Interview question

[Sohkay]

I'd like to draw on the experience of those (or their spouses) who have gone through the interview process at the American embassy in Kyiv. My question is this...Does my presence at the interview improve the chances of visa approval?

I posed this question to the embassy, and they wrote that my attendance is optional and that there are portions of the interview that my fiancee' will be without me.

And please, I understand the moral support that my presence would lend. I also know how well my fiancee' is able to take care of herself. (She has travelled internationally and speaks English).

So, in your opinion, from your experience and the experience of others you know, does my presence at the interview increase the chances of visa approval? (Let's assume that all paperwork is in order, including strong supportive documentation of our 2.5 year, 3 long visits to Ukraine relationship.)

Spasiba bolshoi,
Sohkay

[William3rd]

What is your age differential? If more than 20 years, I recommend going.

When did you see her last- if more than 6 months ago, I recommend going.

 Does she speak English-if she has zero to minimal English after 3 years with you, I recommend going.

Besides, she will appreciate your support if you go.

[Sohkay]

I posed this question to the visa facilitator I'm using for this process. He's helped over 1,000 couples with this process. He states that with the majority of his clients, the man doesn't attend the interview. He also goes on to state that if your documents are in order, the man's absence from the interview has no effect on whether of not the visa is issued.

Any other thoughts?

[William3rd]

Sorry- I have done 3000 cases plus and I always advise my clients as I have stated below. The visa is not an automatic. There have been several occasions that I have seen where the petitioner has been asked to put in an appearance at peril of having the visa further delayed or worse.

If you dont want to go, then dont go. So, why are you asking for advice when you dont want to take it?

As far as so-called facilitators go. . . .ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. 

[BC]

When we applied for a visitors visa for my wife and daughter to the US I also went to the appointment.  Being an expat here, our application could have easily been misinterpreted as an attempt to bypass normal immigration procedures.  It felt kind of funny having to provide more documentary proof of my intent to remain here rather than my wife's.. 

Luckily reports and experiences described on this forum helped out quite a bit putting our document package together which was almost as extensive as a K1.

We arrived at the consulate, kids in tow.  I was asked to wait outside in the waiting area *but* the security guy did call the CO and specifically advised him that I was present with our baby.

All went well.

My personal opinion is that the man should accompany his fiancee to the interview and back to their new home... Regardless of what the CO thinks it's just the 'right' thing to do.

[Wayne B]

Sohkay, Anna had her interview in March and they asked her one question.....Is he a good man? Anna replied 'super man'....that was the end of the interview.....I wonder if they thought Anna was stretching the truth about me She received her visa 7 days later.....

[Sohkay]

Wayne,
And I read into this that you were not at the interview?

Had you received advice to be at the interview?

Sohkay

[Sohkay]

William,
So, if I decide not to go to the interview, and then they want to see me, I'm going to go over there and see them, yes? And if they decide they don't need to see me, then I'm not going to need to go to Kyiv? Of your 3,000+ plus cases, how many times did this occur? 5%? 40%?

You wrote, "So, why are you asking for advice when you dont want to take it?"

With a statement like that, you're kidding me, right? If I would reject some advice, that means, in your logic, that I shouldn't even have asked for it in the first place? That's absurd. Why then would anyone ever ask for advice?

You went on to write, "As far as so-called facilitators go. . . .ha ha ha ha ha ha ha"

The facts are that this person has helped over 1,000 couples successfully navigate the fiancee' visa process (including some RWD members). All documents are compiled, completed and delivered by him. He gets the package exactly the way the government likes it (And as you well know, they can be picky regarding documents) He's there to answer questions and provide some moral support. And he's a pleasant individual to deal with.

All this, for about 1/8 the cost of an immigration attorney.

Sohkay

[Sohkay]

BC,
Yours sounds to be a very unique situation, and it was probably wise to be there. Our situation is very straightforward, no grey areas, 2.5 year history, documented relationship up the yin-yang, just spent a month with her and the child about 8 weeks ago, on two previous trips we lived together for a month and the second time for two months, the love is real, and so forth.

