DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
May 15th 2011 | 11:50 pm
#376
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 62
From: Manchester
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
My story of today:
I got to London yesterday stayed with a friend near Edgware Road.
My appointment was at 9:00 this morning so at about 8:15 I left, got on a Boris Bike and cycled to the Embassy. Dropped the bike at Grosvenor Square, stopped into Gould's to get the photos done and got to the Embassy at about 8:45.
I went through security and there was no problem. Don't take any electronic stuff to the Embassy as you won't be let in - you can leave it at Gould's if needed.
I reported to the reception desk and got a number -I914.
Next was the long wait - about an hour and a half to get called to the first window. The lady there looked at my application form and asked for my passport, birth certificate + copy, marriage certificate + copy, police certificate + copy and 2 photos. She asked me to print my name on the back of one of them. She then did a lot of hole punching and checked what I had written. She chatted with me for 15 mins or so about her daughter being at medical school and what I would advise about intercalated degrees, publications, job applications etc etc while processing the paperwork into hole punched bundles.
After all that she asked for my affidavit of support and she looked through it. I mentioned that I had a joint sponsor but she said that I wouldn't need it as the asset levels were adequate. She did ask whether my house was on the market and when I replied that it wasn't because we're planning to let it for a few years, she changed her mind about the joint sponsor and went through the proof of income for my father-in-law.
I was then sent over to the cashier to pay $404 and asked to return the receipts to the first window, where it was added to my file. I then waited for the interview.
After 20 mins or so, I was called to another window, in a quieter part of the room, and I met my consular officer. He gave me back my original documents and asked me:
Where did you meet your wife?
Where are you planning to live in the US?
Where is your wife living now?
Did you have to recertify to practice medicine in the US?
Then he told me that he had previously volunteered for a cleft lip & palate charity and we talked about my craniofacial surgery job in Texas and about my career in cleft lip & palate surgery.
He then said that he had approved my application and that I should go over to the courier desk and arrange delivery.
Then I left and got back on a Boris bike back to my friend's house for about 11:30.
I didn't get the brown 'do not open' envelope that people have mentioned and I didn't ever get into a discussion about intent to domicile or get a chance to show any of those documents.
Flights are booked for June 20th. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the passport & visa to arrive.
J
I got to London yesterday stayed with a friend near Edgware Road.
My appointment was at 9:00 this morning so at about 8:15 I left, got on a Boris Bike and cycled to the Embassy. Dropped the bike at Grosvenor Square, stopped into Gould's to get the photos done and got to the Embassy at about 8:45.
I went through security and there was no problem. Don't take any electronic stuff to the Embassy as you won't be let in - you can leave it at Gould's if needed.
I reported to the reception desk and got a number -I914.
Next was the long wait - about an hour and a half to get called to the first window. The lady there looked at my application form and asked for my passport, birth certificate + copy, marriage certificate + copy, police certificate + copy and 2 photos. She asked me to print my name on the back of one of them. She then did a lot of hole punching and checked what I had written. She chatted with me for 15 mins or so about her daughter being at medical school and what I would advise about intercalated degrees, publications, job applications etc etc while processing the paperwork into hole punched bundles.
After all that she asked for my affidavit of support and she looked through it. I mentioned that I had a joint sponsor but she said that I wouldn't need it as the asset levels were adequate. She did ask whether my house was on the market and when I replied that it wasn't because we're planning to let it for a few years, she changed her mind about the joint sponsor and went through the proof of income for my father-in-law.
I was then sent over to the cashier to pay $404 and asked to return the receipts to the first window, where it was added to my file. I then waited for the interview.
After 20 mins or so, I was called to another window, in a quieter part of the room, and I met my consular officer. He gave me back my original documents and asked me:
Where did you meet your wife?
Where are you planning to live in the US?
Where is your wife living now?
Did you have to recertify to practice medicine in the US?
Then he told me that he had previously volunteered for a cleft lip & palate charity and we talked about my craniofacial surgery job in Texas and about my career in cleft lip & palate surgery.
He then said that he had approved my application and that I should go over to the courier desk and arrange delivery.
Then I left and got back on a Boris bike back to my friend's house for about 11:30.
I didn't get the brown 'do not open' envelope that people have mentioned and I didn't ever get into a discussion about intent to domicile or get a chance to show any of those documents.
Flights are booked for June 20th. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the passport & visa to arrive.
J
May 15th 2011 | 11:54 pm
#377
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 30
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
Thata awesome J. Sound like you had a really positive interviewig experience! I hope the Visa comes through soon.
