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| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Review on May 5, 2010: |
K and L
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We arrived at the consulate at 7:06am and went around the consulate (Rua Santa Luzia) to the super short immigrant visa line. (Tourists have a very long line on Rua México.) We were the 11th (of 12) groups of people in line and were handed a number. *NOTE:* the number has nothing to do with the order you're seen in. We were the 7th couple seen. There is no reason to arrive early, unless you want to visit one of the little shops or stands that opens early (but most of them don't!).
After handing over our cell phones and going through the metal detector, we headed upstairs to the immigrant visa lobby, where we sat down in the back of the room after being handed a piece of paper with the order of documents. NOTE: if you're anal enough to pre-arrange the documents, the order on the website is NOT what's being currently used. The website has the Nov 09 version of the document list, and they're using the July 09 version still. (There are two differences in the forms: July 09 switches the order of the DS 156K and DS 157 forms, as well as the order of the I-134 and medical envelope.)
We waited for about 45 minutes (about 8:10-8:20) before L was called to the back of the room to get his documents verified. We didn't have the second copy of his DS-156 and the lady was unsure if his photographs would be ok. We also had the wrong sworn statement form, and she took one out and had him fill it out in the spot.
After about 45 minutes more (about 9:00), he was called to the front of the room, to window 2. A second lady went over his documents again, told him he needed new photos, made him check something he didn't have, and returned his DS-156 for photographs. After this, L ran down the street for a photocopy and new photos -- fortunately, we had found the place on Rua Santa Luzia the day before for his medical (as, er, those photos were also the wrong size -- 5x7 instead of 3x4), and they also did photocopies. He returned, gave the paperwork to the first lady (who had him sign the DS-156 forms), who gave them to the first lady.
We waited about 90 minutes for the biometrics (about 10:30) which are also done at window 2. I don't know why they didn't take the biometrics when they took his documentation, it would have been much more efficient.
About an hour later (11:30), we had our interview. The interviewer (aka CO) allowed K (the USC) in the room with L. The interview was in English (as K's Portuguese is sketchy at best).
L was asked the following questions:
1) How did we meet? What game? What website? (He told the CO how the relationship evolved at this time, as well.)
2) What is L's present career? Does he plan on going to school in the US? What for?
3) Has L ever been to the US or tried to get another visa for the US? (The CO did not say anything negative about L's denied tourist visa, which had been disclosed on the forms.)
K was asked the following questions:
1) How many times have she been to Brazil since the relationship started?
2) Does she rent or own?
3) What is her career? What graduate program does she attend?
4) Where will they live after L enters?
We were told we were approved , and to go to the lady in the back of the room for directions on getting the passport back and that it would take 10-14 days to receive the passport. The lady wrote something out on a green piece of paper and told us to go to the TNT (courier) counter downstairs to fill out their forms and pay.
There was a very short line at the TNT counter, and we paid R$50 to get it delivered to Bahia. NOTE: The sign on the wall that says the region and prices says that Bahia would be R$45, but there's a R$5 surcharge.
All in all, it was an OK experience. It was inefficient, and took far too long -- there was about a 15-30 minute wait between each interview, once they started interviewing.
(updated on May 17, 2010)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6018