I always try to do the "right" thing.

Thanks for your input.

Sohkay

[William3rd]

not worth answering further. Make sure your girl knows how you hoard your shekels. . . .

[Sohkay]

William,
I'm in America and our currency is in dollars.

Re: hoarding...the only thing I hoard is good bottles of wine...when I can get a good price on them!

Adios,
Sohkay

[jb]

We touched briefly on the topic of visas in the FAQ section, however I don't think we address the K-1 interview.  I think it is worth mentioning that the K-1 interviewer's task when he/she interviews a K-1 applicant is exactly the same as when interviewing a tourist visa applicant.  The applicant and marriage partner must appear to be genuine.  In this case a 2.5 year history, well documented visits, good communication skills, etc., there will be little resitistance to issuing this visa.  It is those cases where things seem "NQR" (Not Quite Right), when the interviewer senses that he may be dealing with a possible marriage fraud case, a flaky woman, a man without financial means to support a family, etc., it is the interviewer's job to weed out and deny visas to those who are not on the up-and-up. 

The Department of State has it's own criteria for interview handling, completely seperate from the USBCIS.  It is not hit or miss, it is not that the interviewer is having a bad day, didn't sleep well the night before, or any of the many excuses we have seen talked about.  If an interview goes badly for some girls and easy for others it is because the case was reviewed ahead of the interview and something was seen as a red flag.  Each case is handled on it's own merits.   

It's just a guess on my part, but I'd suspect from my limited experience, things like; extremely short term relationships, no common language, little knowledge of one's propective partner, where he lives, what he does, how many marriages he's had before, does he have children from a prior marriage to support,,, and God forbid,,, an extroridinarily large age gap, might all be things to give a the interviewee a few bad moments in the hot seat.

[BC]

Sohkay,

As a last tidbit... You don't want to miss your fiancee's going away party!  Taking the opportunity to go 'above and beyond', to meet with her friends and family together for this tearful event will leave a good impression and show your support and devotion.    Anything you can do to bolster her family's and friends confidence in you will be well worth the effort down the road.  If you're the type that opens doors and leads the ladies then don't miss out on this grandest of calls, the door to her new life.

My MIL was my biggest supporter during the tough adjustment period.  Your future MIL and FIL may not be able to attend your marriage so at least give them 'this day' .

[William3rd]

Got a good one for you-

30 year age difference, no common language, one visit, no english lessons, no telephone contacts.

Embassy asks- When did you see him last?
Answer- 6 months ago
Embassy-why no telephone calls?
Answer- Dont speak english
Embassy- why no lessons?
Answer- too tough for me
Embassy-Why only one visit?
Answer- afraid the terrorists may kill him
Embassy- Did he see terrorists when he came?
Answer- No, he read your travel advisory last year before he came.
Embassy- Tell him to get his ass down here if he wants a visa for   you (paraphrasing, of course)

[groovlstk]

Sohkay,

Just my 2 bits, but my wife's interview (in Moscow) was over so quickly that she was disappointed that they only asked her a few questions (how long did we know each other? Where, when, and how often did we meet in person?).

Also, in consulting with some other married couples on this board, we were advised that it was very important that we spend as much time together as possible when she arrived in the US. So I decided not to fly to Moscow to be with her during the interview (and thereby avoided burning up some vacation days) and instead was able to spend more than three weeks with her before I had to return to work. It's a decision we're both happy with as it allowed time to easily adjust to everything from jetlag to meeting friends and family, using the NYC subway system, etc.

Hey, if you have unlimited or lots of vacation time and can be there for her interview, farewell party with family and friends, etc., go for it, but be sure to leave yourself a good chunk of quality time upfront to get her acclimated when she arrives.

