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| Naples, Italy |  Review on November 3, 2012: |
Barbarac83
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I had my interview on Tuesday Oct 30th and everything went rather smooth. The reviews on this page helped me a lot getting ready for this experience!
I arrived in Naples on Sunday and I stayed at the B&B Casa Mira which is 2 minutes walk from the Consulate, it's close to the Mail Boxes Etc. location (where you will go pick up your passport and visa, or where you get them shipped out), and it's 2 minutes walk from the subway station Mergellina. At the B&B they are very nice people and they actually give you a ride to the Istituto Varelli the day of the visit (it's included in the price!).
On Monday I arrived at the Istituto Varelli around 7.45 and there weren't a lot of people there for the Consulate. Just three couples, a man, a guy and me, so it was kinda quick. I had blood test (I thought it supposed to be for checking on HIV or tubercolosis, but the nurse told me it is done to check if you ever had siphilis...),then I was called again for them to check on my vaccines. I wasnt able to take ALL the vaccines listed in the istructions so I thought I would have needed to have some done. But they only checked difterite and tetano, and I was ok. So they made me pay for the vist (170€) and they asked for a photograph. Then they took the whole group downstairs to have our x-ray chest done. After all this you wait to be called for a medical visit, which is very quick, a doctor and an assistant just mesure your height, weight, sight, blood pressure, he ask about if you ever had any desease or surgery and then he checks your lungs, heart, abdomen, lymph nodes. Easy and quick, and you're done. Doctors and nurses are Italian (but speak English if you arent Italian).
They will tell you to go at 2pm to the Consulate for the finger printing. Don't be late! A guy went there late becase there was a transportation strike that day, and they told him they couldnt have the finger printing done. He just did it the day of the interview, but still better do things right! Also remember to bring photographs (the passport photographs) or they won't get your finger prints. And of course always bring your passport! Leave your cellphone and other electronic devices with the guards downstairs and go to the second floor. It is very quick, they just take fingerprints and ask for photographs.
Day of the interview:
I went there at 7.30, when the Consulate opens. I went through the same procedures of the day before: left cell phones with the guards and went at the 2nd floor. You can bring your purse after it goes through screening. The guards (they are Italian) give you 2 numbers: one is to recollect your cellphone/camera when you're finished, the other one is for the interview. The room, like other people said on this page, looks like a post office, haha. There is like this long counter with a glass, divided into different windows. They first call you to collect your forms/documents, and I was so nervous because I know if you miss something you're at risk of being denied the visa! But of course I had everything, and I had even more than they needed! For example they didn't ask for the petitioner's birthday certificate even though that was indicated in the instructions...also with the affidavit of support they didn't care about the employer letter. After everyone is gone through this they begin calling people for their interviews, which take place at one of those windows...I imagined the interview would take place behind a desk face to face with a stern-faced Consul ahahah but instead it was just there behind the window with this really young woman interviewing me. She made me swear I would tell the thruth and she asked me how me and my fiancè met, where, and when. We met online before meeting in person and then she asked me wich site, when we started talking and actually why I decided to talk to him. She asked what my fiancè does and on which visa I travelled to the States before (Visa Waiver Program) and if I ever overstayed (which I didn't). It was very quick...That was all, she told me to go to the Mail Boxes Ect. location the day after at 5pm to pick up my passport and visa.  I was so happy and couldnt believe it was over... I think it was like 9.30 when I went out, so it didn't take much (but we were very few people). I had to leave that night so I went at the MBE location and asked to have my passport and visa shipped, which costs 25€. They email you when they ship your stuff and I didn't receive an email yet. They said the visa issue could be pushed back a little because of the hurricane going on on the east coast (I guess offices in Washington were shut down or something) and also I reckon the bank holiday (nov 1st) delayed it even more. Also at the interview they give you a folder with your x-ray chest (a CD), the receipt of the visit and a copy of the sheet where they noted your vaccines. You will get the other folder, the one you will have to give at the customs one you enter the States with the visa and passport. This was it, I whish you good luck!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #10804