K1 Visa - London

[Jessa & Liam 11]

Hi everyone, just making our first post here to ask a few silly questions but my fiancee and I have been lurking here a few days and reading a lot of the threads. I'll apologise in advance if I've got the terminology incorrect.

I proposed to Jess on the 25th June when I was last over seeing her We submitted our I-129F the weekend before Independence Day and we got our NOA1 on July 11th. I'm residing in Northern Ireland and whilst Dublin is my nearest Consulate the paperwork stated that it was based on country of residence so rather than delay things I requested that the interview take place in London. The last time I was there was 20-something years ago so I was wondering;

• Best airport to fly into - I'm assuming that it would be Heathrow
  
• Any reasonably priced accommodation in the area/within easy communting distance - I had a quick look at the hotels in the area and most were £200+ a night
  
• How easy is the Tube to use - I see that the Bond Street exit is a short walk from the Consulate
  
• Best time to request police certificates - are they like passport pics in that anything more than six months is not accepted at the interview
  

I know that this is probably a ridiculously early stage to ask these questions but I'd rather be prepared in advance than leave things to the last minute Any other pointers you can throw our way would be much appreciated.

Thanks everyone

Liam

[JoannaV 174]

You will also need to get the medical done in London. There have been cases of people being allowed to have it done on the same trip, ie just before their interview, but this is by no means something to assume will be allowed. So be prepared for the possibility of two trips.

The Tube is easy to use. You'll be grand :-) If you manage to find accommodation close enough you may even be able to walk!

I don't know anything personally about accommodation options, but there are definitely cheaper options. Upmarket hostels, and the like. if you're going to be staying overnight and using the Tube then your radius of options is pretty big.

I think they accept the police certificate for up to 12 months. I'd say...wait for 3 months from when you applied and then apply for the police certificate. (Or, if you get approved sooner somehow, then apply that day. You won't receive your case number immediately upon approval, so you won't actually delay anything if you apply for the police certificate immediately upon approval.)

All the London area airports are options. Most of the airline/flight sites let you check for flights into all London airports, so you don't need to know before you look. Obviously some are more convenient than others. But Gatwick and Luton have rail links to London just like Heathrow. (Journey times vary, and depends on where your final destination in London is. The expensive Heathrow train is quicker than Gatwick which is quicker than the cheaper Heathrow train.) (Stansted has rail links too, maybe a little further and more expensive though.)

Just plan your Tube route before you go, and it'll be a breeze.

Oh, and congratulations!

Edited July 28, 2011 by JoannaV

[* Kristin * 49]

As the previous poster mentioned, police certificates do have a 12-month validity.

Regarding accomodation options, it's not 'right around the corner' close to the Embassy, but there's a decent little hotel called The Montana Hotel on Gloucester Road, which isn't too far away. You can hop on a bus or the tube to get to the Embassy. Rooms are around 55 - 75 quid a night.

(The hotel is just next door to where we used to live, and we stayed there right before leaving London)

You will also need to get the medical done in London. There have been cases of people being allowed to have it done on the same trip, ie just before their interview, but this is by no means something to assume will be allowed. So be prepared for the possibility of two trips.

The Tube is easy to use. You'll be grand :-) If you manage to find accommodation close enough you may even be able to walk!

I don't know anything personally about accommodation options, but there are definitely cheaper options. Upmarket hostels, and the like. if you're going to be staying overnight and using the Tube then your radius of options is pretty big.

I think they accept the police certificate for up to 12 months. I'd say...wait for 3 months from when you applied and then apply for the police certificate. (Or, if you get approved sooner somehow, then apply that day. You won't receive your case number immediately upon approval, so you won't actually delay anything if you apply for the police certificate immediately upon approval.)

All the London area airports are options. Most of the airline/flight sites let you check for flights into all London airports, so you don't need to know before you look. Obviously some are more convenient than others. But Gatwick and Luton have rail links to London just like Heathrow. (Journey times vary, and depends on where your final destination in London is. The expensive Heathrow train is quicker than Gatwick which is quicker than the cheaper Heathrow train.) (Stansted has rail links too, maybe a little further and more expensive though.)

Just plan your Tube route before you go, and it'll be a breeze.

Oh, and congratulations!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Heathrow is on the tube line. Try this route planner http://www.tubeplanner.com/

Gatwick has the Gatwick Express into Victoria station (train & tube station)

We stayed at Lincoln House. Click on discounts on the main page. Ring them up to negotiate prices. Then an additional discount for cash payment. They held our bags all day (after checkout) while we did the interview then sightseeing. It's an easy walk from Bond St tube station, the medical exam, and the embassy.

Here's my map showing it and the other places you will go to. You can slide it around or zoom in/out if you can't see everything. http://www.click2map.com/maps/nichnick/Embassy_London

Here's London's instructions. You don't really get a Packet 3. Just a letter saying we have your file so go the the website and follow the instructions. http://london.usembassy.gov/iv_15.html Cick all the links over on the left too. Lots of information if you read it.

Edit: forgot to say visit the UK forum to get London specific info http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/99-united-kingdom/

Edited July 28, 2011 by Nich-Nick

[Jessa & Liam 11]

You will also need to get the medical done in London. There have been cases of people being allowed to have it done on the same trip, ie just before their interview, but this is by no means something to assume will be allowed. So be prepared for the possibility of two trips.

Yeah I was sorta expecting to have to make the trip twice, I burned most of my leave this year going to see Jess but it was well worth it

I think they accept the police certificate for up to 12 months. I'd say...wait for 3 months from when you applied and then apply for the police certificate. (Or, if you get approved sooner somehow, then apply that day. You won't receive your case number immediately upon approval, so you won't actually delay anything if you apply for the police certificate immediately upon approval.)

Thanks, I don't want to order them and find that they expired at the last minute

Oh, and congratulations!

Thank you very much

Edit: forgot to say visit the UK forum to get London specific info http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/99-united-kingdom/

Thank you. I hadn't seen that there were specific boards like that, I did check the consulate reviews though.

Regarding accomodation options, it's not 'right around the corner' close to the Embassy, but there's a decent little hotel called The Montana Hotel on Gloucester Road, which isn't too far away. You can hop on a bus or the tube to get to the Embassy. Rooms are around 55 - 75 quid a night.

Thanks for the tip. I'd heard somewhere called Marble Arch mentioned but all Google did was bring up a list of scary prices