INTERVIEW SUCCESSFUL......visa in hand. Yeeeeehaaaa

[dunright 0]

WOW......finally i can breathe. The visa interview was a breeze. When we got to the first window to check in and give our papers, the woman was very nice. I had met her and dealt with her before, so we had a rapport already. We were missing some documents that (were in the original packets) they wanted us to bring along. We had a couple extra "originals' thank God. I can't stress enough people. If USCIS or NVC asks for "certified copies or original copies" get at least two extra to hold on to. We didn't know until 4 days before our interview that NVC did not send originals that Costa Rica wanted. There is no way we could have had those papers from the Philippines without waiting another 3-4 weeks.

Anyway......they accepted our papers. While she is shuffling the papers she asked us how we met and when. We told her a brief summary, just thinking this was idle chit-chat. Then she told us to go sit down, she would submit the papers for further review and we would be called up to another window in about 45 minutes. 20 minutes later, Agnes was called up to do her fingerprints (digital, pretty cool). Then we waited another 40 and we were called up to another window. We assumed we would be brought into a separate room for our interview. So when the guy at the window had Agnes raise her right hand and swear that all the statements in the paperwork were true, it was strange. Then he had her sign her DS-230 part 2. While the guy was shuffling the papers, he asked me nonchalantly, "so..... what do you do for work". I told him and it was a quick chat about the poor economy and then he said,"well guys, that's it. come back on Thursday at 3 and get your passport". We were both stunned. It was so uneventful, that we didn't think it was over. There was no 'real" interview at all.

We walked away and Agnes was concerned that we were leaving too soon. Obviously the guy made a mistake and we still had to have our "interview". It took me quite a while to convince her that we were done. And the icing on the cake was today, when we actually have the visa in our hand. Now we both "really believe it". Had the interview on Tuesday and got the visa on Thursday.

We could not have done this with out this forum. I had an immigration attorney that wanted 10K to do all this for us so we would have no stress. What a crock of #######. I have to give so much credit to Agnes for reading and studying and learning so much here. I admit i didn't get into VJ as much as i should have, but i will be eternally grateful for everyones feedback, replies, best wishes and even some of the negative remarks. The negative ones probably helped more, because i had to work harder to prove them wrong and we did. Feel free to contact us anytime if we can help. I know that most of the credit goes to God, because without him, my two brain cells would never fire at the same time. I wish all of you still in process the very, very best. Good luck and never take "no" for an answer. Oh yeah.........if any of you file for an expedite and get denied........file an appeal, it seems to go right through. Something that was told to me by a guy at USCIS. I did and it worked.

[tru_loves_journey 117]

Congratulations

[Markieboy 104]

We had a couple extra "originals' thank God. I can't stress enough people. If USCIS or NVC asks for "certified copies or original copies" get at least two extra to hold on to. We didn't know until 4 days before our interview that NVC did not send originals that Costa Rica wanted. There is no way we could have had those papers from the Philippines without waiting another 3-4 weeks.

I agree with you 100%! This is one of the best advice given.

Congratulations to you and your wife! Good luck with the rest of your journey!

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

Congrats!

[R and F 34]

Congrats on this happiness.

[Done--Really 331]

Fantastic Craig...I have heard nothing but good things about the embassy there and we look forward to just as good an experience in a couple of months. We are having a preliminary meeting with them the week after next--they really seem to want us to succeed and are extremely helpful. They have answered every email within an hour or two, and are very encouraging. You, Agnes, I and Emma Rosa are blessed that we drew the Costa Rica straw so to speak.

Maybe our paths will cross at some point. The very best wishes in everything.

[Darnell 8,478]

Tell Agnes I said Hullo, and Congratulations !

*** moving to ' IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports' forum ***

Edited May 13, 2011 by Darnell

[OBX 51]

Great review! Congratulations.

[Jim Brown 5]

Congratulations!