FunniestNickel

I just want to take the time out to say thank you all so much for the amazing help and quick responses on here in regards to getting my wife’s cr1 visa. It took approximately 1.5 months from the date of submission , to approval of the visa. This was all through the consulate of Rome and Naples. Here is a summary of how the interview process went: I booked my own interview in Naples, and was able to get an appointment next week. Highly recommend hotel mergellina in Naples, they were able to set up us with a driver to meet us at the exact points we needed whenever, we just called him and he picked us up in time. It’s also 6 minute walk from the consulate. He was even familiar with the medical portion of the visa! HOWEVER, I highly highly highly recommend anyone to be at the medical center at 7am, NOT 8am, as we waited 4 hours, and let me tell you, it is absolutely miserable. First you get the blood taken, wait in line, next you pee in a cup, wait in line to give them 4 passport photos and pay, wait again in a line to get X-rays, wait in a line again to do the medical portion, then they mail that off to the consulate. Next day you arrive at the consulate, arrive 1 hour earlier than your appointment!!! Very important, as me and my wife arrived at the time of our appointment and ended up being last in line again and waited another 4 hours!! The consulate has 2 windows. One for giving them all your documents, make sure you have copies of everything, then one for the interview. The first windows needs the I-864 and tax transcripts, and all other required forms. After that you pay , then wait in line for the interview. Questions were really simple for us, they only asked, how did you meet, the date of the marriage, have you ever been in the u.s. They never asked for proof of bonafide marriage. But that is it in a nutshell. Never saw one person get denied, even an individual who spoke zero English or Italian. If any of you have questions, feel free to ask and I will help to the best of my ability ! 

I have the interview scheduled in Naples for the CR1 visa. I have collected EVERYTHING necessary and have even triple checked, however, I am still extremely nervous. I am the petitioner, and am also in the military. I even have orders with the beneficiary’s name on it for my next duty location. My question is, does being in the military give any leverage for the interview? Is Italy known for denials? I ask this, because I’ve read stories that the CO officer denied some individuals visas because they did not believe it was a legit marriage. Or that is was denied for a reason that was unknown. 

I filed the i30 petition for visa and got a confirmation from the post office stating the consulate in Rome received it on the 24th of April. Will I hear back via email that they are processing the request? Or is the only email I will receive now whether or not it was approved. I called USCIS and asked about my file and she said that have not started the process yet. 

Hello all!😄 I currently live in Italy with my Italian wife. I am also in the u.s military. I filed directly with the Rome consulate 2 weeks ago with my i30 form packet and email notification form attached to it as well. According to the tracking information of the packet, it was delivered to them on the 24th of April. However, I read on there Italian embassy website that the average processing time and notification for approval is 1 month. When will I expect to hear back for a receipt number, or at least notification that they have received it?