Any options for petitioner unable to attend embassy interview

[Rich and Lenochka 0]

The love of my life is going to be attending her K-1 interview in Kiev on May 22. Great! But I will be unable to attend; I work in a hospital and we are moving all hospital operations into a new building on the very same day.

I tried to no avail to get the time off so I could attend the interview. I know that my Lenochka would appreciate my presence as a show of support and it might even help our chances of sailing through the interview and getting the visa.

Lenochka has come across all kinds of advice online regarding the interview process, including one gem where it is recommended for the absentee petitioner to phone the embassy prior to the interview date and explain to the consulate the situation as to why the petitioner will be unable to attend. It was also mentioned that it might be helpful for the absentee petitioner to email the consulate and make him/her self available by phone at the time of the interview.

These ideas were news to me. I know I am not the first who was unable to attend the interview, but I have provided a ton of evidence of our relationship which will be presented at the interview.

Anybody out there heard of anything I might consider doing as a show of support to the consulate on my beneficiaries behalf?

Thanks for you help!

Rich

RIch, Lenochka, and Roma

[Tygrys 143]

Calling or emailing the consulate won't do much, I doubt they will add the record of it to the case file.

You can write a letter explaning that you wanted to attend but was unable to and giving your contact number "in case there are any questions" to the petitioner.

Notarize it and send it to your fiancee who will take it to the interview.

She can hand it to the interviewer with "my fiance intended to attend but was unable because of his work schedule" and a big smile.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The love of my life is going to be attending her K-1 interview in Kiev on May 22. Great! But I will be unable to attend; I work in a hospital and we are moving all hospital operations into a new building on the very same day.

I tried to no avail to get the time off so I could attend the interview. I know that my Lenochka would appreciate my presence as a show of support and it might even help our chances of sailing through the interview and getting the visa.

Lenochka has come across all kinds of advice online regarding the interview process, including one gem where it is recommended for the absentee petitioner to phone the embassy prior to the interview date and explain to the consulate the situation as to why the petitioner will be unable to attend. It was also mentioned that it might be helpful for the absentee petitioner to email the consulate and make him/her self available by phone at the time of the interview.

These ideas were news to me. I know I am not the first who was unable to attend the interview, but I have provided a ton of evidence of our relationship which will be presented at the interview.

Anybody out there heard of anything I might consider doing as a show of support to the consulate on my beneficiaries behalf?

Thanks for you help!

Rich

RIch, Lenochka, and Roma

Not much you can do, no. It is her interview anyway, even if there, they rarely ask the petitioner anything. Your presence is not required and I have never heard it suggested that the presence of the petitioner makes any difference in a decision at Kiev. Keep in mind the consulate will have NO negative impression about you not being there, by far most petitioners are NOT there.

I mean you can send a letter "Gee, I wish I were there" but what does that mean? It doesn't help anything material. The main purpose for being there is to support your fiancee.

They will not email you or call you. The interviews last about 1 minute, maybe 5 minutes for a grueling "3rd Degree" Ours was about 30 seconds. If they need anything from you they will issue her a 221g and you will provide it, later. They do not call and ask questions or email and wait for repsonse. It is "Wham Bam thank you Ma'am" and that's it. NEXT!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Calling or emailing the consulate won't do much, I doubt they will add the record of it to the case file.

You can write a letter explaning that you wanted to attend but was unable to and giving your contact number "in case there are any questions" to the petitioner.

Notarize it and send it to your fiancee who will take it to the interview.

She can hand it to the interviewer with "my fiance intended to attend but was unable because of his work schedule" and a big smile.

Not sure about Warsaw but in Kiev the guy she will hand that to and smile at is a clerk that collects documents and turns them over to someone else. Since the letter is not on his checklist, it will go into the "other evidence" stack and he may or may not even collect it and it may or may not be read by anyone actually making a decision.

Couldn't hurt, but I do not imagine much usefulness. If you evidence of relationship is good...no sweat

[Tygrys 143]

Not sure about Warsaw but in Kiev the guy she will hand that to and smile at is a clerk that collects documents and turns them over to someone else. Since the letter is not on his checklist, it will go into the "other evidence" stack and he may or may not even collect it and it may or may not be read by anyone actually making a decision.

Couldn't hurt, but I do not imagine much usefulness. If you evidence of relationship is good...no sweat

So, you don't talk to the CO at all in Kiev?

I attended my wife's (then fiancee's) K1 interview in Warsaw. It was really a little bit by chance since I had a trip to Poland planned anyway and the consulate accomodated my request (by email) for an earlier than original interview date becuese of that.

We both talked to the CO although I did most talking and it took maybe 5-7 minutes. I guess it entirely depends on the CO you get. Ours seemed to be interested in our whole story, maybe because we included a picture when we're both 5 years old (from the kindergarten where we first met) and he came accross it. Anyway, I fully agree that K1 interviews (other than in high fraud countries) are a breeze.

I would still send that letter to your fiancee. It may be not looked at at all, but may give HER more assurance and confidence.

[tom&tanya 48]

I wasn't able to attend Tanya's interview. It wasn't a problem and she sailed right through.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So, you don't talk to the CO at all in Kiev?

I attended my wife's (then fiancee's) K1 interview in Warsaw. It was really a little bit by chance since I had a trip to Poland planned anyway and the consulate accomodated my request (by email) for an earlier than original interview date becuese of that.

We both talked to the CO although I did most talking and it took maybe 5-7 minutes. I guess it entirely depends on the CO you get. Ours seemed to be interested in our whole story, maybe because we included a picture when we're both 5 years old (from the kindergarten where we first met) and he came accross it. Anyway, I fully agree that K1 interviews (other than in high fraud countries) are a breeze.

I would still send that letter to your fiancee. It may be not looked at at all, but may give HER more assurance and confidence.

You do not talk to a CO until the actual interview and it is not the guy taking the documents. They may or may not allow the petitioner to walk up to the window, seems about 50/50. Even if they do, they rarely speak to the petitioner. If you do not go to the window you sit just a few feet away.

Our interview amounted to them calling her name, we walked to the window, the guy said "You are approved, here are your original documents. Take this card to the FedEx window to arrange delivery of your passport. Any questions?" "um, no, bye"

[baron555 934]

If she can not prove you have a legitimate relationship on her own,,,,,then maybe you need to work on the relationship.

I didn't attend my wife's interview and she was eventually approved.

[1HappyGuy 45]

I didn't attend the visa interview with my Lena. We never even discussed it. We both knew that she would be asked questions and it was up to me to insure that the proper documents were there. We have been married for almost 6 1/2 years now so I guess my presence at the interview was not necessary. Use your time better to plan for her arrival. You will want to take time off from work when she arrives.

You are heading into the home stretch, so prepare you home for her and get ready for the best part of all this, the reunion!

[Neonred 3,564]

Our interview amounted to them calling her name, we walked to the window, the guy said "You are approved, here are your original documents. Take this card to the FedEx window to arrange delivery of your passport. Any questions?" "um, no, bye"

Reinforces the thought that most visa decisions are made prior to the interview.

[slim 1,525]

You won't be the first.... won't be the last.

Give her a big thumbs up and let her be a big girl.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Erased my answer because it's not actually relevant to this thread...sorry bout that!

Edited May 18, 2012 by Amy_and_Victor

[TBoneTX 45,298]

Anyway, I fully agree that K1 interviews (other than in high fraud countries) are a breeze.

Grrrr, man.