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Netherlands US Consulate Reviews
Average Rating: 4.4
/ 5
186 Review(s)
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| Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Review #16317 on February 26, 2015: |
AngelaMatthew
Rating: 
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Here's my review about my interview (rescheduling) experience...
I was visiting my husband in the States when I finally got word from NVC that they forwarded my case to the consulate. I had received my interview date one week later on jan 13th. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the scheduled interview date, they scheduled me on feb 17th, the day I was flying back to the Netherlands! Crazy timing. So I emailed them, they gave me instructions to first make an appointment for the medical exam...which I ended up scheduling on the day I flew back into the Netherlands. Wao crazy. Fly, land, medical... Then one day later I got an email from the consulate that I could come in the following week for an interview on the 26th of Feb, so basically one week later - they wouldn't give me the interview date before I had my medical, but said there isn't a long waiting time after they would receive medical results.
I brought so much paperwork with me for the interview, I even got extra certified copies of birth, marriage certificate and police records.... but they only needed two pasport pics... So easy. Had to answer questions about how I met my husband, what work he does, what I studied and what I plan to do in the States and then I got my approval. javascript:emoticon(' ')
| | | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Review #16303 on February 25, 2015: |
NickTijs
Rating: 
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Went relatively smooth, short summary:
First of all: Please do not bring a phone or any other electronic devices. You won't be allowed in while carrying one.
Because I don't trust the dutch public transportation system I drove to Amsterdam, and parked at the Qpark parking lot. This is 2 euro's for every 20 minutes or part thereof, in total I spent 20 bucks on parking because I got there very early and I didn't go home straight from the interview.
I arrived at the consulate around noon, 90 minutes early, just to be sure I was on time. They had a tent pitched outside to keep you dry what was very nice. Since I was so early and the doors really won't open before 1:30, I decided to get a bite to eat downtown which is only 15 minutes away by foot.
Around 1:15pm more and more people gathered around the entrance of the consulate, besides me there were 2 more gentleman for the R/C-r visa, the rest seemed to be non-immigrant visa applicants.
At 1:30pm the door opened and a security guard came out, asking for names and what visa you were coming for. The R/C-1 visa applicants were let in first, you'll go through a security check similar to the one on the airport: Gates that check for metal and a X-ray machine that will see if you are trying to bring in anything dangerous. You'll have to take off your watch, shoes, belt, etc.
You have to leave your bag at the security check, but you may bring the contents of the bag (folders containing papers in my case) with you.
After you go through the security check you go through a door, and on your right there is a small waiting room with 3 windows, 5 through 7. There is also a bathroom located, which comes in handy if you have a nervous bladder like myself.
My experience with the windows is as followed, it might change in the future or have been like this incidental:
At window 5 you will have to provide any additional papers, or provide originals if you sent in copies. You'll be asked to scan your 4 fingers of your left and right hand, and then both your thumbs at once. After that you may take a seat again.
After a while, at window 6, the interviewer will call your name and he will conduct your interview. The interview itself is a lot simpler and more easy-going than some of the threads here on visa-journey imply.
He asked me:
Name of my petitioner, and if she was my spouse.
Asked if my spouse is a US citizen or not, and if so if by birth.
Where my spouse is right now, US or NL.
Where we plan to live after getting my visa (just saying the state sufficed).
When was my wedding, and to describe it.
What kind of work and/or school my spouse does or has done.
What kind of work and/or school I do or have done AND what I hope/plan to do in the states.
Asked the name of my joint sponsor and our relation to him.
Asked if my join sponsor is a US citizen or not.
After this there was a small hickup with the computer system so he wasn't able to tell me for sure if the visa was issued but he was fairly confident it was (bit odd, but ok).
He didn't return my passport, which is a good sign because they'll need that to print the visa. Don't forget to bring a backup-ID since carrying ID is mandatory in the Netherlands (a drivers license will suffice).
The next day, I checked the ceac website to check my visa status and it said Issued. Yay!
If any of you have any questions or want to hear something in greater detail, feel free to PM me.
| | | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Review #15762 on December 9, 2014: |
Mariniertje
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Today, I (J) had my interview at the Amsterdam Consulate General.
It was a very quick and good experience for me.
If you come by car; park in the "Q-park Museumplein" parking garage under the Museumplein, the entrance is right across the "Concertgebouw" and under the Albert Heijn. This way you don't have to worry about getting back to your car on time or getting a parking ticket.
There is no need to be at the Consulate General any earlier than 13:15. This is just the line for getting in and going through security; not the order in which people are being served by the CO. The security guard will line people up outside first. Immigrants (including K1) line up at the front of the line and go in first, all Non-Immigrants have to wait and go in later.
