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Ireland US Consulate Reviews
Average Rating: 4.3
/ 5
143 Review(s)
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| Dublin, Ireland |  Review #5968 on April 26, 2010: |
ollie
Rating: 
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
Great experience with the embassy. From the very beginning, the security were very friendly and lightened our mood before we went into the stressful environment of the processing room. Luckily we were first in the door and got our applications and other documents submitted within 15 minutes of entering the building. We waited about 5 minutes before being call to the cashiers desk to pay the $400 processing fee.
While waiting for the actual interview, we chatted with the other applicants that were there, they only had 7 or 8 applicants to process that afternoon. Obviously everyone was nervous, after all life changing decisions were being made behind a glass screen. The other applicants were friendly and all of us were having one big conversation about our various situations and how the applications had gone for us so far.
The final step was the actual interview, the lady that conducted it was extremely friendly and it was more of a chat that anything else, we even shared a couple of jokes. The interview only took about 10 minutes and at the end she confirmed that the application had been approved and my passport and other documents for my POE would be mailed out to me within 2 weeks. ***See below for info on how that turned out.
Overall, everyone was very friendly and it seemed that my nerves were totally unnecessary, to whole process took a little over an hour.
Now to find some flights!! javascript:emoticon(\' \')
I've decided to add this amendment to my original review, being 100% honest I couldn't allow my original review remain after how it all turned out. As I said above, after approval at the interview, the officer told me that the visa would be sent out within a fortnight. When they said this we asked if it would be safe to book flights 3 weeks later and were told an undoubted yes. A fortnight passed and no visa arrived. It got to the final few days before our flight date and we decided to investigate where the visa was. The embassy is almost impossible to contact directly, their "Visa Information Service" which charges €2.40 a minute to call only gives general visa information and cannot deal with individual cases, for our situation they directed us to email the embassy and gave us the address. I immediately email them and got an automatic response, "We respond to emails in order of receipt, please allow 2 working days for a reply" understandable, i'm sure they get alot of emails. Sadly that email was sent last friday at noon, it is now thursday evening and there has been no response.
Having given up on the email, i tried again to contact the embassy directly, and was again directed to the visa information service which was no good to me, so i tried again and on tuesday eventually after 20 minutes of being bounced from one operator to another, somebody put me through to the visa office, where nobody answered the phone but i left a message. The following morning (wednesday) someone called me back and went through my situation, she had no idea what went wrong but promised to investigate and call me back that afternoon. This morning (thursday) at 8am, she called me back and said that the visa would be issued today and i could collect it tomorrow, when i told her that i has no way to get to the embassy tomorrow she said that she'd see what she could do and call me back. 2 hours later she called back and said that the visa would be ready and i could pick it up today, which i did and gladly now i am all set to move on monday.
I stand by my original post, the staff are very nice, they are very helpful, the interview was pleasant, my big problem is that having spent upwards of €1000 on fees, it should be an awful lot easier to get a hold of the staff if you do have a problem.
(updated on May 13, 2010)
| | | Dublin, Ireland | Review #5667 on February 9, 2010: |
danniella
Rating: 
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I got to the embassy at 13:00, there was a little queue at the gate and it was so cold outside the guard let us wait inside while everyone was processed.
When i got into the embassy i was given a ticket and asked to wait. I was 5th in the queue.
After a short amount of time i was called to a window and asked to give the cashier the postal order for 91.70
I sat down again.
About 10 minutes passed and i was called up again and i had to hand in my police reports, birth certificate (& photocopy), affidavit of support, medical papers and DS-156/k. I was a little nervous about not having brought the x-ray as everyone else had but they had no interest in it.
They asked me did i have the stamped addressed envelope (which by the way was never mentioned in any correspondence - i read about it on this website!). I showed her what i had brought and she informed me it was not large enough. They needed one that was 12"x14". As it turned out, not one person had an envelope large enough. The woman told me that i'd need to mail them the stamped addressed envelope (with 8 euro worth of stamps) back to them.
I was asked to sit down again.
About 30 minutes later i was called yet again and my fingerprints were taken and i had to swear an oath and sign the DS-156k. I was asked a few simple questions:
Where i met my fiance?
When i met my fiance?
Where he works?
What happened between our first meeting and his proposal?
Then i was asked to show photographs and that was it!
I had a ton of proof with me and they were not interested in any of it. Pays to be prepared though, just in case.
That was pretty much it! Everyone in there was polite and helpful and not as scary as i was half expecting =)
The fact that everybody can hear your interview is a little off-putting but it's over in no time =)
| | | Dublin, Ireland | Review #5282 on November 21, 2009: |
Lamb_Alley
Rating: 
· 2 people found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I wish to Declare that the information i am about to provide in this review is true and authentic to the best of my knowledge. However, i do not take any responsibility; whether for hurting somebody's feelings through my review or causing un-intentional offense. I further do not intend to misguide anyone so please do not relate it to a holy book. It is not a State Department's policy on something, just a review. So relax and enjoy reading.
Interviewed on 16th November 2009 at US Embassy in Dublin.
1pm interview time means exactly 1pm. Do not attempt to reach there early. Try risk it and face standing outside in the cold.
;-)
Staff extremely particular about documentation requirements. Make sure at least 10 times that you have all your documents with you.
