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| France |  Review on September 1, 2010: |
Tiz&Adam
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My interview had been scheduled for 1pm. The letter said I should arrive at 12.55 but I arrived earlier and I got in fine. Know that you cannot access the Embassy walking on Avenue Gabriel if you're coming from Place de la Concorde; the police will ask you to cross the road and then cross it again, I guess they just want to film you as you approach the building.
No laptops allowed in!
Once in, there are American security guards and they'll check your bag and take mobile, lipstick or lip balm, chewing gum, cigarettes and lighters from you to pick up later. Also drinks and food are not allowed in so eat before hand; you can buy drinks inside as well as snacks.
Once in, walk up those few steps and get your number from the machine by selecting your option (type of visa, appointment, etc.).
Now you can sit. You are called by your number, in fact, you are NOT called, your number, when it's your turn, will appear on the display. Numbers go fast and there's quite a few people. I personally couldn't read as I was paying too much attention to the display making a biiip each time a number was being called and that happens like every minute or so!
So I was called at the booth for the first time and I just handed my oppointment letter and number to a lady who said my number will be called and to go sit again. This was in French. About 45 mins later my number got called again and this time I got asked all the documents I had. The lady spoke French ( and sounded French too) and was kind and jokey and giving tips and explaining the AOS process too. Very nice. That lasted a good 20 mins as she asked for the docs one by one. She also takes your finger-prints and Chronopost envelope.
And then THE WAIT. It was LONG and by the time I got called it was close to 4pm, I had been in there for over 2.5 hours. Number was called again and this time i had to talk to the consul. Polite, professional but she's very serious too.
Questions:
What does your boyfriend do for a living in order to allow himself to leave his job and come and stay with you in France for 5 months? (they did read out file)
You don't mind go live in his parents house?
Is your family coming to the wedding? (answer "no")?
So why didn't you decide to get married here?
I signed my promise to marry him (form DS-156 if i recall it right) and then she said "I think we have all we need from you. If all goes well, you'll receive your visa in 7 days or so. Do you have any other questions", "No, thank you..Actually yes, are there toilets here?", she smiled and that was it!
So I was in for 3 hours exactly and I admit that towards the end I started panicking when I saw the consul had something to object with a couple's file before me, the guy left pretty gutted, I'm not sure what their problem was.
So just go prepared and willing to WAIT. The people are mostly polite and helpful. There's lots of people there but out of 20 booths, 13 were opened. Had it been France, only half would have been functioning! =)
So now, where is is this visa?
Hope this has helped you. if you'd like to know more, PM me. Ciao. Tiz
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6554