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| Dublin, Ireland |  Review on May 12, 2021: |
neca
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Note that this interview experience happened during the COVID pandemic.
tl;dr Just the review: It was what I expected, and everything went over according to how we researched and prepared prior to, with thanks to VJ.
The detailed account:
The initial security building is separate from the main round building. I arrived about eight minutes before my appointment time. At the security building, I first had to give my name through the outside speaker so they could look it up on a list of appointments for that day. They confirmed my name, then asked the standard COVID questions. I passed, and they let me enter through the door to the right of the window, physically meeting security.
It was standard airport security. I had to put everything I came with into a tray to go through an x-ray scanner. I was prepared for this and only had my binder of documents and my belt to put in. I still managed to set off the metal detector somehow (wedding ring?) and so I had a once over with the metal wand. After that, I got a visitor's pass and was instructed to enter the main building via the right ramp.
The garden between had security patrolling. The doors aren't automatic, you open them yourself (there are disability accommodations).
The second building also had security upon entry, I beeped again but the guard let me through anyway. I told him of my appointment, he had me sanitize my hands and stand on a yellow line to the right of the station, in an area with seven standing booths (no chairs). The area was smaller than I would have thought it would be, only enough space for the booths and waiting in line. I was the only person in there for most of the experience, another came in later dealing with a different set of the seven booths I had to deal with.
I waited in "line" for about two minutes, until I was called up to one of the booths where a woman took my documents and made sure everything was in order.
She took most of the documents listed in the Interview Checklist email received prior to the appointment, with the exception of the DS-260 confirmation page, any of the interview confirmation pages I printed out, the I-864s for my Primary and Joint Sponsors, and evidence of domicile, which weren't mentioned. I verbally confirmed my final address in the US and my courier registration, that I haven't been involved with the military and have no court records. She returned my passport photos after scanning them. My medical appointment was after the interview, which she confirmed was alright. She asked for the Joint Sponsor's tax packet, and I provided that as well as updated 1099/W2 information for the most recent tax year, as enough time had passed between the NVC stage and the Interview for that to be available.
She kept all of the documents she received and in turn gave me a paper outlining the laws on spousal abuse, directing me to a socially distanced set of chairs I could sit in to read while I waited for the next part.
I waited approximately 7-10 minutes before I was called to a different booth with a different woman from before.
Before anything, I was required to take an oath of honesty, which I did.
She asked me some simple follow up questions, such as who my sponsor was, where will I be staying, what will I be working as, if I had any education, if I was working currently. She asked for the additional tax documents for this year to be scanned in as soon as possible, with an email being advised but not necessary upon uploading to CEAC.
She took my biometrics (finger prints), then started asking the standard relationship questions that we had prepared for: when did we first encounter each other, how did we first encounter each other, when did we first meet in real life, how many times have I been to America, how many times has my spouse visited, did my parents attend our wedding, are we currently living together. She evaluated everything further and returned everything including my passport, as I need it for the medical. She reiterated to upload the tax documents as soon as possible, and to send the passport via courier as soon as the medical is completed. She said to not send anything with the passport, but the 221g she provided says to provide a cover letter, which I plan to do. The 221g also detailed to submit current W2/1099 forms onto CEAC.
I walked out the way I came in, security asked if I was finished and let me exit the building. I entered the security building through a separate door from before, marked "Exit." I turned in my badge and followed their instructions to exit the premises.
As an email was not provided with the 221g; I used the address on the email that gave us the Interview information before (DublinIV@state.gov). I ended up attaching the documents in the email as well. I received a reply and confirmation of document reception the day after I sent off the email and uploaded the documents to CEAC under "Additional Documents."
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #29613