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United Kingdom US Consulate Reviews
Average Rating: 4.4
/ 5
1162 Review(s)
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| London, United Kingdom |  Review #33092 on April 4, 2024: |
__mxyy__
Rating: 
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Had my interview today at 10 am and wanted to give a review
I had been reading all the ones on here and honestly they were so helpful in preparation for this
The walk from Vauxhall station to the embassy is really easy and quick and the building is hard to miss
We arrived early so we went to the cafe opposite the embassy and waited there. This one allows you to give a £6 donation to a charity in exchange for holding personal items but won’t hold your whole bag so if you just need to drop off a laptop or something since you can’t take them in then that’s a quick place to go. There are other cafes near by that will hold your bag for you rather than just items.
I went to line up at 9:20 since the line was really long. There is the blue side on the left and the red side on the right. I have seen people say on here that K1 can go to the left side and I tried that but they told me I had to go to the right side. When you approach have your passport and DS-160 page ready. They let me in 40 minutes early but they were turning away people trying to get in an hour or more early. Signing in was quick but the security line was quite long but moved pretty quickly. Definitely go 30 minutes or earlier though just incase they make you go to the right side and it’s a busy day. If it’s really bad still try the left side because if it’s backed up K1 should be able to skip.
Once through security you head over to reception which is in the north building as you walk out of security. Again there is a blue side on the left and the red on the right. I stuck to the red side since that’s where I was told I needed to be. At the time I went in it was really empty but just as I got to the front desk they stopped everyone and said they had a call that they couldn’t let anymore people through because it was too busy up there. I ended up waiting there for like 15 minutes and at this point it had gone past my appointment time and there was no sign of anything moving. The line was really backed up behind me all the way down to security. I was getting worried so I decided to try again and told the receptionist I was K1 and she was like “oh poop” and quickly game me my number and told me to go up so little tip to anyone if this happens to you and there is a massive line just skip it and go straight to the desk and tell them you are K1. I realise a lot of people have said this but when I was in the situation I doubted it especially since I was told I was wrong at the entrance lol.
The lifts are to the right of reception K1 is first floor and when you get up there it is really busy but ignore it and take a left towards the crowd but keep walking and go left again round the corner and there is a quiet area with some booths where they have screens that will display the number that reception sticks to your DS-160.
I got called up straight away to a nice man who asked for my passport and DS-160. He then went through a list of questions which were very simple such as have I been married before, has my fiancé been married before, have I lived outside the UK and a few more. He then collected my documents you need: passport, DS-160 confirmation, birth certificate, police certificate, I-134, and a tax return to support this. He then took my fingerprints and I was then told to sit back down and my number would come up on the screen again when they are ready to interview me.
I sat back down and met a really nice lady who was also there for K1. We had a nice chat and she got called up before me but I was only sat there for like 10 minutes before I got called up. The lady interviewing me was so nice and the questions were really easy. I was asked to swear an oath, to confirm my finances name, ask where he lived, how we met, how many times we have met in person, has he come here to visit, how did the relationship progress, how he proposed, and what our wedding plans were. After that I was told I was approved and I would get my visa in 1 to 2 weeks. They keep your passport but gave me my birth certificate back and police certificate.
Overall it was probably the easiest part of this whole process and the interview is ridiculously simple. The paperwork’s and interview itself took 15 minutes all together the longest part was getting in and reception. The only thing I dislike is the lack of signage and communication from staff at the embassy. They are all really friendly but when they stopped the line not once did they specify if any certain visas could go through and there were no signs to say what visas needed to go where. If I hadn’t read the reviews on here and tried my luck at telling them I’m K1 I don’t even want to know how long I would have been stood there waiting.
| | | London, United Kingdom | Review #33086 on April 1, 2024: |
Marieke95
Rating: 
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Very long line to get into the embassy, which made me a bit nervous. Good thing I arrived 30 minutes before my appointment.
Interview was short and to the point. Officer was very kind.
| | | London, United Kingdom | Review #33067 on March 22, 2024: |
WestHighlander
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Quick and courteous throughout.. Staff were great, everything went smoothly. In and out in less than 45 minutes.
| | | London, United Kingdom | Review #32993 on February 26, 2024: |
HighSoaring9876
Rating:
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Just noting my experience in detail to help put someone’s mind at ease and give you insight into what to expect.
