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| Belgium |  Review on September 17, 2015: |
Kim Mertens
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Since not a lot of Belgians share a review of their experience, here is mine.
My appointment was today at 2 pm. While others tend to come in fashionably late, I was waaaay too early. I don`t know my way around there so when I arrived at noon (11.50AM!!) I decided to grab a drink and then slowly make my way there. While I was waiting, at about 12.15 it started pouring down. The security had already asked for my appointment letter and said they could let me in within about an hour. I decided to stick it out.
12.45, one of the security guards said I could come in and wait in the waiting room inside since it was raining so bad. I had bought an umbrella in the railway station of Brussels Central, luckily. The other guard though, said that he didn`t want that, so the gate closed again without telling me any more. I was left there till about 1.20 when another guard told me to go grab a coffee across the street and come back around 1.45 cause they would not allow anyone in any sooner. By that time my shoes and socks as well as my dress pants and handbag were soaked and dirty. I headed off, grabbed a drink and came back at 1.45pm.
Better luck this time.
So if you`re reading this, there`s no point in going early, you might be lucky like some others, but you could be very unlucky on a stormy day and be stuck at the entrance if your guard doesn`t really give two craps.
Once I was in I was told to go to the second building, and go to the first entrance. I had to wait in front of a locked door for a few minutes but that was fine since at least there was some kind of roof, so I was dry!
Again I was asked for my appointment letter.
It`s okay if you have a bag, they`ll just keep it there and give you a ticket to go pick it back up afterwards. You put your binders with your documents, and if you like, your wallet, in one box, the handbag or backpack goes in another one. Phone has to be turned off and put in your bag. Then you are told to take a ticket, and go through the door into the waiting room.
Like others said, pick immigrant (second one). The security guy did it for me and picked "visas" which was incorrect, I told him it`s for a K1 and I would need an immigrant, so he printed off another one for me and I could proceed.
The waiting room was pretty much empty, only 2 people were waiting, and 1 girl was at one of the counters.
Within about 10 minutes it was my turn. The man at counter 8 was very friendly, asked for my passport in English and when he saw where I live, he asked if I speak Dutch, then proceeded in Dutch. He asked for my I-134 and supporting documents, my international birth certificate, police certificate, passport pictures (2 pieces). He then took my finger prints on a tiny machine on my side of the counter. He asked if I wanted my visa sent home to me or if I wanted to pick it up. Since I hadn`t forgotten about how they made me wait at the gates, I decided to get it sent home. The guy asked if I had been married before (no) and when I wanted to enter the US ( I said hopefully in October) he nodded his head reassuringly.
He asked if my I-134 was a copy because my fiance loves black ink but I assured him it was the original, he then looked again and agreed, he said he was just wondering cause it wasn`t clear at first.
His computer was acting up a little so he called a lady coworker, she explained there wasn`t any problem with my visa application, just a computer problem, we cracked a few friendly "jokes" about it, and about what a struggle it is on a bad day to get to the embassy. He kept my passport, wished me a good day and told me to go back to my seat until the consul was ready to see me.
At about 1.40-1.45 I was called to counter 3, the interview counters are behind the corner so the other waiting people aren`t right behind you listening to the interview, it`s actually quite calm there, not a thing to worry about.
She said she was finishing up my file she had gotten from her coworker, and after about a minute she gave me a big smile, asked how I was doing and made me say "I do" (oath to speak the truth and nothing but the truth).
After that she asked me " I have got to ask you, the picture you guys included of the tractor store, do they actually sell tractors there? I`m seriously wondering!" We both started laughing and I told her they just sell lawn mowers and such, and that we went there for a cowboy hat for my dad. She asked how many times we had both travelled, I said I went there once and he had come here 3 times, and that he had actually just left Belgium 4 days ago cause we assumed it would take much longer before we would be able to do the interview. She smiled and said " awww poor guy what a shame he had to go back early!" then she asked how we had met (counter strike video gaming) and asked what we shoot at when we play that game, I explained the game to her. She asked me what we do when we are together online and in person, and what made him so interesting to me. I explained those but after a few sentences she would proceed with the next question. She asked what exactly his job means (Specimen processor) out of genuine interest, off the record, she wondered what he processed, so I explained that to her. Then she asked how my parents feel about the engagement and if his parents like me. I said they both love us, and she said " Well even if they wouldn`t I`d still be giving you your visa!" Then at the end she asked me what kind of wedding we had planned, we had a little conversation about that and she told me best of luck and she wished me a happy life and a beautiful wedding, she said I was approved and would get my visa in the mail in a week to a week and a half.
She asked me if I had any more questions, and told me, even if you forget EVERYTHING else, just remember not to open your envelope, and you`ll be good. She wished me a good day, and I wished her a good day.
She was all smiles and had such a kind and caring face, I was not worried for one second, it was like talking to an old friend!
I went back through the waiting room into the security area, claimed my bag, we wished each other a good day and I left, turned my phone on and proceeded to call my fiance, and both our families before even leaving the embassy, then I headed out. I will be getting my visa next week!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #17803