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| Naples, Italy |  Review on July 21, 2024: |
SMSL
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
15/7 Medical examination
Staying in the Spaccanapoli area I had calculated that it would take longer to arrive by taxi so at 5:45 I was already outside the Varelli center, the first there. After about five minutes, however, the second person arrived and at 7:00 we were probably about ten or so.
I join everyone else in strongly recommending arriving early, possibly around 6:00. Waiting for that hour outside is absolutely worth it to be among the firsts in line.
At precisely 7:00 a.m. they allow us to enter and a gentleman distributes the numbers that will be used throughout the process. In groups of six he accompanies us to a waiting room where one at a time they check us in and take the passports, and then direct you to the blood draw. If under a certain age, urines samples as well.
Kind and fast nurse; it is not necessary to fast.
Always in groups of six, they send us to a small waiting room for the chest xrays.
Here too, the whole thing is quite fast. To women I suggest wearing a sports bra or a tank top to avoid being completely bare-chested.
Then, back to the first corridor. At this point the group of applicants had now reached about twenty, however perhaps just half had checked-in. I repeat: arrive early!
One at a time, the first gentleman calls to an office where he asks for the four photos, personal datas (phone number, email, Italian address and future American one), payment (if in cash, directly to him) and then checks the vaccines record. I had everything in order so I paid 220 euros and that's that.
After this step, he sends you to the first floor where the actual medical examination with the doctor takes place. In my case, this was the longest wait, about 15-20 minutes.
The doctor was very kind, a simple routine health check-up. Control of vision, pressure, heart and lungs, height and weight. She asks about allergies, surgeries, medications, existing health problems. Nothing in particular or too much detail, but if something is mentioned, the doctor delves into it. About twenty minutes and I was done.
9:18 I was outside the Varelli and ready to leave.
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16/7 Interview
As suggested by others, I decided to arrive early for this appointment as well, since they do not go by appointment time but it's based on time of arrival.
The night before the interview I had booked a b&b two minutes from the building so by 7:05 I was at the entrance, under the famous umbrellas. There was already a girl there, and I arrived along with another one, so I was the second person in line.
Finding the entrance for me was a bit complicated so in short: enter from the front, sort of where there is the gate and it seems almost blocked by the curved traffic divider, where there are two white umbrellas.
Shortly after 8:00 they allow us to enter, one at a time. The entrance is through a small room for an airport-style security check and they take custody of all the electronic devices (phone, airpods, power bank, usb cable, etc). Lastly, they give you a badge to wear around your neck and direct you to the second floor.
The place where everything takes place is extremely casual, just a waiting room with a wall of windows like at an Italian post office.
At 8:25 a girl sitting at a desk starts calling the applicants, one at a time, to check that all the documents are there. This part is in Italian, but of course she also speaks English.
I had to hand over: DS160, two passport photos, original birth certificates and a photocopy, I134 and 2023 Tax Return, Carichi Pendenti and Casellario Giudiziale.
She organizes them in a particular order and then returns them to you. In the meantime, he asks some preliminary questions, very easy and in a friendly way.
- How did you meet? (Short and dry answer, without dwelling)
-Have you ever seen each other in person? When?
-So they came to Italy? And have you ever been to the United States?
Around 8:45 an employee calls the first girl at the window, shortly after I am also called but to a window that is in a small room next door (personally I appreciated the privacy, and I got to sit down so there was a more relaxed atmosphere).
Once again, we spoke in Italian. Efficient and friendly employee.
He asks for the stack of papers from before, plus confirmation of payment for the application fee, and takes fingerprints.
Then the questions begin.
-How did you meet and when?
-When did you first see each other in person? (We met online, so question to be expected)
-Have you ever been to the States? When? With ESTA or some visa?
-How did you make the story continue over time?
-What work do they do? Do I have a job, and where?
-Previous marriages or children?
-Have you ever only lived in Italy?
-How was the marriage proposal?
In the end he gives me the open envelope from the Varelli center with the list of vaccines and the cd of the xrays to take with him on the day of entry into the USA.
Back in the waiting room until the Consul calls your number. Despite being the second in order, I was the first to face the actual interview since I had already finished with the previous steps.
As soon as I got to the window I smiled saying "Good morning" so we very naturally started speaking in English.
-Who's your sponsor?
-How did you two meet? When did you first meet in person?
-You met in person after a while so how did you keep it going?
-So have you been to the States before? On ESTA every time? Have you ever overstayed?
-Are they a US citizen?
-But where were they born?
-When was the proposal?
-Any children?
-Previous marriages on either side?
-Have you ever only lived in Italy?
-Have you served in the military anywhere?
Then, he pronounced the much awaited words!
9:15 I was out with a big weight off my shoulders.
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19/07 yellow envelope and passport delivered by DHL
My suggestions are: it probably won't be needed, but bring it nonetheless! Better being over-prepared than possibly lacking some piece of information. I had a thick binder and pretty much left with very fewer pages but it gave much such peace of mind to know that I would have been prepared for any request. Triple check that you have ALL of the essential papers, most importantly.
Try to stay calm.
Give short and concise answers; a simple yes or no is totally fine in certain cases.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #33304