April Interviews

[Gina2010 1]

Sorry freinds. I DID NOT HEAR THE WORD APPROVED this morning. But here's what happened:

We woke up bright and early. My wife puts on her professional outfit, pulled out a nice business casual suit for me to wear ( THAT'S WHY I LOVE HER SO MUCH ). We arrived about 50 minutes before appt. time. There were about 20 scheduled interviews. Although some people were sheduled for 7 AM, 8 AM, and 9 AM, the actual interviews didn't start 'til about 9. The consulates were probably still eating breakfast between 7-9. The local staff basically took our photos, email, phone bills, etc.etc.. We are then given a number to wait for finger printing, and again asked to wait for the interview. I was told by the clerk to go walk up with my wife ONLY if I am asked to go by the consulate. BUT I KNOW BETTER.

BY THE WAY THIS IS THE PART THAT THE US EMBASSY IN CAMBODIA NEEDS TO MAKE CLEAR BEFORE PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THEIR INTERVIEW. My wife was asked for 3 passport photos when we checked IN and asked for her Cambodian national ID card. Fortunately, my wife had this hunch about the passport photos and took them a day before. Otherwise we probably would have been asked to return another day with the photos. SO MAKE SURE YOU SHOW UP WITH 3 PASSPORT PHOTOS EVEN IF THE APPOINTMENT LETTER STATES THEY HAVE EVERYTHING ALREADY.

While we were sitting for the appointment and finger printing, some people could not check-in and had to go home to get basic things like photos, birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.. I think VJers are smarter than the average person when it comes to knowing what to bring to the interview.

We were able to listen in to a few interviews as the interviews were conducted through windows. Many K1 Visas were rejected. One K1 visa guy was told that the consulate did not believe a word he said. He lied about when they met. He lied about first time they met. He lied about ...... And was asked if the engagement ceremony was a fake.

An elderly woman was rejected a visa to go visit her son in the states. The consulate expressed her remorse and said she was sorry to have to do it since the woman's son was ill in the hospital. BUT, she had to reject the visa.

Another lady for CR1 went up for a 20 minute interview and was rejected. I did not hear the details but overheard her asking the consulate if she could return for a second interview. The response was no, that it was the final interview.

Some people waiting for their interviews "appear" innocent just like you and I but through their responses, it was EASY to detect that they were not telling the truth. Some of them did not know how they really met their loves ones, did not really know who or how they were introduced, petitioner lacking financial support, etc.. Basically of the ten people ahead of us, perhaps 2-3 were approved.

I do not want to jump to a conclusion but after sitting, waiting and listening to others for about 90 minutes, it seems those that are legitimate and able to move on in life in America were approved. Those that did not respond smoothly, or truthfully, or lack financial support, were rejected.

For me and my wife ( God, I still love her ), but we were so excited and anxious for her interview this morning -- get this --- My lovely wife forgot to wear her wedding ring to the interview. After her morning shower and going over potential interview questions she totally forgot to put her ring back on. We did not notice it, until ten minutes before her interview, when I looked over at her finger and there was nothing there. So I quietly whispered to hear and told her if she is asked to tell the truth. Just say we were excited about the interview and forgot to put on the darn thing.

So finally our number got called. My wife walked up by herself to the window. But remember when the clerk said not to go with my wife unless I am asked, well, I didn't listen. I told my wife to go first empti-handed like she had forgotten to bring some paperwork and stuff , then about four seconds later, I walked up with the rest of the paperwork for her. The consulate had just finished greeting my wife and there I came with the rest of the paperwork. He greeted me as I brought the stuff and I just stood there next to my wife.

The interview lasted I am not kidding. ABOUT 3 MINUTES. I waited 90 minutes, spent hours preparing paperwork, stressed out for weeks over all the what IFs for a 3 minute interview. We were expecting 10-20 minutes like the other people but we were asked only a few questions:

The consulate initially asked my wife to sign the DS-230 application and took the oath. From there on I basically answered every question on behalf of my wife. My wife was surprised because it seems the consulate was not even interested in hearing my response. Before I could finish answering his questions, he went on to the next. He simply asked how we met, how we initiated contact, what I do for a living, what she does for a living, what will my wife and I do when we arrive in the U.S. I could see the confusion in the consulates eyes regarding the fact that my wife had already have a K3 but he did not ask much.

Three minutes later, the consulate ask if I had seen any changes in Cambodia since I left at a young age. I told him that I am an American but I have had this gap in my heart to give back to Cambodia for two years and now I am ready to go back.

HE DID NOT SAY APPROVED.

What he did was took out a small blue card and wrote a date and time and said come pick up your visa on Thursday at about 11 AM.

That's it folks!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I am a business advisor, trainer and consultant. Others get nervous around me. But I could feel my right arm shaken this morning. Whewwwwwwwwww! God bless everyone.

GEEEEESHHHHHH!!!! Don't scare us!! :bonk:

:dance: :thumbs: Oh my gosh SPS, CONGRATS!!!! So exciting : ) : )

It is 30 days, 17 hours, 3 minutes and 58 seconds until Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 9:00:00 AM (Tirane time)

[estrellademiel 7]

Congratsss SP!!

[sachinky 465]

Many congratulations to you and your wife! This is amazing news!

Thanks for a detailed review. I will keep the bit about the 2009 taxes in mind.

Now let's hear from CP2009!

[sachinky 465]

Members with April interview dates:

(04/12/2010) BrianandDonna --- Administrative Processing.

(04/13/2010) Sshu -- Approved!

(04/13/2010) Ananthu -- Approved!

(04/15/2010) ScottandMhay -- Approved!

(04/19/2010) Kapsig1295 -- Approved!

(04/19/2010) M&ME -- Approved!

(04/19/2010) Dsmiami -- Approved!

(04/26/2010) SPSGuy -- Approved!

(04/26/2010) Ollie

(04/26/2010) CP2009

(04/27/2010) Lashbanda

[ollie 47]

just got back from our trip to the dublin embassy......mixture of extremely friendly and some not so friendly staff......bottom line APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED!

turns out that it was alot easier than i had expected, 6 months of nerves and it took less than an hour to complete the process.

[M&ME 2]

just got back from our trip to the dublin embassy......mixture of extremely friendly and some not so friendly staff......bottom line APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED!

turns out that it was alot easier than i had expected, 6 months of nerves and it took less than an hour to complete the process.

Congrats to you and all of the recent approvals!!!

[sachinky 465]

OMG, great news Ollie! Congratulations and best wishes to you both!

[yulechka42 2]

just got back from our trip to the dublin embassy......mixture of extremely friendly and some not so friendly staff......bottom line APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED!

turns out that it was alot easier than i had expected, 6 months of nerves and it took less than an hour to complete the process.

Congratulations !

[sachinky 465]

Members with April interview dates:

(04/12/2010) BrianandDonna --- Administrative Processing.

(04/13/2010) Sshu -- Approved!

(04/13/2010) Ananthu -- Approved!

(04/15/2010) ScottandMhay -- Approved!

(04/19/2010) Kapsig1295 -- Approved!

(04/19/2010) M&ME -- Approved!

(04/19/2010) Dsmiami -- Approved!

(04/26/2010) SPSGuy -- Approved!

(04/26/2010) Ollie -- Approved!

(04/26/2010) CP2009

(04/27/2010) Lashbanda

[tharnsur 1]

SPSguy - CONGRATS!!!!!!!! My wife basically woke me up in the middle of the night saying that you got approved!!! Now it's our turn. I'm hoping and praying that our interview went as smooth as yours.

Sorry freinds. I DID NOT HEAR THE WORD APPROVED this morning. But here's what happened:

We woke up bright and early. My wife puts on her professional outfit, pulled out a nice business casual suit for me to wear ( THAT'S WHY I LOVE HER SO MUCH ). We arrived about 50 minutes before appt. time. There were about 20 scheduled interviews. Although some people were sheduled for 7 AM, 8 AM, and 9 AM, the actual interviews didn't start 'til about 9. The consulates were probably still eating breakfast between 7-9. The local staff basically took our photos, email, phone bills, etc.etc.. We are then given a number to wait for finger printing, and again asked to wait for the interview. I was told by the clerk to go walk up with my wife ONLY if I am asked to go by the consulate. BUT I KNOW BETTER.