My story of today:
I got to London yesterday stayed with a friend near Edgware Road.
My appointment was at 9:00 this morning so at about 8:15 I left, got on a Boris Bike and cycled to the Embassy. Dropped the bike at Grosvenor Square, stopped into Gould's to get the photos done and got to the Embassy at about 8:45.
I went through security and there was no problem. Don't take any electronic stuff to the Embassy as you won't be let in - you can leave it at Gould's if needed.
I reported to the reception desk and got a number -I914.
Next was the long wait - about an hour and a half to get called to the first window. The lady there looked at my application form and asked for my passport, birth certificate + copy, marriage certificate + copy, police certificate + copy and 2 photos. She asked me to print my name on the back of one of them. She then did a lot of hole punching and checked what I had written. She chatted with me for 15 mins or so about her daughter being at medical school and what I would advise about intercalated degrees, publications, job applications etc etc while processing the paperwork into hole punched bundles.
After all that she asked for my affidavit of support and she looked through it. I mentioned that I had a joint sponsor but she said that I wouldn't need it as the asset levels were adequate. She did ask whether my house was on the market and when I replied that it wasn't because we're planning to let it for a few years, she changed her mind about the joint sponsor and went through the proof of income for my father-in-law.
I was then sent over to the cashier to pay $404 and asked to return the receipts to the first window, where it was added to my file. I then waited for the interview.
After 20 mins or so, I was called to another window, in a quieter part of the room, and I met my consular officer. He gave me back my original documents and asked me:
Where did you meet your wife?
Where are you planning to live in the US?
Where is your wife living now?
Did you have to recertify to practice medicine in the US?
Then he told me that he had previously volunteered for a cleft lip & palate charity and we talked about my craniofacial surgery job in Texas and about my career in cleft lip & palate surgery.
He then said that he had approved my application and that I should go over to the courier desk and arrange delivery.
Then I left and got back on a Boris bike back to my friend's house for about 11:30.
I didn't get the brown 'do not open' envelope that people have mentioned and I didn't ever get into a discussion about intent to domicile or get a chance to show any of those documents.
Flights are booked for June 20th. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the passport & visa to arrive.
J
I got to London yesterday stayed with a friend near Edgware Road.
My appointment was at 9:00 this morning so at about 8:15 I left, got on a Boris Bike and cycled to the Embassy. Dropped the bike at Grosvenor Square, stopped into Gould's to get the photos done and got to the Embassy at about 8:45.
I went through security and there was no problem. Don't take any electronic stuff to the Embassy as you won't be let in - you can leave it at Gould's if needed.
I reported to the reception desk and got a number -I914.
Next was the long wait - about an hour and a half to get called to the first window. The lady there looked at my application form and asked for my passport, birth certificate + copy, marriage certificate + copy, police certificate + copy and 2 photos. She asked me to print my name on the back of one of them. She then did a lot of hole punching and checked what I had written. She chatted with me for 15 mins or so about her daughter being at medical school and what I would advise about intercalated degrees, publications, job applications etc etc while processing the paperwork into hole punched bundles.
After all that she asked for my affidavit of support and she looked through it. I mentioned that I had a joint sponsor but she said that I wouldn't need it as the asset levels were adequate. She did ask whether my house was on the market and when I replied that it wasn't because we're planning to let it for a few years, she changed her mind about the joint sponsor and went through the proof of income for my father-in-law.
I was then sent over to the cashier to pay $404 and asked to return the receipts to the first window, where it was added to my file. I then waited for the interview.
After 20 mins or so, I was called to another window, in a quieter part of the room, and I met my consular officer. He gave me back my original documents and asked me:
Where did you meet your wife?
Where are you planning to live in the US?
Where is your wife living now?
Did you have to recertify to practice medicine in the US?
Then he told me that he had previously volunteered for a cleft lip & palate charity and we talked about my craniofacial surgery job in Texas and about my career in cleft lip & palate surgery.
He then said that he had approved my application and that I should go over to the courier desk and arrange delivery.
Then I left and got back on a Boris bike back to my friend's house for about 11:30.
I didn't get the brown 'do not open' envelope that people have mentioned and I didn't ever get into a discussion about intent to domicile or get a chance to show any of those documents.
Flights are booked for June 20th. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the passport & visa to arrive.
J
May 16th 2011 | 1:52 am
#378
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 225
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
My story of today:
I got to London yesterday stayed with a friend near Edgware Road.
My appointment was at 9:00 this morning so at about 8:15 I left, got on a Boris Bike and cycled to the Embassy. Dropped the bike at Grosvenor Square, stopped into Gould's to get the photos done and got to the Embassy at about 8:45.
