Brazilian adult and minor... B2 visa interview

[bramerican 0]

I am a brazilian citizen applying for a B2 visitor's visa to the United States. My sister is also applying for a B2 visitor's visa. I added her as a family member when scheduling my appointments with the Applicant Service Center and with the Consulate, and so I am listed as the "primary applicant" while she is also listed as an applicant in the "appointment confirmation" I received. Will we be attending the same interview together at the Consulate? or will we be interviewed separately?

Secondly, my sister is 16 years old. Will one of our parents need to attend the interview with her? or will it suffice for her to present our parents' original birth certificates and court documents indicating permission to travel with me?

Lastly, my husband is an American citizen and will be traveling with us. Is he able to attend the interview with me at the Consulate? [/size][/size][/size]

[Ryan H 3,828]

You both will be interviewed separately. Your husband will not be able to attend the interview.

[Tricia599 2]

I can't comment on your first questions, but as far as the last one - if your USC husband can attend the interview - I would say yes. I was with my husband for his tourism visa interview at the SP consulate the whole time about 4 years ago(I am the USC). Just make sure he has his passport with him. If you're concerned, you may want to send an email to confirm that they will let him in.

Having said that, there was another thread a few days ago about tourism visas - you can probably find it on the portal page. Getting a tourism visa when you are married to a USC is no cake walk. In fact, it's even harder. They assume you are going for the tourism visa to circumvent the immigration process. I was told point blank by the consular officer who interviewed my husband for his B2 that they routinely deny spouses of USCs who have been married a short amount of time.

I don't mean to be a downer, but you need to be prepared for this. If you've been married for less than 3 years, make sure you have a lot of evidence of your ties to Brasil.

Good luck!

[bramerican 0]

I can't comment on your first questions, but as far as the last one - if your USC husband can attend the interview - I would say yes. I was with my husband for his tourism visa interview at the SP consulate the whole time about 4 years ago(I am the USC). Just make sure he has his passport with him. If you're concerned, you may want to send an email to confirm that they will let him in.

Having said that, there was another thread a few days ago about tourism visas - you can probably find it on the portal page. Getting a tourism visa when you are married to a USC is no cake walk. In fact, it's even harder. They assume you are going for the tourism visa to circumvent the immigration process. I was told point blank by the consular officer who interviewed my husband for his B2 that they routinely deny spouses of USCs who have been married a short amount of time.

I don't mean to be a downer, but you need to be prepared for this. If you've been married for less than 3 years, make sure you have a lot of evidence of your ties to Brasil.

Good luck!

Would it be to our advantage or disadvantage if I presented evidence that my husband has already started the process for permanent residency in Brazil?

[Tricia599 2]

Would it be to our advantage or disadvantage if I presented evidence that my husband has already started the process for permanent residency in Brazil?

Really, the fact that your husband has filed for residency might not make that much of a difference. The point is to prove that you have strong ties to Brazil.

My opinion is that they make their mind up before you even get to the interview window just based on your application. I have spoken with numerous people who said that they didn't even get a chance to show the additional evidence they brought with them. When I went with my husband, we were in the same situation - we weren't planning on moving to the US at the time and I had filed for permanent residency in Brazil. Because my husband was so nervous, I spoke up and talked to the consular officer. It turns out that we were both exchange students through Rotary and that is how we came to know Brazil. I truly believe that is what got my husband approved. Had I not been with him and had that connection to the consular officer, he would've been denied. The thing that I most remember is the officer saying "I believe you" - and that's what's important, that they believe that you will return to Brazil.

You have to show your ties to Brazil - steady job (I don't know if being fichada helps here), property, bank accounts, family, education, etc. - are really important. Unfortunately, a lot of it depends on the mood of the consul as well. You kind of just have to hope for the best!