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| Dublin, Ireland |  Review on May 27, 2011: |
MrsOMahony
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
So, when my husband & I got the notice our interview (well HIS interview) was on April 28th at 1 PM, we were relieved. It was just in time (we needed it sorted so we could move & start work in August) and we thought we'd make a day of it in Dublin (since we were living in Cork). We got the train up & arrived at the embassy shortly before 1. The guards were incredibly polite & kind and helpful through the entire process.
However, we arrived into an incredibly crowded room filled with mainly J1 Visa applicants and a few couples, like ourselves. Apparently the "appointment of 1 PM" meant nothing at all. We were eventually called up, sorted through our information with a rather unfriendly woman. We needed additional pictures of my husband so we left, ran around the corner and sorted that, returned, paid the fee... and waited some more.
And then continued waited. Slowly, the J1 applicants dwindled until it was just several couples like us waiting. We were exhausted, hungry, tired and frustrated. Luckily, the guards were polite and helpful, that's the only thing that made the experience bearable. Finally, at nearly 5 PM we were called to a window to be interviewed... that's right, a window. No privacy at all. Colm took the oath and the questions began. We met online (yes, not a classic "love at first sight" story. A penpals-turned friends-turned more story instead), which led the officer to probe my husband and ask if he had been "shopping for an American bride"...ick. It was unbearably uncomfortable. I could tell Colm was starting to worry. But, all was well, I guess we were deemed legit by the officer in the end. We were informed we "almost got a visa" today. We only had to sort out an issue with the Affadavit of Support (a problem which was the fault of the embassy, as far as I am concerned, but that's neither here nor there). So, we left, worn out and tired. We missed our train and arrived home late at night, exhausted and very unhappy. We mailed in our additional forms and about two weeks after the interview, my husband's Visa and packet arrived.
The fact that they were so quick in issuing it is the only thing that raised my opinion of the Embassy.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #7670