|
|
Czech Republic | Review on December 11, 2018: | Michaela K.
Rating: | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My experience was very good. Everyone at the embassy was really nice.
Prior the interview
Since some people told me I may not get instructions from the embassy even though they have the case, I proactively called them after I saw they received our case. I said that I saw they got our case and asked if they could email me the instructions. I had a list but wanted to double check and have the official and current one from them as well. At the embassy they told me to call to schedule interview once I have all the documents ready and medical done. At the medical they were surprised and said that people usually have an interview date first and based on that they get a date for their medical. I guess the embassy is not that busy at this time of year (November/December) but I'd say just do what they tell you at the embassy.
Medical
I wish there was a review section for the medical place as well since I was surprised that they didn't proceed as I read about on official websites, which caught me off guard. Luckily, I found out ahead of time. Before you continue reading, please do your own research since I can't guarantee I'm right. We'll find out once I'm doing my AOS I guess. Anyway I thought they were supposed to perform any vaccinations that I didn't have yet that are mandatory for my age for immigration and record the ones I had + the ones they did. They record them on a DS-3025 form for the embassy and they give you a copy of this form as well. You can find tables for the vaccinations required by age on official government websites. I was surprised when I asked about it while scheduling my medical and they told me they don't do vaccinations. So I took it into my own hands and based on the tables I got all the necessary vaccinations done ahead of the medical so then they would record all of them into the form at the medical. Then at the medical while talking to the doctor as she was writing down information, I was trying to nicely make sure she'd record everything from my vaccinations records but also varicella (plané neštovice) since I didn't have vaccination for it but I had them as a child and there is a section for the doctor to record it on the form as well (varicella history). Also I made sure varicella was on the paper from my physician with a year when I had it that I took to the medical. I'm glad I did that because one girl didn't know about it and they didn't record her varicella history. Not sure what she's gonna have to do now. From my understanding, the point of the form DS-3025 being complete is, if it is done right and you have every required vaccination recorded, then it is enough to have this complete form for AOS and you don't need to go to another doctor in the US, get another form filled and pay more money for it. I found this information in the official instructions for AOS form. As I said, please do your own research, this is my understanding of what will be required in the US for AOS. There's no problem to get the missing stuff done in the US, my thinking is - we already have to do medical and pay money for it in Prague so if I can avoid having to go to another doctor and I can save time and money just by making sure I have everything right already in Prague then it's a win.
The embassy interview
I got there in the morning and was surprised there was a line forming in front of the embassy. Because in the past they would send you away if you came sooner than like 10 minutes before the appointment time. Even if your appointment time is about to start you'll have to wait in the line, it's ok, you don't need to be inside exactly on time. You'll have to leave your phone at the security inside so if you need to watch time, wear a watch. I didn't find anything showing time inside so I was clueless. Inside you'll take a ticket with a number (like at the post office), sit down and wait for you to be called. First you go to a window to give them all the documents required and pay the fee. Give them only the things from the list, no extra stuff like pictures with your fiance, you can show them later to the consul if needed. For the affidavit I asked what documents they want. The lady told me only the IRS stuff (daňové pÅ™iznánÃ). I told her they won't see much on there since my fiance started working last year in the fall and that I have an employer letter + pay stubs, which show his current pay much better. That was fine with her. I also had the IRS docs since I read online they wanted them in the past. I ended up giving her all the supporting stuff for the affidavit according to the affidavit instructions, as I was nervous about it a bit and in this case I thought more can't do any harm. Then I sat down and waited again, they called me to take my fingerprints. Then again sat down and waited. Out of the 2 hours I spent there most of it was waiting. Then I was finally called to the consul's window. He was very nice and easy going, he asked me to tell him about my fiance and then asked some additional questions based on what I was saying. It wasn't weird in any way, just felt like a normal conversation about our relationship. It probably took just 5 minutes and he said everything looks good and congratulations, explained to come pick up my passport once they call me when it's ready and that it could take up to 2 weeks. I had my interview on Thursday, ceac status said Issued on Tuesday but no call from them. I called them on Friday and asked if by any chance they have it done and if I could pick it up on Monday and they said yes. I guess after a few days and if you're in rush for the visa, just watch the status online and call after a few days of it saying Issued
| |
|