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 service again.

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 as mine was.

Being a British citizen of Iranian descent, my experience with the Consular Information Unit at the U.S. Embassy in London has been notably frustrating. After my initial online visa application was rejected, I was instructed to schedule an in-person appointment for a visa application interview. The entire process from that point onward has been excessively time-consuming and laden with uncertainties. Waiting for over a year to secure an interview slot, I found myself subjected to an extensive questioning session that lasted for several months. Following this, I anxiously waited for more than half a year to receive any outcome regarding my application. In an attempt to expedite matters, I even submitted my British passport for further processing. However, this step only led to more disappointment. After sending my passport and waiting for two months, I was disheartened to receive an email notification. The message conveyed that my application was trapped in a nebulous state of administrative processing with no defined timelines for resolution. This vague response left me feeling helpless, as I had urgent travel plans that required my passport. Subsequently, I requested the return of my passport, emphasizing the urgency of my impending journey. Regrettably, the response I received was dishearteningly familiar. The explanation provided again alluded to the undefined nature of administrative processing, indicating that an indefinite waiting period was to be expected due to their established procedures. As months rolled on from February to August, the lack of any discernible progress or communication became increasingly distressing. The absence of any outcome or even a basic update through email has only added to my growing disillusionment. I am left with the conviction that the bureaucratic processes employed by the Consular Information Unit are veiling what could potentially be underlying prejudices and discriminatory practices. The manner in which they employ security and anti-terrorism concerns seems convenient, yet they offer no concrete explanations or feedback to applicants like me. Moreover, the lack of a proper channel for complaints or grievances exacerbates the feeling of helplessness and isolation in this ordeal. In conclusion, my encounter with the Consular Information Unit at the U.S. Embassy, London, has been a disheartening odyssey marked by extensive delays, nebulous administrative processing, and a profound lack of transparency. The absence of clarity and accountability in their procedures casts a shadow over their intentions and practices.

Refused my USA visa asking 2 basic questions every time I go for a visa interview . The reason I want to go their visa interview is to settle my issue with their immigration and make sure it does not affect my other country visa applications in future Without checking any documents like bank statements or change in circumstances . I have been to USA 5-10 times earlier and left that country every single time . The last I was there I made a mistake in a visa application and was suffering mentally from personal issues but immediately realised the mistake and left the country . I could have stayed but left well within the visa time frame . Yet no empathy as if I did a very big crime and just left. Now the issue is I don’t care about their visa anymore but their sharing of my biometrics with other western nations about a USA visa rejection is affecting my other applications and causing me immense immigration issues. Now you just can’t ruin someone else tourism and leisure prospects by asking 2 questions after waiting 3 months and then sharing the biometrics with other nations as if I was going to do a huge crime. This people need serious xenophobic treatment sessions . Why would enter and leave the USA about 7-8 times earlier from 2012-2021 Simple answer - I could not stay there for long Even though I want to I just want to get rid of that place every 6 months I just can’t handle those too many high bills , too much driving to get somewhere , private healthcare system and more importantly family . Share terrorists and criminals information among each other not visa refusals for errors due to mental health issues and your xenophobic thinking . Let other nations make decision on their own not on basis of a USA visa refusal. They clearly stated in my refusal letter I didn’t not comply with my previous visa (usa) how did they know? Even though it’s false as I left the USA in 1 and half month just could not stay as I was dealing with my own mental health issues due to personal problems.

Terrible experience today. Visited the US embassy to report the birth abroad of my daughter and apply for her first U.S. passport. It was unclear whether she was entitled to gain my citizenship or not, but when calling the embassy, they encouraged me to book an appointment and wouldn’t explain anything over the phone. Attended our appointment today with my husband and 6 month old baby. Handed over all relevant paperwork and waited in the waiting area. Was called up to a desk to pay for the passport and report of the birth abroad ($235), and was told that after paying I would be called up to another desk to sign the paperwork. So I assumed her application was successful. Was called up to another desk, asked to sign some paperwork and was then told my daughter wasn’t eligible for my citizenship to be passed down to her and explained the reasons why which I understood. The lady explained some other ways which my child may be able to gain citizenship and then asked if I had any questions. I asked about the payment and asked for a refund because I hadn’t received a passport or certificate of a birth abroad (or anything from this visit). The lady explained that I cannot have my money back and the money spent paid for her service. I asked to speak to someone else about the matter to which the lady replied “I’m in charge”. I was lost for words, particularly because this lady was extremely blunt, arrogant and seemed to take some sort of pleasure from the fact that we lost $235, a large amount of money, and came away with nothing. There was not a kind remark to come out of her mouth despite me being visibly upset about the money. I left the embassy in tears, mainly due to the way I had been treated by this woman. Kindness and compassion would’ve gone a long way in this situation but this woman lacked both. I thought Americans were supposed to look out for one another but apparently not at the US embassy.

