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| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Review on December 3, 2009: |
dereka e dulcim
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We arrived at the consulate around 7:30 AM, after dealing with a lot of traffic, but we were coming from far away.
As others have said, make sure you stand in the shorter line, for immigrant visas, as opposed to the longer line for non-immigrant visas. Once in line, we all got a number (like in a deli), but this one means absolutely nothing in terms of the order you will be seen in.
They opened the gates and herded us all inside at intervals. No cell-phones or cameras allowed, but you can leave them with the security guards no problem.
Once inside, we went up to the second level where there is a waiting area for immigrant visa applicants. The person running the show in the waiting room gave us a paper indicating what order to put our documents in. We did this and then brought them to the lady and she checked to make sure everything was kosher. My fiancee had to take another passport photo (easy to do down the street) because she was wearing earrings in the one she brought. Once the papers got the preliminary okay, they were sent to the office behind the glass where they were further reviewed.
We got called into one of thebooths to meet with a consulate worker who did a more in depth review of the documents. This was not the interview. We waited some more and then my fiancee got called to take her fingerprints. I went with her, but this was unneccesary is it is a quick and painless procedure.
We waited more time, getting frustrated as we watched all the other people have their interviews and get their visas, even people who were in line behind us. This is when we learned that the numbers are meaningless. We even asked why it was taking so long for us, even thoguh we were one of the first applications. The woman said that the people in the office put the applications in their own order, usually saving the more complicated cases for the end! Needless to say, this made us a little concerned because we did not think our case was complicated. But, my fiancee had twice had tourist visas to come visit me rejected, so my theory is that the workers saw she had two tourist visa rejections and this flagged our case as "complicated".
When we were finally called for our interview (the last one before all the workers took an hour lunchbreak at noon) we were a little nervous. They let us take the interview together. The guy had us raise our right hand and swear to tell the truth. He did the interview in portuguese, which is fine because I speak it, but I suppose we could have asked him to do it in English as my fiancee speaks english too. Anyway, he was very friendly, although professionally distanced. Later I found out it was the exact same guy that rejected my fiancee's tourist visa before! Fortunately I did not know this or I may have been even more nervous.
Anyway, he asked us questions like how we met, how and when did I propose (over the phone?) (unfortunately yes, over skype), he asked me if I liked where I live in the US, where I grew up, where I went to school. It seemed like he was asking me more questions than he was my fiancee, although she would chime in and answer some questions about me, which I am sure showed we have a bona fide relationship as she knows my entire life story! He also asked us about the wedding plans. We told him we would have a small ceremony in the states and then a bigger celebration in Brazil. After less than five minutes he said, "okay, well my colleague outside will help you arrange the shipping for your passport with the visa in it!". Then we smiled like mad, thanked the man, went outside trying to contain ourselves, and got the shipping sorted out.
Personally, I think it helped a lot that I went with my fiancee to the interview. One, it showed that we have a real relationship by the fact that I went all the way to Rio just for the interview. Two, by observing our demenour during the interview, it was pretty clear that we know each very well and care about eachother deeply. That being said, all the people who were applying for the K-1 without their fiance (they all happened to be women) got the visa. So I guess it is not necessary for the petitioner to come, although it certainly helped my fiancee not be so nervous. I was more nervous than she was!
The most important thing is to have all your documents in order. One couple, who were both there, got denied because something was wrong with the I134 cosponsor.
As long as you have a real relationship and know eachother well and follow all the instructions on VJ, there should be nothing to worry about!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5347