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| Singapore |  Review on November 25, 2013: |
racheese
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Interview originally scheduled for Nov 19th, but a guy from the embassy called and asked if they could move it ahead to Nov 15th instead. I gladly agreed and received an appointment letter via post a couple of days later.
On the day of, I arrived at the embassy at 7:50am - 55mins earlier than my appointment. Didn't have to wait in line outside, just went through security and was directed to the consulate section. I was told that the service for immigrant visas don't start until 9am so I had to take a number and just wait.
The consulate section was smaller than expected with loads of people waiting around for their non-immigration visas. The set up of the consulate is pretty similar to those in the bank teller service, when your number flashes, you'll go up to the counter and greet the officer which is sitting behind a glass window. You don't have a lot of privacy as everyone in the room can pretty much hear what you're saying if they really want to. javascript:emoticon(' ') With that being said, I took a book there just to kill time and calm my nerves, but was constantly distracted by the conversations between officer and visitors.
It wasn't long before the immigrant window opened and my number was flashed (I was the first one). Behind the window was an Asian guy who had a check-list and my file with me. The first thing he did was to return me my chest x-ray film from the medical, followed by passport, 2 US-passport photos, a form to fill out just incase I had missing documents, another form to register with Aramex to get my passport, photocopies of both birth cert. and marriage cert. After that the, questioning started.
- So you met at this international school? In Singapore? Why didn't you go to public school in Singapore?
- You lived in the US before? What does your father do?
- Did your husband share with you how much he earns?
- Do you mind to you bank statements?
--> I was a little worried about this as our affidavit of support wasn't 'approved' and was sent to
the consulate. We didn't have US 2012 taxes (we lived in Canada for 4 years for university
before graduating and moving to the US)
As I was answering his questions and providing him evidence, he was checking things off the list. He then gave me a domestic violence pamphlet, told me to read it was I wait for the 2nd interview.
Shortly after, my name was being called by the 2nd officer, at this time the room was crowded. I found it quite hard to hear him over the glass window with the chatter in the background. The interviewer was Caucasian and the first thing he did was hand me the DS-230 to read over and sign. While I was reading, he held up my Canadian Criminal Record check and asked how long it took for me to get it (at this point I was worried that it was expired even though I got it back in August). I said about 2 weeks and he said 'oh, I thought it took much longer'. javascript:emoticon(' ') After signing the document and handing it to him, he just casually asked if my international school was located on orchard road and which part of the US I will be in. After that, he just told me that I am pretty much good to go. He didn't want to give me a official approval, but said that there's nothing to worry about and everything looks good. He also mentioned that it would take about 1 week for my case to be closed and get my visa. He also reminded me about twice to go home and register for Amarex.
I left the embassy at about 9:10am (appointment at 8:45) . It was super fast and REALLY anti-climatic. I even prepared a 200photos-album + a whole load of other documents and they didn't ask for any other than our bank statements.
CEAC status Update:
15-21 Nov: "ready"
22 Nov: "Admin Processing"
22 Nov (3-4 hours later): "Issued"
Passport Collection:
I chose to have my passport picked up from the Main Aramex location as I could pick up 1 day earlier than delivery. I called them first thing monday morning and asked if I can pick it up and did so on Nov 25th! Bought my ticket today and will be flying 2 days later just in time for Thanksgiving dinner! 
Overall, the last bits of the process went really well! The worse part was waiting the 1 week before the visa was issued. I was refreshing my CEAC status like a vulture would over fresh meat.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #13315