They told us the first could be asked at the POE the second has to! be presented to your new Doctor in USA. After this we leaved the Consulate. The second day we arrived at 8:00, the procedure was as the previous day. Once inside we went in the same room as the day before.
The same mean Italian lady (who was training a young woman) start to collect documents with the same arrogance as the day before. One Iranian couple that was sponsored by their daughter was asked to present an original marriage certificate with translation for him and one original marriage certificate with translation for his wife! Once collected, the documentation was handled by an Officer at the counter who checked if anything was missing, after this check the documentation was passed to the Counsellor in the last Counter who will provide to call for interview.
When I was called by the horrible lady I was ready to handle her (In my life I had about 60 examinations, I have a Master’s Degree in Engineering, so I have build quite an experience handling those kind of people).
She started to ask again 2 photos and DS-230 and DSP-122 !!!… No problem, ! I gave her the same copies as the day before. After few moments we were laughing while she try to put in my pocket some spare photos.
After few second an officer at a counter told her to not ask for DS and DSP forms, she was very upset so she leaved the young unskilled woman to do the work alone.
The young woman collected from me only the half of our documentation (she doesn’t want military records, school certificate) but asked for 2 marriage certificate (one for me and one for my wife) and an affidavit of support (that I didn’t have).
So very calm I replied “Do you mean an evidence of support?” She looked at me a little bit strange as if she doesn’t understand the difference and said yes.
I gave her our bank balance and a property esteem. Fifteen min later our number was called at a counter where a very kind and professional lady asked us for the missing documentation and handled us back the photo (again) our DS and DSP forms (again), one marriage certificate and evidence! of support (not required if you have a diploma like mine).
She then told us to wait to be called by the Counsellor for the interview.
At 9:30 the Counsellor called our number. We spoke in English only. He asked us to take an oath that everything written in our forms (the DS and DSP sent to KCC) and in our documentation was true.
He then asked us just few question to verify it: birth date, our city of residence in Italy, our address in Italy, in which year we have been married. At this point I had a blackout, for just few seconds I thought to look in my marriage ring (not a very good idea), but then I remembered that we have been married for ten years and I told him.
He smiled and asked me “so you have been married in 1995?”. In that moment I realized that I was so nervous that I was not able to do the math (not bad for an engineer).
He asked me which kind of job I would like to look for once in USA, I reply that I will look for a Job involving organization and quality assurance, but I will take any other kind of job if necessary.
Another fun! ny thing was when he asked to my wife if she have had any problem with immigration, she answered “No”, and then he asked laughing “would you want to have some?” After ten minutes he handled us back all the original documents (he retained only copies and the original police certificate) and told us that we are ready to become permanent resident and to come back in the afternoon at 4 to take our passport with Visa.
At ten we went outside and the first thing we have done is screaming with happiness. At four we went back to the Consulate, same procedure same room. When we entered the kind lady who checked our documentation in the morning called our name at the counter.
She told us “congratulation” and gave us our open passport with the beautiful Immigrant Visa stamped. At that point we was almost starting to cry looking at it with our fixed eyes. She gave us also two sealed envelope, to be handled to the officer at the POE, and an information sheet concerning the SSN. It was a sunny day outside and the Gulf of Naples seemed to us more beautiful than ever.
The next week we will depart for a 3 week trip in California to activate the Visa and to make the firsts arrangements to be ready to move definitely in April-May.
We will try to settle in the San Diego area where we have some friends. The next month I will try to post my POE experience. I wish best of luck to you all. |