|
|
| Dominican Republic |  Review on November 23, 2011: |
Samantha78
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
We arrived at 5:45 am and there were already 40 people or so in line. There's tons of people offering unnecessary information and it was aggravating, especially at that time in the morning. We parked the car in a private parking lot for 200 damn pesos. I was loaded with evidence and I looked at everyone else's.....they had Nothing compared to what I brought. We stood in line until about 6:50 and then the line quickly broke up into two - men on the right, ladies on the left. As we walk in, I'm stunned to see the building itself and the seating, interview areas, windows, etc...are far from professional or what one would expect at a US Embassy related facility. There's about 50 long metal benches and after sitting there for 20 minutes, they announce ( in Spanish only) who should sit on what side of the room. We were number 557.
So the waiting begins....... We see every number imaginable called. It's about 8:30 and still nothing. It didn't help my nerves that the numbers are in no order. It went from 432 to 753 to 576. And there is no pattern at any point do you can't figure out if it's almost your turn. We saw everyone that came after us, go before us. I began to worry. Then by 9:00 wee were called to window 15 to submit all of the documents. We were missing one and we were told that the amount we paid at banco popular was incorrect. This was fault of the bank. My husband brought his letter twice and was to to pay something like $40.00 dollars. The letter said $140.00 but they argued otherwise so he only paid $40.00. Needless to say, now we were obligated to go to the bank and pay this last minute outrageous amount as well as go back to the hotel to grab the other papers we had not brought ( we did bring them but were missing one page). We did all this in 20 minutes and returned back without waiting, to window 15, submitted the documents and sat back down. Next step is fingerprinting. About 25 minutes later we were called to window 13 for fingerprinting. Quick and easy. Sat back down and waited about 15 minutes until we saw number 557 on the screen to window number 17. the woman was Mexican and very pregnant. She had a little attitude but I was ready for whatever. She asked me how we met, when I went to DR the first time to see him, and asked mine and his age ( which prompted some sarcastic type of look- 8 year difference) then told me to sit down. It was his turn.
Questions:
When did her flight arrive?
What airline?
What color luggage? How many?
Did we have sex that night?
Where did I sleep the first trip?
Did we have sex that trip? When?
Did we use condoms? Do I use birth control pills?
We answered exactly the same and I could see her checking off each answer correctly. She was cool with him but had an attitude with me. Since I interviewed last, after she was done she to me to call him over. She quickly and irritatingly said - visa approved, handed him the green ticket to pay Domex, and then ignored us. Whatever!!!
We paid Domex, I thanked God a million times and we left.
I dressed with dress pants and a nice dress shirt. He has nice jeans and a white button down. Most people were presentable but there were a couple of women who thought they were in the club and looked ridiculous.
Sadly, there was only one other American/Dominican married couple, very young, who were horribly interrogated at window 23 for at least an hour and that's no exaggeration. The wife was up there at the window for the fourth time crying, and they were still there when we left. Although I will say, I spoke to the husband and he told me he had abused his travel visa privileges as well as they did not have one wedding picture. Again, very young couple. Maybe 20.
They have pretty good sandwiches and juice if you get hungry. The bathrooms were pretty clean. No one knew English other than the people behind the windows.
Overall good experience other than the waiting but most people waited 2-3 hours. I dont remember seeing anyone around me being denied. All the nice couples I spoke to were approved.
That's all I remember. If you have questions just ask me. 
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8755