How to discuss visa matters with employers

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

How do you approach visa matters such as requesting time off to attend your spouse's visa interview with your employer?

In particular with a new employer? I'm not sure if I should bring it up at the interview or not.

If I am offered the position, what should I say about the date since we do not have an interview date scheduled yet?

My parents are advising me not to bring it up as they feel it will hurt my chances of getting the job but I would like to give my future potential company some advance notice without appearing flaky and unreliable.

I really need to attend that interview with my husband. I really think my presence will make a world of a difference.

What is the best way to request time off without having a date set yet?

[Darnell 8,478]

what I did, ages past when I was an employee -

was in the job interview - I mentioned that I have some scheduled thing in another country that I cannot get out of, and I'm happy to take unpaid time off to attend to it.

That worked, for me, circa 2003. No, it wasn't a visa interview, but it was a big trip that I had already paid for, my Singapura Scouting Expedition.

[NikLR 13,227]

When I was first hired by my current company I told them I had a trip planned and needed such and such dates off. Had they said that was going to be a problem I wouldn't have taken the job. I should have thought about starting AFTER that vacation because at my current job it was paid time off and then it went to unpaid.

I would mention when you need time off for an important matter out of country, but aren't sure of the exact dates yet but will let them know as soon as you do.

[Panda Sky 5]

I would mention that you do have family matter that you have to attend to in another country that you can't get out of - just don't know when it is. I don't think you have to explain exactly what. But I would not mentioned it at the interview but at the time they offer you the job.

I have interviewed future employees before and I think asking for time off - no matter the reason - is a BIG turn off to me, the interviewer.

If I've decided on your skills and experience that I want to hire you. Mentioning to me when I offer you the job is the best time. Assuming you are not gone for too long and the employer is not immediate need of someone. But if they really like you - they might be willing to wait.

Good luck.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

When I was first hired by my current company I told them I had a trip planned and needed such and such dates off. Had they said that was going to be a problem I wouldn't have taken the job. I should have thought about starting AFTER that vacation because at my current job it was paid time off and then it went to unpaid.

I would mention when you need time off for an important matter out of country, but aren't sure of the exact dates yet but will let them know as soon as you do.

It's just so hard to explain without having a date set yet. I feel that the employer will think that you are unorganized or other negative thoughts. At the same time, explaining that it is a visa interview will not be understood to the average joe whom is not familiar with immigration. It may lead them to thinking other untrue things. We are trying to push through NVC quickly but India is incredibly slow. My husband has to wait almost a month just to get his police record .

I guess I will have to turn down the position if they have an issue because as I said, there is no way I can skip that visa interview.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

I would mention that you do have family matter that you have to attend to in another country that you can't get out of - just don't know when it is. I don't think you have to explain exactly what. But I would not mentioned it at the interview but at the time they offer you the job.

I have interviewed future employees before and I think asking for time off - no matter the reason - is a BIG turn off to me, the interviewer.

If I've decided on your skills and experience that I want to hire you. Mentioning to me when I offer you the job is the best time. Assuming you are not gone for too long and the employer is not immediate need of someone. But if they really like you - they might be willing to wait.

Good luck.

What if they specifically ask during the interview if I have any obligations in the next several months? In the past, I have been asked this question at an interview. I would think that should they ask I should provide a truthful answer instead of denying it and then later mentioning that I was wrong, I do have an obligation.

[Cathi 5,748]

It's just so hard to explain without having a date set yet. I feel that the employer will think that you are unorganized or other negative thoughts. At the same time, explaining that it is a visa interview will not be understood to the average joe whom is not familiar with immigration. It may lead them to thinking other untrue things. We are trying to push through NVC quickly but India is incredibly slow. My husband has to wait almost a month just to get his police record .

I guess I will have to turn down the position if they have an issue because as I said, there is no way I can skip that visa interview.

lead them to think what untrue things? I think you are letting your imagination get the best of you. I have interviewed many people in my day, and I have had a few tell me that they needed time off for already planned vacations at the interview, I hired them anyway. I would have been more upset if they had told me AFTER they were hired because had they waited to tell me. I would have been angry that they knew their plans but didn't give me, the employer, a heads up. It is common courtesy to tell them, and if you are qualified and they truly want you, they will probably be willing to give you the time off unpaid. Just make sure you don't take a lot of time, just enough to go to the interview, then return. I think that people will understand the importance of you being at the interview, even if they aren't familiar with immigration. Explain the process to them. Honesty is always best.

