Letter to Consular

[gimygirl 0]

Agreed, the letter should be more succinct and the mental agitations are of no consequence and in fact, the "persistence" you describe could lodge questions that don't need to be implied.

lol good point! i remember thinking that when i initially read it .... but forgot to make that point by the time i finished the letter.

there was a part where you mentioned that upon your first meeting that you didn't give him a second thought, but he did with you and then pursued you. that may not sit well with the CO despite providing additional evidences.

but take it for what you will!!! best of luck to you!

[Shewolf04091972 0]

I hope the CO isn't such a cold, unfeeling person to totally disregard a letter (whether it's 1 page or 100) from a wife/husband. OK, so I need to cut it down to about 1 page. I know his time is limited, but I worry about sounding impersonal. Sorry I can't be there, here's the stuff. I want to make sure the Consular knows how much I love my husband. The reason for all the details is because our relationship is real. If I could be there, he'd know it just by watching us interact. I do have plenty of supporting documentation to send. No problem there. Think I'd at least get an A for putting in the effort to write the letter?

[mawilson 2,133]

Consular officers are busy people - they are not going to read a 2-page letter. Shorten it to 2 paragraphs.

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Unfortunately in this process, words are easy to come by. What the consular officer is looking for is proof. A letter is a good idea, but let your proofs demonstrate the legitimacy of your case.

[gimygirl 0]

not too sound callous but ... this process needs more proof than just a 'letter of love'. of course that's part of the picture, but it is also just one sided.

they could take that letter and ask your husband personal details about it ... what if he gets those answers wrong?? it may look like he doesn't care or that he's not genuine for not remembering something important like that. like where you stayed from night to night after he left you behind in his hometown.

sounds silly ... but CO's can be brutal, they once denied someone here because their answers did not match about a date that they had initimate relations.

good luck!

[Jaci 0]

Hi Shewolf,

I think I understand why you want to include the letter, and I think there is some good info in it, but you need to edit that WAY down, IMHO.

You mention plans for your future and the future of your family together with your new husband -- that's good, but even I can't read your whole post, and I'm pretty patient.

I don't think the CO will read it in it's entirety, if even at all. They are really busy and just want to get to the point. I don't think it's a bad idea to send the letter well edited, but it's way too long and too vague in places. This is way too much info.

I did like that you tried to show that your relationship has some history.

But what are you really concerned about here? I relate strongly (as a USC female petitioner and fellow former relationship burn victim) to what I perceive as your frustration about having some complete stranger decide if your husband "really" loves you in a 5 minute interview, while you probably personally agonized over it quite a bit, and how the visa process and its' requirements limit your ability to live your life freely the way you want to, while you wait in this long line, and particulary if your request in declined.

My advice is if you are really worried about passing the interview as far as being seen as having a bonafide relationship, spend some time with Hubby reminiscing about how you fell in love, and what specificallly he loved and found special about you. Let him make a list. In my limited sphere of not so good experience, your husband's ability to express those kind of feelings is more critical than your doing so whether in writing or even in person.

Best Wishes,

Jaci

[Jaci 0]

I hope the CO isn't such a cold, unfeeling person to totally disregard a letter (whether it's 1 page or 100) from a wife/husband. OK, so I need to cut it down to about 1 page. I know his time is limited, but I worry about sounding impersonal. Sorry I can't be there, here's the stuff. I want to make sure the Consular knows how much I love my husband. The reason for all the details is because our relationship is real. If I could be there, he'd know it just by watching us interact. I do have plenty of supporting documentation to send. No problem there. Think I'd at least get an A for putting in the effort to write the letter?

Well, as a person who has definitely had a hard time at the consulate in the past, I would say no A for effort with the letter itself, but your efforts to PROVIDE EVIDENCE will be well worthwhile. Have you ever heard a CO scream at an applicant because they didn't have any emails/letters/photos to show? I have, (wasn't screaming at me, but it was kind of hard not to overhear) and it's not pretty. The CO wants to be comfortable making a decision in a very few minutes, so make it easy for him/her with the stuff they want to see.

A letter isn't going to make up for that, and neither is the USC's presence, so I think you should relax a little about not being able to personally be present. Send your hubby back anything he's mailed/emailed to you to take along with him. CO's don't seem to care so much how the USC feels, since you're petitioning for him you probably want him there with you, but what does HE really want? If your hubby has been persitent in keeping up loving communication with you, then SHOW IT. That is the stuff you need.

