We are at the interview stage, but have a possible problem.

[Nandr2009 0]

My wife and I just got done with the NVC stage of the process and have our interview date for Manila soon. However I have a question about something. My wife has never been employed, or at least what we consider employed. She has never applied, interviewed, been hired etc as we consider a traditional employment, so on the DS-230, we put her employment history as none, as with her G-325a and other documents.

However the closer we get to interview the more crazy my mind is getting thinking of any and every little thing that could get her denied/banned or whatever. I am a pessimist by nature, so I guess this is just normal for me. Anyway here is the deal. My wife is 18 yeas old, she hasn't ever held a true employment with an employer, receving a pay check or has never appied/been hired/quit/fired or whatever. However, she has done volunteer work over time for her church, and a worldwide charitable organization that works with her church (Compassion international) She was never paid for this and wasn't an "employee" just a volunteer.

Also, she would do odd jobs for family members and church members like washing clothes on occasion (not anywhere near regularlY) both for free as a kindness and also some of them would give her a few pesos, and one summer a few years ago she helped out in a relative's bakery for a couple of weeks in exchange for them paying for her summer church camp fees so she could go to youth camp.

None of these we considered employment, as even I, here in america have done things like this when I was 18 or younger, like mowing lawns for people, doing chores at teh house for an allowance, did volunteer work etc.. and I never listed them on an employment application or anything.

Am I worrying myself for no reason? Its not like we are trying to hide some bad or seedy fact of her past, in fact the things she has done are good things! Its just that we didn't list them as employment, which we didn't consider them to be employments. Is this a problem? What should we do now? Or should we just continue on as we are and only bring it up at the interview if they ask about such things?

Thansk guys!

[pushbrk 13,133]

My wife and I just got done with the NVC stage of the process and have our interview date for Manila soon. However I have a question about something. My wife has never been employed, or at least what we consider employed. She has never applied, interviewed, been hired etc as we consider a traditional employment, so on the DS-230, we put her employment history as none, as with her G-325a and other documents.

However the closer we get to interview the more crazy my mind is getting thinking of any and every little thing that could get her denied/banned or whatever. I am a pessimist by nature, so I guess this is just normal for me. Anyway here is the deal. My wife is 18 yeas old, she hasn't ever held a true employment with an employer, receving a pay check or has never appied/been hired/quit/fired or whatever. However, she has done volunteer work over time for her church, and a worldwide charitable organization that works with her church (Compassion international) She was never paid for this and wasn't an "employee" just a volunteer.

Also, she would do odd jobs for family members and church members like washing clothes on occasion (not anywhere near regularlY) both for free as a kindness and also some of them would give her a few pesos, and one summer a few years ago she helped out in a relative's bakery for a couple of weeks in exchange for them paying for her summer church camp fees so she could go to youth camp.

None of these we considered employment, as even I, here in america have done things like this when I was 18 or younger, like mowing lawns for people, doing chores at teh house for an allowance, did volunteer work etc.. and I never listed them on an employment application or anything.

Am I worrying myself for no reason? Its not like we are trying to hide some bad or seedy fact of her past, in fact the things she has done are good things! Its just that we didn't list them as employment, which we didn't consider them to be employments. Is this a problem? What should we do now? Or should we just continue on as we are and only bring it up at the interview if they ask about such things?

Thansk guys!

Her age is a cogent factor here but generally, she should have an answer for how she's been supported in her adult life. A 27 year old who hasn't been to college AND never employed is going to need to overcome a natural assumption she's earned her living as a prostitute, where a 19 year old wouldn't. If there's nothing to hide then there's a ready truthful answer for any question. Be prepared.

[sandinista! 1,816]

i would think of trust funds, parental support, etc. wayyyy before i ever thought "prostitute", but that's just me. to say there is a "natural assumption" that that would be the case just sounds misogynistic to me.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I just completed my interview 2 weeks ago in Colombia, and expect for the Consular Officer to ask some pointed questions while directly looking in your eyes the entire time. An 18 year old who has not held verifiable employment in a region with high unemployment isn't automatically going to get banned. Perhaps, she can get a letter from the Church that she volunteered for, as in a "Letter of Recommendation" in order to show the Consular Officer? Also, have it notarized for authenticity with contact information, signed and dated. That is what I would do. Then, you won't have much to worry about when it comes time to answer questions about employment history.

