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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on July 27, 2011: |
Schroeky
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I was well prepared having spent months, as most K1 applicants do, going over every possible aspect of my application with relentless trepidation. I couldn't help but feel like none of this process would ever truly come to fruition- but time passes and things happen.
Anyway- I got to the embassy at twenty past seven, my interview was at 8am. I queued up with about twenty other people, things fired up at about quarter to eight and from that point on the queue just remained a steady length with people continually drifting up and security letting a certain number of people in. In my bag I had my folder, my house keys(with no key fob)a book, and a pen. I highly recommend bringing a pen.
Getting into the embassy was pleasant and in no way problematic, the security men might've been gruff but it didn't rile me, even when he barked 'against the wall until I say so! I know you can all hear me!' I was just pleased to have gotten to this point with no travel delays or other major mishaps.
I entered the embassy, went to the desk and was issued my number. I sat inside with a reasonable amount of other people and after about ten minute things started happening- they fired up the computer screens and began calling out numbers. A lot of N numbers were called until eventually a couple of I numbers. I was I-903. I-901 and I-902 went to their windows and came back, after (I would guess) about thirty minutes I was called up.
The man behind the window had a clipped accent, he sounded possibly swiss, and was rather abrupt, but altogether friendly and efficient. He asked for my papers without specifying which ones which confused me, which irritated him, but it looks like a pretty irritating job anyway. Eventually he just asked for the papers one by one. I passed through my appointment letter, Birth Certificate, Police Certificate and evidence of fincancial support.
He put holes through all these and put them into my file, which was huge! It was nice to see some of the old papers from the beginning of the process, sort of oddly nostalgic and triumphant! This process lasted about ten minutes, he asked a couple of cursory questions, the answers to all of them were in the file so he was probably just trying to liven things up.
I was sent away to wait for my interview. I sat down, had a coffee (a surprisingly good and cheap coffee) and watched everyone being called up, trying to remember everything around me. All the odd faded pictures of the US above the interview windows, the wonky Andy Warhols at the far end of the main waiting area. For a place so official it was oddly homely and haphazard.
I had just finished my coffee when I was called back up for my 'interview'. It wasn't an interview, it was a ninety second pledge that I was telling the truth. The lady who spoke to me was charming and sweet, she was American and obviously was really pleased to be giving me good news. 'I've approved your visa' she grinned. I grinned back and waved goodbye to her, onto pay for the courier.
NO CASH, only card. I paid £14 something for any time of the day delivery but there were additional options if you need something more specific. They will text you the exact day the delivery will occur when they know it.
I was in and out in an hour and a half, it was quite magical, Kyle gets here next Wednesday and at the weekend my family and friends are holding a Bon Voyage party for me- it was difficult at times- but I think we'll all agree it's worth it.
Good luck!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8011