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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on August 26, 2015: |
roxy323i
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
The following is the first hand account of my husband's interview. He is the beneficiary.
Interview day at the U.S Embassy in London, Myself and my Son.
Was a nice day so we walked there and arrived at 8am (appointment was for 9am). We thought we'd be super early and have to hang out in the square garden, but already the queue was 100 yards long, the full length of the building. There were two of them and a third starting up. These are for various time slots so don't just join one. Make sure you find the relevant queue for your time slot. We did so and even being an hour early there was 10-20 people in front of us on the 9am line. What I would say though is that 99% of people there are having non immigrant visas issued who have no specific time slot, and we were hurried into the building once they found out we were on an immigrant visa which is a much stricter time. So I would suggest approaching the people checking documents at the front of the queues to ask for their advice on where to join.
As soon as we were in the building, our appointment letter, passport and DS-260 were checked again and a sticker placed over them with our number (I909). Within a minute of being in the main waiting room, which looks like an airport waiting room, our number came up on screen (again confirming that being on time for our 9am appointment was important) and we were told to go to booth 13 where a man took our original documents (passport, birth, marriage, police). They did not ask for any of the others that I had taken, including the copies of my original documents, affidavit of support, and financial documents. Even the photographs were not asked for because they were the same as the ones on file. He also took our finger prints electronically at this point. This part took no longer than 10 mins. I'm not suggesting to not take any of these, but I personally was not asked for them. They stayed in the wallet I had. The guy then made copies of the ones I handed over and returned them all to me except our passports.We were then asked a few brief questions about when we plan to travel and he confirmed that we had set up with the courier.
Then we were asked to return to the waiting room and wait for the interview. Your number will come up on the giant TV screen at the end of the room. Don't worry about missing a new number go up, it makes an irritating ping noise every time a new one goes up. So you can read a book or magazine, etc. and just check when it pings (100's of times) The screen also shows loops of how to organise your information and what to have ready, etc. so you can get better prepared. It also showed a photo competition for people to enter once they move and a chance to win dinner at some state building with some important people, but the closing date was 13 moths ago so that was a bit odd haha. We waited for almost 3 hours... so dont worry if you're not called up fast, as far as I could tell, ALL the immigrant visas were dealt with at window 15 (down the corridor) as there was only four all day and all called there, with the 100's of N visa's using the main room.
After the long wait we were called to the window and greeted by a man who was really friendly and polite, He started by asking a few questions just to confirm we are the people he had in the file in front of him. Then I had to raise my had and swear an oath that all the answers I give will be the truth. My son did NOT have to do this. However, being 14 y/o he was old enough to sign using his fingerprints.
I was asked a few questions about where I met my wife, how often I see her, where the last time I saw her was, where we went on holiday and specifically what places in that country. Perhaps 10 questions in total, maybe less. He then asked my son where his mum was, and confirmed with him that she was aware of him moving and had no objections, that was all he was asked.
Then he was shuffling some papers, crossing t's and dotting i's etc and without even looking up said "your visas have been approved". It blind sided me a little. I guess I was expecting a more dramatic delivery haha. He then outlined what happens next and answered a few questions I had on time scales and what to do once I arrive at immigration in the U.S.. Then he wished us good luck with the future and we were done, The interview taking not much more than 10 mins.
few bits of info/hindsight:
Ask at the front of the queue and make them aware you are for an Immigrant visa, you CAN take a phone or tablet computer, but don't use the camera.
We both dressed in a suit (no tie though) and felt overdressed, most people were in jeans and t-shirt and some even in gym gear. I'd suggest dressing nice still, makes a good impression, but don't worry about being dressed too nice.
Have all your documents easy to hand and the interview letter, passport and DS-160/260 at the front, these will be checked in the queue, at the entrance and at the kiosk.
Put all your paperwork in a waterproof folder (if it rains before you go in, that's an hour MINIMUM stood with no cover)
Relax, honestly, the whole thing is so laid back, but take something to read or make sure your phone is charged to read internet etc, (signal is great inside) but don't answer your phone, they will ask you to go outside.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #17665