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| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Review on October 11, 2021: |
James D
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
After 3 years of paper work and submissions, and many videos of how an interview might go, I expected a formal interview. It was my wife's second green card. We have been married for 33 years and had to surrender the first green card when she remained in Brazil to care for her ailing mother. We traveled to Rio from Fortaleza, during the Covid pandemic.
We did her bio-metrics at 7:15 at the ASC, maybe a 20-minute drive away from the consulate. Arrived at the Consulate at 7:40, and discovered that only the beneficiary could enter the building. I had done all the paperwork, so knew it better than my wife, but only she was allowed to enter. So husbands/family members, be prepared for a 3-hour or 4-hour wait on the sidewalk or a coffee shop across the street.
Our appointment was scheduled for 9:30. For my wife, the interview had three stages. First she handed over the paper work folder, and a very friendly and accommodating woman organized her papers, selecting only what was needed.
Then my wife went to another station and had her fingerprints taken, even though that had been done already at the ASC.
From there she went to another waiting area, and another consular agent arrived at 9:30. First he attended two Americans who had lost their passports.
Then he called my wife, ahead of those who had sponsors and other visa applicants who had earlier appointments. As it was her second visa, they already had her data, not only from the I-130, I-864 and DS-260, but from her SSN, and other USA records going back some 30 years. Information even from a political party banquet she attended in 1990. The agent never looked at any paperwork she brought with her, only what he had on file. He asked her education and about one of her "other" names we listed on the DS-260, a letter which had been added to her business card.
For her the interview was more like a casual and friendly conversation (that lasted more than an hour) and it all went very well. She and the agent will likely not forget it anytime soon because my wife, once she gets talking...
Bring the original paperwork which is checked when you are called, relax, and be patient because it can take a while.
Attire was very relaxed and casual. Tennis shoes and jeans, okay. Rio is like that.
Good luck.
(updated on October 11, 2021)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #30240