USA Embassy in London
9/26/2009 05:19:00 am
Thought I'd share my experience so that anyone who is thinking of going to the USA Embassy to get their visa done can learn a few pointers.
So I started off by going to their website to find out how the process goes...filled the form up and printed it online.
After that, I had to call them up to pay (US$131) and made an appointment which costed £1.20 a minute.
When the day came, I was told in red that it was advised to be there half an hour before my appointment, in which it actually took a total of 2.5 hours as I did it in the morning (so there's no harm in going in earlier). So I started off arriving an hour earlier at the embassy, where I saw 3 queues. First one checked my form as well as told me that I had to take off my watch and belt. Off to the next queue. This time the guard only called when the next queue into the scan room is cleared. She checked my passport. On to the next queue heading into the scan room. And so they scanned my documents and off I went to the entrance of the embassy.
Apparently my form was smudged, so I had to re-type the whole thing, in which I was told by the reception that there are computers round the corner that does it. After 3 times of re-printing (rushing and making so many mistakes), was back at the reception to grab a number. And the waiting begins.
Well, I did some thorough observations while waiting. There was a cafeteria, a mini photo studio that takes last minute photos for £1 each and computers to re-print your forms for free. the section is divided to 2 areas. One to submit your form, and the other to carry the interview process. There were screens and announcements and numbers were not in sequence when called out. 'Nxxx, please go to counter x' or 'Ixxx,please go to counter x' There was a division somewhere in which each stall takes up to numbers in 10's or so and they jump after that. So it wasn't easy to do anything else while waiting except to be prepared.
Stalls 1-11 sorts out the forms and relevant information. When I was called to the counter, the only panic attack I had was when the person asked if I have any extra documentation to include to my form, as though as he was expecting something in which I forgot. So I told him I had none, which was so weird as all I submit was my passport. I then felt uneasy as I wasn't sure whether I should be photocopying my IC to back up my passport. He really works like a machine. So there wasn't any room for a relaxed conversation.
I had to wait for my number to be called again by stalls 12-25 who does interviews. Took another half an hour before I was called. The interview process was much more relaxed. It pays to be cheerful and to really compliment these people who does this as their job and deal with tough challenges everyday. Amazing.
'Good morning, how are you today?'
'I'm fine what about you?'
'I'm good good, thanks. I see you work at Paternoster Row, very nice area'
'Yeah, it is'
'What are you working as?'
'An engineer'
'And what company is CB Richard Ellis?'
'It's a property leasing company'
'So you're going to Florida for holiday?'
'Yes! Can't wait'
'Very nice'
he typed frantically
'Wow, you're a machine! How in the world do you type that fast'
He laughs
'Thanks.....and he mention something about my visa is approved and that to enjoy my travels'
To my utter surprise, that only took 2 minutes! :D. Off I went to the courier service (another extra £14.20) to pay for my documents to be sent to me and off to the work after.
It did feel as though I was under close surveillance all the time and even the slightest mistake on the form could make me go behind the queue and wait for another hour or send me home. The thing is I felt good, I felt that things will all go through despite the nervousness and anticipation (seeing that this was the first time doing it).
America, here I come!
So I started off by going to their website to find out how the process goes...filled the form up and printed it online.
After that, I had to call them up to pay (US$131) and made an appointment which costed £1.20 a minute.
When the day came, I was told in red that it was advised to be there half an hour before my appointment, in which it actually took a total of 2.5 hours as I did it in the morning (so there's no harm in going in earlier). So I started off arriving an hour earlier at the embassy, where I saw 3 queues. First one checked my form as well as told me that I had to take off my watch and belt. Off to the next queue. This time the guard only called when the next queue into the scan room is cleared. She checked my passport. On to the next queue heading into the scan room. And so they scanned my documents and off I went to the entrance of the embassy.
Apparently my form was smudged, so I had to re-type the whole thing, in which I was told by the reception that there are computers round the corner that does it. After 3 times of re-printing (rushing and making so many mistakes), was back at the reception to grab a number. And the waiting begins.
Well, I did some thorough observations while waiting. There was a cafeteria, a mini photo studio that takes last minute photos for £1 each and computers to re-print your forms for free. the section is divided to 2 areas. One to submit your form, and the other to carry the interview process. There were screens and announcements and numbers were not in sequence when called out. 'Nxxx, please go to counter x' or 'Ixxx,please go to counter x' There was a division somewhere in which each stall takes up to numbers in 10's or so and they jump after that. So it wasn't easy to do anything else while waiting except to be prepared.
Stalls 1-11 sorts out the forms and relevant information. When I was called to the counter, the only panic attack I had was when the person asked if I have any extra documentation to include to my form, as though as he was expecting something in which I forgot. So I told him I had none, which was so weird as all I submit was my passport. I then felt uneasy as I wasn't sure whether I should be photocopying my IC to back up my passport. He really works like a machine. So there wasn't any room for a relaxed conversation.
I had to wait for my number to be called again by stalls 12-25 who does interviews. Took another half an hour before I was called. The interview process was much more relaxed. It pays to be cheerful and to really compliment these people who does this as their job and deal with tough challenges everyday. Amazing.
'Good morning, how are you today?'
'I'm fine what about you?'
'I'm good good, thanks. I see you work at Paternoster Row, very nice area'
'Yeah, it is'
'What are you working as?'
'An engineer'
'And what company is CB Richard Ellis?'
'It's a property leasing company'
'So you're going to Florida for holiday?'
'Yes! Can't wait'
'Very nice'
he typed frantically
'Wow, you're a machine! How in the world do you type that fast'
He laughs
'Thanks.....and he mention something about my visa is approved and that to enjoy my travels'
To my utter surprise, that only took 2 minutes! :D. Off I went to the courier service (another extra £14.20) to pay for my documents to be sent to me and off to the work after.
It did feel as though I was under close surveillance all the time and even the slightest mistake on the form could make me go behind the queue and wait for another hour or send me home. The thing is I felt good, I felt that things will all go through despite the nervousness and anticipation (seeing that this was the first time doing it).
America, here I come!
