My Day Inside the Fortress of America
Renewing My U.S. Visa in London – A Personal Report on Bureaucracy, Aspiration, and What America Still Means to Many
This week I visited the U.S. Embassy in London.
Not for the first time—but for the first time in a while with a bit of apprehension. I was there to renew my U.S. visa. For another five years. Five more years of thriving and building in a country I’ve loved—and done business in—since 2008.
If you’ve ever stood in front of the U.S. Embassy in London’s Nine Elms district, you’ll know: this is no ordinary administrative building. It’s a fortress. A monumental structure of glass and steel, surrounded by water, barriers, and cameras—yet open, bright, and undeniably modern. A citadel of Western power, almost spacecraft-like in design. Cold. Efficient. Impressive.
And there I was last Monday morning.
Not as a tourist. Not as a petitioner. But as a business owner with a clear purpose.
Preparation with Uncertainty
Three days before the appointment, I had a briefing call with the U.S. immigration attorney we regularly work with on behalf of our clients and who also prepared my application. She’s highly experienced and usually calm—but even she admitted:
“To be honest, I’m not quite sure what to expect this time.”
The world has changed. Rules evolve, bureaucracies shift, and sometimes a new consular officer asks new questions. Her advice was straightforward:
“If you get an unusual question or feel uncertain, simply refer them to me. Say you’ll check with your attorney, and we’ll take it from there.”
It was a small but sobering reminder: even seasoned professionals stay vigilant. And so should applicants.
Why London—and Not Berlin?
You apply for or renew your U.S. visa at the embassy in your country of residence—not necessarily your country of origin. I could have gone to Berlin or Frankfurt, of course. But I left Germany 25 years ago and the UK is where my family is based and I have one of my residences.
Also, the U.S. Embassy in London—despite its size—is well-run and highly professional. Just be sure to budget enough time.
A Morning in Three Stages
I arrived about 30 minutes early. Outside: a long but orderly line. People from every corner of the globe—families, students, business travelers. The atmosphere was calm, focused, and slightly tense.
What followed was a three-stage process that lasted two and a half hours in total—for an interview that took less than 90 seconds.
Stage 1: Document Check – The Photo Surprise
The first surprise came right away: although I had uploaded my passport photo as part of the DS-160 application, a printed photo was still required. They scanned it and returned it to me.
Thankfully, I had one with me. Those who didn’t were sent to a photo booth and had to queue again afterward—losing time and patience.
Pro tip: Always bring a printed, up-to-date passport photo—no matter how digital the process appears.
Stage 2: Fingerprints – Fast and Courteous
Next came biometrics. No waiting. Friendly staff. Five minutes and done.
Then I entered the main hall.
Stage 3: The Hall of Decision
The waiting room is reminiscent of an airport terminal. Rows of seats. Screens announcing names. Around me: mostly F1 students, some B1/B2 travelers, a few business visa applicants.
I waited for almost two hours. Despite the smooth process, the place is busy—you need patience.
Then my name flashed on the screen. My turn.
The Interview: 90 Seconds and a "Yes"
The consular officer was polite and focused.
“What are you planning to do in the U.S.?”
I briefly explained my ongoing business activities, clients, and projects in the States. She typed as I spoke.
“Your visa is approved.”
That was it. No other question. No paperwork. No drama.
Just a moment of quiet relief—and proof that good preparation pays off.
Two Hours Waiting, One Moment of Pride
Sure—standing in line for two hours can take a toll on anyone’s legs. But the queue was cleverly designed: you could sit down at intervals until the line moved. And now, thankfully, phones are allowed. Five years ago, they were strictly prohibited.
As I waited, I overheard snippets of conversation from those around me—stories that stuck with me.
There was an 18-year-old British girl, telling someone she’d just won a full football scholarship to a college in the southern U.S. A young animator ahead of me was headed to Hollywood. Behind me, an AI startup founder shared that he’d just raised major funding and was moving to Austin.
That’s still what America represents.
Not the dark headlines we read each day in media obsessed with portraying the U.S. in the worst possible light.
But hope. Opportunity. Aspiration.
As I stood among these ambitious young people from all over the world—eyes full of dreams, hearts full of courage—I felt something unexpected:
Pride.
Pride to be part of this global crowd chasing a future in a country that still inspires.
Why I Don’t Have a Green Card—or U.S. Citizenship
People often ask:
“Why don’t you just get a Green Card? Wouldn’t that make things easier?”
The short answer is: to preserve my global tax flexibility.
Holding a Green Card—or U.S. citizenship—means being subject to worldwide taxation by the United States, no matter where else you are a tax resident.
That includes global income, business structures, even passive holdings like foundations or trusts.
It also brings complex reporting obligations and a lifetime of paperwork, even if you’re no longer living in the States.
I love America. I love Texas. I love its entrepreneurial spirit.
But I also value my freedom—the ability to move, operate, and optimize globally.
And that’s only possible if you’re not tethered to the U.S. tax system.
That’s why I limit my time in the U.S. to about 120 days per year—well below the Substantial Presence threshold. It gives me the best of both worlds: time in the country I love, without the invisible chains of permanent fiscal residency.
Don’t get me wrong: I’d love to spend more time there. Maybe even move the whole family one day. But my partner is British—and a bit of a homebird. She loves her family, her London routines, and frankly—thinks there are too many guns and Trump supporters in Texas.
So for now, we live fluidly. A few months in the U.S., a few months in the UK.
A life in motion—with structure. And that’s exactly the kind of freedom we help our clients achieve.
What You Can Learn from My Experience
I got the visa. The process was smooth. But only because I was well prepared—legally, strategically, and mentally.
Here are my key takeaways—specific to London:
1. Bring a printed photo
Even if you uploaded one, they’ll ask for a physical copy.
2. Budget at least 2.5 to 3 hours
The interview takes minutes—but the queue does not.
3. Have a prep call with your attorney
Know how to answer—and when to say: “Please speak to my lawyer.”
4. Stay calm, but alert
Staff are professional and respectful. Preparation is everything.
5. These tips apply to London only
Embassies in Berlin, Frankfurt, Vienna, or Zurich may work very differently. Always check your local process.
Final Thoughts: America Is Still Open—to Those Who Are Ready
Despite all the noise, the politics, the bureaucracy—America remains open to entrepreneurs, dreamers, builders. But only if you come prepared.
I love that country. And I love my freedom.
That’s why I take the road that fits my life. Not always the easiest—but the smartest.
And that’s what I encourage others to do, too.
Your Next Step
If you’re thinking about applying for a U.S. visa, expanding your business, or building your life around a smart cross-border strategy: let’s talk.
My team and I work closely with top-tier U.S. immigration lawyers. We understand the tax implications, the business logic, and the practical side of relocation. We can help you structure your path to the U.S.—on your own terms.
Because going to America starts long before the flight.
It starts with a plan—and the right people beside you.
