Just thought that I would share a little positive news concerning our interview in Warsaw. My wife Oksana and I have been waiting for this moment for a year and a half. We filed for an I-130 immigration visa on May 3rd, 2000 and was approved on June 27th, 2001.She is from Ukraine. Our interview was at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw on the 26th of October and we are happy to say it went very well. Like most people; we were understandably a little nervous when we arrived, although we had all the necessary documents in order. Our first concern was that the embassy would be shut down temporarily as was the case with the embassy in Moscow, but we were fortunate that it did not. Anyhow, we arrived in Warsaw three days early in order to complete the medical exams and allow for any unforseen problems. The blood test and xrays and medical exam al went very smoothly and can easily be completed in a day. In our case we had to go back a second day only because we needed to have some immunization information faxed from her doctor in Ukraine to our hotel in order to get the required vaccinations. (note: be sure to have a record from your doctor showing all shots that your wife/fiancee has received already, AND very importantly; be sure that your wife/Fiancee does not have any vaccinations done within four weeks of the time she is to receive the vaccinations of the medical exam.) Once we completed the necessary medical, we had an extra day prior to the interview to just hang out in Warsaw. We had both been there together two years ago already so we had seen just about everything. Still, we went to Old Town and walked around the square and enjoyed the cool fall weather. The day of the interview we arrived at the embassy at 8am and was allowed inside about 8:15am. You do not need to wait in line if you are an American citizen; just have your passport readdy to show the security person inside gate 12 and he will send you on in. Once inside we checked in immediately at window 9 and presented our paperwork, where the clerk checked the paperwork to make sure all documents were there and in proper order. At that point she handed us a sheet of paper showing our visa application fee of $260 and sent us to pay at window 1. We paid the fee, was given a receipt, and told to wait for our name to be called. Our waiting time was only about 15 minutes but seemed like an hour because at this point we were both very very anxious. An American that I had met earlier at window 9 was sitting next to me and was wanting to make small talk but I could only think about the interview. I think that he sensed that our mond was on the interview and finally excused himself. Any other time I would loved to have had more conversation but not at this point. We watched as each window opened for business. There seemed to be about five if I remember correctly.We were sitting on the front row so we could see each consulate (or interviewer) sitting behind the windows. I remember thinking that one gentleman inparticular looked very friendly and thought to myself that I hoped we would have him do our interview. My wife later told me she was thinking the same thing. Suer enough we watched as he was sorting through some papers and they were ours. We recognized them because of having our marriage license in a special plastic sleeve. It seemed like forever but within a few minutes of shuffling through the papers he called my wifes name and she and I together approached the window. He was impressed when he said my wife said good morning in english and she told him that he could interview her in english as she speaks it fluently. He asked only a few questions; did not ask to see any photos of our visits together; no letters; no emails; no correspondence of any kind. I think that this was due to the fact that I was standing beside her and it gave the relationship more credibility. The interview was over in just a few minutes; five tops; and we were given another sheet of paper to pay the remainder of the fee; $65; at window 1 and was told to come back at 3:00 pm for our visa. WOW! What a relief! I can say with all honestly that the gentleman giving the interview and others that I observed; were all very polite and professional and not intimidating at all. We were finished by 9:30am and had most of the day to enjoy before coming back at 3:00pm. We flew out on the Sunday the 28th and arrived home late that night. The airport security has been tightened immensely oversea; and especially in Frankfurt; but no problems other that having to be patient; something we have learned to do well over the past year and a half. Now we are together here in the states; Oksana has an immigration visa; and we are in high heaven. I wish you all good luck and happiness as well!
Dan and Oksana
