Consulate Review: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Review Topic: General Review
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Description |
| Review Date : |
March 13, 2015 |
| Embassy Review : |
Hi, I will split into two reviews: Medical and Interview Day.
MEDICAL:
My Doctor was Dr. Garrido in Rio de Janeiro. As soon as you guys know about your interview date you can call his Office and talk to his assistant, Tânia (Personal advice: Talk to her the minimum you can, lol. It won’t be a pleasant experience depending on her mood). Just ask if his agenda is open fot the date you have in mind, she will tell you anyways you HAVE to send an e-mail to the address she will provide you. Once you e-mail she will give you the instructions (Some paper forms where you will learn about the vaccinations, exams, fees and other info) and schedule you IF his agenda is open for that month (Otherwise she will tell you to contact her on a later date OR maybe she will just tell you the date out of the blue as she did to me). There is a word file you need to fill with your personal info and send back to her (It saves time during your appointment – PS: If you didn’t receive your Embassy Appointment Letter don’t worry, just put Fiancé (e) Visa). You will read the instructions and you will be able to learn about the vaccinations and exams you need (PLEASE have in mind I am describing MY personal experience in RIO – Another doctor may have other procedures):
- For K1 Applicants (Not including K2): MMR, Varicella (If you never had chickenpox before), dT and Influenza. MMR, dT and Influenza (Current year one) can be taken for free at any public health station. Varicella is not offered for free for adults and you need to pay for them at private vaccination centers (Be aware two doses are taken and generally 1-3 months in between depending on where you take them). Here in Rio I took them at Prophylaxis, 150 BRL each and one month in between. When I took the other shots early in July they told me I should wait at least 4 months before taking the varicella one – Not sure why. Well, we are not yet on the flu shot season and therefore they are not available in any public or private vaccination clinic.
- Exams: Lungs X-Ray and VDRL (Sifilis). The exams are quite simple and you MUST take them where he deliberates. You need to call and make an appointment for your x-ray and no appointment is needed for VDRL (He provides all the phones and name of the Lab and Clinic). The x-ray clinic is very close (Walking distance) to the building where you will be taking the VDRL and which is the same we have Dr. Garrido's office. You can have them before your appointment with Dr. Garrido or even after. His assistant sends the orders to the x-ray and VDRL place prior to your visit. It is worth to call the day before to make sure your orders are there; otherwise you won’t be able to proceed with the exams (I mean calling the X-Ray and VDRL places). The x-ray took me something around 30 minutes and VDRL the same. I mention that MAYBE it was quick because I booked it early in the AM. The x-ray office assistant gave me back my exam order to return to Tânia (Dr. Garridos Assistant) because that’s how she controls who had the x-ray (The same is not applicable to VDRL since they check online – You can also check and the result is generally available in 1 business day). As I mentioned before, the VDRL and Dr. Garrido’s Office are in the same building and therefore I just went by and returned the x-ray order, however nobody was there (They work from 11am to 7pm) and I just threw the paper under the door and called her later on to make sure she got it on the floor and she did so.
Few days later I was back for my appointment. I didn't wait long and was soon called to go inside his room. At first he didn’t say anything and was just focused on the paper work and asked me to provide four 3x4 pictures and told me exams were there (Make sure to fill the word form I described before because the doctor fills some info prior to your arrival, such as name, age and etc). He fills the Official Forms with your info and makes some standard questions (E.g.: Do you smoke, drink, surgeries and etc), then check your vaccination records and fill by hand the Vaccination Record and return you a copy as well as your X-Ray exam (CD + sheets) IF they're already with him (I was told it takes up to 3 business days for the x-rays to be sent to the Doctor). In my case the current year Influenza shot was missing and he checked F (Not flu season) and stated everything was complete. He also checked my GP statement. After all that he took me to the other side of the room and measured my weight and asked me how tall I am (IMC), my blood pressure, temperature, heard my heart, checked the lungs and throat. We made some conversation and he asked me how I met my fiancé, where I am going to live and etc. He is very nice and friendly. He told me MANY people keeps calling the office to ask if he sent everything to the Consulate and ask WHY people do so since he sends the AR (Shipment Confirmation). I noticed this kind of call is not welcome but I kinda understand people since I never got this shipment confirmation (At least not until today). He said everything was fine and we came back to his table where he added my results and put the stuffs inside the Postal envelope. I just went outside and made the payment (Medical + Post Office Fees) and was given a receipt. I got all the receipts I could to get reimbursed by my Health Plan (I have a Corporate Plan and I can get reimbursed, not sure if it’s applicable to everybody, If so make sure to get the receipts). Average time: 20-30 minutes.
