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Switzerland US Consulate Reviews
Average Rating: 4.6
/ 5
37 Review(s)
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| Switzerland |  Review #22320 on August 11, 2017: |
jugc
Rating: 
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
I was the only one in this consulate, which confirmed my suspicion that it would be fast and without hassle (I was afraid I would have to go back to Colombia to do this process).
Just like many other reviews say, there was your standard security at the entry of the embassy. All the personal was very friendly. Then, you are escorted to the offices where someone reviews your paperwork, before indicating you that the CO will see you in a bit. She actually said (I am paraphrasing here): "everything looks good, but the CO will determine whether to approve it or not."
Then I meet with the CO, who was very friendly too. Pretty simple questions such as my occupation, my wife's occupation, if I have ever had problems with immigration or the police, and that was it! He approved the visa and told me to pick it up the next day.
| | | Switzerland | Review #22216 on July 25, 2017: |
Patient
Rating:
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Embassy communication good and clear in run up to interview.
Getting there:
Train - 10 minute walk from main station in Bern
Car - Parking garage available 200yds up from the Embassy on the left (other side of road) BUT pedestrian access leads you out onto main street so when you exit, walk down the hill and turn left and you will see the Embassy a short walk ahead of you ( c.5mins from car in all).
Car - Street parking available in a lot of places and just up from the Embassy on the left is a small entrance to pay/ticket display in car parking. cost as I write CHF2.20 per hour with an adjustment hrs more than one hour stay.
Personal possessions / cafe next door was to have building work, no-longer open as per other older posts, one is down the street is on the left 3-4mins away. I did not leave anything there so cannot say. Options are leave everything in the car, or use left luggage lockers at station or bring a friend and they hold on to it all or try cafe.
Entry into Embassy - as described elsewhere. Simple process, do not be afraid to tap on the visa window (not the entrance door - the queue system is set up deliberately so do not unlock ribbon and walk through etc.) if security are talking at the back because it is quiet. I arrived mid-afternoon and there had been a "rush" earlier so it is all about timing.
Medical records - sensible process outside door, sealed envelope has to be opened and contents pulled out sufficiently for guard to know there is no substance or other potential risk associated with what you are bringing into a secure environment.
Medical CD - Leave it at home ( for entry into USA).
Interview - Professional, friendly, respectful and understanding about all matters - personal, financial and situational.
| | | Switzerland | Review #21775 on May 8, 2017: |
CMJuilland
Rating:
· 5 people found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
There is not much information around about this embassy, and since I have found this forum very helpful throughout the whole process, here is my own review:
After we had finally gotten our NOA2, I tried to gather as much information as possible about the U.S. embassy in Bern. Yet, since Switzerland is comparatively small, finding anything beyond this forum was close to impossible. Luckily, a couple of really nice VJ members I contacted could give me a few hints.
As soon as we received our case number from the NVC, I contacted the embassy to make sure they had the correct email address for me. And once our paperwork reached the embassy, they got back in touch with me immediately by sending me packet 3 (instructions regarding medical, which documents to bring, i.e. I-134, police record, birth certificate, proof of ongoing relationship, unexpired passport, etc., and where to obtain some of them). There is a checklist in the following PDF: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/iv-dv-supplemental/BEN%20-%20Bern.pdf.
After having received packet 3, I finished up and digitally signed my DS-160, paid the visa fee, and sent them my DS-160 confirmation page, proof of payment (statement I downloaded through my e-banking), and the checklist (completed and signed). This was about half a week after receiving their initial email. Also, I gave them the exact date of my medical and stated that I was ready for the interview, and they got back to me within 24 hours, providing me with an interview date (packet 4) roughly two weeks later.
