I have my K-1 interview at 9.30am on the 31st January and just want to know how many other VJers will be there that day.
I know of two others already.
I plan to travel to London the day before and stay overnight near the embassy.
Anyone else planning the same?

Maggie

Already in the US but wanted to wish you luck

tons of luck to you! Our interview isn't until the 7th but Chris is going the night before! Where are you staying if you don't mind me asking!?

I don't know where to stay just yet, looking into that at the moment.
I'll be happy to post about where I stay, good or bad.
Maggie

Hiya, Tracy gave me to links to hotels near the embassy. Do you want them!?
I think our Chris is going to stay at one of them!

I would love that
Thank you
Maggie

BRYANSTON COURT HOTEL-http://www.bryanstonhotel.com/

MARBLE ARCH INN-http://www.marblearch-inn.co.uk/

Not sure which one Chris is going to book yet. But he said one has a easier to understand website which makes it a little easier to book!


P.S. Tracy mentioned these links were probably in a guide on the forum some where. I know I've seen them but she was kind enough to find them for me!
Thanks Tracy, I promise not to verbally attack you any time soon *giggle*

good luck for your interview

We just googled "hotels in marble arch" and there were quite a few, we picked one, thought it was a good price but on getting there the hotel was not what it was made out to be. Only for one night so we were not too bothered, found a decent pub nearby and watched football in there Wish I could remember the name of it but I can't,

No worries!

To find them, click on 'embassy info' at the top of the page and go to the UK. They're at the bottom of that page.

Definite giggle on the other

Hey I have my interview date on the 31st too! Mines at 10am

Really nervous though, just hoping this is a formality. Good luck to you

Looks like 3 of us so far, me at 9.30, you at 10 and another at 10.30.
Are you both going to the interview?
I wish Richard could be here with me but he's in too much pain to travel. I just have to wake him up with the result when I get out.
Maggie

I just booked at the Bryaston Court Hotel, fingers crossed, at £44 for a night online booking I don't expect much but I hope at least it's clean.
I had saw these links here on VJ but was hoping maybe someone knew something better.
Sadly the other places I looked at online are extortionate. My tastes far exceed my budget.
Maggie

So the pub was clearly a good one

A friend of mine lives right by that hotel and drinks in the bar there regulary...she tells me that it is a nice hotel...dont kill me if it isnt, i am purely going on what she told me

*grin* passing the pub information on to Chris now! Ohh and the hotel

How far is the BRYANSTON HOTEL from the US Embassy, within walking distance?

Not exactly sure of the distance but Chris booked his room at the Branston as well!

I stayed at the Bryanston when I had my interview in London. Its not the Ritz but its adequate for the one night. It is about a 5 minute walk to the embassy.

Thanks for that, I knew it wasn't far but that's even closer than I had hoped.
Other good news is they have a luggage room, save carrying an overnight bag to the interview.

hehehe I am booked in there too! £34 for one night thats not too bad! I know I am a day after Chris (I'm on the 8th) but do you reckon I'll still find Chris propping up the bar the night I'm due in?

Actually I'm only really staying there cos its address is Cumberland Place and my surname is Cumberland so I wanted to look like a snob

Hi all,

as a native Londoner I can confirm that the Bryanston isnt the Ritz or the Mandarin Oriental but it is fine for one night. I actually lived in Essex in the UK but my parents lived (still do) about 15 mins by car from Marble Arch so I stayed with them and got my father to drop me to the embassy on the morning of my appointment.

Im sure you all know what to expect but I didnt (hadnt found Visa Journey at that time), but I was very pleasantly surprised with the whole experience.

As its cold in London right now, make sure you wear something warm as you will have to queue outside the embassy for about 30 - 40 minutes. They have two lines and you are sent in according to your appointment time. They do prefer you to get there half an hour early too so everyone is lined up and ready to go in. They send you into the embassy in single file and you pass through a few security checks before you actually enter the main room.

People told me to expect to wait about 4 or so hours to be seen and have my interview - this is the reality:

0800 arrive at embassy
0830 enter embassy
0845 called to interview window
0900 called to second interview window
0902 asked two very simple questions and then informed "approved"
0905 booked visa delivery with inhouse couriers
0910 left embassy and went and had a celebratory coffee at Starbacks on Oxford Street!

I hope you all have an experience similar to mine and good luck to you all. They are very nice at the embassy so dont be frightened or nervous. If all is good with your paperwork then you should all be fine.

forgot to add that you should allow at least 10 mins to walk to the embassy from Bryanston Hotel.

Leave your hotel, walk down to Oxford Street, turn left and then take the third (i think!) right onto North Audley Street. North Audley leads you right outside the embassy.