|
|
| Bangkok, Thailand |  Review on September 17, 2011: |
lvriesling
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Sept 15 2011 - Upon arrival at 6:45 AM, Beneficiary (in a business suit, with a wedding ring & a heart-shaped necklace) was admitted to US embassy without waiting in line, due to her immigration visa appointment letter. Cell phone was surrendered to security, then immigration counter took only certain evidence: email folder screenshots, printouts of selected emails, redacted Skype chat transcripts, photographs of us together, and photographs of gifts and letters and packages sent to each other. Not accepted as evidence: actual greeting cards & actual packages, actual check written out to beneficiary from petitioner, vaccination certificate from latest booster shots, long distance phone bill showing calls, flight booking info. We did not have any notarized affidavits from friends & family - our evidence was all directly from and about us. We were interview #3 of about 7. It's now 7:15 - waited in a big lobby with about 100 non-immigration visa people, seated too far away to hear the immigration interviews. 2 windows were closed, 2 windows were already processing non-immigrant visas, plus 1 immigration window which did not even open until 9 AM. Non-immigrant visa people are called up by their assigned numbers, but immigrant visa people are called up by name. Immigrant Interview #2 had a tough 30-minute interview (Thai interview was not allowed - English was required) and was given her passport back (no visa for her). Our interview (#3) started at 9:50. Interviewer had light brown hair, green eyes, about 5' 10", no glasses, short casual gray dress, low pitched female voice, very fast talker, stern facial expression. Interviewer greeted Beneficiary, Beneficiary returned greetings in both Thai and English. Beneficiary had a fingerprint taken of her right index finger and was sworn in. 1st question was about how we met, what website (it was okcupid.com). 2nd question was when did we physically meet and when did we get married (Petitioner flew to BKK for about 2 weeks last November & we married during that visit). 3rd question was why we got married even though that visit was our first & only in-person meeting (we have had daily email contact since meeting on okcupid.com in August 2010, plus Skype chats & phone calls as well, and Petitioner is a good person, we love & care for each other). During the answering of this question, Interviewer returned to Beneficiary the original documents (marriage certificate, etc.) submitted to NVC. [This was probably the exact moment at which Interviewer decided to grant the CR-1 visa!] 4th question was why did Beneficiary join okcupid.com (it's a good website for understanding the personality of the people you meet, etc.). 5th question was about prior marriages & children (none for either of us). 6th question was what does Beneficiary plan to do in USA (her career choice). 7th question is when will Beneficiary travel to USA (October 6th, we already bought the plane ticket in order to snap up a great advance-purchase ticket price). Interviewer then gave a small white slip of paper showing Beneficiary's name and NVC number, saying to return Sept 19 at 3 PM to pick up Beneficiary's Thai passport and US CR-1 visa. Beneficiary thanked Interviewer in Thai and English and wai'ed Interviewer. Interviewer maintained her stern expression and did not wai back. Beneficiary reclaimed her cell phone & exited the embassy. There is an age difference of 13+ years between Petitioner and Beneficiary (she is the younger partner), and Interviewer never asked any questions about that. The whole interview took about 10 minutes. Beneficiary had some trouble understanding Interviewer's fast-paced English, but Interviewer had no problem understanding Beneficiary's Thai-accented English. We were very well prepared (thanks to VJ) and we already knew we had a very strong case. A very good experience, except for the stern Interviewer who refused to wai back!
(updated on September 19, 2011)
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8338