If you’re planning to take your exams before the appointment make sure to leave you 2:30 hours between exams and appointment (Just in case your exams take a little longer than mine). I do think it’s more than enough and won’t have you doing stuffs in a hurry. If you need to wait for your appointment you can walk around the commercial center his office is located at (They have a café and some stores inside – Everything in Leblon is expensive, don’t be surprise, it’s a bougie neighborhood in Rio). Be aware that if you take your exams and have your appointment the day before the interview your records will not be there (And probably not even if you have everything done couple days before – In my case I took my exams Feb,26th, Appointment March 3rd and Interview March, 10th) – My records got there on time for my interview.
The Visa won’t be issued until the receive your records, however I have no idea how long it takes once the Consulate receives it (Always good to follow-up).
INTERVIEW:
Before letting y’all know about my interview experience there are some tips I would like to give you (Always based on my personal experiences):
1) Many have said here but I will repeat: DO NOT go to the long line located at Rua México, please go to the front door (Rua Santa Luzia) and tell the security guy you have an interview scheduled. Please show him your appointment letter or any other confirmation you have for you appointment (E-mail). NO NEED to get there way sooner than your interview. 30 minutes before is more than enough. DO NOT bring any electronic device with you (No phones, Ipads, Ipods or whatever), if you do so you will need to safeguard them somewhere else (They do have this service provided outside but I have no idea how much they charge or even if it’s safe – I work 5 minutes walking from the Embassy and I left all my personal belongings at work). You will be waiting outside if you get there too early.
2) Make sure to check all your documents and in case you need to print something you can head to Rua Araújo Porto Alegre 71 – Papelaria Araújo Porto Alegre (Once you leave the Embassy take your right on Rua México, go ahead and turn right on Araújo Porto Alegre – 2 parallel streets after Rua Santa Luzia). https://www.google.com.br/maps/place/R.+Ara%C3%BAjo+P%C3%B4rto+Alegre,+71+-+Centro,+Rio+de+Janeiro+-+RJ,+20030-015/@-22.908949,-43.174964,3a,52.5y,152h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sv4pc6CzMJfbUdegAIo84Vw!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x997f60289ccb15:0xfa067f97f9d752e4!6m1!1e1
Not sure IF they have any other place closer to the Embassy available for printing, they probably do but I am not aware (At Rua Santa Luzia - Between 700 and 799- they have a stationary and also a photo store and MAYBE they do it there but NOT sure)
3) Have a pen with you and make sure you have all the documents listed on the instructions (Please read the Embassy Instructions, do not follow old blogs and etc. Otherwise you will asking people or even the Embassy about old procedures and/or forms). Please follow the order they mention on the website but be aware that the DS-230I is requested before the DS-160. On the website the list the DS-160 then the DS-230 I. There is a misleading info between the e-mail we receive from the Embassy and their website in regards to the fee (240 USD x 265 UDS. Correct one: 265 USD – ONLY CASH for K1). Close to the Embassy we have Santander, Bradesco, Caixa (Cinelândia), Itaú, Banco do Brasil (We have all banks in Downtown Rio but I listed the main ones really close to the Embassy)
4) Nothing related to the interview itself but I take this opportunity to mention it: If you have never been to Rio or don’t properly know the area DO NOT book a hotel in Downtown Rio, UNLESS you do not expect to leave the hotel during the evening or night time. Downtown Rio is busy during the DAY but not during the night. I always recommend people to look for a hotel located in Zona Sul (Mainly Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon, where cabs to the Embassy costs between 25-45 reais depending which neighborhood you chose). Okay, you want to be close to the Interview so consider booking Atlântico Business Hotel (Rua Senador Dantas). It's a very decent place but not that cheap and it doesn't change the fact you should be walking around the area at night.
Let me start:
My appointment was set for 8:20 AM. I arrived at the Consulate by 7:45 am and told the security person I had an appointment. He asked for my appointment letter and told me to proceed. I noticed that they use radios to communicate with security personnel upstairs to ask if the people standing outside can go inside
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Once you get inside all you have to do is follow the sign INTERVIEW and take the stairs to the next level. You will see a table where a nice man wearing a red shirt will be ready to assist you. He will check your name, interview schedule and give you a short form, 3 small pieces of paper to be filled out (Receipts) and the order of the documents you need to provide them. Basically on the form you need to provide your name, your address, case number, address of where you’re staying in Rio (Hotel or anywhere else you’re staying at), e-mails, petitioner's address and phone number (DO NOT right on the status box – You will be properly instructed). The 3 small ones you just add the date, your name and case number.
The normal process would be this young man calling you to collect all the documents before they call you in the cabin (Fingerprints), however I guess things were a little confused there (People take long to put all the documents together, this lady forgot some important documents, one guy did not have his DS-160 confirmation printed, people interrupting to ask where the toilette was and etc) and I was called straight to the cabin where a nice sir (Looks like a contractor, not sure) collected all my documents (The Embassy Instructions say we need to provide copy and original of any Divorce Decree- Personal or from the USC. The sir told me it wasn’t necessary since they have a copy from USCIS) . For the Affidavit of Support I just gave his last tax return, letter of employment, pay stubs and the form itself. I was nervous and forgot to sing the DS-230 I (ONLY PART I - PART II is not part of anything), but no issue was raised because of it. The sir just asked me my full name, DOB, address, profession and about my medical records which he had brought to the cabin but forgot about it, he was nice saying: Oh yeah, I just touched it! Lol. Then my fingerprints were taken and I was given the paper the pay the visa fee (All you have to do is go downstairs and pay – 768,50 BRL as of the day and got 2 receipts). Another K1 applicant went to another cabin before and I could hear everything (The girl had a very loud tone of voice) and looks like the Embassy Lady asked her a lot of things such as her previous experience in the US, when she met her fiancé and etc (I don't know why she got that many questions during at that stage but maybe people have different approaches there).
