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| Islamabad, Pakistan |  Review on October 9, 2008: |
S_AL_
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
I reached Convention center (not exactly the convention center but this place hidden away in trees where the bus stand is) at about 6 AM, as we got lost. Islamabad’s been under very tight security and virtually all main roads have barricades now. Got in queue for the ticket to shuttle. Before standing in queue, always check if you are in the right queue. Kept my NIC, Passport and Interview letter to be showed at the counter. Apparently anyone accompanying you to this point can get a ticket to the shuttle and can accompany you to the embassy, minus your cell phones, food items and drinks. They can sit outside the embassy on the benches and wait for you.
The ticket counter opened around 7 am. The queue moved quickly. I got the ticket and was in line for the shuttle. Had a security check where men were told to leave bags behind, women however were allowed to carry their handbags as long as there weren’t any cell phones or other mechanical devices. Carrying food was not encouraged. I got on the first shuttle that left for the embassy and enjoyed the slightly long and slow ride to the embassy. Must lookout for the nice sights… they can help you calm down. I had reached the embassy by I think sometime around 8 am. As soon as we got off the bus, we were suppose to stand in another queue; two this time, one for immigrant visas and other for non-immigrant. Guard checked the passport and interview letter and sent people to another security check post. Here they make sure you have no food items or drinks taken inside the embassy. Next there was another queue…and then the guard sent me inside the building. Another check of all the documents I had through the machine and my name checked on their list. I was inside. They told me to go down a long corridor that seemed to lead to a room, which seemed like a bunker. This was for immigrant visa applicants only and they took my fingerprints. Next was the waiting room. Both immigrant visa and non-immigrant visa applicants are interviewed in this hall.
I was first called to window 5 and was asked to submit my passport. I was also asked the medium of language I would like to be interviewed in. Then told to sit and wait to be called again. Next I was called to window 7 and the person there asked for my medical report (just the report and not the x-ray). He also asked me to remove my scarf to see my headline and hair. He returned some extra copies of documents my husband had submitted with the DS-230 and I-864. After that he arranged my file and asked me about a question from DS-230 that was not clear to him. I had submitted an extra script with the required answer and he found that. Then he asked me if I am part of any terrorist organization. We both smiled as the answer was obvious. He then asked me to sign DS-230’s part II. He did not ask for any documents nor did he ask for recent 2x2 photos. I had to ask him for that but he said that was not necessary. He asked if I have any photos with me. I said yes and asked if he wanted to see them…he said that was not needed. He told me to sit and wait to be called again. Confirmed again that the interview will be in English.
After a few minutes I was called at window 3. This was the final interview. The Consular Officer was a White American. He greeted me nicely. Asked if I am comfortable being interviewed in English, then said that my qualification makes me eligible to be fluent in English. He handed me the originals I had submitted with the DS230, along with the list of courier services available and a token stapled to it. Then he asked the following questions:
1. Who is my petitioner?
2. When did we get married?
3. How did we meet?
4. Was getting married to him an issue with my family?
5. What does my husband do?
6. Have I ever been outside Pakistan before?
7. When I said yes, he asked me the places I have been to.
8. He asked if I have all my previous passports with me. I showed them to him.
He typed in all the passport numbers in the system.
Next he took out this green sheet and stamped the date on it. Wrote my case number on it. He said that he is unable to issue the visa right away but congratulated me and said that my visa has been approved. Said that I do not need to come to the embassy for another interview. He said he has already given me the list of courier services through which I should send in my passport as soon as the embassy calls. He also said that it should take about 2 months to get this check done but in good cases, it should not take that long. He returned the passport along with that green sheet and said I should hear from the embassy soon.
This was it. I was done with the interview and back to the shuttle point by 10.
Hope this review helps.
P.S. They did not ask for any documents or evidences (which by the way were plenty), as I believe my husband had sent in photos and affidavits along with the I-130 and DS230.
Overall it was a pleasant experience and I came out happy. Allaah be praised.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3436