very funny thinking we are in 2023. Having a dual citizenship US & UK . Lost my American passport, all I have is the birth certificate, so I decided to report it being lost at the embassy. That's when you enter the off licences. First I waited, not a problem, then I was called to a window were the person with all do respect was very low voiced. And she said we don't need your birth certificate we can use you British passport and just make you a new one $170 but you need a picture £8 and application filled . Did all that back to window 42 same girl, took everything and told me to wait for the consulate staff to call you just checking on everything else . So after all that the consulate staff calls me to tell me to order a birth certificate from America and my passport application is open for 90 days waiting to receive the birth certificate. Oh yeah before you leave do you want to pay for the courier that will send your passport when the passport gets done before I can get my birth certificate . The off licences part come when I was told to pay for passport they said contactless not allowed, you must have a card or otherwise you can't complete the process. £8 photo £130 passport application £60 birth certificate £20 courier Came out with nothing but 90 days application open 10 days waiting for birth certificate And surly 3 weeks from when they receive birth certificate. So in the end going to my home country with my British passport and I require a visa for £20 Just want to say system is sooo back as 1997 when we are in 2023.

Fantastic! If you're American... We walked up and saw a huge line wrapping around to the right of the building. Luckily, that line was for all of the non-American Citizens. There is a separate entrance to the left for American Citizens. There was only one person ahead of us in line. Once inside, the fast track continued as all Americans got to bypass the next line as well and walk right up to the front desk. In all, we probably walked past nearly 100 people. Everyone was very friendly and informative. From the security guys, to the people at every desk. We were there to renew our daughter's passport. The waiting area was clean and had tons of natural light. There was plenty of seating, a café, a kid's play area, and a decent view of the River Thames. I was surprised to find out that there were passport photo booths there too. I didn't see anything on the US Embassy website about the photo booths, had we known they were there, we wouldn't have gone through the hassle of taking our own photos and getting them printed. The booths looked brand new. There were two and I'm guessing no one knows about them, because no one was using them. They take cash or card and print your photos right there on the spot. Anyway, I have no idea how it is if you're not an American Citizen, but it's great if you are.

As a travel enthusiast, after traveling between Asia & Europe and currently residing in the UK I thought to travel to North America. My visa was rejected based on a reason that I don't have strong ties in the UK and I may not come back. Now why would someone leave the better social security system for a lesser one? It's absurd to put a lot of money and time into the visa application, hotel & air ticket just to hear NO from those big mouths with small minds occupying big offices. The statements of Robert Kenedy and others look very good when they are written on the walls but are of no use if you segregate people based on their passport, race, and religion. I'm wondering what sort of equality & justice they talk about, where a person having no criminal record and fulfilling financial obligations is not allowed to enter a country as a tourist that claims to be a land of free. I think the people who are assessing the visa applications their capacity to think should be assessed first. Understandably, many people do illegal things once they enter the country, which affects the lives of citizens. Having said that, not everyone is the same; there has to be an appropriate way to scrutinize law-abiding people & criminals which is not difficult in the age of technology.

I came here for a new student visa and my experience was pretty good! 10:00 appointment: 9:20 - arrived at embassy, took 15 minutes to go through security. all the non-immigrant visa applicants had to wait downstairs until their designated time to go up, so we were standing in the lobby (nice interior, clean, quite a lot of space) until ~10:05. 10:30 - number called for the first window, where they asked basic questions about your visit to the US and put all relevant documents in a transparent folder. 11:00 - number called for the second window, where a visa officer conducted a more detailed interview & determined if your visa would be approved. my conversation with VO was very friendly and pleasant! visa was approved on the spot, transparent folder collected for visa stamping. out of the embassy by 11:10. i would advise not arriving too early for your appointment (15 minutes early is fine i think!). you can bring liquid inside as long as you sip it. there’s free wifi & coffeeshop upstairs too while you wait. i had appointments in other embassies beforw (shanghai & budapest) and i would say the experience in london is pretty great! would be better if the wait time wasn’t so long but also can’t blame them given the number of applicants.

