etc will be placed into a plastic bag before you go through the metal detector to get in.
Once inside, I got a ticket from the front desk and went up in to the main hall. I'd estimate there were around 100-150 people sat waiting, watching the plasma screens for their number to be called. Although an absolute boat load of people were there for non-immigrant visas, there were only 6 people ahead of me in the queue for immigrant type visas, according to the display.
Unfortunately, my wait was about 90 minutes, but I was eventually called to booth 13 around the back and asked to sign the various DS papers I had sent with packet 3. Once done, I had to go a few yards to the left to booth 12 to pay the £66 (came to £68 with the fee Barclays charged me for the currency conversion from $). Back at booth 13, I gave the guy my ACPO certificate and a copy, my birth certificate and a copy and the I-134 package, including supporting evidence. This included 05, 06 and 07 tax forms, letter from the bank, letter from the employer and recent pay stubs.
Once done I went back to the main hall and waited for my number to be called again. You'll be called to booth 15 or 16 apparently, I got called to 16 after about 15 minutes. An American chap greeted me this time. After holding up my hand and swearing to tell the truth, I was asked numerous questions, such as how we met, how many times we'd visited each other, etc. The whole time he looked directly at me and knew all the answers without having to reference the papers. After about 10-15mins I was accepted pending the medical results.
I queued to pay the courier and opted for the £14 option, as I just finished work so will be home all day now. You can get delivery prior to 8am for a bit extra. I was told that if I wasn't at home, someone else could sign on my behalf as long as I left ID with them (drivers license, credit card etc).
Aside from the initial fright over the "wrong" letter and the lengthy wait, it was all very straight forward, thankfully!
I didn't put this in the timeline review, but a huge thanks to the funny policeman with the machine gun outside the Embassy. He made me laugh, which I really needed at this point. Didn't get his name though unfortunately. Still,
Stu
