Just passed the Interview () and awaiting delivery of my passport!

This forum has been such a great help I wanted to share my own experience, hoping it will help others.

Here's the timescales from start to finish:
April 13 2011
Letter from Embassy advising my I-130 has been received
July 8th
Letter from Embassy - Petition ‘approved’ and passed to Consulate
Aug 1st
Letter given case number etc and requesting DS-230 Part 1 and 11 and Form 2001
N.B. Although the instructions for DS 230 advises NOT to send in DS 230 Part 11, it seems it IS required to be sent. (I had mine with me for the interview, which was OK but they said it should have been sent in with Part 1)
12 August
Sent DS-230 Part 1 + Form 2001
17 August
Medical Exam passed
30 Sept
Interview – passed!

Interview
Here’s a quick account of what happened at the interview
Interview scheduled for 9.30am
- Arrived at 8.45 (half a dozen in front of me in the queue).
- There were already well over 100 in the Interview waiting area (well over 200 by the time I left).
- I was called at 9.50 to a welcoming and very pleasant lady who went away briefly to get my chest ray x-ray (for me to keep for when I get to US).
- We went through everything there and then for about 15-20 mins (Fingerprints, Birth, Marriage, Divorce certificates, USC wife’s Tax Returns, I-864 etc). - I had prepared everything in advance exactly in the order shown on the embassy website (to cover all eventualities and questions) and she was impressed that everything she asked for was at my fingertips (she gave me a verbal A+, which was reassuring!)
- She said “everything would be fine” because I had everything complete. We then had a chat about living in the US and that was about it.
- I paid
- After waiting another 20 minutes or so, I was then called to another window. More fingerprints and a quick discussion about how I would support myself financially. I just told the truth - that we were taking our existing consultancy business over there and would operate it like we do here. (I didn’t even mention my joint sponsor I864, which I had with me as a back-up).
- Then she said I had passed!
- I went to pay the courier charge for the passport return and walked out at 11am.

LESSONS LEARNED (mine was a Marriage based Visa)
1. Combine the advice given in this forum (remember, it’s all from volunteers) with the Instructions on the embassy website. It gives you the whole story!

2. Accept that there are frustrating anomalies and that have to go through what seem like unnecessary ‘hoops’ every step of the way. Ignore the frustration and just do what’s asked!

3. Keep everything in order and keep a record of everything. Allow time for everything.

4. Prepare for the interview. It’s not really an ‘interview’. It’s just a process. As long as you have everything correct and have followed the rules, you’ll be fine.

5. RELAX – and focus on the outcome. (It’s funny how what seems a big deal halfway through the process is quickly forgotten when you get the Visa!)

Hope this all helps. Thanks to all for the answers to my questions – Ian and Meauxna spring immediately to mind. Sorry if I’ve forgotten anybody else.
All the best – see you in the U.S!
Anthony

Fantastic news, many congrats

Congrats

and thanks for the above - very useful.

Whare are you moving too?

Good luck

Congratulations!!

Hmm I also only sent in Part I as they ask in the letter and on the website, I guess I will just take Part II to the interview with me and hope for the best!

Congratulations! Wish u the best of luck and a awesome wedding

Wonderful news - congratulations!

Ian

Congratulations!

Several comments:

The process always includes interaction with two people. The first one is with the document checker. Their job is to make sure everything is in order. This is not the interview. The person performing this function is not a "consular officer" -- in fact, they are usually local "FSN" employees. [Alternatively, some are American citizen spouse of US Gov't employees stationed in the country such as diplomats, military, etc.]

The second person is the actual "consular officer" -- and that interaction is the "interview." It need not be lengthy at all -- there is case law in a different immigration context holding that "Is everything in the application true?" is sufficient.

On the advice of "relax" -- when I was in practice, I always told my clients that they need not relax inasmuch as it was impossible. In any case, the government people see nervous people day in and day out. I would simply give three simple rules to follow to insure either a smooth interview and/or to avoid figuratively shooting oneself in the foot.

Again, congratulations.

what would those rules be Folinsky?

Mr.F has posted them numerous times, you will find them very quickly by use of this website's 'Search' function.

Regards, JEff

1. Tell the truth. It is easier to remember [Thank you Ron Tasoff]. Corollary: Don't guess. "I don't know" or "I don't remember" are acceptable answers if true.

2. Understand the questions asked. If you are not sure what is being asked, say so -- "I don't understand," "Please repeat that" or "What?"

3. Answer only the question asked and nothing more. There are only two possible answers to "Do you know what time it is?" and the current time is not one of them.

Firstly, Many Congratulations!

Second, I am preparing to send all the copies of everything over to my Husband (the UKC) so he is prepared for his interview. We are at the Medical Stage I am pretty OCD about getting things perfect and in order, where is this order on the embassy website you mentioned above?

Thank you and Congrats again!!

Thanks everyone for your best wishes and support.

Mike Christina - the 'order' is shown on the embassy website in the section 'The Interview'. It gives the Documents required. Just ignore the ones that don't apply (e.g. military/divorce etc) and keep the ones that do.
If you can't find the list, let me know,

Monkeybarry - we're off to California. Trying to decide between Arroyo Grande area and Santa Barbara/Carpinteria.

(By the way - the Passport/visa courier was expected to take a week to arrive. However, I got a text message today to say it's arriving tomorrow. That's only two!)

Congratulations!!

@AntMcG congrats your interview process sounds so much like mine except i was never asked how i am going to support ourselves while we are there. i think because my joint sponsor (mother in law) earned so much

Again congrats now you have the process of moving to look forward to


Tim

Wow this last one would have totally gotten me