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| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Review on March 30, 2007: |
koolaidman23
Rating:  | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
We arrived at the Consulate at 730 am. We were 5th in line. After the security screenings we went upstairs. A lady from the consulate came out to greet us and give us instructions. She gave us a new document order (that was not the same as what we were given in Packet 4). Her instructions were in Portuguese. Then we were called in to present out documents at 9 am. She told us everything looked okay, and then gave us the slip to go pay downstairs. At 1015 am we were called in for the interview. The consul said "Bom Dia" (pronouncing Dia like it was Spanish though), and we sat down. He then asked my wife if she spoke English, and she said yes, and if I spoke Portuguese... I responded "yes, kind of." So he asked my wife what language she wanted to have the interview in, and she told him it didn't matter. So he proceeded in English.
First he asked how we met, when, and where. He asked details about how we came to be together. He asked me when I came to Brazil, and when I told him I have been here for 2.25 years, he was amazed that I actually lived in Brazil! He asked me if I was here illegally, at which point I told him that I have permanent residency and that I applied here at the Consulate (Brazil only did DCF for resident USCs prior to the new rules). This seemed to be a trick on his part to try to expose a lie, quite obviously. He smiled and moved around some papers. We passed the test. He then asked what kind of work we would get once in the US, (I have been unemployed since I came here) and I told him. He asked who my co-sponsor was, I told him he is my Dad. He asked where we would live.
Then he said, "Well, everything seems to be in order, how long are you planning on staying in Rio?' We told him we already read that we could possibly pick up the visa the next day at 3 pm, and that we had planned accordingly. He smiled and gave us our little green slip to pick up the visa, and that was that.
Overall, he was friendly and didn't ask many questions. I was extremely nervous and did most of the talking, speaking over my wife and generally making a fool out of myself. All of that didn't seem to matter. He was a good natured person and obviously is used to seeing this.
I want to mention that the girl who went in before us did not get her visa. She was in there for 45 minutes and came out with a letter in her hand. We are not sure what exactly happened, but we overheard her talking to another couple and she repeatedly mentioned "why do they give you a choice to speak portuguese?" This girl didn't speak english, and was denied. No request for additional documents, just a straight up denial. I recommend that you speak English in your interview.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1442