I had my interview this morning scheduled for 8am at the embassy in London. I figured I'd write my review now before I forget what happened!
I headed round to Gould Pharmacy at about 7.20 and handed my bag in for £3. Then
I joined the long line outside the Embassy which already had about 40 people ahead of me at 7.25. I'd say 80% of people were wearing smart office dress, but there were also those in jeans and trainers. An employee walked down the line and checked my appointment letter and separated the long line into smaller lines based on appointment times. She also asked if anyone had a laptop and directed those that did to Goulds Pharmacy. I thought it was strange that she told the man in front of me that he could take his iPad in but not the keyboard attached to it!
I was outside for about 15 minutes before I went through a miniature version of airport security and made it inside the embassy by 7.55. Once inside I was given several labels with a number printed on it and was told to take a seat in the waiting hall and watch for my number to be called. The waiting hall is just a big room full of chairs facing a big TV screen. There are several windows to be called up to (it kind of looks like a post office counter with a glass screen).
The numbers started being called at about 8.10.
And then began the most intense game of bingo. I sat on the edge of my seat watching for my number to be called!
At 8.30 Bingo! I went to the first window and spoke to a very friendly English lady who took all of my documents and my finger prints. She scanned in my photo and gave it back to me along with a copy of my chest x-ray on a CD. I thought the lady was very friendly and cracked a few jokes. She took my original birth certificate, MRV receipt, police certificate, affidavit and passport and put them in a file. This process took about 10 minutes; then I was told to take a seat, and wait for my number to be called again for my interview.
Around 9.10 I called Bingo! for the second time and went to a different window and spoke to a very laid back American man. I was asked to raise my right hand and swear that I had told the truth on all the documents I had submitted and that I was going to answer all the questions truthfully. The nice man had all of my original documents and he flicked through them and gave them back to me.
I was asked:
-When and where I met my Fiancee
-How often we have visited each other
-What we both do for work
-How we stay in contact
I was told at that point that my Visa had been approved (BINGO!) and he explained that he was going to keep hold of my passport and that it would be returned within 2 weeks. I've got my fingers crossed that it will be back a bit quicker though!
Overall, it was not as bad as my mind had made it out to be! I think I made it a bigger deal in my head because it is so important to me...this is the rest of mine and my fiancees lives we're talking about here! Now I've shared the news with my wife to be and the rest of our family we all feel very relieved.
Keep going guys! We're almost done. It will all be so worth all this fuss.
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #15264
Review on September 24, 2014:
