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Italy US Consulate Reviews
Average Rating: 4.2
/ 5
185 Review(s)
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| Naples, Italy |  Review #6375 on July 21, 2010: |
Erthwhile
Rating: 
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
It was as easy as it possibly can be! The first day I had the medical. It was very crowded (around 20 people had their medical), but in three hours we were done. Very simple and quite efficient. Blood test, check-in, payment, medical itself, x-rays. Once finished, I was directed to the consulate for the biometrics.
The day after I was told to arrie at the consulate by 8. Even if I arrived at the gates at 7.50, almost everybody was there already, wich meant Iwas bottom of the interview list.
Once in and when it's your turn, a very nice lady calls you up to check your birth certificate, marriage certificate, certificato del casellario giudiziario, foglio matricolare (if you've served in the army), ds-230, two pictures (you need a third one for the medical) and most important of all the I-864. Once all's in order, you pay the 400+ USD fee. Then you wait again until the consul calls you in for the actual interview. Very simple (3 questions asked: were did you meet, were will you live, are you happy to go to the US). Visa approved (all but 3-4 people were approved) and ready by 5 pm the same day. All in all, a breeze. Kudos to the Varelli Institute people and the consular officers, all of which were very polite and efficient.
| | | Naples, Italy | Review #6117 on May 23, 2010: |
schillaci
Rating:
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
We got to Naples Sunday afternnon and checked into the Bonapace Mergellina B and B not far from the consulate. 70 euro a night. Nothing fancy but close to the consulate and subway and in a nice quiet and clean neighborhood.
Monday morning had the medical. We took a cab from the hotel and it cost about 10 euro or so. Got there at 745 checked in and sat until we were called around 815. They checked the papers we brought them, we paid for the medical and had to have 2 other vaccines. They did a quick check-up and asked a few health related questions and then told us to wait for the chest x-ray. Everything was done by around 11 am.
We then went to the consulate for fingerprinting which took about an hour.
Next day we had our appointment at 9 but arrived at 830. We were given a number by security when we came in. We sat in the waiting room for our number to be called by a girl at a desk as soon as you walk into the room. She told us what documents were needed. It was a fraction of the papers I brought. She told us they needed 2 photos, birth certificate with translation, my divorce certificate with translation, and police certificate.
We then sat and waited for our number to be called again but this time to be called up to the window. When we got up there she asked for the same documents that the other woman told us about and also the I-864 and last years tax return. She looked at what I had written for salary and asked if that was what I made and I said yes and had an employment letter. She said it wasn't necessary. We told her we needed our originals back when we were done and she put them aside with a post it on it. Then we sat again and waited to be called by the consul. Funny story though, the night before we were out at a pizzeria and sat next to some Americans, one of whom happened to be the consul. So when he called my wife up for the interview he told her to relax and take a deep breath because he had a very important question to ask her. How was your pizza last night was what he asked. He then asked her how her English was so good and where we planned to live in the States. Then he asked if we wanted to pick up her passport or if we wanted it sent to us. She said pick up and he said ok it will be ready by 5 today. She asked if she was ll set and he chuckled and said yes and he wished us luck.
Moral of the story, be very prepared but dont get too stressed by the tiny details. I made myself crazy making sure I had every possible scenario covered and in the end didnt need most of the papers I brought with me. They are very laid back and want to issue the visa. Unless you really screw up, like one guy we saw who was there alone without his USC wife and didnt meet the 3 times poverty level assets since his wife's salary was nt sufficient, then you will get the visa. He was told what he needed and left to get the funds sent to an account. It seemed to me they were going to issue the visa once he was able to do this.
