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| Tokyo, Japan |  Review on August 6, 2013: |
TeamM&M
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We had an outstanding experience at the US Embassy in Tokyo yesterday.
I flew in from the US for the event. Not necessary but it allowed us to have fun people watching and hanging out while we waited, cut off from civilization, without our electronics.
We arrived by taxi at the Embassy at 8:30. We were not sure if we needed a letterpack 500 for K-1 visa so while I paid for the cab, my fiancé ran into Lawson pick one up across the street at Lawson. We walked to the Visa entrance area and there was no line at 8:30. This is because everyone was already inside.
We were asked by the police to produce the interview confirmation document/email which we did. We were then instructed to remove all electronic devices including cellphones, tablets, PCs, USB drives and charger/charging cables. We proceeded through the police security checkpoint and left our devices at the security counter to pick up as we left.
We proceeded to the Visa section. We checked in at a desk, our name was crossed off a list, and we were handed a plastic clear file bilingual instruction sheet on how to order the documents we would be submitting. We received a number, took a seat and got everything in order. Our number was in the mid-30s, the highest number we noticed was 41. But then there was a batch people that received numbers in the 100s. They did not look like K-1s or CR-1s. More like F-1s.
Please note that there is a photo booth machine and photo cutting device in the Visa section.
We waited approximately 90 minutes while numbers were called up to the windows 1 and 2 (then a bit later window 0 and 5 as well) to hand in their organized "applications" / documents. Once the documents were taken in by the embassy, the packets made it over to the biometric windows, 3 and 4 and applicants were called a second time to the windows for fingerprint scanning. There is an audible noise and an English announcement each time a number is called. The security staff is quick to repeat the call in Japanese if there is no reaction. There is a coke machine and water dispenser in the waiting area as well.
Finally, our number was called a 3rd time for the counter interview. I repositioned closer to my fiance's window location.
The interview was simple but more than a couple stupid questions. The officer asked if English was OK. Other gaijin officers were doing interviews in Japanese. It makes more sense, now that I think about it, why an applicant was called up to "our" window and then sat back down to wait.
How did we meet?
When we met?
How often we meet?
Has fiancé visited US?
About fiance's former job? (Worked and we met in a 3rd country)
Have either of us been married?
Have we met family's?
Work plans after US entry?
During the interview, my fiancé mentioned I was there and the officer and I exchanged smiles and we waved at each other.
The officer was cool, polite, and friendly. He laughed at one of out pictures. (It was one from out I-129F package as we were not asked for any originals or ongoing additional evidence.)
As things wrapped up, my fiancé asked for a tracking number and he went to check on it. At that point the interview was complete and I approached the window as well. He returned and said we should just track it through the portal. I tried again to give them our letterpack which I could track through Japan Post but was unsuccessful. I said we planned to fly together next week and the officer re-assured us that we should have it by next Monday. (1 week).
We were back on the street by 11:10.
The applicants seemed to be a mix of people and visa types... Spouse, fiancé, family's, students, business etc.
We rate our experience as 5 star. We had a great day and a great outcome.
Some people had less fun. Some seemed to be missing items, some seemed stressed out, some needed to explain an issue or two. Just be ready for anything and everything will be fine. Good Luck!!!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12461