I went through security and there was no problem. Don't take any electronic stuff to the Embassy as you won't be let in - you can leave it at Gould's if needed.
I reported to the reception desk and got a number -I914.
Next was the long wait - about an hour and a half to get called to the first window. The lady there looked at my application form and asked for my passport, birth certificate + copy, marriage certificate + copy, police certificate + copy and 2 photos. She asked me to print my name on the back of one of them. She then did a lot of hole punching and checked what I had written. She chatted with me for 15 mins or so about her daughter being at medical school and what I would advise about intercalated degrees, publications, job applications etc etc while processing the paperwork into hole punched bundles.
After all that she asked for my affidavit of support and she looked through it. I mentioned that I had a joint sponsor but she said that I wouldn't need it as the asset levels were adequate. She did ask whether my house was on the market and when I replied that it wasn't because we're planning to let it for a few years, she changed her mind about the joint sponsor and went through the proof of income for my father-in-law.
I was then sent over to the cashier to pay $404 and asked to return the receipts to the first window, where it was added to my file. I then waited for the interview.
After 20 mins or so, I was called to another window, in a quieter part of the room, and I met my consular officer. He gave me back my original documents and asked me:
Where did you meet your wife?
Where are you planning to live in the US?
Where is your wife living now?
Did you have to recertify to practice medicine in the US?
Then he told me that he had previously volunteered for a cleft lip & palate charity and we talked about my craniofacial surgery job in Texas and about my career in cleft lip & palate surgery.
He then said that he had approved my application and that I should go over to the courier desk and arrange delivery.
Then I left and got back on a Boris bike back to my friend's house for about 11:30.
I didn't get the brown 'do not open' envelope that people have mentioned and I didn't ever get into a discussion about intent to domicile or get a chance to show any of those documents.
Flights are booked for June 20th. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the passport & visa to arrive.
J
I got to London yesterday stayed with a friend near Edgware Road.
My appointment was at 9:00 this morning so at about 8:15 I left, got on a Boris Bike and cycled to the Embassy. Dropped the bike at Grosvenor Square, stopped into Gould's to get the photos done and got to the Embassy at about 8:45.
I went through security and there was no problem. Don't take any electronic stuff to the Embassy as you won't be let in - you can leave it at Gould's if needed.
I reported to the reception desk and got a number -I914.
Next was the long wait - about an hour and a half to get called to the first window. The lady there looked at my application form and asked for my passport, birth certificate + copy, marriage certificate + copy, police certificate + copy and 2 photos. She asked me to print my name on the back of one of them. She then did a lot of hole punching and checked what I had written. She chatted with me for 15 mins or so about her daughter being at medical school and what I would advise about intercalated degrees, publications, job applications etc etc while processing the paperwork into hole punched bundles.
After all that she asked for my affidavit of support and she looked through it. I mentioned that I had a joint sponsor but she said that I wouldn't need it as the asset levels were adequate. She did ask whether my house was on the market and when I replied that it wasn't because we're planning to let it for a few years, she changed her mind about the joint sponsor and went through the proof of income for my father-in-law.
I was then sent over to the cashier to pay $404 and asked to return the receipts to the first window, where it was added to my file. I then waited for the interview.
After 20 mins or so, I was called to another window, in a quieter part of the room, and I met my consular officer. He gave me back my original documents and asked me:
Where did you meet your wife?
Where are you planning to live in the US?
Where is your wife living now?
Did you have to recertify to practice medicine in the US?
Then he told me that he had previously volunteered for a cleft lip & palate charity and we talked about my craniofacial surgery job in Texas and about my career in cleft lip & palate surgery.
He then said that he had approved my application and that I should go over to the courier desk and arrange delivery.
Then I left and got back on a Boris bike back to my friend's house for about 11:30.
I didn't get the brown 'do not open' envelope that people have mentioned and I didn't ever get into a discussion about intent to domicile or get a chance to show any of those documents.
Flights are booked for June 20th. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the passport & visa to arrive.
J
. I have made my own photos and I was a bit concerned because I didn't do them at the Gould pharmacy, but I went there on the weekend and showed them my photos and they said that it should be ok (although they are not allowed to approve them on behalf of the embassy, they still said they think my photos are fine - so I decided not to worry about them anymore... 2 more weeks to go now for me, so excited!
May 16th 2011 | 2:28 am
#379
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 69
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
My story of today:
I got to London yesterday stayed with a friend near Edgware Road.
