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| Ireland |  Review on November 12, 2011: |
SkypeLovers
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
After a long wait we were relieved that the day of the interview had finally arrived! My interview was scheduled for 1pm. When I arrived at the US embassy in Dublin a line consisting of a few people had already started to form at the main entrance to the building. I joined the line which was steadily getting longer. A lot of people in the line had large x-ray envelopes and other documents so I knew they must have been there for the same reason as I was.
At around 12.50pm the guards at the gate to the Embassy began to let us in one by one. The guards checked my passport and crossed my name off a list. I walked through the metal detector. They took my phone, lip gloss and keys from me and kept them in a small locker. They gave me a label which I hung around my neck. Presumably it indicated why I was at the embassy and it also held a key that showed which locker my things were in (similar to a coat check).
I was carrying my large x-ray envelope, photos of myself and my fiance and all of the other documents required for the interview in a large paper bag. I was allowed to keep this with me. Others even had backpacks which they were allowed to keep with them. Most of the other people were on their own but one or two had their fiance/spouse/family member with them.
From there I was directed to a building which is located on the other side of an outdoor courtyard. I followed the path to the building and upon entering a guard told me to sit on the right-hand side of the waiting room. He handed me a number which I thought would be called out but I was always called by my name.
I had been in this waiting room before to do an interview for a J-1 working holiday visa when I was an undergraduate student in Ireland. On the other side of the room people were renewing US passports etc. I was the fourth person to be called by name to one of the cubby holes.
All interaction with embassy staff other than the guards happened at these cubby holes. There was a counter and the staff member was behind glass. You could slide documents to them under the glass. It's similar to what you expect at your local bank or post office. Not much privacy!
The first time I was called up to the counter an Irish woman who was quite stern asked me to produce various documents such as my birth certificate, police certificate, passport photos (they must be US regulation size: 2x2 inches) etc.
Be sure you have all of your documents in order. Have everything you need including copies and certified translations if required. Collecting all of it is tedious but it will help everything to go smoothly at the Embassy. There was one short form which I hadn't filled out which the lady had me fill out and sign at the counter.
I gave her my stamped, addressed envelope too. I had a lot of trouble finding an envelope that was exactly the size they required. I got an envelope that was about 1/2 an inch under the required size in length and a couple of inches too wide at Easons on O'Connell Street. I put 8 euro postage on it. I had asked the Embassy if I could use a courier to get the visa to me more quickly but they said I couldn't courier it.
After I had given the lady all of my documents and forms I was shown to the cubby hole next door to hers where I paid the cashier. In the information I had received with Packet 3 it mentioned that the fee was 350 dollars but that it needed to be paid in Euro with an Irish bank draft or postal order. This is confusing! My fiance noticed that it says on the Embassy's website that the fee is 280 euro. I brought a Bank of Ireland bank draft for 280 euro and the cashier took it. There were no difficulties.
I sat down again. I watched as two people left with smiles on their faces having obviously been approved for their visas. I was the third person to be called. The American interviewer was polite. He asked me very few questions but he listened closely as I was answering the questions he asked.
He asked me: 1. how my fiance and I met 2. when we were getting married 3. if our parents and other family members were going to attend the wedding. He also looked quickly at the photos we sent in when we filed and asked a few questions about them.
After about 4 minutes he told me that I was approved. I could hardly believe it after the months of waiting! He gave me a small receipt from the cashier. I had booked a flight to the US for 2 days later and I wanted to be with my fiance so I was keen to know if there was any way we could get my passport with the visa in it back more quickly. The interviewer entertained my question but said I'd just have to wait and that I should have it within a week.
I had to cancel my flight and book another one but my passport with my visa in it arrived 6 days after my interview. I also received a large sealed envelope with instructions not to open it and to give it to the officer as I was entering the US. There was no difficulty as I entered the US but it took quite a while to process everything and I was worried I'd miss my connecting flight. Give yourself plenty of time!
Keep faith! You'll make it through and it's worth it :-)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8699