My wife thinks that the person at the document intake will ask her many questions

[shira 4]

My wife is very nervous about her upcoming interview (November 4). She's read on Chinese websites that when she turns over the original documents requested on the Interview Letter (P4), the person will ask her a lot of personal questions and make notes on his impressions of my wife. My wife thinks that when she goes for her real interview the same day, the person at the window will be given these notes, and they will influence the actual interview. Is this true or false? Does the document-intake person essentially do a "pre" interview?

One other question: Just to double-check: Will my wife be asked to pay any additional fees at the interview?

Thanks?

Edited October 19, 2013 by shira

[Daveykins 17]

Yes, they do a pre-interview check for criminal record, etc well before document intake, not on the day of document intake or interview. Usually if you documented enough before the interview with the original submission she won't have any problems. My wife's interview was fairly easy, the questions seemed to change after the first few questions when the VO realized that it was real and no lies. Read my consulate review for more details on that.

There's no fees to pay in the consulate. You paid the fee on the website before it let you book the appointment.

My wife's interview they never asked for any original documents. They only asked for the DS- documents that you have to fill out for the interview listed on P4 and my affidavit of support with tax returns. They didn't even ask for any additional proof or pictures.

[PhillyJon 2]

The person doing document intake for my wife's interview Oct. 8 was a cranky, disgruntled worker who didn't make eye contact and used as few words as possible. I would be stunned if she took notes.

On the P4, there's a $ code for whether all your fees are paid. If NVC said they're paid, there should be no additional fees. However, I know of two cases, one from VJ and another from QQ, where the fees were not paid in advance and the interviewing official forgot to collect them at the interview. The fees are listed on the DOS website. If you are doing EP, I believe you must pay all fees before they schedule the interview. If you've paid the AOS fee and the 230 fee, there should be no other fees. The interview is the only thing in the whole damn process for which there's no fee.

[Darnell 8,478]

wait - doc intake and interview are 2 separate days again? My wife (and other September interviewees) did all on same day.

[JD & Coconut 35]

Ours was same day (Oct. 10 interview date)

[shira 4]

Yes, they do a pre-interview check for criminal record, etc well before document intake, not on the day of document intake or interview. Usually if you documented enough before the interview with the original submission she won't have any problems. My wife's interview was fairly easy, the questions seemed to change after the first few questions when the VO realized that it was real and no lies. Read my consulate review for more details on that.

There's no fees to pay in the consulate. You paid the fee on the website before it let you book the appointment.

My wife's interview they never asked for any original documents. They only asked for the DS- documents that you have to fill out for the interview listed on P4 and my affidavit of support with tax returns. They didn't even ask for any additional proof or pictures.

Maybe I didn't word my original question clearly:

My wife thinks that on the day of her "real" interview - during the document intake that occurs in the morning, prior to the real interview - the person receiving the documents will ask my wife questions - Interview-type questions. And the document-intake person will then pass on his/her impressions of my wife's answers to the person who will do the "real" interview later in the day. My question is: Is this indeed what the document-intake person does?

Edited October 19, 2013 by shira

[shira 4]

The person doing document intake for my wife's interview Oct. 8 was a cranky, disgruntled worker who didn't make eye contact and used as few words as possible. I would be stunned if she took notes.

On the P4, there's a $ code for whether all your fees are paid. If NVC said they're paid, there should be no additional fees. However, I know of two cases, one from VJ and another from QQ, where the fees were not paid in advance and the interviewing official forgot to collect them at the interview. The fees are listed on the DOS website. If you are doing EP, I believe you must pay all fees before they schedule the interview. If you've paid the AOS fee and the 230 fee, there should be no other fees. The interview is the only thing in the whole damn process for which there's no fee.

Thanks for you reply!

What I bolded, above, has been my impression all along. That is, my understanding is that the only "substantive" questions are asked during the actual interview (and in many cases, the interviewer has already made up her mind 99%, and is just asking softball questions as a formalism). But my wife is getting pretty stressed, and I'm trying to reassure her.

Edited October 19, 2013 by shira

[Daveykins 17]

Sorry I didn't understand what you meant. No, my wife was never asked questions during document intake before the interview. Only about 12 questions during the interview part, nothing during document intake.

Tell your wife to relax she has nothing to worry about if everything is legit with the paperwork and your relationship proof.

Maybe I didn't word my original question clearly:

My wife thinks that on the day of her "real" interview - during the document intake that occurs in the morning, prior to the real interview - the person receiving the documents will ask my wife questions - Interview-type questions. And the document-intake person will then pass on his/her impressions of my wife's answers to the person who will do the "real" interview later in the day. My question is: Is this indeed what the document-intake person does?

[Chris&Mia 2]

From what I understand of my wife's explanation of how her interview day went down in Guangzhou....

She went in with a group of people who were scheduled at the same time block. They all put their P4 letters in a pile and they officer called them up for their interview one by one from the pile. She presented the documents to the interviewer at the time she stepped up for her interview. She said the interviewer hardly even looked at any of it, asked her 4 or 5 basic questions, told her she passed the interview, then launched into a very friendly casual conversation as she processed her paperwork. (We were an electronically processed case, so I'm not sure how much that affected their nonchalant attitude about her docs.)

Don't worry, if your paperwork hasn't triggered any red flags along the way you will breeze through the interview.