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| Switzerland |  Review on January 16, 2015: |
mofatsd
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Switzerland US consulate used to do direct filing but since 2012 they have stopped and all paperwork goes through the Chicago lock box. Switzerland does not get many requests/filings so expect things to go pretty quickly when you are at the consulate.
Because I, the USC, was living abroad with my husband and family the filing/interview may differ based on your case situation. You have two lines that are outside of the consulate, the non-immigration line and the immigration/US citizen line. Our interview was at 9am and there was already a line at the non-immigration (about 10) We were in welcomed ahead of the non-immigration line and if you have not been to the consulate before there is an metal detector and a place to store your keys (small items) in a box. Please do not take bags, backpacks or briefcases. Only your paperwork will be allowed into the consulate.
The consulate is downstairs in a separate building. Bathrooms are there, a photo booth (if you need photos), coffee/hot chocolate and a small box with very 'old' toys (if you have kids).
The line inside the consulate was extremely long but because we had an interview schedule (and it was for an immigrant visa) we were quickly welcomed to skip the entire line and go to window number 8. The lady checked the paperwork, had my husband take an oath and do biometrics of his fingerprints.
We waited for an additional 10 minutes and he was called to another window (window 11) which was hidden behind a movable wall (three or four windows hd this wall for separation of the waiting room and the interview area).
Husband was asked about how he met me, where he met me and where do we plan on staying after we get to the US. After a quick view of our AOS form she put 'meets' and then asked for his passport. She said that the visa would come back to him by middle of next week (we live an hour away and choose to have the visa mailed to us - you can also pick it up the next day after 4pm) and told us best of luck on our move to the US.
This whole process took no more than 30 minutes and we left.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #15978