Attending the interview with your fiance

[ECWilloughbys 7]

Hello all! N's interview is in two weeks, and since I'm here in London, I'd like to attend. The letter from the embassy says, "If you need to bring a carer, translator or U.S. Citizen spouse/fiance(e) to assist you during your time at the Embassy, please send us their full name(s) as soon as possible so that we may arrange their access to the Embassy. Please let them know that they are required to bring photographic ID, such as their passport, with them."

But it doesn't say HOW to send them this info. Do we write? Email? Call? Anyone done this recently?

Also, his letter doesn't mention payment at all, and I remember someone recently mentioning their fiance had to pay in advance. Will they send another letter before the interview with payment info or should we just plan to pay on the day of?

[Barbara J 115]

Hello all! N's interview is in two weeks, and since I'm here in London, I'd like to attend. The letter from the embassy says, "If you need to bring a carer, translator or U.S. Citizen spouse/fiance(e) to assist you during your time at the Embassy, please send us their full name(s) as soon as possible so that we may arrange their access to the Embassy. Please let them know that they are required to bring photographic ID, such as their passport, with them."

But it doesn't say HOW to send them this info. Do we write? Email? Call? Anyone done this recently?

Also, his letter doesn't mention payment at all, and I remember someone recently mentioning their fiance had to pay in advance. Will they send another letter before the interview with payment info or should we just plan to pay on the day of?

Not being from UK but don't you have the address of the Embassy ? In Australia I had to send documents and had the address from their website plus they gave it to me.

[ECWilloughbys 7]

Not being from UK but don't you have the address of the Embassy ? In Australia I had to send documents and had the address from their website plus they gave it to me.

Yes, we do have the address for the London Embassy. I was just hoping in these modern times it could hopefully be done with an email or phone call. If not, no problem, just want to take care of it well in advance.

[Barbara J 115]

Yes, we do have the address for the London Embassy. I was just hoping in these modern times it could hopefully be done with an email or phone call. If not, no problem, just want to take care of it well in advance.

Oh no darl they don't like anything done by email or phone just send it express post overnight and you will be fine. Remember to put your case number on it so it goes to the right area.

Edited October 19, 2010 by barbarajlw

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hello all! N's interview is in two weeks, and since I'm here in London, I'd like to attend. The letter from the embassy says, "If you need to bring a carer, translator or U.S. Citizen spouse/fiance(e) to assist you during your time at the Embassy, please send us their full name(s) as soon as possible so that we may arrange their access to the Embassy. Please let them know that they are required to bring photographic ID, such as their passport, with them."

But it doesn't say HOW to send them this info. Do we write? Email? Call? Anyone done this recently?

Also, his letter doesn't mention payment at all, and I remember someone recently mentioning their fiance had to pay in advance. Will they send another letter before the interview with payment info or should we just plan to pay on the day of?

In Aus I had a few issues with my interview day (don't even get me started :|) and I emailed them to tell them and it was sorted out. The ONLY issue you might face is if the embassy gets a lot of emails so they don't get your email in time.

Personally I'd send an email.. that is if you've been receiving emails for your stuff AND I'd send a hard copy letter (make sure you mention in the email a letter is coming). This way you've covered all bases... esp if the interview is soon.

Good luck!

[marlea 84]

From what I've heard, as long as you show up with your US passport, they will let you in with no problem.

From what I've heard, as long as you show up with your US passport, they will let you in with no problem.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I thought about attending Nik's interview, so he called to ask what the proceedure was for getting me on "the list" Although some people may have just shown up with their passport, we were advised to email them (and given the code for said email to be read - Australia might read their emails, but the UK bounces/deletes them without the super secret code).

While you're on the phone for the email code, you can ask them to clear up the to pre-pay or not to pre-pay question. Two birds with one extorted stone! Woo hoo!

Edited October 19, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[marlea 84]

And as I read your first post too quickly, I missed the part about pre-paying. That was me that posted that. My fiance got an email from the embassy about 2 business days before the interview telling him that he needed to call to pre-pay for the visa before he got there. I also got a PM from another VJ member who said her fiance got the same email and his interview was the day after my fiance's. The change in procedure is fairly new, as there were a few others who had their interviews just a week or so before my fiance who hadn't gotten that email. Unless you are contacted, I wouldn't worry about it, but from what I've seen/experienced, your fiance will likely get an email about 3 days beforehand instructing him to call and pay.

I like Heather's suggestion though... go ahead and call them, get the email code, ask about your ability to go to the interview with your fiance, and ask about the pre-paying all at the same time!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Found this on Embassy webpage under immigrant visas. Even though a K1 is a non-immigrant visa, it is processed by the Immigrant Visa Unit. Seems if they are in transition and that always gets weird. I didn't find it the other day when Marlea mentioned it. Wonder if they have actually updated their appointment letters to reflect the changes?

