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| Israel |  Review on August 3, 2011: |
tobey
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
My fiance had his K1 interview appointment on 8/3/11 at 7:45 am at the Jerusalem consulate. He went alone. He arrived early for his interview. After going through security he waited for a bit to be called to window one. He noticed that people were called to windows by languages (Russians were called to a Russian officer, Israelis to an Israeli, Americans to Americans & Arabic speaking petitioners to an Arab). So my fiance was called to a Russian officer who immediately began speaking to him in Russian with the comment "whats with all the papers?" (he had a binder of relationship evidence, about 200pgs worth of financial support papers and his medical). The officer then took all his documents, one by one- DS 156, 156k, 157, military records (discharge papers), sealed envelope from medical and then I-134 (since I am a student I had my parents co-sponsor us and had him bring all my school papers- they didn't want anything but the affidavit from my sponsors signed in front of a notary and 2010 tax transcripts). He then was told to sit down.
He was then called to the second window for his interview. This time, the officer spoke to him in Hebrew from the beginning. After he took his fingerprints he put his hands behind his back (nervous habit) and the officer said to him "Relax, your not in the army" which eased the tension and fiance was now comfortable and smiling. He was then sworn in and signed all documents and some papers for the U.S. army and was told "As soon as you arrive to the US you have 30 days to show up at a army recruitment center for reserves- otherwise there is a 250k fine and 5 years jail time" (Fiance is 23 y.o. so the draft is until 25). Although fiance thought to himself (great, more army time) he already knew that we were approved by the way it was said). Then the actual interview began. He was asked basic questions: How did we meet? How many times have I been to Israel? In what language do we communicate? Who is (my fathers name)? What he plans to do in the U.S.? Does he have money saved up for a plane ticket and how? (he had just finished army in June- fiance already started working and had a bank statement to prove it). The officer then looked at my school records and commented "whoa, your fiancee is very smart" javascript:emoticon(' ') and said "Congratulations! You are Approved! Your visa will arrive in a month, maybe less". Fiance was out by 9:00am!!
* A few notes
- Directions are very misleading and confusing.
- Takes them a while to send out packet 3 and 4
- They sent us packet 3 twice with different info. in each
- also sent packet 4 with 2 different options for payment- * pay at the post office
- a pretty slow embassy... do respond to emails but also, the information provided is often wrong
- I ended up calling DOS throughout the entire process to find out our status
- They do take a while to print the visa... possibly due to AP so I am not making any plans until the visa is IN HAND.
- I really think that the interview was the simplest part of the process- both officers commented on us having too much information, saying they already have a large file to go through but it was comforting to have extra financial documents and proof
- Also, it is important to bring in all the necessary documents and forms such as the army discharge and records- my fiance said that a couple who were both at the interview and the beneficiary was very pregnant were told to come back because she was missing FORM 807 (military record)
- They do state on their site that most cases are not approved on the same day and require additional information to be brought in but that is also due to them not being clear with just what forms they require.
*Conclusion- be alert & on top of your own visa process, don't expect this embassy to lead you entirely through it & don't plan anything until visa is in hand!!
(updated on August 3, 2011)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8049