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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on July 20, 2017: |
denitalynn
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
First of all, I dressed up, something I learned in the military, but I was one of only about three of us there that day who did so. Everyone else was dressed for comfort, which is fine; I would do so if I was you; there were not many fans in the embassy, and it was a hot day.
The beginning of the day was very quick. I was asked to turn up twenty to fifteen minutes prior to my appointment, which I did, and the cue was relatively short. On handing over my paperwork (passport and interview confirmation pages) I was let through security (who checked the same paperwork and passport again) and directed to reception, who checked it all a third time, and directed me to the front of the waiting area.
This first waiting period was very short, about ten minutes, before my number was called. I handed over the paperwork as it was requested, and here was where the only moment of panic came; although the lady taking my paperwork was polite, and professional, she asked me where my 'courier receipt' was. I had already handed it over (it was a note on the end of my interview confirmation) but she had obviously seen different paperwork before, because it took a couple of minutes to sort out that I had no seperate reciept, and it was included on the paperwork I had already given her. This was not helped by the worry that I had indeed forgotten something, as careful as I was to make sure I had included everything they asked for.
Luckily, with that minor detail sorted out, we progressed rapidly and with no further issues. The lady asked me to take a seat and wait for my number to be called again.
This second period of waiting was much, much longer. I went in for my appointment at 1200, and probably sat down again after handing my paperwork over at 1220. My number was not called again until about 1345. I passed the time with a guy who was in the same situation, but here is where the comfort comes into it; it was hot in the hall way, and as previously stated there were not many fans to move the air around.
When my interview did come, it was quick but professional. The gentleman I saw asked me how I had met my fiancée, with some follow up questions about the friends we had met through, which I appreciate will not be required of every couple.
He asked me when we first met, when we last met, and how many times in between, and if I had met any of her family, and who that was.
He enquired about my change of name (again, I appreciate that this is only relevant to some of us).
Finally, he asked about my fiancee's home life; to whit, who lived at home with her.
All of this was done in a friendly manner, we joked about military life, and about how my fiancée and I first met at his home town. It was a very easygoing interview, certainly more than your average job interview!
It was also very quickly over. He informed me there that I had been successful, and cancelled my previous visa (a tourist visa that you need to get if you are staying longer than the waiver allows you too), and I was out the doors by 1410.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #22188