My appointment was at 9:00 this morning so at about 8:15 I left, got on a Boris Bike and cycled to the Embassy. Dropped the bike at Grosvenor Square, stopped into Gould's to get the photos done and got to the Embassy at about 8:45.
I went through security and there was no problem. Don't take any electronic stuff to the Embassy as you won't be let in - you can leave it at Gould's if needed.
I reported to the reception desk and got a number -I914.
Next was the long wait - about an hour and a half to get called to the first window. The lady there looked at my application form and asked for my passport, birth certificate + copy, marriage certificate + copy, police certificate + copy and 2 photos. She asked me to print my name on the back of one of them. She then did a lot of hole punching and checked what I had written. She chatted with me for 15 mins or so about her daughter being at medical school and what I would advise about intercalated degrees, publications, job applications etc etc while processing the paperwork into hole punched bundles.
After all that she asked for my affidavit of support and she looked through it. I mentioned that I had a joint sponsor but she said that I wouldn't need it as the asset levels were adequate. She did ask whether my house was on the market and when I replied that it wasn't because we're planning to let it for a few years, she changed her mind about the joint sponsor and went through the proof of income for my father-in-law.
I was then sent over to the cashier to pay $404 and asked to return the receipts to the first window, where it was added to my file. I then waited for the interview.
After 20 mins or so, I was called to another window, in a quieter part of the room, and I met my consular officer. He gave me back my original documents and asked me:
Where did you meet your wife?
Where are you planning to live in the US?
Where is your wife living now?
Did you have to recertify to practice medicine in the US?
Then he told me that he had previously volunteered for a cleft lip & palate charity and we talked about my craniofacial surgery job in Texas and about my career in cleft lip & palate surgery.
He then said that he had approved my application and that I should go over to the courier desk and arrange delivery.
Then I left and got back on a Boris bike back to my friend's house for about 11:30.
I didn't get the brown 'do not open' envelope that people have mentioned and I didn't ever get into a discussion about intent to domicile or get a chance to show any of those documents.
Flights are booked for June 20th. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the passport & visa to arrive.
J
I got to London yesterday stayed with a friend near Edgware Road.
My appointment was at 9:00 this morning so at about 8:15 I left, got on a Boris Bike and cycled to the Embassy. Dropped the bike at Grosvenor Square, stopped into Gould's to get the photos done and got to the Embassy at about 8:45.
I went through security and there was no problem. Don't take any electronic stuff to the Embassy as you won't be let in - you can leave it at Gould's if needed.
I reported to the reception desk and got a number -I914.
Next was the long wait - about an hour and a half to get called to the first window. The lady there looked at my application form and asked for my passport, birth certificate + copy, marriage certificate + copy, police certificate + copy and 2 photos. She asked me to print my name on the back of one of them. She then did a lot of hole punching and checked what I had written. She chatted with me for 15 mins or so about her daughter being at medical school and what I would advise about intercalated degrees, publications, job applications etc etc while processing the paperwork into hole punched bundles.
After all that she asked for my affidavit of support and she looked through it. I mentioned that I had a joint sponsor but she said that I wouldn't need it as the asset levels were adequate. She did ask whether my house was on the market and when I replied that it wasn't because we're planning to let it for a few years, she changed her mind about the joint sponsor and went through the proof of income for my father-in-law.
I was then sent over to the cashier to pay $404 and asked to return the receipts to the first window, where it was added to my file. I then waited for the interview.
After 20 mins or so, I was called to another window, in a quieter part of the room, and I met my consular officer. He gave me back my original documents and asked me:
Where did you meet your wife?
Where are you planning to live in the US?
Where is your wife living now?
Did you have to recertify to practice medicine in the US?
Then he told me that he had previously volunteered for a cleft lip & palate charity and we talked about my craniofacial surgery job in Texas and about my career in cleft lip & palate surgery.
He then said that he had approved my application and that I should go over to the courier desk and arrange delivery.
Then I left and got back on a Boris bike back to my friend's house for about 11:30.
I didn't get the brown 'do not open' envelope that people have mentioned and I didn't ever get into a discussion about intent to domicile or get a chance to show any of those documents.
Flights are booked for June 20th. Hopefully that'll be enough time for the passport & visa to arrive.
J
May 16th 2011 | 2:45 am
#380
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 225
From: London
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
I hope the envelope itself reminds you not to open it!
May 16th 2011 | 3:15 am
#382
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 60
From: Apex NC
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
I was received my case number 23rd March and decided to contact embassy last week because I had no interview date as yet.
My readiness Forms were sent off / received March 28th !!
