Consulate Review: Singapore
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
April 24, 2018 |
| Embassy Review : |
My interview was scheduled 24th April 2.15pm. I arrived 30 minutes early but good lord, I forgot to bring my original passport. xD I called my family, asking my brother to cab down with my passport. I then went to the guardhouse, they will ask if you have big electronic items, which you shouldn't have. My belongings and I went through security scanners. Here's the thing, ladies, I read a review that said metal bra wiring would set off the alarm. I wore a wired bra, I went through fine. The security guards confiscate my phone and earphones and gave me a small disc with a number -- to be returned to them after the visit to claim my phone.
I walked up a looooong pathway to the main entrance door, which has to be one of the heaviest door I've ever had to pull. A guard waits behind this door and he hand-checks my belongings while I go through another security scanner. He checks my interview appointment letter(printed Gmail) and tells me to go to the first room on my left. There is a lady at the entrance who gives me a piece of paper and tells me to arrange my documents according to the mentioned paper. As I had told her I was waiting for my brother to pass me my original passport, she did not give me a queue number. I sat down and arranged my papers accordingly -- passport (original, not with me at that time, photocopy unnecessary), 2in×2in colour photographs (did not state 2 on the paper but I submitted 2 anyway?), birth certificate (original and 1 photocopy), divorce decree (petitioner's certified copy and 1 photocopy), SGP police certificate (original, photocopy unneccessary), petitioner's I-134 (original with 2× each supporting documents stated in its instructions, photocopy unnecessary).
I went out to grab my original passport from my life-saver brother and repeated the security checks. By that time, it was 2.38pm. The lady gave me the queue number 6. I sat down in the room. There were 8 windowed-counters. 10 minutes later, Counter 7 called my queue number. I gave the man behind the counter my documents. He left me for a minute and I saw that he went to get the Packet 3 documents that I submitted to the US Embassy. Additionally, he returned the photocopy of Matthew's divorce decree (Matthew has previously sent a copy with his petition). I gave the man the original and a photocopy of my deed poll (I changed my name during the waiting process), I gave him 2 photocopies of Matthew's 2017 W2 -- this was actually on the small piece of paper but I thought it was unnecessary because I thought it was additional supporting documents to the I-134. The man apparently saw I had an 1040 form and asked me for it but I told him Matthew's latest tax return was from 2016 and he said then it is okay, not needed.
He asked me the following questions while looking over my documents:
1. Does your fiancé have any kids?
Yes, he has a daughter, (name).
2. How old is she?
She is actually turning 14 very soon.
That's it, he asked if I had registered for Aramex and gave me a brochure for domestic violence and a form, explaining to me what to do in case I needed to submit missing documents via Aramex. He told me to take a seat and I filled in the Aramex form while waiting. 20 minutes later, my name was called to proceed to Counter 8. Another lady was behind this counter. She returned all my original documents except my passport. She told me to raise my right hand and said some thing about swearing to tell the truth. I said "I swear". She asked me to place my prints on a scanner - 4 left fingers, then 4 right fingers and finally both thumbs.
She asked me, and I may have been confident in my answers, but I was not giving plain simple answers -- unfortunately not how my brain works:
1) How long have you been together?
1 and a half years
2) How did you meet?
Online mobile game. I actually explained the what and how in depth. She prompted me to explain how the game worked, etc.
3) How did you start chatting like a couple? What did you talk about first?
I didn't know for sure. We talked about the game we played and the alliance we were building. And then it got to personal things and I can't be too sure what the exact first personal things we talked about. Now, we just talk about everything.
4)When did you get engaged?
17 July 2017
5) Did you meet before then?
Yes, (explained)
6) Do you work?
No, I don't. I used to, but some time a few months ago, we decided I could quit my job and Matthew provides for my expenses now.
7) What does he work as?
(answered)
8) Do you know which company?
(answered)
9) Do you know how much he earns?
(answered)
10) Where is his address?
(answered super confidently and was a bit scared I might seem like I memorize all my answers so I told her halfway through the address that it's my home too, so I know it.)
11) When do you plan to get married?
Not sure yet. We planned to get married on 22nd Feb at Las Vegas but the Visa got delayed so now we are just not setting anything until I have the Visa. The only thing we sort of have planned is the venue: at his parents' house or his brother's.
12) Where do they live? Same city?
Yes, about 20 mins drive from our place.
13) So you have met all his relatives?
Yes
14) Has he met yours?
(I was a bit shakey with this, I explained my relationship with my parents is strained, so no but my grandmother, sibling and best friend knows about him.)
15) Did your grandmother bring you up?
Yes
THEN SHE SAID THAT THAT'S ALL AND SHE SAID I CAN EXPECT MY VISA IN MY PASSPORT IN TWO WEEKS VIA ARAMEX AND CONGRATULATIONS.
I seriously ran out to the guard room, returned my numbered disc in exchange for my phone and earphones before immediately calling my sleeping future-hubby. it wasn't until I talked to my Baby that I realized I didn't surrender ANY evidence of relationship -- if this is strange, we think that it is because he sent 3 photographs of us together with his petition.
I finished the interview by 3.50pm. Overall, it was a great experience. I didn't feel like anyone was strict with me and I didn't feel lost, neither did I do much waiting. I'm glad that aside from my original passport that my brother had rushed to pass to me, I had all the documents. The guards especially were understanding of why I entered twice -- they asked me why and I said I forgot my passport and my brother just passed it to me.
I went for my medical on 9th Apr, precisely 2 weeks and 1 day before my interview, precisely 11 working days from medical to interview. I was actually worried about it because Fullerton stated that it takes 10 working days for the embassy to recieve my report but they called me about an issue(fixed immediately) on 16th Apr so they still had not sent it to the embassy after 5 working days. I believe the embassy received it; they definitely did not mention it to me at all.
I'm glad it's over and I am hoping that I receive my Visa soon and I would not get placed into additional administrative processing or whatever that's called. *fingers crossed* |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0