OK. You have made it inside of the Consulate. Have your passport and original interview confirmation letter in hand, since you will need to show this to the security guard inside, before going through the security scan process (similar to airport security).
Try to bring as less as possible!!! Since you will need to empty ALL your pockets, from both your jacket as your pants. You will only be allowed to take inside whatever you need for the Visa interview. So, try to bring nothing more than your paperwork, your wallet and your (car) keys. You bag/purse will stay with the security guards until you leave the Consulate again.
Once you are cleared by security, you pull open a really heavy door to go into the main part of the Consulate. Go right immediately to enter the room for Immigrant Visas. Just sit down and get comfortable. There is no need to form a line, since the CO has a pre-defined list with names, defining the order in which everyone will be served. They will call out your name when it's your turn. When you hear your name the first time, walk up to window 5 and greet the CO. In my case the CO behind window 5 spoke Dutch.
They will need (in my case):
* Passport
* 2 (two) U.S.-style passport pictures
* Original + Copy Birth Certificate
* Original + Copy Police Report (VOG)
* Original I-134 + all related proof
Then the CO will ask you to provide your finger prints:
1. the four fingers of your left hand
2. the four fingers of your right hand
3. both your thumbs (left and right) at the same time
After that you will be asked to sit down, and wait for the other CO to call you at window 6.
In my case this took only 2 minutes. So, even though I was the last one to get through security, I was the first one to be served. Overall, I was in and out in less than 20 minutes.
This second officer will ask you to raise your right hand and swear that all the information and documents you have provided are true. You just need to answer with "I do" or "I swear" or something like that. Once you have done so, he will browse through your documentation set (not just what you just provided to his colleague, but the complete file they received from USCIS). The CO asked me the following questions:
1. What is the name of the person who sponsored your visa?
2. Where does he/she live?
3. Where did you meet?
4. How often have you seen each other in person?
5. Have you met each others parents?
6. What does he/she do for work?
7. What do you do for work?
8. When do you plan to get married?
And after that, he went through the paperwork once more, and said that everything looked good and that my visa would be approved, and I would receive it in the mail within 5 days.
After that, you are done, and can go back to the security guard to collect your belongings.
Overall a really great and quick experience.
(updated on May 13, 2019)
| | | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Review #15729 on December 4, 2014: |
Elizabeth+Fred
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Today I (Fred) has my interview at the Amsterdam Consulate.
Because you cannot have any electronics (phones etc) with you, and parking
is pretty bad in that area, my buddy offered to drive me there, hang out,
and just "fly by" until he'd see me outside. Great!
--> If possible, this IS a good solution, otherwise, public transport is
a good thought on a day like this. Your mind isn't quite there..
So, it's December 4th, and pretty cold with a sharp wind. We get there by
1:05p, and nobody sight yet. We park, talk for a bit, and then I see someone I recognize (from the medical) walk right by. Oh, but wait! The entrance for the public is on the OTHER side of the gate!
I get out, grab my stuff, making sure nothing is in my pockets, and walk off. Sure enough, people are lining up, and the guard is checking names against a list, and then running a scan on each person. People are let into the building by a second guard.
This is not quite the regular procedure described by others, so maybe they did this because of the cold weather, so people would not have to wait outside for too long. My appointment was at 1:30pm, but everybody's appeared to be at that
same time. So.. be there on time (1:15pm-ish), but not over-early.
Once inside, you show your passport, which is checked against their info, and once you're found, they ask you to put all your stuff in a tray, then move on, towards the scanner. Just like the regular airport security. Take your belt off, shoes if they contain metal, proceed through the scanner, and, if all is well, grab your stuff, and go inside. That is one big heavy door, by the way!
Once inside, you see the large-ish Non-Immigrations hall. Go to the RIGHT, that is the waiting area for the Immigrations cases. Put your belt and/or shoes back on. You can now sit down, they'll call out your name, at which point you go to the window indicated (#5 in my case), and they will ask you (very nicely) to pledge to tell the truth to all questions asked, and, when done, they will tell you what paperwork they need from you. In my case, he
wanted:
- my passport
- 2 (two) U.S.-style passport pictures
- my original Birth Certificate, and a photocopy
- my original VOG (Police Certificate), and a photocopy
- my fiancee's I-134 form, and the supporting documents
That was it. After that, you have to take fingerprints on the scanner to your right. All done, go back to a seat, you'll be called after they checked the paperwork.
--> Although all letters state they need the invite and DS160 confirmation
page, they did not ask me for any of those. Just my passport, three times.
After some waiting time (which can vary between 5 and 50 minutes, depending on who's in front of you in the queue), you'll be called by the CO, and you proceed to the window indicated- #6 in my case.
