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|  Review on March 15, 2008: |
vanessaandbrent
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
So, I arrive at the embassy at 12:01pm for my 12:00pm appointment...lost in San Jose for an hour, ending up in the worst imaginable part of town was not the best start to the day! Anyway...
I take a number (an "immigrant" category one, as Costa Rica seems stuck on the idea that a K1 is an immigrant visa...) and have a seat. It's packed with tourist visa seekers - must be 200+ of them! At least the security/crowd control is very organised! I have number 612 and they are processing 602...I settle in for a bit of a wait. But, there's entertainment!  All those jokers trying to get visas with no paperwork, overstays on tourist visas, an 18 year old girl who admits to only having known her USC petitioner for a week before they filed! That was the best one - she knew nothing about him, where he worked, family, not even the town where he lives! The consul could barely stop himself from laughing out loud :lol: Anyway, back to me!
My number finally comes up after 45 mins or so, and the lady there is the same one who talked me through my packet 3 week before last. She remembers me, and pulls out my file (not so many K1s thru CR I guess). She asks for my DS-156, DS-156K and DS-230, checks them all, then is checking the form I attached to the DS-156 stating all my trips to the USA (ever - way too long for that form!) and asks which was the longest time in the USA? My 18 month stay on my J1 Visa in 2004 (when I met my USC). She asks if the visa is in this current passport (yes) and takes a look at it, then marks it with a post it for the Consul to look at.
Then onto I-134 and tax forms, birth certificate (original, which they seem to be keeping), police certificates & medical envelope. She hands back the copy of the chest xray results saying that the US Immigration guys may ask for it when I go through with my visa the first time. She also asks for what I'm dreading ('cause I know I don't have it yet!) my single certificates. Costa Rica requires you to have single certificates for every place you have lived for more than 6 months since age 16 - like your polie cert, but stating you have never been married. Well, as I didn't find out about this until I pick up packet 3 at the embassy, it's not finished being processed yet (2 week turnaround). I show her the receipt to show it's been filed for & she makes a note on a post it, and moves on. She then has me sidn an affidavit stating that I realise that if I get married before my visa is approved, I violate many laws etc etc - of course I know this! I sign it 
She tells me to take a seat and the Consul will call me by name when he's ready. An hour or so later, after being thoroughly entertained by my surroundings, the Consul calls me up. Nice, young, friendly guy...our discussion went pretty much like this, after being sworn in, and fingerprints taken:
Consul: Australia? We don't see many immigrant Visa's for you guys! I have some really good friends in Australia ...(goes on to tell me where, who etc etc)
Me: Well yeah, it's a little out of the way...
Consul: So how did you meet your Fiance?
Me: Working in FL on my J1 you have there (he was looking at it at the time)
Consul: (gets distracted from question...) so you were a student?
Me: No, a management training program with Four Seasons
Consul: And you worked for them here too? Good deal
Me: Yep, 2 years
Consul: So where did you meet?
Me: In Palm Beach
Consul: More specific...out partying or something?
Me: well I was dating his friend at the time we first met, and yes it was at a
club in Palm Beach.
Consul: When was that?
Me: March 2005
Consul: So when do you plan on marrying this "Brent xxxx"? (Winks sorta)
Me: Pretty much as soon as I arrive - we will do the courthouse ceremony
straight away, then we're planning a big wedding for October.
Consul: Are you sure? Cause this is really your last chance to pull out (laughs very hard at himself)
Me: I think I'm good - we've put a lot of work into this getting married thing you see (laughs*)
Consul: Very true (laughs)...not pregnant or anything are you?
Me: No sir
(Not sure how or why this is any of his business, but I answered truthfully!!)
Consul: well everything looks great, relationship looks good, paperwork good, I'd really like to just hand this over to you today, but I can't without those two certificates...they're getting strict about them...as soon as you have them just bring them here and you're good to go.
All in all, a great interview. I have a 221(g) denial until I provide the two documents they wanted, but I don't need an interview, I just go in, and my visa will be in hand in 24 hours! 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #2606