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| Auckland, New Zealand |  Review on November 20, 2006: |
evets&netsrik
Rating:  | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
Our experience working with the US Consulate in Auckland was excellent. They were extremely helpful in answering our questions and sending information prior to our interview, very accomodating with our schedule and answered emailed questions very quickly - sometimes within hours!
We had our interview at 8:30am so arrived shortly before to go through security checks. You are not allowed to take any electronics into the consulate including mobile phones, have to demonstrate you can drink from any liquids, obviously have passport, appt letter etc. and have any bags/coast x-rayed.
We were the only people there when we arrived so were seen very quickly.
They had our file waiting and then we handed over all the required documents and copies; I-864 plus supporting docs, I-130 (we went to NZ to file everything there), photos, marriage certificate, etc. We were not asked to provide any additional documents/information/relationship proof etc. although we had come prepared with everything we could think of!
During this stage the very helpful and friendly NZ staff member talked us through the procedure, showed us a sample white 'green' card, discussed social security with us and chatted about the weather! She was very nice.
Next we were given a little slip of paper with the fees circled and we went to the next window and paid them - we paid in US dollars cash although they accept NZ dollars too, but only cash I think.
Then we waited to be called for our interview with the consular officer. We probably only waited 5 minutes or less. We approached the window - I was asked to give my fingerprint (the beneficiary) then we were both asked to raise our right hand and swear that what we had filled out on the forms was true. The consular officer then asked if the signature on the forms was my husband's (petitioner). He didn't ask us any direct questions but kind of chatted with us as he went through the papers - commented on where we got married, then talked about the weather there and made some other comment and returned our marriage certificate. It seemed very low key. Then he shuffled all the papers around, shut the folder and send this will be approved.
We had submitted a postage paid courier envelope for the documents to be returned to us so we left and were enjoying celebration coffees in the cafe downstairs by 9am!
But it didn't quite end there ...
The next day the Consulate rang me because they shouldn't have returned the marriage certificate to us during the interview, I had even questioned that but you don't want to be pushy. But they said I could drop it in the next morning and then pick up my passport and mystery brown folder all at once which seemed great.
So the following morning I went into the Consulate at 9am to drop off the certificate and pick up my documents. I saw a different but equally pleasant and helpful staff member who knew why I was there, took the certificate and a a few minutes later the original staff member came back with my passport and package but as I glanced over it I saw they had spelled my name wrong! Both on the visa that was now glued into my passport and on the information on the outside of the brown envelope.
I don't know what they had to go through to correct it but true to their word they rang me again the following day and told me it had been resolved and I could pick it up that afternoon. I now have one visa with a big black stamp that says 'cancelled without prejudice' on one page and the correct stamp on the next page. I entered the US last week through San Francisco with no problems or questions regarding the cancelled stamp and now await my green card!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1040