Bezza
27-01-2005, 01:53
As it was this forum that prompted me to apply for a visa I thought I'd share my story as I've not seen the whole process explained in detail.
I phoned the embassy on 19th January and asked for an appointment, they asked if I had the Memorandi of Conviction, I said yes (although I hadn't yet) and they proceeded to give the option of several times on Jan 26th - I plumbed for 11:30am. After we confirmed the time of the interview the gentleman at the embassy gave me very exact and helpful instructions on which forms I had to download and take with me.
So, interview arranged, I got on to the two seperate magistrates courts that I needed documentation from - Bedford & Nottingham. For their troubles Nottingham asked me to send them a letter accompanied with a cheque for £8. Bedford however just took the request over the phone and said they'd dig the document out of the attic and send them to me. Sure enough, I received both documents on Monday, so essentially a 2 working day turnaround by the courts. I wasn't expecting them to be so efficient but was extremely grateful that they were.
In between receiving the documents from the courts I received confirmation of my interview at the US Embassy on Friday 21st Jan. Within the envelope was a giro which you have to pay at Barclay's bank. The pricely sum of £60 was the cost of processing my visa.
So, all forms filled in, fee paid, pictures taken (you need a picture of yourself for the application) of to London I went. As I said my Interview was at 11:30 but I arrived at about 10:30 - the queue was massive. We stood around in the freezing cold as one by one all the people with interview's at 10am, 10:30am and 11am were still being processed. Eventually I got admitted to the embassy - it was about 12:30 - so I'd spent 2hrs freezing my nuts off swearing that I would never go to the US again. I'd spend my cash in other, less anal countries. Saying that I would still advise going early just to be doublely sure but it would appear that if you turned up at 11:30, for an 11:30 interview you would severely minimise the time you spend out in the street.
Anyway, once in you take a ticket (like the sainsbury's deli) and you queue up to pay the Embassy another £10 (must be cash) in order that they courier your passport back to you after processing. Once this is done you sit down and wait for about 30-45 mins. Your number gets called, you think you're laughing and nearly out, no such luck. You go to the window, hand in your forms and passport and you sit down again. This is where the real wait begins.
I think after about 3hrs my number got called again (423, it will be etched on my mind forever!). I went down to this room and had my fingerprints taken electronically and the guy asked to look at my Memorandum of Conviction (these are the only things you don't give in on your first visit to the desk). He looked at them, looked at me, looked at them, looked at me, confirmed with me how long I'd been with my current employer and said 'your application will be approved and you will receive your passport back within a week'.
Bingo!! I must say I was mightly tired by now - drained from sitting around doing nothing - but the 5-6 hrs I spent hanging around only to go through that is worthwhile no matter how annoying. I now have a visa that last 10 yrs and I'm already looking forward to my next visit to the embassy in 2015.
I was nervous about applying as I have a conviction for drink driving plus a 'not guilty' for affray after two nutty drugies tried to stamp on my head in the street. But I'm in, and I had no trouble at all. They didn't even ask about my other visits to the US for which I did not us a Visa.
Anyway, I think that's it. But if you have any questions I'll reply as best I can.
I phoned the embassy on 19th January and asked for an appointment, they asked if I had the Memorandi of Conviction, I said yes (although I hadn't yet) and they proceeded to give the option of several times on Jan 26th - I plumbed for 11:30am. After we confirmed the time of the interview the gentleman at the embassy gave me very exact and helpful instructions on which forms I had to download and take with me.
So, interview arranged, I got on to the two seperate magistrates courts that I needed documentation from - Bedford & Nottingham. For their troubles Nottingham asked me to send them a letter accompanied with a cheque for £8. Bedford however just took the request over the phone and said they'd dig the document out of the attic and send them to me. Sure enough, I received both documents on Monday, so essentially a 2 working day turnaround by the courts. I wasn't expecting them to be so efficient but was extremely grateful that they were.
In between receiving the documents from the courts I received confirmation of my interview at the US Embassy on Friday 21st Jan. Within the envelope was a giro which you have to pay at Barclay's bank. The pricely sum of £60 was the cost of processing my visa.
So, all forms filled in, fee paid, pictures taken (you need a picture of yourself for the application) of to London I went. As I said my Interview was at 11:30 but I arrived at about 10:30 - the queue was massive. We stood around in the freezing cold as one by one all the people with interview's at 10am, 10:30am and 11am were still being processed. Eventually I got admitted to the embassy - it was about 12:30 - so I'd spent 2hrs freezing my nuts off swearing that I would never go to the US again. I'd spend my cash in other, less anal countries. Saying that I would still advise going early just to be doublely sure but it would appear that if you turned up at 11:30, for an 11:30 interview you would severely minimise the time you spend out in the street.
Anyway, once in you take a ticket (like the sainsbury's deli) and you queue up to pay the Embassy another £10 (must be cash) in order that they courier your passport back to you after processing. Once this is done you sit down and wait for about 30-45 mins. Your number gets called, you think you're laughing and nearly out, no such luck. You go to the window, hand in your forms and passport and you sit down again. This is where the real wait begins.
I think after about 3hrs my number got called again (423, it will be etched on my mind forever!). I went down to this room and had my fingerprints taken electronically and the guy asked to look at my Memorandum of Conviction (these are the only things you don't give in on your first visit to the desk). He looked at them, looked at me, looked at them, looked at me, confirmed with me how long I'd been with my current employer and said 'your application will be approved and you will receive your passport back within a week'.
Bingo!! I must say I was mightly tired by now - drained from sitting around doing nothing - but the 5-6 hrs I spent hanging around only to go through that is worthwhile no matter how annoying. I now have a visa that last 10 yrs and I'm already looking forward to my next visit to the embassy in 2015.
I was nervous about applying as I have a conviction for drink driving plus a 'not guilty' for affray after two nutty drugies tried to stamp on my head in the street. But I'm in, and I had no trouble at all. They didn't even ask about my other visits to the US for which I did not us a Visa.
Anyway, I think that's it. But if you have any questions I'll reply as best I can.