INTERVIEW AT US EMBASSY SAN JOSE COSTA RICA FOR APPLYING CRBA AND PASSPORT OF OUR BABY

by: Robelyn M. Yambao

Hello everyone!
This is Robelyn, I'm back again. Today, I'm going to share our experience in applying my baby's crba and passport. So, let's get into it!

The Documents They Asked

We brought the following original documents:
* Baby's Costa Rican Birth Certificate (this should be from the civil registry with timbres) but we got ours online so, the officer asked us to scan a copy of the certificate from the civil registry (TSE) the one in literal form and send it to their email.
* Parent's marriage certificate, it is okay not translated or got it online.
* Divorce decree if any
* Passport of parents
* Driver's license or national ID of parents
* Proof of physical presence in USA of the US citizen parent (we provided them school record for this proof and they approved it)
In our case, my husband has aliases so we included explanatory affidavit in support of his alias with documents.

Appointment

We got our appointment in their website a month ago. Once you completed all your documents, you should go ahead and do appointment because usually it was fully booked to avoid getting a long waiting time. Then, print a copy of your appointment to take with you on your interview day.

At The US Embassy

We arrived at the embassy one hour before our appointment. There were other people in the line-up including a group of families. Once you arrived the officer will come to you to ask your purpose or appointment especially when you have kids with you they usually give priority to check if you are on the list. They will check your bag and ask if you have gadgets or anything that is not allowed inside. We left our bags in the MasXMenos grocery baggage counter walking distance from the embassy. But, when they checked my purse they found two pens and in my husband's waist wallet they found razor and nail cutter. So, they threw away the razor and nail cutter while they kept my pens, wrote my name and instructed me to get it  when we exit the building. Inside the building, you will see the photo booth/white board where you can take passport size picture of your baby for only 1ooo colones that is equivalent to $2. Then, there are also officers will guide you at the center when you ask where to go for CRBA. They will tell you to go to the left of the entrance door to go to the area of windows 5, 6 & 7 that's beside the cashier. There are chairs there where you can wait for your name call. Once they call your baby's name, you go to that window and present the documents required.

Interview

The first interview will be when presenting the documents. 
Consul: Hi, how are you?
Us: Fine, thanks. How about you?
Consul: Great! So, do you have all the documents? What is the document you have for your 5 years proof of presence in US?
Us: Yes, we have here the school record. But, the surname in the passport and the school record are not the same so we have affidavit.
Consul: Let me have it!
We gave all the documents including the application forms and picture.
Consul: Wait for a moment.
We went back to our chair while the consul was reviewing all the papers. Then, he called us to pay the fee of $215 at the cashier window and went back to him to give a copy of the receipt.
Second Interview
​After awhile, in another window we heard another consul calling our baby's name. We went to that window. We greeted each other! Then, the consul asked us to raise our right hand and make a statement that we will tell the truth nothing but the truth. So help me God! Start of interview:
Consul: So, the baby's name is Kaylee Jazlyn am I correct?
Us: Yes
Consul: When and where did you get married?
Consul: How long you've been in a relationship?
Here, they will ask more about personal questions to prove your relationship such as When and where did you meet?
After the question and answer about relationship and baby information, the consul will tell you "Congratulations your application is approved! Pick up the passport and CRBA within two weeks between 8am-11am, just show your receipt".
We left the building with smile and relief!
Two weeks later, we got email notification from US embassy informing us that the passport and certificate are ready for pick-up!
That's all for today. Thank you for reading, see you next time!

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