IR1 interview, does the US citizen needs to be present?

[christeen 966]

Let me ask this dumb question: If I was to bring videos to the interview, am I allowed to bring camaras inside the consulate?... I thought that even cell phones had to be left at the door?... maybe I can film a couple of social events at home and show them at the interview...

Thanks

ChrisAndAnnie

No videos, CDs or other electronic media... Sitck with photos.. And definetly listen to the Equador folks on this one as it is one of the most difficult consulates!!!

[TBoneTX 46,277]

the american laws doesnt require from the petitioner to attend the interview only the beneficiary good luck

All non-Ecuador filers are kindly asked to shut the f*** up on this topic if they plan to offer information that does not apply to Ecuador and is certain to mislead and doom others. In 2008 alone, at least half a dozen petitioners were ordered to appear at the Guayaquil consulate after they did not attend the first interview. The OP in this thread is in deeper trouble than he may have imagined, and he must act thoroughly and swiftly to overcome what otherwise faces him. An integral part of this is attending the interview. Any non-Ecuador filer who wishes to dispute something is welcome to go (for example) to the Vietnam regional forum instead, in order to contradict all of the specific & necessary advice there... and see how well you and your faulty, perilous advice are received. If you lack the stomach for that, then at least read entire threads before posting at all and read Embassy reviews BEFORE posting ####### advice. Si, man? Edited February 13, 2010 by TBoneTX

[TBoneTX 46,277]

Minatours & coraliesolms, read THIS and look at the Consulate's attitudes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/nyregion/12family.html

[VivaBaños 2]

No videos can be submitted. Photos and any other evidence will likely have to be pushed through a small opening in the glass. So any evidence will likely need to be pliable enough to pass through that opening. You need evidence that can be flipped through quickly.

Outside of the norm, my husband and I were allowed to pass our evidence over in another area, so that we were not restricted by the small glass opening (like in banks).

Also, you should carry copies of everything that you've submitted throughout this process. You have to go ready to prove your relationship is legit; it's not their job to give the benefit of the doubt.

[VivaBaños 2]

Minatours & coraliesolms, read THIS and look at the Consulate's attitudes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/nyregion/12family.html

TBone, thanks for posting this. I hadn't seen it.

[paciencia y fe 2]

GO to the interview. no question. GO with your wife to the interview. Guayaquil is very tough and when we were there for our K-1 we saw a few people go through interviews for spousal visas alone and they got grilled for a much longer time. (i don't know if any were approved, as we finished before any of the folks that were solo). It means a great deal to this embassy (i think!) to see the couple together. Take this process very seriously. Gather as much evidence as possible. All your phone bills, emails, proof of visits, and as many photos as you possibly can. When you have the interview, go there early, spend more time together and take more pictures! print them and bring them with you. The consulate really likes pictures.

I have to apologize because i still haven't put up my review for the consulate. We got through it okay but i truly believe it was due to the fact the I had done massive amounts of research on this site, and we were absolutely prepared for everything. Bring TONS of evidence, go over everything together - the paperwork, your trips and lives, and yes - GO to the interview with her.

[JoshyVeronica 0]

I personally watched a woman denied a spouse visa because her husband was not present. She used the excuse that her husband was busy working in Alaska, and they didn't buy it. I had an accordion file FULL of documentation, and we were able to make it through only because I believe we were both present. I agree with TBone's point that people who haven't dealt with this embassy do not know what it is like. It is manageable, but only by closely following the advice on this forum.

Good luck!

[ChrisAndAnnie 0]

I thank all people who are giving me this invaluable advice. It is a certain wake-up call. Special thanks to TBoneTX. Question: Once we receive the appointment for the interview, should I feel the need for a couple more months to gather more information, can I just ask them to give me a different date?. Perhaps I should just move in to Ecuador and live there for a couple of months before the interview. Of course, this requires time to arrange. I would be afraid though, if the interview comes too soon.

Thanks

ChrisAndAnnie

By the way: I will make sure to keep you guys posted and publish the outcome.

Edited February 14, 2010 by ChrisAndAnnie

[hdouthit 1]

Video footage is not permitted as evidence of a bonafide marriage.

[JoshyVeronica 0]

You don't receive an interview date, you schedule it by calling the VIS hotline using a 12 dollar pin and scheduling it. There is some flexibility in scheduling this date. I had my fiance schedule the appointment ~3 weeks out since I knew I could get reasonable airfare and time off work with that much notice.

My evidence was affidavits from friends, pictures, gmail chats, skype call records, plane tickets/itineraries, passport stamps, and school records showing we were in the same class when she was in the US. Obviously your evidence will vary. I am not familiar with the IR1 evidence requirements, but for K-1 you must show that you met in the 2 years preceding filing - living together AFTER filing would not help you show that you knew each before filing. Again, IR1 requirements are probably different.

[VivaBaños 2]

You don't receive an interview date, you schedule it by calling the VIS hotline using a 12 dollar pin and scheduling it. There is some flexibility in scheduling this date. I had my fiance schedule the appointment ~3 weeks out since I knew I could get reasonable airfare and time off work with that much notice.

My evidence was affidavits from friends, pictures, gmail chats, skype call records, plane tickets/itineraries, passport stamps, and school records showing we were in the same class when she was in the US. Obviously your evidence will vary. I am not familiar with the IR1 evidence requirements, but for K-1 you must show that you met in the 2 years preceding filing - living together AFTER filing would not help you show that you knew each before filing. Again, IR1 requirements are probably different.

Unfortunately, this is not accurate information for CR-1 and IR-1 interviews. The dates are set for you. You do not call to schedule it. Now, as to calling to change it, I'm not sure if or how that works. We'd waited so long for our appointment there was no way at all that we wanted it pushed back.

Yes, for our CR-1 requirements we had to show evidence that proved that we were in fact married. There's no mandate that you had to have met in a certain amount of time, but the onus is on you to prove that you are in fact married (so having met recently surely helps!). We had the same kinds of evidence as JoshyVeronica, including receipts from wedding stuff, pics from the ceremony, affidavits from folks in the US and Ecuador, letters (snail-mail) during our time apart, and of course my husband's cedula with my name on it as his esposa.

[coraliesolms 47]

Well holy moley... I bow to your greatness... perhaps an adjustment of attitude would be nice? All of us are just trying to be helpful and supportive, to tell people to shut the f up, is quite uneccessary..

[TBoneTX 46,277]

Well holy moley... I bow to your greatness... perhaps an adjustment of attitude would be nice? All of us are just trying to be helpful and supportive, to tell people to shut the f up, is quite uneccessary..

There is no "greatness." The fact is that many couples have been 100% hosed in Guayaquil, for specific reasons that are peculiar to that consulate. As half of one such couple, my attitude was thoroughly adjusted by the treatment there and what happened. I wouldn't even dream of offering interview, attendance, or evidential advice regarding Guangzhou, HCMC, or Lagos, because special and unique conditions apply to those places that I have no insider's view into. You were the second of two posters who obviously failed to read the entire thread before posting, and the advice given by both of you was flat wrong. The wrongness overwhelms any intent to be helpful & supportive. People's futures rely on the accuracy of the information that they receive and believe here. Read the "embassy reviews" of Guayaquil and see how many fairly recent interviewees recommend that both partners be there... and how they credit the previous advice and warnings that they received here.

Furthermore, regardless of any assumption that U.S. law doesn't require the USC's attendance at a beneficiary's visa interview, the USC's attendance (or presence on the embassy grounds, or simply being in town) is never a negative factor. A great many threads on VJ deal with this issue.

Edited February 15, 2010 by TBoneTX

[coraliesolms 47]

And thats fine and well, your knowledge on the matter is greatly appreciated im sure. My problem is the manner in which you deliver it. Telling people to shut the F up somewhat detracts from that though. A simple "Ive been there and done that, and this is the information I have" would have sufficed.

[TBoneTX 46,277]

the manner in which

Perhaps there was something intentional behind, and larger than, the seeming extremity itself. I'm quite happy that you yourself need not deal with "our" hellhole. When you get the chance, construct your timeline for us.