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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on March 31, 2011: |
GDHB
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I'll start at the end – the consular officer we spoke to was charming and pleasant as others have described. He asked very few questions (How did you meet your fiancée? Not much else) and then helpfully explained the remainder of the process, since the visa was approved.
The consular office was clearly an educated professional with a relaxed pleasant outlook who appeared to enjoy meeting people.
The administrator we spoke to an hour earlier was also pleasant and helpful. She assembled the package of documentation and included the material we brought (copies of birth certs, police report, the CD from the doctor, I-134 etc). She played down an initial moment of confusion recognising it as nervousness. It was just confusion over terminology (applicant/petitioner/beneficiary, who was who). She was kind and reassuring and non-confrontational.
There was a moment of confusion over the Affidavit Of Support. I (the USC) was present and when she asked for the Affidavit I said I have the original documents and a copy. She replied “I don't need a copy”, and took the originals including my W2. When we finished I said that she still had the original W2 and she agreed. I asked if she could accept a copy instead and she said she could – I said I'd need the original for my tax return and she was quick to respond with an apology. I had the impression that she'd seen many W2s but didn't understand that they are sometimes needed for tax returns. I got the original back in exchange for a copy.
Note to interviewees – they may not realise that the W2 originals need to be returned in the same way that birth certs etc are returned.
A few words now about the security staff at the entrance to the Embassy. I'm sure it's a lousy job, especially in bad weather. They don't do a job that requires much thought or creativity and I expect that their managers are pretty strict with them. They were loud and assertive, issuing instructions that were at times confusing and at times contradicting themselves and each other.
As an interviewee, you only need one thing from the security staff; safe entry to the building. If this requires that you appear to accept and be impressed by their knowledge and authority, so be it. You will be inside the building on the next step in a wonderful journey and your experience of meeting them will be behind you.
Take things to read. You will need plenty to occupy your mind.
If you need to bring one or more children – there are absolutely no facilities to provide children with something to occupy a young mind. Be aware of that.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #7351