Good luck!

-Ken

[Nandr2009 0]

My wife and I just got done with the NVC stage of the process and have our interview date for Manila soon. However I have a question about something. My wife has never been employed, or at least what we consider employed. She has never applied, interviewed, been hired etc as we consider a traditional employment, so on the DS-230, we put her employment history as none, as with her G-325a and other documents.

However the closer we get to interview the more crazy my mind is getting thinking of any and every little thing that could get her denied/banned or whatever. I am a pessimist by nature, so I guess this is just normal for me. Anyway here is the deal. My wife is 18 yeas old, she hasn't ever held a true employment with an employer, receving a pay check or has never appied/been hired/quit/fired or whatever. However, she has done volunteer work over time for her church, and a worldwide charitable organization that works with her church (Compassion international) She was never paid for this and wasn't an "employee" just a volunteer.

Also, she would do odd jobs for family members and church members like washing clothes on occasion (not anywhere near regularlY) both for free as a kindness and also some of them would give her a few pesos, and one summer a few years ago she helped out in a relative's bakery for a couple of weeks in exchange for them paying for her summer church camp fees so she could go to youth camp.

None of these we considered employment, as even I, here in america have done things like this when I was 18 or younger, like mowing lawns for people, doing chores at teh house for an allowance, did volunteer work etc.. and I never listed them on an employment application or anything.

Am I worrying myself for no reason? Its not like we are trying to hide some bad or seedy fact of her past, in fact the things she has done are good things! Its just that we didn't list them as employment, which we didn't consider them to be employments. Is this a problem? What should we do now? Or should we just continue on as we are and only bring it up at the interview if they ask about such things?

Thansk guys!

Her age is a cogent factor here but generally, she should have an answer for how she's been supported in her adult life. A 27 year old who hasn't been to college AND never employed is going to need to overcome a natural assumption she's earned her living as a prostitute, where a 19 year old wouldn't. If there's nothing to hide then there's a ready truthful answer for any question. Be prepared.

Gotcha. Yeah, her age is a big factor I hadn't focused on, and yeah, being 18 she has been in her parents house her whole life, and until now she is still living at home until she comes here to be together with me. Yeah she can easily and truthfuly answer any question without a problem, so I guess my worrying is for nothing. I think my only concern was that we put none on employment, and during the interview the CO might interperate volunteer work or odd job/chores around the house as employment and say we lied or something on the application.... which I think would be extreme and incomprehensible, but you know.. my mind is running 1000 MPH right now thinking of all the bad things that could happen hehe!

Thanks for the assurance!

I just completed my interview 2 weeks ago in Colombia, and expect for the Consular Officer to ask some pointed questions while directly looking in your eyes the entire time. An 18 year old who has not held verifiable employment in a region with high unemployment isn't automatically going to get banned. Perhaps, she can get a letter from the Church that she volunteered for, as in a "Letter of Recommendation" in order to show the Consular Officer? Also, have it notarized for authenticity with contact information, signed and dated. That is what I would do. Then, you won't have much to worry about when it comes time to answer questions about employment history.

Good luck!

-Ken

True, unemployment is high there, plus even here in the US, there are some 18 yearolds that didn't have a job during high school.. so no worries. I'll have her check into getting a letter from the church too. Thanks!

[morocco4ever 63]

i would think of trust funds, parental support, etc. wayyyy before i ever thought "prostitute", but that's just me. to say there is a "natural assumption" that that would be the case just sounds misogynistic to me.

What....you were thinking the same thing? Really? Because it is well known that ALL women over the age of 18 turn to prostitution for a source of income.

[pushbrk 13,133]

i would think of trust funds, parental support, etc. wayyyy before i ever thought "prostitute", but that's just me. to say there is a "natural assumption" that that would be the case just sounds misogynistic to me.

What....you were thinking the same thing? Really? Because it is well known that ALL women over the age of 18 turn to prostitution for a source of income.

