Interview in the Consulate

[adiiann 163]

I am just wondering when I saw some posts here in the forum that they got denied for the fiance visa because of lack of evidence for bonafide relationship. In USCIS, when they approved your petition which mean you showed enough proof of your bonafide relationship.

Now, when the interview came and you got denied from fiance visa, I wonder what would be the basis of the consulate to state that you are lack of proof of your bonafide relationship.

My questions are:

1. What are those ultimate proofs you need to show for them to believe that you have bonafide relationship?

2. Aside from proofs like pictures, ticket stubs, emails, and phone bills, what other proofs needed to be included?

3. Does they interview your fiance (petitioner), to know the personal information, like favorite colors, siblings, and foods?

4. At question #3, does it really ask during the interview?

Well, I just want to know what are other grounds for denial aside from meeting the 125% poverty line. I know that if both of you (you and your fiance) communicate well enough, you are aware of his/her personal information.

[Jasman0717 9]

We used cards, letters, phone bill, IM chat logs along with pictures of us together and in celebration of our engagement and also an engagement ring. They may or may not interview the petitioner if they are at the interview. The beneficiary should know about the petitioner's family such as names of Mom and Dad and any siblings and if the petitioner was married before, birthday, age, where the petitioner lives and yes, Claudeth was asked about all of these.

[adiiann 163]

Wow!... really.

[AaronM 0]

Yes you have too show in USCIS proff of a bonafide relationship . If you dont your petition will not be approved , cause of lack of evidence . And you should send everything you included with the petition , to your fiancee . And have her study the papers , that will give him or her more understanding of your relationship . And will allso protect you if something gets misplaced between USCIS to NVC and NVC to Usembassy . During the interview , they have basic questions which they will ask . And allso make up questions as they go , and may use the documents they received for basics of their questioning too . It's not just they want too see if you have a relationship , councel wants to know if its an ongoing relationship (that your still together) A long time has passed between the time you filled the petition , and the date of your interview . (And it's something with the Usembassy , it has happened before as example of USCIS can approve the petition even if the petitioner has a criminal record . Then when the time comes for the interview , the visa gets denied cause of the criminal record . They think the benificary will be at risk) , i would send everthing even the original postal mail everything you have use it . xerox of your bills , everything you have (all papers) collected over the whole time of your relationship . It all adds up to one thing more evidence , and give councel an understanding . And it's good idea for the petitioner to make statements of your relationship to the benificary , so the councel can read it at the time of the interview (espicially if the petitioner cannot be there at the time of the interview). Think about it , it's better if both people says about their relationship from begging to the point of the interview . Then having just one person just stating your relationship , (you can't have a relationship with someone , if you both are not involved in your relationship). My fiancee passed the interview process , and only took a few minutes . She showed the councel her rings , not just her engagement ring , but allso her weeding ring . And the councel officer really didnt care , she shook her head and said . I'm allready satisified with what i see here , please go to next window to pay the delievery fee of your visa . And now we are awaiting her visa to arrive .

[TBoneTX 46,156]

I can't comment about Manila, and the original poster will have to infer specific answers from my general reply below, but Guayaquil (Ecuador) is a hellhole -- the prototype of the worst that a couple could experience.

The U.S. partner MUST attend the fiance(e)'s FIRST interview, or the petition WILL be denied.

Furthermore, this rule is posted nowhere on the consulate's website, and -- even when asked directly by the U.S. citizen -- the consulate has flatly denied that it is even desirable, let alone required, that the USC attend.

In my own case, my fiancee showed up for her interview with ample evidence of relationship, enough to convince any reasonable person of its validity. After no more than three minutes, the consul said (direct quote) "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!" and threw her out. He refused to accept the evidence when it was offered, but he told her to leave it there. He handed her a letter (which he printed on the spot) saying that "insufficient proof of relationship was provided" and that a "joint 'marriage' interview" was "suggested."

Scheduling the second interview was traumatic in itself, and a story for elsewhere. Our "joint" interview was not joint at all, but instead a Stokes interrogation... and not even with an American, but with a native Ecuadorian (Foreign Service National). We were each asked harassing questions that would be illegal in interviews in government and in the private sector. We loaded the FSN with all kind of proof, and were told "we'll review this and let you know the result." The effect of the first "interview" was "Not enough evidence -- go away!" and the effect of the Stokes was "Too much evidence -- go away!"

After moving mountains, we finally got the visa, but other couples who interviewed around the same time did not, and I am aware of at least two couples who are going through the very same thing now. It is hell for them; some have provided every scrap of information that we provided, yet for the consulate it is somehow still "not enough." For us, it has been many months, yet I'm still absolutely livid at how we were treated. Two different immigration attorneys (at large firms) have recommended that I file an after-visa complaint with the U.S. Dept. of State AND with the Consul General in Guayaquil. Without exception, every attorney whom I and others have consulted has been mystified by the consulate's actions.

The above is why I recommend that I-129F filers include a goodly amount of "proof of relationship" in their I-129F filing with USCIS, if they will be dealing with a high-fraud or rogue consulate. In this way, USCIS will have seen the "proof" evidence, and (in theory at least, per immigration attorney Marc Ellis) the consulate cannot deny that the evidence exists when the interviewee tries to present it at the interview.

