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| Jamaica |  Review on September 18, 2018: |
Mella
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
US Embassy Kingston Review
I arrived at 9:15 a.m. for my 10 a.m. interview. I asked some police officers stationed at the end of the walkway if I was allowed to join the queue 45 mins before my appointment and they said certainly, so I proceeded to the gate (this isn't always the case based on how many people are there but I was the only one in the line at the time - perks of having a later appointment).
The lady at the top of the queue asked for my passport, appointment letter (NOT DS-160 confirmation - the one with your interview date and time and payment details) and passport sized pictures. While checking them, she asked me if I had any prohibited items such as electronic devices, liquids or pens (yes, no pens allowed!). She checked them, handed them back to me and told me to stand at the yellow line just outside the door and wait until I was called inside. I only stood there for a few seconds when the door opened and I was ushered inside, I put all my belongings in a tray for it to be scanned. I only had an expandable folder with my documents and a photo album and I was told to remove my watch. I was told to step through the full body scanner and directed when to retrieve my belongings and continue to the outside. I walked all the way to the building at the back where another lady was stationed outside in a booth (if you are unfamiliar with the layout of the embassy, just follow everybody else). She checked the same documents, signed the date and stapled a number to it. I was then directed inside "through the door, make a left and go to the far right, sit and wait for your name". I followed her instructions and went inside. I ended up sitting beside the same people I sat beside at the medical two weeks prior! What are the odds? We kept ourselves occupied through quiet conversation while we waited. They even ended up going through my albums lol.
By 10:30 a.m., my name was called to window 11 to do fingerprints. My passport, passport pictures, birth certificate (original and copy), I-134 form, Certificate of No-Impediment, Police Certificate and my fiance's 2017 IRS Tax Transcript were taken from me. I was asked who was filing for me, to confirm my current address and to provide mine and my fiance's telephone numbers. I also saw my medical results among the papers so yes, it was received on time. I was then told to sit and wait for my name to be called again.
There were quite a few K1 cases that morning. Many of which, the applicants were NOT prepared. Also, I kept hearing them being told to answer what they were asked. So many times the questions were SO simple and the applicant would give an unwarranted answer. I observed all the consular officers and they all seemed pleasant. Stern but fair. There were 3 men and a lady. Keep in mind that everyone can hear your interview.
By 11:40 a.m., I was called to window 9 for my interview. I was very calm. The consular officer and I exchanged pleasantries and he had me do an oath (saying everything I say/present is true). He was very pleasant, and he was smiling the whole time. He asked if I was ever arrested, convicted of a crime or felony or ever paid a fine. He opened up this huge file with all my documents and it had my petition too. He asked me a few questions. Here are some I remember (at least 90% of what was asked I believe):
- *Looking at my work shirt* So you are a ********? Are you going to continue in the field when you enter the US?
-Dami**** is your fiance?
-Have you been to the US?
-I see you have a few J1 visas, is that how you met?
-Describe when you met
-When did you start dating officially?
-Do any of you have children? Been married before?
-How old is he? How old are you?
-What do you like the most about him?
-So you'll be living in *****?
-How long has he been living in *****?
-Do you have any plans for the wedding? When? Where? How many people?
It honestly did not feel like an interview. I was relaxed the whole time, he structured the questions in a way where it just felt like a conversation, not an interrogation. While he was asking me the questions, he was flipping through my petition and kept saying "Wow, nice", "Oh, this is neat", "Oh he's ****". He was so impressed. Our petition was fairly front-loaded in that we wrote a story as our declaration of how we met with accompanying photos from each stage of our relationship arranged in chronological order and supporting evidence such as hotel receipts, boarding passes, birthday/Christmas cards, letters etc.I was not asked for ANY evidence of our relationship at the interview. Like none. Ya girl was bummed cause I came readyyyy with the albums and wedding vendor contracts/emails lol
When he asked about the wedding, I asked if he would like to see my invitations and he said yes. While I was handing them to him, he asked if it was a copy of it or the real thing but when he touched it he exclaimed "Oh it's the real thing. Wow!" (I designed it myself and had it printed on thick high quality card stock at a local print shop). He said he'd be right back and took it to show the other officers lol He came back and said "Okay,you're good to go!" and he handed me back the invitations and the original copy of my birth certificate. I said "That's it?!". He said "Yep, your documents will be ready in a few days, they will be delivered to your house via DHL".
The interview lasted EXACTLY 5 minutes. By 11:45 a.m. I was through the door.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #24663