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| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Review on August 15, 2007: |
Lee Roy
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Hello:
My K-1 visa interview was pretty smooth, thank God. It is really unbeliavable how we find it hard to control our emotions and anxiety or go through this painful and stressful process, but in the end, everything is worthwhile. Anything is worth in order to be with the love of your life. 
So, my advice is calm down, relax, take a deep breath, and have in mind that in your heart you know what you are pursuing — a true relationship with your sweetheart in the United States. 
My suggestion is
Hotel Formule 1
Rua Silva Jardim, 32 - Centro
Rio de Janeiro - RJ
BRAZIL
Tel: (+55 21) 3511 8500
Fax: (+55 21) 3511 8501
Rate: 53.00 (Small and comfy room for 3 people)
Check-in time: 12:00 p.m. (noon)
Even if you are not hungry at all, do have breakfast before leaving for Consulate. Going through all of that without anything in your stomach will cause you to starve, sweat, feel dizzy or the like.  Force yourself to eat at least some light food.
I arrived at 7:00 a.m. There was a huge line outside for tourist/business visa applicants. Do not take that one or you will be late for your interview (scheduled at 7:45 sharp). In case you forgot to pay for the $ 100 fee, you can buy it from those people trying to make money out of your forgetful mind. They'll charge you "only" $ 160 then.  There is a side entrance where the security guards are. Tell them you are there for immigration visa and they will show you the proper line, usually very very small. By the time I got there, there were only two people in front of me.
In order to speed up the process, leave all kinds of electronic devices and gadgets at home or at the hotel (including coins, keys, or anything made of metal). Visa Journey website was quite useful in letting me know about that way ahead. So, follow this little piece of advice and that will save you a lot of time, as you will not need to leave those electronic items downstairs to pick them up later. You'd better not taking anything with you (not even cell phones).
First thing, have your sealed medical examination at hand. That's the first thing they will ask you after checking your name on their list.
After leaving your briefcase beside the metal detector gateway, go through it and take your things with you. You will see a hall with many chairs and a desk at the end of the line. In case that line is too long, do not wait. Be bold enough to ask the clerk where you should go for immigration visa. She will then direct you upstairs, where another security guard (the fourth and last one) will check your name on his list again. You will be given a password and the list below:
FIANCÉE VISA REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
PUT THE DOCUMENTS IN THIS ORDER, THE COPIES REQUIRED BEHIND EACH ORIGINAL. Please arrange each person's documents separately.
1. TWO FRONT VIEW PHOTOS (Name printed behind. You ears MUST be visible)
2. PASSPORT (and all previous passports)
3. CITIBANK FEE
4. TWO FORMS DS-156 (Handwritten copies of this form will NOT be accepted. You should have 2 electronically filled in copies of this form, as a barcode is to be generated)
5. FORM DS-156K
6. FORM DS-157 (for those over 16 yrs)
7. FORM FS-257a (fiancé(ées) and dependents)
8. SWORN STATEMENT (fiancées and dependents only). DO NOT SIGN THIS BEFOREHAND!!! You are supposed to do it in front of the consular officer during the actual interview.
9. BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND COPY
10. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE AND COPY (if applicable)
11. DIVORCE DECREE AND COPY (if applicable)
12. DEATH CERTIFICATE AND COPY (if applicable)
13. MILITARY SERVICE AND COPY (if applicable)
14. POLICE CERTIFICATE AND COPY (SECRETARIA DE SEGURANÇA PÚBLICA - statewide)
15. POLICE CERTIFICATE AND COPY (POLÍCIA FEDERAL - nationwide, ready within 5 business days in Rio, and 15 days in São Paulo)
16. POLICE CERTIFICATE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES (if applicable)
17. MEDICAL EXAM (sealed) - NEVER EVER OPEN IT!
16. AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT
- Form I-134 (Original and copy, duly signed and certified by the petitioner, your American counterpart)
- Last Federal income tax (a copy is acceptable, however it must contain all the pages, related to the previous year)
- Proof of citizenship or green card (Copy of birth certificate or American passport).
