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| Warsaw, Poland |  Review on May 10, 2016: |
MordecaiRigby
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
I had a 8:30am appointment. Got there around 8:20, the line was already quite long in front of the entrance. Before you get in they make you leave all of your electronics with the security (you receive a laminated number to get it back after the appointment). I forgot I carried a pepper spray in my purse. The embassy security told me to leave the building and throw it in the trash across the street. Then I was allowed back in the building. Save yourself the trouble - don't try to bring that kind of stuff into the embassy 
From there you go downstairs to register, get your number and the waiting game begins. After my number was called I approached the window and talked to a Polish embassy employee, who collected all the missing documents (in my case they wanted to get the original of our marriage certificate, original of my birth certificate, original of my police clearance). Then she told me to go sit down and wait some more. Then I was called again to the window to get finger printed. Then I went back to sit down and wait for the CO to talk to. When my number was called again, the CO turned out to be a young, smiling, very nice American woman. She first swore me in, then asked a couple of questions about my previous visits to the USA. The first time I went to the States I stayed for 17 months (I was a long-term volunteer). The CO asked about that. I explained that I never overstayed the visa and that when I applied for the B visa 6 years ago I specifically said I would be volunteering. The whole conversation lasted 3 minutes tops. She didn't ask for any extra documents.
In the P4 letter they specifically wrote to bring the tax returns or tax transcripts from my sponsors for tax year 2015 (we sent the tax documents for 2014, 2013 and 2012 to NVC in February). So I had those with me, but nobody wanted to see them. My husband changed his address in the States since we sent the documents to the NVC. I tried to update his address, but again I was told not to worry about it both by the Polish embassy worker and the American CO.
I came very over-prepared. After reading the advice here on VJ forum I brought all the originals + copies of all the documents that we ever sent to USCIS and NVC (including my joint sponsor's birth certificate, pay stubs, employment letter, tax transcripts etc.) which turned out completely unnecessary. Nobody asked to see these. They really only asked for the documents that the P4 letter specified (and not even all of them). At the end of the interview the CO gave me back the originals of my birth certificate, marriage certificate and the photos that we sent to USCIS with our I-130. Also I gave them my previous (invalid) passport with the B type visa, they stamped it "Cancelled without prejudice" and returned to me.
It was a pleasant experience and relatively stress-free. Definitely have a breakfast before the interview because they will make you wait. In my case it all took 3 hours from getting in the line to enter the embassy to the moment I left the embassy. The courier with my passport and the visa in it will hopefully arrive by the end of the week.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #19485