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| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Review on May 1, 2017: |
NasaMara
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Since it was really helpful to me to read details from others I'll be doing the same.
My waiver for unlawful presence was approved. They did ask for the approval notice.
My interview was April 24th,2017 at 10:20am. My visa was approved
I arrived at 7am thinking I would have my interview done early. I was wrong.
I got done at 11ish.
I told the guard I was there for an immigrant visa interview and he told me where to wait. Leonardo, I believe was the name of the guy giving instructions and checking our appointment time on the list. When about 7 people were in line, we went inside.
We filled out a form with ours and petitioner's name, address and email. As well as the address and phone number of where we are staying in Brazil. We also filled out 3 pieces of paper with our RDJ case number and name . One of them we give to the courier, so we don't have to go back to the consulate with a receipt.
Make things easy on yourself and have everything in the order the website has the documents listed.The one they give is pretty much the same.
We were asked to put our documents in the order of the list we were given, and Leonardo checked everyone's doc according to our appointment time. So even though I was the first one done putting my documents in order, he verified mine last.
Based on my experience I wouldn't advise anyone getting there more than 1hr before their appointment.
Everyone was very friendly and polite. Leonardo was very patient. Repeating information over and over again. People are nervous and sometimes don't listen or need to triple check instructions in fear of getting it wrong. He was very understanding of that.
After Leonardo reviewed the documents, we sat in order, and waited for the official verification of our documents.
During which I was asked if I had filed for AOS during my previous marriage and how long I was married to my current husband. He gave back originals and copies of documents not needed. He told me I was missing the police certificate from the federal police and without it my visa would not be issued, but I could still do the interview. Didn't think I'd needed it since I went to the U.S when I was 14 but that only exempt me from needing the state not the federal.
He told me to go online and print it but their internet wasn't working.
The interview was less than 10 minutes, standing in front of the consular officer, who was behind a glass, a woman in her 40's, very friendly and smiley.That put me at ease. Had to lean in at times to make sure I could hear her.
She said "Bom dia" and I responded "good morning". I did not want the interview to be in Portuguese lol.
She asked:
"How are you"?
How long had I lived in the U.S.
Where did I come into the U.S from.
In what year did I meet my husband and how did I meet him.
Was this his first marriage.
What does he do for a living.
Do I have a job.
When did I arrive in Rio
Very straight forward questions that were quickly answered as she was typing.
She didn't ask for any extra documents or photos.
She told me all of my documents were in order except I needed to get the federal police certificate before they could issue the visa.
I expressed to her my concerns about that delaying my visa arriving, since I had already booked my return flight.
She said it could be emailed or I could drop it off and that once received they'd do their part pretty quickly. Talking about this is what made the interview be as long.
Went to the courier, handed the little piece of paper with my RDJ case number and paid then found a store to use a computer. Didn't think I'd be able to get my police certificate online because it asks for my carteira de indentidade's number and I dont have one. I left it blank, submitted it and it worked. Thank God!
The consular officer told me to deliver the police certificate between 1-3pm that day or the day after. But I was able to get it printed by 11:30, so I went back to the consulate, told the lady at the gate I had just had my interview and was returning with a document needed before my visa could be issued. She went inside and got Leonardo to come get it. I didn't go back in.
My case status changed to "Issued" on the 28th.
I emailed the consulate about it, since I was taking so long and they told me the visa would be forward to the address I gave the courier and to please wait. lol
And so I wait. Today(the 1st) is a holiday, but since I'm staying in Rio, it won't take long to arrive.
Nothing anyone told me took the anxiety away for this interview. It wasn't the interview itself I was anxious about, but needing too many things to go right that were completely out of my control. Being asked for documents I didn't have - which happened but thank God it worked out.
My advice is to take with you any document you think they could possibly ask for to give you piece of mind. And listen to your gut. If you think should get a doc just in case. Get it.
Good luck to everyone going through this process.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #21744