US Embassy Day of Interview

[jdclover 0]

Not sure if this topic is anywhere in here, and my apologies if it's a repeat. I accompanied my fiance for the interview on Feb 26 and want to give you a step by step on what happened to the best of my memory, the times I indicate are rough estimates and could be off by several minutes.

Interview was scheduled for Feb 26 at 7:30AM.

1. Arrived at the embassy at around 6:45, already there were many people standing outside the embassy, the lines went all the way to the bridge near the embassy (not sure what this bridge is called).
   
2. Lines were for many types of visas, we were directed towards the line that was supposed to be for the K1 visa, the people in front of us and behind us were there for their 7:30 interview as well so I knew we weren't late.
   
3. Slowly lines started progressing and we moved ever so slowly towards the main embassy entrance.
   
4. Around 7:30 we were almost to the front and one of the embassy staff informed everyone that we needed to take out the DS156, DS156K and DS157 forms as well as the passports.
   
5. Embassy personnel in front of line looked to make sure we had appropriate papers and wrote on them and then had us stand in a 2nd line while waiting to actually be called into the embassy.
   
6. Waited in line for an hour or more until finally being allowed to enter embassy, I entered the US Citizen door my fiance entered the non US Citizen door. I was able to bring her bag into the embassy with her perfumes and had to leave our cell phones with my license (or ID) at the security stand, they gave me a number to pick them up when I returned.
   
7. Passed through security point to be brought into an area where there were hundreds of seats. My fiance had been given her number after handing over the DS-230. 2 vendors selling food (hot dogs, sandwiches, soda, water, etc). We went to the far end of the courtyard (I'll call it this for lack of a better word) to sit and stare at some LED signs that contained the number being called and the window the person was to report to. Half of one of the LED signs was broken.
   
8. From here it's just a waiting game, waited probably an hour or more (probably 10am by then) to see our number flash across the boards. We then proceeded to the windows inside where her finger and thumb prints were taken. Whole process here took maybe 3 minutes and then we were told to wait to be called again, we went back outside and began the arduous wait.
   
9. Eventually all the K1-Visa interviewees were called inside to sit in the waiting area inside the embassy. Still no call to the window, probably another hour or hour and a half had passed before we were called to a new window. Here we were interviewed by a Pinay, a few questions were asked about about how we met, how many times I've visited, etc. We then had to pass on all the information showing proof of the relationship and the I-134 with associated proof. I had forgotten the 1040 but had included W2s going back several years as well as bank statements, etc. They asked for the 1040 a couple times but eventually stopped asking when I said I had forgotten it. I thought we were screwed at this point. This whole process took 10 minutes.
   
10. It was around 11:45 to 12PM that we were called up again, this time to speak to an American, he made us raise our right hands and swear we were both telling the truth and the relationship was legitimate (or some such similar saying). He went over some of the same information as the Pinay did, asking how we met, how many times I'd visited, etc. I brought up my lack of the 1040 and he said don't worry about it. This whole part probably took 5 minutes, we were then told we were approved and to sit back down and await our final instructions.
    
11. Around 12 or 12:15 pm lunch break occurred so we were told we could go outside and come back in an hour, we went outside briefly but then came back and decided to wait, my fiance wasn't feeling hungry at the time saying she couldn't eat till the whole process was finished.
    
12. Around 1:45 pm we were called to a window, this time without the number as it had been taken when the American interviewed us. The final instructions were verifying my fiance's address, phone number, name and then telling us the visa would be mailed. This portion took 3 minutes max.
    

All in all the whole process minus the wait times probably took 30 minutes. The waiting reminded me of the DMV, specifically the thumb printer guy who was very impersonal and didn't seem like he was one that would smile very often. With wait times, 6:45am to around 2:30pm. Longest wait I've ever had, but in the end, it was well worth the wait, I hope I never have to go through the whole Visa process again.

If this has been posted before, my apologies, but I wanted to let you know what my experience was when I was with my fiance during this process.

Edited March 1, 2013 by jdclover

[SteveKarlaMayer 21]

CONGRATULATIONS! What is 1040 by the way?

[X Factor 1,112]

ConGraTuLaTions and the 1040 is the tax return

[David&Xin 3]

i likw it, and congratulation! hope my interview is coming soon ....

Not sure if this topic is anywhere in here, and my apologies if it's a repeat. I accompanied my fiance for the interview on Feb 26 and want to give you a step by step on what happened to the best of my memory, the times I indicate are rough estimates and could be off by several minutes.

Interview was scheduled for Feb 26 at 7:30AM.

1. Arrived at the embassy at around 6:45, already there were many people standing outside the embassy, the lines went all the way to the bridge near the embassy (not sure what this bridge is called).
   
2. Lines were for many types of visas, we were directed towards the line that was supposed to be for the K1 visa, the people in front of us and behind us were there for their 7:30 interview as well so I knew we weren't late.
   
3. Slowly lines started progressing and we moved ever so slowly towards the main embassy entrance.
   
4. Around 7:30 we were almost to the front and one of the embassy staff informed everyone that we needed to take out the DS156, DS156K and DS157 forms as well as the passports.
   
5. Embassy personnel in front of line looked to make sure we had appropriate papers and wrote on them and then had us stand in a 2nd line while waiting to actually be called into the embassy.
   
6. Waited in line for an hour or more until finally being allowed to enter embassy, I entered the US Citizen door my fiance entered the non US Citizen door. I was able to bring her bag into the embassy with her perfumes and had to leave our cell phones with my license (or ID) at the security stand, they gave me a number to pick them up when I returned.
   
7. Passed through security point to be brought into an area where there were hundreds of seats. My fiance had been given her number after handing over the DS-230. 2 vendors selling food (hot dogs, sandwiches, soda, water, etc). We went to the far end of the courtyard (I'll call it this for lack of a better word) to sit and stare at some LED signs that contained the number being called and the window the person was to report to. Half of one of the LED signs was broken.
   
8. From here it's just a waiting game, waited probably an hour or more (probably 10am by then) to see our number flash across the boards. We then proceeded to the windows inside where her finger and thumb prints were taken. Whole process here took maybe 3 minutes and then we were told to wait to be called again, we went back outside and began the arduous wait.
   
9. Eventually all the K1-Visa interviewees were called inside to sit in the waiting area inside the embassy. Still no call to the window, probably another hour or hour and a half had passed before we were called to a new window. Here we were interviewed by a Pinay, a few questions were asked about about how we met, how many times I've visited, etc. We then had to pass on all the information showing proof of the relationship and the I-134 with associated proof. I had forgotten the 1040 but had included W2s going back several years as well as bank statements, etc. They asked for the 1040 a couple times but eventually stopped asking when I said I had forgotten it. I thought we were screwed at this point. This whole process took 10 minutes.
   
10. It was around 11:45 to 12PM that we were called up again, this time to speak to an American, he made us raise our right hands and swear we were both telling the truth and the relationship was legitimate (or some such similar saying). He went over some of the same information as the Pinay did, asking how we met, how many times I'd visited, etc. I brought up my lack of the 1040 and he said don't worry about it. This whole part probably took 5 minutes, we were then told we were approved and to sit back down and await our final instructions.
    
11. Around 12 or 12:15 pm lunch break occurred so we were told we could go outside and come back in an hour, we went outside briefly but then came back and decided to wait, my fiance wasn't feeling hungry at the time saying she couldn't eat till the whole process was finished.
    
12. Around 1:45 pm we were called to a window, this time without the number as it had been taken when the American interviewed us. The final instructions were verifying my fiance's address, phone number, name and then telling us the visa would be mailed. This portion took 3 minutes max.
    

All in all the whole process minus the wait times probably took 30 minutes. The waiting reminded me of the DMV, specifically the thumb printer guy who was very impersonal and didn't seem like he was one that would smile very often. With wait times, 6:45am to around 2:30pm. Longest wait I've ever had, but in the end, it was well worth the wait, I hope I never have to go through the whole Visa process again.

If this has been posted before, my apologies, but I wanted to let you know what my experience was when I was with my fiance during this process.

[admortemfidelis 0]

thank you for the very detailed narration of your interview process. Im about to have my interview on the the 25th and im a little nervous about it. and im not very patient in waiting so good luck to me right? haha. anyway, what is a 1040? I haven't read anything that mentioned that? should i have it for the interview too?

[jdclover 0]

thank you for the very detailed narration of your interview process. Im about to have my interview on the the 25th and im a little nervous about it. and im not very patient in waiting so good luck to me right? haha. anyway, what is a 1040? I haven't read anything that mentioned that? should i have it for the interview too?

1040 is the tax return. W2s show what a person made and how much taxes, social security, etc were taken out of an individual's pay, 1040 is what gets filed after the end of the year to determine if you get money back from taxes or if you owe money in taxes. And yes I would recommend bringing it, better to err on the side caution.

Edited March 1, 2013 by jdclover

[admortemfidelis 0]

1040 is the tax return. W2s show what a person made and how much taxes, social security, etc were taken out of an individual's pay, 1040 is what gets filed after the end of the year to determine if you get money back from taxes or if you owe money in taxes.

oh ok. so it's the income tax return from the IRS. im sorry i got confused. thanks for answering my query.

[jdclover 0]

CONGRATULATIONS! What is 1040 by the way?

It's what you get when you file a tax return in the US.

[JBForever 12]

thank you for posting this experience:)

i am still waiting for my NOA2 but this post made me think of the next steps i would need to be ready for once the elusive NOA2 comes.

Congrats on your visa getting approved finally...and yes, at the end of the day, it is rather so worth it:)

[Irah 5]

Congratulations!!!