What to Expect at an Embassy Visa Interview

Visa applicants are advised to arrive at the embassy no more than 15 minutes before the scheduled interview; however the queue will start to form outside the embassy gates about an hour before hand. Most embassies have a kiosk at the embassy gates where you will be asked your name and appointment time. The guards have a list of those attending their interviews that day. You are not permitted to bring cell phones or bags into the embassy building and will be asked to leave these in the kiosk while you go into the actual embassy.

Once inside, you will be directed to take a seat or a number. Embassy appointment offices look similar to (run-down) banks with (unhappy) bank-tellers. There will be a number of officers working at different windows. When your number or name is called you will speak to an officer, hand in your documents and make any necessary payments. The officer will check to make sure that you have the right kind of passport photos, a copy of your approval notice, completed application forms, a mailing or courier envelope etc. A list of the items you need can be found on the US embassy website for your country. As exchange rates change daily, it’s a good idea to bring extra money into the embassy in case the fees have gone up slightly. Embassy staff do not always have change available so bring small denominations or you may end up overpaying significantly. This officer will also take your fingerprints and photograph. You should expect to spend less than 5 minutes at the first window.

Once you hand in your documents and pay, you will be told to sit and wait while your visa application and passport are reviewed. Interviews take place in public so you will be able to watch and listen to other interviews while you wait. This will either help calm your nerves or terrify you depending on your disposition and the immigration history of those being interviewed. You will eventually be called to a second window to be interviewed. Officers generally do not make eye contact, smile or make small talk. A typical visa applicant can expect to be asked about their immigration history and what they intend to do in the United States. The Officer is trying to determine whether or not you have previously breached your immigration status; whether you’re eligible for the visa that you are applying for and whether or not it is your intention to comply with the terms of that visa. This generally takes less than 5 minutes.

If the Officer makes a favorable determination, he or she will advise you that he will courier or mail your passport to you within 3 business days. Embassies no longer issue same day visas because they have to wait for your background checks to clear. In the event that your travel plans do not allow you to wait a week to have your passport returned to you at home, you can usually make arrangements with the officer to come back to the embassy to pick up your passport three business days later. If the Officer does not make a favorable determination, you should ask for a decision in writing and contact a qualified immigration attorney.

If You Are An Immigrant (even a US Citizen), Here Are 9 Things You Should Know

Are you a Naturalized U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident, Visa Holder, or an Undocumented Immigrant? We recommend you take the following steps to protect yourself in our current version of America. The last couple of weeks have reminded immigrants, even naturalized U.S. citizens, that they were not born in the United States. Our office has received countless phone calls, emails, and social media messages from people worrying about what their family’s future in the United States holds. Most people want to know what they can do now to protect themselves from what promises to be a wave of anti-immigration activity by the federal government. Trump's Executive Order on Interior Enforcement has some provisions that should make most Americans shiver. We recommend the following actions for each of the following groups: Naturalized U.S. citizens. In particular if you have a foreign accent, and you are traveling within 100 miles of any US Border (including the oceans

Seven Reasons Why the Georgia Legislature Should Repeal HB-87

Recently the Alabama Attorney General called on the Alabama State Legislature to repeal parts of Alabama's horrid anti-immigration law ( HB 56), because of the "unintended" consequences of the bill (frankly, what happened was not unintended). Because of the similarity between the two laws, Georgia's Speaker of the House, David Ralston was asked whether Georgia Legislature would repeal part or all of HB 87, Georgia own anti-immigration law. HB 87 has caused almost a half a billion dollars in damage to the Georgia economy (along with untold suffering in Georgia's immigrant communities) without any noted or reported positive effect. Speaker Ralston plainly stated that the Georgia Legislature would NOT do anything to repeal HB 87 . While it understandable why a politician would not admit that a pet bill he shepherded and pushed through the state legislature was simply bad law, it is also clear that Speaker Ralston is facing a challenge on his RIGHT in th

U.S. Recognizes Five-year Extensions of Venezuelan Passport

Venezuelans received welcome news this last month when the National Assembly published a decree signed by Interim President Juan Guaido on May 21, to extend the validity of Venezuelan passports for an additional five years past their printed date of expiration. The U.S. Department of State issued a statement ,recognizing this extension for visa issuance and consular process. They also stated that Customs and Border Patrol would recognize this decree. Obtaining a valid Venezuelan passport has been a difficult, if not impossible, task that has been a source of much concern for those seeking visas to the U.S. or have pending applications for immigration benefits. This decree will allow those currently holding a Venezuelan passport that has expired to automatically add 5 years of validity from the expiration date. While this statement can provide much needed assurance, we recommend that Venezuelans who are currently applying for an immigration benefit, including travel to the U.S. w

Musings on Immigration

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