yogi3859

Hi everyone,
I had my interview at the US embassy in London on 29th August and have been approved!!!! I just thought I would add my experience of the process.
TOP TIPs
1. Keep calm and carry on!
Yes I know the whole process is a nightmare but keep on filling in every form, dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's and eventually there are no more forms to fill in and you get to the interview.
2. Dont sweat the small stuff!
If you are like me and have spent hours worrying about a form you have sent in, whether or not you put the right date on, or even signed it, or did it get delivered, or whatever.... then don't worry. I made a whole pile of little errors (including being 2 years out on my sons d.o.b. lol) but was still approved.
3. Take 2 big envelopes
Envelope 1 - should have everything in it that it says to take on the list that you get online when you receive your appt letter.
Envelope 2 - take every other piece of paper you have that you may think possibly could be relevant. I took copies of every form i had filled in... extra photo copies of birth/marriage certs police record checks etc etc
You probably wont need anything out of envelope 2 but its just comforting to know you have it!!
3. They want you to succeed!
I found the embassy staff to be very helpful and fair. Obviously they have a job to do but if you are an honest person in an honest relationship then you have little to fear. They are on your side. I'm pretty sure that they already know 99% if you are approved or not... they just want to give you a looking over!
4. At the Embassy
Read the forums. They are spot on. My appt time was 9am. I arrived at 7.45am and dropped off my overnight bag and iphone etc at Gould's pharmacy (very efficient service). Then I joined the queue. There was probably 15-20 people already there. A couple of ladies check your invite letter and passport then you go through airport style security. I was in the embassy by 8.15am. Hang around waiting for your number to come up and then bingo go to the window.
5. At the window
I struggled to hear the lady behind the window because of the background noise and her Chinese accent made it a little difficult but she was a lovely lady and patient. She asked for various forms (out of envelope 1 lol) and ticked a few boxes and asked if I had paid the fee and did I have the receipt. I had paid the fee but i had forgotten the receipt!!!!! it wasnt even in envelope 2!!! panic panic!! it was left on the floor by my printer in my lounge 200 miles away aaaaghhhhhh!!
She asked her supervisor and after a little bit of discussion they just ticked the boss and trusted me! (I have an honest face!!). All done at the window go back and sit down.
6. At the 2nd window
This window was around the corner in a quieter area and an American young man explained that he needed to ask me a few questions under oath. Raised right hand and repeated the oath. He asked me how we had met? How long ago? How we were going to manage financially? When did I plan to travel? I waffled on a bit until he said you are approved!!!!! They have security glass in-between you and the interviewer which i think is there to stop me kissing him!!!
I was out by 10am, all approved, walking in a daze around the park opposite trying to phone my wife to be at 5am her time she was so pleased lol.
One other recommendation. I stayed overnight at the imperial college near Exhibition Rd which was a cheap and cheerful £59 including cooked breakfast. The place was very clean and only 20 mins away on a Boris bike which is a fantastic way of getting around London on a nice weather day
So now in just over 2 weeks I retire and fly out to the USA and yes im gonna fly 1st class cos I deserve it!!

"We thought the same thing - but if you have sent all your paper work through to the embassy the will schedule your interview WITHOUT your medical being complete even though it states that you will be sent away on the website. Hang in there. Ross was able to return for his interview on August 8th and then go back for his chest films that day and they sent them through to the embassy the next day. We thought we would be held up for another 8+ weeks but we are looking at the same timeline now"
Here's a question,
Just got back from my GP the xray shows a small shadow which is small scarring from a bout of plerosy I had years ago, no chest infection, so my GP will not give me antibiotics. Have called the Med Centre in London, they need proof, so need my GP to forward xray and report, unfortunately it is not the policy here in Wales to pop an xray on a disc or email and forwrd it. So I have had to request my medical information be released to me, at another financial cost and a time frame of up to 40 days! At this point I am wishing my GP had just doled out antibiotics then I could have made a new appointment for my follow up xray.
Obviously my follow up xray will be identical to the 2 previous ones... my question is, has anyone had the follow xray showing the same results as the first but been deemed as healthy??