[Cathi 5,748]

What if they specifically ask during the interview if I have any obligations in the next several months? In the past, I have been asked this question at an interview. I would think that should they ask I should provide a truthful answer instead of denying it and then later mentioning that I was wrong, I do have an obligation.

I have never heard of an employees asking a potential employee if they have obligations in the "next several months". Why would you not tell them at the interview? Don;t you think they would be upset that you knew before you were hired you would have to attend the interview but didn't bother to mention it? Many people know the immigration process, if not from someone in the family or friends, then from acquaintances. Why not just tell the truth. Explain that your spouse has an upcoming interview for their visa, and that you need to be there, tell them as soon as you find out the date of the interview you will inform them so they have time to plan for you absence. Interviews are scheduled weeks in advance, in many cases a month to 6 weeks even longer sometimes. It isn't like you will find out the day before the interview, you will have plenty of time to give your employer notice.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

lead them to think what untrue things? I think you are letting your imagination get the best of you. I have interviewed many people in my day, and I have had a few tell me that they needed time off for already planned vacations at the interview, I hired them anyway. I would have been more upset if they had told me AFTER they were hired because had they waited to tell me. I would have been angry that they knew their plans but didn't give me, the employer, a heads up. It is common courtesy to tell them, and if you are qualified and they truly want you, they will probably be willing to give you the time off unpaid. Just make sure you don't take a lot of time, just enough to go to the interview, then return. I think that people will understand the importance of you being at the interview, even if they aren't familiar with immigration. Explain the process to them. Honesty is always best.

What I meant by "untrue things" is that people who don't know a thing about immigration tend to come to the wrong conclusion when "visa" or "immigrant" is brought up. My husband being from a high fraud country doesn't help either. I doubt they would even blink if I said he was British, Italian, or Canadian. I'd rather be honest but I just don't trust people to sympathize with my situation.

I'm going to be honest but not too detailed. I was thinking of saying something like "My husband is a foreigner. I need to go to his home country to address something related to our marriage. We will need to attend an interview together. At this time, an interview has not been scheduled yet. As soon as I know the date, I will inform you immediately. The date will most likely be in June or July and I would like to request a maximum of 7 days to allow for travel".

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

I have never heard of an employees asking a potential employee if they have obligations in the "next several months". Why would you not tell them at the interview? Don;t you think they would be upset that you knew before you were hired you would have to attend the interview but didn't bother to mention it? Many people know the immigration process, if not from someone in the family or friends, then from acquaintances. Why not just tell the truth. Explain that your spouse has an upcoming interview for their visa, and that you need to be there, tell them as soon as you find out the date of the interview you will inform them so they have time to plan for you absence. Interviews are scheduled weeks in advance, in many cases a month to 6 weeks even longer sometimes. It isn't like you will find out the day before the interview, you will have plenty of time to give your employer notice.

My current employer asked me at the interview if I had anything planned that I would need time off for.

One above poster said not to mention vacation time requests at the interview. I tend to disagree with that because like you said, it would not appear professional to conceal that information and bring it up later.

[Panda Sky 5]

What if they specifically ask during the interview if I have any obligations in the next several months? In the past, I have been asked this question at an interview. I would think that should they ask I should provide a truthful answer instead of denying it and then later mentioning that I was wrong, I do have an obligation.

If they ask, of couse, you have to tell them. Don't deny it.

I just think saying at the interview that you need time off is presumptuous when you don't even know they are going to offer you a job.

I don't think that's lying or misleading if they didn't ask specifically.

Personally, being on both end of the interview before, I would not mention the time off at the interview but most definitely do before I accept their offer. They can always say they really need someone and can't let you go. Which at the point - you can take the offer or not. Don't wait until you've accepted the job to tell them. That would be unprofessional.

Edited March 16, 2013 by Panda Sky

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I'm going to be honest but not too detailed. I was thinking of saying something like "My husband is a foreigner. I need to go to his home country to address something related to our marriage. We will need to attend an interview together. At this time, an interview has not been scheduled yet. As soon as I know the date, I will inform you immediately. The date will most likely be in June or July and I would like to request a maximum of 7 days to allow for travel".

Oh god no! Don't say that! That's awful! Sounds so so bad.

I wouldn't mention it. I would ask them about benefits, paid time off etc in the interview like a normal person would. If they asked about "plans" which I doubt, I would simply say "I may need to attend to some family matters overseas but I should get ample warning, which I would then give you, and i should only require a week off which I would of course be willing to take unpaid". As others suggested though, I would only mention that AFTER hiring unless they ask specifically.