I, the USC, was able to be with my wife at all stages of the process but left he rto interview by herself since her English is very good. It was very easy and they do everything to not let you feel stressed. So dont worry. You will get your visa if you have everything you need. Also remember, you will read a great many things on here and get some good advice but dont forget that a phone call to the Embassy works even better. They want to help you so dont be afraid to call.
| | | Naples, Italy | Review #5947 on April 21, 2010: |
HeidiItaly
Rating:
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
My husband just got back today from his interview in Naples. All went really smoothly and easily. On the day of the medical he was the second in line, but had to wait for everyone to arrive to complete all the steps (blood test, x-ray, vaccinations, doctor visit). There were 60 people scheduled that day, but only 15 showed up because of the "vulcano ash" causing problems with transport in/out of Italy. They were all finished by 10:30am and then they were sent to the embassy for fingerprinting and some questions. They shared cabs to the embassy (book your cab at the cashier in the medical office to be assured a "fair" fee), cost was 7euro. They were finished in the embassy by noon.
The next day my husbands visa appoinment was for 10am. He showed up on time, but they complained that he should have come earlier. Funny thing was, in the end, he was in and out of the embassy in 20 minutes. APPROVED. There were several people that were not approved that day because they had forms that were filled out incorrectly or were missing documentation with their I-864. It was a very quick process, they didn't ask for any proof of our relationship or our childrens' birth certificates. They only asked why my husband was returning to the US. He picked up his visa and brown envelope at the Mail Boxes Etc. at 5pm.
Overall, an easy trip. He took the bus to Naples and then used public transportation to get around. He said there were tons of police and that he felt really safe there.
| | | Naples, Italy | Review #5891 on April 7, 2010: |
newlyweds2010
Rating: 
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Everything went smoothly and I can't complain about the process.
The medical exam was fast and easy, not much waiting at the consulate either, the interview was easy as well. I didn't get the visa the same day because I didn't have a document (completely my fault) but I received my passport back one week later upon sending them the requested document.
I give a 5 to the process and a 1 to the venue (Napoli is chaotic, dangerous and dirty, and I couldn't wait to leave), so 3 to the whole experience.
| | | Naples, Italy | Review #5886 on April 6, 2010: |
scheu29
Rating:
· 2 people found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
I was extremely nervous about our visit (for my Italian husband), but everything went just fine.
We arrived for the medical examination at 8:15, and there were already several couples ahead of us. We gave my husband's passport to the receptionist, then after about 20min they called his name and he got blood drawn. Then we went downstairs and waited about an hour to be called in to give them my husband's vaccine records and a photo. He was missing a second dose of MMR, so we paid a total of 206 euros. We paid in cash but you can go back upstairs if you have to pay with a card. Then we waited again another half hour, and they took a group to go get their chest x-rays done. That was quick. But then we waited another hour or so for the medical visit with the doctor. (There were a few families and they got to go first. Counting children there were probably around 40 people there.) The medical visit only took about 10min. They checked his stomach, eyes, height, weight, and gave him the vaccine.
After that we were told to go directly to the Consulate to do fingerprints. We took a taxi, which cost 10 euros from the medical center. It is quick if you don't have a lot of people in front of you. They asked for a passport photo then so be sure you have another one with you.
Our appointment the next day was at 9am. We arrived a little early, but were probably last out of everyone. They give you a card with a number on it and that is called by a woman at a desk, who makes sure you have your documents in order. They never asked for my American birth certificate... Then we waited about an hour, were called to the window to give them those documents, plus the affidavit of support (they didn't want any proof of our relationship, nor proof that my domicile was in the States, nor any of my passport photos...). Then they send you to another window to pay the $400 fee. Luckily I had an American credit card on me because they do not accept Bancomat/debit cards. Be sure you have a REAL credit card, or bring cash because I think several people had problems with this. Then we waited another 45min or so and were called to the window again to answer a few questions. It was mostly banter and the woman was very nice. She said you can pick up your visa at 5pm, and we were done! We actually went directly to Mailboxes Etc. to have the visa mailed home because we were traveling. (cost 26 euros or so) It arrived two days later, via DHL, with a packet you can't open, and the visa in the passport.
It all went smoothly and my main advice would be not to sweat it too much (like I did!)Thanks VJ!
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