Application processed by the Embassy

Immigrant Visa Applicants pay the fee to the Embassy cashier on the day of the visa interview. Fees may be paid in cash - sterling or dollar equivalent; by International Money Order or Bankers Draft; Credit Card - Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Discover or American Express; or Debit Card with the Visa logo. The Embassy does not accept any other credit or debit cards, or personal checks.

K Visa Applicants pay the fee to the Operator Assisted Information Service prior to attending the visa interview. Instructions concerning payment will be sent to you with the appointment letter.

http://london.usemba...as/iv_fees.html

On the other topic, I'm one of the ones who showed up with US passport in hand and was admitted with no problem. Having your name listed officially would be great, but if that fails you can show up and present your passport to the guys at the head of the line who send your on to the security scanner booth/glass house. That will probably get you in.

And off topic~~why are Australians giving advice about procedures in London? Each Embassy can be quite different.

[marlea 84]

Found this on Embassy webpage under immigrant visas. Even though a K1 is a non-immigrant visa, it is processed by the Immigrant Visa Unit. Seems if they are in transition and that always gets weird. I didn't find it the other day when Marlea mentioned it. Wonder if they have actually updated their appointment letters to reflect the changes?

Application processed by the Embassy

Immigrant Visa Applicants pay the fee to the Embassy cashier on the day of the visa interview. Fees may be paid in cash - sterling or dollar equivalent; by International Money Order or Bankers Draft; Credit Card - Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Discover or American Express; or Debit Card with the Visa logo. The Embassy does not accept any other credit or debit cards, or personal checks.

K Visa Applicants pay the fee to the Operator Assisted Information Service prior to attending the visa interview. Instructions concerning payment will be sent to you with the appointment letter.

http://london.usemba...as/iv_fees.html

On the other topic, I'm one of the ones who showed up with US passport in hand and was admitted with no problem. Having your name listed officially would be great, but if that fails you can show up and present your passport to the guys at the head of the line who send your on to the security scanner booth/glass house. That will probably get you in.

And off topic~~why are Australians giving advice about procedures in London? Each Embassy can be quite different.

Ah ha! so they've finally updated the website, have they? I looked all over for this when my fiance got the email. Looks like they are slowly getting everything updated.

[ECWilloughbys 7]

I thought about attending Nik's interview, so he called to ask what the proceedure was for getting me on "the list" Although some people may have just shown up with their passport, we were advised to email them (and given the code for said email to be read - Australia might read their emails, but the UK bounces/deletes them without the super secret code).

While you're on the phone for the email code, you can ask them to clear up the to pre-pay or not to pre-pay question. Two birds with one extorted stone! Woo hoo!

Oh, good call. Thanks for all the answers, guys!

[ECWilloughbys 7]

Ah ha! so they've finally updated the website, have they? I looked all over for this when my fiance got the email. Looks like they are slowly getting everything updated.

They've updated the website, but not the appointment letters yet... or at least not since last Friday. His letter was dated October 14, and no mention of the new payment details. Wonder how long it will take them to update everything.

[rae 0]

Hello all! N's interview is in two weeks, and since I'm here in London, I'd like to attend. The letter from the embassy says, "If you need to bring a carer, translator or U.S. Citizen spouse/fiance(e) to assist you during your time at the Embassy, please send us their full name(s) as soon as possible so that we may arrange their access to the Embassy. Please let them know that they are required to bring photographic ID, such as their passport, with them."

But it doesn't say HOW to send them this info. Do we write? Email? Call? Anyone done this recently?

Also, his letter doesn't mention payment at all, and I remember someone recently mentioning their fiance had to pay in advance. Will they send another letter before the interview with payment info or should we just plan to pay on the day of?

Congrats on getting your interview date!!! im still waiting for pack 3 to be logged but staying positive :-)

[ECWilloughbys 7]

An update for everyone who was wondering about payment: we called the extortion line this morning to find out when and how he needed to pay. He told them he hasn't received any additional letter with payment info like they said he would (and like the website now says), and was worried he needed to pay before the interview so he'd have the receipt. The person at the embassy said he COULD pay over the phone beforehand, but if he hadn't received a letter yet, he could just pay at the interview. So I guess that's what we're going to do!

He also sent an email to the embassy stating my full name and that I'd be accompanying him to the interview. The automatic response email said they wouldn't get around to replying for X number of days, but since we've officially notified them like they asked, I feel like if I show up with my passport it should be fine.

Edited October 29, 2010 by ECWilloughbys

[Going Green 5]

No worries I went with Nick to our interview on the 27th, No one called ahead or anything take your passport and bingo your in!!! Remember in the arm load of info your guys are carrying is your info too. It was really easy and everyone was really nice!!

lexi