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The Interview...Russian Or English??

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Russia
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Hey all!! I know I am starting to be annoying, but one more question if ya please. Does the interview HAVE to be in English or can it be conducted in Russian? I know not everybody speaks perfect English at their interviews, and am curious if there is anything Lada can say to the CO to let them know she is more comfortable speaking in Russian. We are almost there!! :dance: Thanks Everybody!!

Mark and Lada

Charlotte/Volgograd

US/Russia

Event Date

Service Center : Vermont Service Center

US Entry : 2008-07-15

Marriage : 2008-08-31

I-485 Filed 10-16/2008

I-485 Approved 1-11-2009

I-751 Filed for K2 8-2-2010

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
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Hey all!! I know I am starting to be annoying, but one more question if ya please. Does the interview HAVE to be in English or can it be conducted in Russian? I know not everybody speaks perfect English at their interviews, and am curious if there is anything Lada can say to the CO to let them know she is more comfortable speaking in Russian. We are almost there!! :dance: Thanks Everybody!!

Can be in Russia or English.

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Russia
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Many people who frequent this forum over the years have said that the interview was done in Russian, and they passed. There has been some rumors that doing the interview in English, and not being very good with English, is a negative.

K1 Visa Process long ago and far away...

02/09/06 - NOA1 date

12/17/06 - Married!

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Russia
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Many people who frequent this forum over the years have said that the interview was done in Russian, and they passed. There has been some rumors that doing the interview in English, and not being very good with English, is a negative.

So she not even attempt to speak English?? I merely told her to answer the Yes/No and easy questions in English, and for the more detailed answers attempt English then confirm answer in Russian so there are no misunderstandings....Does that sound like a decent method?

Mark and Lada

Charlotte/Volgograd

US/Russia

Event Date

Service Center : Vermont Service Center

US Entry : 2008-07-15

Marriage : 2008-08-31

I-485 Filed 10-16/2008

I-485 Approved 1-11-2009

I-751 Filed for K2 8-2-2010

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Filed: Country: Russia
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Many people who frequent this forum over the years have said that the interview was done in Russian, and they passed. There has been some rumors that doing the interview in English, and not being very good with English, is a negative.

So she not even attempt to speak English?? I merely told her to answer the Yes/No and easy questions in English, and for the more detailed answers attempt English then confirm answer in Russian so there are no misunderstandings....Does that sound like a decent method?

If she's not totally comfortable/fluent in English, it's probably better for her to do the whole thing in Russian.

Первый блин комом.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
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Many people who frequent this forum over the years have said that the interview was done in Russian, and they passed. There has been some rumors that doing the interview in English, and not being very good with English, is a negative.

So she not even attempt to speak English?? I merely told her to answer the Yes/No and easy questions in English, and for the more detailed answers attempt English then confirm answer in Russian so there are no misunderstandings....Does that sound like a decent method?

My wife spoke mainly Russian...unless your fiance can speak decent English I'd go with Russian. My wife used a few English words but mostly Russian. Don't think it matters.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
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Either language is fine. Do they like to hear your answers in English? :yes: Is speaking in Russian going to increase your chances of denial? :no:

Jeffery AND Alla.

0 kilometers physically separates us!

K-1 Visa Granted... Wednesday, 21 May 2008

Alla ARRIVED to America... Wednesday, 12 November 2008

russia_a.gif Алла и Джеффри USA_a.gif

AllaAndJeffery.PNG

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
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Hey all!! I know I am starting to be annoying, but one more question if ya please. Does the interview HAVE to be in English or can it be conducted in Russian? I know not everybody speaks perfect English at their interviews, and am curious if there is anything Lada can say to the CO to let them know she is more comfortable speaking in Russian. We are almost there!! :dance: Thanks Everybody!!

"I'm more comfortable speaking in Russian." (Only in Russian, of course!)

Many people who frequent this forum over the years have said that the interview was done in Russian, and they passed. There has been some rumors that doing the interview in English, and not being very good with English, is a negative.

So she not even attempt to speak English?? I merely told her to answer the Yes/No and easy questions in English, and for the more detailed answers attempt English then confirm answer in Russian so there are no misunderstandings....Does that sound like a decent method?

Your method sounds really good and is exactly what she should do.

Either language is fine. Do they like to hear your answers in English? :yes: Is speaking in Russian going to increase your chances of denial? :no:

Although speaking Russian doesn't technically increase your chances of a denial, I don't think it improves your chances of approval either. The language factor is one that I believe (and this is just slim theorizing here, not gospel) the C/Os use as the deciding factor in cases that are close and could possibly be denied on other grounds - she's 20, never worked a day in her life, speaks no English and he's 65, rich as hell, speaks no Russian - or if something else in the case is fishy - previous K-1 applications, etc. - then they may look at the language issue as "well, she hasn't even attempted to learn English, how serious can she be?"

However, if your S/O is headed to the interview and they're a new English speaker or really not that comfortable speaking English, then they should, by all means, do the interview in Russian. They don't "lose points" for doing it in their native tongue, but they definitely "gain points" for attempting in English.

There are other factors involved, but for the most part, the strategy outlined by Mark above is probably best for the "average" couples.

Русский форум член.

Ensure your beneficiary makes and brings with them to the States a copy of the DS-3025 (vaccination form)

If the government is going to force me to exercise my "right" to health care, then they better start requiring people to exercise their Right to Bear Arms. - "Where's my public option rifle?"

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Russia
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Slim, thank you very much for that post! I think that we really should not have any issues as she will be carrying a "pile" of evidence about 2 inches thick. There should be no reason for the CO to suspect her. She is 38 w/a 14 yr old daughter. I hired a private English tutor, and their lessons lasted just over 3 months. She just needs practice, and she is afraid that if she is not perfect then it will count against her. I am trying to reassure her that this will not be the case, and I will copy/paste your post to her. It also did not help that our attorney's assistant in Moscow scared the ####### out of her about the interview being in nothing but English! :angry: I will address that little issue myself! Thanks for the responses everybody! :thumbs:

Mark and Lada

Charlotte/Volgograd

US/Russia

Event Date

Service Center : Vermont Service Center

US Entry : 2008-07-15

Marriage : 2008-08-31

I-485 Filed 10-16/2008

I-485 Approved 1-11-2009

I-751 Filed for K2 8-2-2010

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
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Yep, too many "experts" over there in Moscow. I wish the girls would just read the posts here at VJ. It would make life a lot easier on them. There are horror stories in some of the Russian Fiancee forums.

Anyway..... almost done!

Русский форум член.

Ensure your beneficiary makes and brings with them to the States a copy of the DS-3025 (vaccination form)

If the government is going to force me to exercise my "right" to health care, then they better start requiring people to exercise their Right to Bear Arms. - "Where's my public option rifle?"

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
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My wife noticed during her interview that girls doing their interviews in Russian were getting asked more questions and taking more time for the interview. Be prepared for the question that if she is not speaking fair English how are you communicating? Having said all that, relax as I have not seen any one from the VJ Russia forum have a visa denial. A few people were asked for additional evidence but were approved very quickly after providing it. A few ended up in some type of review but after a delay were approved.

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Filed: Country: Russia
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Be prepared for the question that if she is not speaking fair English how are you communicating?

That's something that I have long been curious about.

But I don't think doing the interview in Russian precludes speaking passable English, just that it's a high stress situation so adding the extra stress of having to do it in a language where you're not entirely comfortable might make things worse.

Первый блин комом.

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Russia
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When asked at the interview if she spoke English, my Natasha replied "Only a little", and the consular officer said "No problem, we'll conduct the interview in Russian". There were only a few questions asked, almost exclusively about her prior K-1, and several questions for her daughter about wanting to come to the USA, etc. It was a short, pleasant, "stress-free" interview all around. Getting the actual visa issued was an entirely different matter, but the interview was cake.

Just our experience.

Good luck!

------------------K1 Timeline------------------

05 Jul 2007: Mailed I129F petition

06 Jul 2007: CSC received petition

09 Jul 2007: NOA-1 Issued

10 Jul 2007: My check clears the bank

13 Jul 2007: I receive NOA-1 in the US Mail

19 Nov 2007: Touched

19 Nov 2007: USCIS website shows APPROVED

23 Nov 2007: I receive NOA-2 in the US Mail

12 Dec 2007: NVC receives petition

14 Dec 2007: NVC ships petition to Moscow embassy

19 Dec 2007: Moscow embassy receives petition

26 Feb 2008: Interview at Moscow embassy

13 Mar 2008: Received visa

18 Mar 2008: POE in Atlanta

09 May 2008: Wedding

-----------------AOS Timeline------------------

16 Jun 2008: Submittal for AOS

23 Jun 2008: NOA1 for AOS (I485, I765, I131)

24 Jun 2008: AOS checks cashed

15 Jul 2008: Biometrics appointment

04 Sep 2008: Received I-485 Interview letter

05 Sep 2008: AP/EAD Approved

08 Sep 2008: AP/EAD Received

29 Sep 2008: I-485 Interview (I-551 Stamp received)

07 Oct 2008: Green cards received

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Colombia
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I don't want to start a new topic. Let me just tell you what the situation is. My Masha needs to go back to Petersburg after visa interview so, if the appointment is at 8am, what is the longest the interview process may take? Thank you. :wacko:

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