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| Argentina |  Review on September 27, 2006: |
seldi
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Make sure you come early. He had his interview at 10am, but showed up 40 minutes early. There were 2 lines at the entrance, one for non-immigrant visas (long, slow moving line) and one for immigrant visas (no line). The security guard placed him in the non-immigrant line after reading his interview letter (or e-mail from embassy). He knew he was in the wrong line but didn't want to cause any problems so he waited a little bit and switched lines! He was asked to leave his cell phone at the entrance.
Once inside, he was given a number with a stub and was asked to wait until his number was called to pay the $100 fee at the cashier. After paying, he was asked to go to another window to turn in all his documents (except for photo album and copy of I-129F). He was then taken to another room where interviews were being held. Interviews are held right there, in different "bank" like windows, everyone can see and hear everything. Almost everyone was being approved, but none of them were k visas. He waited for about 1 hour until he was called. He got very excited thinking it was his turn, but instead, he was asked if he had any pictures for the consul to look at because she was bored and cranky. He gave her the photo album and waited for 1.5 more hours until he was finally called and taken to a separate room. Since K visas are more complicated, they're with the consul.
Once there, there was another man who was almost done with his interview. The man looked upset and was arguing with the consul because she denied his visa (apparently she wasn't happy with him because his application was a mess, it was missing all kinds of information and was not ordered). The man was saying how he didn't have time to order the papers, excuses, excuses. Anyway, it was my fiance's turn. The consul looked like she was in a bad mood, probably because of the guy that had just left. With a very thick American accent she asked him:
1)How did you meet?
He didn't give a short answer, he gave her a very descriptive answer with probably too much information (he talks a lot). He kept talking and talking and smiling at her, but she didn't even crack a smile, she just kept scribbling on the application and kept reading some papers(probably reading what I wrote on the I-129F ). When she finally cracked a smile, he stopped talking. It looked like she was very pleased with his answer and finally seemed to lighten up a little!
2) She started flipping through our photo album and started asking questions about every single picture. Where was this, when, why..He again gave descriptive answers.
3)When are you traveling to the US. When are you getting married. He again gave a very descriptive answer. She was pretty pleased and very friendly at this point. She even made a few jokes.
And then she said: "Your visa has been approved. Congratulations and have a safe trip!". She told him to go to window X to make arrangements to pick up his passport!
He said the interview felt like he was buying movie tickets where the cashier sits behind a glass window and talks into a microphone. At times he felt as though there was a little bit of a language barrier because her Spanish was a little shaky and Although the consul appeared intimidating and cranky at first, she just wanted to see and hear what she wanted. After looking at his insanely organized application put together by his obsessively organized and overly prepared fiancee, and with his descriptive answers, it all changed.
In conclusion, come early, come prepare, be yourself, relax and wear a big smile!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #881