Consulate Review: Caracas, Venezuela
Review Topic: General Review
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
September 1, 2010 |
| Embassy Review : |
Rated a 4 due to the arduous wait!
Overall, you should ask questions! When we arrived at the embassy, there were multiple lines, but no signs or anything posted as to why the separation. Upon asking, we were told it was according to appointment time. Once we were in the correct line, we were told the security guidelines, along with a long list of items prohibited in the embassy. Of those items, was any electronic item (including cell phones, though you can pay a man to keep it per hour--- I'm not sure how much he charges, but you will be in the embassy for hours!), a large purse, briefcase, or suitcase, certain types of metals, etc. If you had any of those items, you were told to leave them outside of the parking lot-that they have cameras and if they see that you leave something in the parking lot, you will be removed from the premisis and your appointment cancelled.
After they went over the security guidelines, with passports in hand, we went through a line to confirm our appointment time. From there, they did a manual search of our possessions and once we were cleared, let us move on.
Moving on was a bit confusing, there were two very long lines as well as an area where many people were seated and waiting. We weren't sure where we belonged, so we asked someone, they told us to go right through, not to wait in any lines. We waited for one of the guards to open the door and we walked in.
We went down to the immigration section, took a number and waited....and waited.... and waited.... and... wait for it.... WAITED! When our number was first called, someone else went in front of us. After, they left, we went up. They asked who was filing for the visa. Then asked me (USC) to sit down because they weren't "interviewing me". I sat down and waited, watched G walk through a door and wondered what that might mean. He came back after a while, said they asked him some basic questions and that he was sent into the next room to pay. It was hours before we were called again. When we were finally called, we were the next to last people. All 12 people who were originally after us were already done.
I was expecting the interview to be in another room, but it was right there in front of everyone. You could hear as they asked questions. They first question they asked was when G was thinking of coming to the U.S., how we met, where I worked, how long I'd been working there, if I had any kinds, and what my parents thought about it all. The lady was very nice- una gringa, wanting to practice her Spanish. We were scared twice! One because when she asked for me W2's, she talked to someone else and kept saying "yes, yes, yes" and then another time when she took out G's passport, because they give you back your passport if you're denied.
Luckily, that was not the case! She said, with the fullness of her American accent, "su visa ha sido aprobado". From there, we waited in yet another line for DHL Express to send us the visa.
All in all, from the time we left the house until the time we returned, it took over 8 hours!!
It was well worth the wait though, knowing my baby will soon be with me!!
If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me a PM- especially now while it's fresh on my mind! 
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| Rating : |
Good |
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ver 5.0