U.S. Embassy, London — Attraction in London

I attended the embassy for notary services and made the mistake of thinking it would be quick and efficient; it wasn't.

Booking an appointment online can be quite tricky as appointments get booked up quickly. I used their online template to create an affidavit and read all of their advice to ensure the appointment would go smoothly.

When I arrived on the day, notary sevices are not signposted so follow the signs for visas. Go to the door and someone will come to greet you. Have your passport ready to hand over and if you have a mobile phone, ensure it is on so you can show them. Remember not to take a laptop as you will be denied entry.

When I reached the notary counters, I sat and waited for my number to be called. I could overhear all conversations and there were a lot of battles because people did not have their documents ready, as stated in the two emails sent before the appointment. They held everyone else up as they refused to leave the counter to sort out their documents.

Other people's documents were not ones that could be notarised and the staff were having to be very assertive, which also came across as very rude and abrupt; he told some people to leave.

One person asked the staff if he was a notary and he said no, they are a US government employee who can notarise documents. Please study the website, so you're not turned away.

I waited for my number to be called but the system skipped me and sent me to the pay desk before I had handed in my document.

I had no choice but to walk the long distance from counter 45 to 25, even though I knew I'd be turned away. I got there and she said the system must have skipped me and she put me back into the queue. So then I walked all the way back to counter 45 and waited.

I wanted to check that I was back in the queue, so I went up to 46 and told a woman who was playing on her phone that the system had skipped me (using the phrase the pay counter woman had used) but the woman at 46, aggressively berated me and said the system hasn't skipped me and I will be seen! Power tripper! Wow.

35 minutes after my booked time, I was called to the counter and he asked me what the document was and gave me a slip of paper. He told me to wait to be called at counter 25.

So I walked all the way back and waited by counter 25 but there was no one there and I wasn't called. A few minutes later, an announcement was made calling me to counter 46 before I had paid!

I had no choice but to walk all the way back to 46 to tell him I hadn't paid yet. So then I walked back to 25 again. This time, the counter was staffed, so I paid my USD 50 (£38); (payments are by card only) and walked back to counter 46.

This time I was able to state what the document was, swear an oath it was true and then sign. Having my one page affidavit signed took one hour and 15 minutes after arriving because I really should have arrived 30 minutes early to get ahead of the other people who didn't prep.

In summary, I got my affidavit notarised so I achieved what I needed to do but their ticket system let me down and there was no reason to be sent to the pay counter three times, or be berated to asking a question after their ticket system skipped my ticket.

The woman who berated me was way too rude but that I was probably because I caught her skiving and playing on her phone in work time.

If you can bear their inefficient services and walking back and forth to counter 25 for no good reason, then attend here for notary services but otherwise make an appointment with one that won't talk to you like rubbish.

At the end of my appointment I sat on a bench in the courtyard to look at my phone and drink some water before leaving. A group of women were calling over and asking me if I was waiting to be seen but basically telling me to leave.

Given that I had already shown my passport and been security scanned, I was not posing a risk, so I have no idea why they even put any benches in that courtyard. Overall, it was a hostile place to have to visit and I wouldn't choose to use this notary...

