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| Egypt |  Review on August 18, 2020: |
SETETA
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
The embassy is closed to all but emergency cases. Routine services have not yet resumed. We requested an emergency appointment with supporting medical documentation (upcoming surgery of the petitioner). We already had an unconditional expedite from the NVC. The embassy reviewed our request and granted an emergency appointment. We were notified 8 days in advance.
We went for the medical exam 7 days in advance at Anglo American Hospital. The staff at the medical were very helpful and sent us a copy of the completed exam results prior to the interview date. It was an electronic record medical exam so the results were received in time for the interview.
We arrived at the Embassy entrance 30 minutes prior to our scheduled interview. Please note the entrance to the embassy is now on the far back side of the complex so it is quite a bit of walking. A lovely shaded walk if it isn't too hot of a summer day. However, you still have to enter the street from Qasr Elnil, where there is a very basic security pass through where they will look at your interview confirmation letter. After that, you walk down to the embassy entrance. The guard will check the list of interviews for the day. As the spouse petitioner, I was not allowed to accompany the beneficiary inside. The guard noted that I would need to wait on the opposite side of the street on the sidewalk. He let us know if they needed me inside that staff would call up and alert him to let me in. This is the policy during COVID in order to limit the number of people inside the waiting room (e.g. safety measure).
When my husband entered, he went through security. Electronics are not allowed inside except for cell phones--which they will store for you at the entrance. You must turn these off and they give you a number as your receipt. Then, he was accompanied to the consular services area by a staff member. He was told to take a number from the machine. But only American Citizen Services were available at this time due to the COVID closures. So, he went to a window and requested a number. He was told just to wait for an employee who would take his papers. It appeared there were no other emergency immigrant visa applicants at that time in the embassy. Instead, there were students and American citizens with emergency issues.
The staff member took his civil papers (birth certificate, marriage certificate, pictures (which were scanned and returned), police certificate, military service certificate, and a copy of the medical exam. We had compiled over 100 papers in two folders---one relevant civil docs for myself and my husband and one folder with pics and proof of our relationship. The staff member did not request any civil documents of the petitioner. They had some technical difficulty with the e-medical system at first. However, after they reviewed our copy, they were able to locate the medical results in the online system. My husband was then called for fingerprints. After that, he waited around an hour and half for the interview portion. I was waiting outside the embassy during this time in case I should be called in. However, they did not require my attendance so I remained there until he finished. There were a number of American citizens waiting outside. As many had very small children, I assume these were passport related emergency cases..
Inside, it came time for my husband to meet with the Consular Officer, who asked him a few questions regarding himself and our relationship (birthplace, age, any age difference, any children, any previous marriages, how we met, and if we both speak Arabic). The interview was conducted in English. Then, she let my husband know that the visa was approved and that it might be one week until delivery. She was very professional yet very kind and patient. She was happy to repeat any questions. She also took the time to make sure all documents were in order and gave my husband the approval notice that describes the fee that should be paid online for the permanent residence card issuance. While my husband had every document and pic you can imagine with him just in case, he was not asked to submit any additional documents regarding the affidavit of support, the Egyptian family registry, or the Public Charge Form. However, we did submit all these documents online in the CEAC system at the NVC stage. I recommend that all applicants do this so your case is well documented before your interview.
After receiving the approval notice, my husband proceeded to the exit and collected his cell phone. Then, he exited and let me know the wonderful news!
Immediately, I checked the CEAC visa tracker and our case was in Administrative Processing. Then, 4 hours later, the visa was listed as 'issued and printed'. Now, we wait to pick it up at our local Aramex when it arrives.
My husband and I can't thank the staff at the embassy enough. The COVID closures have been very hard on everyone and lots of people are awaiting the resumption of routine services. If you have an emergency case, we definitely recommend that you contact the embassy and provide full documentation. The embassy staff is there to help and working hard during these times to make sure that those who have urgent emergency cases are receiving consideration.It may take a few months before routine services can be provided again but our experience shows that the Embassy truly does care about our cases and that they are working hard to get back to pre-COVID service levels.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #28456