The interview itself was quite unspectacular. I had my appointment at 2pm, and it turned out that going there ahead of time is to no avail as the security guards won't open the door until 2pm. Once I was let in, I had to go through security first. As others have stated, it's a bit like airport security. As instructed in packet 4, I had left my purse (including phone, wallet, etc.) in the car and only had my documents, my car keys, and an umbrella on me. The latter was to be left in the designated umbrella stand, while the car keys were stored by the security staff on duty (I received a tag with a number to reclaim them on my way out). After clearing security, one of the guards escorted me downstairs, took my passport, and called the embassy staff to ask when they expected me, and right after this phone call had ended, I was directed to take a seat in a small room labeled "Window 5". After about 2-3 minutes, a lady appeared behind the window, and I was instructed to hand her my documents, and since I had obviously brought way more than enough, here is what she kept to put in my file for the CO:
- I-134, tax returns (1 year), W2 (1 year), employment letter, pay stubs
- birth certificate + photocopy (I got the original back at the end)
- police certificate + photocopy (I got the original back at the end)
- 2 pictures (2x2in)
- passport and photocopy of biographical page
- medical results
She asked me a couple of questions regarding some of them, wanted to know my fiancée's phone number, and verified her address. She also took my finger prints. Furthermore, she wanted to know whether I wanted my passport sent back to me or whether I wanted to pick it up. When I said pick up, she handed me a pick up slip where she noted the presumed pick up date (2 days later). After about 10 minutes, she instructed me to go back out and wait for the CO in front of Window 12 around the corner. About another 10 minutes later, the CO appeared behind Window 12 and waved me toward him. He was very friendly and welcoming, scanned my fingerprints again for verification reasons, and swore me in. He didn't really ask any actual questions regarding our relationship; in fact, most of what he said were observations made based on our files (i.e. "so, you guys met in [year]?"). I usually added some kind of information because I felt a little silly by just confirming that what he said was right (i.e. "exactly, that was in [city where we met]"). He did want to know though what I did for a living here in Switzerland, what I intended to do for a living in the U.S., and what my fiancée did for a living. And based on my profession, he even gave me a suggestion as to where to look for jobs when the time comes. I was quite surprised about that.
The interview was over in no time; although I didn't have a watch on me, it can't have taken more than a couple of minutes. At the end, the CO said that everything looked good and that I would most likely be able to pick up my visa at the pick up window outside two days later at 4pm. He finished the conversation by saying congratulations, and before I knew it, I was on my way out. The whole deal did not even take an hour.
I wasn't asked for any relationship evidence, and when I asked the lady that checked my documents whether she needed that as well, she just said, "have it ready if the CO wants to see it. He might." Well, he didn't, but I would still advise people to bring a couple of pieces of evidence - I'm much rather overly prepared than not enough. It was a very good experience, but because it was so quick and unspectacular, it took me hours to realize that it was over. Now, I just hope that I'll get my passport back soon so that I have the visa to look at for proof that this easy appointment and interview was really all there is to it.
(updated on May 8, 2017)
| | | Switzerland | Review #21696 on April 20, 2017: |
Diane and Chris
Rating:
· 2 people found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Chris's appointment was at 2:00pm. I am currently visiting Chris in Switzerland so we requested permission for me to attend with him. We received an email stating the guards would be informed that I would be with Chris. The guard was not willing to let me in even though we had the email from the embassy with us. I decided to wait outside for Chris to finish the interview even though it was cold and rainy. After about 20 minutes, the guard that would not let me in came outside and told me I could enter and that I should go downstairs to Room 5 where Chris was waiting. We were in a small room with a glass barrier separating us from the lady that was working on our case. She was very friendly and apologized for the misunderstanding of not allowing me in with Chris originally. She was very thorough in her checking that we had all of the requested documents. She seemed especially pleased when we told her we had copies of all the originals for her to keep. After going through all the documents, she took Chris's fingerprints. We were then told to walk down a short hallway and wait for the interviewer to call Chris. After about 15-20 minutes Chris was called up to Window 11 and sworn in and again gave his fingerprints to verify it was indeed him. He asked Chris about how we met and then seemed especially interested in the I-134 that we had submitted. He did ask several questions about that and finally asked Chris about my employment. We were not asked to show any "trail" although we had a notebook full of chats, photos, cards, letters, etc.... After a few minutes the interviewer then told Chris that everything looked good and that the visa would be available for pickup in 2-3 days. Chris was given a ticket to present when he goes back to pick up his passport and visa. There is a separate window outside that he will go to pick up the visa at 4:00pm. We hope it is tomorrow. We are waiting on an email to tell us when it will be ready. Overall, we thought this was a positive experience and we're very happy with how we were treated. Nothing to worry about if you have all the required documents requested. Better to have too much than not enough. We are glad this part of our journey is behind us. 😅
| | | Review #20246 on August 21, 2016: |
daniel4310
Rating:
· 2 people found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Us embassy in Bern Switzerland
Got in and out in 30min. Super friendly staff all around. First they checked if I had all my documents with me. After that I had to wait 10/15 minutes for the officer to call me up. The interview itself took about 5 minutes. The guy was super friendly and it was more of a normal conversation, not like specific questions. Told me I'm gonna have my passport with visa inside back in less than a week 
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