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Nicaragua | Review on March 6, 2009: | Yader&Sarah
Rating: | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Besides a couple minor things, we both give our k-1 experience via Managua an A++.
From the moment we received the NOA2 we were in contact with Blanca Perez, ManaguaConsularIV@state.gov, who was a tremendous help. She not only answered the gazillion questions that I had, she also forwarded us the packet via email once the petition reached the Embassy, eliminating the time it would take to be devilvered by mail.
Once our petition reached Managua it was all extremely fast. Blanca emailed me to tell me that the case was there and attached the petition. Yader went the following day to pick up the hard copy from the embassy within the alotted time fram (1-3 pm). We thought it was necessary for the medical, but later found out that we could've used the email copy.
The following day he had his medical which took the majority of the day. He saw Dr. Gilberto Martinez at Clinica Plaza España. It ended up costing a lot more than the base 195$ because of missing vaccines (be prepared, he had at least 5!).
We already had everything ready, so we just signed and dated and I emailed Blanca the second Yader was done with the medical to schedule the interview. Note...much faster to schedule via email. Be nice to Blanca, dont abuse her, but she can be VERY helpful. She gave us the first available interview which was Friday, Feb 13 (eek). --2 weeks later.
I flew down for the interview, so I dont know if it was easier because of that, but our interview was a breeze!
We arrived at 7:15 am and stood in line out front. The officer there was very friendly and checked off Yader's name. after about 30 min we passed inside through a security check. Then went back outside on the other side and through another security check. Then they asked to see his passport and told us to take a seat. It was about 7:45 am and the room was packed. there is a line of windows and everyone sits facing them. I thought there was surely another room where our interview would be, but I was mistaken.
After a little while we were called up, we were able to go together. A very friendly young guy asked us for the DS-156, Affidavit and taxes, birth certificate and divorce decree. he also asked for some of our evidence, primarily passport stamps and photos, we didn't give him everything as not to overwhelm him
He asked us a few questions:
How long have you known eachother?
How did we meet? Where?
How long have we been in a relationship?
Where did we work? (we worked together)
How many times had I been to visit?
How old is Yader's son?
Then he told us to take a seat.
We waiting a little longer and then the consular called Yader's name. Again, I was able to go. She asked if we spoke English or Spanish. We chose Spanish. She asked Yader to swear it was the truth and sign the DS-156K. (He said at that point he knew we had it ). Then she asked the exact same (I swear) questions the first guy asked while browsing through our evidence. I offered here a couple more different types of evidence which she took, and then looked at the pictures (while smiling), and asked who the letters were to and from (we had various from his family members to me, vice versa, and him-me, etc).
Then she said, Felicidades! Esta aprobado! and that was it!
We tried not to celebrate to big because, as I said, the whole room was watching us, and as far as we could tell we were the first approved that day. We left the consulate at 9:30 am.
The only complaint we have is, they were to mail his passport with visa, but the embassy mail for whatever reason does not go to his home in Ciudad Sandino, so we were supposed to pick it up at Linda Vista's post office the next friday (after one week). When we went to get it, it wasn't there. Yader went back to the embassy and they almost didn't listen to him, but for whatever reason, they admitted it was there logistical error and promised him that if he came back at 3 pm it would be ready for him. wow!!!
go managua!
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