BY THE WAY THIS IS THE PART THAT THE US EMBASSY IN CAMBODIA NEEDS TO MAKE CLEAR BEFORE PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THEIR INTERVIEW. My wife was asked for 3 passport photos when we checked IN and asked for her Cambodian national ID card. Fortunately, my wife had this hunch about the passport photos and took them a day before. Otherwise we probably would have been asked to return another day with the photos. SO MAKE SURE YOU SHOW UP WITH 3 PASSPORT PHOTOS EVEN IF THE APPOINTMENT LETTER STATES THEY HAVE EVERYTHING ALREADY.

While we were sitting for the appointment and finger printing, some people could not check-in and had to go home to get basic things like photos, birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.. I think VJers are smarter than the average person when it comes to knowing what to bring to the interview.

We were able to listen in to a few interviews as the interviews were conducted through windows. Many K1 Visas were rejected. One K1 visa guy was told that the consulate did not believe a word he said. He lied about when they met. He lied about first time they met. He lied about ...... And was asked if the engagement ceremony was a fake.

An elderly woman was rejected a visa to go visit her son in the states. The consulate expressed her remorse and said she was sorry to have to do it since the woman's son was ill in the hospital. BUT, she had to reject the visa.

Another lady for CR1 went up for a 20 minute interview and was rejected. I did not hear the details but overheard her asking the consulate if she could return for a second interview. The response was no, that it was the final interview.

Some people waiting for their interviews "appear" innocent just like you and I but through their responses, it was EASY to detect that they were not telling the truth. Some of them did not know how they really met their loves ones, did not really know who or how they were introduced, petitioner lacking financial support, etc.. Basically of the ten people ahead of us, perhaps 2-3 were approved.

I do not want to jump to a conclusion but after sitting, waiting and listening to others for about 90 minutes, it seems those that are legitimate and able to move on in life in America were approved. Those that did not respond smoothly, or truthfully, or lack financial support, were rejected.

For me and my wife ( God, I still love her ), but we were so excited and anxious for her interview this morning -- get this --- My lovely wife forgot to wear her wedding ring to the interview. After her morning shower and going over potential interview questions she totally forgot to put her ring back on. We did not notice it, until ten minutes before her interview, when I looked over at her finger and there was nothing there. So I quietly whispered to hear and told her if she is asked to tell the truth. Just say we were excited about the interview and forgot to put on the darn thing.

So finally our number got called. My wife walked up by herself to the window. But remember when the clerk said not to go with my wife unless I am asked, well, I didn't listen. I told my wife to go first empti-handed like she had forgotten to bring some paperwork and stuff , then about four seconds later, I walked up with the rest of the paperwork for her. The consulate had just finished greeting my wife and there I came with the rest of the paperwork. He greeted me as I brought the stuff and I just stood there next to my wife.

The interview lasted I am not kidding. ABOUT 3 MINUTES. I waited 90 minutes, spent hours preparing paperwork, stressed out for weeks over all the what IFs for a 3 minute interview. We were expecting 10-20 minutes like the other people but we were asked only a few questions:

The consulate initially asked my wife to sign the DS-230 application and took the oath. From there on I basically answered every question on behalf of my wife. My wife was surprised because it seems the consulate was not even interested in hearing my response. Before I could finish answering his questions, he went on to the next. He simply asked how we met, how we initiated contact, what I do for a living, what she does for a living, what will my wife and I do when we arrive in the U.S. I could see the confusion in the consulates eyes regarding the fact that my wife had already have a K3 but he did not ask much.

Three minutes later, the consulate ask if I had seen any changes in Cambodia since I left at a young age. I told him that I am an American but I have had this gap in my heart to give back to Cambodia for two years and now I am ready to go back.

HE DID NOT SAY APPROVED.

What he did was took out a small blue card and wrote a date and time and said come pick up your visa on Thursday at about 11 AM.

That's it folks!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I am a business advisor, trainer and consultant. Others get nervous around me. But I could feel my right arm shaken this morning. Whewwwwwwwwww! God bless everyone.

[BB Mariposa 1]

SPSguy - CONGRATS!!!!!!!! My wife basically woke me up in the middle of the night saying that you got approved!!! Now it's our turn. I'm hoping and praying that our interview went as smooth as yours.

