To be fair, so far everything has happened fairly quickly and the people we have spoken to have been friendly, helpful and courteous without exception. We started a few weeks ago by doing a bit of on-line research to find out what Visa we needed and how to go about it. The US Embassy Page http://london.usembassy.gov/visas.html is very helpful and explains everything you might need to know very clearly. When you ring you always speak to a Scottish person so I can only presume their call centre is based in Scotland somewhere. I suppose this could also explain why they are all so delightfully efficient and helpful too!
We quickly established that we need to make an appointment for an interview with the Embassy in London and fill in an on-line application form. However, we also quickly discovered the first hurdle. Many years ago, 13 to be precise, Mike had a minor altercation with the law when he damaged a door. Yes, I know, the crime of the century, he damaged a door. Its a long story best told at another time in another place. The thing is that even a minor incident like this renders one potentially ineligible to visit the US on a B-2 Visa, or on any other visa for that matter!
Before we could even submit an application we had to go online and request a Police Certificate for him that would outline the details of the heinous crime. Police certificate arrived a few days later, all very efficient and very quick. The certificate read simply "No Trace". Back on the phone to the Embassy for further instructions. After paying Mike's $140 Application Fee we were given our next set of instructions.
Next step, download and complete a VCU 01 form and write, date and sign a Sworn Statement telling the location, date and circumstances surrounding said heinous crime. Scan Police Certificate, VCU 01 and Sworn Statement and email to the Embassy then await their response.
48 hours later, again very efficient and rapid, email received stating that we can now make an appointment for our Visa Application interview....yippee!
That brings us to yesterday when we finally phoned to make our appointment and I paid my $140. Appointment made for 09.00 on Friday the 6th of January at the London Embassy in Mayfair. Great news despite the logistical challenge of getting there for 9am without spending a fortune on an overnight stay. Not impossible though, just a case of catching the 06.40 from Birmingham International. When we are in London we are also going to open a US Bank Account to make the management of our finances easier when we are there.
We were then told the list of requirements to ensure our interview goes without hitch. If we contravene any of these requirements we will be sent away with a flea in our ear and made to return on another occasion when we can get our act together properly!
The requirements are as follows;
- do not arrive more than 30 minutes before the scheduled time slot
- do not bring anyone with you
- print and bring the bar coded invitation letter
- print and bring the bar coded receipt of payment for Application Fee
- bring all the documentation relating to Mike's heinous crime
- do not bring mobile phones or any electronic devices with you
- do not bring large bags with you
- complete the DS-160 on-line and print bring the bar coded confirmation page with you
- bring your passport with you
- bring a photograph with you that meets certain detailed requirements
- provide evidence of funds sufficient to cover all expenses while in the United States
- provide evidence of a residence abroad to which you intend to return at the end of the stay in the United States. This is generally established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the United States sufficient to cause the applicant to return there at the conclusion of his/her stay.
Next and final step, complete the on-line DS-160 and print the bar coded confirmation page.
Easy to say! This consisted of a multiple page on-line form that timed out every time you did not complete the page within the defined time period requiring you to log-in again using the Application ID and some passwords and security questions. Problem was that you could not predict the information required and the level of detail required involved digging out CVs, family trees, old pay slips, scanning through passport stamps etc etc etc.....Everytime you had to look something up you got timed out and had to log-in all over again and so the afternoon whittled away. ...........
Information required included;
- Personal details including National Insurance and Passport Numbers
- Travel plans and an address in the US
- Details of any previous visits to the US
- Details of a contact in the US
- Mother and Father's details and birthdates
- Details of relatives in the US
- Career and Educations details
- Spouse and travelling companion details
- All the other countries you have ever visited
- A long list of security questions about communicable diseases, terrorism, human trafficking, genocide, drug use, espionage, prostitution, money laundering, torture, murder, child soldiers, etc etc etc.......does anyone ever answer yes to any of these questions?
Just as I was truly losing the will to live came the point to upload a photograph that met the requirements. All the photos on our PC would not load, were unsuitable or the file was too big. We took some new ones and saved them but again the files were too big (so much for our expensive camera!). We resorted to taking the photos with the Blackberry but had to load them onto the Mac and not the PC as we don't have right software on the PC. Had to do this downstairs where the Mac is permanently connected to the Internet cable as the signal has been so **** recently that the wireless won't work. The Mac could not read the photos so eventually we emailed them to the PC from the Blackberry and attempted the upload. Mine worked and Mike's did not as it was too ******* dark.......OH MY GOD! Can you tell from the photos how thoroughly ****** off we were by this stage? Sorry, but I could not even be bothered to do my hair or put any makeup on. Friends and family, I know you will find this hard to believe.
Applying for a visa is not a simple process and there are stringent visa requirements that need to be met by anyone that wants to obtain a US visa.
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