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| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Review on April 19, 2024: |
okland
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-5 Visa
My dad recently when through the IR5 interview. His experience was exactly what we were expecting based on experience of the other users here.
His appointment was at 8am, he got there around 7am. Right away street vendors offered to keep his phone. Because he was anxious with the time, he didn't try to find a cheaper vendor so he ended up paying R$50, which is way more than other people described here.
The line for tourist visas was huge and there was no immigrant line. Since we knew that usually there's a line for IVs, my dad checked-in with the staff, which every 15 minutes would come to let people in. The employee asked if he had the medical exam, gave him a green tag and let him in.
Inside, another person asked again if he was applying for a immigrant visa and then directed him to the 2nd floor. Getting there another employee asked my dad if he had filled out the "Contact Sheet" and asked him to put the documents together in a given order. The "Contact Sheet" was sent as an email a few days before the interview.
Once all the documents were in order he went to another station and she checked all documents. One thing that we didn't expect is that they asked for my dad's military certificate (all Brazilian males are require to enlist, therefore if you're a male you'll have some military certificate) which he didn't have since we didn't see that as a required document in the website. Seems like because of his age (mid 60s) he didn't need one. Therefore, I recommend that if you're a male applying for a immigrant visa bring the military certificate just in case.
They did not ask for pictures. Based on my dad's memory this was the order:
LIST OF DOCUMENTS IN ORDER
• DS-260 confirmation page
• Beneficiary's Birth Certificate and copy
• Marriage/Divorce certificate and copy
• Police certificates
• I-864
• W-2s
• IRS Transcript
• Copy of US Passport
• Petitioner's Birth Certificate and Copy
All the above took about 35 minutes. Next was the interview with the consular officer. They called my dad by name.
Questions that the officer asked:
- Have you been to the US before? When, which year?
- Is petitioner your son? Where does he live at?
- Are you divorced?
The officer barely checked the documents and didn't check the financial documents at all. The interview was very fast, about 5 minutes.
Both the medical exam and the visa package were electronic. So no more envelopes to worry about. All he will need is the actual visa.
The visa was approved right away and issued end of the day. The interview was on a Wednesday, Friday morning we got the email from the CASV saying that the passport was ready for pickup.
Overall was a smooth process and the consulate staff helpful and cordial.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #33125