Hotel by the US Embassy?

I know I've heard several people mention that while in London to do business at the Embassy they've stayed at a hotel nearby that was convenient and ick-free... so what Hotel is it again? I can't find mention of it anywhere...

*wondering if perhaps she's hallucinating*

Hi there...If you are having a physical for the visa application..they start at 8am and the docs address is great cumberland place.  There are hotels on that that are nice, close to everything.

Nope, we're just going down at some point to change my name on my passport to my married name (just haven't gotten around to it yet) - and we are *considering* staying overnight since I'm so huge and waddly.

We stayed at the Millenium Mayfair, it's right on Grovsner Square, and you can just walk across the street to the Embassy. They have the best Japanese restaurant there too, called Shogun. The best teriyaki I have had. It's also just a few blocks from Hyde Park, and Marble Arch, where the sightseeing buses are. We went thre last July to sort out an IRS issue I had.

You can mail the application to have your passport amended tho, and save yourself from having to go in. I am about to do that myself. Good luck

The Helmsley, I think it was. peedal was there last as I recall.

Added later:
I'm embarrassed...head's not screwed on these days. You meant "in London" and I was thinking "in New York". Sorry. Scrap anwser above, please!

Thanks guys.
We haven't decided yet if we're going to make it down there, part of me wants to go to for the day with David as a sort of final trip before baby comes, part of me doesn't want to get out of bed for the next 9 weeks!
Who knows. Thanks for the info, I'll look those palces up, and we'll decide soon enough!

I have been thinking about going there in person to do the passport thing, and doing the name change on my social security card at the same time.  I don't think we can do the SSN thing by mail like we can the  passport name change. Is that right?

Hiya all  

While it is just easier to do while you're at the embassy in person (took me 10 min to get in and out of the SS admin office!), you can indeed get all the information and forms online!

http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/

lots of good info on the SS Admin site, actually- including registering a new baby for a number (which I thought would apply very well to Marlespo! hehe) and just general info for americans living overseas!

Jen


PS- incidentally, there is a cool option where you do baby name searches for the last hundred and twenty years and can see the most popular baby names for every year since 1990! I got a bit sidetracked when looking for the info for this post and checked them all out hehe Can you say.."Too much time on my hands"?  

ahh, thanks Jen, yeah, I knew you could download the SSN forms, but I thought you had to go in person to turn them in?  That's the bit where I am not sure. Will read again and see if it says I can just mail them to the Embassy, but I thought I read on one of these boards, that you had to go in person on the SSN name change.

edit,, It does say you can mail it to your embassy,, but I would need to send the same orginal documents I need to send to the passport people to change my name :lol. Maybe it's easier to go and do it in person really. Altho, I am not in a hurry, so could do one first, and later do the other

So since you have to send the SS office and the Passport office the same materials, I'm assuming I'd just do one, then wait to get my stuff back, and do the other? I need to do both as well...

That's what I was thinking too,, altho, a quick trip to London could be fun, maybe in the Spring.  I am going to the States for a month in April, so maybe I will wait til after that to do it. Altho, I was hoping to get the passport amended before I travel in April. Feeling a bit indecisive at the moment. LOL

Tebs, just make sure that the name you make your April flight reservations in matches EXACTLY the name on your passport.  If you are going to amend it before the trip, make sure you make the reservations in the "amended" name.  Trust me - they check!

The Helmsley, I think it was. peedal was there last as I recall.

Added later:
I'm embarrassed...head's not screwed on these days. You meant "in London" and I was thinking "in New York". Sorry. Scrap anwser above, please!

Actually LisaE you have helped me by this "mistake" as I will need accommodation in New York in a few months.  Thanks for the tip!

Kiz - like LisaE said, I stayed at the Helmsley as well and it was perfect.  If you need details, I'm sure LisaE and I will be happy to help!  (I still have the pen I *borrowed* from the room - and it still writes!!)  

lol Peedal.  Thanks.  I feel if I get the details too soon though it will be in one ear and out the other!  I have so many details in there now.  Plus more to come.  I have to write things down daily or else *poof* its gone.  But I shall look at this post again in early April.  Thanks for the help.