The embassy is a 15 minute walk from Vauxhall station. If the weather is nice, I would recommend the riverfront route. My appointment was at 11am.
Follow signs to visa queue and have your passport, DS-160 and appointment letter ready. There was a queue of about 6 people but it moved fast. There were two employees looking at these documents and signing the DS-160. They then asked me to join the next queue. Do mention if you are applying for a K1 because then you can skip the queue. I didn’t do this but someone behind me did - I didn’t mind too much because I was early.
I was then asked to unlock my phone and show them before going through airport style security.
I walked over to the next section, where I showed my passport and DS-160. They gave me a ticket with a number on it and told me to go to the first floor and take a left, walk to the end and take another left. When you get out of the lift, there are a lot of people so don’t be daunted because once you follow the directions, there is a smaller section with seating.
There are a number of booths, similar to a bank. There are screens with ticket numbers and corresponding booths to go to - you can’t miss it.
About 15 minutes after my appointment time, I was called and a nice (American) gentlemen took my fingerprints and the following documents: passport, passport photo, birth certificate, police certificate, I-134 form and tax returns. He asked me to confirm simple questions such as if I had been married before, lived in another country or worked in the military. He also asked when I plan on going to the States. He then gave me a sheet to read about support and services available to immigrant spouses in the US. He asked me to take a seat and said I will be called back shortly.
After about 45 minutes, I was called to another booth and a lovely (American) lady greeted me and asked for my fingerprints. I swore an oath that I was being truthful. She confirmed my fiance’s name, asked when and how we met, when we first met in person, when our relationship began, when and how we got engaged and when we last saw each other. She then typed some things and said “everything looks good, your visa is approved. You will receive it in 1-2 weeks”. I then asked about being notified and she said I will receive an email when it is ready to be picked up.
That was it! I was in and out within an hour. The actual ‘interview’ was less than 5 minutes, it was just a very casual conversation. As others have said, very anticlimactic because it is so straightforward. It was not intimidating at all, they just want to ensure that your relationship is bona fide.
Things to note:
- Everyone I interacted with was pleasant and helpful including desk staff, security and the interviewers.
- Dress code: not too formal nor casual, business casual will do.
- The staff are willing to wait for you to gather the documents they request but you can make your life easier by having easy access to everything. We used an expanding folder.
- They only wanted the original documents, not any copies. You are not supposed to present anything that they don’t ask for. This was annoying as we spent a lot of time putting things together and printing them. It did make me feel confident that I had copies and proof of everything so I would recommend that as well. We also prepared additional supporting documents with the I-134 but the tax returns alone sufficed.
If you are genuine, all will go smoothly! Good luck!
| | | London, United Kingdom | Review #32966 on February 16, 2024: |
M and Mike
Rating:
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My interview was for 10am at the London Embassy. Arrived half and earlier but the quay was long but going fast. When through security with airport style and walk through reception and was hand in ticket for your interview. Interview itself was easy. Nervous at first as I did not have my Police certificate from the age of 16, but they make it so easy.
At the interview requested documents were
- My passport
- 2 US passport colour photos one was taken
- DS-160
- Birth Certificate
- UK Decree Absolute - Just Certify by a Lawyer after download from the website
- Police Clearance Certificate, they did not ask for my Police Certificate where i was born ( Please I advise to have it I was very lucky and God blessing was with me)
- I-130 and Tax return
- They did not ask for my proof of relationship or Intent to Marry
Documents where checked and after 25 min I was call for the Interview. She was so polite and she was asking me the questions and answering it.
- Ask about my Finance name and she answer it
- Where we meet
- How many times we have seen each other
- The last time we see each
That all as she says you are Approve and you will get your passport in few days and she hand me over My documents
- (These 3 documents where handed back) -BC, PC and my Decree Absolute
The process itself it about 25 mins and a total time spend it about an HOUR due to the waiting.
You'll be all set as long as you bring the necessary paperwork with you!
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