Hope this helps.

[Charuhans 0]

My 2 bits ...

If the Consulate and the COs out there are anything like that in the US Consulate in Mumbai, India then the letter will be opened, glanced thru', then passed around to the other staff, some will gather around the CO, then they will laugh aloud, point to something in the letter and make faces, some will gesticulate like a ape in heat, every effort will be made to let you know that you and your wife are being ridiculed and your realationship is being mocked. This time is also utilised as a extempore coffee break.

Then the CO will turn to you and hand you the I97 sheet and tell you that the Consulate has decided to honour you with a Administrative Review. And hastily add that you "need not contact us. We will contact you when its over".

My Case Specifics : Interracial marriage, brown man marrying white woman. In my case it was our Wedding Photo Album which was used to humiliate me.

Charuhans

[shakysgirl 1]

My 2 bits ...

If the Consulate and the COs out there are anything like that in the US Consulate in Mumbai, India then the letter will be opened, glanced thru', then passed around to the other staff, some will gather around the CO, then they will laugh aloud, point to something in the letter and make faces, some will gesticulate like a ape in heat, every effort will be made to let you know that you and your wife are being ridiculed and your realationship is being mocked. This time is also utilised as a extempore coffee break.

Then the CO will turn to you and hand you the I97 sheet and tell you that the Consulate has decided to honour you with a Administrative Review. And hastily add that you "need not contact us. We will contact you when its over".

My Case Specifics : Interracial marriage, brown man marrying white woman. In my case it was our Wedding Photo Album which was used to humiliate me.

Charuhans

How terrible for you- I am really sorry to hear you went through something like that. It really shocks me, though perhaps it shouldn't? I may sound naive- but I thought it would have been Americans at the embassy interviewing your husband?

As for the letter- I agree with everyone that it is too long. I do appreciate what you are trying to do, but think you should edit way down, take out most of the specifics, and show other proof such as telephone bills, letters between the two of you, and photos.

Edited January 30, 2006 by shakysgirl

[Shewolf04091972 0]

My 2 bits ...

If the Consulate and the COs out there are anything like that in the US Consulate in Mumbai, India then the letter will be opened, glanced thru', then passed around to the other staff, some will gather around the CO, then they will laugh aloud, point to something in the letter and make faces, some will gesticulate like a ape in heat, every effort will be made to let you know that you and your wife are being ridiculed and your realationship is being mocked. This time is also utilised as a extempore coffee break.

Then the CO will turn to you and hand you the I97 sheet and tell you that the Consulate has decided to honour you with a Administrative Review. And hastily add that you "need not contact us. We will contact you when its over".

My Case Specifics : Interracial marriage, brown man marrying white woman. In my case it was our Wedding Photo Album which was used to humiliate me.

Charuhans

I hope you wrote a letter to the US government about the incident! That's HORRIBLE! I'm so sorry for the way they treated you and your spouse.

I was at the Embassy a few times in Managua and they were all very helpful. I'm going to just go with the short, impersonal letter someone suggested.

Thank you for all your input. (Though, with all the horror stories, I'm in a state of panic now! )

[dollface41601 0]

the CO wouldnt bother to read it! im sure

but best of luck!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

In case the point hasn't come across sufficiently yet: No CO is ever going to read that letter.

Gather the legally essential stuff, some communication samples and pics. If that ain't doing it, the letter sure won't either.

Good Luck!

[Shewolf04091972 0]

Letter aside, (not sending it) how much of a problem do you think his denied POE will be at his interview? This whole thing has me so stressed, I can't eat or sleep! His interview is now 2 weeks away. If they won't give him a Visa with this interview, what's the next step?

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Shewolf,

Try to relax a bit and not anticipate too many issues, please. There's nothing you can do but make sure your husband has the documents he needs and can present himself and the validity of your marriage well in the interview. If something should go awry, for some odd reason, you can address it then. Right now, I'd concentrate on getting some rest so you can be the "she fox" for his arrival.

[meddykomp 0]

If there are questions you think the CO might ask, discuss them with your husband so that he has a general idea of what he wants to say in that situation, but not to the point where it sounds like a script.