Consular officer mistake on J1's 2 year home residency requeriment

[Marina Louzada 14]

Hello, all! 

 

Yesterday I had an interview with the consular representative at the immigration office in Rio for my K1 visa. 

My visa was approved, however, during our conversation we quickly did some calculations to know whereas my 2 year home residency requirement was already fulfilled because I had multiple trips overseas since I came back from my year abroad at Michigan State. At the time of the interview, the interviewer told me that I still had 17 days to go before my 2 years home residency requirement was fulfilled. The consular representative said that it wouldn't be a problem, he would hold onto my documents until this 17 days had passed and would issue the K1 visa on the 8th of August. However, coming back home I tried doing the calculations again and kept coming up with a different number.

Looking back at all my travel records with a clear mind and more calm I noticed that in fact, I am 31 days past the 2-year requirement.

I gather all the documents proving my point: I94 forms, travel history and plane tickets and sent an e-mail to the visa office. They ask for 3 business days to give me a reply. While I wait I tried calling someone

at the American Embassy in Rio and could not find one single phone number that could help me. The numbers available online all send me through an endless loop of automated messages and the one human assistant I managed to talk to wasn't very happy to talk to me, to say the least. I know working at call centers is very frustrating and they might get a ton of people bugging them about stuff, but hey! I am trying to fix a mistake made by your people! 

This is more of a rant than anything, but if you had a similar experience or have a suggestion of what I can do while I wait for their 3 business day response, feel free to add to the thread. If all this goes as a warning to all the late J1 visa fellows out there. 

 

 

[CB & FM 43]

I had some trouble too with contacting the consulate in Rio. I am the USC spouse. I wanted to see if it was possible to expidite the visa processing and could not get anyone to respond. We decided to go back to consulate to make a direct inquiry but were told we just had to wait. It may be that even though you found that they made a calculation error you may just have to wait the 17 days for them to finish your visa as incicated by the officer. It might not be wise to make too much trouble as it is only about two seek wait. I hope it all goes well in the long run. I know how waiting can be hard but in the long run it will be great when it all come together for you.