leema5

I had my appointment today in London. It was straightforward, mostly painless and took 37 minutes in total.

I arrived early to check in at the outside stall. There was nobody else there. My appointment was for 12 noon so I recommend this time to others.

Once in the building, the friendly guy at the front desk ticks your name on his list and gives you the stickers with your number on it. You need to wait at the seated area to be called and as others have said there is a big screen with the numbers displayed. I was there around 5 minutes before my number was called. I'd say there were 6 other people in the whole waiting area at that time.

I went to the window assigned to me and spoke with a very relaxed and friendly man. He took my passport and the form that shows your DS-260 has been submitted, asked me to go to the next booth to pay, and come right back to him. He asked for each document he needed in order (both original and copy) and put them together with various stickers and staples on them. I was sent back to the waiting area to be called by the officer who would be doing the 'interview'.

Again, I waited only 5 minutes or so until my number appeared again. As it happens, I had to go to the same window as before. This experience was a little different. The officer, although not impolite in any way, was pretty serious and didn't return my smile. I didn't feel all that relaxed with him when I was raising my hand and promising to tell the truth.

He had my file in front of him and went through the documents again and asked various questions. He spent a bit of time looking at my birth certificate and asking about it. I grew up in foster care and had changed my name by deed poll when I was 18. He found it unusual that I was able to get a birth certificate with my 'new' name on it. I don't think he could see my previous name on it. I had the required certified deed poll certificate with me to give them.

He asked some more questions about why we were moving to the US and what we planned to do when we got there. He asked me when I had my medical as the results were not at the embassy yet. I expected this as I only had my medical on Monday but I couldn't stay in London any longer.

That was pretty much the whole process. He said everything was fine but he can't approve the actual visa until the medical results reach the embassy and sent me on my way with the blue 221(g) document with the medical results section ticked.

I left the embassy at 1237.


Edited to add: I had a J1 exchange visa in 2014 which was subject to the 2 year home rule. I have been patiently collecting proof and salary slips to show that I had fulfilled my 2 years at the beginning of October. He only asked if I'd had any other visas and when it was. He didn't ask if I'd fulfilled the 2 years or for any proof that I had done so. I left with my 24 salary slips still in their polypocket.

Rete

Thanks for the write-up, Lee. Sounds like it was a standard interview. Sorry that the medical had yet to reach them but it will be early next week and look forward to reading that you received notification that the visa has been issued and is on its way to you.

AndyMan74

Glad the interview was straightforward and VERY quick. What documents did they take originals and photo copies? What kind of visa were you going for and what was the cost?

Thanks

ItsHappening

Hope you get your visa quickly and can move. Good luck leema5!

KK85

Fingers crossed for quick receipt of your medical results, and that your visa will be in hand without further delay! Thank you so much for the detailed write-up.

leema5

They took my birth certificate, marriage certificate, UK police certificate, overseas police check, 2 photos, affidavit of support, other half's tax return for 2016, bank statement showing our savings and proof of name change by deed poll. I think that's it.

We have been married less than 2 years so it's for a CR-1 visa. The fee was $325 which amounted to £256 today.

AndyMan74

Sounds like you just missed having your medical arrive at the embassy by a cats whisker but i'm sure it will all come together. Thanks for the info.

leema5

Can anyone clarify that they will send my chest x-ray disc along with my passport?

AndyMan74

As I understand it you should get a brown envelope along with your passport that contains various immigration documents and your chest x-ray. DO NOT OPEN THE BROWN ENVELOPE as this is handed in at your POE.

leema5

The chest x-ray is normally handed back to you at the interview I thought. Maybe there is also one in the envelope. Will know soon enough I guess :-p

16BIT

Probably saw you there leema5. I was there yesterday with my appointment at 12. Was quicker then I expected and barely anyone there - although when I got out there was a queue developing outside. Literally went the majority of how you have described, however the officer I got was friendly and only asked what our (me and my wife) intentions were, why we were going to the US and where we would be living.

leema5

My CEAC file has been updated today but it still says administrative processing. I haven’t been called or emailed by Knightsbridge and the only tick on the 221g was for medical results.

I assume that perhaps my medical results have arrived at the embassy and that my passport has been taken from my file to have the visa added. Hopefully :-)

AndyMan74

Your case and my Wife’s are similar. My wife attended her Interview yesterday morning and knocked it out the park BUT her medical was not at the embassy yet (allow up to 5 days). While my wife was in the embassy I rang Knightsbridge and they said they had sent it out but had only posted it on the 20th(posted over weekend and Embassy closed Saturday/Sunday) which was annoying to say the least as they had plenty of time to have sent it sooner...GRRRRRR!!!

My wife’s CEAC status is administrative processing as well which just means when they get the medical they will send our documents out with any luck.

AndyMan

viitav

You'll receive a white plastic envelope which has inside a large white paper envelope (which you do not open) and my passport was placed inside. It isn't a brown envelope anymore and you don't have to worry about tearing the envelope to get your passport off like I heard you could do before.

viitav

Oh and you get your X Ray back at the interview - not in the envelope. I wouldn't panic as you do not need to hand this in on POE. It isn't required again.