|
|
| Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Review on June 26, 2013: |
pluis
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
My experience with the consulate in Amsterdam was pleasant. I was treated respectfully and everyone was friendly. They also dealt with me in an efficient manner and were altogether organized.
The consulate suffers from age, though. The building is small, which leads to some issues of logistics. Forming an orderly queue is difficult and (at least on busy days) they only let in the applicants (not their spouses or fiancees, should they have come with), which was not previously communicated.
It is very important not to bring any electronic equipment. Not carrying a cell phone gets you jumped to the front of the line, so that you're first to go through security and enter the consulate proper.
You'll proceed to a small room in which you have the intake conversation. They take your fingerprints and check your passport data (I had just received a new one, so they had to change my passport number in their data), and take your stamps. Contrary to my expectations, I was not asked to supply them with new passport-style photo's.
The actual interview takes place in the same small room (three 'windows' and maybe six seats for people to wait in) you have your intake in, so people are able to overhear other people's interviews and intake conversations.
The questions that were asked of me were:
"Is (name) your husband?"
"When did you get married?"
"How did you meet?"
"Where in the US do you plan to go?"
"What do you plan to do once you're there?"
The consular officer then told me that everything looked good (admittedly, we'd compiled a huge file with all sorts of evidence, so maybe we overdid it just a little) and told me that I could expect to receive my passport and visa in four to five workdays.
Much to my surprise I received my passport back (via registered mail) the very next day,
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12220