Process of the CP interview @ Islamabad
Getting to embassy:
My wife and I, had to go to the parking lot of convention center, which is a 5 minutes drive from the embassy. We reached there at 6 AM and it was raining hard. The shed made no difference as our clothes got wet
They took my brief case so I had to transfer my documents to a plastic bag. I had to argue with the person to get a second plastic bag. Still, some of my documents got wet slightly. There were separate lines for buying bus tickets, getting a plastic bag for documents and getting on the bus.
We took the bus to embassy premises. There was another line (no shed) and then one more in the convered shed. No cell phones or electronic devices allowed. At the entrance, they asked and took my appointment letter only. They also looked at our passports. We entered the embassy at 8:20 AM and the rain stopped just then !
After going in, we sat in the waiting area. Take a book with you as you are there all day and there is nothing to do or read while there. The TV is on mute and you dont understand much.
Interview steps:
1. In the morning I had to wait 2 hours before we were called and told to submit $45 additional per applicant. It was collected by a Pakistani guy. I had exact change with me. They accept Pak Rupees also.
2. After a wait of another 2-3 hours, a Pakistani woman in one of the counters, asked for documents. We gave both original and one photocopy of PCC, Birth cert, marriage cert (nikkah nama) with English translation, DS 230 1 and 2, passports, photos, medical exam report etc.
This woman asked for wedding photos and we showed them. She had me sign the DS-230 part 2 and said not to worry as the oath will be later. She also had a question if the nikkah nama was original and I showed her the original signatures to satisfy her. She put the papers in order and told us to wait to be called.
There was lunch break from 12-1:30 and we were waiting in the lobby while only one consular officer was taking interviews
3. In the afternoon, at about 2 PM, we were called by the American consular officer. She was pleasant. Asked me a few questions, about employer, nature of work, How long I have been working. She also asked my educational credentials and what school I had graduated from. She asked me to lift my right hand and made me swear that everything in the form was true to the best of my knowledge.
The American officer told me that we were both approved and the immigrant visa will be issued in 1-2 hours. I thanked her and felt a sense of relief come all over me.
We were on our way, after we got our passports at 430PM. We had to take the bus back to the convention center.
