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| Naples, Italy |  Review on November 9, 2009: |
christeen
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Medical center is very clean and staff and doctors were very nice. The process was a bit disorganized as I was the first to arrive and the last to depart because they just stacked the papers one on top of another and the last to arrive were on the top so went first.
After the appointment took a taxi back to the embassy to do biometrics.
The next morning I arrived and checked in at the embassy. The lady checking in was very nice and explained that there might be an issue with the AOS information. After waiting for 30 minutes I was called to interview. Interviewer CO was younger lady and she was very efficient. She said that there was no question on the relationship, just asked the standard when and where married, wifes name and such... however, she needed more information on the AOS.
She wanted to see the tax forms and indicated that it was not sufficient as my wife has a business and taxes do not show the full financial picture, so we were using my assets and job for the AOS. I handed her my employment letter and bank account information in Italy. She said she could not accept any of the Italian assets or the employment letter since I was the petitioner and had not worked for the company for 1 year (I was working for them in Europe for 4 months). I got really scared and told her we had the sufficient assets in USA but they were in seperate accounts.
She wanted to see the full 3 x 125% poverty in one account in the sponsors name! So I asked her to give me till the end of the day and I would have my wife e-mail proof of the proper assets. The CO said that if she received the proof before the end of the day, when I picked up my passport, the visa would be in it, if not, no visa today! My wife ran around to get the documentation and e-mail it to them.
At 5 PM (be sure to be prompt as there is a line waiting outside the mailboxes and it is a pretty long distance from the embassy and had to take a taxi) I went to the mailboxes etc and THANK GOODNESS, the Visa was in there!!!
If you have no AOS issues it is pretty easy... But before you arrive they have already reviewed your package and have their ideas of if you will be approved. If there are any issues, better to send that info in on the front side or be very prepared at the interview. They are not mean or interrogative, but thorough.
Keep in mind that the taxi's between the medical, embassy and mailboxes etc are pretty expensive) and can add up quick.
Surprisingly overall, they are pretty efficient and were pleasant. But it was a BIG scare with the AOS stuff. The CO said that due to the economy the embassy's are being told to really screen to be sure the intending immigrants will not become a charge on the system... 
But we got the visa and that is what is important!!!! 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5212