How early did you arrive to the Consulate on the interview date?

[eric_and_teresa 10]

I've been reading some of the interview reviews, and noticed that many foreign fiances have arrived at their interview 3 or 4 hours in advanced from the scheduled time. I read some reviews of fiances who went to the US Consulate in Colombia arrived as early as 4:30 or 5:00 am!

So I was wondering why would you need to arrive so early if you have a time scheduled for the interview? In our case, my interview is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. and my instruction letter says I must be there at 7:30 to put my name on the list of people who have interviews for that day. I live in Guatemala City (with 2 million guatemalans more!) and the traffic is awful during the morning, so I'm planning to be there earlier just to make sure I make it on time, but I would have never imagined I had to be there as early as 5:00 am!

What has been your experience? Did you arrive that early? If so, what was the process like while waiting outside the Consulate? Were there many others waiting for this type of interview (k-1 or k-3)?

I've been to the U.S. Consulate a few times before, there were a lot tourist visa applicants but never as many K-1 or other type of immigrant visas applicants, so I'm guessing there wont be too many on the day of my interview this time. I'm still planning not to arrive so early. But of course I'll be there at least 1 hour ahead.

Edited April 13, 2008 by eric_and_teresa

[YuAndDan 153]

In China all interview letters tell benificiaries to be at the consulate at 8:30, every one were then given numbers as they enter the consulate.

[belinda63 3,047]

Same here, he had an interview time of 10:30 but his interview was not until after lunch, around 2:30. Get there early, but not too early or they will not let u in, take a number and wait.

[pushbrk 13,118]

In China all interview letters tell benificiaries to be at the consulate at 8:30, every one were then given numbers as they enter the consulate.

Also, the actual interview times were not impacted by who got in line first. The calling of numbers for interviews was not consecutive.

I'd go with you plan to simply assure you arrive by 7:30 and expect everybody with K, IR or CR interviews that day has the same "appointment time". Have a good breakfast. You're likely to be there all morning.

[sweetpink 1]

not sure how the US embassy system works in your SO's country. Anyhow, had my K1 interview at 7:30 am, I went there 30 minutes before the time. I know of few people who went there 2 hrs. earlier but the guard didn't let them in till its an hour away from their schedule.

[Krikit 1,165]

I arrived at the Montreal Consulate 15-20 minutes before the scheduled interview. There was no lineup outside but the wait inside took a while.

[motu 6]

I read some reviews of fiances who went to the US Consulate in Colombia arrived as early as 4:30 or 5:00 am!

My fiancee went to the consulate in Bogota around 6.30 - an hour before the scheduled time (every body is supposed to report at the same time) - they make people line up in two lines (outside the consulate) - I guess one line for K1/K3/immigrant Visas and another for tourist/non-immigrant Visas. They finally open the gates and let the people in and give them instructions on how to arrange their packages for the interviews (and give them their place numbers). They start calling people after that and yes some are interviewed within an hour or so - my wife was one of the first and was interviewed around 9.00; others have to wait. Each consulate may do it based on their process. Good Luck

[bora bora 1]

We got to my husband's interview a couple hours early. I read a lot about the consulate and realized that there would be a room full of people AND that they'd let us in early - so it was worth it.

Also, the interview was in the big city of Rio de Janeiro and we took the train, so we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time just in case....

[sanfranguy 0]

we got to the juarez consulate in mexico at 7:30 am for an open appointment. she was able to skip the line and go straight into door 1. there was a long line of other people with set appointments that im sure were there since 6am or so.

[Shannon and David 0]

We got there a half an hour before our interview. Waited in line for 5-10 minutes and went in. Peru.

[eric_and_teresa 10]

Thank you for all your responses.

I'm gonna be there at least one hour before the interview. My only concern of getting there too early is that the parking lot might be closed.

I'm already starting to get nervous! Hopefully everything will go just fine

[sanfranguy 0]

Thank you for all your responses.

I'm gonna be there at least one hour before the interview. My only concern of getting there too early is that the parking lot might be closed.

I'm already starting to get nervous! Hopefully everything will go just fine

good luck to both of you

[lunabean 0]

My fiance's interview is one week from today and I am getting very nervous as well. His interview is at 12:00 and he is planning to arrive an hour early. From what I have been reading he is expecting to be there for somewhere around 3 hours.

Relax as much as you can, eat something that morning and just try to have faith that this craziness is almost over. Good luck. I am sure things will go fine but I know it is nearly impossible not to freak out!

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

My fiancee and arrived at the embassy 50 minutes late, sort of.

In Costa Rica, they tell everybody to arrive 12-1:30pm. We got there at 12:50, we were out at 3pm exactly.

[eric_and_teresa 10]

Thank you for all your responses.

I'm gonna be there at least one hour before the interview. My only concern of getting there too early is that the parking lot might be closed.

I'm already starting to get nervous! Hopefully everything will go just fine

good luck to both of you

Thank you