I had to run out twice, once to get more US visa size pictures (which were returned within 2 minutes of my submitting them at the window, apparently they were not needed in the first place), and second time to get a new bank draft (the amount mentioned in the official document called 'Packet 3' which i had received from the embassy was 99.56 EURO but at the window inside the embassy upon my attempt to submit, i was turned away and strictly told to get a new draft worth 91.70 euro exact on the dot). Collection lady refused to claim responsibility for her mistake and closed the window on my face. So any amount more or less is not acceptable.
The Bank draft amount on the 16th of November 2009 was 91.70 in Euro currency but enquire about the updated fee a day before the interview from the embassy. And rest assured that there is no way to call the embassy by phone. How could one then manage to ask a question to the embassy? .... i do not know.
Basically its their way or the highway type of attitude throughout the process inside the embassy.
Complete and sign to submit in original with pictures on where required, DS 156,156K, Affidavits of support, US citizen petitioner's job letters with pay stubs and tax returns (Applicant should also submit all supporting personal professional record including tax documents and work related letters where available), birth cert of applicant and petitioner, citizenship record of petitioner, applicant's police certs, applicant's bank statement, petitioner's bank statement, carry all in original and 1 photocopy.
Do not forget to bring the envelope which should be exactly 12 inches by 14 inches. You forget it and you can't complete the interview. Ohh ... and 8 euros worth of ordinary postal stamps to stick on the envelope with your name and address as receiver, not as sender.
You can hear everybody else's (all other applicants who are in there) interview conversation loud and clear inside the waiting room so rest assured there won't be any privacy while you have your interview at the window, so stop dreaming about charming the interviewer with your beautiful love story during the interview.
After having passed through all the hassle my turn came at around 3:30pm. The actual interview took less than 5 minutes.
No answer given at the end, no indication given either as to visa granted or not.
Case placed in AP (Additional Administrative Processing) indefinitely which means anywhere between 2 weeks to 4 months. No tracking number given, no AP number given. Told .... Ta ... Ta ... and Bye Bye.
By the way i am a Pakistani National living in 'EIRE-Land' since last 6 years. Don't know if this helps or worsens the feeling.
Not rating my embassy interview, we do not hold any right to do as such. Embassy staff does their job, be it in a strict manner or not.
Thank you to all and best of Luck.
| | | Dublin, Ireland | Review #5004 on September 24, 2009: |
kayandnigel
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Had my interview the 22nd sept 2009 at 1pm. arrived at 12:40 and wasnt allowed in was told to come back at 12:55. Was called 10mins after I got into the embassy and handed in DS 156,156k and support documents. Then they looked for the fee which in the letter I got told me it was 99.56 however the fee was only 91.70 and they wouldnt accept my postal order so had to leave the embassy and get cash. At least there is a bank 5mins from the embassy. Got the cash and then had to wait for the cashier to open which didnt make any difference as was waitiing anyway.After waiting about 2hrs I was called for the interview which took about 10mins. She asked me about how we meet when we meet for the 1st time and all my other visits to the US and also about Kays visits to Ireland. Then she looked for evidence and showed her the recent ticket stubs, photos, online chats, phone bills and credit card statements showing that Kay had being in Ireland in August. Then she said thats fine your finished, then I asked does that mean I have the visa and she said yes :D over all it was good experience just a pitty about the fee. Got my passport back today 24th sept.
| | | Ireland | Review #4846 on August 11, 2009: |
JeremySusan
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Hi everyone, attended interview today in Dublin. I arrived at 12.45pm, interview was for 1pm. Went through security, bags scanned, phone turned off and left in security, giving my embassy pass and also given a ticket to pick up my phone on the way out.
I was second in the queue for immigrant visas section. Waited approx 30 mins and was called to the window. At this point I was asked for my DS 156, 156K, I134 and all relevant support documents that go with it. I also gave in my medical results (they did not look at the X-ray, the lady informed me that I have to bring it in my hand luggage rolled up as I may be asked for it at POE), police report and SAE envelope and pictures, woman at the counter very efficient and polite, no problems at all. She then told me to pay the cashier when she returned to counter number 6......waited some more...... 20 minutes later woman arrived back, paid for my Visa. This woman then told me to take a seat and wait to be called. Time flew as I got talking to another K-1 applicant, swapping stories etc. I was then called to a window for the interview with a consular officer. Very polite, and friendly man. First he took my finger prints, then proceeded with the interview. He had my file in front of him and had post it's on several pages. He asked me Questions on each page he had a post it.
Questions are as follows:
Who is applying for the Visa with me?
When did we first meet?
when did we first meet in person?
What does he do in USA?
Is he there at present?
What did I work at in Ireland?
Do I intend to work in that field in the States?
When did he propose?
Did I ever live outside of Ireland?
Have I ever had any issues entering the USA before?
When did I plan on entering the States?
Where do you I plan on living in the States?
Any wedding date set?
then he asked me if i had any evidence to show him. I gave him pictures, emails, phone bils, cards, photocopies of tickets and boarding cards etc. he just looked at them and gave them back to me. He then typed something into the computer and said "everything looks good here". I asked does that mean it is apporved and he says "yes it does Ma'am". Officer then explained that I will be sent a package in the post in approx 1 week with my passprt and a package that is to remain unopened until I give it to an immigration officer when entering the States.
Very easy consulate, very polite, professional. Everything went smoothly, all staff very helpful and friendly.
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