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Bucharest K-1 Experiences ?

Bucharest K-1 Experiences ?

Old Feb 24th 2001, 9:23 pm
  #1  
James Stone
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Has anyone out there had a K-1 Visa processed through the the Bucharest consulate and if
so, what was your timeline like once they had received your approval notification from the
INS? Also, can you share your experience at the K-1 interview itself and what it was like?
my fiancee has to apply for her K-1 visa there and I am trying to get a feel of what to
expect in dealing with this particular consulate. I appreciate any help that anyone would
care to offer, thanks in advance. James
 
Old Feb 26th 2001, 2:47 pm
  #2  
Mat Riain
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Posts: n/a
Default

Hello!

My wife had to change her original 10-year visa (B-1?) for a K-1 because we decided at the
last minute to get married in the states so that some of my friends could come. The K-1
process was not too difficult, but be warned that the people in the consulat are arrogant,
careless and somewhat shady. Be careful. Here is what happened to us:

When my wife first went in to switch her visa, the woman with whom she dealt
(Ms. Sorensen) tried to give her the runaround (changing the questions, deliberately
misleading) and then took her passport - saying that she would call her in a few days
when the visa was ready. We thought that to be strange. She gave my wife a note, on
plain paper, saying to return on such and such date - complete with a bogus phone
number. After a week passed my wife tried calling the number - but to no avail. She
finally got through to the correct department and found out that the individual with
whom she dealt had gone on leave! When we tried to explain that she took my wife's
passport we were basically blown off... The Romanians employed by the consulate have
a God complex, and will not put you through to anyone - nor will they take you
seriously - if you are a Romanian yourself. You have a hard time even if you say you
are an American.

We were in luck because I had worked in the Attache office of the embassy as a translator
several times, and I still had some contacts there. I was able to call one of the
personnel in the attache office and get transfered to Ms. Vivian Keller - one of the
consuls working at the time. I explained to her what happened and, although she didn't
believe me at first, finally said that she'd investigate and call me back in the States.
About an hour later she did in fact call me back and explained that my wife's passport was
found in Ms. Sorensen's personal effects, in the bottom of her desk. Highly unusual.
Needless to say her visa was then granted ASAP. I think we waited several weeks tops. Keep
in mind that I had known my wife for about 4 years before this, had lived in Romania for a
time and we provided a ton of documentation as well. We had applied about 2 years prior
for a visa and it was granted, so maybe this had a bearing.

I had the pleasure of returning to the embassy as a translator for a Customs Service
mission, and I attempted to track down this troublesome individual and give her a piece of
my mind. Unfortunately she was again on leave. From what I gather, passports with approved
visas are very valuable, and there have been several incidents with unsrupulous consulate
individuals making a few dollars on the side. Not that this was the case in our situation,
but it was certainly dubious.

Matei

> Has anyone out there had a K-1 Visa processed through the the Bucharest consulate and if
> so, what was your timeline like once they had received your approval notification from
> the INS? Also, can you share your experience at the K-1 interview itself and what it was
> like? my fiancee has to apply for her K-1 visa there and I am trying to get a feel of
> what to expect in dealing with this particular consulate. I appreciate any help that
> anyone would care to offer, thanks in advance. James
 
Old Feb 26th 2001, 4:01 pm
  #3  
dgdss
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I went on leave to Bucharest for 2 days while serving in Macedonia in 1992, and my my mom
said if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all, that sums it up.

