Back from consular interview abroad
 

I am glad to share with you I just came back last night from my consular interview at the US embassy in Guatemala. My interview as Nov 30th 2021, I left USA 10 days before to get all the required medical stuff done, total time I was there was about 3.5hrs. the actual interview itself was just about 5 minutes, at a window. They asked me a few questions:
1st time I entered
2nd time I entered
How old was I both times
How long was in US the first time
How long was in US the second time
Why overstayed first time
What questions did the immigration officer asked me the 2nd time I entered
Where did I enter those 2 times
Did I use same visa to enter
Did I enter any other way at any other time
How old I was when I got DACA
What did I do before DACA, did I work?
Did my company petition me?
What do I do at my job?
Did I have an approved 601a?

The lady was very serious, dry and to the point. At the end she said, they had to check with US department of labor to confirm my employment with the company who file the petition (I-140 petition for alien worker). My company file this in 2018 and was approved in 2019. She took my passport and said if confirmed, they I would be reached by the designated courier service (cargo expreso in Guatemala).
I asked if I needed a confirmation or anything else, she said no. I did not receive any papers (green, blue, red, nothing) like other people have.
That the nigh I check the visa status with my case number it said in was under "Administrative Processing"
Next day it was updated to "Issued" (so happy).
In the next day it said it was delivered to courier, where I went to pick it up in person(the passport with my EB2 visa on it), and a large yellow envelope (my case was older and paper filed).

I had to do all the covid forms (attestation and covid tracing forms), and covid test 24 prior to my Monday flight back to US.
When I arrived in Atlanta the 1st officer asked for my passport and:
where I came from?
how long I planned to stay? when I answered that I live here, he asked how long and i had this was my first time entering with an immigrant visa and that I had a package with me (the yellow envelope), he grabbed that, threw in a clear bag with my passport, and called "Alpha" to get an officer to walk me to another window, next to this area. She said, sit down and we will call you by name, there were like 7 other people waiting for the same reason.
They called me by name in like 5-7 minutes. He asked, same 2 questions as above and also
where would I stay?
with whom?
was it a house or apartment?
name and phone number of the person living in the same house as me?

the he explained I would get the PR card in the mail in a couple of months, that I must not be out of US for longer the x amount of time to maintain it, and 1-2 things more he said, but I honestly was too excited to remember, but it was like regular protocol information. He asked also what did i have in my checked in luggage, if was traveling with more than 10K (no) or meats, cheese... and that was it.

I am back in USA, after 2o years living here, and finally seeing this dream come true. I truly hope for all of your cases to be successful. I know we all have to go through so many different hoops and struggles as our cases are so particular. Thank you all, @Demise, who have helped me with all the questions I have posted here.

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

That's amazing deiguer - CONGRATULATIONS! So happy for you! Hoping I can share a similar success story soon!

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

Congrats deiguer!!!!! That's great news and must be such a relief for you! I can't even imagine how that must feel. And Thank you so much for your detailed post about your experience. I think this is very helpful for some of us who will hopefully go through this process as well.

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

Thank you. I hope soon you too can share the same experience.

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

I hope so too, I can't wait for that day.

BTW, I think I may have seen in another thread that you were able to get your AP in time for your interview? How long before your interview did you apply for it? And what reason did you use, such as job or humanitarian?

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

Congrats, glad to have been of help.

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

All your help was crucial for me. Thank you so much!

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

Congrats I went through the same process but in colombia and for marriage visa back in august and I’m still celebrating lol just got back from Medellin a few days ago

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

Did you do a line off Pablo Escobar's grave?

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

Hahaha no , my grandparents are actually buried in that same cemetery so I saw a bunch of tourist at his grave when I went to visit

Actually did get to meet his brother Roberto Escobar who had the bomb placed on him while he was in jail that was cool

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

Yes I did. I actually had two. The first one I submitted back in August, my only grandparent is 80 and in the very advanced stage of parkison's desease. He is very weak and like a little baby now, cannot even eat :( anyway, i applied for AP based on humanitarian reason to see him, since I have not seen him in 17 years. However, I got my appointment for the interview for Nov 30, only 4 months into that application and those are taking about 8 months average to process.

So i went and spent a couple of days trying to get an info pass appt to apply for AP based on financial loss to the company I work for. I spent about 3 days trying to get to someone who would give me one. i was told no a couple of times. I was finally given an appt date only 6 days before I was supposed to leave to my home country. I had to fly from GA to NY, then drive 3hrs to ge to where the field office was, there I presented all documentation (let me know if you want to know what i brought), and was told that they had very limited number of AP to give out (weird), but they would check with the supervisors and let me know. Sometime later they called me and told me they had approved it, I paid the fees again and waited another 4rhs to get it. By that time, I could have waited days if they had asked me to... I was so relieved to get the AP as a back up before going to my home country because we never know what could happened.

Even though I had to pay the AP fee twice and did not end up needing it, I do no regret at all spending the time and money for this.

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

I would probably try this route too as I’m sure my company would be supportive in helping me apply for AP. Would you mind letting me know what documentation you brought that allowed you to get approved? Also, I thought you can apply for AP if you’re going on a work trip. I’m not understanding how you can tie in financial loss to company as a reason for traveling under AP. Any information would be helpful. Thank you!

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

I brought a letter from HR verifying my employment
a letter from my manager describing my responsabilities ( i wrote it and she reviewed and signed it)
then a small paragraph explaining why if went out of the US without AP and were unable to come back how it would affect the company. I listed like 6 things, such
they would lose an experience employee, would have to hire and train some one else
projects I was currently involved be would be delayed
some deliverables to actual clients would be missed or at least late
my team would be negatively affected as it would lose one key member


I also brought the letter for my visa appointment letter, this was based on a petition from my employer filed a while back (I-140, + 601A + consular interview), which was the main reason why I needed to go, to attend this. Otherwise, there was no need for me to travel. So yeah it was a long shot for me, but it worked. I guess for you, you would need to have something that is making it "necessary" for you to travel.
let me know if you need any other info.

Re: Back from consular interview abroad
 

Thanks! This is extremely helpful!