Language used at Interview

[harry1 0]

My wife and stepson will have interview at Guangzhou Consulate next month. They don't speak much English. Is that a probelm?

[Sam and Fen 41]

If they do not speak much English and if you do not speak any Chinese it may be a problem as the VO might question how you communicate.

If you do speak Chinese then you can always request the interview to be in Chinese.

[harry1 0]

If they do not speak much English and if you do not speak any Chinese it may be a problem as the VO might question how you communicate.

If you do speak Chinese then you can always request the interview to be in Chinese.

oh, I do speak Chinese. My question is that if there is communication problem between them and the immigration officer.

Do they need to request that in Chinese right now or at the interview time? Thanks

[Sam and Fen 41]

oh, I do speak Chinese. My question is that if there is communication problem between them and the immigration officer.

Do they need to request that in Chinese right now or at the interview time? Thanks

You can request that at interview time (not sure if you can make that request at document handover time).

[LBeachey 45]

The interview is a two-part process. The first day you show up at 12:30 and they do document intake. The clerk is Chinese and will document intake in Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese). They will ask what language you want to do the interview in.

The next morning at 7:30 is the actual interview with the American visa officer. They will do the interview in Chinese as requested. I believe most of the VO's speak at least Mandarin. I think they also have a limited number of translators available if there is an issue (such as speaking only Cantonese).

If you the USC were born in China, there should be no issue on how you communicate. If not, just make sure you spouse is prepared to describe or demonstrate how you communicate. Couples have successfully passed even when one speaks only English and the other only Chinese but you need to show how you communicate as it is a question the VO will want answered.

Edited July 18, 2011 by LBeachey

[harry1 0]

Thank you all.

[Azzudiin 26]

They will ask what language you want to do the interview in.

Actually they will not ask you what language you want to do interview in, what is asked at document turn in is "Do you speak English?"

If you answer truthfully, no problem. Answer no and you will get a VO that is fluent in Chinese. Answer yes and you will be assigned a VO that speaks Chinese but not great, and the majority of the interview will be in English.

[dan_ling 6]

When my wife had her interview she asked the VO if she could do the interview in Chinese but the VO said "Lets try in English first" so most of my wife's interview was done in English.

[LBeachey 45]

When my wife had her interview she asked the VO if she could do the interview in Chinese but the VO said "Lets try in English first" so most of my wife's interview was done in English.

For many interviews in Guangzhou where the VO has no major concerns, the questions are pretty easy and do not require more than a intermediate level of English to respond. The concern is the beneficiary does not understand the question and then answers it wrong. It is important that they understand they can ask for the question to be repeated in Chinese if they are not clear what is being asked.

[Casprd 167]

For many interviews in Guangzhou where the VO has no major concerns, the questions are pretty easy and do not require more than a intermediate level of English to respond. The concern is the beneficiary does not understand the question and then answers it wrong. It is important that they understand they can ask for the question to be repeated in Chinese if they are not clear what is being asked.