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| Costa Rica |  Review on April 9, 2008: |
Eric-Pris
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My fiancee's interview was Friday, Apr 4th. They say arrive between 12-1:30pm. I flew down April 3rd to be there with her. I didn't need to but I know she gets nervous so I wanted be there for her. She was a nervous wreck, even though I tried to convince her it'll be a piece of cake.
We got there at 12:50. We walked in past security and went directly to the ticketing machine and got a "G" ticket for immigrant visa. Our number was 703. So we went inside and they were calling 701. Nice! So we were called up within about 5 minutes. This is to the pre-screener who takes all your forms and documents (not evidence of relationship-you keep it till the interview). She had a list of all that was required and was checking it off as we were handing her our forms/docs. She was surprised that we had it ALL. She also asked my fiancee to fill out some form with my first and last name. Then she asked us how we met. She was really nice and smiled a lot which relaxed my girlfriend a little. Then she asked us to sit down until our names are called. By the time we were called up all the tourist applicants had cleared out and just about all the immigrant applicants too, we were almost last.
We waited about 90 minutes in between the pre-screener and the interview. While waiting, we did hear one couple being lectured about her not knowing his last name.  Then we heard her name over the PA and walked up to the window. The consular officer was an American who spoke Spanish well. He asked if we prefer English or Spanish. Since my fiancee speaks little English, we said Spanish. First, he asked her to raise her right hand and take the oath that she tell the truth or face serious consequences for lying to a government official. Then he fingerprinted her using the digital scanner a each window.
He was very pleasant and not intimidating. Then he asked us how we met. So we told him a short answer, like people suggest to keep it short. We told him the name of the discoteque/bar we met at. He then asked a follow-up about how we met. So we told him, I talked to her first and then we spent a couple hours talking, dancing, and drinking. Then we went out on a date and went away to the beach for a couple of nights together and the rest is history. He also asked her if she was married before. And a question if she was married to her kids' father.
Then he asked me to sit down so he can speak with her. He asked her about my job (title, industry, location), whether I met her parents, and if she knows the city I live in. He asked her to call me back and go sit down.
In English, he asked me the same questions about my job (to see if we matched). He told me I was a better man than him for already doing my 2007 tax return, because he hadn't yet. (he laughed). Then he said "Thank you, you may sit with your fiancee while I look your documentation and I'll call you back in a few minutes". I asked if he would like to see our pictures, boarding passes, and emails. He said "It's not necessary. It's clear that you guys have a strong relationship." 
In less than 5 minutes he called us back. He says everything looks good except ONE thing. We're thinking OH OH! But he says, we have to wait for the digital fingerprint results, but I will approve your visa today. You can pick it up Tuesday after 3pm, unless something extraordinary comes back on your prints.
We left at 3pm. (Total time there 2:10). As we left the sky opened up and we got soaked like wet dogs (no umbrella) but we did not care one bit. You couldn't pry the giddy smile off my fiancee's face with a crow bar. It felt good, a big relief.
I came back home early Tuesday morning. She picked up the visa today at 3pm. She emailed me a copy which I posted in a separate thread.
Overall, everybody was very nice. No mean people at all. The questions were easy and they didn't even want to see any evidence, other than than the required forms and documents.
If anybody has any questions about the CR embassy, PM me.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #2705