English Language and POE

[JBean 0]

Hello everyone,

My fiance is scheduled to fly into the US on December 8th with a POE in Philadelphia. He is really nervous about it because his conversational English is very poor and he is afraid that he may not be able to answer the questions that they ask him when he is going through immigration. It seems to me that this must be a common problem, since many people visit this country who are not comfortable with English, but how is it handled? Will they just wave him though when they see he does not understand? Or is there a special are he will need to go through with translators? Since I will be waiting for him in the luggage area, is there anyway I could he could call me to help translate between them?

Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

[KimandRuss 0]

Yikes, I have no first hand knowledge of this but, like you, would have to believe it's a common enough scenario. Hopefully someone else with experience will chime in.

I don't think I'd worry about it too much. Phili is a large enough airport.... hopefully the official will just see the K-1 visa and know just what to do. Perhaps your fiance could bring an explanation written in English to hand to the officer and perhaps also telling him/her that you are in baggage if there is assistance needed? Just a thought.

In any case... he's coming home and it's great news!! Congratulations!

[payxibka 10,045]

Interpreters are available at all POEs, either already present in the aiport somewhere or available on call.... If one is truly needed they will get one. They handle people from all over the world everyday (many who do not speak a syllable of English). He won't be their first one. Cellular phone use is NOT allowed in the immigration hall...

Edited November 26, 2008 by payxibka

[JBean 0]

Yikes, I have no first hand knowledge of this but, like you, would have to believe it's a common enough scenario. Hopefully someone else with experience will chime in.

I don't think I'd worry about it too much. Phili is a large enough airport.... hopefully the official will just see the K-1 visa and know just what to do. Perhaps your fiance could bring an explanation written in English to hand to the officer and perhaps also telling him/her that you are in baggage if there is assistance needed? Just a thought.

In any case... he's coming home and it's great news!! Congratulations!

Thanks Kim/Russ. The letter is a good idea. I'm sure he could manage to covey the basics to them verbally under normal circumstances, but since he will probably be nervous and exhausted a letter may help simplify matters...

[Lyuba 0]

They have interpreters in call at all times.

[ELW 5]

My husband had the same problem, he was traveling alone, first flight in his life and only knew Telugu. He knew a few words in English but only writing, he couldn't understand very well when people spoke. Anyway, for weeks before he came I would practice with him a number of simple interview-like questions on the phone. Also I sent him the list of questions (via email) and answers to study and practice. And of course, an explanation letter in English. Turns out he did fine and he didn't have to use the letter. They asked him a few questions and even though he could not understand all what they were saying, they let him by fine. They mainly just went through his paperwork, that's the important thing anyway.

[trinket 30]

I recently had my POE, so here goes my funny experience.

I do believe I am good in English, so it wasn't my concern. But trust me, the very first officer at who took my passport talked to me very politely as if to make sure I understand every word he says........that's until I opened up my mouth and started conversing with him fluently. My husband who was with me found it very funny how the officer was leaning towards me and making sure I was listening to him.

Anyways POE was really smooth and may be because I came through IR-1 visa and there weren't really much to question, so they didn't really question me anything.

Best of luck.