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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on August 9, 2023: |
MarmiteC
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
I had my interview at the London embassy on 8th August 2023, and I agree with all other reviews, a really smooth experience.
My appointment was scheduled for 9.30am. I arrived at the embassy at 8.45am. I have read reviews that both tell you to join the long queue and skip the long queue and go to the desk at the front. Being so early, I decided to join the queue (I couldn't even see the desk at the front!). An embassy worker came down the line and asked everyone who had not checked in to go to the desk to check in.
I went to the desk and advised as I had a DS-260 I did not need to re-join the queue, but I was too early and I needed to wait at the side until 9am.
Point to note: this queuing and waiting is all outdoors - please bring an umbrella if needed as there is no cover from the rain.
At 9am I went back to the desk where I was checked in and sent right to the front of the queue. The front of the queue was into a small building which had airport style security in it. A security guard came out of the building, asked me to open my phone and turn on any app, and then I was shown inside.
Inside I put my bag and my documents into trays to be scanned, and walked through a scanner. I had a bottle of water in my bag so I was asked to drink some. Please note no laptops or ipads are allowed.
After clearing security, I walked outside the security building into a courtyard (also uncovered from the elements). The main embassy building is in front of you. At the outside entrance of the embassy building there are 2 queuing areas: 1 for US citizens and 1 for all visas. I went to the one for all visas. There was no actual queue so I went straight inside the building to reception.
At reception I had to give my DS-260 confirmation. They printed a label and stuck it to the confirmation with directions where to go, a ticket number and a request to sit outside a certain booth number. I went up in the lift and turned left into the immigration area. There were rows and rows of booths with people queuing up for them. These are non immigrant visa areas. I walked past these, and turned left again, down to the end, where there was a row of booths in a much quieter area. I took a seat close to the assigned booth.
After about 10 minutes, my ticket number popped up on screen to go to the booth. Here I saw a friendly guy who asked for my original documents:
Passport
DS260 confirmation
Birth Certificate
Marriage certificate
Passport photo
Divorce decrees
Police certificate.
I saw he was ticking off each item as he went along on a checklist. As he was doing so he was checking everything on his computer also. He put all the documents into a folder, and then scanned my fingerprints. After that I was asked to sit back down and wait to be called for interview.
After around 10 minutes my ticket number flashed up to call me to a different booth. Here I met another really friendly guy. He asked me:
How did we meet (he wanted me to be quite specific)
When did we first physically meet
When did we last see each other
Was I the one who usually travelled there
Have our families ever met
How did he propose and was it a surprise
What does my husband do for a living
When did I plan on moving there.
He then proceeded to tell me he was happy to say I was approved and I would receive my passport back in 1-2 weeks. He handed me back all of my documents and wished me a nice day.
I think I got a few other questions for a couple of reasons, 1. We've managed to get through this process in less than 11 months, we haven't even reached our first anniversary yet and 2. I can be very simplistic in answering what I feel are closed questions, for example "When did you last see each other?" I answered "Last month"... true but I think he wanted to know a bit more! lol He smiled a bit more when I began elaborating and sharing more.
I entered the embassy at 9.06am, and was out at 9.46am.
Today, my visa status on CEAC has already moved to issued!!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #32356