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| Ukraine |  Review on March 21, 2016: |
HappyAndIKnowIt
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I, as the petitioner, accompanied my fiancee for the 8:30am appointment. You are no longer allowed to bring cell phones, or pretty much anything but your documents (see instructions for interview), however there is a pharmacy up the street with lockers. It is located at #1 on the same street as the Embassy (which is #4). You can store personal items there for 40 hryvnas.
At the Embassy, there is a mass of people (not exactly a line), but not all will have same interview time. You are able to "cut" ahead of those with later interview times, and you should listen to the officers as they call out for any others with your appointment time, you can jump ahead in line at that time.
Security is security. One man had a phone, and they had him leave and find somewhere to place his phone. After entering the final room for the interview, my fiance's number was called almost immediately to present documents and fingerprints. Each window has a digit readout above and when a window shows your number, it's your turn. After turning in documents, you sit back down and wait.
For us, the wait was not very long, maybe 15-20 minutes, and part of that was because the consular officer reviewing our file was distracted by the officer handling the woman at the window next to him, to offer advice on that case.
Again, our number showed up above the window, and we approached the man. My fiancee read a written oath to tell the truth, which is on a sheet of paper in English, Russian, and Ukrainian. He asked her when, where, and how we met, not necessarily in that order. He also asked how I proposed. He discussed IMBRA. The entire interview which was only a couple minutes was in Ukrainian. He said we were approved and that we would receive our visa in about a week.
Also, the documents we brought were very light on the "evidence of relationship". In fact, there was none, other than what I frontloaded in the application. However, it was not an issue, even though our interview was within 4 months of our first online communication. There was never a problem about the legitimacy of the relationship. I think being present helps a lot, but I don't think there would have been an issue if I were not there. The man was friendly and did not really seem skeptical or probing in any way, other than standard, routine, doing his job type questions.
Just answer honestly, being slightly nervous is completely normal. It seems the first and only time they look at the case file is for a few minutes before you are called up to the window, and his questions are probably formed as he reviews your file, at least he is looking for answers in the file.
We were at the embassy for 45 minutes, plus maybe an extra 10 outside before entering. We waited longer at the pharmacy waiting for a taxi to take us back to the hotel after getting our phone.
Good luck to everyone. Very easy and pleasant experience.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #19144