Sorry sweetie. I shouldn't have done that this morning lol... I'm praying the same thing that everything would be fine. OMG, 7 more day!!!!!

Edited April 26, 2010 by BB Mariposa

[sachinky 465]

I hear Brian and Donna have been approved as well. Their AP is over! So more w00ts to them!

[ollie 47]

P.S. I am a business advisor, trainer and consultant. Others get nervous around me. But I could feel my right arm shaken this morning. Whewwwwwwwwww! God bless everyone.

I know the feeling, couldn't stop shaking when i signed the DS230 at the embassy.....worst signature i've ever seen

[SPSguy 18]

Thanks to everyone on VJ for the heart, the will, the support and the tenacity to help each other. We may not know it yet but the internet is a wonderful tool where everyone can share and give a little to the world and get something back. Just a few years ago the visa process was a complete mess and snailing process. Today we can see, sit, learn, and if you study a little can literally monitor every step from filing to interview approval.

I don't think it's a coincidence that EVERYONE on the list just happened to get approved. VJ has offered the perfect spot for freinds to help other freinds. When you sit at the interview you will see that most people there are not VJ members or they would be more organized.

For those still waiting for interviews in May, I understand your nervousness, your frustration, and your fears. However, as you can see by the number of approvals, YOU WILL GET AN APPROVAL if your relatioinship is legitimate. You might get one or two surprise punches at the interview but you will get approved. When you don't know the answer to something, just hit yourself on the head in front of the consulate as any human being would, and say you don't remember or you don't recall. Consulates are not looking to trick you, they just look for patterns of lies. They are just like us and if they were in our shoes they would be just as nervous if not more.

Tharnsur, your wife is getting excited as this is a special day in a person's life. But no worries you guys will be approved in no time. And I bet you two will be entering the U.S. even before me and my wife this time around. WE don't plan to go 'til later this year. btw, it's Friday, not Thursday when we pick up my wife's VISA. The consulate and I were confused. He wrote FRiday on the blue card but he told me Thursday. Anyways it's Friday.

All seriousness aside, the funny thing is some people on VJ get excited about getting the PINK slip. Here in Cambodia the pink slip is what you get when you don't get approved. It lists the reasonings for a rejection. At first I was excited when people were walking out with pink slips but when a few people that got rejected also walked out with them, it dawned on me when my wife got approved for K3 we were in fact given a small blue card with instructions to pick up the visa.

And it was, look for the blue card. Not the pink slip.

[SPSguy 18]

Thanks to everyone on VJ for the heart, the will, the support and the tenacity to help each other. We may not know it yet but the internet is a wonderful tool where everyone can share and give a little to the world and get something back. Just a few years ago the visa process was a complete mess and snailing process. Today we can see, sit, learn, and if you study a little can literally monitor every step from filing to interview approval.

I don't think it's a coincidence that EVERYONE on the list just happened to get approved. VJ has offered the perfect spot for freinds to help other freinds. When you sit at the interview you will see that most people there are not VJ members or they would be more organized.

For those still waiting for interviews in May, I understand your nervousness, your frustration, and your fears. However, as you can see by the number of approvals, YOU WILL GET AN APPROVAL if your relatioinship is legitimate. You might get one or two surprise punches at the interview but you will get approved. When you don't know the answer to something, just hit yourself on the head in front of the consulate as any human being would, and say you don't remember or you don't recall. Consulates are not looking to trick you, they just look for patterns of lies. They are just like us and if they were in our shoes they would be just as nervous if not more.

Tharnsur, your wife is getting excited as this is a special day in a person's life. But no worries you guys will be approved in no time. And I bet you two will be entering the U.S. even before me and my wife this time around. WE don't plan to go 'til later this year. btw, it's Friday, not Thursday when we pick up my wife's VISA. The consulate and I were confused. He wrote FRiday on the blue card but he told me Thursday. Anyways it's Friday.

All seriousness aside, the funny thing is some people on VJ get excited about getting the PINK slip. Here in Cambodia the pink slip is what you get when you don't get approved. It lists the reasonings for a rejection. At first I was excited when people were walking out with pink slips but when a few people that got rejected also walked out with them, it dawned on me when my wife got approved for K3 we were in fact given a small blue card with instructions to pick up the visa.

And it was, look for the blue card. Not the pink slip.