Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
|
| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
April 4, 2011 |
| Embassy Review : |
Reading the London Embassy reviews on VJ really helped when I was preparing for my 9yr old son and my interviews. Our interview time allocated was 8:30am, so we arrived at 7:20am, in plenty time. There were already about 15 people in the queue before us. At 7:45am, the security people started to let us in, 2 or 3 at a time. They checked our appointment letters and passports and then directed us through the airport style security. On clearing this, we were directed to an initial reception desk where we were allocated the number I-900. Then instructed to take a seat on the next level in the waiting room. I had brought plenty of things to keep my son amused as we were told that we would have a long wait (and of course you aren't allowed any IPods or electronic games!) We were only seated about 10 mins when our number was called. We went to the indicated window and a young English guy proceeded to check through our documentation. He asked my husband's name and when we were married (it was our 5th wedding anniversary the next day - so not a difficult question). He checked my paperwork first and then my son's, then gave us a form to use for the courier and told us to return to the waiting room and wait until we were called again. I had read that the next wait could be a couple of hours so I got some milk and cookies from the snack bar for my son and got settled for what I thought would be a long wait.....only 20 mins later our number was called again. We proceeded to the next window and a really pleasant American chap welcomed both my son and I and again proceeded to review our documentation. He asked how long I had been married - I answered that we had been married 5 years and had lived in the UK up until last year when we decided to move to the US and that my husband had moved back to initiate our immigration. He then asked my son if he was looking forward to living in America, to which he replied that he couldn't wait to move! The chap was extremely polite and pleasant and then said that our visas were approved and asked when we would be travelling. I explained that I already had a job offer and would therefore want to move ASAP, to which he said that would be fine. He also explained that the visa stamp in my passport would act as a temporary green card enabling me to work until my permanent one was issued. He then advised me that our passports would be returned, by courier, in about a week to 10 days. It all happened so quickly I couldn't quite believe it. He then wished us good luck and directed us to the courier desk. I filled out the necessary paperwork for the courier and that was us finished. We left the Embassy at 9:15am - under an hour and a half from entry to the Embassy to completion. I found all the staff at the Embassy very pleasant and helpful. |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
|
ver 5.0