Just got my visa. How do I start? (National Insurance #?)

I guess I just don't really know what to expect, and that's what makes me nervous. How long/in depth does the interview go for, in everyone's experience? Is it just a five minute check, or is it a rigorous, half hour grill session?

I did not get grilled, and PlainPearl and TravelingFrog didn't either, according to their reports.  The gentleman filled out the application for me, and asked me the relevant questions as we went through.  This took approximately 10-15 minutes.

Most of my time was spent waiting.  Bring something to do or read; at my JobCentre use of phones was not allowed in the waiting areas.

Good luck! 

x-posted with TravelingFrog

Thank you so much for your reassurance, guys/gals. I'm going with my husband in two days to the doctor. He's got an appointment and I'm going to sign up with them at the same time. Then I'll be able to hopefully get some help for my anxiety. This forum has been really helpful though in calming my nerves for different things.

Just to chime in - my interview was really easy.  It was scheduled actually before the Centre opened - I guess they do 2 interviews in the 15 minutes before opening.  It was upstairs in a different area.  The hardest part was the Security guy at the door didn't want to let me in early because he thought there was only one appointment (It was Monday morning and I made the appointment Friday afternoon).  Anyway once inside it was an easy interview - just my name, address, date I arrived and my husbands name.  Things like that.  She asked why I wanted the number and I just said I was looking for work.  I didn't need any proof of address - I was there partly to get something with my address on it!  In fact when I mentioned at the end that I had an interview coming up and needed something with my address on it, she generated a letter for me saying I had applied for the number.  She was very helpful really.   I didn't get asked for my husbands NI number either.  She did have to fill out everything with my maiden name and then write a comment at the end to give me the number in my married name.

They did want *all* my passports and I had only brought my UK and US.   It didn't hold me up at all though.  I just said I wasn't sure where my Canadian one was (which is true - it seems to have disappeared into a drawer somewhere).

Well I'm just ready to get this interview over with. Then I can get going on a job, and i won't have to worry about this immigration crap for another two years (aside from the Life in the UK test). I think I deserve a bit of a break. We all do.

Well, I went to the interview today. It went pretty well, it was easy enough, but the man got annoyed with me.

He asked me at the end to look over the form he had filled out to make sure everything was correct. I found a field titled, "Address for correspondence", that he had left blank. I said, "Is this for what address you'll send the number to?" He said, "Yes, some people try to change it, but it's really not necessary". I thought that was weird that he just assumed it wasn't necessary. I said, "Well, can we change it to go to my previous address? That's my mother in law's house, and we've had mail stolen at my current address". It was at this point that he seemed to get a little irritated with me because he had to go into the computer and change a few things that took a few minutes.

Still though, it wasn't that big a deal and I didn't feel too bad about it because I felt like he was just trying to cut a corner anyway. Nice guy though, and everything else went smoothly.

Yippee!  Glad it all went well, Tommy25!   

Good news, Tommy25!  Hope it goes well at the doctor today -- we are rooting for you!

I'm happy it went smoothly! Good luck at the doctors! 

Actually, I didn't even get interviewed for my NIN! I called Job Center saying I'd like to schedule an interview to get a NIN. The lady asked me a few questions and took down my details. Then I was sent some paperwork which I filled out along with a copy of my passport and visa, send it back, and about a week later I received my NIN in the mail.

Yeah, it seems that people who are issued a visa inside the UK must attend an in-person interview and those who have them issued in the US don't. I don't know if that's the case across the board though.

I forget what my experience was as it was two years ago that I got my number, but why would they need to see proof (if they ask for it at all) that you're looking for work? Meaning if it's not consistently asked for, what's the point of possibly asking for it at all?

I feel like that question made more sense in my mind.... :-\

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I went for a NINO appt today in Woking.  I called the number on the website & got an appt 2 days later.  I brought a utility bill in my name, my birth certificate, my marriage certificate, my passport & my BRP.  The only things they looked at & copied were the marriage certificate & the passport.  They didn't ask for any proof of my looking for work.  It only took about 20 minutes total.  The woman said I'll get a letter in about 2-4 wks with my NINO (cards aren's issued anymore).  Pretty easy~ 

I went for a NINO appt today in Woking.  I called the number on the website & got an appt 2 days later.  I brought a utility bill in my name, my birth certificate, my marriage certificate, my passport & my BRP.  The only things they looked at & copied were the marriage certificate & the passport.  They didn't ask for any proof of my looking for work.  It only took about 20 minutes total.  The woman said I'll get a letter in about 2-4 wks with my NINO (cards aren's issued anymore).  Pretty easy~ 

I went for my interview last week, was asked some questions about how long I have been here, when my last visit was, if I had any other addresses in the UK, if I am looking for work, then she checked my passport/visa, never looked at any of the documents/post/etc.. that I was told to bring to confirm my address.
I was also told that if I had answered that I was not looking for work, they would not issue me a number!
She said I should be getting a letter with my number in a week or so, any longer then 2 weeks, call them.
All in all it was a pretty easy process!

Hello I was just wondering if you could give me help I trying to move my American girlfriend over to England with me and the steps and requirements needed. I also live in Shropshire on welsh border!:)

Hello I was just wondering if you could give me help I trying to move my American girlfriend over to England with me and the steps and requirements needed. I also live in Shropshire on welsh border!:)