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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on November 21, 2015: |
HGord
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My appointment was for 9am on Friday 20th November 2015.
Going to go for a detailed account of what happened to try and convey the casual nature of the interview (once you're actually inside the embassy) and hopefully help quell some nerves!
I had read that queues started forming early so decided to arrive before 8am to try and get it all over and done with whilst the day was still young. I arrived at 7:45am and the queue was already 40-50 people. I asked around and joined the 8:30 appointment queue (the other was for 8am appointments). There was a woman moving through the queue checking paperwork, after about 20 minutes she was relatively close to me so I asked if it made any difference whether you were there for an immigrant or non-immigrant visa. I wish I had done so earlier because she immediately asked if I was K1 and moved me to the front of the 8am queue when i said I was. Having been 'signed in' i then had to queue for security. After the airport style security I was waved through and entered the embassy at around 8:30am.
I was given my number and told to wait until it came up on the screen. In the meantime i assembled the paperwork i expected to be asked for. My number was called at about 8:55. The lady at the desk was very nice although she still had someone else's file on her desk (which was explained moments later when a woman and her daughter came back to the window with some more paperwork which was added to their file, they clearly had something missing and were allowed to go and fetch it).
The DOCUMENTS I was asked for were: Passport, original birth certificate, proof of visa payment, UK police certificate (original copy), 1 US size passport photo, affidavit of support and proof (letter from employer and recent paycheques) and I think that's it...(I was asked to show my DS-160 and embassy letter multiple times whilst entering the embassy).
She asked when I was planning on flying (ASAP) and gave me a CD which (I think) she told me to take with me to my POE. Then she reiterated my number and told me to wait for my interview. It was 9:10am.
My number was called again at about 10:30am. Different but incredibly friendly woman at the window, I was greeted with a smile and asked the following QUESTIONS: How did you meet? (university) What did he study for undergrad and Masters? What did you study? Have you ever lived together? (asked to reiterate the timeline of where we'd studied (together and separately) over the past 2.5 years) Have you ever been to visit? Have you met each others' families? Are my family coming out for the wedding? When did you last see each other? How has the separation been? What's the time difference?
I've set these out into specific questions but it flowed more like a casual conversation you might have with an interested aunt you haven't seen in a while. I volunteered some information and she asked questions that very naturally led on from my answers. The whole conversation lasted about 3 minutes at the end of which she smiled and said, "Congratulations, your visa has been approved and you should have your passport back in a week, are you going to call him now?" To which I grinned, "yes, I'm going to go wake him up." She returned my birth certificate and affidavit and I left the embassy at 10:45am.
Whilst I was a total bag of nerves for the entire week prior to my interview, the actual event didn't really feel like a big deal (apart from the approval at the end).
My only advice is of the obvious variety, but HAVE ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS READY (stalk the UK VJ forum for comprehensive lists, even ask for clarification in a new thread as help is always at hand) and TELL THEM ASAP THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR A K1 INTERVIEW and you'll be allowed to skip the queue outside the embassy. As long as you're in a genuine relationship then you won't have any issues with the questions. So relax, and pretend you're talking to your nosey old aunt or uncle at your second cousin's wedding (just save the champagne for after)!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #18415