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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on August 4, 2014: |
k.dlg
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
My appointment was at 8am and I arrived at the Embassy just before 7am. There were about 15 people scattered around the waiting area between two small, beige security huts. At around 7.20am some people came out dragging what looked like small blue podiums on wheels and others dragging big signs on wheels. (Do NOT wait in any line that may form in front of the security huts! Just wait between the security with everyone else! Once these blue units are brought out start to position yourself in front of THOSE, the one for US Visa’s was positioned on the LEFT, this is where the line will start!) Also please note, any persons who had later interviews were made to form in a different line and wait for the previous time slot to go through first.
They asked us to have our Passports ready and opened on the bio information page, have our interview letter ready and our DS-260 ready. Once we were checked we were sent to another line that was forming in front of a staff member and given small plastic bags to put all metallic items in. (TIP: Just put any belongings that fit in to it, this will make sense). In this 2nd line, the previous documents asked for were checked again and then we were sent to line up outside one of the security huts. In the security hut (much like an airport), you are asked to put ALL belongings in a tray( including belts gentlemen) as you pass through the metal detector. After I collected my things, I exited the security hut, turned right and followed the path around to the front entrance. At reception they asked for the same documents as before and then attached some stickers to my interview letter, and I was told that was my ticket number.
They then sent me off to the interview area to the left, through some glass doors. This area is a large room with rows of seating and a large set of TV screens at the far end. The interview booths are to the right and are numbered, they also bend around to another area. I believe there are upwards of 25 booths. (Head straight to the front row closest to the TV’s as the ticket numbers being called are displayed on one of the monitors, they also have the news channel on and rolling instructions on what to do next). Ticket numbers were being called at random via PA, A TV screen and a very constant ‘Ping!’
I was in and sat down by 7.30 and was called for my 1st stage at 8.07am. I was processed by a young and very friendly Englishman. The documents he asked for were:
- Passport
- Courier Instructions letter (This is a page you MUST print from a website. You will see this once you follow the website link and instructions printed on your interview confirmation letter)
- Ds-260 confirmation letter (I think! I can’t remember)
Do not offer up documents until you are asked for them!
He clicked away on his computer for a couple of minutes while asking me some very easy, straight-forward questions. He asked me:
- ‘Can you confirm your address, please?’
- ‘Can you give me your contact number?’
- ‘When is your next anniversary?’
- ‘When do you intend to head to the United States?’
For the last question I simply told him ‘If I am approved, I will head out as soon as possible after I receive my Visa’. This seemed very acceptable to him.
He then scanned my fingerprints AND thumb prints. He also asked for a recent photo and had me PRINT my name on the back of it. He only asked for one (U.S. size of course) but take at least TWO just in case!
At some point he handed me back my ‘Chest X-Ray’ results from the medical which he told me was a copy I could keep for myself. More computer clicking, shuffling around of paperwork and during this he asked me in a very friendly manner and quite informally about my job. It seemed I lucked out as he was apparently fascinated about driving trains and the underground/subway system! I told him what it was like and he laughed at my replies and it all felt extremely relaxed and quite enjoyable!
He then told me my paperwork was good and all in order (Thank you Mrs!) and that, if approved, I would get my Visa in 7-10 days. He also kept my passport. I then confirmed with him that I wasn’t approved yet, he laughed and said ‘No but you should be fine, I don’t foresee a problem with that’. To which I thanked him, grabbed my chunky binder of documents and headed back to my seat. Which somebody had stolen! Shame on them! So I sat one row behind.
This 1st part took 20mins and was very, very straight-forward and relaxed. After another 20 minute wait I was called a second time. This time I was stood in front of an older American lady who was rather quieter than the 1st guy but nice and friendly all the same. She began by asking me to raise my right hand and swear that the information I provide from her question are truthful to the best of my knowledge. A simple ‘Yes, I swear’ sufficed. She then began sifting through my case paperwork and quickly flicked through our photos that Krystal had provided.
She then asked me:
- How and when did you meet your wife?
- How often I saw my wife?
- When was the last time I saw her?
- Where is she currently living?
- Was she living there when we married?
- What does she do for work?
- How did we keep the relationship going?
- Asked for an explanation on why we did not continue our K1 Visa process
- What are my plans in the US?
She then briefly commented, in a friendly manner, about how it must be hard to keep a long distance relationship going. She then handed me back my original Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate and Original Police Certificate. She did not ask for these back. She also mentioned that the U.S. marriage certificate was ‘so fancy’ and how ‘she really liked it’.
Then some staring and clicking on her screen while I stood with an anxious yet (hopefully!) calm smile. She then announced ‘I am recommending your Visa is approved, you should expect your Visa to be ready for pick up in 7-10 days’ and with a smile, finished by saying ‘You’re all set’.
I smiled, thanked her and said goodbye. Then I got the hell outta there!
This last step, again, only took 20 minutes and I was out the door at 8:57am.
All in all, it was a very simple and straight-forward experience. The officers at the booths are very friendly and engaged you in what seems like idle, friendly chat at times. At no point did I feel like they were trying to trip me up or catch me out.
A few further tips, particularly if you want a speedy experience like I had! It’s down to you whether you choose to use them:
- Only engage them in idle chatter when they initiate it, if and when they do, be friendly and relaxed and just talk to them normally.
- Be comfortable with silence! At time you will probably find yourself standing in front of them trying to find something for your eyes to stay staring at. This is because the officer is concentrating on what is on their screen or the paperwork in front of them. Embrace the silence and just keep a calm smile on your face and let them lead you when they are ready to.
- If you are like me and well prepared, your documents will all be neatly organised in some kind of folder or binder. Take a look at the documents I mentioned that you are asked for and take them out of your binder and have them ready to produce BEFORE you are called to the booth. They ask that you do this and to make it easy on yourself, I would advise that you do.
- Do not panic if you think you should have been called already, tickets are called at RANDOM.
That’s about it. If I think of anything else I will update this. Please only use this as a general guide, I apologise if I have missed anything out but I have tried to cram in everything I remember!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #14935