|
|
| London, United Kingdom |  Review on September 14, 2022: |
Robert Ward
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
I had my interview in March this year (2022). There was quite a queue outside the consulate in Vauxhall, London, but once it got moving it passed quickly through security into the outside inner courtyard, then into the main building to join quite long queues in the main building foyer. (NOTE: extremely obvious to most but me, but do remember to take a face mask. The rules on facemasks may have been eased by now, but check or take one anyway. I felt a bit silly not having one back in March this year. Fortunately, a kindly chap in the queue had spares and saved me having to go and find one.) Counter staff came and went over a period of about 20 minutes and we all waited silently with no indication as to what was going on or how long this initial registering process would take. Then the counters opened and things got moving, went into the lift to the first floor, and it was a relief to realise the K1 visa applications were far fewer in number than other kinds, and that they had their own section in a space at the left far end of the floor. (There were only about three of us). I took a numbered ticket, waited to be called, passed through this stage relatively easy, gave all the paperwork over at one counter (which I'd previously checked, checked again, and checked again and again beforehand). All was in order, then a short wait to be called to a counter further along to be asked a few simple questions: 'When did you meet?' 'When did you propose?' and one or two other equally simple questions (which due to the circumstances were still a bit nerve-racking nevertheless) and then held up my right hand and agreed to abide by certain laws and regulations. Something like that. To be honest, at the first counter I was given a sheet of information to read in the time waiting to go to the next counter, but so zonked was I after all the long waiting and uncertainty of the visa application to finally be in the embassy about to get (or not get) our fiance visa that I not only failed to even look at it, I forgot it was even in my hand. When asked at the second counter if I'd read the sheet I slightly panicked but said yes anyway (it was very densely worded in small type and I wouldn't have had a chance to read it anyway), so I raised my right hand and said 'yes' in agreement to information on the sheet, which I gathered afterwards was connected with marriage and family life and possibly laws around divorce etc. (Do take a good look at it!) Anyway, it made no difference. The agent explained I would receive my passport back in a couple of weeks at the pick up point I'd designated. I still couldn't tell at that stage if the visa had been granted, but the agent confirmed it when I asked. Great joy! An amazing experience really. Our K1 visa had gone exactly to the timeline we were given. One problem: when I received the approval from the NVC they'd addressed it so badly (I live in London) it had taken around six weeks to get to me having travelled around the country (for instance, the envelope had 'Wiltshire?' written on it.) It bore so little resemblance to the address I'd supplied this must have been sheer incompetence on the part of those in the admin process. I'm not complaining, but as this must have been posted late October and didn't arrive till the middle of December, it meant I wasn't able to sort the medical and interview till the new year (2022) after I returned from visiting my fiance over Christmas and New Year in the States. The embassy process though was efficient and very friendly. Hang on in there, it's worth the wait. A couple of points I think worth mentioning; our position was very straightforward and unlikely to cause obstacles. I'd never been married, there were no children on either side, and my fiance is a professional. Another point, and like the facemask business, everybody no doubt knows this, but be aware that the six month period of the granted K1 visa runs from the date of your medical, not the day of the interview. This late realisation was slightly alarming as I'd banked on having a bit longer to sort everything before leaving. That's about it. Hope I've covered everything, please ask if not.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #31426