visa interview tuesday!

[bozzly]

Well the day has come and I'm off to London in the morning (tuesday) for my interview at the American embassy to hopefully get my visa.
If anyone is interested I will write an account on how the day went and what happens.This might be useful to others in the future.

 

[Miffy2003]

Hope it all goes well for you Bozzly!

I'm sure your experience would be helpful if you are happy to share it

 

[gilld]

Good luck

 

[alisonbestford]

Good luck from us too.

 

[KayleeUK]

Good Luck come back and let us know how you got on.

 

[Slimey_snake]

Good luck....fingers crossed!

 

[bozzly]

Thanks for the good luck messages. Off to bed soon as early start in the morning.!!

 

[bozzly]

My appointment was for 9.30am so I arrived at the embassy at 8.30 to be greeted my around 100 people in the queue! We all had to queue outside (in the cold!) and finaly got into the building at 10.10.
Then another wait for about 15mins in a large room with everyone else.
They give you a number when you go in and when my number was called I had to go to a window (one of 25) and hand over my forms,passport and memorundum of convictions.

I was then told to sit back down and wait to be called again.
After another wait of around 1 hour I was called to another window for a short interview where the guy behind the desk asked me why I wanted to go to the usa,if I owned my house and my convictions.
This only lasted about 5 minutes and then he told me my application was succesful and the visa would be posted to me.
I took letters,bills,bank statements etc but they didn't even ask to see them.

All told I was at the embassy (or outside!) for 3 and a half hours but was told it can be longer if very busy!.

Be prepared and take a pre paid special delivery envelope (for your visa return) with you as when in the queue we were told that the embassy had run out of them and if we entered the building without one they wouldn't even see us that day ! We had to trudge down the road to the post office to buy one.

Any questions?

 

[gilld]

Well at least that's over and done with and you can now look forward to your holiday.

 

[alisonbestford]

Great stuff.
Enjoy your trip.
Alison

 

[homerdog]

We all had to queue outside (in the cold!) and finaly got into the building at 10.10.

... another wait of around 1 hour

This (interview) only lasted about 5 minutes and then he told me my application was succesful

All told I was at the embassy (or outside!) for 3 and a half hours but was told it can be longer if very busy!.

All the more reason not to get taken in by their bullying tactics

What had you done, smoked a joint 25 years ago?

If that's how the Americans treat their friends, I'd hate to get on their wrong side.

 

[Miffy2003]

I'm glad you got that sorted!

 

[Cyrano]

Hope after this experience the holiday is the compensation

Reid

 

[basas]

All the more reason not to get taken in by their bullying tactics

What had you done, smoked a joint 25 years ago?

If that's how the Americans treat their friends, I'd hate to get on their wrong side.

Its juts pre-cautions..i doubt its much different anywhere else.

 

[jen_uk]

Hi,
I was just wondering whether peoples partners were allowed into the embassy with them? My husband is Albanian and will need an interview and he is worried in case they dont let me go with him and he has trouble understanding them. Also how long did it take after sending off the application to get an appointment?

Thanks

Jen

 

[bozzly]

Jen..They were allowing partners into the embassy. When queuing up we were told that one person would be allowed in but any more and they had to wait elsewhere.

You don't actually send off the application forms, you have to fill them in online (from the American embassy site) and print them off.
To get an appointment you phone them up.

I phoned them in the second week of Febuary and got my appointment for 1st March.

 

[alisonbestford]

Best to have a look at the embassy website. They must make some provision for interpreters but I know that it says somewhere that no-one can accompany unless they are a carer.