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| Egypt |  Review on June 16, 2017: |
Ahmed & Amy
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Our appointment time was 7:30 am.
We arrived to the embassy at 6:15 am (they would not allow us to stand in front of the embassy until 7:00 am, they had us line up outside at 7:15 am; one line for immigrant and one line for non-.immigrant.
We had to rush from across the street to get in line. We were the 4th in line.
We waited about 15 minuets and then an embassy employee came over and asked everyone to get out their Aramex Confirmation page, Appointment Letter, 2 Passport Pictures, and Passport. He also told everyone if they have any electronic devices other than a mobile or sharp objects, that they would have to leave them across the street at the store and they would hold it until you pick it back up (they do charge you for this). mobiles were to be turned off prior to entering the embassy.
He looked at Ahmed's information and then asked for his mobile # and wrote his # onto the Aramex confirmation page.
Once inside we went through airport type security check. We decided not to bring our mobiles and left them at home. *** I advise the same if you absolutely do not need your mobile.***
Once we passed through security, we went through a door on our left and then outside took a right and walk forward to a waiting room that was situated outside under a pavilion. We sat there for about 10 minuets and then a security officer came out and said that 8 people at a time can come and line up. We did not make it to the first group of 8, but made it in the second group.
Once inside this part of this building, we took a left, there was a small reception desk with a receptionist asking for the Aramex confirmation page, and then asked for my husbands full name, in which he found it and then checked his name off the appointment list. He then printed and handed him a ticket number and asked us to be seated and wait for our number to be called.
We waited about 30-45 minuets until our number was called.
We were called to window 6. We were greeted by an Egyptian women employee, who was quite rude and abrasive throughout the entire time we spoke to her and handed her over our documents.
She first asked for the medical. We handed her the unopened envelope. She opened it and handed us back the CD and kept the documents. She asked for his original police certificate, birth certificate, and our marriage certificate. She did not ask for copies or translations.. everything was the original Arabic certificates.
She very angrily asked us to hurry up and hand them under the window, although we were sliding them through as quickly as we could. She then didn't realize that she had taken the police certificate and insisted about 3 times to hand it over. We politely told her we handed her the document and it is right there (we pointing at it). When she realized it was under her elbow, she quickly said hand over the military certificate, as she had forgotten to ask for it and I had taken it out and had it in front of me.
The entire time she was huffing and puffing and sighing immensely.
She handed us back the copies of the above mentioned documents that had been in our file from NVC. She kept the originals.
She then asked for the 2016 IRS tax transcripts and I handed them over to her and asked her if she needed the 2016 AOS. She said No. Then she kept asking for the W2's and I said that the IRS transcript was all I had... and she then looked at the 2016 transcript and asked if I had anything else. I said I have the previous years that I had sent a copy to the NVC; 2015,2014,2013. She said no that she had those copies and then looked at my dad's employment letter (as he is my co-sponsor).
She then asked if I was working. I told her no. She then asked if I had any children. I told 3; 2 from previous marriage and 1 with my current husband.
She then handed me back copies of the employment letter and copies of 2015,2014,2013 IRS Tax transcripts and the old AOS (all these were what I sent to NVC).
She then asked Ahmed to place his right hand on the scanner that was in front of him, and took his finger prints and then the same with his left hand. When he finished, she asked us to be seated and that our number would be called again.
***My advice to anyone is always stay calm and be polite even if the employee is rude, abrasive, and impatient. I do not know if this is her intention to get you nervous, but just stay calm and polite.***
We waited another 30-45 minuets and then our number was called to Window 15.
We were greeted by the CO who was a white American male, short brown hair and appeared to be in his 30's.
He was nice and straight forward throughout the entire time. Our interview with him lasted no more than 5 minuets.
He asked Ahmed to swear an oath that all he says is true with his right hand.
He then clearly said that he will ask Ahmed questions and I am not to speak unless he asks me directly.
He asked Ahmed when he and I met, how we met, how often we spoke to one another before I came to Egypt. He asked when we got engaged 3 times; 2 different ways with Ahmed and 1 with me. Since we never officially engaged or had an engagement party, we answered him the same... we agreed to get married and I came straight to Egypt to marry him.
He asked Ahmed what we do for fun together. If we travel throughout Egypt and if we have traveled outside of Egypt together.
He asked me if I work; I said No, I am not permitted to work. He then asked, "By your husband or what?" I said, "legally, I am unable to work as I do not have a work visa in Egypt that permits me". He asked me what I do in Egypt; I said I am a stay at home mom. He asked me if I have traveled outside of Egypt since living in Egypt; I told him I have visited the US with our daughter.
He then asked who the co-sponsor was to me, and I said my dad.
He asked me where I was from inside the US. I told him where I grew up. He then mentioned the state and city of my birth, and I told him that I was born there but never actually grew up there.
He asked about our daughter that Ahmed and I share, if she had gotten her citizenship through the consulate here in the embassy of Cairo. I confirmed that with him that she did.
He then looked at Ahmed and said, You have not been previously married, but your wife has. Ahmed said yes. The CO then looked at me and asked when I got divorced. He asked about specific dates between my separation with my ex and our final divorce, and I confirmed with him the dates he inquired about.
He asked how I was so sure I knew Ahmed enough to go and marry him without ever visiting him and he never visiting me. I told him that we had been video chatting daily, chatting, calling one another and I got to meet him family through the webcam multiple times and spoke with them.
He then typed on his computer for about 1 minuet, stopped, turned to his right side and printed a white sheet of paper. (I swear I was thinking at first it was the white sheet for AP.) He then looked at Ahmed, smiled and said, Congratulations your Visa has been approved and your Visa will be issued in 2 weeks!!!!
Ahmed told him thank you and I began to tear up in almost disbelief. Ahmed and I hugged one another and took the paper that the CO handed us and we left.
****The white letter said the same as the CO mentioned above and had the green card fee and how to pay it****
We were told that all original documents will be given to us in a second envelope when the Visa is issued. That 2 envelopes will be delivered, 1 for us to open and the other 1 a sealed envelope that we hand over to CBP at the POE.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #21979