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| London, United Kingdom |  Review on April 19, 2012: |
Shawn&Jodie
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My appointment was booked for 9.30 and I arrived at the embassy at 8.50. Showed my appointment letter to a lady stood outside who directed me to a man stood by a small building. He checked my appointment letter and passport and I was asked to stand outside the door to what is the security area. The door opened, 3 of us were called through, bags, paperwork, belt on the scanner and through the archway, just like at the airport. I was asked if I had any electrical items (which I didn't, I'd left them at the hotel with my luggage). I was through the door, round the side of the building and inside the embassy where a lady at the reception desk checked my appointment letter and put a sticker on it, telling me to take a seat in the waiting area and listen out for my number. (The time on the sticker said 8.55.
I took a seat in the waiting area. There were a lot of "N" numbers being called out. Lots of kids going off to do camp America for the summer. The "I" numbers were few and far between, but after what felt like about 30 mins my number came up (I don't wear a watch so I can't be sure). I was called out where a man had all my paperwork in front of him. He checked my appointment letter and my took my visa payment conformation from me. He asked for my passport and then asked me my address, my finance's name and where he was now (I said, in Texas, hopefully, asleep finally). He smiled, which relaxed me somewhat and gave me a CD, which he explained was my chest X-ray and it should be taken in my hand luggage. He then asked me for my birth certificate and copy, original police certificate only and after checking them, he asked if my finance had completed the Affidavit of Support, I said yes and handed him a copy, I also explained I had an employers letter and tax returns from my finance to support the document. He looked at the tax returns and just took the most recent ones and the employer letter. I waited while I hole punched my documents and added them to the file, ran out of staples and ran of to get some more. When he came back, he said my paperwork all looked fine and gave me a pink piece of paper (the courier form) and asked me to take a seat and wait again for my number. I was with him about 10 mins in all.
After what seemed like 5 mins, but what was actually about an hour (I asked a young lad sat next to me what time it was, he said 10.50) I was called out again to window 15.. possibly 16... Anyway, lady this time. She gave me my original birth cert back and asked me to swear that everything I was going to tell her and everything in my paperwork was the truth to the best of my knowledge. She then asked me
Tell me about how you met your finance
How did the relationship progress?
When did you become engaged?
When did you last go there? Has he been here?
Did you consider him moving here instead?
After answering the questions she gave me one of the forms I had completed, the DS-156K and asked me to write my finances name and sign below (she laughed when I commented on how my hand was shaking and it might take me a minute) she then told me she was "happy to approve this visa" She then gave a brief explanation of the envelope the courier would return to me (Do not open the white one, and so on) and then asked me to go to the courier desk and pay the fee.
Fee paid, I was out the door, I asked a passer-by the time. It was 11.20.
I took with me photographs, cards, skype call log and boarding passes from Shawn's visit. I wasn't asked for any of these items.
All in all, I don't know what I was so worried about. They were both very nice people, who relaxed me and made me feel comfortable.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #9518