To rate this experience accurately I would need to be able to give a score of 10 stars out of 5. The passport service was mindbendingly efficient, simple, painless and most importantly, unflustered. Considering my flight was the next day, never at any point was I made to feel silly, incompetent or disorganised - which are clearly the qualities that got me into the situation of not possessing my original passport and applying for a temporary passport. From the first person I encountered at the outside desk, to the person that handed me my passport, and every person in between - each one was courteous, informative, polite and supportive. Whilst I wouldn't want to comment on "American Exceptionalism" in the political field, there is no doubt that in the field of administration and citizenship care, the US is clearly exceptional and I really hope you communicate this to your staff. I even had a conversation with a fellow citizen where we both talked about our amazing experience at the embassy and how much better the experience at Nine Elms is in comparison to Grosvenor Square. I can now fly to ***** with my father (also a US citizen) at complete ease. Thank you, and God bless America, Kind regards, Aaron - a VERY proud US citizen

Went May 23 for a non immigration visa. Got there at 9:30am for a 10am appointment. Large queue outside shown in picture. Once your paperwork is checked you proceed inside through security, dont take a laptop you wont be allowed in a lady in front of me had a laptop and had to go to a storage facility. Then to the checkin desk another queue and issued a ticket no. By now its 10am. Upstairs you have to wait for your ticket no. When i got there i was about 80th inline. Your turn will come eventually. Id printed my own photos which looked fine, but when they scanned it they wernt clear. On site they have a photo booth £8. So recommend dont print your own, and while you wait get them done there. Its an odd size too 5cm x 5cm. Then queue for fingerprints, then queue again for a final interview. My total face to face time was max 10 mins across the three phases. I was there a total of 2 hours from 9:30am to 11:30am. Not bad given how busy the place is. Theres a cafe there if needed. Everyone is freindly and helpful and despite the wait time and volume of people it is well organised.

Went there for my B1/B2 visa with my spouse. Stood in line at 8:30 for my 9:00 AM interview. As mentioned, there are two long queues, one for check in and other for security. It roughly took an hour for both queues. The embassy people do come often and check if people are standing in correct line. People tend to join security line before check in line. Once inside the building things do move quickly. There are a lot of counters and you get called in for your biometric. Here they do ask you basic question like, the purpose and is your photo a recent one. Next one is the interview. Truth be told this wouldn’t last more than 3 minutes irrespective of the result. Our passports were requested and then we were asked basic questions like purpose, places you would visit, job profile. The officer then mentioned our visa was approved and we would receive our passports thought courier. We had taken so many supporting documents but not one was asked to be presented. The staffs were pretty helpful and explained what the next step was. P.S Indian working in the UK.

Went to US embassy for visa application. There was a long queue outside. The staff were polite, friendly and so helpful. It was raining, windy and cold today. One of their staff members who went up and down the queue, reassuring everyone that they will not be late for their visa appointments, helped all the more vulnerable people to the front of the queue. Once inside, you are given a ticket and directed to the first floor, where there is a stand selling hot beverages and snacks. There are several monitors at the large waiting area, lots of comfy seats and plenty of booths for the visa application. Nothing was crampy and no long lines anywhere. All the staff were polite, fast and professional. They were all very helpful, patient and kind to me, who needed a bit more help than others there. Even the visa applicants in the queue outside were super kind and friendly. It may be that the horrible weather outside brought out the best in all of us but they were all really nice people. Thank you to everyone at the US embassy.

The new U.S Embassy is an impressive building that is deserving of its title. As a visa application centre it has barely moved forwards from the old embassy in Mayfair. You can though at least take a bag and other personal items inside with an airport style security check. (Think of that as a luxury!) The building apparently cost $1 billion which sounds like a a lot especially when visa applicants have to queue outside sometimes for hours on end with no shelter. Surely a small fraction of the $1 billion budget could have gone towards a better thought out process and a fresh start to improving the experience for applicants? Let alone a simple shelter over the queue that trails the perimeter of the building. This was always a problem at the old embassy and I can’t believe it hasn’t been addressed as a priority. It really all seems like a missed opportunity.

Prepare to answer to these questions properly: -Why are you travelling to the US? If you reply that you are a tourist, they can ask again why you don't travel elsewhere. -What is your occupation, as well as your wage? -Have you ever worked for any organisations that might be prohibited by US law or have a criminal history? It is generally very organised and there were no entrance problems. There are two queue lines, one for check your appointment and one for security check, join to the appointment check and after got for security. arrive around an hour before your appointment . Best way to get to the embassy is by train to Vauxhall station, enough restaurant and coffee around to spend before your appointment if you arrive early. There is a photo booth inside and if you don't have photo no problem, may be good to wait to get approval and then take photo.

Applied for a visa for myself and my wife in Dec ‘22. It was freezing cold in London. They made us wait for 2-3 hours in the freezing cold outside until my wife became sick. The employees of the embassy were disrespectful, they don’t spend time listening to you, and probably they didn’t even look into the online application that costs 160$ each. There was no privacy in there, you talk to the employee from a small window while we are standing, and people queuing behind you and listening to the whole conversation with the employee!! The place was crammed with applicants. After all this ordeal, they rejected the visa with no reason to give. If you want to earn respect then you need to respect people. There are many other countries that can be visited instead of the US. I filed a complaint via my relatives in the US about London embassy’s foul treatment.

Awful service and very rude. We drove 3 hours today to come to the embassy as weve applied for a visa online( British passport) to go on holiday to America, Sat and waited about 4 hours to even be seen or acknowledged . Weve just came back of a holiday to iraq and i can honestly say its one of the safest and best places ive ever been with the most friendly people, and the second they saw the stamp in both of our passports we was asked to sit down and wait again for an additional 1.5 hours until everyone else had been seen. We got to the interview with the embassy and with hardly any questions at all we was both denied visas within about 1 minute of actually sitting down, and the reasoning being all because weve been away travelling to iraq, i think its quite disgusting that years later in 2023 its still categorised as a dangerous country, so racist.

This is from the perspective of someone wanting US citizen services, especially passport renewal: First of all make sure you are in the right queue. If you see a huge line, that's probably for visas, the US citizen services entrance is beyond that. Despite the understandable security checks at the gate the whole process once inside is quite fast. NB, no laptops allowed, you'll be directed to a place down the road to store it (phones are ok though) You get a ticket number when in the building and are called to a series of windows - once to submit your documents, once to pay (if you need to) and once to have everything checked. The whole process will take you about an hour and there's a coffee and snack stand in the foyer. It's worth noting that the time to get a US passport is three weeks, faster than the UK standard process

Visa appointment. It’s better to be late than early. You have to join first queue outside the body scanner on the street - if it rains, it rains on you, if you are too early, they don’t allow you in and ask you to wait on a side. Too much time wasted in the queues in general. when you finally in the building as soon as you pass the reception and go on 1st floor this is where you have your appointment and finally toilets available (I thought I will wet myself). Numbering system - random, confusing and in the end annoying (constant irritating beep indicating which number to which station). Confusing because they allocate you to one station and it looked like you just go in. Apparently no, because you have at least one person ahead of you. Well. It could have been organised a lot better.

My appointment was at 8.30am.i reached there around 8.35. Queue outside the embassy to get the DS160 checked - around 30 mins Queue to get inside - 10 mins Reception wait time - 10 mins Enter the main area - Step one get the photo and documents checked again - 10mins Fingerprints - 15 mins Interview - 10 mins Keep in mind to not get laptops and big bags or else it needs to be kept at a cafe for a few of £12. Also photo booth is available inside so don't fret if you don't get the photographs. They just take your DS 160, passport, photograph & BRP. Didn't take any other document from me. There is a washroom and small Cafe inside the main area. Don't follow citymapper blindly. Once you see this picture, walk towards it Overall great experience

Arrived for an 8am appointment (non-immigrant, C1/D visa) at 7:15am. Only 6 in front of me at this time, though numbers increased rapidly soon after. They began admitting us shortly after 7:30am. By 8:25am, despite a system error on my application (caused by a rescheduled appointment I was told), my visa was approved and I was outside. My passport was kept and will be sent to me. Laptops are not allowed, but phones and tablets (on, working) are. Drinks are allowed in, you will be asked to taste it in front of security first. There is a cafe inside for snacks and drinks. The waiting area was comfortable, and the whole process very smooth and easy. I was dreading this appointment but it was a breeze!

The consular staff are biased and institutionally prejudicial. You have to be white to be given a visa basically! The person in front of me was a female Ukrainian, she was asked one question only and was told her visa was granted. I was next and was asked many questions and it looked to me like the decision to deny my visa was pre-made. I am a UK citizen who happened to be born in Iraq! I lived in the UK for the last 17 years and have family here. Their reason for refusal? They are not convinced that I will return to the UK after the end of my visit! I call upon the UK government to give reciprocal treatment to US citizens as this is the only way to stop them mistreat UK citizens. Waste of $140!

Had a great experience applying for my son's CRBA and first passport. If you're a US citizen then make sure that you're standing in the [much shorter!] queue for citizen services and not the longer line for visa applicants. Going through security was straight forward and was similar to airport security. There was plenty of space in the waiting area and there is a coffee bar for drinks and snacks inside. One worker there was a bit grumpy and all business, but everyone else was really nice and helpful and answered all my questions. Overall I was there about an hour and a half and the application process went really smoothly! Bonus: The building is stunning and the grounds around it are beautiful!

