Return to K-1 Visa main pageK-1 Interview in London: June 7, 2001
(As told by Dan after the interview.)
THE JOURNEY
My day was not the typical experience for the US Embassy Interview, but I found out a few things I wish someone had told me before the day.
In the pack I'd received from the US Embassy (the second one from the consulate, AKA "Packet #4"), there was a from explaining the medical examination. At the top of this it said:
Applicants who's surname begins A-H
(Shortened Version) Go to Dr. Phelan's office for your medical at 8am then go to the Embassy for the interview.Applicants who's surname begins I-Z
(Shortened version) Go to the US Embassy for your interview at 8am then to Dr. Phelan's office for your medicalWith my surname beginning with 'K' I planned to head to the US Embassy first. I got up at 5am and caught the 6:09am train to London. Ten minutes later I hit my first problem. There was a fire at London Bridge station, so they stopped every train in the southeast. I sat there for forty minutes before the train driver told us he didn't expect us to leave any time soon, so we should make our way to London by bus. I had just walked to the bus-stop nearby with a crowd behind me, when I turned around and saw people running back towards the train. I sprinted down the hill, but the doors shut in front of me. I shouted to the guard, and he said there was nothing he could do about it. I then had to wait a further thirty minutes for the next train. The end result was that I arrived at the US Embassy about 8:30am. Not a good start.
There was a queue outside the Embassy next to a sign saying that people who were there for Visas should queue here. I asked someone in the queue if we were not being allowed in yet, and he said it depended whether I was here for immigration or a visa. Not thinking clearly, I said visa. He told me I should join the queue. Ten minutes later I got to the security desk and was told I should have come straight through as I had an immigration letter! That'll teach me. Unfortunately, when I approached the booth to "check-in," I was told that I should have gone for my medical, and that is where I should go now. I pointed out about the surname thing and was told, "It goes by the surname of the fiancée." I pointed out that Becky's surname starts with a 'J' so I was right to come here anyway, and was then told that that particular part of the form DOES NOT APPLY FOR THE K-1!!!
I jumped in a taxi and got to the doctor's office around 8:50am.
THE DOCTORS
I was told to take a seat. An hour later the receptionist said, "Everyone who has recently arrived please bring your medical questionnaire, passport, and vaccination certificates to the desk." I leapt up and was one of the first. It was okay that I didn't have any vaccination certificates. She took my form and passport and asked me to take a seat again. I warn you now, you do a LOT of waiting at this place, as there is only one doctor and loads of patients. Eventually I was called up to pay my £85. They take credit cards, which was lucky as I hadn't had time to get to a bank. Shortly after this I was called up again, and they took a blood sample from my arm. No big deal, although I had a bruise on my arm for about 4 days after it.
About midday I was finally called to see the doctor. He was a really nice guy and very chatty trying to put me at ease. By this time I was getting very nervous as I was worried about the interview and whether I'd have enough time. I needn't have worried, but I know you'll do the same. The doctor checked my pulse and listened to my chest and back. He asked me about vaccinations, etc. Since I had Mumps and Measles when I was 4 and 5 respectively, I asked if I could get the Rubella jab on its own instead of MMR. This is not possible, as the Rubella only comes in the grouped jab. I agreed to have both the MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) and the Td (Tetanus, Adult Diphtheria), and he took me down to the nurse who charged me a further £55 before doing the jabs.
TO THE EMBASSY (via McDonalds as I was starving)
I arrived at the embassy at about 1:14pm. I was told to take a seat and wait until my name was called. After twenty minutes I was called up. The guy behind the desk asked me for my passport, police certificate, birth certificate, two photos with head at angle showing right ear [Becky's note: AKA ADIT photos], and the affidavit of support [Becky's note: that was the I-134 Affidavit]. He didn't want any supporting documents or anything else I'd brought with me. I was told to take a seat again and someone would be with me shortly. About two minutes later my name was called again. A different guy this time. He told me to raise my right hand and asked me if I swear that everything I say and everything in these documents is truthful to the best of my knowledge. I said it is. This is where it got a little weird. The guy wasn't the ogre I'd been expecting but was a nice guy and was cracking jokes with me!!! I'll try to give a rough transcript which is shortened but not by much:
Clerk: Where did you meet your fiancée? Me: Originally on the Internet. Clerk: What were you doing on the Internet when you met? Me: *laughing nervously* We were in a role-playing game. Clerk: What kind of role-playing game? Me: We were both rogues in a fantasy setting. You know, fighting orcs and goblins, completing quests... Clerk: *yawn* How boring. We had a brief chat about the pros and cons of fantasy role-playing. He then tells me about the weirdest story for meeting that he'd heard so far, but I can't remember the details. Anyway, we both laughed at it and I agreed mine wasn't anywhere near as amusing. Clerk: What does Becky do for a living? Me: She is a student studying computer science at Northwestern ... Clerk: *cutting me off* When did you first meet? Me: We met in person for the first time in December '97. Clerk: When did you get engaged? Me: End of summer in '98. Clerk: What took you so long? Me: I wanted to be sure she was the right one for me. Clerk: Well, everything seems to be in order. I don't see any problem here. Take a seat and you'll be called back in a moment. I did as I was told but was feeling decidedly unsettled by the experience. It wasn't anything like I'd expected and seemed far too easy. By this time everyone else had left, and I was on my own in the waiting room. At 1:55pm I was called back up and handed both the mysterious brown envelope and my passport with the visa fixed inside it!! I asked the guy if that really was everything and he told me yes and congratulated me.
That was it. So the main process is pretty easy and definitely not worth worrying over. I was lucky that I'd planned to be over an hour early. If I'd gone later, with the train problems, I might not have been seen on the day. I'd recommend leaving as early as you possibly can. You can catch up on sleep later...