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| Malaysia |  Review on November 21, 2014: |
savagechair
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
(This write up is from the USC spouse, not the beneficiary)
We got to the US Embassy at around 8:25 am, and there was no waiting line. Because I needed to be there for a separate passport service for US Citizens, I was able to go in and wait with my husband (the beneficiary) in the waiting room.
Per the instructions in your letter from the medical center, take a B number. You will go into a waiting room, and in the case of my husband, who had the first B number available, he was called in for his initial document submission at around 9:45 am.
DOCUMENT SUBMISSION For IR1/CR1
He was asked to produce his ds-260 confirmation page, 2 photographs (note, make sure you use the US-sizing requirements, not Malaysian or another size), and his receipt for the option to pick up his documents later (go to the state.gov website to register an account and choose a document return option: this is how they will return your passport and visa to you. It can be couriered to your home, but you need to be available to sign for it. In our case, we opted to pick it up at the PJ center they use. There are several local locations for pick up). He was also asked for his medical report (he had to bring it in, versus the center forwarding it to the embassy). Of note the xrrays were not looked at, were returned to him, and now we have a big xray thing sitting around 
After submitting his documents, the man who received them called me in to give me back some of my financial papers. The document submission process took approximately 10 minutes, and my husband was told to return at 1pm for a 1:30 interview. You will need to be sure to keep your initial number (from the number you collected when you first arrive) to show them when you return for an interview later.
We returned at 1pm, and I was allowed into the building with my husband. At around 1:30 he was called in for his interview, and it took less than 10 minutes. I initially went into the booth with him but was told by the interview person (a nice young man) that he would call me if he needed me, and I should return to the waiting area.
My husband was interviewed alone. We have a long-term marriage, so the questions were minimal and related to:
-how did we meet
-when were we married
-what does he do for work
The person said our case was open and shut, my husband would be approved, and we had to wait around 10 more minutes to receive information on where he will pick up his visa.
He was instructed to pick up his visa/passport on Monday from the PJ center for pick ups. They did not mention that he would receive an SMS or email for pick up but that the visa would be ready on Monday.
We were out of the building at around 1:45 pm and finished.
Overall the process at interview was smooth and seamless. I had prepared a lot of extra paperwork if necessary, but in our case it was not.
OF NOTE:
-You cannot bring ipads, devices, laptops, etc into the embassy. Leave them at home. You can bring a cell phone but will be required to leave it at the front guard house in exchange for a number (which you use to get it back later)
-There are not clocks, that I could see, inside the embassy.
-The earlier you get there, the earlier number you will get for your interview. This may or may not impact the time in which you are seen.
-Large backpacks are not allowed. I used a larger tote for our documents but it's probably as large as they allow.
-In general my experience i the embassy staff is amiable (friendly) and warm, both local staff and US citizen staff.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #15651