A t t e n d i n g  t h e  I n t e r v i e w

7.1 Documents for Warsaw

• Purpose:  To bring the correct documentation to Warsaw
• (1) Passport of Beneficiary (international version if Ukraine).
  • Ukrainian External Passport (required for Ukrainians at interview)
    • Also called the international passport

• Ukrainian Internal Passport (not required for Ukrainians at interview)
  • Used for travel within FSU countries

• (1) Birth Certificate of Beneficiary with English translation.  Translation certified by a Notary, Advocate or Lawyer
• (1) Police Certificate of Beneficiary with English translation.  Translation certified by a Notary, Advocate or Lawyer
• (1) Divorce Decree of Beneficiary with English translation (if applicable).  Translation certified by a Notary, Advocate or Lawyer
• (1) I-134 original with supporting documents from Petitioner.  There is a good chance the Embassy won't even use the supporting documents and they will be handed back to you.
• (2) Visa photos of your fiance(e).
• (1) Medical exam sealed envelope with results.
• Your fiance(e) can complete the OF-156 and OF-156K at the Embassy (or download or bring from Packet 4).  You can also supply your fiance(e) with other originals such as the I-797, photos, proof of your relationship, etc.  The Embassy probably will not ask for any of these items, however.

7.2 Travel to Warsaw

• Purpose: To attend the visa interview at the Embassy
• No visa required for Beneficiary to travel to Poland, just the visa invitation letter for the Polish Border Guards, which facilitates entry into Poland (included in Packet 4)
• If Petitioner has time off, it is recommended you accompany Beneficiary, but this is not required and Beneficiary can attend alone
• Arrive 1-2 days early in case of unexpected travel delays.  Easiest method is by train.

7.3 Find US Embassy in Warsaw

• Purpose: To know where to go
• Your train will probably arrive at the Warsaw Centralna Train Station, the main Station in Warsaw.
• You will most likely spend at least one night in Warsaw
• Warsaw hotels, travel agents, etc: Warsaw City Guide
• The Hotel Grand is a popular choice, especially since it is only 4 blocks from the Embassy.
• Find the Embassy the day before interview, locate their address

7.4 Exit interview

• Purpose: To receive the K-1 visa
• Beneficiary attends interview at US Embassy in Warsaw.   She may fill out any forms that she hasn't filled out, will pay fees and be asked a few questions.
• Here are some details:
  • Where:  US Embassy is on Al. (Aleje) Ujazdowskie Street, number 29/31, the east side of the street near Piekna Street.  To get there take Al. Jerozolimskie Street (main street) and go south on Ujazdowskie about 5 short blocks

• Gate 12:  Around 8:00 AM, go to Embassy.  When you arrive, you will see a huge gate.  As you face the Embassy, go to your left around the corner to a large number "12" on the wrought iron gate.  There's a window there, show the guards at the gate your passport, Packet 4 interview letter and state your business and they will give you further directions

• Doors:  Around 8:15 AM, go to blue line, if with Petitioner.  Wait at door of Embassy, they let 4 people in at a time, doing a security check on everyone. The doorman will be Polish, speaking little or no English, making announcements in Polish.  He is courteous and will direct you to Window 10
• Waiting Room:  Right turn through the door into a waiting room.  There will be 8 Plexiglas windows, you can see desks and people beyond the windows.
• Window 10: Go to Window 10.  The women officer will ask to see the Packet 3 checklist in Russian.  She will check the name against a sheet on a clipboard.  After the check, you can sit down again and wait to have Beneficiary's name called over a loudspeaker.   Beneficiary signs (already filled out) OF-156, and OF-156K original forms, probably should sign in front of officer.  Beneficiary hands in OF-156, OF-156K, I-134 AOS (not the I-864), international passport and (2) visa photos. 
• Window 5, 6 or 7:  Around 9:00 AM, they will announce your Beneficiary's name and a window number, usually Window 5, 6 or 7.  A clerk (probably Irina) will ask your Beneficiary if she speaks Russian.  The clerk will review the documentation.  She will mark each required item on the checklist and this sheet will be added to the file.  The file should contain all of the INS information and the I-134.  Anything not specifically listed will be returned to you.  If your papers are in order, the clerk will direct you to a cashier's window, the far right booth
• Cashier:  Beneficiary pays the cashier $45 for the non-immigrant visa filing fee ($45 for each K-1, $45 for each K-2) and waits for name to be called.  Note, you will not pay $170 + $30 visa fee; this is for an immigrant visa.
• Window 5, 6, 7:  A Consular Officer will pull up the file and sit inside Window 5, 6 or 7.   Expect a 5 minute delay, while he looks through the file.  He will called your Beneficiary's name when ready
• Interview:  While at this window, the Consular Officer will conduct interview with Beneficiary. 
• Interview consists of basic questions, usually lasts 2-5 minutes.  These are some typical questions asked of the Beneficiary:
  • Typical questions asked by Consular Officer, directed towards Beneficiary and Petitioner (if present at interview)
  • When and where did you meet?
  • When will you get married?
  • Where do you work?
  • Do you speak English?
  • Were your answers on the forms truthful?
  • Why do you want to go to the USA?
  • How did you meet?
  • Do you have photographs of your meeting?
• If approved, Consular Officer will state that everything's in order and come back to pick up the K-1 visa at 3:30 PM
• APPROVED!  Go have lunch!
• Around 3:30 PM go back through the gate and back through the door in groups of 4.  You may need to wait an hour
• They call your Beneficiary's name.  They will give your Beneficiary another large  envelope.  On the front of the envelope is an embossed seal.  Beneficiary is also given their passport, inside it the colorful K-1 Visa: 

