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| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Review on May 25, 2011: |
Que Saudade
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We got there really early about 6am. Didn't plan it like that, we overestimated how long it would take us to get there. Even so, people for tourist visa were already there. The tourists line up on the side (Rua Mexico) and the immigrant visas line up in the back of the consulate on Rua Santa Luzia. A guy will come around and ask if you have a cell phone, for a fee they will lock it up for you. They are strict with the electronics rule and no large bags!!! Shortly after 7am a lady came out and had the names of the immigrant visa applicants. She asked to see the photos and then checked your name off and gives you a slip of paper that you fill out later. Do not be alarmed with the tremendous amount of people as they are mostly for tourist visa and handled separately. Soon after they let some people in, they let the immigrant applicants in and you go through a metal detector and your personal items are x-rayed. Then head up to the 2nd floor. Once everyone is in, the lady starts explaining in Portuguese some basic instructions. She was very polite and helpful. Then she hands out an instruction sheet on how to organize your documents. She then will call each applicant individually to the back table and make sure your documents are in the right order. She will tell you which documents to sign immediately and there are 1 or 2 that will be signed in the actual interview. Once that is together, you wait until your turn to go to another person who then takes the actual documents and checks over them again. Then you go back to your seat and wait your turn until the interview. It doesn't matter if you are first in line or last in line, they call you according to their order so don't worry about that part. The lady called Marina's name and we were scared for a moment, she then told us they didn't like the photos. They were too bright, and wouldn't scan properly. We thought oh great... but she told us where to go to get another made. About half a block away. They were nice, fast, and cheap (R10 for 4 photos). We returned back before any interviews had even started.
Interviews began and everyone was coming out with big smiles. We kept waiting. Then one couple came out and she was crying and we thought she had been denied, but she was approved. Finally after waiting painfully long, it was our turn.
Then the interview. This consulate allows the petitioner to go into the interview with their fiancé(e). We go in and he starts by asking your name. He looks through the papers all the while and constantly typing on his computer. Fingerprints are scanned and then you are sworn to tell the truth.
Questions were then asked about how we met, when we met, when did our relationship begin etc....
He then asked me some questions about my past divorce (when did it end and how long was it). I found out after the interview that he had asked the same to her in Portuguese. He asked me where I worked, what did I do, and how much did I make. Because of our age difference, I believe they questioned us harder. (just doing their job) Then just all of a sudden, he said OK you are approved. We looked at each other and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. We thanked him and walked out to the lady who helps everyone all morning. She shows you what to do to go pay the courier fee to get your package shipped to you.
All in all, a very nerve racking experience, but that disappears immediately once you hear the word approved. As long as you have everything in order and follow all the great advice here on VJ, you should be fine.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #7657