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| Frankfurt, Germany |  Review on June 5, 2023: |
Black Unicorn
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
My husband's interview appointment was at 8 am on Dec. 27, 2022 we arrived at the embassy at 7:15 am and there was already a line. It was freezing. I left and waited at the McDonald's not far from the embassy. He took all the documentation and his cell phone to the embassy. After checking in at the outside visa window he was then led in where he was told to turn his phone off and proceed on to wait and then on to window 1 to make the $325 payment (he paid with euros). He was then asked for the documents and a few questions about his travel, wait some more, then on to window 2 where the visa officer conducted the interview. He said the interview felt like a conversation and he talked a lot about our relationship, how we met, cultural differences, and how/where we got married. Since I lived in Ghana with him there was lots of discussion about this as well. He gave her all the original docs including the affidavit of support, my pay stubs, 2 months of bank statements, my lease in the states, and my 2021 tax return (I gave him a copy of the taxes I filled and sent to the IRS in September). The interesting thing they didn't even ask for the tax forms. I guess they saw my salary and bank statements and realized financial support would never be an issue. We thought we had prepared and had all the documents they would ask for but we did not. They asked for his military record which he did not have and did not understand what they wanted, because non-western countries don't provide the American-style military record.
This is where things get super weird. He was given the info about abuse and things and they explained to him the whole process of entry into the US and handing over the packet that he will receive with his visa. Shortly, after they gave him the 221g form and told him that they have to have the military record and that once he gets it they can move forward. At this point, they never returned his passport. After being at the embassy for four hours he was finally done with the visa appointment.
It took about 2.5 weeks for my husband to find out what the equivalent of a military record is/was for his country. He finally got it sent via DHL from Ghana. Once we did we tried to take it to the embassy and they refused to take anything. After my full American came out they finally told me to take it to the same Mailbox etc that the embassy uses for visa pickup. We did this and the embassy received the docs the next day. It took 4 business days after this and my husband received an email that the visa was issued. A separate email was sent with info for the pickup. We were able to pick up the passport with the visa inside on Jan. 27, 2023. Even with the 221g, my husband still managed to get the visa so there is always hope  He just arrived state-side today (June 5, 2023) and will be issued the 10-year Green Card due to us waiting till after our 2-year anniversary for him to enter!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #32139