Following advice from members on VJ I arrived super early and was about number 20 in the queue. Staff came down the line and checked appointment times. Since mine was 9:00am they asked if I wouldn't mind going for a coffee and popping back after that.
When I returned the queue was much longer but moving at a steady pace and when I was about 15 from the front my appointment letter was checked and as I was there for an I mmigrant visa I was walked through to security.
The hall was pretty full when I got in and I waited about 20 minutes to be called to the first desk. The chap there took my passport, birth certificate and police certificate. I had to write my name on the back of two photographs. He then took my fingerprints then told me to make payment at the cashier and to return to him.
When I return he asked if my husband had given me the I-864 form and his IRS statement. He checked when my partner went back to the US and since this was recently he also wanted to know if I had evidence from investments etc... I had with me our house valuation and statements from bank accounts in Texas. He took these and told me to wait until I was called for interview.
After a further ten minute wait I was called up. The girl at this desk swore me in and verified my fingerprints. She asked how I had met my husband and where we got married. She was very pleasant and mentioned that her brain was fried from doing so many visas! She was interested to know that I was a teacher and asked what subject I taught and age groups. All the while she was stapling various bits of paper together and I noticed at one point she checked and signed in a box on the I-864 form that I met the criteria for approval! I relaxed a bit after that.
Next she simply said "I'm happy to approve your visa; welcome to the United States of America". And then "That's it, your done". It was all so quick I asked her "Is that it, do I need to do anything?" And she replied "That's it, I believe you and trust your application now go and get a coffee".
I was in the building probably around an hour from start to finish.
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #16412
Review on March 17, 2015:
