Interview for CR-1 ... gone bad... ??

[Eva_Cali 0]

I will really appreciate any thoughts or pointers...

My husband had his interview in London few days ago, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE experience, more like an interrogation.... Was sent home without approval with request for more evidence specifically: emails + facebook emails and pictures from 2011. He got a label for courier with our case number on it and was asked to include his passport with the mailing.

Here's some background: we grew up together, then I ended up in US (I'm a citizen) he ended up in UK, our paths crossed after 18 years and we got married last year (2012) in UK. We saw each other in 2011 in Europe and then got married few months later. At his interview he had phone records, pictures, etc but all from the time we got married until recently. They are asking for evidence from the day we met, which is fine because we have it all.... Pictures, and more emails than they want to look at I'm sure (18,000+) I also printed phone records from the day we started talking in 2011.

My concern is that if we send them what they want/asked for will they approve his visa? Is there anyone who had similar experience?

There was no 2nd interview scheduled, they kept everything he had with him, medical went fine, he was given his passport back with the piece of paper of what they need him to mail - emails and facebook emails (proof when we started communicating) and pictures from before we got married.

We are mailing everything this week, including a cover letter. Is there anything else we should include?

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

[NikLR 13,227]

I think you're doing the best you can. Send what you have, at least they've asked for his passport back. I'm surprised he had such a hard time at the interview, I don't recall hearing a lot about London being a hard place to interview.

[Eva_Cali 0]

I think you're doing the best you can. Send what you have, at least they've asked for his passport back. I'm surprised he had such a hard time at the interview, I don't recall hearing a lot about London being a hard place to interview.

I know, we were sort of shocked ... guy doing the interview was super rude, very condescending. My husband was called 4 times, asked same questions in different ways... and questions that I wouldn't even know answers to, guy wouldn't even allow him to answer most of the time and bark out another question.... ugh... it was a nightmare...

I guess it really depends on who you get as your interviewer.... Waiting to hear back is killing us. Thanks for your comment.

[indiana_sweetie 120]

A similar thing happened to my husband at the Macedonia embassy, although they told him once he provided the papers they wanted he would get his visa. In this case they gave him a paper listing what they needed (proof of my trip in 2012 and a co-sponsor) and told him to make an appointment to bring the papers in. He also was interrogated, but I kind of expected that since we have a large age difference. After my hubby received the papers I made a follow-up appointment for him. He brought the embassy what they needed and he got his visa in 4 hours (so he could travel back to Kosovo).

[indiana_sweetie 120]

I know, we were sort of shocked ... guy doing the interview was super rude, very condescending. My husband was called 4 times, asked same questions in different ways... and questions that I wouldn't even know answers to, guy wouldn't even allow him to answer most of the time and bark out another question.... ugh... it was a nightmare...

I guess it really depends on who you get as your interviewer.... Waiting to hear back is killing us. Thanks for your comment.

My hubby waited 4 hours for his interview. The CO asked the same questions different ways to try to trip him up. She kept her eyes on his face and hands all through the interview, all the while she was typing. She did allow my husband to answer, though. Do you have any red flags that might have prompted them to suspect fraud?

[Eva_Cali 0]

My hubby waited 4 hours for his interview. The CO asked the same questions different ways to try to trip him up. She kept her eyes on his face and hands all through the interview, all the while she was typing. She did allow my husband to answer, though. Do you have any red flags that might have prompted them to suspect fraud?

Thanks for your reply.... gosh it's good to hear that your hubby got the visa at the end....

No, no red flags, well in our minds... the interviewer said that it sounds "unreal" to meet once and get married few months later, despite the fact that we talk and email every day, and he had an issue with the fact that after we got married we did not visit each other..... My hubby explained that it's far and expensive plus I'm taking care of my mother who has terminal illness and can't just take off.... but the guy did not want to hear it...

He asked my hubby for the print out of email from Facebook as to when we started emailing, he didn't believe my husband... well the print out will be on it's way.... If the guy was professional and semi-human I wouldn't be so freaked out... If he just asked for the stuff without flipping out I would be more at peace....

[indiana_sweetie 120]

We met the beginning of 2011 and married in August 2011. I lived with him for 6 weeks in Kosovo and went back in 2012 for 10 days. I think the second visit is really important. I think that's really heartless that the guy couldn't understand about your mother. I'm sorry about your situation with your mother. I guess just give them everything you can. A second visit now would look suspicious anyway. Best of luck to you.

[lost_at_sea 995]

No, no red flags, well in our minds... the interviewer said that it sounds "unreal" to meet once and get married few months later, despite the fact that we talk and email every day, and he had an issue with the fact that after we got married we did not visit each other..... My hubby explained that it's far and expensive plus I'm taking care of my mother who has terminal illness and can't just take off.... but the guy did not want to hear it...

He asked my hubby for the print out of email from Facebook as to when we started emailing, he didn't believe my husband... well the print out will be on it's way.... If the guy was professional and semi-human I wouldn't be so freaked out... If he just asked for the stuff without flipping out I would be more at peace....

Yeah, that's the red flag. Meeting briefly, marrying quickly and then not cohabiting is definitely a tale that will sound super fishy to them. London doesn't generally want to see much in the way of relationship strength evidence.

But at least they give folks a chance to prove it, like you're getting. In think it'll be fine! Good luck.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I will really appreciate any thoughts or pointers...

My husband had his interview in London few days ago, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE experience, more like an interrogation.... Was sent home without approval with request for more evidence specifically: emails + facebook emails and pictures from 2011. He got a label for courier with our case number on it and was asked to include his passport with the mailing.

My concern is that if we send them what they want/asked for will they approve his visa? Is there anyone who had similar experience?

There was no 2nd interview scheduled, they kept everything he had with him, medical went fine, he was given his passport back with the piece of paper of what they need him to mail - emails and facebook emails (proof when we started communicating) and pictures from before we got married.

We are mailing everything this week, including a cover letter. Is there anything else we should include?

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

My thoughts--

It is extremely unusual for an interview in London to go that way. You have red flags from just growing up together. Old family friends often try to use each other to benefit their grown children's immigration. Then you met, married, and separated fairly quickly.

If your nationality is other than white English/Scot/Welsh then more so and further delays may be coming with security checks. Can you elaborate if you have family ties to the middle east, India, Pakistan or a Muslim background?

The officers are experienced in reading people. The roughness and intimidation is an attempt to rattle one that they have a sense is questionable. I've never known a second interview in London. Provide your evidence to overcome your red flags, and they will make a decision.

I think that's really heartless that the guy couldn't understand about your mother. I'm sorry about your situation with your mother.

Heartless? In general, we document constantly for immigration. They don't just take our word that we are a US citizen, got married, have no disease or addictions, make enough to support an immigrant, had our immunizations, etc. So if Mom Is the reason for no visit, then document her terminal illness as evidence.

I am not trying to be rude, but lay out how it likely is. If you are a real couple, you will get the visa when they see your 18,000 communications.

Edited June 9, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[Eva_Cali 0]

Yeah, that's the red flag. Meeting briefly, marrying quickly and then not cohabiting is definitely a tale that will sound super fishy to them. London doesn't generally want to see much in the way of relationship strength evidence.

But at least they give folks a chance to prove it, like you're getting. In think it'll be fine! Good luck.

Yeah you're right. That might be a red flag, well it for sure was in our case. Cohabiting for longer periods is a big issue in our case because unless one person moves to the other country for some time it is impossible.... I can't leave US for more than 1 week and that would be a stretch right now and my hubby is not UK citizen and would have to get a tourist visa or something to come here, quit his job.... just too much hardship to do that.

Hopefully after seeing the evidence they will give him the visa... I'm already worried what to do if they won't but I will cross that bridge when the time comes ~ hopefully it never will.

Thanks everyone for comments and good luck wishes. I will post an update once we get a response.

[Eva_Cali 0]

My thoughts--

It is extremely unusual for an interview in London to go that way. You have red flags from just growing up together. Old family friends often try to use each other to benefit their grown children's immigration. Then you met, married, and separated fairly quickly.

If your nationality is other than white English/Scot/Welsh then more so and further delays may be coming with security checks. Can you elaborate if you have family ties to the middle east, India, Pakistan or a Muslim background?

The officers are experienced in reading people. The roughness and intimidation is an attempt to rattle one that they have a sense is questionable. I've never known a second interview in London. Provide your evidence to overcome your red flags, and they will make a decision.

Heartless? In general, we document constantly for immigration. They don't just take our word that we are a US citizen, got married, have no disease or addictions, make enough to support an immigrant, had our immunizations, etc. So if Mom Is the reason for no visit, then document her terminal illness as evidence.

I am not trying to be rude, but lay out how it likely is. If you are a real couple, you will get the visa when they see your 18,000 communications.

We know each other from when we were growing up, we were sweethearts, but our families don't know each other like that. But then again it's just our words not proof for them to look at. We are white eastern European (Polish), no ties to middle east etc.

There is no 2nd interview scheduled we just have to mail the stuff and hopefully their decision will be positive.

They have some evidence of the fact that I'm a caretaker which is clear from my affidavit of support but not black/white letter from the doctor. If we have more troubles I guess that will be next document to obtain.

No worries, I do not perceive your email as rude... I know how it is, how it works. Their job is to spot possible fraudulent cases and make sure all is in order, just didn't expect that much hostility which was unnecessary as the interviewer didn't even get answers to his questions as he didn't allow my hubby to answer. We are a real couple and hopefully all the emails and phone calls will make it clear to them.

Any idea on how long for them to make a decision? Waiting will be killing me...

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

It sometimes can take a couple of weeks for them to pick your case back up, then the decision should be immediate. They dont always get around to it the day it arrives by courier, but maybe. I don't expect additional long delays for security with Polish background. You can check online now and kinda get progress. Here https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?

I'm not super clear on what all the status possibilities are because it's a newish thing. I know it may say AP which could just mean it is received and waiting in line, and not the long security AP, so don't freak if you see that. Somebody said theirs changed to "issued" when the visa was printed. Maybe you can check and give us updates on what the status says. When did the courier pick the evidence things up?

[Cecileem12 3]

I

Here's some background: we grew up together, then I ended up in US (I'm a citizen) he ended up in UK, our paths crossed after 18 years and we got married last year (2012) in UK. We saw each other in 2011 in Europe and then got married few months later. At his interview he had phone records, pictures, etc but all from the time we got married until recently. They are asking for evidence from the day we met, which is fine because we have it all.... Pictures, and more emails than they want to look at I'm sure (18,000+) I also printed phone records from the day we started talking in 2011.

Eva, how did you end up in the states..on what visa? Also, were you present with him at the interview. Did you go in person as well.

[indiana_sweetie 120]

I'm not super clear on what all the status possibilities are because it's a newish thing. I know it may say AP which could just mean it is received and waiting in line, and not the long security AP

Hubby's status was in AP until they accepted the new paperwork he brought and issued his visa, so in his case, it was just something like "waiting pending approval"

[Eva_Cali 0]

I

Here's some background: we grew up together, then I ended up in US (I'm a citizen) he ended up in UK, our paths crossed after 18 years and we got married last year (2012) in UK. We saw each other in 2011 in Europe and then got married few months later. At his interview he had phone records, pictures, etc but all from the time we got married until recently. They are asking for evidence from the day we met, which is fine because we have it all.... Pictures, and more emails than they want to look at I'm sure (18,000+) I also printed phone records from the day we started talking in 2011.

Eva, how did you end up in the states..on what visa? Also, were you present with him at the interview. Did you go in person as well.

I ended up in the US in early 90s - my family won diversity visa lottery while we were in progress of getting our status adjusted through my grandmother who was born in the US during WWII and US citizen.

I wasn't present at the interview, I wish I was. If it comes down to another interview which i hope it doesn't I will make the trip.