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| Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Review on January 5, 2016: |
Coraliine
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
So we arrived at the set time and there was a line outside of the consulate. No one was outside directing people where to go or who should be lined up first (this is important as the line isn't purely K-1 fiance petitioners). One guard did pop his head out and I told him we had an appointment for 13:00 (I think - honestly I can't remember the time anymore) when it was already 45 minutes past. He was very rude and told us to just get in line, so we did.
When my fiance got in (I, the American citizen wasn't allowed in the consulate) the same guard checked his paperwork and said, "Oh, why didn't you say you had an appointment for an hour ago?" At that point we had been waiting outside in the cold for well over an hour. My fiance responded that I had told him and he said to wait. The guy brushed us off.
When my fiance got into the waiting room for K-1 visas there was only one window open for about 8 waiting people. There was a man from Syria with a screaming infant who spoke neither English nor Dutch and did not bring a translator. He was at the counter for an hour and a half before finally being declined.
My fiance then waited an additional hour and was the very last person to be called up. They asked him two questions: "How long have you been dating? When was the last time you saw each other?" He answered, sat back down, and was called up about 20 minutes later and was approved.
It was completely disorganized and incredibly slow. My fiance said there were 4 other closed windows but about 10 people sitting in the back joking around and talking about how bored they were and that they just wanted to go home and have Christmas break.
I've had numerous other issues with this consulate in the past regarding both the K-1 and my own personal US citizen services over the past two years that I've been in the country. I'm certainly going to be filing a complaint against them as I have been cursed out by their staff over e-mail for simply answering a question.
In addition to this they also charged an outrageous amount to ship the passport and visa with a "courier service" and warned that someone had to be home and on the approved list to receive the package. It cost a LOT of money. Turns out they send it by normal mail with PostNL. How outrageous! Part of the fee is to have a personal courier service and have someone hand deliver it to you.
I'm so glad I don't have to deal with these people again. Compared to the consulates in other countries I've dealt with (UK and Germany), they were horrible and have terrible staff.
(updated on January 5, 2016)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #18667