Wow. The new embassy is magical. I got my rush passport in no time at all, zero hassle, gorgeous pristine building, and a cafe to serve you coffee while you wait! What? A rush same-day passport the same price as a full passport and FREE to renew with a full one within a year. The contrast with my horrid treatment by the Home Office is stark. I told the woman at the counter how much I appreciated the whole experience, and this guy behind me said, “Right? This place is great!” and the woman with him said “I feel like I’ve been on holiday!” I mean, slightly hyperbolic, but yeah, these guys do a great job. Almost makes me want to move back.

Stood in a mile long queue for three hours in the rain along with 500 others (totally unexpected)! Finally got assigned a ticket for my F1 visa processing - for some reason the display board froze thus causing a lot of delay. There are a lot of counters inside - but anyway the time at which I was supposed to have my interview got delayed by approximately 4 hours! But the interviewer and staff were very friendly in general. I even noticed some B2 visas were approved within like one minute - so depends on what visa you are applying for. Overall - my visa got approved and am looking forward to study in the USA!

Overall, my visa process was fairly smooth except for the long queues to enter the embassy. See for more details on the process below. You first checkin with a member of staff who verify your documents and sign on it. Then you queue up to enter inside - queues are massive and your appointment is irrelevant by this point - it’s first-in first-out. You would go through security check before entering the embassy - bags, water bottles, phones are allowed but not laptops. Then you go to the embassy reception to collect a token for biometrics. Interview is taken after the biometrics on the same floor.

To be really honest I was just a young boy which I made some silly mistake when I lost my father at the age of 13 which resulted to me having a criminal record dating back 44 years ago, not been in trouble with the law since I have my mother who is very ill that lives in America which I am her only son she is 82 years old and these people showed no companion and refused me a visa I will never forget this despicable experience, for the male person that refused me I hope and pray that you never experience that someone tells you you can't see your parents that you love.......

Im honestly embarrassed to be an American - trying to bring my girlfriend to the US is a nightmare. The delay for a B1/B2 visa appointment is HALF A YEAR - this means it is impossible to do business or tourism. On top of that the application page is completely buggy, you can’t get anyone on the phone, you can’t search for other appointments without paying 185 dollars and basic information on the application page is missing. Truly sad that the USA can’t even operate a consulate properly. You are better off flying to Belfast and trying to get an appointment there. BEWARE.

It doesn’t look American at all!!!! I was here today.The consular affairs was very rude and unprofessional , when she was talking to me very rude and unprofessional behavior The Embassy of the United States of America in London is the biggest embassy in Europe. The expectation from this huge gigantic diplomatic office was not what I saw here. they treat me the most horrible way You can imagine as a US citizen. not answering my questions, did not provide enough source of information. don’t go to this embassy if you really don’t have to. they don’t deserve any star.

Had the best experience I’ve ever had with any embassy/government organization in my whole life. I came to get a visa stamp and the entire experience was so efficient and easy! The embassy itself is beautiful, the people working there are super friendly and helpful, and there’s even a cafe in the waiting area where you can buy drinks and snacks. If you didn’t get a photo in time they also have photo booths for you to get a passport photo taken, which was a life saver for me!! Great experience here, and I got my passport back after not even two full days.

Scheduled an emergency appointment online for emergency passport in order to travel to Germany for sudden business trip. Since my original passport expires within 3 months. The process is so smooth, everyone’s nice and efficient. Got my emergency passport within an hour! Finally I feel like tax money’s not wasted❤️ There’s also a circular counter at the middle of waiting area where you can get some non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, and pastries in case your appointment’s early in the morning when you don’t have time for breakfast. Overall very nice.

B1/B2 visa. I received the appointment 3 months after the application. the whole process is very easy, you have to arrive about an hour before the appointment, and from there they guide you. I read comments here that they are racist, which is not true. be honest and tell them what your goal is, in my case: vacation with friends without complicating yourself. what they are looking for is clearly to see if you have friends/relatives there and want to stay there illegally. They asked me 3 questions, where am I going, with whom and when. good luck!

My passport didn’t scan which was very annoying with egates and every time I would enter a country. Getting e visas for australia for example was impossible. I came here in August and they processed me for a replacement passport. I had travel so they let me keep my old passport and 6 weeks later I came back and they handed me my new passport. They hole punched the old one. It was so quick and easy. It was fast to get an appointment. I have never experienced this level of efficiency at a government agency before. Amazing. Keep up the good work.

