The Visa

My employer in the US and my supervisor in the UK were both very keen for me to get a visa as early as possible, once I had been sent all of the paperwork I needed I got started on the online forms.

SEVIS first, and their extortionate fee, despite the fee this was fine

Then the DS-160, a bit more difficult. First I had to pay £10 for my photo taken at a photo shop (snappy snaps), it had to be of a certain quality and digital file format. I decided it would be easier to get it done during my lunch break than trying myself for hours to scan and format a passport photo I already had.

The rest of the form was fairly easy if a little long, but really do heed their advice and download it every so often and before you submit.

The next step was to book an appointment at the embassy, It took me 18 minutes on their £1.20/min phone line to book and pay the application fee. I don't like the idea of having to pay £1.20/min to give them my credit card details.

The trip to the embassy
The most important thing when visiting the embassy is that you cannot take any electronics at all. A full day with no watch, phone (and Internet), and MP3. Fortunately the postman delivered a magazine just before I left the house so I had something to read on the way and during my wait.

I arrived about 45 minutes before my appointment time, on a rather cold morning so I was relieved there wasn't a queue outside like some people had predicted to me. After an easy trip through security outside I went in and registered my arrival at the front desk and was given a number and told to take a seat. It was while waiting that I noticed the first thing different about my destination country, a small sign on the wall asked visitors to place "trash" in the bin, not rubbish or litter but trash.

After a short wait my number was called and I went to a window near the waiting area to hand in all of my paperwork and give my fingerprints. I was a little worried about the finger prints being taken as I tore off some skin on one of my fingers on a climbing wall a few days earlier. I was told on the phone that I couldn't have any cuts or blisters on my fingers tips but I decided to risk it and it was fine.

While sat waiting to be called up for an interview I started to wonder what time it was, I had no digital watch or phone to tell me, and their are no clock on the walls or visible though the windows. After getting though the magazine and just starting the Metro I had picked up on my way I was called up for an interview.

I was asked a few simple questions about why I was going and my education. Some of the information I was asked for I didn't have a clue about, but as I was only working in the US because I fancied a change from the UK for a short while and hadn't organised or arranged anything at all myself the interviewer was quite understanding. After what seemed like less than 5 minutes I was granted a visa and asked to go pay for delivery at another desk.

And that was that. The trip was a success and I was out only 2 hours after I arrived. With time to spare before going home I had a walk down to Knightsbridge to do some Christmas shopping at a very well known department store.

Quick intro

What Ho!

I have decided to write a blog for two main reasons, the first is to vent some anger and generally complain about the situation, the second is to keep a record of just how the trip goes.

The trip will start in San Francisco, California for several months before moving on to Richmond, Virginia for the rest of the year. During that time I will be conducting scientific research at a couple of Universities.

I have no real idea how this blog will go or how much detail about myself I want to give out, but for now I will keep specifics fairly light.

AS