My Interview Kingston, Jamaica June 24th, 2008

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

First of all Thank the Almighty God for giving me STRENGTH on June 24th.

LADIES and GENTS….let me say this loud and clear. BEFORE YOU FILE FOR ANYONE (I don’t care what kind of visa it is) ASK IF ANY ONE HAS FILE FOR THEM BEFORE……….ASKED IF ANY ONE HAS FILED FOR THEM BEFORE

Because of the BACKA’TIVE powers of the YARDIE thread here on VJ I had no worries about my interview at all. Matter a fact, we laughed the whole time we were waiting for the actually interview.

First, don’t even rush getting to the interview too early (you still have to wait). I got there around 1:15. My interview was scheduled for 1:00pm. I was not about to stand in the hot sun and sweat out my fabulous eye makeup (woieeeee)…just a joke. I wasn’t feeling well. Went through security no problems. Guards were joking with me because I had a huge bag with my well-organized folder. Had everything I needed inside my fiance’s passport and handed it to the guard. All the guard could do was look at me DUMBFOUNDED and said how you know this, I smiled and said…I can’t tell you, because it’s top secret.

First of all I was at the embassy for 3 hours. The had 220 interviews that day.

Section A

Document Verification

All of your documents are turned in and your medical is turned in if you hand carried it. (156,156K,157,I-134 (affidavit of support) and my 2007 tax transcript w/W-2, his birth certificate, non-impediment, police record, paymaster receipt $131/US. I didn’t turn in anything else to back up my affidavit of support and they didn’t ask for it. She just looked at everything and said (you must be a secretary) and how organized my file was. She spent most of the time talking about my hair (which was in braids). She said all is well. (5mins).

Section B

Fingerprints

I don’t even think we spent a minute here.

Section C

Actually Interview

Okay. This is where we spent almost 3 hours and it went fairly quickly because my fiancé was telling jokes and we were playing tic-tac-toe for 2 hours and writing love notes to each other. Now, remember you are being watched from the time you enter the embassy until the time you have your interview (I’ll explain later). After watching people getting approved, denied or blue slipped, we weren’t even worried. Some of the CO are rude and out of line. Of the 7 couples that I knew that had interviews that day only 3 of us were APPROVED, 3 denied, 1 blue slipped. (I’ll explain later). Let me tell you something they know if you’re going to get the visa even before you get to the window. If you have things in order, you should have no problems.

Now, it’s our turn. Got a young white man. He was very nice and friendly. Who looked like the Jamaican sun burned the heck out of him. He looked like a burnt lobster with a massive AFRO. I told you we were cracking jokes the entire time we were there. We went to the window #19 and were sworn in. He asked me who I was and I told him. Man comes over whispers in his ears and his TONE changes. WTH…whatever I said to myself. He tells my fiancé to have a seat far away. Now, we were sitting in front of this guy in the 3rd row for almost 3 hours and have made eye contact with him most of the time. Now, his tone changed…then he’s replaced my an older woman, who was not friendly and very STERN. When they made the switch I said good afternoon and she said NOTHING…so, I said it again. GOOD AFTERNOON…still no reply…she BLURTS out…how did you get your U.S. citizenship. I said excuse me, you’re suppose to greet the people you are interviewing and I think that you’re VERY RUDE. Now, can we start this again? Good afternoon, she replies, good afternoon and tones it down just a bit. Her questions came like RAPID fire and I FIRED right back. I didn’t even blink. I never lost eye contact with her. Her main focus was how I obtained my green card (which was 29 years ago) and then my U.S. citizenship. So, I answered. Then the questions were about my fiancé, his family, my family, when, where, how, we met, what we did, blah..blah…blah…she asked me 3 times when we got married, called me Mrs. Wynter 3 times and I corrected her, asked me how old OUR son was (told here we don’t have any children yet)…then she asked me again, so, tell me where did you all get married again and here was my response.

“Ma’am, maybe you don’t understand the K-1 process and you need to be retrained…so, let me explain it to you. (MOUTH WIDE OPEN) You cannot be married when you file the K-1. You have 90 days to get married after you fiancé enters the states.” (ROLLED my eyes). At that point, an older white man walks up behind her whispers something in her ears and she got up and walked a way. I waved bye-bye to her. (YES I’M CRAZY). The older man may have been a supervisor and he could see that I was upset. He told me to smile and that we’re almost done. He says to me that my fiancé and I seem like a very loving couple and he said I should let him win sometimes when we play TIC-TAC-TOE…there was no way he could have know that unless he saw that through the cameras.. We were sitting in the 3 row all the way in the back and the security camera was right above our heads. So, you see they are watching you.

He says thank you and tells me to call my fiancé over and have a seat in the back, I give my fiancé a BIG kiss and told him to knock them out (people that were seated started to laugh). I didn’t even get a chance to sit down before he called me back to the window. He asked him 1 QUESTION….1 DAMN QUESTION…”Tell me about her son”…that was it. All the things we went over and I got 25 questions in ALL. I felt like I was the beneficiary. What a joke.

