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| Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |  Review on May 4, 2018: |
JasonGG
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
When my fiance and I arrived at the consulate at 6:40 for our 7:35 interview, there was already a line with about 50 people.
About 10 minutes before 7am, "greeters" reveiwed passports and appointment letters. Several people didn't even make it beyond this initial review! Seriously!?!? How do you show up that unprepared?!?!
The door opened and everyone was wanded by the guards and an initial bag check was done. It was hot and humid, so I was looking forward to air conditioning. There was none...no a/c for the entire process.
The door led to a covered waiting area. More greeters gave instructions entirely in Vietnamese.
20-25 oeople were led out of this area at a time. Bags went through x-ray and people went through metal detectors.
My fiance went to a desk to do something and I was asked to wait in the waiting area. My fiance and her daughter were finger printed...which took about 30 minutes. It would have been quicker, but we were allowed in before the fingerprint windows were staffed.
Next, we waited for our number to be called for documents. Maybe a 15 minute wait. I had very organized packs of paper for the k1 and k2. The clerk was only interested in the original divorce records, birth certificates, current tax return, i134, medical results, passport photos, and a couple other things. I got back a mess of paper shoved through the window slot.
Again to the benches to wait. It's important to listen to the announcements AND watch the number boards. The number boards did not always update. Pay attention at this stage because the numbers are called quickly and sounded like a bingo hall! Try to sit in the middle (around windows 12-14) so you can see both number boards and hear the announcements clearly.
From what I could tell, paperwork was collected from everyone first, then the shades were pulled on all the windows. After about 15 minutes, the shades started opening as consulate officers and interpreters arrived. There are 20 or so windows, but maybe 6-8 were staffed.
All types of visas were being interviewed. As many have said, you can watch and clearly see who was approved and who got a blue sheet and returned passport.
We waited about 2 1/2 hours for our number to be called. Pregnant women sppeared to be interviewed first. No priority appeared to be given for people with young children, though. Numbers were not called in order, but they were called in batches of 8-10...all the 1010s were called near each other, the 2030s, etc.
When my fiance's number was called, the 3 of us walked to the window. We were greeted, swore to tell the truth, and I was asked to sit.
My fiance gave her interview in Vietnamese...she was asked how often I visited and where we went, who does you fiance live with (my children's names), her age and children's ages. She was asked why her son was not coming to the US and why her daughter has no father listed on her birth certificate.
The interview was about 5 minutes. She was not asked for any additional documents or photos...though we did front load our application pretty heavily.
Her daughter wasn't asked any questions.
She was told about the passport delivery, don't open the envelope, and then she turned to me with a big smile.
She completed a delivery card, turned that in at the counter, and we exited. There was about 100 people gathered across the street waiting for relatives or friends and asking us how it went.
I would say about 60% of the interviews were approved. Everyone else I saw got blue sheets. Although it appeared that a decision was made on approval before the interview, the officers did spend a few minutes reviewing each application before calling people to the window. I saw several applicants with their US petitioner get a blue sheet, so being there may not affect the decision, but it meant a lot to my fiance. I am glad I was there with her. It is an experience I will remember and I will remember her smile and sense of relief.
Also, the staff was professional. The greeting staff was Vietnamese. They were not friendly, but also not rude. Just doing their job and controlling the crowd. The document clerk was the same...not friendly, but doing her job.
The officers and interpreters we could see were friendly and seemed to enjoy their work. They smiled and were friendly, but also professional. We could hear some annoyed questioning at times, but that was always when an applicant was clearly unprepared.
So...not a fun experience, but with a lot a preparation, homework, and studying these forums, the ordeal is survivable!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #23747