About spousal visa interview here in USA (Many questions!)

OK...another visa question for you all! For those of you who either married while visiting in the UK and then came back to the US to apply for your spousal visa, or for those of you whose UK partner came here to marry with the intent that you would then get a spousal visa and return with them: Is an interview always part of the process of obtaining a spousal visa...or can it be done over the internet (fasttrack or something like that?!) If there is always an interview, do both parties need to be present? And if that is the case...has anyone had their partner come over here for a visit, then got married, then...what? I assume it takes a while to get an interview date...yet, how do you schedule an interview until after the wedding actually occurs? Or, if one marries while visiting in the UK, do you have to wait until you get back to the US before applying for an appointment or can you start the process as soon as you've married there and then come back before the interview date? Is there a rough estimate of how long it takes to get an appointment?

Sorry, if I am so confused...there are so many variables to pin down in our situation and we're just trying to figure out the easiest way of going about this...(I am tired out just writing about the process!)

Thanks, geally

Richard and I got married here in the UK in January.  We had another wedding in NY in May.  We scheduled an appointment for when he was in the US (Though he does not have to be there) for a few days before the wedding.  For the NYC consulate you need to go on-line and make an appointment now.  Appointments are only available starting about two weeks ahead of time. 
https://www.britainusa.com/eappointments/ny/make_detail_mainam.asp
We did not have to have an interview of any kind, over the phone or in person.
I filled out the fast-track application about a month before I went, but I think you can do it a few weeks before.  Just remember to print it out, I didn't but they were able to do it for me and most of the other people who did it as well.

A detailed rundown of MY visa experience is at the link below.

An interview isn't always a part of the process.  Some people are called and asked some questions.  Some are taken into a side room to answer questions.  We did neither--they just asked us questions while we were standing at the counter. 

(DH went to US to marry me, we went to NY for visa, and I came back to the UK w/ him, btw.)

stacyj7 (hehehe...I feel like some covert operator),

You mentioned that you married in the UK first...did you go on a fiancee visa to the UK or just with your passport? Once married (and still in the UK) did you apply for an appointment in NY? You didn't get married in the US until May...did you have to come back to the US alone for 5 months before seeing him again?! Sorry if I am just not getting it!

Thanks, geally

And thanks lolabola for the link!

You can call me Stacey, (Shhh, don't tell everyone )

We didn't have a fiancee visa, just did it on my Visiters one, in fact the registry didn't ask to see a visa stamp or sticker.  (Note, you need to make a date with the registry, go in and have them ask you some simple questions and then wait like 17 days till you can get married, we did it about three weeks after the appointment) I left the UK at the end of Feb. to go home, and to prepare for the next wedding. (That wedding was for our families and friends, we were already legally married.  We didn't have a new M.C.  just had the one from the UK) I had been there since November, and I don't like to go over the 6 month limit. I was there for just over 3 months and he came to see me once in March.  I applied on-line from my home in the US, but you can do that anywhere, that's the good thing about computers.

Thanks Stacey! Your situation sounds a lot like what we're envisioning.

Feel free to PM me anytime!  I worried a lot and everyone here was so helpful!!!  I had a very easy experience, so I am good to talk too!