> Hello!
>
> My wife had to change her original 10-year visa (B-1?) for a K-1 because
we
> decided at the last minute to get married in the states so that some of my friends
> could come. The K-1 process was not too difficult, but be warned that the people in
> the consulat are arrogant, careless and somewhat shady. Be careful. Here is what
> happened to us:
>
> When my wife first went in to switch her visa, the woman with whom she
dealt
> (Ms. Sorensen) tried to give her the runaround (changing the questions, deliberately
> misleading) and then took her passport - saying that she
would
> call her in a few days when the visa was ready. We thought that to be strange. She gave
> my wife a note, on plain paper, saying to return on
such
> and such date - complete with a bogus phone number. After a week passed
my
> wife tried calling the number - but to no avail. She finally got through
to
> the correct department and found out that the individual with whom she
dealt
> had gone on leave! When we tried to explain that she took my wife's passport we were
> basically blown off... The Romanians employed by the consulate have a God complex, and
> will not put you through to anyone - nor will they take you seriously - if you are a
> Romanian yourself. You have a hard time even if you say you are an American.
>
> We were in luck because I had worked in the Attache office of the embassy
as
> a translator several times, and I still had some contacts there. I was
able
> to call one of the personnel in the attache office and get transfered to
Ms.
> Vivian Keller - one of the consuls working at the time. I explained to
her
> what happened and, although she didn't believe me at first, finally said that she'd
> investigate and call me back in the States. About an hour
later
> she did in fact call me back and explained that my wife's passport was
found
> in Ms. Sorensen's personal effects, in the bottom of her desk. Highly unusual. Needless
> to say her visa was then granted ASAP. I think we
waited
> several weeks tops. Keep in mind that I had known my wife for about 4
years
> before this, had lived in Romania for a time and we provided a ton of documentation as
> well. We had applied about 2 years prior for a visa and
it
> was granted, so maybe this had a bearing.
>
> I had the pleasure of returning to the embassy as a translator for a
Customs
> Service mission, and I attempted to track down this troublesome individual and give her
> a piece of my mind. Unfortunately she was again on leave. From what I gather, passports
> with approved visas are very valuable, and there have been several incidents with
> unsrupulous consulate individuals making a few dollars on the side. Not that this was
> the case in our situation, but it was certainly dubious.
>
> Matei
>
>

> > Has anyone out there had a K-1 Visa processed through the the Bucharest consulate and
> > if so, what was your timeline like once they had received your approval notification
> > from the INS? Also, can you share your experience at the K-1 interview itself and what
> > it was like? my fiancee has to apply for her K-1 visa there and I am trying to get a
> > feel of what to expect in dealing with this particular consulate. I appreciate any
> > help that anyone would care to offer, thanks in advance. James
> >
 
Old Feb 26th 2001, 5:41 pm
  #4  
Mat Riain
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

He asked, I answered. You would rather me lie to the person?

Oooh - sorry... I imagine after spending two whole days in Bucharest you must be
an expert.

Matei

> I went on leave to Bucharest for 2 days while serving in Macedonia in
1992,
> and my my mom said if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all, that
> sums it up.

> > Hello!
> >
> > My wife had to change her original 10-year visa (B-1?) for a K-1 because
> we
> > decided at the last minute to get married in the states so that some of
my
> > friends could come. The K-1 process was not too difficult, but be
warned
> > that the people in the consulat are arrogant, careless and somewhat
shady.
> > Be careful. Here is what happened to us:
> >
> > When my wife first went in to switch her visa, the woman with whom she
> dealt
> > (Ms. Sorensen) tried to give her the runaround (changing the questions, deliberately
> > misleading) and then took her passport - saying that she
> would
> > call her in a few days when the visa was ready. We thought that to be strange. She
> > gave my wife a note, on plain paper, saying to return on
> such
> > and such date - complete with a bogus phone number. After a week passed
> my
> > wife tried calling the number - but to no avail. She finally got
through
> to
> > the correct department and found out that the individual with whom she
> dealt
> > had gone on leave! When we tried to explain that she took my wife's passport we were
> > basically blown off... The Romanians employed by the consulate have a God complex, and
> > will not put you through to anyone -
nor
> > will they take you seriously - if you are a Romanian yourself. You have
a
> > hard time even if you say you are an American.
> >
> > We were in luck because I had worked in the Attache office of the
embassy
> as
> > a translator several times, and I still had some contacts there. I was
> able
> > to call one of the personnel in the attache office and get transfered to
> Ms.
> > Vivian Keller - one of the consuls working at the time. I explained to
> her
> > what happened and, although she didn't believe me at first, finally said that she'd
> > investigate and call me back in the States. About an hour
> later
> > she did in fact call me back and explained that my wife's passport was
> found
> > in Ms. Sorensen's personal effects, in the bottom of her desk. Highly unusual.
> > Needless to say her visa was then granted ASAP. I think we
> waited
> > several weeks tops. Keep in mind that I had known my wife for about 4
> years
> > before this, had lived in Romania for a time and we provided a ton of documentation as
> > well. We had applied about 2 years prior for a visa
and
> it
> > was granted, so maybe this had a bearing.
> >
> > I had the pleasure of returning to the embassy as a translator for a
> Customs
> > Service mission, and I attempted to track down this troublesome
individual
> > and give her a piece of my mind. Unfortunately she was again on leave. From what I
> > gather, passports with approved visas are very valuable, and there have been several
> > incidents with unsrupulous consulate individuals making a few dollars on the side. Not
> > that this was the case in our situation, but it was certainly dubious.
> >
> > Matei
> >
> >

