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| Hong Kong, China |  Review on January 18, 2014: |
hklad
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I received Packet 4 right before Christmas with the appointment date on 14 January 2014. I called the consulate to inquire if my fiance could attend, but the person that answered could not provide an answer and suggested me to send a request as "feedback" in the online scheduling system. For Hong Kong, the consulate schedules the appointment for you and you can't change the date unless there is some extraordinary circumstances and could delay your case for a while. I had earlier made an arrangement with my fiance to visit. After making the request, the Consulate denied it for security reason and closed the ticket. I did not fuss over it, but did print out the response as proof in case I needed it at the interview.
My appointment was at 10AM, which happened to be the last appointment in the morning. When I got there at 9:30AM, security asked to see the appointment letter and x-ray my bag and jacket. My phone was taken from me at the entrance and they gave me a number plate so that I can get it back on my way out. After that, they gave me a form and told me to go to the 1st floor to the Immigrant Visa Unit. The form contains all the documents that will be collected by a staff. There were about 6 groups of people before me. The room was just enough to fit everyone but as they asked questions, everyone in the room could hear.
Around 10:00 I was called by a staff who collected the documents such as photos, payment receipt, medical exam report, I-134, evidence for ongoing relationship, etc. Then I had to get finger printed (all 10 fingers). I went back to the seating area and waited for quite a while because I was the last appointment that morning. I was called by the Consul around 11:30AM, a full 2 hours since I arrived. Only another K1 applicant in front of me left in the room at that time.
Before the interview began, the Consul asked about the DS160, if I understood everything and if I was the one who filled it out online. Then, I had to get fingered with 4 fingers together as my "signature". After that I was sworn in to tell the truth. He asked me to describe my fiance, and I did. He asked how we met and how long have we known each other. He flipped through the I-134 and noted the amount he made as reported on the 1040 as well as a record issued by the IRS last year. He them pulled out a photo of us and asked when was that taken. He asked if I lived anywhere else other than Hong Kong for more than a year and I did. He looked at the Police Clearance from that country and asked about my employment there. He asked where do we plan on getting the civil marriage and I replied Washington DC. He asked if we are to return to Ohio where the marriage is not currently recognize at the state level. I answered yes and said we planned to put in safeguards to be sure we have contractual rights to govern things such as Will, personal properties and medical power of attorney. He then moved on to ask me to tell him something about my fiance that he doesn't already know from the stacks of paper in front of him. I answered it and he said those were all his questions and I was approved. He told me to take a seat and a staff will finalize the process. It was 11:50 when I sat back down. So the whole interview took about 20 minutes.
A staff called me back to another window and gave me some documents back while keeping others. He said those will be put into an envelope for me to take to the Point of Entry and not to open it before that. He then gave me instructions about the courier that will return my passport with the visa and sent me away. I left the Consulate right around 12:00 noon and Whatsapp my fiance at 12:05 to tell him the good news.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #13657