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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on March 20, 2013: |
Levi W
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
My interview in London was scheduled for 8.00 a.m. on March 19th, 2013.
My wife and I both attended the interview as believed this would support our application and she was company for me; however I realize that most people do not do this and it is not a requirement.
We stayed nearby at the Marble Arch Inn (not hotel). The room was quite inexpensive at around £65 and it was more than adequate for us. We specifically picked this hotel as it was only 5 minutes walking distance from the embassy. Most other hotels in the Park Lane area are a few hundred pounds per night.
After some tips I picked up on this website, we went to the embassy at around 7 a.m. and it is a good thing we did this since the queue builds up rapidly within a small timeframe. My advice here would be to queue near the central black bollard as that is where they start checking the appointment letters at from around 7.45 a.m. We did not bring any electricals or keys of any type as we did not want to risk being denied. Our hotel let us keep the hotel keys there. I hear there is also a pharmacy that can do this for a fee; however I am too tight to pay anyone to keep keys for me.
Once passed through the airport style security, we entered the visa section. We approached the desk (of DX Secure), where the receptionist checked the appointment letter and gave us a sticker number that starts with ‘I’ for ‘immigrant’. There were around 7 other immigrant applicants there and around 200 in the other categories.
We waited around 30 minutes when our number was called. There are T.V’s in the room with the clock on BBC News channel.
At the first window a nice mannered non-American person checked our paperwork and scanned my fingerprints. He then said everything was in order and asked us to fill in the pink courier slip while waiting to be called to the second window. We did not have a pen (my advice: bring one), so we asked the gentleman if we could use his. He kindly let us complete it at the same window.
After sitting down for another ten or so minutes, we were called to the second and final window, where a young American gentleman interviewed us. I was asked to raise my right hand and swear an oath that I was telling the truth. He was friendly and asked us the usual questions such as how and when we met, my business and some information about my wife’s family. He then typed for a little while and said that he is approving our application and that I am “… free to move to America.” As I am under the age of 25, I had to sign an agreement that I will register for the U.S. Selective Service (the draft) when I get there, which I have no problem in doing. This will not apply to any man over the age of 25.
We then went to the courier counter, paid the fee and left the embassy. We should have the visa delivered within a week.
It was a nerve racking experience and we are glad it is all over. My advice to those reading this is if you do enough research on these invaluable forums ahead of time, you will be prepared and if you are genuine in your relationship; approved. It is the people whom are not prepared (missing paperwork, etc) that seem to have the problems in London as the U.K. is for the most part, a low fraud country.
Good luck! :~)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #11667