Personally, after I was hired I had to meet with the HR lady to get all my benefits info and all that stuff and I asked about unpaid time off. I told her that my dad wasn't well and that I may need to take time off and would work be okay with that. She told me yes. It turns out I didn't need to take it, but oh well.

You could always just accept the job and then if they won't permit time off just quit. My father passed in September last year and I had only been at my current job since May. I'd barely been moved from temp and only payroll. I had to go home quite quickly and for 2 weeks. My boss was very understanding and even paid me for a week of it (when honestly I didn't expect anything nor did he have to). I would simply have quit my job if i couldn't get time off. Sometimes other things are more important than work and if they don't care enough to give you the time off you need, then they aren't the kind of people you'd want to work for anyway.

Just to reiterate. Do NOT refer to your husband as a "foreigner"... I actually, (as the "foreigner") find that a little dismissive of your relationship and offensive. Do not say "address something related to our marriage". That sounds so wishy washy and... well odd especially when combined with "foreigner". Don't mention "interview" either unless you specify for a visa. Simply saying interview make me think all sorts of bad things.

Edited March 16, 2013 by Vanessa&Tony

[NikLR 13,227]

People look at my husband weird when he says he's married to a Canadian. So saying you're married to an Indian i doubt would get much of a different response. He's your husband. That's all they need to know about that.

I like this from mimolicious:

Explain that your spouse has an upcoming interview for their visa, and that you need to be there, tell them as soon as you find out the date of the interview you will inform them so they have time to plan for you absence.

That's only after they offered you the job. Until then or unless they specifically ask, do you have any plans in the next few months, I wouldn't go out of my way to mention it.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

Oh god no! Don't say that! That's awful! Sounds so so bad.

I wouldn't mention it. I would ask them about benefits, paid time off etc in the interview like a normal person would. If they asked about "plans" which I doubt, I would simply say "I may need to attend to some family matters overseas but I should get ample warning, which I would then give you, and i should only require a week off which I would of course be willing to take unpaid". As others suggested though, I would only mention that AFTER hiring unless they ask specifically.

Personally, after I was hired I had to meet with the HR lady to get all my benefits info and all that stuff and I asked about unpaid time off. I told her that my dad wasn't well and that I may need to take time off and would work be okay with that. She told me yes. It turns out I didn't need to take it, but oh well.

You could always just accept the job and then if they won't permit time off just quit. My father passed in September last year and I had only been at my current job since May. I'd barely been moved from temp and only payroll. I had to go home quite quickly and for 2 weeks. My boss was very understanding and even paid me for a week of it (when honestly I didn't expect anything nor did he have to). I would simply have quit my job if i couldn't get time off. Sometimes other things are more important than work and if they don't care enough to give you the time off you need, then they aren't the kind of people you'd want to work for anyway.

Just to reiterate. Do NOT refer to your husband as a "foreigner"... I actually, (as the "foreigner") find that a little dismissive of your relationship and offensive. Do not say "address something related to our marriage". That sounds so wishy washy and... well odd especially when combined with "foreigner". Don't mention "interview" either unless you specify for a visa. Simply saying interview make me think all sorts of bad things.

Thank you for your detailed helpful response.

I never know what word to use when people ask.

I have tried so hard in my current job to keep my relationship under wraps but my current employer forced me to divulge details. (Where are you going? If you are married, where is your husband? Why is he not in the U.S. yet?) And then I had issues changing my name and my company didn't like my Indian marriage certificate and that opened up a whole new can of worms. They fought me tooth and nail when I tried to add my husband to my life insurance policy.

My current employer has been extremely uncooperative when I request time off. He never gives me an answer when I give advanced notice then when the time gets closer, I always need to pressure him to tell me yes or no. Last time I went to India, he didn't let me know if I had permission until 10 days before my trip and my flight was not booked yet. He kept waiting to see if "project needs" would overlap my allotted vacation time. So in the event that I would be staying with my current company, I would quit in a heartbeat if they refused me the time off.

At the job interview, I will not bring up the matter UNLESS they specifically ask. I like the answer of family matters overseas and you're right it does sound much better than saying foreigner. Saying family matters usually encourages Americans to stop asking questions as it veers into personal matters. That also takes care of the notion that this is not a vacation.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion; topic is applicable to more than just one visa process.