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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on September 20, 2012: |
OnionsJester
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Arrived for my 09:30AM CR1 interview at about 08:30AM. Queue was about 20 people, but only took about 25 minutes to get in.
Queue was friendly and talkative, staff asked to see appointment letter(s) and advised putting any metal objects, wallets, belts etc into a small plastic bag they handed out.
Headed into security. My wallet, belt, coins and keys (just keys, NOT an electric car fob) got through fine. The man behind me had some kind of electronic card reader in his wallet and had to go to the pharmacy to drop it off.
Once inside, got my number, I-917. Sat down in the waiting room and waited. Bring some kind of analogue time-telling device (ie: a watch) as there are no clocks whatsoever inside the embassy.
After waiting what felt like 3 days (I think it was around 2 1/2 hours) I was called to window 13. I was asked for a new passport picture, which I had (US size!). I was asked if I had a copy of my birth certificate, as they had my original, but wanted to keep it. I told her I could get a new copy, so she kept it. She holepunched that and our original marriage certificate(!) before finding copies of both in the file.. she apologized, and I guess no harm done. We'll just hide the holepunches if we ever frame it. She was very friendly and chatty, too. I was asked when I would be traveling to the US, should I be approved, and also the date of our marriage. She also took my fingerprints using the machine, no big deal.
After that, I was told to sit and wait for my number to be called again, and was given a form to fill in for the courier to deliver my visa, again should I be approved. After another hour or so of waiting, I was called (by name this time) to window 15.
The consulate herself was also very friendly. She took my fingerprints to check I was who I was an hour ago, and made me swear an oath to tell the truth. She also gave me my (hole-punched) birth & marriage certificates.
Then the actual interview started. She asked where my wife and I met, and what we both do for a living. She asked about our co-sponsor, who he was, how we knew him, where he lived, etc.. and then that was it. Visa approved, another 10 minute wait in a queue for the courier desk, paid my £15 for visa delivery, and now I'm back home waiting for it to be delivered.
Gave the whole experience a 4/5 because there's no reason they can't put a clock in the embassy. I would have enjoyed watching the arms go around!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #10461