I AV been twice & I was treated the same both times by 2 different US consular officers. Like dirt on the bottom of their shoes 1 male & 2nd 1 female. The woman being worse than the man which I didn't think could be possible as he was the most arrogant ignorant spiteful rude person I have ever had the misfortune to come across but she outdid him by a mile. My latest interview was yesterday 27/1/16 & when I eventually was called in for my interview this lady & I use the word lady very very loosely did not even look at me when I went in & left me stood there with not a word for 2 Or 3 mins before abruptly & begrudgingly saying hi I responded with a smile and good morning which she did not respond to or even look at me. So the uncomfortability was set which I think was her intention. Then the questions some were relevant others were out & out non of her business. I was asked nothing about how I was funding my trip, what I planned while there, how long would I be there or when I wanted to go. Then she proceeded to say you applied for a visa in the summer & was declined why are you here again. I replied I didn't apply in the summer yes you did no I applied in October but my letter of invite was from the summer to go in August for my 50th but I couldn't go as I was in hospital for over 4 wks. Oh why was the response I told her and then she said so you don't work? No not at the minute as I am awaiting more surgery. So your disabled? I was nearly on my ass at that point. How dare she talk to me like that being on the sick doesn't mean disabled I thought but didn't want to say anything to ruin my chances of a visa. She did not ask to see my letter of invite nor any proof of finances that I was funding the trip myself to visit friends. She asked about an overstay I explained I missed my flight home due to a car crash. Response eyes over her glasses and a hhhuuunmm!!! She sat scratching her head for the whole 3/4 mins of my so called interview as if she had head lice. Then I offered my old passport for exact date I went to the us and overstayed by 1/2 days and she shunned the idea. I have worked with the public all my working life from leaving school until just over a year ago and I have done everything from shops to pubs right upto me becoming a catering manageress dealing with all walks of life and never ever have I ever come across such disgraceful customer service and interaction. I would never treat another person with such contempt as these 2 US officers they should be ashamed of themselves as they are giving Americans a bad name because I have American friends I know they are a very warm and welcoming nationality but those who haven't you could be forgiven for thinking they are all arrogant rude ignorant and to some extent spiteful. London embassy you should take these staff to one side and sack them they don't even deserve a second chance which I am guessing they have had more than anyway. My conclusion is the tourist visa is a money making scam $160 dollars non refundable £18 courier service even when not used non refundable but please feel free to apply again anytime just for same thing. Altogether for both applications courier and travel expenses I spent over £430 and the best bit she didn't sign date or put a reference number on my paperwork declining me a visa so that was totally a professional job done NOT. Keep your money in your pocket as seriously I sat and watched people come out with children where one member couldn't get a visa so the whole family were not going. It seems to me that the US consular officers are on major power trips and take pleasure in declining the average person because the rent a house children are grown and left home their marriage has broken down so therefore are looking to move to the US. Well wrong if I wanted to leave the uk I could I could live anywhere in the eu so you people need to stop being so mean and horrible. I don't know about any other US embassies but I am going to guess they are...

Overall the experience was very good.

My own visa was for a K1 fiance visa to America. Luckily I could take my fiance with me inside, and she could come inside and visit all of the areas with me except she couldn't stand with me for the interview itself. (To request for your fiance to come inside with you, you need to contact the embassy online with a valid reason and they'll email you if they can come with you or not)

The building itself is nice, they have a large pond outside at the back of the site with different ducks and wildlife and lots of trees and plants around as well, so it's got quite a calming vibe around there. They will however have armed police officers by the entrances of the embassy, so be prepared to see them but know that it's fine and the place is safe.

We checked in 40 minutes before my interview time, and then the wait for security only took 5 minutes. The security check afterwards took another 5 minutes and I felt a lot of stress doing it, but that was because I hadn't done one before. If you've done security checks before such as at any airport then you'll find it quick and easy. After the security check, you'll walk forwards and outside the first building, and then to the second main embassy building. At reception they'll require your main application form and your passport, and they check this fairly quickly.

(The inside of the embassy is nice and very clean, it can be quite busy but you'll have enough space to walk properly without bumping into other people.)

Next, you'll just have to go up to level 1 (If you're getting a k1 visa) and find where your seat is. You'll wait there for only a few minutes and then have your initial meeting before your interview. This should only take around 5 minutes. They'll scan your fingerprints, and go over your main documents. These being the online application form, the police records, your passport etc. (If you hate elevators like me and want to take the stairs, you'll have to wait for 10-15 minutes for security to escort you to the floor. All of them are understanding and friendly though, but it might make you slightly late to your initial meeting)

After this, I waited for half an hour to have my actual interview. The interview was very quick, it was only 5 or 10 minutes at most, and they'll go over just a couple of your documents and ask you some questions about everything. They asked me a couple of questions about my fiance, a couple about our future wedding plans, and that was it!

The consular officer that interviewed me was really kind and understanding as well, and I was happy that my visa was technically approved on the day. They didn't check most of my documents, such as the photos and evidence of our relationship. Bring these with you anyway just in case as every interview is probably a bit different, but don't stress out too much about having mountains of evidence and a million copies of things.

(I recommend booking your medical at least 2 weeks before your interview to ensure that it can get fully approved on the day and you don't have to wait any longer, as if it isn't processed on time then you'll have to wait for a later date for it to go from rejected on the day to approved on their website after they receive the medical and process it)

So overall we were there for maybe an hour and a half, and it was a lot quicker than we expected it to be. The staff were all welcoming and good at their jobs, and it was a lot less stressful than I thought it would be. So it deserves the 5* rating and I hope your experience is just as good...