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| Nigeria |  Review on February 5, 2016: |
auschris
Rating:  | Review Topic: EB-3 Visa
Our interview held today at US Consulate in Lagos. Everything was smooth sailing and we got our approval on the spot. Yesterday, we got a sign that all will go well. Our 15-month old son walked for the first time and that created a joyful atmosphere in our home.
BACKGROUND OF OUR CASE
Our visa category was EB-3 (an employment-based immigrant visa) and the petition was filed on our behalf by my employer. The process took 6 months (August, 2015 – February, 2016) to complete. Our priority date was August 20, 2015. The I-140 petition went through premium processing and got approved in less than 15 days.
MAIN GIST
Our appointment was for 7am but we got to the embassy by 5.30 am. There were already about 20 persons waiting. At 6.00 am we lined up went through the first security screening by police men. We were checked using a hand-held metal detector. Thereafter, we lined up in front of the pavilion and were given instructions by the embassy security staff. We were told of the items that were not allowed in the embassy. We were also instructed to open all sealed envelopes, including the medical report.
Inside the pavilion, we were frisked and our bags/envelopes were searched. We proceeded to a table where we handed over our appointment letter and our names were cross-checked on a list. A white slip was given to us to fill in our contact details when we get into the embassy building. From here, we moved across the road into the main building where we were subjected to the final screening. We went through a scanner and were asked to remove wrist watches, bangles, shoes etc.
At the entrance of the waiting area, we were instructed to press ‘B’ on a machine and a slip with a number appeared. It is with this number that we were called during the remainder of the process. There were already some people in the waiting area. After a wait of about 30 minutes, I was called to submit my documents like international passport, passport photos, marriage certificate, medical report, police character, educational certificates, visascreen and CGFNS certificates (a requirement for nurses immigrating on employment-based immigrant visas) and job offer letter. Submission of documents took about 30 minutes.
After what looked eternity, our number popped up at Window 1 for the interview proper. We were interviewed by a beautiful and well-mannered Caucasian lady. She asked my wife and myself to raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth and took our finger prints. My left finger prints were taken on behalf of our children.
She asked me the following questions:
- What do you do?
- Where do you work currently?
- What is your nursing specialty?
- Which of your employer’s location in the US will you be working in?
- How did you hear about your employer?
- Did they interview you?
- Did you go to the US for the interview?
- Have you been to the US?
- Do you have a relative in the US?
- What state is he in?
- When did you get married?
- What are the birth dates of your children? (wife answered)
She brought out a white slip and circled an address and asked me to pick up our passports in 2 weeks. She informed us that we could have someone pick up the passports on our behalf (since we don’t leave in Lagos) by filling the reverse side of the form and asking the person to go to the collection centre with it. We were also given another white paper with instructions on how to pay the green card of $165.
We left the building at 10.00am.
This is the end of this phase of our journey. TO GOD ALONE BE ALL THE GLORY IN JESUS NAME. AMEN
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #18898