Interview Preparation

[Bob & Joana 2]

I was reading through the interview preparation PDF on the dep of state website. I am kinda confused on a few things:

-for the list on the interview all the relevant items have code O or Y next to them. Does this mean the embassy will have all these already or does my wife need to bring the originals with here even though I provided originals(for both the O and Y coded items)?

-She has already completed her medical, so does she need to bring passport photos or will st. lukes be providing the 2 photos(they had her give them 3)?

-For the medical results it says she should bring them in but I assume st. lukes will be doing that instead? Does she need to bring the Chest X-ray CD(or what is that used for otherwise?)

-Affidavit of Support was filed through NVC, so does she need a copy of that or will the embassy just go off of the original filed with them?

-The packet also didnt say anything about evidence or whatever, but I know she should bring in a photo album. We dont have any evidence aside from photos, and maybe xoom receipts if that counts and the many trips i've made there. Will that be enough?

-The CEMAR or Marriage Index isnt mentioned but I've seen people say it is required. Can anyone elaborate on this?

Sorry lots of questions I just want to be sure she is prepared well in advance!

[sld 5]

Call the Embassy, they will help you. 214-571-1600 7PM-7AM (Eastern Standard Time)

[Cathi 5,748]

Th one question I can answer is that even though she brought 3 passport pictures for her medical, she will also need to bring 2 additional photos to the interview. Good luck!

[lvchic 2]

For the CEMAR thing, you should tell your wife to get a copy, just incase they will be needing it at USEM, it's already inside her folder

[Mark and Rassel 9]

I was reading through the interview preparation PDF on the dep of state website. I am kinda confused on a few things:

-for the list on the interview all the relevant items have code O or Y next to them. Does this mean the embassy will have all these already or does my wife need to bring the originals with here even though I provided originals(for both the O and Y coded items)?

>>> See Below

-She has already completed her medical, so does she need to bring passport photos or will st. lukes be providing the 2 photos(they had her give them 3)?

>>> I would bring them - and perhaps 2 extra

-For the medical results it says she should bring them in but I assume st. lukes will be doing that instead? Does she need to bring the Chest X-ray CD(or what is that used for otherwise?)

>>> Bring all the results from the medical - including the CD

-Affidavit of Support was filed through NVC, so does she need a copy of that or will the embassy just go off of the original filed with them?

>>> See below

-The packet also didnt say anything about evidence or whatever, but I know she should bring in a photo album. We dont have any evidence aside from photos, and maybe xoom receipts if that counts and the many trips i've made there. Will that be enough?

>>> See below

-The CEMAR or Marriage Index isnt mentioned but I've seen people say it is required. Can anyone elaborate on this?

>>> There is such a thing as a CEMAR, get one and keep it with her. This is NOT the same thing as a marriage certificate. I didn't think such a thing would exist or be necessary, it does and is. More below on this.

Sorry lots of questions I just want to be sure she is prepared well in advance!

When Rassel went for her interview she was quite nervous. The only thing that was really under OUR control was how we prepared. She (very smart!) organized her interview package like a 'cache' - the most likely to be requested forms and documentation were organized into a smaller quickly accessed hand held pocket filing system. The kind you can get at the National Book store for school or organizing bills and etc. Everything else went into a another larger hand held file and the proof of relationship went into a separate photo album. For proof of relationship we had wedding pictures, a couple of pages of Skype logs, medical receipts, rental receipts, xoom receipts, internet service receipts, airline ticket stubs, Visa/MasterCard in our names - you name it she had a copy of it. I carried the 'deep storage' stuff. These are the things that although the embassy has a perfect right to ask for, was not specifically called out in the notification letter: My divorce certificate, our Original Marriage Certificate, her Baptismal Certificate, my IRS documentation showing my income/tax paid for the last 3 years, letter of employment from my employer showing my income, when I started working there, and my current positions title all on letter head. The list goes on and on . . . Remember that this is your ONE (well, ok, you might have a second chance . . . ) to convince a COMPLETE stranger that you and your wife have bonafide loving marital relationship. This is you and your wives job to do this - no one else can (or should) help. After you have organized all your proof and paperwork, make sure you have scanned in copies of it and have stored it away electronically in a USB stick, a computer, iPad or whatever. She should have her original passport, postal id, drivers license (if any) and scanned copies of these documents should be stored electronically or printed out and put in that 'deep storage'.