Hi everyone,
I had my interview at the US embassy in London on 29th August and have been approved!!!! I just thought I would add my experience of the process.
TOP TIPs
1. Keep calm and carry on!
Yes I know the whole process is a nightmare but keep on filling in every form, dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's and eventually there are no more forms to fill in and you get to the interview.
2. Dont sweat the small stuff!
If you are like me and have spent hours worrying about a form you have sent in, whether or not you put the right date on, or even signed it, or did it get delivered, or whatever.... then don't worry. I made a whole pile of little errors (including being 2 years out on my sons d.o.b. lol) but was still approved.
3. Take 2 big envelopes
Envelope 1 - should have everything in it that it says to take on the list that you get online when you receive your appt letter.
Envelope 2 - take every other piece of paper you have that you may think possibly could be relevant. I took copies of every form i had filled in... extra photo copies of birth/marriage certs police record checks etc etc
You probably wont need anything out of envelope 2 but its just comforting to know you have it!!
3. They want you to succeed!
I found the embassy staff to be very helpful and fair. Obviously they have a job to do but if you are an honest person in an honest relationship then you have little to fear. They are on your side. I'm pretty sure that they already know 99% if you are approved or not... they just want to give you a looking over!
4. At the Embassy
Read the forums. They are spot on. My appt time was 9am. I arrived at 7.45am and dropped off my overnight bag and iphone etc at Gould's pharmacy (very efficient service). Then I joined the queue. There was probably 15-20 people already there. A couple of ladies check your invite letter and passport then you go through airport style security. I was in the embassy by 8.15am. Hang around waiting for your number to come up and then bingo go to the window.
5. At the window
I struggled to hear the lady behind the window because of the background noise and her Chinese accent made it a little difficult but she was a lovely lady and patient. She asked for various forms (out of envelope 1 lol) and ticked a few boxes and asked if I had paid the fee and did I have the receipt. I had paid the fee but i had forgotten the receipt!!!!! it wasnt even in envelope 2!!! panic panic!! it was left on the floor by my printer in my lounge 200 miles away aaaaghhhhhh!!
She asked her supervisor and after a little bit of discussion they just ticked the boss and trusted me! (I have an honest face!!). All done at the window go back and sit down.
6. At the 2nd window
This window was around the corner in a quieter area and an American young man explained that he needed to ask me a few questions under oath. Raised right hand and repeated the oath. He asked me how we had met? How long ago? How we were going to manage financially? When did I plan to travel? I waffled on a bit until he said you are approved!!!!! They have security glass in-between you and the interviewer which i think is there to stop me kissing him!!!
I was out by 10am, all approved, walking in a daze around the park opposite trying to phone my wife to be at 5am her time she was so pleased lol.
One other recommendation. I stayed overnight at the imperial college near Exhibition Rd which was a cheap and cheerful £59 including cooked breakfast. The place was very clean and only 20 mins away on a Boris bike which is a fantastic way of getting around London on a nice weather day
So now in just over 2 weeks I retire and fly out to the USA and yes im gonna fly 1st class cos I deserve it!!

