We decided to go down the night before on the train into St Pancras and got a taxi from there to Fulham where we would call base for a few days £27.00 yikes, but as Fulham had been rioted the night before it was worth it for arriving safely.

We decided to take a leaf out of Fayes book and arrive early and walked through the square before waiting at the gate house, it looked as if there was movement around 6:30 so took a stroll from the bench we were at and stood at the barrier straps when a nice oriental chap told us to go further back as the call you up from these to a podium and check your paperwork to determine which visa you are applying. Our appointment time was for 9 am.

One or two had brought the wrong or none of the expected paperwork they were supposed to print and told to go to go down the road to print them off, however these were for the non immigrant applications, we knew this because we were first in line. the young girl with her checklist of names forgot to bring the immigrant list down and had to call up for it, we were then told to stand to one side until it was brought down; a few of us were building up while waiting for this list and eventually we were checked off and told to cut in as we were first, by this time it was around 7:30 and we were then questioned why we had tried to cut in...explained and all was ok after a bewildered British security guard was looking at our papers, we were sent to the holding pen awaiting our entry to the security check house.

People were being asked if they had devices such as car keys and belts and given a bag to put them in for screening. We didn't because we left everything back at the hotel.

Once out of the security went right and followed the path down to the end and around to the steps that took you to the receptionist where we handed or sheet in again and stickers were placed on it with our number which was I-901, we the went inside and took a seat and waited for the screens to be powered up this 7:45, so we bought a coffee £1.50 each for a small size...and decided the room was only fling up on one side so sat on the other side where no one was sitting at first and at 8 exactly the screens powered up and I-901 was called and went to window 13 around the corner...Oh no, bad sign unlucky 13......where a foreign chap was going through what was submitted and checking his list, wanted to know where my medical file was, I replied I did the medical on the 27th June and was supposed to be here in the embassy, he looked puzzled, and went away, came back after a few nerve racking minutes and nodded at me to say he had found it....phew!!! , he then detached the file from the CD and stapled the CD and said I needed to take this to the U.S with me, then gave me the pink courier form and asked to fill out when I go back to the waiting area then asked if I had ever been in the military and a couple of other straight forward questions and told that I would be called again soon...at 9:05 I was called for again, but this time window 15 where a very pleasant American woman late 30s early 40s greeted me with a big smile, which put me at ease straight away and was now looking forward to the experience.

I was asked to raise my right hand and swear to the information being true to the best of my knowledge .She then asked how we met ( online) what kind of site it was ( online radio station) gave a little bit more info of how we started to chat as she had asked. She then asked if we had a big wedding, I said that it was more a medium sized as we had invited a 100 but only 30 to 40 showed up at the reception, but there were more at the ceremony, she then asked if I had any children to which I said no and did my wife have any and I said yes and did I know there ages which I ran them off, but realised after that they had all just had a birthday and were one year out, but this was after she said, well, everything seems to be in order and " I have no problem in approving you today" I said thank you so very much with a cheesy big grin on my chops, she then sad were done have a great day to which I said I already am! she giggled......As I walked out....sorry...floated out I could see my wife behind the monitor stands, she couldn't see me mainly because she wasn't expecting me so soon....3 minutes to be exact...lol that I walked around the side thinking she would spot me, but no so continued to walk up behind her and gave her a bit of a startle and said we have been approved, went to the DX desk and paid went to have a star bucks Mocha to celebrate and on the way out the one of the English guards said have a good day, my wife said, we already are to which he replied......Ha! that good, well congrats!

Got a text from DX on Friday afternoon to say that they were delivering an item from the embassy on the 15th Aug

so we were done and dusted by 9:15

3 minute interview and the rest was waiting, which we are all pros at now!

Big congrats!

Wolfy congrats amazing news, glad it went so well, I have mine next monday and pray it goes as smoothly

That is great! We have ours on Friday. I am a bit nervous that we will forget something. I need to find that checklist you mentioned.

Can I just ask, did you actually get a visa while at the embassy? or do they mail the green card to an address in the States?? I don't understand when we will receive the 'proof' so that we can move...

thanks,

They take your passport and put a temporary one in there for travel to the US and then send one to your US address, thats why the DX service is used to return the passport, good luck on friday

You get your passport with visa back a few days later by courier. The visa in your passport is your "proof" to move. When you arrive at the Port of Entry in the US the officer stamps the passport page next to the visa. This is the "endorsement" that allows the visa to serve as a temporary Green Card for up to a year. Your actual Green Card then comes in the mail a few weeks later.

Thanks for that. I appreciate the info.

THanks!

Glad everything went well!

Last Question,
How do we apply for a Social Security Number? does he just apply while at the embassy?
thanks again

there is a box on the DS-230 you can tick to request a social security number once u get to america. If you ticket it it SHOULD be assigned and sent to you within a few months, but most people wait 2 or 3 weeks then visit the SS office and apply in person.

So nothing is done until you get to america basically

Thanks for the write-up Wolfy. I cant believe it was so quick - the last two times I was at the embassy (for a J1 and an L1) I was there for hours and hours!

Did the first guy you saw ask for any paperwork? From looking at my checklist I don't need to bring anything but my passport, even the photo says already supplied. I'm obviously going to bring copies of all my documents just in case, but im curious what if anything they asked you for.

Now on to the planning stage for the move for you! very exciting.

didnt ask for any paperwork at all, just if i had ever been in the forces, and asked if i had my medical file with me, but said they should have it...he found it...you get original civil docs at 2nd window