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| Kuwait |  Review on July 5, 2009: |
SandLand
Rating:  | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
Emailed request for an appointment to file the I-130 petition for my wife on May 3rd. The embassy responded on May 5th with an appointment date for May 25th. All immigrant visa appointments are set for 1-2pm but it is recommended that you show up at least 45 minutes prior. We entered the embassy when it opened at 1pm and were the 3 couple in line for immigration visas. You are first called to the window to submit all your documents. Then you are directed to the cashiers window to pay the $355 1-30 petition fee. You then take your seat and wait to be called back for the initial interview. We spent a total of about 3 hours at the embassy.
The initial interview wasn't a big deal. The CO asked some basic questions of when we met, how we met, when we were married, etc. She then asked me how long I had been in Kuwait and when I planned to return to the US. The CO then said that my petition was approved at that everything would be sent to DHS in Greece for review. However, she did say that I would need to provide proof that I would be returning to the US with my wife to wive and work. The CO said I would need to bring a letter from my employer saying that I was transferring back to the US.
On June 1st we received notice that the i-130 was approved by DHS/USCIS and the packet 3. We are not planning to return to the US until March 2010 when my contract is complete so now we are just collecting the police reports and doing the medical exam. We plant o go back around November or December to complete the process and collect the CR-1/IR-1 visa.....in shalla.
The embassy staff responds to emails rather quickly but in the summer they are very busy processing visitor visas for Kuwaiti's. I'm sure Kuwait is a hardship tour for most of the staff. I'd say about half of them seem pretty bitter about having to work in Kuwait. I don't blame them.... 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #4685