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| Guatemala |  Review on July 4, 2014: |
JVC516
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Things are done a little differently now in Guatemala. Even though the website has you select a courier method for Visa delivery, we had our interview at the window. I was with my foreign partner. The man who interviewed us was extremely nice (and gay, himself). We heard him being a little harsh with a woman prior to us being called, but she had been there for the third time and still didn't bring some papers he specifically told her to bring. He flipped through the paperwork, asked my partner some very simple questions and approved us. There was no trickery to the questions and no attempt on the embassy part to want to decline us. We had just a handful of photos, but from my first visit in 2009, then 2010, and 2013. He also had copies of credit cards for both of us (as I added him as an authorized user to about 6 of my cards) way back since 2008 as well as each renewal time. It showed longevity and sincerity. He kept my partner's passport and gave him a ticket with instructions to return on Monday (this was on Friday) after 3:00pm. There was no issue with me being there for both transactions. They were receptive for both of us. He got his Visa with a single entry stamp and that Saturday we flew to the US. I was always a little concerned at the fact that all the paperwork indicated that the final decision is made at the point of entry. It made me feel that if you arrived and stood before a biased or unfriendly Point of Entry officer, he could turn my partner away. It was nothing like that. The man (who spoke Spanish) was very straight, but explained the requirement for us to get married within 90 days without any signs of bias or disdain. It was an easy process all the way around. It was long, but if your relationship is legitimate and no obvious signs of fraud, you shouldn't have any problem. The longer you've been together, the better. They may look closer and harder at 6 month - 1 year relationships just to weed out the "marriage for money" possibilities, but I've read so many people's posts here while I was waiting, and it almost terrified me. I think some of the people who posted here were either fraudulent or simply were obvious frauds in the eyes of the embassy. I can only speak of my own experience and how it went in Guatemala. All of the employees who make the decisions are American. We saw approval after approval by each any every applicant at every window. Only the one woman irked the guy who approved us. Of course, we were always concerned until that very last moment when he said "Congratulations", but honestly, after I started speaking with him at the window, I felt more at ease. A possible suggestion: If both you and your American spouse are together at the window, don't just stand there quietly while he/she does everything. It's good for the American to make a little friendly conversation (whether it be about the heat, your home state .. anything) and you'll feel much more at ease and you can develop a slight rapport with the officer. Overall, they all seemed to be very nice. Not quite the doubting monsters portrayed by many people posting. It may also depend on the country. I can only speak for my experience in Guatemala. Maybe some countries with a high fraud rate may be a little more strict. Just be in a real relationship and show it, and you should all be fine.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #14758