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| Algiers, Algeria |  Review on April 11, 2014: |
Joaozinho
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Everything was much simpler than I had imagined. 
The day began as I (the petitioner) arrived with my wife (the beneficiary) at about 1:15pm for her 1:30pm appointment. We checked in by showing the interview letter and then proceeding to the security check. The guards will keep electronics, phones, flash disks, etc. It is okay to bring as much evidence as you can imagine because we brought a bag full of albums among other things and it didn't cause any problems with security.
There were quite a few tourist interviews, which were handled before our appointment. And then there was one K-1 interview, two CR-1 interviews and a F-2A. All of the tourist visa interviews seemed to have been granted. I think they were part of an educational program because it seemed too easy in comparison to what I've read on VJ. The K-1 visa was approved. My CR-1 was approved and the other got a request for additional evidence. The F-2A also got a request for additional evidence.
Although we arrived at 1:30pm, my wife wasn't seen until about two hours later for the actual interview portion at 3:30pm. She gave the required documents and did the fingerprints during those two hours. When the interview started, she was very nervous, but the kind young CO made the interview easy. She asked where we met and how we met, if my wife had met other people online as well. They asked about where I've been staying the last year and a half (as I've been in Algeria) and then they asked about my visits before I came to stay in Algeria and about where I worked. My wife answered these questions with no problem and showed photos to support each fact. The CO was truly just looking for the additional I-864 petition and once she fingered through all of those pages, she looked in depth at the two photo albums that my wife brought. She was amazed at one of the dresses and made a "wow" comment and she continued looking and probably looked at more than 300 photos in the album until she finished with the words, "we'll issue your visa." 
The interview went very quickly. The embassy staff is very kind and courteous and from my observation, the only people that had problems had lied to the staff.  It's much easier than you'll ever imagine. My wife was truly relieved afterwards and couldn't believe she stressed so much for an interview, which lasts a few painless minutes.
(updated on April 11, 2014)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #14277