Saudi Arabia consulate k1 visa

[Nubiaa 17]

Hello I wanted to know if anybody went through the Saudi Arabian consulate and can tell me about their experience. Is it a tough embassy ? Does it take time to get an interview scheduled ? My fiancé is a Pakistani national who resides in Saudi his whole life. What can we expect? 

[geowrian 22,335]

They will send a notice with steps to take and documents to gather. Once that is submitted to Riyadh, it's typically a little over a month or so before they will interview.

My now-wife started the process in KSA but transferred to Manila due to her work contract expiring, so she didn't interview there. But everything I've heard is that they are pretty fair. Not easy/strict, but not nearly as difficult as Islamabad either.

I've heard of generally short to moderate AP after the interview (unlike the months of background checks common with Pakistan).

[Nubiaa 17]

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

They will send a notice with steps to take and documents to gather. Once that is submitted to Riyadh, it's typically a little over a month or so before they will interview.

My now-wife started the process in KSA but transferred to Manila due to her work contract expiring, so she didn't interview there. But everything I've heard is that they are pretty fair. Not easy/strict, but not nearly as difficult as Islamabad either.

I've heard of generally short to moderate AP after the interview (unlike the months of background checks common with Pakistan).

Thank you so much for replying ! We were both pretty nervous but this made me a little ease !

[greendave 2]

Hi. your fiancee had interviewed already?

[Greenbaum 12,258]

On ‎2‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 1:09 PM, Nubiaa said:

Hello I wanted to know if anybody went through the Saudi Arabian consulate and can tell me about their experience. Is it a tough embassy ? Does it take time to get an interview scheduled ? My fiancé is a Pakistani national who resides in Saudi his whole life. What can we expect? 

Here is what you will need for the interview - P3 letter. There is additional information both on travel.state.gov and Embassy Reviews here on VJ. I hope this calms your nerves somewhat.

 

Saudi Arabia P3 letter

https://photos.state.gov/libraries/saudi-arabia/231771/public/k1packet_001.pdf

 

Additional information for K-1

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html

 

Embassy Reviews - Good source of information and what to expect

Saudi Arabia Embassy Reviews on VJ

[Nubiaa 17]

4 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Here is what you will need for the interview - P3 letter. There is additional information both on travel.state.gov and Embassy Reviews here on VJ. I hope this calms your nerves somewhat.

 

Saudi Arabia P3 letter

https://photos.state.gov/libraries/saudi-arabia/231771/public/k1packet_001.pdf

 

Additional information for K-1

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html

 

Embassy Reviews - Good source of information and what to expect

Saudi Arabia Embassy Reviews on VJ

Thank you so much! It’s been 3 days sense they received our case but they still haven’t sent packet 3. Is this normal? 

[Nubiaa 17]

5 hours ago, greendave said:

Hi. your fiancee had interviewed already?

No he hadn’t. We’re current collecting all the required documents. Can you tell me a little bit about your experience with the embassy and how you’re interview went? 

[RJW 5]

Sharing the things that I did and my personal experience with the U.S Embassy in Saudi Arabia 2017.

 

It took about a little over 3 weeks for them to send me an interview schedule for my K1 visa application after they received my DS160 through their recommended courier, SMSA.

Interview day:

Cellphones and any liquid products are prohibited inside the consulate. Not sure if there are any lockers to put in your personal belongings like phones but I didn't notice any. They did not even allow me to bring my tiny bottle of hand sanitizer. 

 

She will be given a number at the reception. There will be two interviews.

1. The first one I think is just a screening. The gentleman at the window took all the documents that I brought that was listed in Packet 3 and ask me a few questions. Like where did we meet, how many years I have known my fiance, and if we have met in person and number of times he visited me. He was more thorough with the documents that I brought than the questions.  Then I was asked to go back to my seat and wait for the next call.
2. Second interview. This is with the consul who will decide on the case. I was asked the same question that I was previously asked with some additions, like how many siblings does my fiance have and what are their jobs and how long did he stay in my country for a visit etc... no questions out of the ordinary that one cannot answer who's in a bonafide relationship.

The only hurdle I have encountered is the affidavit of support I-864. My then fiance, now husband doesn't have tax return in the past 3 years and he doesn't have a job at that time. Although I thought that his bank statement and other things that I showed shows that he can support me are enough but this was not the case for the consul (I think they are following a Federal Poverty Guideline for it ) and he still wanted tax return. I was asked that my fiance get a joint sponsor before he approved my visa. (I was already teary-eyed and very sad at this point)

 

Having said that I still wanted to prove and convince him that I will not be a public charged when I arrived in the U.S, hence, I told him that I am a licensed Registered Nurse in the U.S and showed him my  U.S  nursing license and certificate  and that I can apply for a job as soon as I get my EAD. He then asks me a few questions about it and then decided to approve my visa. What a relief! I was so happy the whole day like nothing else matter. ☺️

Just make sure your fiancee have all the necessary documents listed in Packet 3, and that the documents you submitted along with the I-864 are complete.

 

Best of luck!!! 😊

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 14, 2019 by RJW

[greendave 2]

On 3/12/2019 at 11:08 PM, Nubiaa said:

No he hadn’t. We’re current collecting all the required documents. Can you tell me a little bit about your experience with the embassy and how you’re interview went? 

it was a smooth interview except for the waiting period, they will also accomodate  customers/applicants/ visitors with different purposes of coming.anyways they would mostly asked what was written on i129f, which includes petitioners& beneficiary's information, beneficiary must know the petitioners address. they also asked the circumstances of meeting, where? when?& how? they would ask for evidence you can provide  photos together with fam& friends, boarding passes, receipts, chatlogs, dont forget the affidavit of support, W2 for the past 3 years is better, bring also the requirements that was mentioned on k1 packet: police clearance with english translation,  passport, copy of petitioners passport ,birth certificate, if possible bring extra 2x2 or visa size photo. Goodluck on your interview

Edited March 19, 2019 by greendave

[Nubiaa 17]

Thank you everyone ! I really appreciate all the information. I have one more question, do we schedule the interview ourselves or do they schedule it for us 

[RJW 5]

After you mailed the ds160 confirmation page along with the other documents, pay the visa interview, and received an email stating your MRV receipt number has been activated, U.S Embassy will e-mail the interview appointment letter to the e-mail address that you used when you filled out the ds160. I received mine 2 weeks after my MRV receipt has been activated.

 

Should you have any other concern with the upcoming interview, schedule, or wants to confirm if they received the ds160 confirmation page that you mailed them, you can always email the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh (RiyadhIV@state.gov). It usually takes 3-5 business days for them to reply but they do answer questions, just make sure you include your case number, ds160 confirmation page number (if any), petitioners name, and beneficiaries name in your e-mail.

 

Good luck.🙂

 

 

[Nubiaa 17]

11 hours ago, RJW said:

After you mailed the ds160 confirmation page along with the other documents, pay the visa interview, and received an email stating your MRV receipt number has been activated, U.S Embassy will e-mail the interview appointment letter to the e-mail address that you used when you filled out the ds160. I received mine 2 weeks after my MRV receipt has been activated.

 

Should you have any other concern with the upcoming interview, schedule, or wants to confirm if they received the ds160 confirmation page that you mailed them, you can always email the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh (RiyadhIV@state.gov). It usually takes 3-5 business days for them to reply but they do answer questions, just make sure you include your case number, ds160 confirmation page number (if any), petitioners name, and beneficiaries name in your e-mail.

 

Good luck.🙂

 

 

Thank you so much for all the help 

[Dear 0]

I am a filipino planning to process a K1 visa here in saudi arabia. Are the requirements the same in the philippines? And how many months it will take until my interview?