US Visa

答應了女朋友十月初會陪她到美國參加學術會議，順便在幾個城市旅遊。由於沒有給BNO 或特區護照免簽證優待，事前要先申請美國旅遊簽證。先在網上申請，要填上DS 160 表格，填寫時需要上載相片。之後就付錢（差不多100磅），預約到在倫敦的美國大使館interview。事前要印confirmation（有大頭相的那張） 及instruction page（只有barcode的那張）。到大使館除了要帶上上述兩張紙，要帶上你DS160上填的護照號碼的護照。網頁上說要帶上

• Intention to depart the United States upon completion of your travel.
• Sufficient funds to cover all expenses while in the United States.
• Evidence that you have significant ties to the country to which you intend to return at the end of your stay in the United States (This is generally established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to a country other than the United States.)

我印上了在UK 工作證明及來回機票，但到現場也沒問我拿來看。

當天約了1030, 大約10點就到大使館，門口有保安檢查。據聞以前很嚴格，電話，有電池的，無線控制的也不可以帶進去，要到附近的藥房寄存，但這次就寬鬆得多，只要把身上能拿出來的（包括皮帶,所以千萬不要穿褲頭很鬆的褲）都放進一個他們提供的透明膠袋裡，再進一間小房子檢查，就可以入大使館。在大使館的接待處會給你掃描條碼再給你一張BARCODE及編號。往左邊的樓梯上去，場內有很多人，找個位置等喊號碼。整個程序有兩個部分，第一次叫號碼是交文件，打手指模及閒聊幾句，問為什麼要申請VISA，我便答陪女朋友去CONFERENCE，大約會去哪裡。第一部份我大約等了差不多1個小時。場內有賣食物的，但在1點左右便會關。之後就坐下再等喊號碼，這次我便等了三個小時，在COUNTER 被問為什麼要去美國，在讀書還是工作，為誰工作，誰付這次行程的錢，之後就說已經批了，回去等拿回護照。

及後便回去劍橋再上班。。。

（題外話，到場才發現沒帶上該印而沒印的東西，可以在附近的藥房印，有帶不了進場的也可以這類藥房寄存，有影證件相的服務，美國大使館的推介http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/prohibited_items_2014.pdf)

My girl friend is going to a conference in October. I planned to go with her and have some sight seeing together. I am holding BNO and HKSAR passport so I need a tourist visa for this trip. I have to submit a DS 160 form online and book an appointment in London's US ambassador. The visa application costs around 100 pounds. I have to take the confirmation (with a photo you took when submitting DS 160 form) and instruction (only with barcode) page printed from the website and also the passport you stated in the form. You are suggested to bring some other documents to prove your intention to go back where you are. 

I printed my job contract and the flight tickets but they did not ask me to show in the interview.

I arrived at around 10 am though my appointment is at 1030. You need to put all belongings （including the belt) to a transparent plastic bag and go through a security check. The reception will scan your application number? and give you a bar code and a waiting ticket. The interview consists of 2 parts. I waited for an hours for the first part and handed in my documents, confirmation and instruction page and passport. The interviewer asked me a few questions, why are you going to US? where are you going to? just some simple questions and recorded my finger prints. Then I waited for 3 hours for the next stage. You can buy some food and drinks there but the refreshment kiosk closes art around 1 pm. In this stage, the interviewer asked the reason of applying a visa, where I planned to go, what my job is, who I work for, who pay for this trip. After these questions he said my application was approved. The passport would be sent after some administrative works. I go back toCambridge to work again...

(You can print things you forgot to bring or print in some pharmacies nearby. You can hire their storage service if you found you got something prohibited. They also provide an instant passport photo service too. Pharmacies suggested by ambassador http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/prohibited_items_2014.pdf )