SBVeryBlessed3k

I wanted to be abroad for less than a year with my wife in our wait and wound up staying 20 months, which caused a domicile RFI, where we responded by paying for a US apartment(employer was in US remote). Its easy to say 1 year on paper, but as anything could happen, a letter from family as your domicile is one avenue in alternate to a rental contract, and associated fees. Employment offers are also valuable, though current employment may be better (by US employer.

Not really. They are very kind to USC and LPRs. My Wife's IV interview was significantly less nice btw.

I agree with the rest on different airport policy. My wife had CR-1 visa, and though my son and I had US passports, we took immigrant line. We had 3 hrs layover and the wait for customs to open (45min)and the line took 1.5 of it. The CBP officer was nice and processed us quickly. One guy skipped in line and we were called before him. At a past customs and declaration in ATL I think, I was given hard time. But this time, despite mentioning 1 item to declare, we didnt have any inspection of our foods in Washington Dulles as opposed to the previous full microscope search--seems a lottery. Alas, we almost missed our flight as no electric cart was in service to help us cross the airport with our 6 month old in my wife's hands. Overall, 3 hrs is a minimum, but pushing it, unless CBP is open. Walk briskly my advice.

CEAC is more than buggy, and not enough accountability, I would seek/get feedback from consulate before making conclusions. My docs uploaded before interview were ignored or not checked, and the RFE uploaded was requested to be hand delivered as well. Does not seem like CEAC is that esay to use. Always confirm documents my lesson and send message to traveldocs after any update, for clarification. AP typically precedes issued.

Hi there, I uploaded CEAC, and they were not reviewed at interview, though I called traveldocs which confirmed them uploaded. I am now sorting a joint sponsor. I am quite disappointed per the matter. The CO has authority and also without information one way or other, to put case on admin processing. They stated they did not have time for my wife to locate documents. Having joint at first seems easier than updated I864, which can get lost or ignored. Seems they prefer that.

My consulate took my 5 year college diploma as record and ignored other docs at interview. But I suppose you can use high school reports & transcripts and/or employment docs-- remember there is proof of physical presence, and proof of residency. Tax transcripts were high on the list, as well as social security records. Generally, being thorough will bring ease of mind. The online app seems to require thoroughness with evidence for each residence/ physical US period. If you are missing documents, you can always locate and schedule emergency appointment to correct. Better thorough the 1st time, I feel.

Hello VJ, There seems a nice little thread on VJ for CRBA, but I did not see many of my own questions, instead searching web and Youtube. Possibly this is because more questions/pressures are for alien spouses or alien family members. However, as my wife will likely do interview soon, I found this good acquaintance for her of the Lagos Consulate, know for its strictness due to high fraud. Also, many immigrants who become citizens and visit home may need ACS eventually, so I take it valuable for all, and hope it sheds value. Alas, here is my experience: Just sharing a generally positive experience for once about the US Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria that we have had focus on since the COVID backlog made it seem near impossible to reach. So, my wife (beneficiary) and I (U.S.C.) had a son in the waiting period for her CR-1 visa, and we knew we needed to obtain his passport prior to her interview, which is done via the CRBA(Confirmed Registration of Birth Abroad) interview. I moved to Lagos to wait for interview finding remote work. After birth, we scheduled via email instructions per Consulate website under American Citizen Services(ACS). We did not use emergency appointment, that I learned of later. In the end, we were given a date 3 months after his birth. Though we scoured for documents and organized a set, the consulate--in switching to online CRBA registration-- sent a link rather late, 3 days before the interview. Fortunately, there was enough time, in my schedule to organize documents. Both father and mother, are encouraged to attend, though it can be 1 parent-- I believe the non US must be there. We definitely over prepared, unsure of certain documents that were inaccessible like old passports or entry/exit records(from I94 online that failed to find my passport). It definitely made us more confident. However, prior to day of interview, we had asked about parking and had driven to know the location. The actual situation would be much different, however. On CRBA interview day, we chose a hotel that was 6 minutes away, and left 1.5 hrs early. In arriving at 5:20am and entering to the consulate Road, there were parking handlers dressed plainly trying to usher us in like a 10 minute walk away. As they looked dodgy, we decided to ask for information from the guards/soldiers. Outside of the Consulate, which was not particularly well marked, the solders directed us to park down, where more handlers directed, claiming a 1,000NGN parking price and attempting to sell dodgy services like passports or printouts(PLEASE DO NOT DO, OR SEND YOUR DOCUMENTS TO). It was 4 minute walk, and being early, we were 2nd to park in that road, though it did seem a little unsafe with the dodgy attendants. I'm sure they prey on unweidy interviewees, so anyone interviewing should be warned. In parking around 5:30am, I left my phone warily (as I heard they were not allowed) and we went to check in, but I realized I did not print the CRBA interview appointment letter, which worried me. I only had CRBA payment confirmation letter, but as we arrived at 5:38 in the queue for American citizens, the guard let us in ACS line. which was empty. Opposite us, was the visa queue for US visas which was full(over 50ppl+ where my wife's CR-1 line will be). I was later able to simply share my phone email later with the guards entering in. As US Citizen, we actually can bring phones into consulate, so I did walk back around 5:42am to collect that from car after initially arriving at queue station. As we arrived early, and did not have baby food, at 5:50am we quickly returned to the car to get baby food, at 5:55am at which time the parking seemed full. We came back to the ACS Queue about at about 6:10am, where the line had grown to about 4 families with several children. 5 minutes past original CRBA appt time at 6:50am, we saw consulate staff arrive in 2 buses, delayed by traffic. Then around 7am, we were invited to enter, place items for scan, and give bags. In line outside, our son definitely was hot and cried some, but at least we had his food. When we had come inside, my wife could breastfeed him in a private corner of the office inside. That alleviated some of the stress. The first part of the interview around 7:15am was collecting appropriate and qualifying documents which I had in binder. I had copies of even some documents like birth certificate that I did not have original of that were accepted. My college transcript most easily qualified my 5 year resident requirement, though I brough several years worth of tax transcripts, tax returns, and wage statements/rent receipts. They asked me to submit required documents 1 by 1 without any plastic folders or covers, so it looked a little disorganized, but they had what they needed. They had me write my name and my wife's number on some forms. One minor discrepancy was the DS-5507 form, which had at top, it not being needed, but was on the consulate's required documents. They for sure collected it. My wife, holding our son was allowed to sit down as I managed to documents. The agent took a break mid way, came back 10 minutes later, sorted the final, and gave me bill to pay for passport(CRBA payment was accepted)--after which we sat down on other side, the room now full. Around 8:00am, we finally saw the interviewers who would perform the oath. When we were called up, The interviewer was friendly, had us sign, and take oath. She asked verification questions nicely, then finally approved our application and stated the pickup details. With much relief, we exited a little before 9:00am. Again, as American Citizen, there may have been less general stress, but it was still there, and my wife felt it in different was as non-American. But it helped her see a more relaxed environment of the consulate's operations. They are doing their job. The preparation and cooperative behavior will make things go easier. Fraudulent or cases with holes likely are more prevalent in the Immigrant and non-immigrant visas line--the more reason why this consulate has a strict reputation. Still, its good to do your homework and be confident when you are legitimate. I could contend that these cases are more important and scrutinized, as they give actual US passports outside of US, however, few people would waste time faking USC documents. My wife and I will write report of the CR-1 consulate experience for her down the road, but the lessons from this side still shed light. Good experience, definitely, for myself and wife. Stressful per living abroad and the dodgy area outside, but with calm and preparation, and wisdom it will go successful!

They are in April/May.