My experience with K1-VISA interview in a paused country
Hi everyone! I just had my K1-Visa interview last friday and this was my experience with it!
We started our process about 13 months ago and made the appointment about 2 months ago (we got lucky and got an appointment on our first try on the consulate website).
Three weeks ago I traveled to my medical exams and everything went smoothly, even though I had to take two vaccines at the clinic ‘cause my vaccine card didn’t specify the exact one they wanted, but all of that got resolved in one morning. Got my results a few days later and I knew I was good for my interview.
On Wednesday I traveled to Rio de Janeiro. My biometrics appointment was on Thursday afternoon. Got there about 50 minutes before and just waited around. They did not ask for my NOA2 or any type of document listed on the instructions on DS-160 or interview appointment instructions, nor did they ask for pictures. I just handed them my DS-160 confirmation page and my valid passport. I got in line 15 minutes before my appointment time and once I got in the whole thing lasted about 5 minutes from start to finish. They also gave me a new list of documents to make sure I had and put in order (I had to ask the hotel staff to print more documents for me, so make sure you guys have all and any additional documents on a cloud just in case).
At the biometics they also gave me the info to get there WAY before my appointment time cause reviewing of the documents would take time.
On Friday, my appointment was early in the morning and I got there about 50 minutes before my time slot (as advised), and security was really fast (make sure to not have anything else with you, I had to go outside and leave my lipgloss and hotel card with my fiancé who was waiting for me in a cafe, but ‘cause it was early it didn’t had a line so I just got back and in the building). Once inside, I went “check-in” and the lady made me sit and made sure I had all the documents in order and she put my name in a list. She called me a few minutes late and confirmed all my documents were good and had me sign the sworn statement. After that I went into a line.
The line took a lot of time, even though there were people scheduled for as early as 7 o'clock, the first part only started at like 7:40. The person called us to handle our documents and asked who was our petitioner and some people were asked if they had been to the US before. And we went to sit in another line.
Here’s a tip that helped a lot: I was wearing an analogic watch, so I got to see the time, and I took a puzzle magazine (crossword, sudoku…) inside my folder so I had something to do while waiting and not lose my mind with anxiety. Also have a jacket or sweater on hand cause it can get really cold.
They started calling us by name at around 9. I was the second K1-visa person to be called (this order is not by who gets there first or by appointment and we still have no idea what their criteria are). My interview took about 10 minutes and half of the time the guy was typing on his computer. Here’s the questions they asked me:
- What’s your name and your fiancé’s name?
- Where does he live?
- What are your age and your fiance’s age?
- What does he do for a living?
- How did you guys meet and the first time you met in person?
- To what countries you traveled to in your life? (He was really nice, so he followed up asking my favorites)
- If I live alone or with someone else and if my fiance live alone or with someone else
(My fiance lives with his mom so he asked me if I'd live with her too and I said no, and mentioned ‘lease’ cause I didn’t remember the name in portuguese, so he asked me if i speak english and once I said yes he switch the interview to english)
- How did you learn English?
- How many times do you meet in person? (During this he started looking at our original proof of relationship, I told him I had the updated version and asked if he wanted to see it, he said yes and i handle to him)
- To what countries we traveled together
- Did your parents meet his parents?
- Where was he born?
- What are your career plans once you move to the US?
Then he told me he was APPROVING my visa, handed me a piece of paper and wished me a nice day!
I literally couldn’t have asked for a better consul for the interview. I was super nervous and the whole thing just sounded like an actual conversation so I was very relaxed during it. The other consuls sounded more serious. Mine even asked me about his Portuguese and complemented my English.
I’d say, beside the approved visa, my whole experience was a success and super chill. Everyone that works at the Rio Consulate is super nice and I felt good. I think everyone gets anxious and nervous on the day of, but having nice people working there and trying to talk to the people next to you really helps.
Now I’ll wait for my passport to arrive and will move to the US! Once I’m there, I’ll do a full timeline here. If you have any questions you can drop it below!