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| Finland |  Review on February 22, 2012: |
R and L
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
My interview was scheduled for 9.00 am. I rang the buzzer at 8.45am but was asked to come back at 9.00am, so they really want people to come only exactly as scheduled. At 9.00 I was allowed in and took elevator up to the 5th floor and rang the second buzzer so that they could get my passport. Waited about 15 minutes and then was allowed to go through security check (which was similar to what they have at the airport).
Inside the consulate they have a nice little waiting area with Finnish and English magazines and drinking water on the side. Managed to wait truly just a second and was called to give one updated document. Then sat down to wait again. After about 15 minutes was called to have my fingerprints done. Then back to the waiting room and this time ended waiting for pretty long time as I think they were handling first the non-immigrant visas.
Finally I was called for the interview. The lady interviewing me was really nice and kind. I had just been sick for a week with a heavy duty flu (great timing, thankfully was in decent condition on the interview day) and adds had still jet lag as arrived back from visiting my husband just week before, but the jet lag and flu actually made me more relaxed. I can get easily very nervous so was kind of glad that my focus was in blowing my nose also 
Here's the interview questions about:
CEO: Tell me about your husband.
ME: I start telling how my husband and I met and the beginning of our relationship, then in the middle of my looooong answer I realize that she asked me HOW IS MY HUSBAND LIKE!!! NOT HOW WE MET!!! Then thankfully I at least end my answer in describing my husband as charming, smart and so incredibly funny.
CEO: So you spent time in Israel also. Did you live there or travel back and forth from Finland?
ME: I traveled back and forth. ---and then I continued my reply telling that my husband's mom lives there and she was sick and that's why my husband had to live there for a while.
CEO: But now he is back in USA.
ME: Yes
CEO: And your husband has a job now, he is an artist...
ME: No, he sells art, not an artist, he is a art dealer for fine art. (I think she was testing me with this question... )
CEO: And you got married in USA, not here..
ME: Yes
CEO: And he has met your family
ME: Yes
CEO: What was the state again that your husband lives in?
ME: California
CEO: Ok, so all looks good here. We just need to check what's the situation with the Israeli police certificate (-I had ordered one, and it had been sent to the embassy supposedly but they couldn't find it anywhere and it was little bit confusing as I thought I didn't even need one, but thankfully had ordered one anyways) so we will let you know by tomorrow.
ME: So I will know if the visa is accepted by tomorrow as well?
CEO: No, it's just the police certificate we need to check, otherwise all looks good.
ME: Thank you so much! How long does it take for me to get my passport back and how should I pick it up?
CEO: You should get it within a week, we will contact you when it's ready for you to pick it up.
ME: Thank you and have a nice day!
After only 30 minutes they emailed me that problem solved with the police certificate, that I don't need it, all well.
Altogether it took me 2 hours so it was pretty fast I think. Everybody in the embassy were really kind and actually I had a nice experience. During the whole process, The Helsinki Embassy has also replied to my emails really fast, often even the same day.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #9199