I had my K1 visa interview yesterday...and survuved

[seaotter 0]

For anyone out there who has a forthcoming K1 visa interview in London, just a few snippets of info from mine yesterday.

Goulds Pharmacy is brilliant - within two mins walk of the embassy, opens at 7.30am, will do you some US embassy approved size photos in ten mins and look after your mobile phone safely for £3. They are polite, helpful and a very slick operation, they made sure my hair was off my face for the photo and took several to make sure I was happy with the final version. Apparently there are other places that do similar, the policemen outside the embassy were giving people some names and directions.

Don't start queuing outside the embassy more than 40 mins before your interview time - mine was 9.30 and they were turning people away from the queue if they turned up too early. And you can't take in anything electronic, so no ipods, data sticks, memory cards, and car keys with central locking plip, etc. You have to take your watch off and put it in a bag and men were being asked to remove belts.

Have your appointment letter and passport ready when you join the queue. These will be checked twice in the line for security and once at reception when you're inside the embassy.

Take a book. A big book. I was there for four hours, it was hot and humid, and the guy selling drinks intermittently ran out of change so people couldn't buy anything unless someone around them either had change or gave them £1 for a bottle of water.

The first person you see is a gatekeeper and is there only to check you have all your documents. Mine was very pleasant until she asked for my fiance's tax returns - I told her they were only needed if he was self employed, and that I had brought W2s instead. She got a red pen and wrote 'NO IRS' in big letters across my checklist and went completely silent. Yet another knot in my stomach and feeling of complete dismay.

BTW they do ask for the I-134 affidavit of support, even though the embassy website doesn't list it as crucial. I also gave them a letter from his employer stating he was full time, his salary, date he started and his position. I also had a letter from his bank stating date the account was opened, current balance and average balance, plus W2s and six months of pay slips (she only looked at the most recent though). I took certified bank statements from my own account as I have large savings (as a result of house sale, and therefore am self supporting in my own right) but they weren't remotely interested.

At this stage they give you the courier form to fill in your name and address, while you wait again to be called. Please note the numbers are not called in order, so just because you see a number close to yours doesn't mean you'll be going anywhere soon!

Finally I was called in for the second part of the interview - and what a difference. This consular officer was friendly, smiling, very chatty. She had clearly read our files carefully as she opened the interview with a comment about when we met, and asked me to tell her about it, which I did. She asked if I intended to work when I got there (I answered yes, but only when I had received the required permission to do so, ie green card). She didn't ask for proof of meeting or engagement, so all the photos, boarding passes etc were not needed. She then told me my papers were all in order and she was delighted to tell me I had been approved for my K1, and wished me and my fiance a very happy life together. She told me I should have my visa in approximately a week, and did I have plans to travel soon? I sheepishly admitted I had hope to fly out on August 10 and she checked the calendar and said it shouldn't be a problem.

Next was a queue to pay the courier - though by that time I didn't care, I was so happy and relieved - and a note of caution as they now say they don't take cash, it's credit cards (but NOT Amex) only. I think it's £14.50 for a single document and I paid extra to have it delivered by 10am so I didn't have a day sat waiting for it. They try and text you the day before it's due to be delivered and you are given a tracking number. The guy at the courier counter was very helpful and told me I might even have it by the end of this week.

So there my friends are a few bits of info, I hope they are helpful to anyone who is about to venture in for an interview. I can assure you it's not as daunting as you might think, and good luck to all of you!

I'm off - got a plane to catch to California! xxx

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Great review. Thanks for sharing

Good luck and congrats!

[Sylvia y Radhames 2]

Congratulations...the general consensus seems to be if your relationship is legit there is nothing to worry about. Don't be nervous just be yourselves and things will flow naturally. Welcome to the US!

[ollywarren1 1]

Thanks very much for this topic, helped me out a great deal as i have my interview in london on august 20th!as i was hoping to know exactly what documents to take with me, as ive read different things off different sites, and would love to be precise about all of this, as its the most important thing in my life!if you could get back to me, that would be so brilliant!congratulations!

[seaotter 0]

It's difficult to be specific because there is no definitive checklist for evidence of suuport. I even emailed the embassy and asked them what supporting documents they would be looking for to go with the I-134 affidavit of support, and their reply was, 'bring whatever you think would be suitable'. Very unhelpful!

The definites are what's on the checklist you did when you sent your forms in: originals and a copy of your birth certificate, any divorce certificate from previous marriage, police check and so on. You will need your fiancee to complete an I-134 and she'll need to provide you with relevant docs to go with it - see the I-134 guidelines that come with the form, but basically I had W2s, pay slips, letter from bank confirming average balance and current balance, letter from employer and letter confirming he has an annuity and what it was worth. If she is self employed you will need tax returns too.

I have heard of people being asked for their CV and so I took mine but wasn't asked for it. I worked on the philosophy of take as much info as possible but only supply what they ask for, so I took my own bank statements, pictures of us together, boarding passes and credit card stubs from recent visits out to the US to prove I'd been there, plus copies of email talking about our wedding plans. I also took letters of intent from us both, as used in the I-129F but again these weren't asked for.

I wish you lots of luck with your application. If you are a genuine couple, and supply all the stuff you know they want, you should be OK.

[DanVanessaSiempre 0]

Congratulations on a smooth and successful interview, and welcome soon to the USA. My fiancee & I will be going through a different embassy; Bogota, Colombia in our case, but it's still helpful & reassuring to hear reports from other places, as the overall experience will tend not to differ all that much.

[ollywarren1 1]

Thanks very much again, i cant tell you how helpful you have been!just one more quick thing, how much does the medical and visa interview cost on the day?getting all sorts of numbers thrown at me, and dont know much accurate information!thanks again for the information!so much help!

[seaotter 0]

The visa yesterday cost me $350 (I think it worked out as £190) and the medical cost £200.

[rlj00 0]

That is great & we are so happy for you. My fiance is waiting to be notified for her inteview for her K1 visa in Manilla. rick

[Negrito Landrau 2]

Congratulations!! Just reading your post made me happy and more excited about my case. Welcome (soon) to USA!