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| Honduras |  Review on December 19, 2013: |
DRAGOY79
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Our case was expedited through from NVC and the consulate received it on the Friday 6 december. After hounding the consulate from 9-11 December both calling and emails we got our interview scheduled on 16 december which coincide with me coming in for Christmas vacation as well (wasn't expected to but it was good timing).
We chose and requested Monday the 16th because after reading about the embassy not having the Visa issued correctly we wanted the most time possible so make sure it is done correctly and therefore allotted more time for the process. Biggest reason is that I knew that they are closed on Friday (Immigration section) and the next week they will only work on Monday. Also, the embassy website provides what case will be on what date so I knew beforehand that there was 19 other cases on Monday, 16 on Tuesday and so forth. Biggest reason for knowing why is so that we know how long the wait would be.
We stayed at the Marriott and went to the Embassy around 5:45 or so. There was about 10 people ahead of us but like other reviewers said, there are two lines. The one on the right with no awning is where the IV case are formed and the left is for tourist visas. So glad for that because there are about 80-90 people waiting to get the tourist visas vs. 20 families for IV. The funny part is that if we got there at 6:40 the results would have been the same since the cases are already stacked in order. Or maybe today it was that way since they called our names out of order we were waiting in line for. They start letting people in around 7:20 and IV got dibs on seating and they stress that all throughout the day. We got called up to window 4 around 7:45 and it was Honduran national working during this process. She asked for her paperworks including; visa photographs, police report, sealed medical envelope, marriage cert, birth cert, all in forma literal. Then after perusing through the case files she asked me for my tax transcript for 2012. I sent it already with my AOS paperwork but I figure just in case I have another one prepared which turn out to be a good idea since I ended needing one. She also asked for photos which I also prepared ahead in a photo album that I bought off amazon. Heres the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Embroidered-Stitched-Leatherette-Photo/dp/B001CE5E4K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387474923&sr=8-1&keywords=Album
I put around 40 or so pictures in them each with approx time written (month & year) with Skype screenshots and the Moneygram receipts I kept from sending my wife money through out the year we were apart. The photos are from the time we met, vacations we took, wedding, honeymoon, etc. the album fit perfectly under the glass window so I highly recommend using one of this size or this one. After we handed her the paperwork she directed us to get her finger prints at the next booth. Here, the person working was a very friendly American lady and after her fingerprints are completed she direct us to go sit and wait. This is around 8:15 or so which isn't too bad.
After waiting for around 30-35 minutes they called in the first case for interview which was a guy and his young son so it is true what others said and they will take people with children first. After they left with a green card (literally green not the resident card) in their hand I knew they were approved. Around 10 minutes later they called my wife up and we went to a different booth for the interview. There we met another American lady and she asked my wife to do part of the fingerprints again I guess the first didn't take. After that we sat down and she asked my wife when and where we met, how long we dated, when did I leave Honduras. Funny thing happen, my wife was so nervous she got it all wrong so I had to correct her but the lady seems to understand since she tell my wife looked nervous but I was relaxed and smiling the whole time since I have nothing to hide. She then asked me if the language barrier was difficult since my wife didn't speak much English and I explained that I learned Spanish for her so it wasn't much of an issue and if it get complicated during our conversations I can always count on Google translate. She then asked my wife to reveal her tattoos since it was in the medical report. We had nothing to hide so she oblige and I even made a joke if she wanted to see my tattoos as well. That seemed sufficient and she said our Visa was approve. I wasn't surprise myself since we were prepared but my wife almost cried. I asked the lady if she looked at the pictures and she said she looked at it before calling us in and it was more than enough proof of relationships. She just had to ask questions for the formal reason I guess. She gave us the card (green one) and ask to come back the next day at 2:45 pm to pick it up. All in all it took 7-8 minutes for the interview and we were done by 9:40 AM.
The next day we arrived at 2:30 pm and there was already 10 people in line in front of us. Again I wasn't worried because I figure the cases was in order like it was yesterday. We were let in around 2:55 and it was one person per family, the old guy in front of me had a problem with this but the immigration person just told him to oblige or leave which I thought was kind of funny. I guess he didn't go to VJ site to read ahead. We sat down in the order that we lined up and there was people who gave dirty looks if we sat at different spot. Again very funny why people gets so uptight about this part of the process since everybody should be happy their visa was approved but they were still uptight. At around 3:15 cheesy music came on the intercom follow by congratulations announcement and procedures on what to do when we get to the Airport in both English and Spanish. Sure enough after that, they called the names that was already predetermined and ours was around number 6 so being early to wait means nothing. After he gave me the package he told me to check and the name from the visa matches the passport so I was happy for that. I was out of the embassy with Visa in hand around 3:30 pm. We bought her plane ticket that night and plan to come back together after the Holidays.
Here's what I learned throughout this process. First be prepare, make copies of everything and have everything ready to go. Second, take control of your case. I called NVC almost nightly when the paperwork was there and afterward I called or email the Embassy regularly to create a report with them. You can call on Monday and Wednesday from 2-3:30 pm and speak to them personally. Lastly, relax and take a deep breath. If you are well prepared with nothing to hide the interviewer will sense and understand that as well.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #13496