The OP's fiance is from the Philippines, not North Africa. I'm speaking of where a Manila Consular officer's mind would go, not mine or yours. My experience qualifies me to "go there", OK?? The fiance is 18, so it's a non-issue. If she were 27, it would be, in Manila, whether the thought offends anybody else's sensibilities or not. There's a lot about the immigration process that offends sensibilities, so get used to it. North Africa has its own set of offenses to the sensibilities, so if you're not already prepared for them, get prepared.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

i would think of trust funds, parental support, etc. wayyyy before i ever thought "prostitute", but that's just me. to say there is a "natural assumption" that that would be the case just sounds misogynistic to me.

Sounds "consulatistic" to me. Though such things are specific to consulates. I dount it would raise an eyebrow for a sinlge woman to list "unemployed" in Ukraine, even at age 27...or 40, since it is well known 80% of the GNP is under the table to avoid astronomical income tax on incomes that average $300 per month. It is hard to find anyone WITH a "job" in Ukraine...who wants one of those things?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

i would think of trust funds, parental support, etc. wayyyy before i ever thought "prostitute", but that's just me. to say there is a "natural assumption" that that would be the case just sounds misogynistic to me.

What....you were thinking the same thing? Really? Because it is well known that ALL women over the age of 18 turn to prostitution for a source of income.

Please do not make the mistake of preparing yourself or your fiancee by anything less than the regional standards that WILL apply to your interview. Casa Blanca is a particularly difficult consulate for its own reasons. Pushbrk has given good advice to the OP and to others using the Manilla consulate. You need to prepare for your itnerview according to what is needed for Casa Blanca, applying US/American/Western culture principals of thought to your preparation will not serve you well.

[morocco4ever 63]

i would think of trust funds, parental support, etc. wayyyy before i ever thought "prostitute", but that's just me. to say there is a "natural assumption" that that would be the case just sounds misogynistic to me.

What....you were thinking the same thing? Really? Because it is well known that ALL women over the age of 18 turn to prostitution for a source of income.

The OP's fiance is from the Philippines, not North Africa. I'm speaking of where a Manila Consular officer's mind would go, not mine or yours. My experience qualifies me to "go there", OK?? The fiance is 18, so it's a non-issue. If she were 27, it would be, in Manila, whether the thought offends anybody else's sensibilities or not. There's a lot about the immigration process that offends sensibilities, so get used to it. North Africa has its own set of offenses to the sensibilities, so if you're not already prepared for them, get prepared.

So what you are saying is that up to the age of 18 the family takes care of her. After that they will throw them under the bus to fend for themselves? Strange culture. I guess I should take a closer look at my sister in law. Based on your assumptions she most certainly was a prostitute.

[morocco4ever 63]

Oh, and for the record I do believe that specific consulates have preconceived notions. We have already dealt with this, and he has been here now for 3 years, so I don't need to prepare for squat any longer. I just find it odd that they would not even consider family support, that the natural assumption will always turn to prostitution. Is their culture really that callous towards their own offspring? Is that why the consulate won't even consider family support a possibility?

[jellyfish 0]

I would go for a letter from her parents saying how good a daughter she was. How helpful to their family as a whole, how they were happy to support her financially and her input to the family will be missed. A church letter also sounds great. Simply to say that she spent much of her time there and was a valued member of their church, and her contribution will be missed. They hope she will settle well in her new church home.

Just focus on how she spent her time constructively, how her parents financially supported her. Don't focus on the "volunteer" angle, focus on the valued member of the community angle. Basicly a reference in the form of letters.

Wise to cover your back, you just never know if you get a CO who will pick on that aspect. If nothing else it makes her sound more "mature" as well.

[happywifeymom 4]

[i am 36 yrs. old and was not employed for 10 yrs. before i had my interview and had no problem during my interview. just put none if she was not employed.

[morocco4ever 63]

I would go for a letter from her parents saying how good a daughter she was. How helpful to their family as a whole, how they were happy to support her financially and her input to the family will be missed. A church letter also sounds great. Simply to say that she spent much of her time there and was a valued member of their church, and her contribution will be missed. They hope she will settle well in her new church home.

Just focus on how she spent her time constructively, how her parents financially supported her. Don't focus on the "volunteer" angle, focus on the valued member of the community angle. Basicly a reference in the form of letters.

Wise to cover your back, you just never know if you get a CO who will pick on that aspect. If nothing else it makes her sound more "mature" as well.

That is a good idea. But perhaps from neighbors as well. And perhaps not stress the volunteer angle, but have the head of the agency fill out one to give her a character reference.