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| Honduras |  Review on July 15, 2011: |
Zami
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Stayed at Aparthotel Guijarros (wonderful place). Got up at 4:30 (3:30 WA time) and to the Embassy at 5:45 am. Our interview was “scheduled” for 7:30 am. There were already 9 people in line, but I think they are in groups. The building is obvious. It’s brand spankin new. There were walls to sit on while we waited for the doors to open. We brought a backpack full of stuff and were told we can’t bring it in. Great, we have to carry all the documentation. There are two lines outside the building. The upper one is for Tourist Visas, the lower one for residents. It’s confusing… Residents of what country? We were directed to the Resident’s line for a Fiance Visa. Christian wore a short-sleeved, blue, button up shirt and some light, tan cotton pants with tennis shoes. I wore a blue dress and sandals. They checked us off on a list after looking at our passports and the “receipt” – the interview appointment letter from the Embassy (our email printout worked fine).
The doors opened at 7 am. We couldn’t bring in the backpack all the way in and had to check it at the door and take a number to get it back. We also received a number (C404) with which they called us three times. During the first Christian went alone and was asked for the “receipt” as well as his passport photos. They never asked to see any other proof of our relationship other than photos. I had receipts, call logs, Skype printouts, emails, Facebook updates and a journal in a box.
Between the first and second time our number was called, Christian got in line to get his fingerprints taken. They have a cool new digital thingie and you don’t have to worry about getting black ink all over your hands.
The second was to take our paperwork. I had everything they asked for on the list in order with copies of all the originals (I’d hoped we’d get the originals back right away, but we didn\\\'t get them until the next day and then only mine, not his - MAKE COPIES for your green card app!)
REMINDER: Birth Certificates “en forma literal” (for him), Certified Birth Certificate (for me), original wedding certificate (me), original and certified divorce decree(me), Police Certificate (for him, you must get it in Tegus with one exception for people living in San Pedro Sula), Medical Papers (can be done in one day if you start very early, cost 3500L, only in Tegus). MAKE COPIES for yourselves!
During the second phase, the lady asked Christian the basics – When did you meet? When is your wedding? How many times has she visited you? When did you ask her to marry to you? The time it took to get this far wasn’t bad… the doors opened at 7 am and we were done with the 2nd phase by around 8 am. We had to sit and wait another hour and a half for the “real” interview. Meanwhile we had to pay the cashier $350. This is in ADDITION to the $340 we already paid when we sent in the petition. They will not take more or less than the EXACT change. $6650L. I had to beg someone for change for a 100L note. Thank God I\\\'d emptied out the safe into my purse that morning. I was previously told via email by embassy personnel that the exact change I would need was $10. HA.
The third phase was in a room alone with a lady behind glass who had a microphone that didn’t work too well. She was hard to hear at times. She was also VERY intense. Staring at us like we were criminals under investigation and looking deeply into our SOULS for the answer to her inner questions. Yikes. She asked Christian why me… especially since we are 13 years apart in age (I’m older). He had no problem answering her. She also asked about his kids twice… and seemed to dislike his intention to leave them, even though I assured her they had a step-father and a solid family in La Cieba. That was it for Christian… she then lit into ME. If you are thinking you will NOT attend this interview with your fiancé, think again! Jeepers. I thought HE was the one being interviewed, not me. Wrong! “Do you know a John Doe Smith?” (name changed ). “John” was a friend I met online in an MMO game three years ago. He lives in Jamaica. I went to scuba dive there (in Jamaica) three years ago and met him in person. His first name is the name of a man I was going to marry 30 years ago, but he died in a motorcycle accident 5 months before the wedding; his middle name is the name I was going to give my baby, had my baby been a boy… so I was mystified by her question. I didn’t remember John… until she said his name again… then I remembered him. John had applied for a tourist visa to come visit me… I’d even forgotten that he’d applied! When I told her I was never serious about John, we were just friends… he was 22, after all… she looked at me with disdain and asked, “So do you travel the world looking for boyfriends?” Good Lord! I’ve had a total of two boyfriends in the last 7 years and Christian is one of them! She asked why I wanted a younger man and I told her I’d always been attracted to younger men.
She also asked, “So you’re on unemployment now?” and I explained that my work as a tax preparer is seasonal and added that our company had been challenged monetarily by the recent recession, but we plan to put me back to work full-time in the near future. She also asked what kind of work Christian would be doing after he received his permanent residency. I said, “One of the things that attracted me to Christian in the beginning was how hard he works. He was the one doing everyone’s work at the resort where I met him. He’ll be happy doing anything in the states for between $10 and $20 dollars and hour instead of $10 to $20 a day. We have work for him at my office and he can do odd jobs in construction or at restaurants in the valley as well.”
I’ve been to Honduras to see Christian FOUR times in one year, completely depleted my savings and she actually doubted our relationship? Really?? She saw my tax return. She knows I’m not rich. I’m not used to being doubted… I’m an honest sort and this was a new feeling for me. She stared at me with doubt and said, “So you are a Christian?” I said I was, as is Christian. ??I’m sorry but what exactly does this have to do with the price of tea in China?? She did seem sincere and like she could be a nice person… Christian liked her anyway… I just didn’t appreciate being accused of … what?? Having a friend in Jamaica? Having two boyfriends in the last 7 years? Traveling? I was quite upset by her line of questioning….I’m still trying to understand it; to get over it.
She ended the interview by saying, “I have my doubts about your other boyfriend, but I’m going to approve the Visa.” I almost asked what else I could do to alleviate her doubts, but she said the Visa was approved!! Approved!! I told her that we would not let her down. She glared at me like we better not and gave us a green card that said to come back the next day at 3:45 to pick up the passport with the Visa stamp. We were out the Embassy doors at about 9 a.m.
We reeled out the door and down the street. Christian kept repeating, “Did she really say ‘approved?’” and I was giggling and crying and trying to pull myself together. It’s been a long haul, but tomorrow Christian gets his visa and the next day we leave for Washington!!
Picking up the VISA was sort of a nightmare. We were called in to the embassy with a bunch of other people. They all had their names called and left with their VISAs... Christian and I were left sitting there for 10-15 minutes wondering if they knew we existed and what was going on. He was shaking... when they finally handed him the VISA I started crying... Yah, so that was the most stressful 15 minutes of my entire life.
(updated on July 15, 2011)
(updated on July 15, 2011)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #7935