Remember, its up to YOU to make sure that you present an air-tight and iron-clad picture of your relationship that can flourish under ANY scrutiny. Make it so that no possible question can go unanswered . . . rehearse . . . rehearse and rehearse more. (Ask her randomly through the day . . . what city do I live in? Where do I work? What do I do for a living? Do I own a house? etc etc) . Be a hard-@55 like a trial lawyer . . . present a case and win!

The truth is that you have no idea what your interviewers will ask for, therefore you must be prepared with a reply and paperwork (proof) to all possible questions. If you were that person interviewing you, attempting to find out if you really had a bonafide relationship; what questions would you ask you? Make sure you can answer those questions confidently, quickly and precisely.

Sorry for the long answer . . . my attitude was that this was the 'World Series" and we were there to win. And we won! So can you - just prepare in a meticulous and thorough manner and you'll be both together in no time . . . The end result should be a package that she carries into the interview that can answer and prove any possible question that the interviewer might have.

Rassel and Mark

[sld 5]

When Rassel went for her interview she was quite nervous. The only thing that was really under OUR control was how we prepared. She (very smart!) organized her interview package like a 'cache' - the most likely to be requested forms and documentation were organized into a smaller quickly accessed hand held pocket filing system. The kind you can get at the National Book store for school or organizing bills and etc. Everything else went into a another larger hand held file and the proof of relationship went into a separate photo album. For proof of relationship we had wedding pictures, a couple of pages of Skype logs, medical receipts, rental receipts, xoom receipts, internet service receipts, airline ticket stubs, Visa/MasterCard in our names - you name it she had a copy of it. I carried the 'deep storage' stuff. These are the things that although the embassy has a perfect right to ask for, was not specifically called out in the notification letter: My divorce certificate, our Original Marriage Certificate, her Baptismal Certificate, my IRS documentation showing my income/tax paid for the last 3 years, letter of employment from my employer showing my income, when I started working there, and my current positions title all on letter head. The list goes on and on . . . Remember that this is your ONE (well, ok, you might have a second chance . . . ) to convince a COMPLETE stranger that you and your wife have bonafide loving marital relationship. This is you and your wives job to do this - no one else can (or should) help. After you have organized all your proof and paperwork, make sure you have scanned in copies of it and have stored it away electronically in a USB stick, a computer, iPad or whatever. She should have her original passport, postal id, drivers license (if any) and scanned copies of these documents should be stored electronically or printed out and put in that 'deep storage'.

Remember, its up to YOU to make sure that you present an air-tight and iron-clad picture of your relationship that can flourish under ANY scrutiny. Make it so that no possible question can go unanswered . . . rehearse . . . rehearse and rehearse more. (Ask her randomly through the day . . . what city do I live in? Where do I work? What do I do for a living? Do I own a house? etc etc) . Be a hard-@55 like a trial lawyer . . . present a case and win!

The truth is that you have no idea what your interviewers will ask for, therefore you must be prepared with a reply and paperwork (proof) to all possible questions. If you were that person interviewing you, attempting to find out if you really had a bonafide relationship; what questions would you ask you? Make sure you can answer those questions confidently, quickly and precisely.

Sorry for the long answer . . . my attitude was that this was the 'World Series" and we were there to win. And we won! So can you - just prepare in a meticulous and thorough manner and you'll be both together in no time . . . The end result should be a package that she carries into the interview that can answer and prove any possible question that the interviewer might have.

Rassel and Mark

What did you need at the interview?