> > > Has anyone out there had a K-1 Visa processed through the the
Bucharest
> > > consulate and if so, what was your timeline like once they had
received
> > > your approval notification from the INS? Also, can you share your experience at the
> > > K-1 interview itself and what it was like? my
fiancee
> > > has to apply for her K-1 visa there and I am trying to get a feel of what to expect
> > > in dealing with this particular consulate. I appreciate any help that anyone would
> > > care to offer, thanks in advance. James
> > >
> >
> >
 
Old Feb 26th 2001, 8:16 pm
  #5  
dgdss
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

No I didn't say I was a expert, just offering a opinion, I am allowed. It did not compare
to say Budapest, however to each their own.

> He asked, I answered. You would rather me lie to the person?
>
> Oooh - sorry... I imagine after spending two whole days in Bucharest you must be
> an expert.
>
> Matei
>
>

> > I went on leave to Bucharest for 2 days while serving in Macedonia in
> 1992,
> > and my my mom said if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all, that
> > sums it up.

> > > Hello!
> > >
> > > My wife had to change her original 10-year visa (B-1?) for a K-1
because
> > we
> > > decided at the last minute to get married in the states so that some
of
> my
> > > friends could come. The K-1 process was not too difficult, but be
> warned
> > > that the people in the consulat are arrogant, careless and somewhat
> shady.
> > > Be careful. Here is what happened to us:
> > >
> > > When my wife first went in to switch her visa, the woman with whom she
> > dealt
> > > (Ms. Sorensen) tried to give her the runaround (changing the
questions,
> > > deliberately misleading) and then took her passport - saying that she
> > would
> > > call her in a few days when the visa was ready. We thought that to be strange. She
> > > gave my wife a note, on plain paper, saying to return on
> > such
> > > and such date - complete with a bogus phone number. After a week
passed
> > my
> > > wife tried calling the number - but to no avail. She finally got
> through
> > to
> > > the correct department and found out that the individual with whom she
> > dealt
> > > had gone on leave! When we tried to explain that she took my wife's passport we were
> > > basically blown off... The Romanians employed by the consulate have a God complex,
> > > and will not put you through to anyone -
> nor
> > > will they take you seriously - if you are a Romanian yourself. You
have
> a
> > > hard time even if you say you are an American.
> > >
> > > We were in luck because I had worked in the Attache office of the
> embassy
> > as
> > > a translator several times, and I still had some contacts there. I
was
> > able
> > > to call one of the personnel in the attache office and get transfered
to
> > Ms.
> > > Vivian Keller - one of the consuls working at the time. I explained
to
> > her
> > > what happened and, although she didn't believe me at first, finally
said
> > > that she'd investigate and call me back in the States. About an hour
> > later
> > > she did in fact call me back and explained that my wife's passport was
> > found
> > > in Ms. Sorensen's personal effects, in the bottom of her desk. Highly unusual.
> > > Needless to say her visa was then granted ASAP. I think we
> > waited
> > > several weeks tops. Keep in mind that I had known my wife for about 4
> > years
> > > before this, had lived in Romania for a time and we provided a ton of documentation
> > > as well. We had applied about 2 years prior for a visa
> and
> > it
> > > was granted, so maybe this had a bearing.
> > >
> > > I had the pleasure of returning to the embassy as a translator for a
> > Customs
> > > Service mission, and I attempted to track down this troublesome
> individual
> > > and give her a piece of my mind. Unfortunately she was again on
leave.
> > > From what I gather, passports with approved visas are very valuable,
and
> > > there have been several incidents with unsrupulous consulate
individuals
> > > making a few dollars on the side. Not that this was the case in our situation, but
> > > it was certainly dubious.
> > >
> > > Matei
> > >
> > >

> > > > Has anyone out there had a K-1 Visa processed through the the
> Bucharest
> > > > consulate and if so, what was your timeline like once they had
> received
> > > > your approval notification from the INS? Also, can you share your experience at
> > > > the K-1 interview itself and what it was like? my
> fiancee
> > > > has to apply for her K-1 visa there and I am trying to get a feel of what to
> > > > expect in dealing with this particular consulate. I
appreciate
> > > > any help that anyone would care to offer, thanks in advance. James
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
 

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