Consulate Review: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
October 8, 2015 |
| Embassy Review : |
Let me start by saying that my process ran super smoothly and that I had checked every information and document several times. I was pretty certain I had everything I needed (and I did), but I was a little nervous. So, it's normal to be anxious and nervous. Also, for reference, I don't have any children, I have never been married, I have never had visa denied, or anything like that. So bare that in mind when I talk about documents.
My interview was scheduled for 8:20, and I got to the Consulate at 7:20. I found the line outside of the building for the K1 Visa with no problem and I put my cellphone to be stored in the private service provided there. It costs R$7 and you pay when you retrieve your phone. The people there are super nice and they show you the exit you'll use to come out of the building, and where you will retrieve your phone. Remember: no electronics or big purses allowed inside the Consulate!
Soon after I was in line, the famous Alex appeared, asked every fiancé(e) their name and scheduled time, and made us get inside the building. All folders, small purses, and jackets go through an X-ray and every person goes through a metal detector.
Then, you keep walking and you got to a room 2 floors above the ground-floor, with 4 rows of chairs facing several cashiers with bullet proof glasses (it looks like a bank). Alex explains everything and really helps all the people to calm their nerves. He distributes a sheet with the documents you will need to separate in order and gives you a sheet that you have to fill out with personal information (he will give instructions on how to fill them out).
Here is the list of the documents that I needed (according to my memory of the sheet Alex distributed). Again, this was only for my case. DO NOT TAKE IT AS THE CORRECT LIST FOR YOU!
1. Sheet with Personal Information (given to you there)
2. Passports
3. 2 x Photos (5x5 cm or 7x5 cm)
4. Birth Certificate + simple copy
5. DS-160 (barcode page)
6. DS-230
7. Police Statements
8. Form I-134, Affidavit of Support (with some ID from my fiancé. I used a copy of his Birth Certificate)
9. Sworn Statement (to be signed there)
After that, Alex will call each fiancé(e) by name, check their documents and put them in order, give them back to you, and tell you to wait in the front row, where they will call you to one of the cashiers. This can take a little bit.
In the cashiers, they will verify your documents again, take your fingerprints, confirm some biographical information (name, address,...). They will keep your documents, tell you to wait again sitting on the chairs for the interview, and they will give you a text about how to act if your in an abusive relationship in the US.
Then you wait quite a while to be called by your full name. The interview takes place in another cashier with bullet proof glass. But to get to this cashier, you have to enter a door on the right of the room, and walk to the end of the corridor.
My interview was quite simple. First, you have to make an oath that you will only say the truth. Then, the person will look at your file, return your original documents to you (photos, birth certificate... I even got back the ziplock bags my fiancé sent to protect the photos!). Then she will make you read a document saying that you might be denied to enter the US even if you have the K1 Visa and that you will marry (write the name of your fiancé) when you get there.
Then, she asked how we met. She asked me more about this story. Then she asked me how he proposed. Then kind of inquired about the age difference (my fiancé is 38, and I will be 26 in December). This question got me a little worried, but I told her the truth: I said this age gap used to worry me when I first met him, especially before we started dating, but now it was ok. So she just said "OK! You can get married!".
I confess I felt quite nervous, even though I had nothing to hide, and my heart was pumping very loudly. The interviewer was nice, however, she had a less calming presence than Alex.
After that, I asked Alex about the DHL and how my passport would be delivered. He told me not to worry, that anyone could receive it for me, and that I should give it 10 business days. Then, he held my hand and said in a super heart-warming way "Congratulations!". I was out of the Consulate at 10:05 AM with a huge grin and started texting my fiancé, family, and friends to tell them the good news!
Alex really does make a difference to make us feel comfortable! Another thing that makes a difference is to talk to the other fiancé(e)s (quietly, so you don't disturb the people going through the cashier process).
So, be calm. Check your documents. Sometimes even if you forget one document (one girl didn't bring the DS-230), Alex gave her the document to fill out. So don't worry. They are really trying to help you.
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0