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United Kingdom US Consulate Reviews
Average Rating: 4.4
/ 5
1796 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 #33090 on April 3, 2024: |
lgomez
Rating: 
· 3 people found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Medical Exam (20th March at 8:50 am):
Upon receiving the appointment confirmation email from Visa Medicals, I was asked to bring the following documents:
Original Passport
4 Recent Passport Style Photos (UK or US Size)
ACRO Police Certificate
Vaccination Records
Completed medical questionnaire sent via email
Email from NVC confirming case number and visa category
Summary of medical history from GP (care summary)
Contact lenses or glasses if applicable
Report from ongoing or previous medical conditions
Since I'm originally from Spain but have been residing in London for 5 years, I needed translations of my Spanish vaccination records and a police certificate from Spain alongside the UK one. Interestingly, they didn't require a patient care summary from my doctor in Spain, as the one from the UK sufficed. It's worth noting that I brought the pictures with me, but as we submitted our I-130 online it turns out they weren't needed and they took a photo of me at the clinic with their camera. However, having physical photos might be prudent.
At the clinic, I submitted my documents at the reception desk and was asked to wait in the waiting area. Shortly after, a friendly doctor brought me into a room for questioning about my physical and mental health. This lasted about 5 minutes. Then, measurements of weight and height were taken, followed by an examination in my underwear to check for any signs of skin conditions or scars. Finally, a blood test was taken and I was asked to return to the waiting area to wait for the chest X-ray.
They called me back after 5 minutes, and the x-ray took 5 more minutes. Again, they asked me to go back to the waiting area and wait for the last part of the appointment where the nurse checks your vaccinations.
10 minutes later, I was called to reception and informed that I was done with the medical examination. When I inquired about the status of the vaccination records, they assured me that the nurse had already signed off on them as everything was in order.
Last month I visited my public health doctor in Spain and requested all necessary vaccinations, which they provided free of charge. I had missing vaccinations for Hepatitis B, Flu and Tetanus (which also covers Polio). I highly recommend arranging vaccinations with your GP ahead of time if you can, as it could spare you additional costs, especially considering the already expensive cost of the medical exam! After completing the payment for the medical exam, I received a receipt along with a form detailing my vaccinations which they said I did not need to bring to the embassy interview.
Two days after the medical exam, I realized the Easter bank holidays might delay the submission of my medical exam information to the embassy (with the bank holidays, I had a total of 7 working days for the results to get to the embassy, instead of 10). I then emailed Visa Medicals, and they reassured me that because my case was online, once the chest X-ray results and blood test were ready, the embassy would have access to them straight away. Four working days post-appointment, I received confirmation that all my information was successfully submitted.
After reading all the bad reviews on Google I was not sure what to expect there, but I have to say my experience was really straightforward and everyone at Visa Medicals was lovely!
US Embassy Appointment (3rd April 2024 at 10:00 am):
It took me 10-15 min to walk from Vauxhall station to the embassy. I arrived at 8:45 am and I approached the desk outside as I saw there was already a big queue. A helpful staff member advised me to return at 9:30, and that because of I had an immigrant visa I would need to bypass the queue. When I returned, I was taken to the front of the queue and before going in a security lady asked me to unlock my phone and show her the calendar app. When I went in, I passed a airport style security check and then went to a reception area where they asked to see my passport and DS 260. They gave me my documents back and a case number, and instructed me to go to the first floor, left and left again, where I had to wait for my case number to show up on the screens.
When I arrived to the waiting area on the 1st floor, my case number was already displayed on the screen assigned to a desk. There a gentleman asked me for my passport, birth certificate with translation, original marriage certificate, and police certificates from both the UK and Spain with translations. I informed him that I had to renew my passport recently, and he changed my passport details on his computer. After that, he asked me if my husband or I had ever been married before, if I was adopted or if I ever changed my name. Finally, he took my fingerprints and asked me to return to the waiting area for the interview.
Approximately 40 minutes later, my number was called to another desk where a friendly American official conducted a brief interview, starting with an oath for honesty. She asked how my spouse and I met and how was the proposal. The atmosphere was very relaxed, we had a laugh when I said when my husband and I met we did not want to be in any relationship and here I was three years later married at the US embassy. After this, she told me my visa was approved and that my passport would be delivered within 5-10 working days! She also gave me back all the documents I had given to the previous gentleman.
Awaiting the return of my passport, I am looking forward to reuniting with my family in Spain before embarking on our journey across the pond! I want to thank everyone who shared their experiences, offering invaluable guidance and reassurance throughout this process. Best wishes to all undergoing their interviews and transitions to the US!
| | | 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 #33078 on March 27, 2024: |
Matt4632
Rating:
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Was approved today for my IR1 at London embassy so thought I'd share my experience.
My appointment was scheduled for 9.30am. I arrived at vauxhall tube station and walked about 10 mins to the embassy. I spoke to a member of staff who was outside where lots of people were queuing. She told me that the queue was for people with a DS160 form (this was signposted) and that because I had a DS260 I could skip the queue. You can do this 30 mins before your scheduled appointment.
So at 9.00am I went straight to the desk which is outside of the embassy main doors and told them I had a DS260. They scanned the barcode, checked my passport and then let me straight through. I then skipped another queue entering security check just by showing the person on the door I had a DS260.
I went through airport style security and then across a courtyard to another entrance where there was another queue of people. Again, you can skip this queue and go to the desk marked for US citizens. They gave me a number and told me to take the lift to the 1st floor go left and left again. Once you get to the first floor its really clear where the immigrant visa waiting area is located.
As soon as I got there my number was called up to a desk. This was around 9.15am. I was asked to produce my passport, photographs and original copies of my civil documents. They took my fingerprints and also asked for the printed copy of the email confirming your courier choice for passport return.
This took about 5 minutes and then I was told.to wait again until my number was called for the interview. I waited about 35 minutes before my number was called. This time I was asked to scan my fingerprints again to check identity and then I was asked how my spouse and I met. We spoke about this and subsequent life events for about 1 minute. And then I was told I was approved and that was that! In and out in about an hour. Comfy waiting area, friendly staff and good facilities.
| | | 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.
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