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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on September 23, 2013: |
nobbie
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
my route took me to Bond st tube, from there turn left on Oxford st and then left in to N Audley st. There is scaffolding covering the street sign but it is directly opposite Selfridges and M&S. Then a short walk down there to the embassy.
My appt was for 08:30 but I got there at 07:30 and just got in the queue anyway. There was a woman telling people to have their DS160 ready but I just showed my appt letter and that's it. Then another bit of queue and showed letter again and passport this time.
Security was done groups of 4, normal stuff, belt watch coins keys in plastic bag, everything else in a tray and through x ray machine. Airport type detector for people.
In to the embassy and get a ticket number from reception, I was I904. Then in to big room to wait to be called. I was in just before 08:00.
When they started calling it was over a tannoy, after a few minutes that stopped and I kept hearing (about 3 times) a funny bong sound, I then saw they had started putting the ticket numbers and windows you need to go to a screen. This did not happen right at the start. I don't know if that's how it always starts so if anyone very early then keep and eye/ ear out for both.
I got called up after about 20-25 mins and was greeted by a friendly American bloke, congratulated me on my engagement.
He asked for my passport and checked what they had agreed with my passport then asked me my middle name.
He went off to get my file and asked me to write my full name on the back of 2 photos. Then asked me how old the photos were, told him a couple of months.
have you been in the military, yes, and he wanted my discharge papers. Asked for birth cert, decree absolute and Police cert. had a look through my old passport as I had old US visas in there, one of which was still in date which he noted on his form he was filling out.
Then the affadavit of support and just the 2012 tax transcript., he did not want anything else although I told him i had a printout of my US dollar account showing I am self sufficient anyway so he took that also.
He aslo asked if I had registered with courier and wanted to see the receipt for the interview fee. Make sure you have it.
That took about 10-15 mins then back to waiting area.
Off again after 20 mins or so for the interview bit. Nice lady did mine, middle aged but with a fairly quiet voice.
She looked through the paper work, asked me how we met, I just told her in a bar and left it at that. It then became clear she wanted a bit more so I gave a quick summary of how we got to where are are now.
She asked when did we decide to get married, told her I proposed in Sept last year and that we had never really discussed it but we had referred to "when we live together" in conversations. Told here I was at T5 Heathrow and went in to Tiffanys and bought a ring. She liked that bit, must be because it's bloody expensive!
She asked have I met her family, how may if any siblings does she have. Does her family live in Baltimore.
Do either of us have any children, I do so she wanted ages. All over 23 so no problems there.
Why the US and not the UK.
Has she been married before.
What does my job entail.
Have I lived in any other countries for over a year since age 18.
What is the longest time I have spent in the US.
Have I travelled on an ESTA.
Have I ever had a visa denied, no but I had one "cancelled with out prejudice". She did not even ask why or to see it.
It was all done with a smile and over about 15-20 mins not as a barrage of questions.
That's about it really, she said I am approving this visa, offered me a bit of advice about travelling whilst waiting for AoS and showed me the bag thing my passport and the mystery sealed envelope will arrive in.
Out of there by 09:30, the only bugger was my train back left Waterloo 20 mins late.
One other thing was whilst my police cert showed no trace I had ticked the box about convictions etc and the DS156 (I think) but it was never mentioned.
(updated on September 23, 2013)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12840