Too long waiting time! Since 10.30 till 14.00 and rejection of tourist visa because I’ve got protection in the UK and they have doubts I’ll be back to Ukraine. Come on, i’m employed in the UK, have place to live here and official income, money to travel. The war is in Ukraine. I could have applied for u4u if wanted to stay in US. It’s unfair to reject because of this. Lady officer in the 1st cabin was not professional, she asked formal questions without listening to the answers. Besides she was not nice and looked upset.

I would avoid this consulate’s passport division if possible. The embassy deeply undermines its diplomatic responsibilities and commitments. I hope that President Biden will look into reinvigorating these sensitive posts with new appointments. In part to rebuild the confidence of Americans abroad during precarious times but to also show a commitment to address the State Departments awful legacy on racial equality and culture of bullying. Please write to your representatives back at home. I intend to.

Very bad experience! applied for my husband’s visa to go on holiday and the interviewer lady asked stupid questions. she was very rude. I went with my husband for an interview as his english isn’t very good. She told me to stand behind as am not allowed to speak. She asked my husband why dont you go to europe why you applied for US. I think its our choice where we want to go for holiday its our money. If you want to give a refusal atleast give a good reason. Very disappointed

We had appointment at 10 AM and we arrived at 9:35 and stayed about 15 minutes in a very long queue. Then someone from the embassy came to us and asked us to go straight to the security check because we have a child and after we entered the embassy and another check to give us a number and sent us upstairs and we stayed there for about 35 minutes and we finished and visa approved. Generally everything was good except the long queue. Luggage is not allowed in the embassy.

We were very nervous about attending our visa interview. Mainly because we weren't sure what to expect, how big it was going to be and how easy to navigate it would be. We were very pleasantly surprised! The staff here are absolutely wonderful! And super helpful! Honestly the whole experience could not have been better! Even though the building is very large, at every point there is someone willing to help assist or direct you. Absolutely no need to be nervous!

Great. Staff are very friendly and the organisation for where you need to go and when is fantastic. We booked an early appointment, and when we were leaving the line was massive. I would recommend an early appointment, make sure to have all your paperwork and to pay attention to the screen that calls out your number while you wait. These tips could help you save time but more importantly not miss your appointment because you're too engrossed on your cell phone.

Amazing building, immaculate facility, long queues but security service is fast. Took me 15 minutes to get inside with around 100 people in front of me. - Do not bring your laptop. Although you can store it in nearby cafe for a £10-£15! But it does cause delays! You will go through airport like security check and be asked to take belt off. - Allow 30-45 mins for the formalities ahead of the appointment. - Vauxhall and Nine Elms are the nearest stations.

Excellent service, went there for a CRBA appointment the queue for American citizens was three people vs the the other one was 50-75 at 8am. Luckily I didn't bring my laptop or else id have to pay £14 to store it in a coffee shop across the street . They have a courier mailing system you can use for your passport to arrive, my Royal mail envelope was too small and had to use there service for £10. Staff was friendly and the process overall was easy

Great experience, First time applying visa for us and approved within 2 minutes. It took me around 30-40 minutes from entering the building and exiting after approval and fingerprints. I was the first person to enter the building for visa service. You are not allowed to take and sharp or liquid item inside. I took two mobiles and a power bank with me without any issue. Just you need to open any app from the phone and show it to security staff.

Professional and friendly service. Recommended to arrive one hrs prior to your appointment. Be prepared yourself! DO NOT BRING • Large bags/suitcases (above cabin baggage size) • Laptops • Scissors or any sharp items • Glass bottle include perfume and cologne (above 30ml) The Solutions 1. put in a bin provided outside 2. Or use the ‘Locker’ at the nearest coffee shop just opposite to the embassy (pay £10) before you queue. Good luck

My fiance had a great experience. He went for his k 1 visa. We were there for his interview. 5 simple questions that should match up what's said in your packet and boom done. We were there almost 4 hours. First line for check in with your DS 160 then second line to get in. We brought a binder of paperwork that wasn't looked at. Although there was a bit fo waiting the actual administration of it was quick and efficient.

The appointment was a bit nerve wracking however, the interview went way smoother than I anticipated. The interviewers were both very polite, and to the point which made the whole process quite simple. I was approved after a short interview, and all the questions were reasonable. The embassy itself has streamlined its process quite well, as it didn’t take too long, my appointment was at 8 and I was out by 8.30.

Probably the most efficient Consulate in London. Miles ahead of any of the EU countries consulate. From reserving appointments dates to actually attending the Visa appointment. Well organized and staff is helpful. And they give 5+ years visa unlike the EU countries who only provide for the length of your trip. Tourists in London should opt for US tourism instead of the inefficient EU consulates

A vast improvement over the last building. The outside and the inside are very cool... architecturally smart. Probably one of a few new modern builds with a moat. Service wise, it still takes about an hour at Passport services but if feels more efficient some how. HINT: There are separate lines for visa applicants vs US citizens (minimal waiting to enter) so look for the appropriate line.