When I came back I just returned 1 receipt to the guy on red shirt and just waited to be called for my interview (We keep 1 receipt with us). I was nervous and lost track of the time but I would say my interview started by 9:20 am (Yes, from what I saw nobody is interviewed on time).
I was interviewed by a nice Asian look CO, very smiling and nice (He surprised me on how fast he can type, looks like they type everything you’re saying). I took two oaths: One promising to say nothing but the truth and another one promising to get married to my fiancé in 90 upon arrival. I was so nervous that I didn’t even let him finish the first sentence and I said I SWEAR, lol. Then he gives us a paper where we need to fill with our fiancé (e)s name and sign. In this paper we state that we will get married to that person and etc. So the interview begins:
Three quick and straight forward questions:
-How did you meet?
-How many times he came to Brazil?
-Who proposed to who?
I answered everything as it happened and he just looked at me, smiled and typed and then YOUR VISA IS APPROVED. Simple like that, nothing else was required, he didn’t even touch anything on my 129F Petition (They have a copy of everything you submitted to USCIS), I didn't need prove ongoing relationship. He gave me back 2 out the 3 small pieces of papers and told me I should go to the Post Office to pay and return there with the post office receipt and give it back to the guy on red shirt (They give you instructions of the location. I knew in advance but just in case: It’s Avenida Presidente Wilson 165A and there is a small chocolate store next to it - This street is parallel to Santa Luzia and it’s actually the back side of the Embassy entrance you took).
At the post office (AGF Cinelândia) you just fill a paper with carbon copies with your name, full address, e-mail and CASE number (The paper itself says PASSPORT number but they tell you to put your RDJ number). Then you pay the fee: You chose between normal Sedex or Sedex 10 with delivery ensured for 1 business day ONCE the Consulate sends your passport to them. Normal Sedex (3 business days delivery) was my option since I am from Rio and I live just 7KM away from the Embassy. Total cost 29,70 BRL and they give back to you the small paper attached to the receipt and a copy of the paper you filled there which you have to return to the guy on red as I previously described (To go inside again you just need to show the post office receipt to the security guy on the same entrance you first took). The guy on red told me they should take up to 4 business days to issue the Visa and he actually told me I could pick my passport at the Correios' Station, however the Correios' boy (Thiago) told me that's not their standard procedure and I could do it but I would have to pay Sedex anyways.
The reason you need to provide the Postal Service your e-mail is that we are supposed to receive an e-mail with our shipment tracking number ONCE they send it. I never got this but I believe it's because I went by to get my own passport. I have read here some people saying that sometimes we don't receive the tracking number.
I learned from the Correios' boy that the Embassy DO NOT call them everyday to go by and collect passports to be shipped. So it means that even your Visa is ISSUED it doesn't necessarily mean you will have it delivered on the next day or couple days. You can call AGF Cinelândia but please do not go to Passaport Extension (They do not pick this line), dial 25 extension (Make sure to check with them since it might change).
My post-office receipt says 9:42 am so the total process took me two hours.
It is also important to mention that when you check your CEAC status online you will see READY with a new case creation date (Interview day), the next day it SHOULD be Administrative Processing and then ISSUED when they finally processed your visa. NOBODY is able to know how long the AP will take, it can take a couple hours (My case), couple days, couple months. So do not panic if you're in AP, it's normal. If it takes a while please contact the Embassy if nothing was mentioned during the interview (E.g: Additional documents required). People who haven't had their medical examination on time for the interview probably will stay a little longer in AP since they do not issue the visa until everything is set, as I mentioned before.
I collected my passport today morning and Correios' Boy had to go to another room (Outside the customers area) to check if my package was there. He opened the package (NOT THE SEALED ENVELOPE - DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE INSIDE THE PACKAGE) and checked if everything was there.
When you receive your Visa make sure everything is correct and contact the Embassy if something needs to be corrected. They add your fiancé's name and USCIS case number on the Annotation Field.
PS: I am not giving the Embassy a 4 because somehow I felt things could be more organized. E.g: The OC screams your name to the interview cabin (It's a cabin, not a room, but you can at least close the door). I didn't listen when he called me because people was chit chatting (Okay, so did I). But they give us a password on the small receipt so why not having a screen to show our numbers and then we would know when to proceed?
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Good |
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ver 5.0