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| Jamaica |  Review on November 5, 2010: |
Soulful
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Our appointment was at 8:00am on November 1, 2010. He stayed overnight in Kingston at the Spanish Court Hotel, which was a maximum of 15 minutes (in rush hour traffic) from the embassy. My husband arrived at the embassy about 10 minutes before 8am. He went over to the ladies behind the railing in front of the embassy, who took his 2 passport size photos, passport, and appointment letter. They then returned his passport with the photos in them. Next up was security check - removal of shoes, belt, etc. to pass through metal detector. Then he went inside and obtained a number at the first desk and a yellow paper to write his passport number on. He was then told to wait over to the right side for his number to be called. After about 45 minutes of waiting, he found a seat. About a quarter 'til 10am his number was called. He approached the window and provided his passport, 2 passport size photos, and medical. The lady asked a couple questions like if he had ever traveled to the U.S. before, and a number in JA where he could be reached. Then he was sent to a desk to pay the additional $4 US visa fee (due to the rate increase). He returned the receipt to the lady at the window, where she took his fingerprints, and returned his passport and told him to listen for his number to be called again. The numbers were not being called in order, and he got through ahead of many people who were there before him. After about 15 minutes later (Around 10:10am) his number showed up again for the interview.
He handed the IO his passport. The IO asked him to place his middle finger on a scanner. The IO didn't look at him much. He mainly asked questions and typed on the computer. He asked my husband if he had ever traveled to the US and if he had any family there. My husband told him he had been to the US multiple times and only his wife was there. He saw my husbands previous C1 visa for transit to Australia and asked some questions. Then he looked at his other visas to visit various countries and asked what his purpose was in visiting each destination. He had already started canceling my husbands B1/B2 visitors visa and C1 transit visa. It seemed like the IO had already looked through our paper work and made a decision before my husband even approached the window. He asked the following questions about our relationship:
How do we communicate with each other? My husband answered international calls, skype, and visiting each other. He told the IO he had itineraries for all our trips and call records. The IO said he already had that documentation from NVC.
He asked how many people were at our wedding?
Then he asked my husband what other documents did he say he had brought with him. My husband gave him some pictures to look at. He flicked through and looked at a couple.
He gave my husband a little pink slip with a number and said you are good. He told him to take it to the DHL window. My husband asked him if that was it. He said yes and continued to type on the computer. My husband stood in the line and paid the DHL fee and was out of the embassy by 11:00am Since he couldn't take his cell phone with him, he bought a call from one of the guys outside for $100 JA to tell me he was approved.
He called the on-time taxi to come back to the hotel and that was that! They told everyone at the embassy to not make any plans for two weeks, until they got a visa and passport back in their hands, because you never know what could happen. He received it today, November 5th!
My husband said his interview for his visitors visa B1/B2 had more questions than this one. He also said most people he saw got blue slips. I think as long as you come prepared for the unexpected, you will be OK.
We are all smiles!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6826