IMBRA strikes again at Interview!!

[Jersey Girl 2]

Andy, hang in there. You've come this far, overcoming all sorts of obstacles. You are meant to have the visa. Be patient. I'll bet the new proceedure is to give the financee a badly translated brochure!

[jamrok 0]

There we were, Ania and I sitting in the waiting room for her number to be called. I was trying to keep her cool while noticing that one of the three CO's was quick, thorough, interrogative, cold, and didn't seem to give people the time of day. I kept Ania cool as we saw her (damnit) pick up Ania's file and start to thumb through the file. I noticed that she was spending a lot of time looking through my conviction information that I sent to comply with IMBRA. I started to sweat a little as I watched the interviewer scratch her head and look confused. "What's taking her so long" Ania asked, "I don't know sweetheart but everything is ok" I replied.

Then her number appeared at the window calling for us to step up for her interview. The CO had Ania raise her right hand and swear to tell the truth. Then she asked "have you been to any other country for longer than 6 months?" Ania replied no, then the CO asked "when did you meet each other?" Ania gave her answer, then she turned to me and said "and you've been to Poland a couple of times, correct?" I replied yes. She said "ok".

I started to joke with the CO a little "hey you've got a lot of papers there huh? all about me it looks like" we all laughed as the CO said "yeah mostly about you". I than said we have more documents and supporting information if you would like to see them, she replied "documents are not the issue at this point" hmm.. what's that supposed to mean?

I then watched her staple a blue piece of paper to the front of the file and walk away. I leaned up in the window to get a look at what the paper said "Refusal Work Sheet" I was really, really worried at this point, turned to Ania and said "things don't look good sweetheart" Ania said "please don't scare me right now".

The CO returned with a big smile on her face and said "ok, her's the problem", then she explained "Everything is ok with the visa and you are approved, but I can't issue the visa today. There is a new program, a very new program designed to protect woman against violent men and inform them of any past convictions that your fiancee might have. It's meant for people who haven't known eachother for so long and enables the beneficiary to better know who there getting involved with" She said "the law is more for violent offenders but some minor things got wrapped up in the law such as your drinking and driving offences". She asked "that's all that you have, correct" I replied yes. Then the CO said "the problem is you are the first case we've had like this and we don't know the procedure for informing the beneficiary" she added "it's good that you (Andy) are here with your fiancee and that we've all talked about it" she then asked "your (Ania) aware of all his convictions with the drinking and driving and both have talked about this, right?" Ania replied "yes, we've been through a lot of this together".

Then the CO said she would need to contact Washington to find what there procedure would be for informing the beneficiary. Whether the verbal conversation we had at the interview would be ok or if there was something is writing that needed to be done. She said it was good that we were all there together and that the CO witnessed Ania acknowledge she was aware of everything. The CO said that everything is a go with the documentation and the visa but she just needs to clear things with Washington. The CO then started to put together all of the visa paperwork, had Ania sign the DHL mailing paper, took her passport, and said they would mail the passport back with the visa inside after they here from Washington. She said it should only take a couple of days to clear things with Washington.

I then asked "so we can feel happy walking away from here today?" she replied yes "it's just a technical thing, not a documentation issue. The visa is approved, we just need to make sure we're doing things right" I then said "ok, because you had me a little worried with the blue paper on the front of the file (Refusal Work Shet" she said "oh, no that's ok, it's just procedure because we couldn't issue the visa today, I have to write what the next steps are, everything is fine". she said "it's really a good thing that your here today and this shouldn't be a problem with Washington, give us a call on Monday and check the status, we should have things cleared up by then"

So Ania and I walked away feeling confused and a little worried that maybe she was just being nice. So you know me!!! I called the Embassy 5 hours later to check the status. The lady who answered the phone said "there is no problem with the visa, it's not a documentation issue, it's a technical issue that needs to be cleared with Washington. Your visa should be mailed to you shortly, check back in a couple of days". We felt better after hearing it from another person that the visa had been approved!!

Well, to make a long story short. The Embassy's are still in the dark on how to implement the IMBRA law and how to inform the beneficiary. So IMBRA has truck again and is holding things up still. I will put our entire experience on the site when Ania has her visa in hand. Thanks for all of your support and I will tell you IMBRA folks how things go!!

I will say Congrats and I am sorry you had to be the beta test case for Warsaw but I do hope all clears as promised.

CONGRATS ANDY......you are good to go. Nice job

[Yodrak 7]

Andy,

I've been waiting for a consular experience with IMBRA, thanks for posting yours.

I'm surprised that the consulates haven't been given instruction on how to handle this situation, or perhaps you're unluky that this consulate is unsure. I would not be surprised if a written statement is requested of your fiancee as documentation for the file. It might have been prudent for the consular officer to ask for one, or for your fiancee to have offered one, while you were there.

In any event, I hope the issue will be resolved quickly.

Yodrak

.....

The CO returned with a big smile on her face and said "ok, her's the problem", then she explained "Everything is ok with the visa and you are approved, but I can't issue the visa today. There is a new program, a very new program designed to protect woman against violent men and inform them of any past convictions that your fiancee might have. It's meant for people who haven't known eachother for so long and enables the beneficiary to better know who there getting involved with" She said "the law is more for violent offenders but some minor things got wrapped up in the law such as your drinking and driving offences". She asked "that's all that you have, correct" I replied yes. Then the CO said "the problem is you are the first case we've had like this and we don't know the procedure for informing the beneficiary" she added "it's good that you (Andy) are here with your fiancee and that we've all talked about it" she then asked "your (Ania) aware of all his convictions with the drinking and driving and both have talked about this, right?" Ania replied "yes, we've been through a lot of this together".

Then the CO said she would need to contact Washington to find what there procedure would be for informing the beneficiary. Whether the verbal conversation we had at the interview would be ok or if there was something is writing that needed to be done. She said it was good that we were all there together and that the CO witnessed Ania acknowledge she was aware of everything. The CO said that everything is a go with the documentation and the visa but she just needs to clear things with Washington.

....

[AndyMisiu 0]

Called the Embassy to check the status of the visa. The lady on the phone talked directly to the CO and was told that they are still waiting to hear back from Washington on what to do.

You know, this is just great!! waiting on Washington to tell us about a procedure that hasn't even been created yet!! what will they do? wait until they come up with one? or will the verbal at the interview be enough? only time will tell, our time!!!!! I bet they forgot all about the IMBRA law and how to implement it at the Consulates!!

Just venting a little, while I wait in the dark for Ania's visa in Poland!! I hope it's soon!!!