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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on December 6, 2016: |
JFH
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
In the run-up to the interview I was extremely nervous to the point where I became physically sick. Because my husband has been denied indefinitely for a UK visa, this was pretty much our only hope to be together. So I felt a lot of pressure.
I arrived at the embsssy over an hour early but there was no queue so I was able to go right in. She did ask if I wanted to get a coffee first because I was apparently in for a long wait. But I just wanted to get into the embassy and get on with it. Once inside, my appointment letter was checked (to make sure I was on there on the right day) and I was given number I905 and told to take a seat "at the front of the waiting room". The first few rows were taken so I took a seat as far forward as I could. The back few rows are reserved (possibly for disabled people?). The waiting room is rows and rows of blue chairs facing a huge screen where an Argos-type system announces the numbers and which desk to go to. Most of the numbers were V numbers (visitors) but there were a few I (immigrant) numbers. Every time a new number is called, the machine bleeps and everyone looks up from their newspapers or books. You can take a phone and a tablet inside but not laptops. There is free wi-if in the waiting area. One man brought in a bag that for me would be an overnight bag. Large luggage is not permitted.
After about 15 or 20 minutes my number was called to desk 4. Immigrant cases were all being called to desks 2, 3 and 4. The man had a tick chart on his desk and asked for all my documents and ticked them off as I gave them to him. He wasn't particularly friendly. Efficient, polite but not overly friendly. I could hear his female colleague at the next desk and she was a lot more chatty with the applicants. The man made a mistake and called my husband "Jeffrey" but his name is Frank. Jeffrey is the name of our joint sponsor. He then realised he'd got the I-864s mixed up. He had our entire paperwork in front of him, including the huge file we sent to USCIS back in February. He took the originals of my civil documents and put them in a plastic wallet. Gave me my chest x ray CD and asked whether I was having a courier delivery of the passport or collect from the depot. I told him I was collecting and he marked a plastic courier mailing bag accordingly. He put the courier bag in the plastic wallet also. He took my finger prints. He told me to take a seat and wait for my number to be called again. He told me he was handing the file to the officer.
Around 30 or 40 minutes later my number was called again. This time to desk 14, which is around the corner. It's a very small space. The window next to mine was occupied by a couple with a small baby and a pushchair and there was hardly any room for me. There is also a long line of people behind you waiting for desks around the next corner. It felt a bit "public". Also the toilets are directly behind you at desk 14.
The officer was a young man who was very pleasant and friendly. Even cracked a few jokes. I was immediately put at ease. He asked me to raise my right and swear to tell the truth and that everything in my file was the truth. He also finger-printed me again and said "good news! The computer says your hands are still the same hands". He had our huge file in front of him. The interview went like this (as far as I can remember):
- how did you meet Frank?
- when was that?
- how do you communicate?
- how often?
- has he ever sent you letters in the mail or do you only communicate electronically?
- does he also speak German? (He was making reference to the fact that I lived in Germany and I'm bilingual)
- so he's trying to learn German. Nice. (This was because I said he wanted me to teach him German).
- when did you live in Germany?
- why? What did you do there?
- have you been married before?
- what nationality was your previous husband?
- are you aware of the full details of your husband's criminal record? (My husband has a felony)
- I am concerned that you need to know everything. Do you have unanswered questions about his felony?
- I see you've lived in several countries. How long did your father work overseas?
- where will you be living in the USA?
- how do you know the joint sponsor? Is he related to your husband?
He then said he was confused because I had made reference to living with our niece in the USA at first before we get our own place. I think he assumed my niece would be a child but in fact she's only 5 years younger than me because my husband and his sister had such a big age gap. I explained that our niece is 37, married with children. He said "oh I see now!"
- what work do you intend to do? I told him I had received an offer for a job with a very well-known travel company and pending the outcome of the interview I would be accepting it. He said he knew of the company and said "the one with the logo like this?" and drew the logo in the air with his hands. I said "yes, that's the one".
- ok we're almost done here and we can be on our way. I just need to make some notes.
He typed for a few moments.
- OK I have just approved your visa. I have everything I need to issue it but I was concerned that you should know everything about your husband's criminal record.
I had brought all the files relating to that with me and showed him that I had read it all. He didn't want to see them.
- that's great. I just wanted to be sure. Thank you.
He gave me back my civil documents. I was speechless but I did say "thank you" several times when I could speak again. I said "what happens now? What do I do?" And he said "you go and live with your husband!" with a big grin on his face. I asked how I would know when my passport was ready for collection and he said I would get an email or a phone call.
He wished me well, I thanked him again and left.
From what I've read my interview was perhaps a bit longer than others at the London embassy but I expected that because of my husband's felony. He was not at all judgmental (something I had been worried about). He was very professional and very pleasant.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #21004