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| Belgium |  Review on July 29, 2014: |
Arcadoli
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
I went to my appointment on June 26th 2014 at 2pm. I was there at 1:30pm. At the first security check (in the street) I was not on the list! Hopefully I had printed all confirmations, so the security officer called the embassy and then let me in. I waited for about 15 minutes outsite in the street then around 2pm, everyone was allowed to wait at the door of the embassy. An officer came and asked our names, one by one, and let us enter. There, is a security check like in the airport, they kept my phone and my box of candies, and gave me a ticket to pick them back. Then I entered a room and I had to chose on a board with buttons why I was there, then received a ticked with a number. I sat there for about 30 to 45 minutes. There is a TV showing a news us tv channel. On the side of the TV there is another screen that shows the ticket number. So when my number showed up on the screen I went to the window counter, and a nice lady asked my documents. She took some originals and for some, just simple copies.
She said to go back waiting, I will be called again. I think I waited again 30 to 45 minutes then back to that lady, she said all documents are ok, then I got my finger print taken. I asked her if I could have a copy with a stamp of the embassy on it of my vaccination record, and she gave it to me. Then she said to go back to wait, I will be called for an interview with the consul. That lady was very nice and it was ok to talk in French (I did like it better for the documents parts and some questions I had).
Again 30 or 45 minutes (I had not my phone, so no clock with me lol), I was called on another window counter. The consul officer was there. He asked me if I can talk in English because his French is not that good (he is a very nice person really). So he told me my rights and what I risk if I have not said the truth or gave false documents. Then he told me bofore I answer how many years in jail I could have if that was the case, then told me I have to swear and sign electronicaly (with my finger print) that I told the truth. I was not really asked any questions and nobody asked me any pictures or any call logs with my fiancé. He entered something in the computer and was waiting something back to happen, but it didn't... So he said I can go, because for him, everything is ok and I should receive my visa soon.
After 2 days I checked my DS-260 status online on the CEAC website. A case was created on June 27th, and the status was something like "administrative something.." then I checked back a few days later and then I saw "Issued" since July 1st. YAY!
But... After 2 weeks of waiting, I was very worried to receive nothing, no email, no phone call... So I tried to call them, but the only service you can reach is the appointment service and these people can not really help. Except that one said that obviously there was a problem. They gave me many email adresses to try to get help. I did not really get helped immediately cause they will not react until there is not at least 3 weeks since your interview. So finaly I got one answer after many emails sent to tell they had a problems with their new online appointment system. Then on the 25th July a lady called me from the embassy, she explained me they had problems with the system then she told me my visa will be sent the same day, she explained to me what to do once I will enter the USA and she really apologized a lot. That was a Friday afternoon. I got my visa today, a Tuesday morning.
So except the issue they had (every new system needs beta testers lol) and the stress to see nothing happening, the embassy experience was good. Again, very friendly people there and they talk French, Dutch or English.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #14918