They say that they have medical results but do not have my readiness forms .....ggrrrhhhhh
So....looks like I have to re-send them.
Oh well....
May 16th 2011 | 3:26 am
#383
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 225
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
Congrats J...hope everything goes well for you.
I was received my case number 23rd March and decided to contact embassy last week because I had no interview date as yet.
My readiness Forms were sent off / received March 28th !!
They say that they have medical results but do not have my readiness forms .....ggrrrhhhhh
So....looks like I have to re-send them.
Oh well....
I was received my case number 23rd March and decided to contact embassy last week because I had no interview date as yet.
My readiness Forms were sent off / received March 28th !!
They say that they have medical results but do not have my readiness forms .....ggrrrhhhhh
So....looks like I have to re-send them.
Oh well....
May 16th 2011 | 3:59 am
#384
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 60
From: Apex NC
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
Well hold your horses there is a god in heaven !!
Just had another email from the embassy saying that they have just received my documents in office and my interview is set for 09:00am on 10th June.
Hoorah.
For those who have done it....how long to walk to Goulds Pharmacy from the embassy ?
Also how long do most people spend at the embassy ?
Do you think I could be out of there by say 11.15am if my appointment is set for 9am ? Just booking trains to/from London.
Thanks in advance.
Ryan
Just had another email from the embassy saying that they have just received my documents in office and my interview is set for 09:00am on 10th June.
Hoorah.
For those who have done it....how long to walk to Goulds Pharmacy from the embassy ?
Also how long do most people spend at the embassy ?
Do you think I could be out of there by say 11.15am if my appointment is set for 9am ? Just booking trains to/from London.
Thanks in advance.
Ryan
May 16th 2011 | 4:07 am
#386
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 225
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
Well hold your horses there is a god in heaven !!
Just had another email from the embassy saying that they have just received my documents in office and my interview is set for 09:00am on 10th June.
Hoorah.
For those who have done it....how long to walk to Goulds Pharmacy from the embassy ?
Also how long do most people spend at the embassy ?
Do you think I could be out of there by say 11.15am if my appointment is set for 9am ? Just booking trains to/from London.
Thanks in advance.
Ryan
Just had another email from the embassy saying that they have just received my documents in office and my interview is set for 09:00am on 10th June.
Hoorah.
For those who have done it....how long to walk to Goulds Pharmacy from the embassy ?
Also how long do most people spend at the embassy ?
Do you think I could be out of there by say 11.15am if my appointment is set for 9am ? Just booking trains to/from London.
Thanks in advance.
Ryan
You can get from the embassy to the Gould's pharmacy in 2-3 mins - it's very close, I went there on the weekend. Good luck! Normally people report on average 2 hours, but I wouldn't book my ticket for 2 hours later, may be allow some more time until 12 at least? I don't know what the others will say - can't you leave your ticket flexible?
May 16th 2011 | 4:19 am
#387
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 60
From: Apex NC
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
Yay, that's great, Ryan! 10 June will be my last working day here, and I hope by then I will have my visa too You can get from the embassy to the Gould's pharmacy in 2-3 mins - it's very close, I went there on the weekend. Good luck! Normally people report on average 2 hours, but I wouldn't book my ticket for 2 hours later, may be allow some more time until 12 at least? I don't know what the others will say - can't you leave your ticket flexible?
You can get from the embassy to the Gould's pharmacy in 2-3 mins - it's very close, I went there on the weekend. Good luck! Normally people report on average 2 hours, but I wouldn't book my ticket for 2 hours later, may be allow some more time until 12 at least? I don't know what the others will say - can't you leave your ticket flexible?With the trains, it just saves me about £40 if I can get on the 11.48 train home from Paddington instead of a flexible ticket.
I hope your interview goes smoothly and without a hitch and good luck to you on the 10th off on your adventure !!
Ryan
May 16th 2011 | 4:23 am
#388
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 62
From: Manchester
Re: DCF Filing in Nov/Dec/Jan
For those who have done it....how long to walk to Goulds Pharmacy from the embassy ?
Also how long do most people spend at the embassy ?
Do you think I could be out of there by say 11.15am if my appointment is set for 9am ? Just booking trains to/from London.
Do you think I could be out of there by say 11.15am if my appointment is set for 9am ? Just booking trains to/from London.
One more point - if you don't get to the window soon after they call your number then they will pass you by and it'll be at least 30 minutes before you get another chance. That happened to the I913 people today - they got to the window after the lady had started on my (I914) file and she asked them to take a seat for half an hour.
J
May 16th 2011 | 5:02 am
#390
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 109
From: St Louis Park, Minnesota
