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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on October 15, 2019: |
Kris & Crystal
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
CR-1 Interview in London, United Kingdom.
Today is the day...
Getting to London
My appointment was at 09:30.
I had some bad experiences travelling to London last time for the medical, they weren't the best this time. I swear London doesn't like me. I was flying BA1471 from Inverness to London Heathrow. Leaving at 19:05, arriving at 20:35 and staying overnight.
Unfortunately the day I was travelling London had Yellow and Amber weather warnings, with all the airports having IFR flying conditions or worse -- though knowing London that could have just been for a mild drizzle... sorry Londoners -- this meant I was paranoid all day the flight would be cancelled... luckily it wasn't, it just arrived about 20 minutes late.
I was also worried about the Revolution Rebellion LARPers slowing things down also but that didn't happen either
I'd recommend going for a mid to late morning appointment if you can as it would make things easier than my experience.
In conclusion, every time I'm in London, Caledonia starts playing in my head -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX9h558Tz1E
Getting to the Appointment
I recommend storing any luggage above a small backpack or bag, there are various options for this.
I stayed in the Heathrow Central Travelodge. I got one of the many buses going to Heathrow back to the airport. Took the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station. Then it was on to the Underground, took the Bakerloo - Southbound Line from Paddington until Oxford Circus for 5 stops, then switched to the Victoria - Southbound Line for 4 stops until Vauxhall station. There are 4 exits from that station, exit number 4 is the best to take in my mind.
Then it was just a short leisurely walk (12 to 15 minutes) to the Embassy. There are two entrances, you want to go to the South Pavillion -- it's the one with the line.
I arrived at 08:20, I skipped to the front of the line, a woman asked for my DS-260 and Passport, wrote on the DS-260 and told me to come back at 09:00. Walked around for a bit and came back at 09:00-ish she put a sticker on the DS-260 then I went through security, skipped the line -- death stares all round from those queueing -- took the lift to the first floor then left and left again... you'll know when you get there, there's a smaller area with a few windows and seats -- numbers 19 to 24 -- one of these windows is a cashier.
I took some crappy pictures if it helps anyone know what to look for https://imgur.com/a/RHFbZHJ
At the Appointment
I waited a few minutes then went up to present my documents. I had to have my fingerprints taken. Answer if I was ever married before, did military service, lived in any other country, if I was adopted, etc. Then despite bringing a massive binder full of stuff all I had to provide was my passport, a visa/passport style photograph, the courier confirmation, birth certificate, marriage certificate, police certificate and that was it.
Everything else was consulted through the NVC uploads. Everything was fine I was given a handout on domestic violence, sex trafficking, etc and told to sit down and wait for the interview portion.
This next bit took a bit longer as there were belligerent people holding up two windows. Complaining about how much money they had already spent, and how the embassy was conspiring against them, etc.
When I got to the interview portion I had to swear what I was telling was the truth, give my fingerprints again and answer a few questions (How we met? When we met? If I met her parents) and that was it, was given everything back except the passport, told I was approved and that I should receive it in 1 to 2 weeks, based on previous experiences though I'm hoping it's a bit faster.
I was out of there by 10:20, probably would have been faster were it not for the belligerent people.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #27275