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| Dublin, Ireland |  Review on July 29, 2008: |
Penguin_ie
Rating:  | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
The visa interview appointment was a bit of a non-event. You know when you prepare for all eventualities, double check everything, hold your breath and then... it is much less difficult than you thought!
My appointment was at 1pm, so I arrived at 12.30pm, and was told to come back at 1pm, they wouldn't let me in beforehand. An old lady was there at the same time and they wouldn't let her in either, not even to the benches inside the security hut, so I walked her to the bus stop bench 50 yards away. Turns out she is 98 and wants to visit the US one last time (she used to be a green card holder). I hope I am that fit mentally and physically at that age! Went back at 1pm, handed over my mobile (cell) phone for them to keep in the security hut, and went to the visa section. There was only myself, an Indian man who I think was there for a work visa, and another gentleman applying for a spousal visa who had to return because he needed to file a waiver.
When I went in I handed in my docs, they seemed surprised how well I was prepared (had a file with dividers for everything as recommended on here), and didn't even ask for all of our proof of assets and income (I have some income from writing which will continue when I am in the US). Unfortunately my Irish police cert has me listed as being born in 1976 instead of 74, so they could not accept it. Then I went to pay the visa fee and sat back down.
Only a few minutes later I get called by the consular officer, who asks me when we got married- I said 1995 instead of 2005, doh! But he said "are you sure?", and I corrected myself. He asked why we are moving to Arkansas (I said due to better house prices, to which he smiled), and whether the address we gave as our US address (my husband's sisters address)- is near Little Rock, to which I said no, it is in the NW. Not sure if that was a test or just conversation. He asked if I had any kids from my previous marriage (no), and if the twins from this marriage had been registered with the embassy yet (yes), and then said I was all set, just to call them when I had the corrected Irish police cert, and I could come in right away and get the stamp for my passport. So after all this, all the prep and worry that they wouldn't take assets only (a rumour I heard from other Irish applicants), it was actually really easy, they didn't look at any of the bonafide evidence I brought, and I was out of there within the hour.
I got my amended Irish police cert the next Monday, rang the embassy and got an appointment for the next day, 1pm again. I knew better than to arrive early this time! Was second in line when I arrived at 12.55pm, and there were 7 of us by the time we were let in. Handed in my police cert and passport, told to sit down. And sat while everyone else got called up... and sat... and sat... I started to think there was something wrong with my application! But then they called me, gave me back my passport (ow with visa) and the Mysterious Brown Envelope, told me to have a good day and that was it.
Tips:
- don't fret- embassy staff are friendly and helpful.
- do make sure you have everything in order (labeled file is great idea!), so you don't need to root around when they ask for a particular document.
- Make sure you have everything, and ideally copies to give them too (puts them in a good mood if they don't have to do photocopies themselves). They are not kidding when they say "bring everything and the kitchen sink".
- Double check you have everything- out of the two times I was there, and met 9 other visa applicants, no-one got their visa right away, everyone forgot something or didn't have something complete, or only had copies of something they wanted the original of.
Preparing to move now and so won;t be online as much, but feel free to PM me anytime with questions about the Irish embassy and I'll do my best to answer asap.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3174