MIL Visa interview

[START2]

Hey, does anyone here know if I would be allowed to accompany my MIL to her next toursit visa interview? I can't seem to find any info on this. It would be in Kyiv. I want to be there with her.

[catzenmouse]

I can't find anything that says one way or the other on their site. You've probably already seen this but here is some other good information:

http://kiev.usembassy.gov/visa_nonimmigrantvisas_eng.html#expect

http://kiev.usembassy.gov/visa_faq_eng.html

http://kiev.usembassy.gov/visa_ask001_eng.html

http://kiev.usembassy.gov/visa_faq_ushelp_eng.html

[BC]

When my wife was interviewed for a US tourist visa I was not allowed to be at the interview, but the security guy did let the CO know I was there.

[START2]

Ken,
  Thanks for the links. I have been to those sites but my specific question was not answered even in the FAQ's. One link did have the web address that I will write and ask specifically to ASAP. It was kyivniv@state.gov.
  We've tried twice to get MIL a visa and both times turned down even though in OUR opinion she had all the required info the consulate and law said was needed (ie) what are the criteria that will prove there is enough connection in Ukr. that will convince the CO that MIL will return. She provided ownership of property that she won't just abandon, strong family ties, bank accounts, job etc. We sent her a letter of invitation and also had the Senators office write to the consulate and that went in her file. 
  We can only guess that maybe she was profiled because she is a widow and semi retired even though she works 3 accounting jobs. Yes, that's semi-retired in Ukr. Now it is true she recently lost her husband and son, and her daughter and grandson are here, so that could have been a huge factor in denial, but she still has sisters and extended family there that live close. MIL has no intention of secretly trying to get to the U.S. and just staying. There's no way she'd permanently stay here, but trying to convince an outsider such as a CO of that is probably where we need to change our approach but that's a call they make and they do have autonomy in their decisions. It's difficult to accept that when we do everything by the book and there's another border...I won't go there....All we want is to have MIL visit for a few weeks during the holidays and return. So, we will continue to try until whenever.
  I wanted to accompany her to an interview this summer when we are there but that may not be possible from what BC just said. I'll write and see if that's possible. With the crowds that show up everyday at the consulate, that could be more of a problem than would help. I'll let you know what correspondence I receive from the consulate. A guy we had a connection with in the embassy is now transfered so no help there on this next attempt.
  MIL told of some strange stories while there 2 previous times. One guy had been denied like 5 times. He started arguing and raising his voice on try 6 and the CO actually changed a denied to an approval. I don't think that will always help but it did for him on that day.

[catzenmouse]

Yeah, I figured you'd already seen all that stuff.

As always with the government it doesn't seem to matter what or how you do something. They make the decisions up as they go along and never do it the same way twice!

Good luck!

[Jet]

When my wife was interviewed for a US tourist visa I was not allowed to be at the interview, but the security guy did let the CO know I was there.

BC I thought your wife was Russian. Moscow NEVER lets anyone but the applicant in, and as I understood it, Kiev has a different policy in that regard (fiance's & Husbands CAN attend K interviews at least)

[START2]

Here's an update to the question I had about joining in at an interview. It took awhile to get an answer from the consulate in Kyiv, but they did answer. Hope this is helpful to others here. I will still go with my MIL to the interview this summer when we are there. It might make a difference to the IO to know someone is there.


 Thank you for your inquiry of May 12, 2008.

Unfortunately, American Citizens cannot be present at the nonimmigrant
visa interview.  You may escort your mother-in-law to the Consular
Section, but you will have to wait for her in our American Citizens
Services area. The best way for you to assist your mother-in-law is to
write a letter of introduction/invitation for her to present during her
visa interview. It should include an explanation of your relationship
with the applicant, what you plan to do during the applicant's visit
 and
the length of stay.  A copy of your legal status in the U.S. will also
help to establish that the inviting party is in the U.S. (we do see
several applicants who misrepresent that they have children and
relatives in the U.S. just to try to establish a credible purpose of
travel) and that inviting party is in the U.S. legally. 
 
We hope this information will assist you, if you have further questions
please don't hesitate to contact us.


Public Liaison Unit
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy
Kyiv, Ukraine
tel. (380)44 490 - 4422
fax (380)44 486 - 3393
Please visit the Embassy web-site at http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/ for

[BC]

BC I thought your wife was Russian. Moscow NEVER lets anyone but the applicant in, and as I understood it, Kiev has a different policy in that regard (fiance's & Husbands CAN attend K interviews at least)

Jet,

We applied for a B1/B2 visas at the consulate in Rome for my wife and daughter.

Was a breeze, but we did have a good package of docs.  Figured they would be quite critical since we probably looked like good candidates to try and bypass K3.  Support included property deeds, bank, insurance, taxes, work contracts etc etc.  They asked her why we just don't do a DCF and she basically said 'What for?.. we live here'.

About a month after we returned from our trip they even called and asked to speak to our daughter of all things... told her she was in school and that was that.  Guess they were checking if all returned.

As with the letter Start2 received, I couldn't actively participate at the interview window, but they did know I and our son were in the building.

It's probably better like that.. I would have probably blabbered and screwed things up royally.