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| Jamaica |  Review on May 31, 2013: |
BeanCamp
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Our interview date was May 28th. We arrived at the embassy at about 7 am. There was a long line formed in front of the embassy. There were two embassy staff members performing intake of all those in line. Only those with an appointment were allowed through security. Since we were early, we had breakfast across the street. (typical Jamaican breakfast). After breakfast, we walked to the embassy. My fiance went in about an hour early from his scheduled time. Since the petitioner is not allowed in the interview, I had to wait in the front of the embassy. Fortunately, there are benches and roof for shade. Any Non-US Citizens are asked to wait across the street from the embassy. The K1 fee is paid at the time of the interview and can be paid in either US dollar or Jamaican. (keep in mind exchange rates fluctuate so be sure if paying in Jamaican you have the correct amount - current fee is $240US). After about 3 hours my fiance came out. At first I could not tell if he was approved or not until he got closer - he was trying to trick me. He was approved! Here is what he explained how his experience went.
Upon walking in he went through security. (no forms of electronics are allowed, he had to take off his belt...he said security was pretty extensive)
Then he proceeded inside where he visited a total of 3 windows. (inital intake- where all his documents were taken and he was finger printed, payment window #10 -paid K1 fee, and then interviewing window). He said at some point at the first intake window he had to write my name. He said he sat and listed to all the questions that were asked. He said he could hear the questions. He said he was called by the tall white man. He said he had hoped for the black woman because she seemed engaged with her interviewee's.
Here are the questions he was asked in no particular order;
1. Have you ever been arrested?
2. How did you meet? He told them where, how, and when. He also stated I was there at the embassy. So the officer asked to see my passport which he gave. The officer then asked him if he had any photos. He said yes and showed him the album we created. He had him go through all the pictures.
3. Does your fiance have any children? He responded and offered their names
4. What does your fiance do for a living? He said what I do and where I work
5. Have you been to the US before?
6. What countries have you visited before?
7. He asked him for the affidavit of support?
8. Then he asked him if he had a screen print of his DHL registration on the usvisa-info site. At the time my fiance thought he didn't. So the officer asked him to register and email a copy of the screen shot. As soon as we got back to my fiance's place, I emailed the a screen shot of the DHL registration to KingstonIV email. At first I told my fiance to go back inside and give them the copy we had. It was a bit cumbersome because the front staff person (staff before allowing through security) was not listening and kept explaining to him he was not going to get his passport back and he needed to wait for them to mail it. It was not until, I stopped her and told her that was not what he was asking and clarified why he was trying to go back in. She asked me who I was and I explained who I was and she told him he could pass. Unfortunately, my fiance was tired and overwhelmed. Once inside, he sat and waited then just left. He was ok with just emailing the screen shot rather than waiting longer. He felt more comfortable with just following the CO direction of emailing the DHL registration. I beg to differ and felt this would add time to his visa delivery. We shall see.
Overall, the experience went well. Thank goodness he was well prepared. He said for the most part everyone was nice. He did say the first window he went to the person attending it was a bit rude. He said she was shoving back any papers she didn't need and was rude about it. My experience was a bit cumbersome. The embassy is located in what appears to be a non-affluent part of Kingston. Totally not what I expected. So, when I first was outside security said I could not be there. I explained why I was there and that I am a US-Citizen. Each officer asked me the same questions, but once they were all aware who I was they just left me alone.
Now comes the waiting for the visa to be delivered. Good luck to all of you with your visa journey!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12042