[Sohkay]

jb,
I very much appreciate your comments.


bc,
Everyone's situation is different. During my one and two month visits to Ukraine, I lived with my fiancee', in her hometown and broke bread and brain cells with her family and friends. I helped get the kid ready for school in the morning. We went to the doctor, played ball, ice skated, danced, sang, cleaned house and I got to handgrind the meat for cutletas. Family and friends got to see the love and devotion, the high level of compatibility, the visual fit (people say that her child looks like me!). We tried out living as a family and because it fit, we could not acquit. So, being there for the last few days in this case, would be more like being there to help with packing, throwing out, boxing, etc. and I don't know about you, but if I can get out of doing that type of work, I do.

But seriously, I am, like I suspect you are, a gentleman. And I can't wait for that moment when  I can, for the first time, open the car door for zaichik moy when she arrives at the airport.

ADDENDUM TO MY ORIGINAL POST

In our case, her ten year old child is involved. All issues of parental consent documents, paperwork, etc. are 100% in order. At this age, the child's attendance at the interview is optional according to embassy guidelines.

Would it be better to conduct the interview with the child there, or not? (BTW, the child is very well behaved)

Sohkay

ADDENDUM #2
Ken, Great minds must think alike. I was pressing the Save button just a little before you.

[catzenmouse]

Just my 2 bits, but my wife's interview (in Moscow) was over so quickly that she was disappointed that they only asked her a few questions (how long did we know each other? Where, when, and how often did we meet in person?).

Consider yourself lucky that she lived in Moscow! Elena pretty much had the same experience in the interview but had to travel half way across the country for that 15-20 minutes of interview time! Wish they would get off that and let folks go to Ekaterinburg! Okay, enough off topic.

Sohkay,

 How does she feel about taking her son to the interview? I would think that it would be good for them to be there together if you feel that he will not blurt out how much he hates that Amerikanski... and it may help her comfort level too.

Ken

[Vaughn]

The boy might soften the atmosphere in the interview room as well, and
he's certainly old enough to grasp what's happening. I'd say bring him.

Your not wanting to deal with packing, throwing out, boxing, etc, as a
reason to avoid going is kind of amusing. It might be unavoidable on this
side of the pond.

[Sohkay]

Vaughn,
That's why I may take advantage of the avoidability in this instance. I've got a good excuse.

The Atlantic Ocean.

[Sohkay]

groov,
You've hit on some of the reasons why I'm considering not going for the interview. One of the foremost is that the time I will save by not going to Kyiv will let me put that time into 100% time with them during their first few weeks here. I really want them to have my full attention for the initial adjustment. I know them pretty well now, and I actually think we're going to have some really good times when they first get here, so I look forward to it from that perspective also.

Spasiba

[aikorob]

Sohkay,
During my first K1 in 2004, I was at the interview with T. in Kyiv. I really think this helped because 1) her English was minimal 2) I somehow misplaced all the letters and emails I had printed out to bring 3) We had very few photos together--even so, the interview was not that bad.

This time, N. was prepared with a stack of documents about 1 1/2" thick, her English is VERY good--the interviewer only asked her 1 question!
Like groov; it made better sense to spend more time together during her first few weeks here, so I did not accompany N. to the interview. We will have 2 weeks together before I have to back to work.

[Sohkay]

Rob,
I'm really glad I posed this question. Your experience seems to fit in the pattern and steers me towards having my fiancee' do the interview without me.

How long will it take N to get ready to leave and when will she arrive?

Sohkay

[aikorob]

It took about 10 days for her to recieve her passport back from the embassy. They have really gotten slower since 2004.

I couldn't really plan because the embassy states 2-3 weeks processing time, so she wanted to wait until she had papers in hand before buying tickets. She finally settled on May 1 departure (which opens up a new set of worries for her); but since it is a holiday, her sister will accompany her to Kyiv to help with bags.

I am flying up to JFK, and I will be waiting to meet her when she exits customs  :kissing: we're staying overnight up there, then back to ATL on the 2nd.