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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on January 18, 2008: |
edchels
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
1st of all.... I'M APPROVED!
Now the review.......
Arrived at Victoria Station 7am. Tube to Bond St. I was inline outside the embassy at 7:20am. Thank God it was a beautiful British day... RAINY! Luckily i was one of the first few in line. A security lady checked my interview letter and told me to go down the 8am line. At the end of this line, there was a guy who checked my passport and made sure it matched with what he had in his little file. Then i went through a security hut and put my bag through an airport style scanner machine thingy, handed in my phone, and continued round the corner and went into the embassy.
Once inside the main doors, the receptionist lady gave me the magic ticket! (5001.. all immigrants are in the 5000's), non-immigrants are 1000's) I went up the stairs into the waiting room.
I sat down and the wait began (about 7:45).
No one was called up to any window before 8am. As soon as it turned 8:00 a few non-immigrant numbers were called, and then number 5000 was called. I thought i would be right after, but i ended up waiting about 15/20 mins. (which wasn't too bad).
At about 8:20 or 8:30ish my number was called, and i went to Window 14. There was a very friendly middle aged man, who took my number, went to get my file and then there was about 2 to 3 mins of silence where he went through everything. (No seats at the windows, dont expect to have a sit down interview).
As i was CR-1, i had already mailed all Original Docs to the NVC, plus applications, so i didnt need to hand him anything besides my passport and photo. (only one photo).
He asked me for my wife's tax returns, and i explained to him that she was a full time student, and wasn't required to file taxes. (i also showed him a letter my wife wrote explaining this. He didn't say that was ok, but he didn't say it wasn't), then he looked over a few more things, took all my fingerprints, and then gave me a pink sheet to go fill out while i wait for my number to be called again...
The pink sheet was for the courier service for the passport. (at first i thought it might be a RFE sheet and i got worried at first)
Sat back down, and filled out the sheet.
I think it was around 9:05ish, my number was called again. (Obviously at the time i wasn't keeping track of the time, as i was more concerned with the interview i was about to have). I went to window 15 this time, and different, but still very friendly man greeted me.
He told me to raise my right hand, and i swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.....etc...etc. He looked through a few things in my file, and then asked me where my wife and I first met... i told him High school in California in 2000. (I had a student visa back then). He asked why the US as opposed to the UK, and told him my wife had a fantastic job, all her family is over there, and we both love California. He checked an employment verification letter from my wifes employer, and that seemed to be enough for him. (NO TAX RETURN NEEDED!)
Then he had me sign a form saying i was willing to register with the selective service once in the US. (dont know what happens if i dont do that...anyone know?) but he told me no-one has been drafted since 1975. Then he told me i had been approved, and i said that is fantastic, thank you very much. Told me to go and pay for the courier and thats it. I was done! I was so close to crying i was so happy. I seriously thought they would have had a problem with the no tax return thing, but apparently not. Left the embassy, collected my phone, and ran to the nearest Starbucks to cover from the rain so i could call my wife and tell her the AMAZING news!
Good Luck to everyone, and thank you all for your help throughout this long process!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #2365