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| Dominican Republic |  Review on April 2, 2012: |
Matt1968
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Hello,
I woke up at about 3:00, and the wife and step-daughter woke up at 4:00. We showered and dressed and was out of the hotel by 5. It was still pitch black outside and we walked to the consulate which is about 1 minute walking from hotel jardines. There was about 60 people in line 4. A buscones said something to my wife, and when we reached the line she asked the security guard about what the woman said. I told her, "Why do you pay attention to them, I warned you about them, ignore them." The buscones were standing right in the street and chasing cars and yelling things to the people in line. The line quickly filled up and all four rows were filled. At about 6:00, they started letting people in. The guy with the yellow info vest came by and took the interview letter for my wife and daughter and gave us number 195, pay attention to that number. Because my wife was pregnant and with her daughter they let her go ahead of us. I made it inside at about 6:25 and she was sitting near the doors. I told her i want to sit in the middle so I can see the board. They then announce over the loud-speaker where you are to go depending on your type of visa(i.e. student). Yes, like others have said there is no order at all to the numbers. It doesn't matter when you came arrived they will call people who came after you. My wife did'n't get called again until 8:15 to turn in police certificate, banco popular reciept at window 19. She received a slip of paper and had to go to window 13 for prints. After that, the long wait. I went to the window/cafeteria(which was slow as molasses) and bought a sandwich for my wife and drink along with chips and coke for my step-daughter. There was some chick who kept rubbing up against my butt in line.
From my experience, it seems like it doesn't matter when you get there as long as it's before 7, because they called people I know for certain came well after us. Also, I didn't see to many rejections, just alot of happy folks. I did see one couple which looked like they were being run raggedy but window 23. He kept seperating them and questioning each one. After about 20 minutes, they were finally approved. I could see them kiss and hug. There also really is no privacy in these "booths". They kind of remind me of the bank tellers. You're standing there in front of them and there sitting behind thick bullet proof glass. At around 10:00, we see number "194" flash on the screen. My wife and I looked at each other and laughed. Then 10 minutes later we see number "196". Now I just roll my eyes and say "Whatever." A few minutes later we see number "193". Now i'm getting pissed. My wife said it's ok, relax. So I did. We waited another hour on those hard ass benches. Here's my question, who came up with the stupid idea to have benches with no solid bottom?? Just square pipes to sit on so parts of your behind fall asleep, and other parts are awake. They were very uncomfortable. Finally at 11:00, we see our number. I grab our stuff, and we march to window 18. A very nice white woman asked what language would you be more comfortable in. In spanish, I said, "I would prefer for me to be in english and my wife to be spanish." She smiled and swore us both in. She asked questions to both me and wife alternatively. They were:
To me: How often do you come to Dominican republic?
my wife: How did you two meet?
my wife: When did you two meet?
To both: What language do you communicate in? (We said both)
The woman then asked my wife do you speak english. My wife decided at this point to go into shy mode, and downplay her knowledge of english. I told her in the past, you speak conversation english and it's fine and right now was not the time to be getting humble. I said, "you speak good english, don't get shy now!" The woman behind the glass laughed. We all smiled but I'm thinking, "Don't give this woman any reason to doubt anything we have." Then we went back to questions.
My wife: Do you have any other children beside your daughter? My wife said she was pregnant with my baby. The woman said congratulations!
My wife: Is the father of her daughther ok with her leaving the country?
To me: Do you have any other children? I said, "No, just this bundle of love in my wife belly." I wanted to emphasize to the woman WE HAVE A CHILD TOGETHER. She then said to my wife our visa was approved, but I didn't hear it my wife did. She smiled at me and we kissed after she told me we were approved. We thanked the woman and walked down the stairs and I was joking with her about her answer to the english question. We walked past many people still there waiting for their interview and i was glad i wasn't in their shoes anymore. I paid for Domex to deliver to Santiago and we left. Even though we had tons of stuff she didn't asked to see any of it. No photographs, nothing. Just those questions. The interview lasted about 5 minutes. Overall like others have said the wait is a killer. God bless!
1. Where did you first meet?
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #9431