Visas Approved Before Interview Even Happens?

[TBoneTX 45,299]

Most of the responses are on track, but they're circling around the meat of the issue. If the papers are in order, the evidence is solid, and there are no red flags, the consul can have approval in mind, and the actual interview may be perfunctory. This is when sensible front-loading of an I-129F or CR-1 petition pays off. If the consul has the chance to look through the additional evidence that's handed over to the consular personnel in person before the actual interview, more the better.

Other factors come into play, however: the consul could be on a power-trip; the consulate may have had reports that several of their approvals were of beneficiaries who ditched their USC and disappeared within the U.S., and the consuls decide to crack down on the next batch of interviewees; the consulate is in a high-fraud country anyway; or any other variable or set of circumstances. In several consulates, it's a de facto requirement that the USC petitioner be there in person for the first interview, or the visa will be refused outright or a 221g will be issued.

Edited September 29, 2011 by TBoneTX

[Ben and Jill 37]

wow - so you are now the 3rd person i saw that mentioned this happening to them, although the first i've seen on this site. i'm more convinced that this can and does happen - maybe more than we even know.

It does it seems. I kept asking Ben..."are you sure you saw that approval on the paperwork?" We were very conscientious with our paperwork and Ben knew for certain what he was looking at even though it was upside down, LOL. I just thought it strange so I kept asking him if he was certain. It's weird though because the Consular Officer gave Ben a really hard time, she was not nice at all, and the things she said to him would make your hair curl, LOL. Maybe she was pissed because it was already approved and she had no power, hahaha.

[Ben and Jill 37]

Most of the responses are on track, but they're circling around the meat of the issue. If the papers are in order, the evidence is solid, and there are no red flags, the consul can have approval in mind, and the actual interview may be perfunctory. This is when sensible front-loading of an I-129F or CR-1 petition pays off. If the consul has the chance to look through the additional evidence that's handed over to the consular personnel in person before the actual interview, more the better.

Other factors come into play, however: the consul could be on a power-trip; the consulate may have had reports that several of their approvals were of beneficiaries who ditched their USC and disappeared within the U.S., and the consuls decide to crack down on the next batch of interviewees; the consulate is in a high-fraud country anyway; or any other variable or set of circumstances. In several consulates, it's a de facto requirement that the USC petitioner be there in person for the first interview, or the visa will be refused outright or a 221g will be issued.

I agree 100% about front-loading the petitions...I did this with the utmost care and provided everything they would need, but was also careful not to front-load it with 300 sheets of paper (I double-sided our emails, phone bills, and handwritten letters). I truly feel if they have the additional evidence and everything is neat and organized, that it really does help. Our paperwork was neatly typed, and all of our evidence was organized with tabs, as was the rest of our petition package. I did the same for our AOS package...perfectly organized and front-loaded with additional evidence. I hope it goes smoothly.

Edited September 29, 2011 by Ben and Jill