• OF-156K (K-1 Embassy SIGN and/or FILL OUT)
  • Additional biographical information
  • Either an original or downloaded OF-156K is acceptable.
  • May be filled out in advance, but do not sign until interview

• Exhibit III (K-1 Embassy SIGN and/or FILL OUT)
  • Form completed during interview stating Beneficiary intends to marry

Helpful information

Warsaw Contact

• US Embassy, Immigrant Visa Branch
• Address: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warszawa, Polska
• Fax
  • 011-48-22-627-47-34 (most popular listed number)
  • 011-48-22-627-47-37
  • 011-48-22-627-47-32 (backup fax)
• Tel
  • Call between 10 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 4 PM Warsaw time.  This is the only time they take calls from fiance(e)s
  • May take between 2-3 hours to get through
  • 011-48-22-625-10-42 (most popular listed number)
  • 011-48-22-625-10-58
  • 011-48-22-628-30-41
  • 011-48-22-628-30-42
  • 011-48-22-628-30-43
  • 011-48-22-628-30-49
• Email: FIANCEWRW@state.gov (always include mailing address, fax number, and never send attachments)
• Web page: US Embassy, Warsaw (homepage)       US Embassy, Warsaw (K-1 visa information)
• Guide: Warsaw has written a nice guide: A Guide to Fiancee Visa Processing
• How to contact:
  • Remember, Warsaw gets swamped with questions.   Preferably, they state it is better to email or fax them, because their telephone lines are usually overloaded and they have limited staff.  Expect 7-10 days for a response. 

Warsaw City Guide

• Currency Converter
  • Universal Currency Converter - convert US Dollars into Polish Zloty
• Embassies
  • GoPoland! - list of major embassies located in Poland
• Hotels
  • Hotel Forum - 1 mile from Embassy, 34-story hotel located heart of downtown, make reservations, $80-$130/night
  • Sheraton Hotel - 1 mile from Embassy, $155/night, make reservations, etc.
  • Warsaw hotel guide - list of 3-star hotels, including the Europejski, Grand, Gromoda, Novotel, Solec and Vera hotels.  Includes contact information, pricing and hotel photos
  • Warsaw hotel guide - list of 4/5-star hotels, including the Victoria, Forum, Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Sobieski hotels.  Includes contact information, pricing and hotel photos
  • Warsaw hotel guide - list of hotels (good rates), make reservations, etc.
  • Warsaw hotel guide - list of hotels (more expensive), make reservations, etc.
  • Warsaw hotel guide - list of hotels, addresses
• Maps
  • Warsaw hotel map - nice map showing location and description of downtown hotels

• Warsaw map - good overview map of downtown Warsaw
• Warsaw map - downtown financial area with local landmarks (3-D)

• Transportation
  • Subway system - compute the route of various Warsaw stations
  • Taxi cabs: $20/ride
  • Train schedule - train schedules to/from Warsaw
  • Warsaw Okecie Airport - map of terminal, flight schedules, etc.
• Travel Agencies
  • Marco Polo Travel Agency - 1 block from Embassy
• Visa Photos
  • Francuska Street - 2 blocks from Embassy on Francuska Street is a place that will take visa photos, about $3/photo
• Web sites
  • GoPoland! - excellent site with everything about Poland, including a Warsaw guide
  • Warsaw homepage - tourist information and history

Warsaw Experiences

• Jeff Pope - more good experiences regarding going to Warsaw with his Fiancee
• Leon - good info regarding going to Warsaw with his Fiancee
• Samuel Perry - great web site describing his adventure with his Fiancee from Odessa to Warsaw and back to Odessa from where they departed to the US