My partner had a visa appointment and the queue moved quickly despite being very long. He was out in just over an hours time. It was clean and very organized. He was approved and sent on his way in record time! We were told it may take up to 3 hours but it was pretty painless. Get there early enough to stand in queue. Polite and efficient agents and officers. Very good experience for us.

Nice embassy, and very easy to get to. At the beginning, make sure you check in first at the smaller queue. Then you can proceed to queue at the queue closer to the wall (and longer). You will then go through the security check - like at the airport. Keep your documents out as you will need it again not long after. The staff inside are very helpful, and it's very organised.

Handed my ppt (passport) in on Monday 27th February when I went for my Tourist Visa interview, received it back yesterday, Thursday 2nd March. What can I say, other than I was overwhelmed by the level and quality of service. I was provided with pleasant, professional and perfectly efficient service by all, embassy staff as well as the security operatives. Thank you.

Very happy with the experience! The place is very organised and clean. Staff helpful and friendly. However the queues were really long and I had to cancel an appointment as the total time was almost 4 hours at the embassy so you really need to take into account and plan ahead otherwise rest all was great. Best part is I got my passport in 4 days so cannot complain !

We walked around the outside which was fairly pleasant. Nice to see the waterfalls and autumn colours. The building opposite is the one with the amazing glass bottom swimming pool on the roof between two buildings. Not sure about the random foot sculpture nearby! Can't vouch for anything that goes on inside the Embassy building though. We aren't American citizens!

The most useless customer support I've ever dealt with. People on phone do not interact with those who respond to emails; I've been going back and forth for months and the support team are unable to keep track of or even understand my issue despite my 10+ emails documenting and explaining my problem. Very unorganized. Embassy itself is busy but runs fine.

The consular didnt bother asking me of have got hotel reservation, why I choosed the particular place to go he just asked unnecessary questions like if have got families here, if I schooled here and if I work which I answered all correctly but he decided to deny my application. What has if I have gone to Europe once got to do with my application to them

Very quick service. Took less than an hour from the queue to visa approval. Although the queue was very long for the passport collection from DX in Chancery lane the queue are very long and they close their door around 4.50pm so it might be worth it to pay extra and get passport delivered to your place if you don't want to waste your time

A different structure To marvel at Very far from hammersmith Need a bus to get there Its quite in the interior The surrounding in surrel Many new buildings coming up There is a train station nearby from the back It's well managed A queue outside to get in, two different lines one for Americans and the other for non Americans LONDON 2022

My visit to the US Embassy in London was a pleasant one. The staff was very friendly and professional & Know exactly what they were doing. The only thing which I would suggest that need improvement is the long queue at the Embassy (people who are waiting to come in) Overall it was lovely visiting this place. Thanks

This is the absolute worst government service/ customer service I have ever experienced. Email communication is slow and tedious. Emails often overlook important information I’ve mentioned. Phoning is also useless. I would avoid using this service for passport renewals like the plague. I am absolutely disgusted.

You may want to get there an hour earlier for your appointment. You may meet a long queue of about a 100 people but the Embassy officials and systems efficiently try to get people attended to by breaking the long queues into smaller groups across the ailes where available officials are ready to seated.

Very good experience) Pretty fast and very professional) Outside was a pretty long queue, but didn’t take long, about 20min waiting time. Inside they have small cafeteria ( coffee, muffins, water ) what is great))) You can take your backpack with you, restrictions are similar to the airplane checkout.

Highly recommend if you need any help in getting a Visa for the United States of America, They will guide you in what too do, If your applying for a visa application the company that staff told me to use is ESTA fill out the application form online & they will guide you step by step on what too do.

15/9/22 Came for a US passport renewal and what good service they had. We had very low wait times when in the building and did not have to queue long either (10am appointment on a Thursday in termtime). Not to mention that the building itself is inviting and clean too. Refreshment’s are available.

I sent my us passport in for renewal and it was very seamless the DX courier came to collect all the documents and within 3 weeks DX had delivered my new passport back to me. The USA renewal passport team are amazing even emailed me to let me know the passport will be sent out many thanks

Got my US Tourist visa approved on first try! 10 years validity with Multiple entry The whole process was smooth and straightforward. TIP FOR UK IMMIGRANTS: You must be atleast 1 year living in the UK before applying or else you are risking yourself of denial.

