K1 interview experience in Brazil

[eclowjpd 0]

Our fiance visa interview experience in Rio Brazil was nerve racking but successful. My sweetie has her K1 visa!

We arrived at the consulate at 7:45, first in line and entered the building about 8:00. They handed out the list of documents and we already had them in order and were first in line to turn in our documents. From here we found that getting their early and having documents in order had no relationship to how long you would wait. The first person called in for an interview was about 9:30. We were not called in until 12:30. There were about 14 people there and we were the 6th called in.

I joined my fiance in the interview room. We were sworn in, and she had to do two electronic finger prints. When the interviewer opened our file I saw that our documents were covered with notations in red ink. I thought OMG, we're sunk. To our total surprise the interviewer did not ask my fiance a single question! Rather he asked me two questions. One confirming my previous marriage and if I pay maintenance to the ex.

We had all the documents in order, so we thought, then the interviewer said that he needed to see my 2005 tax return. I said that it's there. He checked again and it wasn't there! After quadruple checking all of our documents I must have left it in the hotel room or something. He said if we could get back with it before the end of the day he could make his determination. It then occurred to me that I could get it on line if I could get on the Internet. The interviewer told us where we could go to access the Internet about a block away. We ran over there, printed it and were back at the consulate in 20 minutes. Then trouble. The guard at the embassy was not going to let us back in! My fiance showed her appointment letter but the guard said we had to make another appointment! I pulled out my passport and show it to the guard but she shook her head no. We showed the tax return and explained that the consulate officer said we could come back with it. She said no. That's when I opened my passport and said “ I am a U.S. Citizen and I want to visit my consulate.” Those were the magic words – she waived us in. This was about 1:30 PM. (I don't think this would have happened at some other consulates or embassies. The guards at Rio are “rent a guards” rather than U.S. Military. And they do not speak English. I found this all pretty strange for a place that should be save haven for Americans.)We took the tax papers to the window and explained to the clerk the situation. We sat down and waited for 3 hours. With it taking so long we were thinking the clerk misplaced the tax form or we were not approved. But then the clerk called my fiances name and she had a green card in her hand! This was Friday the 12th and they said the visa would be ready after 3 pm on the following Tuesday. When we arrived back at the consulate to pick up the envelope my fiance had it in less than 30 minutes.

About the medical appointment in Rio. Most of it involved the doctor filling in forms and stamping them, because the shots and blood tests had already been done. He did an brief exam of my fiance, checking blood pressure and listening to her chest. What surprised her, was that the doctor did a breast exam. I can't imagine why the state department or immigration service would care about breast health. But my fiance took it in stride.

As I said, nerve racking but successful.

Bill

[MaryandMian 1]

Congrats,

Mary

[alexil74 0]

congratulations

[LiszyandKenny 5]

wow.. never wrecking yeah...

But.. CONGRATULATIONS ! And thanks for sharing the experience with us

[Ladylethal 12]

Congratulations! Sorry for the trouble but it was ´cus of a mix up. Guards in Rio can be complete jerks,sorry it happend to you.

[crew1980 1]

Wow, how eventful!! We hope the rest of your visajourney is less stressful!! Congrats!!

Toria and Salvador

[flipside 0]

We arrived at the consulate at 7:45, first in line and entered the building about 8:00. They handed out the list of documents and we already had them in order and were first in line to turn in our documents. From here we found that getting their early and having documents in order had no relationship to how long you would wait. The first person called in for an interview was about 9:30. We were not called in until 12:30. There were about 14 people there and we were the 6th called in.

We had our interview on the 10th and this is exactly the opposite of what happened with us. We had all our docs in order, were first in line to turn them in, and we were the first to be interviewed. We were out of there by 9:15

[Craig2006 0]

Sorry your interview didn't go very smooth. At least you received your visa. Our experience went much better and the guards gave us no problems when we had to leave and come back. I guess it all depends on the day and which guards are working.

Congrats on getting the visa and good luck with the rest of the process.

[Carol&Marc 0]

Congrats!!! I also had a big time at the consulate... But, just like you, I got the visa!!!

The rest is story...

Carol

[STL_HCMC 0]

Congratulations!