The couples that had interviews that day that I knew didn’t get approved.

Two of them had multiple K-1 filings by other women that were unknown to the USC. The other, was married and didn’t tell the USC. I was so upset about this. So, I spent one more night in Kingston with the ladies, because they needed some sort of support. I was just very SAD.

After we were given the pink slip my fiancé would not stop kissing me that people in the place started to laugh and say LET THE WOMAN TAKE A BREATH. Then he started to CRY. I was laughing (I know I’m terrible). The CO said welcome to America and that he wished us the best in life. He ran into 3 of his friends in the court yard who wanted for us to finish the interview. The were approved a hour or so before us. They were all jumping around like they were at a football game (I was so embarrassed). I was like be quiet before dem lack up wi baxide. Of course once we got outside the embassy they were running around like EDIOTS. Got to love them. Went to airpak paid $550/Jamaican…went to dinner then went to ASYLUM for ladies night (Tuesday). My fiancé was attached to me like SUPERGULE for the rest of the time I was in Jamaica.

I left a lot out. So, if you want more details PM me. Do not let the CO intimdate you. They’re working for the United States of American. Don’t let them phase you in anyway. If you don’t understand a question, tell them to please repeat it. The lady that interviewed me is a VET 25 plus years under her belt (so the younger guy says). I didn’t even FLICKER when she was raising her voice…. God Bless and I love each and everyone of you. Again, thanks for the support.

Called to pick up the VISA 3 days later…but didn’t until the 5th day (we were BUSY)………..haaaaaaaaaaa It was suppose to be a GREYGOOSE celebration, but it turned into Banana rum crème. Now, I’m hooked on it.

[*JG* 2]

Congrats, Tre. I could not be happier for you.

How is Marcel doing so far?

Oh, and one last thing......did they announce his first name at any time over the loud speaker? I gotta know cause I am still laughing about that. Damn his mother!

[Zee Bee 61]

Congratulations

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Congrats, Tre. I could not be happier for you.

How is Marcel doing so far?

Oh, and one last thing......did they announce his first name at any time over the loud speaker? I gotta know cause I am still laughing about that. Damn his mother!

No announcement. Thank God. You know Marcel is not his real name. I think I told you. You have to watch for your number on the screen (if you don't get to the window...then they'll call your name). One more thing I forgot to mention, they were doing the interviews out of numerical order. People were getting annoyed.

[*JG* 2]

Congrats, Tre. I could not be happier for you.

How is Marcel doing so far?

Oh, and one last thing......did they announce his first name at any time over the loud speaker? I gotta know cause I am still laughing about that. Damn his mother!

No announcement. Thank God. You know Marcel is not his real name. I think I told you. You have to watch for your number on the screen (if you don't get to the window...then they'll call your name). One more thing I forgot to mention, they were doing the interviews out of numerical order. People were getting annoyed.

Yes, you did tell me. That is why I was asking.

[StoneLove4Ever 0]

Congratulations!!!...can't believe they ask you more questions than the beneficiary... ...too funny....Do you think it will be harder for the beneficiary whose SO is not with them at the interview??..seeing how rude and mean the COs are I think my husband will crack under pressure and I will be so upset if they gave him a blue slip saying they would want me to come for an interview...I'm going down in August and I will not have the funds or time off from work to go back down again...I've already used up my two weeks vacation this year...Did you see any approvals that the SO wasn't there????....this so nerve wrecking...I always have to think negative...just can't help it...

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Congratulations!!!...can't believe they ask you more questions than the beneficiary... ...too funny....Do you think it will be harder for the beneficiary whose SO is not with them at the interview??..seeing how rude and mean the COs are I think my husband will crack under pressure and I will be so upset if they gave him a blue slip saying they would want me to come for an interview...I'm going down in August and I will not have the funds or time off from work to go back down again...I've already used up my two weeks vacation this year...Did you see any approvals that the SO wasn't there????....this so nerve wrecking...I always have to think negative...just can't help it...

Gay; believe it. I was like wait a minute, I'm the PETITONER (but I answered them as fast as she was asking them). We saw MANY, MANY interviews that were approved with no SO by their side, but they are harder on you. I did hear a few people get blue slipped to bring their SO (mostly CR/1). Kingston has a lot of immigrant visa and that's the hold up. A lot of people do not have the proper documentation and that holds up everyone (especially in Section A). I saw no one get turned away because of not having the proper documention they were allowed to be fingerprinted and proceeded to the interview. They were blue slipped.

