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| Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Review on June 16, 2016: |
memphislover1
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
May 24th 2016 I finally had my interview at the embassy in Amsterdam. We filed for our petition in january 2015 so we'd been waiting forever!!
I had gone over all my paperwork a million times to check and see if I had everything. The thing that threw me off was the police record. In the Netherlands they meant the VOG with that (verklaring omtrent gedrag). But I thought they meant an actual police record for if you'd been in trouble with the law.
I found this out like 5 days before the interview and that made me even more nervous than I already was because I was afraid they'd deny me because of that.
On the 24th I stood in line with maybe 15 other people. 2 girls had not read the rules of the consulate I guess and had their phones with them (I still don't understand that because we were told this wasn't allowed a million times) and they wouldn't let them in.
I had to go through a small security checkpoint inside (nothing compared to the US airports lol) and here's a little tip: don't bring your paperwork in a plastic bag or anything because you're not allowed to have that with you either!
The interviews went in order of entering the embassy. I had 3 people ahead of me and then it was my turn...
I got called to the first window and got asked if I wanted the questions in dutch or english. It didn't matter to me.
He wanted my paperwork and already made a comment about the VOG/police record missing. He literally said "hmm that's unfortunate". So I was terrified for the actual interview.
I sat back down on my seat and waited to be called to the next window for the actual interview. About 10 mins later it was my turn.
She asked me a few simple questions; how I met my fiance, how many times we met in person, if I know his family. She asked me if I knew about his past (he's a convicted felon: don't judge please because he's bettered his life 200%!!) and that was it. She never mentioned the VOG/police record. And after this short, maybe 10 mins, interview she told me I was approved!!
I started crying, I felt the weight of the world fall off my shoulders. We had waited for this moment for almost a year and a half and now we finally got it!!
Of course, since I wasn't allowed to bring my Phone, I had to wait till I got home to tell everybody the great news.
And then...I got an email. Saying they couldn't issue the Visa after all because the VOG/police record was missing. I felt myself get sick to my stomach, I couldn't believe it.
I called the embassy the next day and as friendly as the people at the actual interview were, the lady I had on the Phone was a complete b*tch! She couldn't believe that I didn't understand police record meant VOG. (btw, the translation in english on the actual VOG said "declaration of conduct", NOT police record. They need to change this for real!!!) She told me to get one asap and send it to them and I could still get my visa but I had to do it quickly. I didn't need a translation because she said that there was an english translation on the bottom of the paper.
So that same night I applied for one, had it in the mail maybe 4 days later and mailed it to the embassy the next day. And then the waiting game began again..all these insecurities and uncertainties were back.
But then the email that they sent out my package came, about 2 weeks after i mailed them the VOG. And a day later I had the whole package, including my passport WITH Visa back.
The plan is to fly to the States in the first week of august. I can't wait to start my future with my best friend!!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #19749