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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on October 8, 2016: |
Matt&Sophie
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My interview was scheduled for 12noon on 21st July 2016. I had arrived with plenty of time to spare due to having a long train journey to London.
11:10 -I had been advised previously that no electronic items were allowed within the building, so I headed to Gold Pharmacy around the corner from the consulate to drop off some items. I was advised that they allow phones into the embassy now so I did not need to leave my phone with them. and headed back to the Embassy.
11:22 - Although I was a little early I figured I'd see if they'd let me in as there was no queue. I handed over my appointment letter and passport at stand outside and was directed to the security office. Here, the security guard double checked my appointment letter and passport, scanned everything (folders with paperwork in, jacket, bag and watch) walked through body scanner, just like at the airport. Security officers apprehended me over a 'bottle of perfume in my bag', which was confusing as I didn't have any perfume with me. Turns out the offending article was my liquid foundation. They checked it over and it was fine. Was advised to exit security box and head into the building
11:28 - In building, at reception, given ticket, advised to go through and sit at the front of the waiting room. There were a lot of people sat at the back of the room but very few people towards the front, I'm assuming they seat people based on their visa type.
12:10 - called to window 14 (around the corner) to hand in passport, appointment letter, ticket, 1 photograph, birth certificate police certificate, proof of financial support, affidavit of support (I-134) and letter of employment (she originally asked for pay stubs but said that these two documents would be sufficient evidence) Finger and thumb prints were also taken at this point. The lady at the window seemed very frustrated but plebeian enough. At this point I was handed a CD and advised that this was my chest X-ray from my medical examination and that this would be needed at my Change of Status stage. Sent back to the waiting room. Whole process took about 5 minutes.
i901 was called to interview while I was handing in my docs. Played Pokemon go while waiting, the embassy is a pokestop so I used a lure module to catch Pokemon while i was waiting  Went to the loo.
13:48 - called to interview by a young American woman; asked my name, if I'd ever been married before and if I'd lived in the UK my whole life. Asked when and how I met my fiancé, asked where he lived and if he had lived in RI his whole life, asked what he did for work and if we had travelled back and forth to see each other. Asked what I like about him. - Told there and then that I had been approved!! - by 13:58 i was already outside the embassy, on the phone to my other half telling him the good news!
Overall, considering I'd been expecting the whole process to be terrifying and incredibly intense, it was great. The only bad thing about the day was the waiting around to be seen,but thats to be expected, and still, it only took me just over 2 and a half hours from entrance to exit. By the time I left there was barely anybody else in the building so I'm assuming that early in the morning is when they are the most busy.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #20601