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| Naples, Italy |  Review on July 19, 2015: |
cucciolo
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
DAY 1: Medical visit
Go to the Istituto Varelli in Via Cornelia dei Gracchi (check!). If you are using public transport consider 30 minutes more for any hindrances.
Try to go there early, I had my appointment at 8:00, I arrived sharp and I had 7 numbers ahead of me. The management of different queues they have at Istituto Varelli works pretty OK. There is a reserved line for Consular visit, but if the day is crowded, there might be delays. All the process was held in Italian.
(1) The first step is just a general check in. They verify your name on their list is the same on your documents, and they take your passport (sic!). Girl was nice.
(2) After some waiting you have step number 2, with blood taking to verify if you have syphilis (sic!). The nurse was super kind and she was really good at blood taking, the easiest I had in years.
(3) After this, I and the other guys of the Consular line were moved to the X ray zone. After some other waiting, one by one we are called in the room where we were asked to take off our shirt, face some kind of panel and in one second, X rays are done. Nurse was kind and funny.
(4) Next step is vaccination interview. The waiting was super long (1 hour and 15 minutes), and especially hard since there was no air conditioning in the small corridor were we were waiting. In this moment you start recognize the people that are sharing the same fate with you. When we were finally admitted, the interview was held in a very small room, and two doctors were interviewing one person each. So be ready to share personal information not only with the doctor, but also with the other person who is being interviewed at the same time as you. Doctors were “different”, but in the end they appeared professional and nice. Mine was around 80, so… Remember to take 4 pictures of you. They appear to only check “trivalent” (measles, mumps and rubella) and tetanus.
(5) Next and final step is the general visit. Going to the underground level. Wait some more. They ask some questions, check sight, touch your abdomen, glands and check your heart and lungs, and it is done. They give you back your passport. Doctor and nurse were kind.
If it goes straight it takes three hours and a half.
DAY 2: The Interview
Be there early. They opened the gates at 7:30 for interview held at 8:00. People that had appointment at 9:30 were admitted only later. At the first check point (very similar to a baggage check at the airport), they let you leave your electronic devices. Then you are handed out a ticket with a number and admitted in the building. Second floor, big room with CNN on widescreen. Small chairs facing the TV, on your back a police officer. On your left some 6 windows (post-office-like windows). They call your number in both English and Italian. If you start speaking Italian, they are going to follow the conversation in Italian. Officers have speakers to be heard, you are going to talk to a glass, so people behind you (so basically all the fellow there for the interview) can easily hear both questions and answers.
(1) First call, the officer checks your documents. They apparently need the original (or certified copy) AND a copy. So be ready to bring spare copies. First thing, they give you back the Istituto Varelli X rays, for you take them at the custom, when you will enter the US on the visa. Then you give them your passport. They did not ask for my fiancée birth certificate, they did not want my military papers (the officer said they are not needed if you had done “Servizio Civile” like I did). They specifically required the affidavit of support and my fiancée latest tax returns. Girl at the window was firm and professional. Not rude, not nice.
(2) After a few minutes, your name is going to be called by another officer. Choose the language by starting to speak the language you want. At the beginning some administrative staff (courier, domestic violence, etc.). First question: how did we meet; I tried to give as much details I could. Second question: does my fiancée family have Italian origins; I provided the story of the immigration of grand-grandpa. Third question: Has my fiancée family always lived where they are now; I provided the story of their moving from the state of New York in the nineties and some related detail. After that the officer said he has no problem in giving me the visa. They are not giving you back your passport, they are going to ship it by courier to the destination you choose. Officer was super nice and helping, I wish he could be that nice to everybody.
I went out; it was done at 9:00. Please consider that there was one officer at the time, so if you are first, you go straight, but otherwise you have to wait for all the people in front of you to be done by one single officer. It may take time.
They said to wait 15 days, after 11 days I am still waiting for the passport to come.
Good luck to everybody.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #17364