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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on October 13, 2013: |
John & Fay
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
The last and easiest hurdle of the visa process was the consulate interview this week. Our appointment was 8.30am but like most, we arrived an hour early (7.30am) and joined a short queue outside the embassy. We were checked off the list and asked to wait to be called forward to go through security checks (like the airport but they only call 4 people forward at a time into the small security booth outside the embassy). My husband was with me and despite advising in advance he would be with me, the security people didn't have a record (several people here have mentioned similar problems). Security phoned through to the embassy and it seems they had a record somewhere because they let my husband through with me.
To avoid any problems at security we didn't take any electronic devices or large bags with us (they London embassy website said even back packs would not be allowed in). I had a bottle of water in my handbag which was no problem going through security. I had put all of our documents in a clear wallet but many people had folders and even large bags holding their stuff and all of these were let into the embassy on the day.
After security, we walked around the building and up some stairs into reception. We collected a ticket number from the reception (ours started with an 'I' for immigrant (there were several other types of numbers - 'N' seemed most popular which I think is for 'non-immigrant visa') and went into the waiting room. There are lots of chairs and a big screen showing which ticket number is currently being called forward and there is a short list of the numbers called previously. There is a buzz every time a new ticket number is called....makes you jump because every time it buzzes, you're excited to see if its going to be your number (there were loads of 'N' ticket numbers and only about 10 'I' numbers so don't be surprised to see many people being called forward in between your visits to a window).
After about an hour of waiting we were called forward to counter 14 for a file check, fingerprints and to take my passport (no more than 10 minutes and some of that time was the very nice UK clerk looking for our file). We sat back down in the waiting room and waited for just over an hour to be called forward again to another window where we were asked questions by a very nice American lady.
She first asked if everything in our package was a true statement and she checked my fingerprints again. After that, she asked how we met, where/how we got married, when did we decide to get married and why are we now applying for the visa (we've been together for 9 years - she was very jovial about us doing 9 long years of long distance!). After asking those questions she handed back our original documents that were included in the package for NVC and said she was very happy to confirm that I had been approved for permanent residency in the USA!!
Altogether we were in the Embassy for about 2.5 hours but some people with 'I' numbers were processed within an hour or so....not sure if that was just because they got there earlier (first in the queue) or their cases were simpler than ours. Overall, a very relaxing experience compared to the nerve wrecking waiting around for NOA1, NOA2 and the NVC approvals!  I hope this helps ease any nerves you may have about the interview experience and wish you good luck for your interview!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12998