One more thing I forgot to add, after the interview while we were in the courtyard waiting for one more of his friends to finish their interview, I was approached by a very nice lady who asked me how the processes was. It was the same lady that when my fiance and I wen to turn in the DS-230 and I had the incident with the security guard at the front of the embassy. He's working the courtyard section now. I told her that they could change the way the paperwork is gathered in the area before you reach Section A. You have to stand for a very long time, not enough space and it's VERY hot and if you have young kids or older folks it's hard to have them stand for so long. We spent 30mins standing in the small room. She said okay and asked how was the process. I told her that I didn't like the fact that it was very PUBLIC and that people could tell whether you were denied, approved, or blue slipped. She said people could use the phones and I said, yes, but you can still hear and understand the converstations. Girl, some people were at the windows CRYING AND BEGGING it broke my heart. I saw a couple that was married for 14 years get denied because he had ganga in his system. That was his second filing. Now, he's band for 10 years. I thought it was 3 years, but the woman behind the window said 10 years. His wife stormed out and he followed behind her. One lady could not spell her new last name. She was 25 and her husband 60. She was told to come back with her husband for a second interview. Some were pissed and cursed and was escorted out...but in all Kingston wants to APPROVE you. Just have you stuff in order. I heard this from the horses mouth. Section C was full of a lot jokes. Some people you feel sorry for and others you don't.

The most heartbreaking thing that we saw was the man that was sitting next to my fiance and I he was with his son. He had not seen his son since his son was 4 years old. He is 10 years old now and everytime he would go back to Jamaica the mother would take him somewhere else, so that the father would not see him. Well, he filed for his son and well, had the interview and they told him the DNA results their (which I think is horrible). He was al the last window towards the exit door and he just fell back into the chair crying. I got up and walked over to him and gave him a hug. His son was like daddy what's wrong and he said nothing, let's go to the movies and he walked out. The woman at the window told him that he can't file for him because that's not his child. So, what do you do. You see why I say you have no privacy...everyone in that Section C knew his son wasn't his. It broke my heart.

Your hubby will be fine by himself. Just make sure he has all of his paperwork in order.

[*JG* 2]

JGay.....there have been recent reports of people who have gotten through without their SO's at the interview.

Many before got through without the SO being there, including my own husband.

Preparation is always key. Grill him over and over again with the details and load him down with proof.

Tre, girl..........if my husband was turned down ONCE for ganga, I would kill him. Twice is unexcusable. I'd take that as a true sign he is intentionally sabotaging the process!

[Alexandra_v 0]

Congratulations

[phillyfashionista 8]

CONGRATULATIONS

Your account was so vivid you truly took me there to the interview with you. Lawd so this is what we have to look forward to... I was planning on going back down next month for our 6 month wedding anniversary, but I believe I need to rethink that based on your account so I can be there for the interview process with him. I have traveled 3x's this year already to be with him and now I am running out of vacation time . From reading your account I think its definitely important to show solidarity during the interview process and have that face to face contact!!! Congratulations again I am truly happy for you! Jah bless

[Black Velvet 4]

Congratulations on your approval! You were right for putting the CO in the check. She had no right to be RUDE. I wish you and your SO nothing but the best. Take care, Kelia

[Islandwoman 0]

Thanks for the tips Lawny!! Remember I said you would have them eating right out of your hands...

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Thanks for the tips Lawny!! Remember I said you would have them eating right out of your hands...

Island,

You sure did say that. To tell you the truth I was so happy becuase the entire time Marcel was like we're going to get the guy at window 19 and I wanted the woman at window 20, because she was approved EVERYONE. Seems like she had all the easy cases. Almost all her cases were parents filing for their kids. Girl, when I said we sat right in front of this guy (dead center) the entire time I know he must have noticed us cracking up and kissing each other all the time. I kept telling Marcel we're going to get put out and all he would do was laugh. Girl, we had fun it just made the wait go by a lot faster.

After an hour or so you got bored with listening to the interviews...that's when we started playing tic-tac-toe for 2 hours and writing each other notes. I hope they were not ZOOMING in...cause they were crazy notes about what was about to go down later on haaaaaaaaa YEA MON MI MAD TO RASS....

[jawi876 2]

Congrats Tre!

You are so funny! All government officials think that they are the President of the USA! I think it is the training manual to become as rude and mean as they can possibly be. You and Marcel handled it like pros. God Bless!

Hi Mrs. Scott! MISS YOU! ANSWER YOUR PHONE sometimes!

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Forgot to add my;

PORT OF ENTRY EXPERIENCE July 4th, 2008

PIECE OF CAKE. My fiance was with me in the U.S. citizens line and I had his packet in my hand. I may have been the 60th person or so in line and one of the officers took us (me, him, my son and my brother) out of the line. Asked if we were all together. Processed (mine, my sons and my brothers passport) took us to a waiting room all was done in less than 10 mins. The officer was talking to my son about the Incredible Hulk movie. My son was attached to my fiance the whole time. Officer asked my son who my fiance was and he said, that's my mommy's husband. The officer winked and me and laughed. He asked my son do you like your mommy's husband and my son replied, I LOVE HIM. EASY AS PIE. The people that were still in line were wondering what the HECK did we do to get pulled out out line by and immigration officer and led to a room. We walked out of the room CRACKING up.