US embassy London question?

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone can help me that has recently been to the US embassy in London for a K1 visa interview.

I have read so many things about not being allowed your phone however the list of prohibited items doesn't include mobile phones... Does this mean i can take it with me?

I am nervous to leave it at a pharmacy and my friend who is coming to London said she will keep it for me however I have no idea how i will contact her to find out where she is so we can meet back up when i'm done with my interview.

Also it says no luggage, I am getting the train to London and staying there the night before to make sure i am in London already. If I am unable to take my bag in am i also expected to leave this at a pharmacy or my friend to carry two bags with her? basically all that would be in there is my change of clothes, toothbrush and phone charger...

I have my interview this Thursday (8th December 2016) and i am so nervous, But only nervous that i will forget to take something with me that i really really need.

Lets hope i have it all hey!

any advice would be great

Thanks

Zoe

[Yimr 0]

Hi

Phones are ok and they have free wifi inside

And for luggage just leave it at the hotel reception most hotels don't mind

[slimbolina 48]

As Yimr said, mobile phones are okay, I took mine in and there were many other people with theirs too. Luggage isn't allowed but again just leave it at the hotel, I did that too then went back to pick it up, they were happy for me to leave it as long as needed that day.

Good luck!!

[TBoneTX 43,022]

Country-specific thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the UK regional forum.

[ZoeUK1989 35]

That's good to hear. Thank you both!

So it seems all I have to worry about now is that I have got everything I need.

Strange how scary this actually is lol.

Almost there now though!

[slimbolina 48]

That's good to hear. Thank you both!

So it seems all I have to worry about now is that I have got everything I need.

Strange how scary this actually is lol.

Almost there now though!

Yes! It's the little details that can cause the most stress sometimes but as long as you have your passport and piece of paper to say you have your appointment and the other bits of evidence they may ask for (employment, financial or other stuff I can't remember now), you'll be great and I wish you the very best of luck! Check out my review on my timeline which will help massively too.

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Thank you slimbolina!

It is stressful and that's the bit that I worry about. I wrote a list previously of what I have for my embassy interview.

I would love to read your review however I am unsure how to get to it and have a look.

[slimbolina 48]

Thank you slimbolina!

It is stressful and that's the bit that I worry about. I wrote a list previously of what I have for my embassy interview.

I would love to read your review however I am unsure how to get to it and have a look.

No problem, this link to my timeline should work, scroll to the bottom and you'll see my review there.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=228110

Or just click on my timeline from my name.

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Wow your review was so helpful. Just another question based on your review for POE...

You say make sure you have a good layover if you have a connecting flight. Where is you POE? Does that mean it's where ever your flight lands in the US before a connecting domestic flight?

Thanks again

[slimbolina 48]

Yes, so when you land in the States you need to take into consideration the time of the day, where you're flying in to, how long it can take to get through border control and then the processing of your packet and visa before even navigating your way to your gate. Always best to have a longer layover in between so that you're not panicking or stressing about the time and potentially missing your flight.

[ZoeUK1989 35]

Thanks for that advice I probably wouldn't of thought of that and just thought I would need to do it at the airport of my final location.

I am trying to get a direct flight but these are costly and the only flights that are really coming up cheap are like 2 or 3 stops in some really random countries that are self transfer. Don't like the sound of that!

Do i need to take money to pay for anything else at the embassy or am I all even now. Also sorry another question. What confirmation did you have that you have registered with the courier?

[JFH 12,189]

I was at the embassy today and there were people there in the waiting room chattering away on their phones.

Phones have to be off when you are at the actual desk, of course, but in the waiting hall it's no problem at all.

[JFH 12,189]

Thanks for that advice I probably wouldn't of thought of that and just thought I would need to do it at the airport of my final location.

I am trying to get a direct flight but these are costly and the only flights that are really coming up cheap are like 2 or 3 stops in some really random countries that are self transfer. Don't like the sound of that!

Do i need to take money to pay for anything else at the embassy or am I all even now. Also sorry another question. What confirmation did you have that you have registered with the courier?

You'll probably find a return ticket is cheaper and just don't use the return journey. Unless you fly with Norwegian (but they only fly to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland and Orlando).

Have you flown to the USA before? The procedure will be the same but you will probably be taken into secondary at immigration to sort out your paperwork. But you will still clear customs and immigration at the first airport you arrive at in the US, like you always do.

Where are you flying to? Maybe someone here has been through the same airport as an immigrant and can share their experience.

Edited December 6, 2016 by JFH

[ZoeUK1989 35]

I have flown to the USA a few times. My connections to get cheap flights previously were in the UK. For example I would go from Manchester to Heathrow and direct from there. Same flight just cheaper from Manchester.

The throwing away your return makes me nervous for a couple of reasons

1. Will they see something off about the fact that I have a return ticket even though I don't plan on leaving?

2. Ticking throwing is something that they can chase you for. They can chase you for the cost that it would have been if it had been a one way and they can ban you from using the airline.

I checked and checked again with this as it was my first thought.

I intend on flying into Phoenix as that's where my fiance lives

[JFH 12,189]

I work for an airline and although they can theoretically chase for ticket throwing, realistically it doesn't happen unless you are doing it weekly. For a start, they have no way of finding you. They find those that do it regularly because they often have frequent flyer cards lodged on their reservations. And attached to those FF cards are all their contact details. So they can find them. The cost of chasing a one-time incident for a couple of hundred quid with no realistic chance of success is just not practical.

Many people buy tickets that they don't use, for various reasons. Illness, death, change of plan. I have no-showed a few times before and they know exactly who I am because I work for them. So a ticket with a return date several months in advance which doesn't get used won't keep the CEO of British Airways awake at night.

If I can't get a staff ticket, I always used to fly from Oslo, Copenhagen or Stockholm. Never paid more than £250 return to the west coast that way. Dublin is cheaper too. You might want to look at one ways that way round also.

It's your call. As an employee, if you want to spend more on a ticket than you really need, I'm happy!

Edited December 6, 2016 by JFH