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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on April 5, 2011: |
Jess&Rich
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Monday 21st March 2011
Interview at the Embassy.
On this day I woke up at 5:20am. I left my house at around 5:53am. I jumped on the 6:08 train (The early one but still quite busy). I took the district line train to Westminster and then the Jubilee line to Bond Street. I took this route as there are far less crowds for that time of morning whereas the central line is hot and overcrowded.
I arrived at Bond Street station and approx 7am. Oxford street was really empty for a change and the shops hadn’t even opened yet. I then made my way to the embassy. It was a short 5 minute walk away. Once I had arrived, there were three women to the right of the Embassy getting their papers ready. They all looked a little nervous. I stood the in queue which had about 4 people in front of me. However none were applying for the same type of visa that I was. Some of the embassy employees then came out and checked our documents (Packet 4). Only about 10 minutes had gone by and the queue had tripled. I could hear the man behind me complaining about how “ridiculous” it was that you couldn’t take your mobile phone in. They lady in front of me was saying how she never wanted to go through this again. A couple of the people in front of me had come unprepared and were advised to take their belongings (mobile phones, car keys, etc.) to the Gould’s Pharmacy. Lucky for me, they allowed me past with my messenger bag to hold my documents and belongings. (I had no phone on me)
Eventually at about 7:23am the guards started letting people in. I had to take off my watch and place everything I had, including my ring, into my bag. Any queuing was outside the embassy (Good job it wasn’t bad weather), the airport style security took place in a little box room.
I arrived at the reception desk at exactly 7:32am. I presented my interview letter. The lady behind the desk placed 3 bar code type stickers on my letter which contained the number they used to call me up. She advised me to sit by window 1.
As I was waiting by window 1, I happened to notice they sold American Soda behind me, Including Mtn Dew and the likes of. The cans were expensive and I did not buy any, tempting as it was.
My number eventually got called up; I made my way to windows 13! I was happy with that because window 13 was right out of the way to where everybody was sitting/waiting. I was greeted by a friendly lady who asked for my passport and packet 4 letter. She asked me the name of the person petitioning for me. I told her and she then asked, “Who is that to you?” to which I replied “My fiancée”.
She then said “Ok, that’s fine, don’t look scared, I’m just going to get your file”. So I waited whilst she got my file. Once she returned, I was then asked to hand over my birth certificate and police certificate. I also handed her my 3 passport photos. She then asked for my fiancée's affidavit forms. Which I handed over, she checked them & kept them. She did not ask for the co-sponsors forms, even though my fiancée is an unemployed full-time student. Then, my fingerprints were then taken and a CD was handed over to me which contained my x-ray. She told me to keep it safe, it’s very important that I present it at the boarder. I was then finally handed a pink form, she advised me to sit back down fill it out and then wait for my number to be called out again for the second part of the process, the interview.
I then made my way back to the seating area, filled out the forms and waited. I believe my interview was at around 8:30am. I was greeted by an American man at window 15. First he verified my fingerprints, then he asked me a number of basic questions such as how did we meet? When did we meet in person? When was the last time I saw my fiancée? When do I plan on leaving? At both windows I was asked nearly the same questions.
I then had to raise my right hand and swear an oath that anything I had said wasn’t a lie. I signed the forms and printed my fiancée’s name and was then told that my visa had been approved. I was told about the brown envelope that I must not open it. I was also explained regarding the rules of the visa. He advised me to contact homeland security once I received my marriage certificate in order to apply for permanent residency.
I then went off, handed in my pink form and paid the delivery charge of £14.80.
That was it!
I left the embassy in a very happy state at approximately 9am.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #7373