|
|
| Naples, Italy |  Review on June 18, 2015: |
HtBlack
Rating:  | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
My first day was the medical. It was a long process with long waiting time in between the chest x-ray, blood work and medical but each of those lasted very little; even the medical exam. I was examined fully dressed, I only took my shoes off to be weighed - the exam was so relaxed that when I did the eye exam they didn't even test each eye of mine separately and I could keep my glasses off; and I have a blind eye which, like this, they didn't notice! I had to specify that after we were done with everything and the doctor was sort of bothered that I hadn't told him before, which was funny.
Next day was the consulate interview. I arrived there twenty minutes before my appointment and was first in line. I was told to wait outside until they opened the office (my appointment time must have been right at opening time). I ended up going in second because a couple with a baby and small kid were let in before me; it was a nice gesture towards them, I appreciated it.
To go inside, I passed by a small room in which they passed my stuff under a metal detector and I think they kept my phone there, and my manicure set (I had a small scissor in it and a metallic nail file). Gave me a small plastic ticket with my number.
Went into the building in a large room. The process was double: first I was called at one booth where a lady collected my documents. She asked me for each document in turn, together with one copy of it, and assembled all of them in a folder and took a few of my originals such as marriage certificate and birth certificate, telling me that they'd give them back after they copied and checked it all; she was nice and polite. Then I went back to sit down and wait for the actual interview. Oh, by the way, she was Italian and we spoke Italian.
I was called after around ten minutes to my interview, in a nearby booth. The officer was obviously not Italian, and although he started speaking in Italian he soon asked me if I spoke English and if I'd like the interview to be conducted in English, and I agreed. My interview felt more like a chat with an acquaintance than an actual "interrogation": he was friendly and smiled often. I was asked how did I meet my husband, where did each of us live when we met, when did we meet in person for the first time, where did we get married. Then he asked about my co-sponsor (father-in-law), who is my husband's stepfather - asked when did he come into my husband's life, when did my husband's parent divorce and when did his stepfather marry his mother. Funny thing was that I wasn't sure about those dates since we hadn't talked too much about it! Must have been the only thing I DIDN'T know. But I ballparked and turns out I was right, haha.
Then he excused himself as he went out to get my documents, he reviewed them as I went to pay the fee at another booth and then waited for him, gave me the originals back, explained how the passport process worked and told me I passed the interview, and I was free to go! A very simple process with very pleasant people all-around.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #17091