Now, have a seat and pretend you are calm (no one is) . The air-conditioned room provides you with water and a TV set, where you can watch the bloody local TV news about all kinds of violent acts committed everywhere, especially in Rio and São Paulo. If you have not had breakfast by then, prepare to feel dizzy... You've been warned.
Now seated, you will be waiting to see your password on the Immigration Services panel (in green). The other one is red and is not for you. "Only for American citizens", they say. When you number shows on that screen, you will know which cabin you should enter (1 or 2), where someone will check if you have all the items of the list above ready and in proper order. If so, you will be sent back to that room to wait for the actual interview. Otherwise, if you like or have not prepared enough for that, enjoy some more stress, as they may reschedule your interview for the following week (if you are lucky) or send you outside either to pay the fee, fill in forms, have copies of documents or have new pictures taken).
But in case you have read well all of the instructions received in Packet 3 and Packet 4 and also the valuable information available here on Visa Journey website, you will feel that "The Oscar goes to you" as you will be much more prepared than everybody there (who will be panicking, crying, sweating even more, drinking lots of water, visiting the restroom very often, and suffering, a tragic scene you will never want to go through). In case you follow the right advice here, you may be the first one called in that armored cabin. Another tip: have another cup of water before going in. You will need it. After you lock the door, it's you, the consular officer, you darling (in spirit) and your God (within you, if you so believe). So, that's gonna be a hopefully pleasant meeting for 4 people.
When you enter the fateful cabin, relax. There's nothing else you can do now. Pray silently. Everything that could be done was already done by you, you honey, and God Himself. Have copies of all evidence of your relationship (records of phone calls, copies of sent and received letters and cards, Yahoo, MSN, Skype chats, photo dated albums, or anything relevant, in chronological order). In my case, I had a full briefcase of evidence and all of that. Nothing was asked of me, not even a single page or picture. The consular officer had everything she needed to confirm our relationship. But it's never enough to be overprepared.
You will be fingerprinted and required to raise your right hand and swear that everything you say to him/her is true to the best of your knowledge. If you want problems with the American government or immigration officers in the future, tell them a lie, even a single one. Yeah, if you enjoy getting into trouble with them, lie to them. You will bitterly regret it, I can assure you.
Of course, questions may vary. They are asked one after another. You will not have time to think or even breathe, so tell them everything you know, but only what they ask (as you won't have time for details). If you don't know the answer, don't create one. Simply say, "I don't know". Below are the questions she asked me, and the ones you get may be slightly different:
- When was your first contact?
- If over the Internet, which website?
- When did you meet in person?
- How long did you stay together when you first met?
- Are you teaching her your native language?
- Tell me about her family. (Parents, siblings, where they live, what they do, their age)
- Does she live alone or with parents?
- What does she do for a living? (Be specific. Get to know her specific work routine)
- Tell me about your family here.
- Do you intend to apply for your parents' immigration some time in the future? How do they feel about you leaving them? Do you think they would enjoy living in the U.S.?
- What do you do for a living?
- When did you decide to start the K1 Visa and get married?
- How did you learn English?
- How old are you? How old is she?
- How do you communicate with each other? (Internet? How? E-mails? How often? Phone calls? Chats? Which instant messenger?)
- Did you ever apply for an American visa before? When was the last time?
- Did you meet your fiancée before or after applying for that refused visa application?
- Are you going through this whole K1 visa process just because your previous visa applications were refused? (If you relationship is for real and sincere, you will know what to say).
God willing and everying going pretty smoothly, you'll be given a green slip that you must submit before the TNT express service desk (which costs around US$ 23). Your visa will be issued two days later, and you'll receive your passport with it at home another three days later. So, five days total.
Now, call your sweetheart and get ready to start off your new life with your babe!
If you need my help, I am willing to do that. I was very much helped by wonderful people here at Visa Journey website. So, I'm just paying it forward.
Take care and all the best.
WellW
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1912