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| Ukraine |  Review on August 12, 2008: |
Gary and Alla
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We had our interview August 7.
First I will say, the people inside the consulate were wonderful in every way. I went to the interview with Alla. For the benefit of others I will give the details.
We first went to Pro-credit bank, the one nearest the consulate listed in their directions. It is about a 5 minute walk from the consulate. This branch opens at 7 am for the benefit of the US consulate. There was quite a line but we got there at 7:15 and our appointment was for 9:30. Allow for 1/2 hour or more at this bank branch. When it came time to pay for the visas I handed the money through the window and the woman gave it back to Alla and said "she" had to pay, not me.  So then Alla handed the money to her. Oh well.
Then we walked to the consulate. There are lines for interview times and we got in the 9:15-9:30 line. Our appointment was for 9:30 There were LOTS of people there but only a few for K-1 visas. They do not let you take much inside. Only documents and wallets, no purses, bags or even the case I had the documents in. We went to a little office in the alley next to the consulate and gave them our things and paid about $1 for them to keep them. Bring as little as possible with you.
While in line is where we had our ONLY difficulty. One of the young men that is there as "crowd control" ,basically, asked us to look at our documents. He said our DS-156 did not have a bar code. Of course not, we never received packet 3 and I downloaded it as the consulate says and showed him the instruction sheet which says you can do this. He called another person over and asked them and that person said to let us in anyway. We were allowed in exactly at 9:30. First you go into a small building which looks like a trailer and this is security. It is your basic airport type security check, empty pockets, metal detector, etc. They took our coins, cigarette lighter, keys, etc. and put them in a small box and gave Alla a red number tag for them. They let you keep your wallet and about nothing else.
We went into the consulate and followed the signs to the K-1/K-3 section. It is a nice waiting room by Ukrainian standards and they even have a bottled water cooler! Sorry, no joke, you can never find water to drink in Ukraine and it was a welcome sight! There is a TV and it plays a loop of scenes from the USA, a nice little travelogue. There were 6 people for the K-1 interviews and 3 American men. Myself and one man from Michigan and one from Utah. Right away we were called to a "window" like a bank teller window. A nice young Ukrainian man was there to take our documents. He asked Alla if she preferred Russian, Ukrainian or English language. He spoke perfect English. She asked for Russian. He went down the list and asked for each document in order, exactly the list you receive in packet 3. We gave each document (original, copy and translation) as he asked for it and he put it in his own file in a certain order (so much for all my work organizing everything) he stapled photos to the DS-156 (never said anything about the missing bar code) and repeated everything he said in English for me. Very efficient and polite and even made some small talk and jokes with Alla. When we got to the I-134 he looked at it and then supporting documents for about 15 seconds, basically "flipped through it" and gave me back everything except the affadavit. I told him I also had one for each of Alla's children and he asked if it was the same. I said "yes" and he said it was enough to have one for all. (I had been told I needed one for each by the consulate, so best to have it I suppose)
When he asked about evidence of relationship, I had LOTS. He looked at it through the window and seemed not impressed with stacks of phone bills, letters and emails. He asked if I had photos or travel documents. I showed him copies of my boarding passes for 5 visits and photos for each visit through the window. He asked for one photo of us together from each visit and took those and nothing else. Only two of the photos were from identifiable Ukrainian locations. It is more important the photos show you together, it is not so important if it is in Ukraine or not. And of course I was with her at the interview so obviously we have been together in person.
Then he said to have a seat and wait to be called for "an interview by a consulate officer". We sat and talked to the other couples and all told about where they would live and what they would do in the USA. They all wanted swimming, skiing, hiking (Ukarinians seem to love outdoor activity) and Alla bragged that my brother will let her fly his "cessna". One by one the women were called for interviews which took place at another window. There is a small "privacy screen" by this window but it is not "private" and is not a separate room. The interviews before us seemed to take only seconds and the women came out with their "pink card" and all smiles. Before our "interview" Alla was called to window to cirrect one error on one of her sons DS-156 forms (she put the wrong birthdate) she was allowed to correct it and initial it. Then she was called to a window to give her "fingerprints" electronically. One woman was called up and asked to clarify something in her fiance's I-134 about his tax returns. He was not there and she did not have the answer but the person asking found the answer looking through the papers. Her fiance was self employed. I guess I would say if you are not going to be there make sure your fiancee understands these things. I know Alla cannot make heads or tails of a US tax return, (at least not yet) and fortunately we had no questions about this. The others were called up for fingerprints also. Then we were called for the "interview" and I went with Alla. The man at the window was American. He gave Alla her original documents and a pink card and told us everything was OK with our visa, and to go to the FedEx window to pay for the visa delivery and we would have the visa in 7 days or less. Then asked me if I had any questions about the process! What questions??? I asked about the young man outside and he said not to worry anout that and not to allow them to deter you, it is not their job to look at documents other than your passport to verify you are on the appointment list. He had NO questions for us...none. The interview amounted to giving back her originals and instructions how to have the visa sent...that was IT!!!! We shook hands all around with the other applicants and wished everyone well and went to the FedEx window outside. Alla listed herself and her mother as an alternate to receive the visa. Alla received the visa at her home in Donetsk on Monday 8-11
So, at least for Kiev, bring all the documents they say, more is better but probably not needed, don't worry how you have them ordered or arranged, just be ready to give them as asked for. And don't listen to people outside, they are not officials, you have an appointment, if there are any problems they will tell you inside. I have heard of people trying to get people in line to pay them for "corrections" in their documents and there are signs outside telling you not to believe this so DON'T!!!! The people inside were great! Friendly, professional and prompt. (the people outside were nice also, except this one young man) We were let in at 9:30 and we were out before 11am. That is lightning fast by Ukrainian standards!
Alla's comment was "That's all there is? I worried and didn't eat and lost 3 kgs weight for this????" Oh well she looks good and now her wedding dress fits better! Our experience was very good!
Good luck to all
Gary
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3221