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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on December 10, 2013: |
Vanitas
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
So I got to Bond Street station from Waterloo via the Jubilee Line around 6:30am and decided to make sure I had my bearings right. I went and found not only Gould's but the Embassy itself which was still preparing for another day of work.
I went back to Starbucks on Lower Audley Road (I believe that's what it's called) and had a drink while waiting for Gould's to open. Once it had opened, I dropped in my phone, keys and my dogtags as they had a glass bottle charm Amy made for me.
As you're coming from Gould's, when you reach the black bollards you need to stay at the "back" of them and to the left of them. The front section is for US Citizen Services. The check-in team will come through the line, sending you to Gould's if you still have electronics, checking your DS-160s and interview letters, giving you a bag to place belts and watches in (unless you have a handbag/backpack, in which case they tell you to put them in there instead).
They form two lines. The left is the check-in line where you're checked in for admission to the embassy. The right is the security line where eventually a guard will come out of the booth and want to check your passport and interview letter. They send you into the booth 4-6 at a time and they *will* admonish you if you're being slow. Put everything loose-ish into the tray provided (my cardigan, my wallet and my folder with passport+letters+documents) and any actual bags through the X-Ray before going through the metal detector. After this, grab your gear and pull the door to leave - follow the signs to the right to reach the Visa Unit. Up the stairs, hand in your letter and DS-160 and then head up the stairs to the right to enter the waiting room. They'll give you a ticket with your I-number on it - this is your place in the queue. I was I-903 but don't be fooled, it doesn't always go in order. It didn't for me!
Be warned that if you're there nice and early they will call out the numbers manually over the tannoy until the automated system is running. So listen up. Now in my case, I-901 was first and actually went to Window 13 *but* I-902 consistently failed to show up, so they skipped them so they went to I-903 - me! I got the polite British gentleman for my documents - handed over the interview letter to start off with. As he went to grab my file, I got everything out and ready for him (which sped things up - tip for you all). He asked for, in order: My birth certificate and my deed poll - my photos - my police certificate - he checked to see if I'd been married before or if I'd been in the military (no to both) - and then my I-134. I used Amy's employer letter and he was satisfied with that, though I did have the tax transcripts ready but he said I could put them away. He then handed over my X-Ray CD, explained I needed to put it into my hand luggage when I flew out and asked if I had a concrete date yet. I said no, given it hinged on the visa. He did however write down on his examiner's sheet that he couldn't access my CEAC data for some reason but that didn't cause any issue with the interview itself. He told me to sit back down after taking the fingerprints and wait for my number to come back up again.
After about 30 minutes I was called back up, this time to Window 16. Now, I had cleared the Document Check first out of the two of us (901 and myself) who had gone up when called, hence why I was first in line for my actual interview (I think). And surprise surprise - I had the lovely African American woman. She checked my identity using my right hand fingerprints, then swore me in (in the old days, you'd physically sign your forms in front of the officer - now you "sign" biometrically with your right hand again). She also handed back my original Birth Certificate, Deed Poll and Police Certificate.
First question: "How did you and Amy meet?"
"We met on an online game called Cybernations. We were on the same team and she admonished me once for doing something wrong so that's how we first met. Over time we worked well together, one thing lead to another and now here we are!"
"So you didn't get discouraged at first?"
"Nope, not at all."
Second question: "When did you both meet face-to-face?"
"In 2008, in Chicago. I flew over and Amy came down from Michigan by train. We went out everywhere we could - Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue ("You gotta do that if you're going to Chicago!" was the response to that from the officer), Museum Campus, proper Chicago pizza.. only thing we didn't get to do is get to watch a baseball game."
"And you've met since then?"
"Yeah, plenty of times. In fact I've just come back from a Thanksgiving trip to see her and her family, and her nieces and nephews took to me like a duck does to water. I've got some photos if you'd like?"
"Oh, sure!" - She looked through them, I explained who the people in the photos were and she returned them, clearly satisfied.
Third question: "Where does Amy fit in with her three brothers?" (I'd mentioned one of them during the photo examination).
"She's third in line. Jeremy's the oldest - Erik's after that, then Amy, then Kevin is the youngest."
Fourth question: "So what did you think of Thanksgiving?"
"I loved it. I just loved how everyone was so welcoming and friendly, I loved the atmosphere."
Fifth question: "Have you ever been deported or removed from the US?"
"Nope."
Sixth question: "Have you ever lived anywhere outside of the UK for more than one year?"
"Nope."
Seventh (and last!) question: "And have you ever been cautioned, reprimanded or arrested in the UK?"
"No ma'am."
Then she looked at her screen and back to me. "Decision time" she said, with a slowly widening smile. "Everything is in order sir - Your visa is approved." And with that, it was as if someone had winded me. That sudden rush of relief brought tears to my eyes and left me speechless. She passed me a tissue and encouraged me to breathe. I explained it was just that sudden rush of relief, and thanked her profusely. She then explained the procedure (Visa in Passport + Big Brown Envelope which must not be touched in courier bag), would be with me in 10 working days, she also handed me a one-page leaflet on the AOS process. I thanked her again and said "Off to get my phone and tell the world!".
...And with that I went completely the wrong way to get out. The exit (from the Officer windows) is actually behind you. You basically go out the way you came once you've left through the exit door. Back round the corner, through the security office and out into Grosvenor Square. Back to Goulds, got my phone and told Amy, Mum and Nan the great news!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #13421