|
|
| London, United Kingdom | Review on January 22, 2017: | Scodavvyy

Rating: | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I had my K-1 Visa interview on Tuesday 17/01/17 at the London Embassy
I flew down from Edinburgh early that morning and was in London at just after 8am for my 11am appointment. I decided to take the 30 min stroll from Victoria Station to Grovesnor Square where the embassy is located and when I strolled past at about 9:30am there were two long queues of people. I continued on to the Starbucks up the street to get a much needed coffee(3 hrs sleep) and wait for it to be time.
When I returned at 10:15 the queue closest to the embassy was still long but there was no one queuing at the other stand and I could see this was for immigrant visas. I walked up and handed the young lady my passport and printed email confirmation, she checked my name off a list, scribbled something on the letter and directed me to go straight over to the attendant who was calling people over from the other queue. From there you enter a line to a small guardhouse where you enter 4 at a time and proceed to do airport style security, metal detector, everything in a tray, etc. as others have said you can now take phones and other belongings into the Embassy and they have free Wi-fi. Afterwards you follow the signs and walk all the way around to the other side of the building and go in the entrance.
I walked up to the desk and gave the lady there my passport and letter and she checked me off another list and put a bunch of stickers on it that had my number on it I was I-904. I was then told to go in and have a seat. The hall is huge and there is two seating area's. I knew from reading other reviews that I should go to the emptier front area and not the packed back section. There is a large video wall where numbers are called with a loud ding!. I saw I-901 was being called when I sat down. I was called after thirty minutes or so to window 2 and was greeted by a nice American man. He confirmed I was applying for a K-1 and congratulated me on my engagement. He asked for my passport and appointment letter, my phone number, and then asked me several questions :-
Have you ever changed your name?
Have you ever lived outside the UK?
Are you adopted?
Any military service?
Ever convicted of a crime?
I answered all of these and then he asked for my birth certificate and police certificate. He then asked for a picture of me, then scanned it, and gave it back. He asked for my I-134 and my fiancee's tax return which I had. He then went and picked up my medical from a table full of cream coloured folders but mine was red. i was slightly worried because at my medical I had high blood pressure and I was asked to provide info from my GP about it and another mental health matter, which I sent and everything was apparently okay. He have me a CD containing my chest-xray and then took my fingerprints. After which he told me to go sit down and wait to be called for my interview. He kept the stickers with my number on it so make sure you know what yours is. He did not ask for my DS-160 print out or my fiancee's payslips, both of which I had with me.
I waited for another 40 mins to be called for my interview. During this time you may see higher numbers than yours being called, don't worry, they are having their document checks liked you did, just keep an eye out for your number. I was called to window 13 and walked around the corner, past the queue of people who are waiting for something else(Thanks previous reviews) and arrived at my window.
I was greeted by another American man. He had a folder in front of him with all my stuff and he confirmed my name, that I was here for a K-1, and checked the finger prints on my right hand. He then asked me the following questions:-
How did the two of you meet?
When did you first meet online?
When did you first meet in person?
How many times have you met in person?
Where does she live?
Where do her parents live and have you met them?
How long is the drive to her parents place?
The last one threw me a little because I'd never seen that kind of question in any of the other reviews. Just goes to show they do ask non-standard questions occasionally based on what they are hearing. I answered all his questions and he then said, very matter of factly, that he was going to issue the visa. It took me a moment to realize what he had said and then I thanked him with a big smile on my face. He replied just as matter of factly that I would get my passport back in 1-2 weeks and then said goodbye. He was professional enough if distant and unemotional but I was just happy to be approved. I've read other reviews where the interviewer was friendly and warm but I guess you get who you get.
I exited the building and walked back around to the security hut and went back outside at just after noon. I let my fiancee know the good news as she was just waking up and began the walk back to Victoria station with a big smile on my face. I was in no hurry as my flight back to Edinburgh wasn't till 5pm
I had a whole folder full of pictures and chat logs with me but wasn't asked for any of it. They were in a clear folder and maybe he saw them and was just satisfied that I had them. I'm sure it was better to have them and not be asked than to not have them and be asked. I would advise not gathering all your proof of relationship the night before as it takes a while. 
I also had my approved I-129F petition with me but wasn't asked for it. The next day however I receive an e-mail from the Embassy asking me to email them a scan of the I-129F so they could issue my visa. I was a little thrown by this as I hadn't heard of it happening before but after asking for clarification on the forums I sent them it. I made sure to put my case number and Name in both the subject and body of the e-mail. I got an automated reply acknowledging the e-mail. Later that day my status on the CEAC website went to Administrative Processing and the next day it changed to Issued.
I hope to hear from the courier soon
Good luck everyone

| |
|