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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on May 7, 2015: |
spahawk
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My original appointment was for 8am on the 7th May but received an email from the consulate a three weeks ago, stating that during May and June they would be starting the interviews from 1pm. Consequently my new time was 1pm on the same day. This suited me better as it meant I did not have to stay overnight to make the early interview appointment.
I travelled up to Waterloo and then caught the tube to Bond Street. The embassy is only a ten minute walk from the station. I arrived a couple of hours before my scheduled time and having satisfied myself of where to go, wasted some time in a coffee house.
In the letter, it tells you to get there half-hour early (12:30)I arrived at 12:15 and joined a queue of around 9 others in front of me. The place you queue is right outside the front of the embassy.
The tent which was there earlier, where they did the initial check of documents had been taken down, so after a cursory passport check and having my name ticked off the list by a security guard, was allowed through into the security scanning booth. The security check is like you get at the airport and was through within a couple of minutes.
Once inside the embassy I handed over my appointment letter and was given a sticker with a number on it; I was then guided to the waiting area. It was around 12:40 at this time.
The waiting room by my calculation probably had over three hundred people waiting and it was standing room only. However, most of the others are waiting for non=immigrant visas. Their numbers started with N, mine began with I (Immigrant). Don't expect the I numbers to start being called before 1pm which is the Interview start time.
Just after 1pm The immigrant numbers started being called. (K Visas are treated as immigrant visas.)Three booths seemed to be reserved for initial forms processing and I was called around 1:25. An English chap asked for my Passport, proof of having paid for the DS160 and, since I had paid for it, my courier receipt.
He took the passport and then asked me for the Certificates: Birth, Police, previous marriage etc. I handed them over and said I had included copies. He stated that he did not need the copies and that I would get the originals back at the interview stage. The final document requested was the i-134 affidavit of support. The only question he asked is if I had a marriage date and informed me I had to get married by the 20th September.
You can save time, and a lot of fumbling around for documents if you pre-prepare the items and place them into separate envelopes. This process lasted around 5 minutes and I was told to go back into the waiting room.
The next wait was around 45 minutes during which time I bought a water from the refreshments which are available at the front of the hall. The numbers are displayed on a big screen and are accompanied by a dinging sound. Do watch the screen, as they expect you to present yourself promptly at the booth and plus, you don't want to go to the back of the queue!
My number came up and I went to the specified booth. A very lovely American lady confirmed the Visa I was applying for and then asked me: How did I meet my fiancé, Had I met my future in-laws, What jobs we both did and if we had any children between us. The interviewer was very friendly and I did not feel pressured whatsoever. She then said that the Visa was approved and I would receive it within a couple of weeks. She handed back my original certificates and With that it was over. Out into the sunshine and onto a new life with my beloved. Out by 2:30pm.
One other thing. This system they have in place for May and June is good in so far as the non-immigrant applicants seem to be processed in the morning. Consequently, if my experience is anything to go by; you will only queue with fellow immigrant applicants. Yes the waiting room is packed full of people but the embassy have thought of that and have set aside booths for Immigrant processing. I was very impressed with how quickly things moved along.
Good luck all.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #16780