If it is too late for this because the I-129F has already been filed, I encourage the USC to ATTEND THE FIRST INTERVIEW with the foreign partner, and to STAND THERE or nearby during the interview. If this is frowned upon, the response would be "I am here to ensure that evidence PRESENTED is evidence ACCEPTED and ACKNOWLEDGED, and to ensure that illegal questions are not asked." This certainly applies at Guayaquil; VJ members should check the reviews and embassy information regarding their own consulate, and contact other members who have interviewed there if there is any doubt about what might happen.

A U.S. embassy/consulate is U.S. territory, and I conclude that a U.S. citizen has every right to be on the premises, despite what any foreign security guard or FSN might say. If they try to bar you, state the foregoing, and ask "How am I wrong, sir?"

Edited February 15, 2009 by TBoneTX

[Fred N Emilia 0]

I am just wondering when I saw some posts here in the forum that they got denied for the fiance visa because of lack of evidence for bonafide relationship. In USCIS, when they approved your petition which mean you showed enough proof of your bonafide relationship.

Now, when the interview came and you got denied from fiance visa, I wonder what would be the basis of the consulate to state that you are lack of proof of your bonafide relationship.

My questions are:

1. What are those ultimate proofs you need to show for them to believe that you have bonafide relationship?

2. Aside from proofs like pictures, ticket stubs, emails, and phone bills, what other proofs needed to be included?

3. Does they interview your fiance (petitioner), to know the personal information, like favorite colors, siblings, and foods?

4. At question #3, does it really ask during the interview?

Well, I just want to know what are other grounds for denial aside from meeting the 125% poverty line. I know that if both of you (you and your fiance) communicate well enough, you are aware of his/her personal information.

Remember that we are in a country with a high amount of fraud so we need to prove even more, hehe, sucks huh?

USCIS stage - They want to make sure you have met the last 2 years prior to filing the petition, thats where they check for your passport stamps, boarding passes, pics (secondary evidence)

so here goes, more is always good.

For me it's a little different if you read my signature so we have quite a number of evidence.

Letters, cards (Stamped and Dated from post office)

Chats (3 to 5 per month)

Test Messages (I used Chikka with time stamps)

Webcam sessions (With date on the screen shots)

My phone bills (Fiancees number listed)

E-mails (3 to 5 within a month)

Yahoo Phone logs (with time stamps)

Passport stamps, boarding passes (visits)

Some Official Receipts when I was in the PI

Hotel receipts

Engagement Ring Receipt

Special to my case:

We have our Elementary School Yearbook

Letters from highschool and cards

old pictures

e-mails from 2001 thru 2009

[adiiann 163]

Wow!

I have 2 scrapbooks. The first one is our first meeting, so it is so memorable. Then, during the time I'm recovering from the accident, I made the second one, all about our adventures during his second visit.

In the scrap books, I included all the receipts, brochures and pictures that we had during the time we're together. I have the phone bills, both from him and me. I have the cards, post cards, and I cut the the stamps with my name in the boxes he sending me. I will just have the emails that we sent to USCIS. I don't have chat logs, but I have some recent screen shots of our yahoo and skype conversation with webcam.

Anyway, I hope I will not get too nervous and forget some information about him. Though, I almost know everything about him (of course, not all... ).

[Jasman0717 9]

Wow!... really.

The interviewing officer did ask Claudeth several questions about my family

[adiiann 163]

Wow!... really.

The interviewing officer did ask Claudeth several questions about my family

Oh... Thanks!

I know most of things about his family, friends and co-workers. I know what's currently going on them.

[luckytxn 2,265]

I am just wondering when I saw some posts here in the forum that they got denied for the fiance visa because of lack of evidence for bonafide relationship. In USCIS, when they approved your petition which mean you showed enough proof of your bonafide relationship.

Now, when the interview came and you got denied from fiance visa, I wonder what would be the basis of the consulate to state that you are lack of proof of your bonafide relationship.

My questions are:

1. What are those ultimate proofs you need to show for them to believe that you have bonafide relationship?

2. Aside from proofs like pictures, ticket stubs, emails, and phone bills, what other proofs needed to be included?

3. Does they interview your fiance (petitioner), to know the personal information, like favorite colors, siblings, and foods?

4. At question #3, does it really ask during the interview?

Well, I just want to know what are other grounds for denial aside from meeting the 125% poverty line. I know that if both of you (you and your fiance) communicate well enough, you are aware of his/her personal information.

You are confusing the USCIS with the ultimate consular interview.

To get a petition through the USCIS you must show proof of having met in the last two years. That is where you have to show primary proof such as passport and boarding passes and then secondary such as a few pics of you together and maybe some receipts or whatever.

When it gets to the consular level and you have the interview then you must show the bonafide relationship proof. Here is where you must show a lot of proof like mail, emails, and other stuff. They will then have the interview and ask questions and she better know you well.

The USCIS is just interested if you have actually met in the last two years.

Edited February 17, 2009 by luckytxn