A very nice and relaxed CO greeted me, and started going through the paperwork (including the original I-129F paperwork), and then just asked me the usual
questions:
- fiancee's name and where does she live
- am I planning to also live there? [YES !]
- how and when did we meet
- how many times I have gone to visit her
- did she ever come here to visit, or elsewhere?
- did I meet her parents and/or other family?
- does she have any kids? did I meet them?
- where does my fiancee work, and what does she do?
- oh, what is normally my occupation? do I think I can do that in the U.S. as well?
Since my fiancee and I met 20 years ago, and are basically "re-trying", he
did have some additional questions about that... how long ago was that, how
did we decide to try again, and when did we start "working" on that, etc.
All of this in about 5 minutes. It was actually a very nice guy, so if you have your case 'together', you won't have any problems.
After some more reading stuff on his screen, he then said the "all looks good,
you're approved, congratulations, and good luck!!"
The packet with paperwork and stamped passport will be sent using a postal courier within 4 work days, usually sooner.
So... a quite relaxing experience, really. Yes, your stomach is not feeling great, your knees kinda wibble, but THEY KNOW THAT. Just be yourself, be honest, and answer the questions.
That said... as in many other reviews, I also have to report that NONE of the additional paperwork (proof of ongoing relationship), including the updated Letters of Intent to Marry, and our (200+ pages!) of Skype logs, etc, were not asked for. Lots of time wasted on that. But: they CAN ask for it, so just do it, prepare it, and [looks at the fireplace] you can burn your frustration away later that day javascript:emoticon(' ')
Now, for some notes.
1. As their letters say CLEARLY ... DO NOT BRING ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES. I
saw SEEVRAL people at the front gate with phones, and they were ALL in
trouble for it. Hopefully, the guard succeeded in getting a collegue to
come and collect them, as they were apparently in 'bad weather mode' today,
but normally, you can either throw it away, or go home..
2. Make sure your paperwork is organized. I myself had 4 stacks.. "theirs"
(invitation, DS160 conf, etc), "mine" (birth cert, police cert etc), "hers"
(I134 and docs) and "proof" (Skype logs, LoI's etc) and they really liked
that. MAKE SURE you have ONE PHOTOCOPY of the original Birth Cert and VOG,
so you will receive the originals back in the package they send!
3. Remember, they want U.S.-style passport pics, not Dutch ones!
4. The moment you receive their Packet3 letter, start reading reviews here, and
make a list of what YOU need to bring. Don't blame your other half for
stuff 'forgotten', it's your party, too! READ THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. If
something is unclear, call them, and they'll explain.
Even though we all know you're very, very stressed, remember, they know that as well. This Consulate is one of the most relaxed 'official offices' of the U.S. I have ever experienced!
Good luck!
| | | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Review #15454 on October 26, 2014: |
Amf2014
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My fiance's (Bart) experience at his interview:
I arrived to the Embassy 20 minutes before his appointment at 13:30. At 13:30 an officer came out to confirm we all had our documents in order (invite/ appointment letter and confirmation page).
One of the applicants was turned away because he forgot to register/confirm his appointment online. They said he could go to an internet cafe to log-in, register, and return to the embassy with the confirmation.
Don't forget that PHONES are NOT ALLOWED!!! The lockers at central station are only around 4 euros...use one.
We had to walk through a metal detector and wait in a small room. I had to give my passport to the guard at the metal detector.
I was called up to window 5 and gave them the following papers:
1. My invite
2. Two passport photos (US size, not European size). Most places can accommodate this request
3. Affidavit of Financial Support
The officer was impressed that there was a cover letter and blue pieces of paper dividing the sections of the Affidavit for easy sorting. Our additional Intent to Marry and proof of ongoing relationship documents were not collected. However, if you read other posts, you will see that sometimes they are collected and put into the embassy file. Bring everything just in case.
I sat back down and had to wait 5-10 minutes for window 6 to become available. At window 6, the officer asked me several questions including:
1. Fiancee's name and where they live
2. How and when did we meet
3. How many times I have gone to the States to visit
4. Have I met my fiancee's parents
5. Where does my fiancee work and what does she do for a living
6. What I plan on doing for work when I am living in the States
After I answered my questions, he said that he had all of the information he needed. He stamped my paperwork and said, Congratulations! (Yay). He also mentioned that I should be receiving my paperwork and passport with visa in the mail within 4-5 business days.
Advice:
1. Leave all electronics at home or in a locker at central station.
2. Bring two color passport photos US size...not European size. We almost overlooked this.
3. Organize your paperwork and prepare a clear cover sheet
4. Follow the instructions closely on the interview invite. It's clear that you need to sign-in, register, confirm your appointment, pay the fee, and print the confirmation before your actual interview date.
Good luck!
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