The busiest embassy ever in London with mile long line. Staff was helpful and noticed people with kids and pregnant ladies and moved them in the front of the line. Overall time taken in the embassy from waiting line to interview for tourist applications is between 1-2 hours.

My passport was stolen and when we went to the embassy they were so helpful and I never felt so thankful in my life. I am so blessed to have a government that helped me out in my time of need. They were kind and the process was quick. Thank you US Embassy in London.

Mirroring society's changes in the last 60 years the Embassy has moved from a classic 'modernist' building designed to merge in with mainly residential Mayfair properties to a fortress; albeit a fortress softened by aesthetically pleasing cladding on three sides.

Am so proud to be an American citizen, during my stay in London my bag was snatched in Oxford street after I checked out of my hotel to make my way to Paris. Called the uk police and they basically told me they don't care and asked me to

Wonderful embassy and all staff, but! The officer who spoke to me was so rude and disrespectful! I had such a bad experience for the first time in my life! This is a violation of human rights and a shame that such ill-mannered people

On behalf of my American girlfriend: thank you for being so eminently hospitable! It was as if your entire objective was to make this a pleasant experience. Everyone she encountered was kind and helpful. You represent America well!

Try to get an early appointment which starts at 0830 hrs. Reach there by 0800 hrs. You should be out before 1030 hrs. Remember to take the foto without spectacles. Or else ull have to take one there & pay £8 for 2 fotos.

Amazing way of planning and execution, could see some odd 200 people being taken to security queue, document review and interview across 2 hours. Never had such an excellent experience in any consulate and embassy

Piece of advice- Do not take your laptop when you go for an appointment. They ask you to store your laptop in a cafe whoch cahrges you £12 just to store your laptop. The area is nice for a walk though.

As always they have great service, considering the amount of people they have to see. New embassy looks really beautiful, clean and well organised so is the surrounding area. Super helpful stuff.

Horrible and traumatizing experience. Applied for a visa to visit my family in the US. I have not seen my aunt and uncle for 22 years. I was asked 2 questions- am l married and do l have kids.

It seems the consular I met have issues with people of certain colour or country. He did look at my documents, all he does is stamping denial sheets and looking for someone to give them out

(B2 visa on UK passport) I just had to leave a review this time cos I travel a lot and therefore have had many experiences with several embassies for both business and tourist visas -

Very efficient and smoothly dealt with. Signage could have been better outside so that people knew what to do and where to queue. Overall though in and out in one hour so very good.

The queue to get in to the Embassy was huge, but the whole process is very well organised and it only took me and hour and a quarter from joining the queue to leaving the embassy.

Queue to get in was horrible, and slow. Staff was friendly and helpful. Once in, the process is fast and efficient. One can easily be in and out in less than 3 hours.

I had my passport stolen and the efficiency from the embassy meant I had a new one in less than two weeks. It was easy and the staff were very helpful and friendly

Honestly, it was a great experience. Really organized well. Everything was clearly explained. Friendly government employees. Stunning building, great architecture.

I was invited to see the screening of a new film the venue was great. Security as you would expect was very tight. All the staff were extremely helpful

The building looks impressive. I have sorted out my paperwork very fast - without waiting too long. Everyone was friendly, helpful and professional.

Seamless appointment booking and visa interview process. They are very well organized and total time taken at appointment is no longer than 1 hr

Best Consulate, having been to a few.Staff are super friendly and helpfull. They managed crowd well the building/ facilities are best in class.

Fast and very clear guidance once inside. There is a passport photo booth. Lovely staff happy to help. Was a fast and enjoyable experience.

Quick, friendly, excellent service as the UK US embassy. Shout out to the cashier in the us citizens services department, 10/10.

Very quick and easy Process for interview. Outside long wait but when you reach front of the reception table, going quickly.

Beautiful new building with outstanding efficient service. Was out of there within an hour with an emergency passport.

Fantastic experience, friendly staff and a beautiful environment. Extremely efficient with a photo booth and cafe.

Efficient and polite as always. Never a nice thing having to queue up in the cold, and essentially wait in line

Brilliant embassy that I ever seen . So organise , clean , nice staff and polite officers , comfy waiting area .

Very ordered and professional, a bit slow with the service which was just a simple notary, but took 2 hours.

Lost my passport while in the UK, received an emergency passport within 2 and a half hours of my appointment

Really nice landscaping and planting around this interesting building. A short walk from Nine Elms station.

such a beautiful building & surrounding environment. Got my passport back in 5 days! Top tier service!

Courteous and profesional team is there to assist while focusing on problem resolution. Go forth !!!

Such a Beautiful embassy, Ignore the bad reviews,

Great landscaping! Interesting building