Question for those who ahve recently had interview at London Embassy

[britishspouse 1]

Hey guys and girls,

So I have my CR1 interview on july 25th and have a quick question about times.

My interview is set for 9am, and I plan on getting in queue about 7:45am, as i have to nip by goulds at 7:30 to check my bag in.

I have a coach ticket booked to go home at 2pm from Victoria so do you think is realistic? Ive done a bit of research and most people say I should be out by about 12 or 1 ish. So that will give me plenty of time to get to Victoria.

Because I live in a small town there is only one bus per day which Is why i had to book that one. If I did run late, id have to get 2 trains and 2 buses home, but not the end of the world i suppose lol.

So just wondered do you all think my chances are pretty good for getting out by 1pm? I know its basically first come first served, so im hoping getting there at about 7:45am I should be out in time, but who knows i suppose lol

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Just a random thought. Do you have a list of the stops your coach makes coming in to London? I know the coach from Oxford made a few stops before arrival at Victoria. Had we known what we were doing, we could have gotten off on Baker St a block from our hotel. We did figure out by the next day that the coach stopped on Gloucester Pl. right outside our hotel, so we didn't trudge all the way back to Victoria to go home. I noticed quite a number of different coach lines had stops at Baker St coming in and Gloucester Pl going out of town (closer to the Embassy). Maybe yours will, and save you some time instead of going all the way to Victoria.

Here's my map. If you find the marker for the Lincoln House, that's Gloucester Pl. and Baker St. is a street over. The coach stops are near Lincoln House. To find Victoria you have to drag the map to see more south than the Embassy. It's south of Green Park and Buckingham Palace (green blob on map). You can also zoom the map in or out. Close in shows coach and bus stops.

Map of Embassy, Knightsbridge Medical, Gould's, etc

[jingo 38]

Its times like these I feel bad that I live 20 mins away from the embassy.

[britishspouse 1]

Nope no stops in london other than victoria unfortunately It used to stop at marble arch to drop people off, and then at golders green to pick people up but stopped doing that, and now after victoria the first stop is milton keynes

Lol jingo, your lucky Im getting a coach the day before, staying at a heathrow hotel, and will have to leave about 6am to head into london. Im going to have to get lots of coffee to keep from getting grumpy >_>

So shall just have to cross fingers im done by 1:30ish at the latest

Edited July 8, 2011 by britishspouse

[Andrea&Mal 1]

My fiance had his interview today. He was scheduled for 10am and he said he was out before 1pm. So barring any problems, I'd say you'll most likely be fine!

[britishspouse 1]

My fiance had his interview today. He was scheduled for 10am and he said he was out before 1pm. So barring any problems, I'd say you'll most likely be fine!

ok thanks for your comment I do appreciate it. I know it all varies case by case but im hopeful I should too be done by 1

[summerangel 2]

Just had my interview on the 13th and it was for 9am too. I was in the queue at about 8.05 and in and seated with my number by 8.15. Took till 10.25 to be called up the first time for my documents and then was called up about 10-15 mins later, spoken to and told I was approved and was paid and out by 11. I think if you get there early you should be okay, I don't know if that gave me an earlier number at all and helped but I wanted out as soon as possible. Just make sure you have everything and i'm sure you will make the train okay. Good luck and I hope it all goes well and quickly for you.

[britishspouse 1]

Just had my interview on the 13th and it was for 9am too. I was in the queue at about 8.05 and in and seated with my number by 8.15. Took till 10.25 to be called up the first time for my documents and then was called up about 10-15 mins later, spoken to and told I was approved and was paid and out by 11. I think if you get there early you should be okay, I don't know if that gave me an earlier number at all and helped but I wanted out as soon as possible. Just make sure you have everything and i'm sure you will make the train okay. Good luck and I hope it all goes well and quickly for you.

Thankyou for your input too

Im getting less worried now, and more hopeful I will make it As long as im out by 1:15 / 1:30 ish at latest ill be fine I think.

