Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
July 15, 2013 |
| Embassy Review : |
Finally have time to write my review having driven straight to Newquay for my hen do straight after the interview!!!
I stayed in the Marble Arch Inn, they were very nice and gave me a wake up call as well as holding my bags while I was at the embassy. I drove in Thursday night and parked at the QPark Park Lane car park, which is super near and is just outside the congestion zone. Once I checked in I went to find the embassy so I knew how to walk there on Friday (as I wouldn't have my phone with me and I'm usually lost without google maps.)
When I first saw it it looked very fancy but I was surprised the patrol men were UK police (or looked like it) and not US personel so I was worried I was in the right place (I came at it from behind). Then I looked up and saw an eagle the saize of a large car soaring from the roof - right place for sure then!!!
In the morning, I got up at 6am, left hotel at 7am. The rest of times are a guess because I didn't have a watch, but I guess I got to the embassy at 7.15am. There was already maybe 20-25 people in the queue which I was surprised about as I thought I was doing well to be over an hour early. Stood in the queue for a while. Neither guy either side of me was chatty. A lady casme down to check people had an invitation, and the guy behind me had to leave as he didnt have the right form (one not needed for Immigrant visas).
Eventually, the queue started to move. The lady who was now behind me asked if I had a nail file in my back pocket, but it was a teaspoon (for good luck, my fiance and I have a romantic things about spoons). I put the spoon and wallet in the scan machine and my bag with papers in. Got through OK, guy in front got weeded out due to having his car key fob (electronic).
Then followed signs round to the right of ther building, and in. At the reception desk showed my letter and she stuck my number for the day on it. Got given number I904 (its always I9XX for immigrant or K visas I guess). I was kinda miffed to be 04, was hoping to be higher in the immigrant queue.
Got in, and sat down near the front where a giant screen was showing US propaganda videos - universites I had never heard of, states, national parks etc. doing promo videos to make you study/visit/come to live there. You can also see smaller screens that show cBeebies and BBC news. The BBC news one shows the time, really tiny but useful. Went to the bathroom as no numbers were yet being called (I think they start at 8am). There is a bunch of windows like at the bank, where the interviews will be held.
At 8am, massive rush of calls - the left screen was not yet on so they called them with voices on the tannoy. I901, 902 and 903 got called and i got very panicy, but then not me  I surmised that 3 windows were focused on I cases, so I was next in line for one of them. Many windows were focusing on N and E numbers. They then turned on the left screen that has the numbers and windows that have been called. After this I was a bit annoyed because they don't call out the number anymore, they have a "bing" each time a new one is added and you have to look up to see which one.
After 10-15 minutes I-903 dissapeared from the screen so I expected to be next, and lo and behold in 5 minutes I was called to that window.
I found a lovely African American lady there from Maryland, and she was so nice about my going to the US - she seemed to assume I would be definitely getting a visa and chatted about how nice the area was (around PA) and how nice the wedding would be. She took all my documents slowly, one by one so there is no panic. When she asked for the I-134 I confidently announced I had form, tax and payslips and she seemed impressed ( I didnt want to have to give employers letter if I didn't have to, even though I had it with me. She took it and made a big file, then took my fingerprints. She gave me a pink courier form and told me to fill it out while I waited for my interview.
I then sat down, got a bit freaked out when I saw the back of the courier form that said it could now be several hours until my interview. Watched the screen, soon I saw I-901 get called back. Maybe it took half an hour, and I 905 was called before me which was scary but then my number was called and I scutrried nervously to the windiow (both my windows were in the section round the corner, not the bit where you sit).
There was a cheerful but serious looking blond man with glasses. He welcomed me, took my fingerprints, and had me raise my right hand. He read me the oath and I said "I do". He was holding my photos from my original I-129F package in their original state (mounted on a page with annotations etc.) which was so strange cos I hadn't seen them for 9 months! He then gave me the form that you sent in with packet 3 that has the declaration on it (I think its the DS156K) and immediately had me sign it to sayu I would marry chris. His name is long, and I went way over the box and apologised but he said it was fine. He signed it. I was confused because I expected them to only do this once they had decided to approve me! He then asked me a couple questions:
Where did we meet? What was he doing in Europe? Was he still affiliated with a US university? Had he finished his PhD? How long might it carry on? (I said indefinitely, he pushed me so I said 2 years) Where was he from? Why did his parents move to Atlanta> What does his Dad do? Did all his family stay in science? OK you are approved. Just like that - it had been less than 2 mins questions.
I didn't kinow what to say to be honest, I said I couldnt believe it! He asked me if I had any questions, I said no, I go I stay I get married within 90 days I file AOS - he said exactly. He explained to me about my delivery and how i shouldnt open the other envelope. He told me when my medical expires, as I have to enter before then (December) but I told him I was going August 2nd.
He sent me to the courier, and I was crying a bit. I met a nice lady there also approved on a K1 who was pregnant and trying to get to the US as soon as possible and we shared our happiness! I got to the front of the queue and paid for before 12pm delivery. I then burst into tears all over the courier desk, the long haired guy working there seems completely bemused by this. It was over quickly. her gave me the receipt and told me to wait 10 days, and I was out and stunned. I half ran, half crying, all the way back to my hotel and grabbed my phone. I sat outside a pub and called my sleepy fiance, and my parents, and cried a lot while a bunch of builders looked confusedly at me. It was 9.50, so I probably got out at 9.30. I was shaking and couldnt believe it.
I couldn't handle the enormity of it to be honest, so I went to primark. Then to KFC, to stuff my face.
So thats it, if anyone has any questions you can PM me because I had literally every question worrying me and I undestand, so I will do my best to help anyone else!! Good luck and I promise you, you won't believe me now as I didn't, but you will be fine, you have this, you have everything you need and you deserve this.
Zoe |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0