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| Tokyo, Japan |  Review on March 12, 2012: |
Clark--Kent
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
We arrived about 15 minutes before our appointment. The embassy in Tokyo just lets people in as they arrive, so there wasn't a line of people waiting outside. After the usual security check, we went in and were given a number and a folder to put our documents in for submission (passport photos, paper to write current address in Japan and U.S. address to send green card, medical check, prepaid envelope to mail back the visa). There were a handful of other couples waiting, as well as as 15-20 people there alone.
We waited about 30 minutes and our number was called. I accompanied my wife to the window and she gave the woman the folder of documents. She opened the sealed medical check envelope and gave us back the CD inside with instructions to take it with us to America and keep it for 1 year. It contains a copy of the report and the X-ray pictures. She flipped through our (huge) packet of submissions and then asked my wife about our kids, whether they had American passports or not (they do), and how many people are in our family. She started circling the dollar/yen amounts on the bank statements and then checked a chart on the wall that listed the required poverty level amount for 4 people. Then she told us to take a seat and wait for our number to be called to get fingerprints taken.
Another 30 minutes or so and my wife went up and had her fingerprints taken, then it was back to waiting.
After a final 45 minute wait, our number was called for a final time and we went up to the window for the interview. The woman told me to take a seat as I wasn't needed (thanks!), so I sat nearby and strained to listen to my wife's answers. She was asked the following questions:
How long have you been married?
Where will you live in America?
What will you do there...look after your kids or work?
Do your children have U.S. passports?
What is your husband's job?
After less than 2 minutes of questioning, my wife was told her visa is approved and she will receive it in about 1 week. She was given a piece of paper with information about the visa and instructions to check it carefully for mistakes after receiving it. All in all, we were at the embassy for less than 2 hours and about 1 hour and 50 minutes of that time was spent waiting.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #9307