Hi everyone,
I had my interview at the US embassy in London on 29th August and have been approved!!!! I just thought I would add my experience of the process.
TOP TIPs
1. Keep calm and carry on!
Yes I know the whole process is a nightmare but keep on filling in every form, dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's and eventually there are no more forms to fill in and you get to the interview.
2. Dont sweat the small stuff!
If you are like me and have spent hours worrying about a form you have sent in, whether or not you put the right date on, or even signed it, or did it get delivered, or whatever.... then don't worry. I made a whole pile of little errors (including being 2 years out on my sons d.o.b. lol) but was still approved.
3. Take 2 big envelopes
Envelope 1 - should have everything in it that it says to take on the list that you get online when you receive your appt letter.
Envelope 2 - take every other piece of paper you have that you may think possibly could be relevant. I took copies of every form i had filled in... extra photo copies of birth/marriage certs police record checks etc etc
You probably wont need anything out of envelope 2 but its just comforting to know you have it!!
3. They want you to succeed!
I found the embassy staff to be very helpful and fair. Obviously they have a job to do but if you are an honest person in an honest relationship then you have little to fear. They are on your side. I'm pretty sure that they already know 99% if you are approved or not... they just want to give you a looking over!
4. At the Embassy
Read the forums. They are spot on. My appt time was 9am. I arrived at 7.45am and dropped off my overnight bag and iphone etc at Gould's pharmacy (very efficient service). Then I joined the queue. There was probably 15-20 people already there. A couple of ladies check your invite letter and passport then you go through airport style security. I was in the embassy by 8.15am. Hang around waiting for your number to come up and then bingo go to the window.
5. At the window
I struggled to hear the lady behind the window because of the background noise and her Chinese accent made it a little difficult but she was a lovely lady and patient. She asked for various forms (out of envelope 1 lol) and ticked a few boxes and asked if I had paid the fee and did I have the receipt. I had paid the fee but i had forgotten the receipt!!!!! it wasnt even in envelope 2!!! panic panic!! it was left on the floor by my printer in my lounge 200 miles away aaaaghhhhhh!!
She asked her supervisor and after a little bit of discussion they just ticked the boss and trusted me! (I have an honest face!!). All done at the window go back and sit down.
6. At the 2nd window
This window was around the corner in a quieter area and an American young man explained that he needed to ask me a few questions under oath. Raised right hand and repeated the oath. He asked me how we had met? How long ago? How we were going to manage financially? When did I plan to travel? I waffled on a bit until he said you are approved!!!!! They have security glass in-between you and the interviewer which i think is there to stop me kissing him!!!
I was out by 10am, all approved, walking in a daze around the park opposite trying to phone my wife to be at 5am her time she was so pleased lol.
One other recommendation. I stayed overnight at the imperial college near Exhibition Rd which was a cheap and cheerful £59 including cooked breakfast. The place was very clean and only 20 mins away on a Boris bike which is a fantastic way of getting around London on a nice weather day
So now in just over 2 weeks I retire and fly out to the USA and yes im gonna fly 1st class cos I deserve it!!

Hi everyone,
I had my interview at the US embassy in London on 29th August and have been approved!!!! I just thought I would add my experience of the process.
TOP TIPs
1. Keep calm and carry on!
Yes I know the whole process is a nightmare but keep on filling in every form, dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's and eventually there are no more forms to fill in and you get to the interview.
2. Dont sweat the small stuff!
If you are like me and have spent hours worrying about a form you have sent in, whether or not you put the right date on, or even signed it, or did it get delivered, or whatever.... then don't worry. I made a whole pile of little errors (including being 2 years out on my sons d.o.b. lol) but was still approved.
3. Take 2 big envelopes
Envelope 1 - should have everything in it that it says to take on the list that you get online when you receive your appt letter.
Envelope 2 - take every other piece of paper you have that you may think possibly could be relevant. I took copies of every form i had filled in... extra photo copies of birth/marriage certs police record checks etc etc
You probably wont need anything out of envelope 2 but its just comforting to know you have it!!
3. They want you to succeed!
I found the embassy staff to be very helpful and fair. Obviously they have a job to do but if you are an honest person in an honest relationship then you have little to fear. They are on your side. I'm pretty sure that they already know 99% if you are approved or not... they just want to give you a looking over!
4. At the Embassy
Read the forums. They are spot on. My appt time was 9am. I arrived at 7.45am and dropped off my overnight bag and iphone etc at Gould's pharmacy (very efficient service). Then I joined the queue. There was probably 15-20 people already there. A couple of ladies check your invite letter and passport then you go through airport style security. I was in the embassy by 8.15am. Hang around waiting for your number to come up and then bingo go to the window.
5. At the window
I struggled to hear the lady behind the window because of the background noise and her Chinese accent made it a little difficult but she was a lovely lady and patient. She asked for various forms (out of envelope 1 lol) and ticked a few boxes and asked if I had paid the fee and did I have the receipt. I had paid the fee but i had forgotten the receipt!!!!! it wasnt even in envelope 2!!! panic panic!! it was left on the floor by my printer in my lounge 200 miles away aaaaghhhhhh!!
She asked her supervisor and after a little bit of discussion they just ticked the boss and trusted me! (I have an honest face!!). All done at the window go back and sit down.
6. At the 2nd window
This window was around the corner in a quieter area and an American young man explained that he needed to ask me a few questions under oath. Raised right hand and repeated the oath. He asked me how we had met? How long ago? How we were going to manage financially? When did I plan to travel? I waffled on a bit until he said you are approved!!!!! They have security glass in-between you and the interviewer which i think is there to stop me kissing him!!!
I was out by 10am, all approved, walking in a daze around the park opposite trying to phone my wife to be at 5am her time she was so pleased lol.
One other recommendation. I stayed overnight at the imperial college near Exhibition Rd which was a cheap and cheerful £59 including cooked breakfast. The place was very clean and only 20 mins away on a Boris bike which is a fantastic way of getting around London on a nice weather day
So now in just over 2 weeks I retire and fly out to the USA and yes im gonna fly 1st class cos I deserve it!!

Hi everyone,
I had my interview at the US embassy in London on 29th August and have been approved!!!! I just thought I would add my experience of the process.
TOP TIPs
1. Keep calm and carry on!
Yes I know the whole process is a nightmare but keep on filling in every form, dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's and eventually there are no more forms to fill in and you get to the interview.
2. Dont sweat the small stuff!
If you are like me and have spent hours worrying about a form you have sent in, whether or not you put the right date on, or even signed it, or did it get delivered, or whatever.... then don't worry. I made a whole pile of little errors (including being 2 years out on my sons d.o.b. lol) but was still approved.
3. Take 2 big envelopes
Envelope 1 - should have everything in it that it says to take on the list that you get online when you receive your appt letter.
Envelope 2 - take every other piece of paper you have that you may think possibly could be relevant. I took copies of every form i had filled in... extra photo copies of birth/marriage certs police record checks etc etc
You probably wont need anything out of envelope 2 but its just comforting to know you have it!!
3. They want you to succeed!
I found the embassy staff to be very helpful and fair. Obviously they have a job to do but if you are an honest person in an honest relationship then you have little to fear. They are on your side. I'm pretty sure that they already know 99% if you are approved or not... they just want to give you a looking over!
4. At the Embassy
Read the forums. They are spot on. My appt time was 9am. I arrived at 7.45am and dropped off my overnight bag and iphone etc at Gould's pharmacy (very efficient service). Then I joined the queue. There was probably 15-20 people already there. A couple of ladies check your invite letter and passport then you go through airport style security. I was in the embassy by 8.15am. Hang around waiting for your number to come up and then bingo go to the window.
5. At the window
I struggled to hear the lady behind the window because of the background noise and her Chinese accent made it a little difficult but she was a lovely lady and patient. She asked for various forms (out of envelope 1 lol) and ticked a few boxes and asked if I had paid the fee and did I have the receipt. I had paid the fee but i had forgotten the receipt!!!!! it wasnt even in envelope 2!!! panic panic!! it was left on the floor by my printer in my lounge 200 miles away aaaaghhhhhh!!
She asked her supervisor and after a little bit of discussion they just ticked the boss and trusted me! (I have an honest face!!). All done at the window go back and sit down.
6. At the 2nd window
This window was around the corner in a quieter area and an American young man explained that he needed to ask me a few questions under oath. Raised right hand and repeated the oath. He asked me how we had met? How long ago? How we were going to manage financially? When did I plan to travel? I waffled on a bit until he said you are approved!!!!! They have security glass in-between you and the interviewer which i think is there to stop me kissing him!!!
I was out by 10am, all approved, walking in a daze around the park opposite trying to phone my wife to be at 5am her time she was so pleased lol.
One other recommendation. I stayed overnight at the imperial college near Exhibition Rd which was a cheap and cheerful £59 including cooked breakfast. The place was very clean and only 20 mins away on a Boris bike which is a fantastic way of getting around London on a nice weather day
So now in just over 2 weeks I retire and fly out to the USA and yes im gonna fly 1st class cos I deserve it!!