Im aiming to drop off stuff at goulds at 7:30 and be in queue by 7:45

[Susan&Daniel 0]

Im aiming to drop off stuff at goulds at 7:30 and be in queue by 7:45

You'll be joining a huuuuuuuuuuge queue by that time. If you can get there earlier, definitely do so. I got there for 6.45am and there were already others there! By the time the doors opened at 7.45 there were about 100 people queuing up.

[britishspouse 1]

You'll be joining a huuuuuuuuuuge queue by that time. If you can get there earlier, definitely do so. I got there for 6.45am and there were already others there! By the time the doors opened at 7.45 there were about 100 people queuing up.

theres no way I can

I'll be coming in the day before as i live nowhere near london, and getting a hotel. So i could get there earlier but i'll have a small overnight bag and phone so will have to check them in at goulds which dont open till 7:30am

I could check it at victoria stations but thats 10pounds and doesnt open till 7 anyway, so by the time i get back to the embassy it will still be about 7:30am.

I dont mind a long queue, as long as I get in before 8ish ill be ok, which ive heard people say even the long queue only takes 15 mins. So ill have to keep my fingers crossed

[summerangel 2]

Maybe it depends on the day? I got there at 8 and the queue really wasn't bad maybe 10 in front of me to go through security.

Good luck

[britishspouse 1]

Maybe it depends on the day? I got there at 8 and the queue really wasn't bad maybe 10 in front of me to go through security.

Good luck

Yeah probably. Im a monday morning appointment which will probably be busy.

I have worked out though Victoria left luggage is only 3.50 for 24 hours, so i'll just leave my main bag and phone there the night before, then pick it up on the way back to my coach That way I dont have to wait for goulds, and can get to the embassy a bit earlier.

Edited July 17, 2011 by britishspouse

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

BS: Is your hotel in the vicinity of the embassy? Ours kept our luggage, phones, etc for us (after checkout) while we went to the interview. We went back and got the phones then touristed around London. Did Buckingham Palace tour, nice dinner, drinks and such. Picked up the bags late afternoon before catching the coach back to Oxford. You might check with your hotel.

Did anybody ever think that at 6:45 the line grows for an hour before they open. Once they've processed those, it's much smaller and showing up later gets you in in 10 minutes. So you could wait outside from 6:45 standing for an hour or go later and get to sit inside and wait for your number to come up. I realize BS's schedule is fixed by coach times, but just figured I'd throw out my thoughts on how long the line is. When I read people say they got out in an hour, they don't ever add on the hour and a half standing outside to be first called inside.

[britishspouse 1]

BS: Is your hotel in the vicinity of the embassy? Ours kept our luggage, phones, etc for us (after checkout) while we went to the interview. We went back and got the phones then touristed around London. Did Buckingham Palace tour, nice dinner, drinks and such. Picked up the bags late afternoon before catching the coach back to Oxford. You might check with your hotel.

Did anybody ever think that at 6:45 the line grows for an hour before they open. Once they've processed those, it's much smaller and showing up later gets you in in 10 minutes. So you could wait outside from 6:45 standing for an hour or go later and get to sit inside and wait for your number to come up. I realize BS's schedule is fixed by coach times, but just figured I'd throw out my thoughts on how long the line is. When I read people say they got out in an hour, they don't ever add on the hour and a half standing outside to be first called inside.

nope. booked a heathrow hotel lol. And my coach leaves from vistoria so no point going all the way west again

yeah i see your point about the line hehe. I'll probably aim to get in line about 7:15/7:30, as I know they dont let you in until 7:30 anyway

[little_g 35]

i had my interview on the 13th, i left my bag at euston at 7am got the underground to bond steet, 5 min walk to chemist to check phone and i had pictures done which took about 10 mins then i walked to the embassy 30 second walk joined the line about 6 to 8 people in front of me all in all i was in the embassy at 8 and out by 10.

-Jock

Edited July 22, 2011 by little_g