Problem with English

[xyang 0]

My Fiancee can't speak English very well. So my question is will they provide a translator for her during her interview in Guangzhou?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

My Fiancee can't speak English very well. So my question is will they provide a translator for her during her interview in Guangzhou?

Yes. Many CO's can also speak the local language, to some degree.

[Audy_Rob 26]

This might raise the issue as to how the two of you communicate. Now if you speak/write your fiance(e)'s language that is not an issue, but if you do not, and your fiance(e) cannot even write an email in your language (assume English) then there could be questions about the legitimacy of the relationship.

You might want to prepare for this if needed.

Good luck.

[pushbrk 12,889]

My Fiancee can't speak English very well. So my question is will they provide a translator for her during her interview in Guangzhou?

Most GUZ interviews are in Mandarin or Cantonese. She should be prepared to explain and show evidence of how the two of you communicate.

[Darnell 8,478]

you can cover your communication ability in an 'evolution of relatioship' letter, written by you, handed over by her on interview day.

here's my rough draft on mine -

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/260331-wife-speaks-no-english/page__view__findpost__p__3995116

Good Luck !

[ryna 132]

Is this 'EOR' letter a requirement, optional or only needed at certain consulates? This is the first I've ever heard of it. I suppose in any case, it couldn't hurt to have one.

The reason this topic caught my eye is that my fiancee speaks almost no English other than a few words/phrases that I've taught her and I routinely butcher Spanish when I attempt to speak it (although she claims otherwise). Either way, I don't hear it very well except when she's speaking directly to me and only because I'm familiar with her vocabulary and she slows her speech for my benefit. If the CO at the consulate speaks to me in Spanish as 'proof' of ability to communicate, I'm sunk...

[xyang 0]

This might raise the issue as to how the two of you communicate. Now if you speak/write your fiance(e)'s language that is not an issue, but if you do not, and your fiance(e) cannot even write an email in your language (assume English) then there could be questions about the legitimacy of the relationship.

You might want to prepare for this if needed.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the responses! How fluent are the Consulate in Mandarin Chinese? Will they be able to communicate effectively without misunderstanding. I will not be there for her interview. I speak both English and Mandarin Chinese fluently. We have no problem communicating. We communicate using MSN and Email in Chinese Pin Yin. Is there a way to present myself to the Consulate in Guanzhou to make my case before her interview?

Most GUZ interviews are in Mandarin or Cantonese. She should be prepared to explain and show evidence of how the two of you communicate.

Thanks for all the responses! How fluent are the Consulate in Mandarin Chinese? Will they be able to communicate effectively without misunderstanding. I will not be there for her interview. I speak both English and Mandarin Chinese fluently. We have no problem communicating. We communicate using MSN and Email in Chinese Pin Yin. Is there a way to present myself to the Consulate in Guanzhou to make my case before her interview?

[Longbranch 2]

The little lady said the putonghua spoken during her interview and those around her was more than acceptable. They also have staff if VO gets confused.

She will be making your case during the interview, as well as the material you submitted for the application process.

Don't let all the typing and staring upset your lady during the interview. It's been 18 months and laopo still remembers it like it was yesterday.

[Darnell 8,478]

Is this 'EOR' letter a requirement, optional or only needed at certain consulates? This is the first I've ever heard of it. I suppose in any case, it couldn't hurt to have one.

The reason this topic caught my eye is that my fiancee speaks almost no English other than a few words/phrases that I've taught her and I routinely butcher Spanish when I attempt to speak it (although she claims otherwise). Either way, I don't hear it very well except when she's speaking directly to me and only because I'm familiar with her vocabulary and she slows her speech for my benefit. If the CO at the consulate speaks to me in Spanish as 'proof' of ability to communicate, I'm sunk...

is not routine, is not 'standard', however, GUZ IV (Guangzhou China) dings beneficiaries about communication abilities, often - so an Evolution of Relationship letter 'fixes' a lot of silliness, in Guangzhou.

Is it required? No, not even in China. But for China, Specifically, is frickin USEFUL.

[Darnell 8,478]

Thanks for all the responses! How fluent are the Consulate in Mandarin Chinese? Will they be able to communicate effectively without misunderstanding. I will not be there for her interview. I speak both English and Mandarin Chinese fluently. We have no problem communicating. We communicate using MSN and Email in Chinese Pin Yin. Is there a way to present myself to the Consulate in Guanzhou to make my case before her interview?

Most VOs speak rudimentary (if angry) mandarin. There are staff there, chinese nationals, to assist with translations. Silly Example - BeiJing Mandarin not same speed and accent as Wuhan Mandarin, so if your lass is a 'speed listener' from BeiJing, she's gonna need to slow down her listening skills, much. Angry Mandarin is not so nice to listen to.

re: communication ability- SHOW IT IN THE EVOLUTION OF RELATIONSHIP LETTER.

re: presenting yourself - yes - via American Citizens Hour - held on Mondays ... see http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/contactiv.html at the bottom, but I swear is some appointment system for this ? I can't remember exactly.

[xyang 0]

Most VOs speak rudimentary (if angry) mandarin. There are staff there, chinese nationals, to assist with translations. Silly Example - BeiJing Mandarin not same speed and accent as Wuhan Mandarin, so if your lass is a 'speed listener' from BeiJing, she's gonna need to slow down her listening skills, much. Angry Mandarin is not so nice to listen to.

re: communication ability- SHOW IT IN THE EVOLUTION OF RELATIONSHIP LETTER.

re: presenting yourself - yes - via American Citizens Hour - held on Mondays ... see http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/contactiv.html at the bottom, but I swear is some appointment system for this ? I can't remember exactly.

Thanks for the sugestion I am already working on my letter. Now should I get it notarized and then have my Fiancee give it to them during her interview or can I front load it? And how exactly do you front load documents. I just heard this phrase thrown around on here. Just wanted to know exactly what they mean.

[Longbranch 2]

Little too late to front load your petition. You are coming down the home stretch quickly. If I recall correctly the appointment system at GUZ was for services, ie paspport pages, notorizations, etc. ACH was a first come first served with a number from the door.

[Audy_Rob 26]

Thanks for the sugestion I am already working on my letter. Now should I get it notarized and then have my Fiancee give it to them during her interview or can I front load it? And how exactly do you front load documents. I just heard this phrase thrown around on here. Just wanted to know exactly what they mean.

Front loading means to submit papers or documents with your I-129F petition (Front) intended for use at the Embassy such as evidence of a bona fide relationship. One person in particular believes this is the only way to get through the Embassy/Consulate in Ecuador.

You are in good shape with communication because you speak the same languages. You and your fiance(e) need to make this well known with examples of your communication. Email, chat logs, actual cards mailed, mobile phone bills, etc...

Good luck.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Is this 'EOR' letter a requirement, optional or only needed at certain consulates? This is the first I've ever heard of it. I suppose in any case, it couldn't hurt to have one.

It depends on the consulate. The consulate in HCMC, Vietnam, often requests the same sort of letter from the petitioner, but they refer to it as a "timeline of relationship", and VJ members with fiancees/spouses in Vietnam just call it the "timeline". We haven't invented an acronym like "TOR" for it.

Spend time in the regional forum for idiosyncrasies about the consulate where your fiancee will interview.

The reason this topic caught my eye is that my fiancee speaks almost no English other than a few words/phrases that I've taught her and I routinely butcher Spanish when I attempt to speak it (although she claims otherwise). Either way, I don't hear it very well except when she's speaking directly to me and only because I'm familiar with her vocabulary and she slows her speech for my benefit. If the CO at the consulate speaks to me in Spanish as 'proof' of ability to communicate, I'm sunk...

There is a new member whose fiancee's interview went down in flames in Cambodia for this very reason. Lack of a common language is a very strong reason for denial, especially in high fraud countries. The consulates don't seem to realize that this is the 21st century, and people with little common language knowledge can communicate effectively over the internet.

In any case, many consulates don't allow the petitioner to attend the interview, so the chances of the consulate actually seeing first hand how the petitioner and beneficiary handle both languages is practically nil. If the beneficiary has a big pile of evidence that they communicate frequently, then the common language question probably won't be an issue. If you are permitted to attend the interview in Columbia, and if you plan on doing so, then one of you should get busy trying to learn the other's language as much as possible.

[Darnell 8,478]

Thanks for the sugestion I am already working on my letter. Now should I get it notarized and then have my Fiancee give it to them during her interview or can I front load it? And how exactly do you front load documents. I just heard this phrase thrown around on here. Just wanted to know exactly what they mean.

Since the I-129F was already submitted (I assume it was) then is not concept of 'frontloading' for you, anymore.

EORs are handed over on interview day, usually TO the VO (not the document screener), early on in the interview.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN CHINA a week prior, with her, going to handle medical exams with her, help with interview prep, etc etc -

then strongly suggest you GO TO ACS (American Citizen Services) and get the EOR notarized, prior to interview day. This requires an appointment, is not any walk-in service for this.

IMO, the 'best way' to hand over the EOR, is to fold it lengthwise, put it inside YOUR passport (which she hand carries into the interview, btw) and then she gives the VO your passport, EOR inside it, early on in the interview.

Suggest you study (soonish) about 6 pages of topics in the China forum, here ....

Good Luck ! (and please update yer official VJ timeline, when you have a moment ? )