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| Auckland, New Zealand |  Review on June 30, 2006: |
sadie33138
Rating:  | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
I moved to NZ in 8/2004 to live with my husband while he finished up his career. In January 2006, I called the Consulate on their line for Visa inquiries (not free) and asked if I could file the I-130 in Auckland for my husband. They said yes and sent me the initial package of forms and instructions. I received the package about 3 days after my request. It contained the I-130, I-864, DS-230 & DS-2001 plus a multitude of instructions on how to fill them out, what documents would be needed and how to file it all. Very comprehensive instructions and very clear. We began gathering the documents we did not have and on May 30, 2006 (2 years after our marriage  ) we filed the I-130 around 8:15am. If you live in Auckland you can drop in to file the papers between 8-9am Mon-Fri. They are closed on US holidays as well as NZ holidays so check their calendar on their website to be sure they are open.
The Embassy is on the third floor of the Citibank building. This building is on Customs Street, approximately two blocks off of Queen Street (the main drag here) It is also close to the big downtown shopping center and about 4 blocks from a full service medical center where you can get your immigration exam, blood tests and xray all in the same location.
When you enter the Citibank Building (US flag in front) you get in the elevator and go up to the third floor. The elevator opens into the security area. You will see security guards as soon as you exit. When we entered this area to file the I-130, I introduced myself to the security guard and told him I wanted to file the I-130 for my husband. We then handed over our passports and then the guard looked inside my accordian file and laughed. He said, "have some paperwork, do you?" Yep, a lot! Then we put all the contents of our pockets into the tiny plastic basket they have and one at a time we were asked to step through the security door barrier. My shoes set it off, they always do, so I have to take my shoes off and pass them over to the guard so he can swipe them and see that yes, it is my shoes setting off the alarm. The guard then told us to go through the glass door and go to window #7 and push the buzzer and that someone would come to help us. We did and a very nice lady came to the window. I introduced myself and DAH and handed over the I-130 and supporting documents. She checked them over, said it looked good, thank you for having the original docs as most people don't (she meant my certified copies, sent my DAH to pay the fee and said to mail in the DS-2001 when we had everything ready for the interview. I said we had everything now and showed her the police reports, etc. She asked if I had the DS-230 & DS-2001 completed and with me and I said yes, so she said: "hand them over and take a seat and while you wait to talk to the Consular Officer, I'll get you an interview date" Wow! We sat. She came back in about 5 minutes with the interview letter and medical forms. The interview date was for two weeks later!! I couldn't have been happier. The Consular Officer came, swore me to the I-130 and said he would see us in two weeks. 
We left, went to the big shopping center downtown and had breakfast, then over to the Medical Clinic to make an appt for the exam. The receptionist asked if we wanted to come back in 30 minutes. Wow again! We did and my DAH completed his medical then (exam, blood work & xrays) and we were home 5 hours after we left that morning, with the I-130, DS-230 & DS-2001 all filed and the medical exam completed and an interview in two weeks! Amazing and it goes to show how being prepared and having all your paperwork ready can do for you.
Day of the interview (8:00am) we went up in the elevator at the Embassy at 5 minutes to 8am (interview time was 8:15am) and were first in what became a line of about 12 people. We were called to the window by a blonde haired lady who was exceptionally pleasant. She quickly went through the I-864 and the DS-230,Part II and said everything was good and thanks so much for being so organized and having all the documents asked for. She asked for the courier envelope from me and my darling's passport, then she told my DAH to go to the cashier window and pay the fee and come back (she gives you a bill to pay) She showed my DAH what his MBE (Mysterious Brown Envelope) looked like and told him what to do at the POE and not to worry about remembering everything that she would give him an instruction sheet to read. Then told us to wait for the Consular Officer for the interview. We sat for about 10 minutes and were called to the window by the same Officer we saw when we filed the I-130,etc. He swore me to the I-864 and my hubby to the DS-230 and then took my DAH's fingerprints. Then he chatted up my DAH, asking about his work in the Corrections Department and telling us about his trips to the prison to visit Americans. He then said, well we'll get this in the mail to you in a couple of days. I asked: "Is that it?" and the ConOff said: "Yes, that's it"
The passport with the visa & MBE came the next morning around 9:30AM. YAY!!!!
The Embassy/Consulate staff are pleasant and helpful. The hardest part was the months of stress leading up to the actual filing and interview.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #668