|
|
| Ankara, Turkey |  Review on August 15, 2007: |
tanyakaraman
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Our visa interview was scheduled for July 5 at 10:15 a.m. We arrived outside the embassy around 9:30 so's we'd have plenty of time to get through security, etc. That really wasn't necessary, however. We waited outside (in the July heat!) until about 10:20 when the security guards finally let us inside. The security process was brief...maybe 5 minutes. They checked our passports, looked inside our bags and gave us a once-over with a metal detector wand. They took Ozzy's medical exam envelope and kept his passport. They gave us a number and we were let into a large room with glass windows at one end, rows of chairs in the middle facing the windows, and a UPS desk in the back. There were lights above each window that indicated what number was being served. We just sat and waited for maybe 1/2 hour or so, listening to other people's interviews (you could hear every word!) until our number was displayed. Ozzy had chosen to have his interview in Turkish (and agonized over whether he had made the "right" decision the whole time we were waiting...  ...I reassured him that it didn't matter as long as he was comfortable). Nevertheless, the woman who interviewed us began speaking in English and the entire interview was conducted in English (which was just fine, as he is quite fluent). She asked him how we met and he responded that we were introduced by a friend of mine. She asked me what that friend's name was. She asked him what he did for a living and some details regarding that. She asked me about my prior divorce. She asked me if I have children and how they feel about Ozzy. I told her they love him and that he calls and talks to them and sends them gifts, and also told her about the week came with me to visit Ozzy last fall. She asked what our wedding plans were. Ozzy was asked to sign a paper stating that he intended to marry me after his arrival to the US. Then she said, "Well, I see no problems!" and sent us to the UPS desk to pay for delivery of the visa! It was pretty quick and painless...the waiting was definitely the hardest part. The visa was delivered on July 10, the 3rd business day following our interview, although UPS claimed it had "no record" of the package prior to the date of delivery, so that was a bit worrisome. Ozzy did not believe he would actually get the visa until the day it arrived! He plans to fly to the US (via JFK airport) in September after he takes care of some necessary business, sells his belongings and finishes out the lease on his apartment. I am so excited and we are counting downt the days!
Some tips for other people going through the interview at Ankara:
1. Dress nicely (we did and we honestly felt that it helped in how we were treated/perceived)
2. Be prepared with your answers. I printed a list of sample questions from the US embassy website and we went over them prior to the interview. I feel this helped us in knowing what to expect.
3. Be affectionate...not overly of course, but hold hands, etc. You are engaged after all!
4. Be positive and confident. Unless there is a honest to God problem, I think most people get their visa, if for no other reason, just because the American citizen is asking for it.
5. Go together if at all possible. I watched several people whose interviews appeared to go well get turned down for lack of evidence of a relationship. Alternatively, I saw interviews go incredibly badly but the couple was there together and the visa was granted. If you can't go together, send lots and lots of evidence!
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1913