Visa/C-1D

[Bulman]

hey guys so after a lengthy time of filling in the online form i just wanted to get some info on the actual day, i did search and sure i've seen the answers somewhere but couldn't find the thread. so i thought i would ask to help people who need it in the future and my self.

1. For booking trains how long did the appointment take, what sort of time should i arrive their (they said about 30 minutes before the appointment).

2. I heard about a pharmacy near by that will hold your stuff for you while you went for your appointment, what the name, how long do they hold it for and rough cost?

3. Any other stuff to know?


So my appointment is at 10 so i was gonna get a train back about 2/3, as i know the appointment time isnt the actual time you'll get a interview. Any advice would be helpful, cheers

[YoungMariner]

It's a quieter time of year for the Embassy, but you still need to plan on at least 4 hours just in case. Occasionally on busy days it can take longer. Whilst your appointment is at 10, I'd try to arrive as early as possible, MOST of the time they DO let you in early and being early means less chance of being held up in there.

Be prepared to answer questions about why you need the C1-D, who is sponsoring you, what you will do on the ship, why the ship will go to the USA etc. Some interviewers ask lots of questions, some don't. All your details will be displayed in front of them on the computer, including your US travel history and your criminal record if you had one.

It's generally a fairly painless process and when you eventually receive the visa check it carefully to ensure that all details are correct.

As for storage, I believe this is the Pharmacy: http://www.gouldpharmacy.com/

Information and links other places to leave luggage are here http://london.usembassy.gov/ukembmap.html

[SWonder]

hey guys so after a lengthy time of filling in the online form i just wanted to get some info on the actual day, i did search and sure i've seen the answers somewhere but couldn't find the thread. so i thought i would ask to help people who need it in the future and my self.

1. For booking trains how long did the appointment take, what sort of time should i arrive their (they said about 30 minutes before the appointment).

2. I heard about a pharmacy near by that will hold your stuff for you while you went for your appointment, what the name, how long do they hold it for and rough cost?

3. Any other stuff to know?


So my appointment is at 10 so i was gonna get a train back about 2/3, as i know the appointment time isnt the actual time you'll get a interview. Any advice would be helpful, cheers

Hi Bulman, Ancient M has pretty much hit the nail on the head. When I went for my appointment I arrived very early in the morning, roughly 7am and waited for the embassy to open. I went down to the embassy with Clyde Marine so they had sorted out a block booking for appointments. I was in and out within an hour which was great as I had heard it can take a good while longer to get processed!

However when I came out the embassy around 10am the que was massive......

You can't take your mobile phone in, don't wear a belt etc. You can take money in with you and they just put it into a clear plastic bag for you at the security desk.

You get called to one window get given some more forms,go sit down again then wait to be called to the final processing window, the american lady I had was very nice. She asked hardly any questions, only what date I would be setting sail. Some of my friends where asked the name of the ship and the port they would be going to but its hit or miss, other than that if you have a clean criminal record and have filled out the forms correctly its failry painless.

[Bulman]

thanks for the info guys. Already having to catch a train at 5 to get there for 9, unlucky i didn't think about the time and took the first available appointment.

[Squareleg28]

Thought I would pop in my experiences from yesterday to help anyone going soon.

I got to the embassy a bit later than I wanted to - 9:30 ish. The above advice is sound about getting there was early as possible (think they open at 8?) - the quicker you get in the quicker you get processed. Ignore the "appointment time" on your letter.

No electronics allowed in - couple of local pharmacies offer a holding service. I left mine at home so not sure how much this costs.

Have the papers you need printed out in a folder or something, you have to get them out a few times. You can only use a debit/credit card for the courier service to return your passport so make sure you haven't left it in the pharmacy!

Have to take coins/belt/watch off for secuity scanner to get in - they give you a plastic bag. Once in you can put them back on.