Hi everyone,
I had my interview at the US embassy in London on 29th August and have been approved!!!! I just thought I would add my experience of the process.
TOP TIPs
1. Keep calm and carry on!
Yes I know the whole process is a nightmare but keep on filling in every form, dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's and eventually there are no more forms to fill in and you get to the interview.
2. Dont sweat the small stuff!
If you are like me and have spent hours worrying about a form you have sent in, whether or not you put the right date on, or even signed it, or did it get delivered, or whatever.... then don't worry. I made a whole pile of little errors (including being 2 years out on my sons d.o.b. lol) but was still approved.
3. Take 2 big envelopes
Envelope 1 - should have everything in it that it says to take on the list that you get online when you receive your appt letter.
Envelope 2 - take every other piece of paper you have that you may think possibly could be relevant. I took copies of every form i had filled in... extra photo copies of birth/marriage certs police record checks etc etc
You probably wont need anything out of envelope 2 but its just comforting to know you have it!!
3. They want you to succeed!
I found the embassy staff to be very helpful and fair. Obviously they have a job to do but if you are an honest person in an honest relationship then you have little to fear. They are on your side. I'm pretty sure that they already know 99% if you are approved or not... they just want to give you a looking over!
4. At the Embassy
Read the forums. They are spot on. My appt time was 9am. I arrived at 7.45am and dropped off my overnight bag and iphone etc at Gould's pharmacy (very efficient service). Then I joined the queue. There was probably 15-20 people already there. A couple of ladies check your invite letter and passport then you go through airport style security. I was in the embassy by 8.15am. Hang around waiting for your number to come up and then bingo go to the window.
5. At the window
I struggled to hear the lady behind the window because of the background noise and her Chinese accent made it a little difficult but she was a lovely lady and patient. She asked for various forms (out of envelope 1 lol) and ticked a few boxes and asked if I had paid the fee and did I have the receipt. I had paid the fee but i had forgotten the receipt!!!!! it wasnt even in envelope 2!!! panic panic!! it was left on the floor by my printer in my lounge 200 miles away aaaaghhhhhh!!
She asked her supervisor and after a little bit of discussion they just ticked the boss and trusted me! (I have an honest face!!). All done at the window go back and sit down.
6. At the 2nd window
This window was around the corner in a quieter area and an American young man explained that he needed to ask me a few questions under oath. Raised right hand and repeated the oath. He asked me how we had met? How long ago? How we were going to manage financially? When did I plan to travel? I waffled on a bit until he said you are approved!!!!! They have security glass in-between you and the interviewer which i think is there to stop me kissing him!!!
I was out by 10am, all approved, walking in a daze around the park opposite trying to phone my wife to be at 5am her time she was so pleased lol.
One other recommendation. I stayed overnight at the imperial college near Exhibition Rd which was a cheap and cheerful £59 including cooked breakfast. The place was very clean and only 20 mins away on a Boris bike which is a fantastic way of getting around London on a nice weather day
So now in just over 2 weeks I retire and fly out to the USA and yes im gonna fly 1st class cos I deserve it!!

Your petition approval is valid for 4 months, meaning you need to get the visa before it expires. However, as long as you respond to London by applying they will renew or revalidate your petition. Their letter of instruction will tell you if you can't complete the process (medicals, forms, interview) before the expiration date then they will want a new letter of intent from the American to extend the petition.
Your actual visa will expire 6 months from the date of your medical exam, not six months from your interview or issue date. That's the way London does it. You have until that date to travel to the US. The US entry starts your 90 days for marriage.

the valid dates are printed on the VISA .. when you get your package and passport.. DO NOT OPEN PACKAGE THAT SAYS DO NOT OPEN!!!

This is for petition approval only. When you get the visa at the consulate, it will have its own expiration date.