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| Caracas, Venezuela |  Review on May 6, 2013: |
Serendipity_95
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I arrived at the Embassy at 7.30 in the morning. There was already a long line outside by the parking lot. Within 10 minutes they started to let everybody in to the parking lot where they have tents. Here they gave us information about security and what is allowed and not into the Embassy. Cellular phones, big bags, CD, USBs and dark plastic binders are not allowed into the Embassy. Make sure you don't take these items cause you will be denied entrance at the first security check point and you will have to reshedule your appointment. After this brief information they started letting people in by their appointment hour. At the first check point I told the lady that I came from Aruba for my K1 interview. She gave me a small form and I headed to the first security check point. Here they checked if I had any CD, USB or cellular phone with me. The security guy even made me drink out of the bottle of water I had with me. From here you go will walk inside. If you have a K1 interview you don't have to wait here with everybody else. Just tell the person there that you are there for a K1 and they will let you through to the next security point. At this security point they will scan all your belongings. Once you are through security you will head outside to the next point where you will be let in to the building. Again here you don't have to stand in line. Just tell the scurity that you are here for the K1 interview and they will let you in right away. THe security showed were I have to be for the interview and handed me a number and then the waiting begins. The space for the K1 interview is very small. It's 3 windows next to each other, so there is no privacy and everybody can hear each others business. At this point it is was around 9 am. After an hour of waiting it was my turn. First the lady asked me for the forms, my birth cerificate, affidavit of support, my medical papers and my fiance's tax papers. Then she asked me a couple of basic questions; where did we meet, what kind of work I do, how we keep in touch, if we both had childeren, if this was our first marriage and asked me to show her the photo albums I brought with me. Then I asked her if there is anyway I can get my passport and visa that same day, since I knew the next day they were closed due to a national holiday. She said she will check and directed me to the cashier, where I had to pay the $240 fee for the visa. After I was done paying I came back to hand her the receipt and had to wait again for an other hour. Then a friendly man called me to the next window. This is where the actual interview happens. He asked me again how I met my fiance. After I told him our story he was impressed and thought we had an amazing story. He also asked for my fiance's age and then told me that he has no more questions and that my visa is approved. He told me that he's going to request a urgent processing for my visa since I'm leaving on saturday back to Aruba. I was done by 11.30 am and had to be back there at 3pm to pick up my visa. I went back to the hotel and called my fiance and family to tell them the happy news. By 3 o'clock I was back at the Embassy. Unfortunatly the computer system was down and they were not able to process the visas yet. I waited for 2 full hours but by 5pm I had my visa in my hands and was a very happy woman. The waiting wasn't that bad at all and I was able to leave Caracas on Friday instead of Saturday. Everyone at the Embassy is very friendly, so I had a very good experience.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #11917