Take books and a newspaper. I didn't stupidly cause I was rushing - I was in for 4.5 hours - a long time to read a "visit the USA" magazine which was the only thing in there. There is a place in the waiting room selling drinks and chocolates etc, but probably cheaper to take your own.

Tip: The application numbers are called out on the screen in a random order, i.e it would call 92 then 177 - so keep your ears out. People who missed there number as they were outside smoking were shoved to the back of the pack. I fell asleep for a bit. Its strange cause where these days do you go where no mobile phones/computers are going. No-one talks either, fuinny old atmosphere.

The actual "interview" lasted a couple of minutes and was just a case of "what is your job on ship" / "when are you going"/"have you ever been to America before"

[YoungMariner]

Thanks for the feedback, its good for people Who have interviews coming

[HarmlessWeasel]

I've just been accepted by Maersk and have to get a visa. How am I supposed to know when I'll be going to the US when I haven't even started the course, and have no idea what kind of ship, never my which ship I'll be on?

[alistairuk]

I've just been accepted by Maersk and have to get a visa. How am I supposed to know when I'll be going to the US when I haven't even started the course, and have no idea what kind of ship, never my which ship I'll be on?

Maersk will explain all to you - unless you have been told to get your visa right this second - wait until they tell you too. Your company has to supply you with paperwork that confirms your employed by them and it will name a vessel, date and employer address. Make sure your application matches what is on the letter supplied by your employer.

If in doubt, phone your training manager and confirm with them. A lot of companies will arrange for you to obtain the visa after you have started college.

Also on a side note, if your passport is due to expire soon - might be worth getting a new passport before your visa - while you can use the visa in an expired passport providing the visa itself is not damaged - if our lovely friends at UK Passport office cut the visa when they cut through the corners of your passport when it expires you need to go back through the hassle of the embassy!

[HarmlessWeasel]

Maersk will explain all to you - unless you have been told to get your visa right this second - wait until they tell you too. Your company has to supply you with paperwork that confirms your employed by them and it will name a vessel, date and employer address. Make sure your application matches what is on the letter supplied by your employer.

If in doubt, phone your training manager and confirm with them. A lot of companies will arrange for you to obtain the visa after you have started college.

Also on a side note, if your passport is due to expire soon - might be worth getting a new passport before your visa - while you can use the visa in an expired passport providing the visa itself is not damaged - if our lovely friends at UK Passport office cut the visa when they cut through the corners of your passport when it expires you need to go back through the hassle of the embassy!

OK thanks, I can't remember off the top of my head if it said I have to get a visa or just be elligible. I'm expecting instructions on it in the next few days, and wasn't going to go for it until I had explicit instructions to do so anyway. Gotta get the ENG1 first.

[Hatchorder]

OK thanks, I can't remember off the top of my head if it said I have to get a visa or just be elligible. I'm expecting instructions on it in the next few days, and wasn't going to go for it until I had explicit instructions to do so anyway. Gotta get the ENG1 first.

Maersk will send you a letter to take with you to the A E. Wait for them to do all this. You will also need to apply for your Seaman's Discharge Book at the same time but again they will send you the paperwork and you have to send it back to them. Your offer will be conditional on your US Visa being obtained, but if you have no criminal record or ever been deported from the US then you will have no problems getting the Visa. Just remember not to piddle off security at the US Embassy. My son rocked up with a bag with epipens in and it was as if he had walked in with a H&K 9mm!

It will be a tedious day, but take along a bag with something to eat and a book in and it will be easier.

Keep all your receipts and a print out of your phone calls to the US Embassy and Maersk will refund you everything.

Ian

[HarmlessWeasel]

Maersk will send you a letter to take with you to the A E...Ian

thought you said A&E at first! I know it can be a dangerous profession, but I didn't realise just getting the visa would be so dramatic...

[desdons]

Hi, I got my US Visa this week and put a post in my blog regarding it as had no clue what to expect so you can click the link in my signature for anyone interested in getting more details about the US Visa process.