Interview for seniors

[MacUK 983]

How are you suppose to prove anything on the visa application? The DS-160 is done online. Then you pay the fee and schedule interview. Up to that point there's no way to submit any document to prove your case.

There are no documents that can prove your case.

An initial decision is made before the interview based on the answers given on the DS-160, then the applicant will have a few minutes to convince the CO at the interview.

It's not a fair system, and judging by the amount of people who then break the terms of their visa not a particularly efficient system. But it's the system that's in place and nothing is going to change about it any time soon.

Your mother might be the most honest and sincere person in the world with no desire to leave her home at all, but her word goes against all the thousands of little old ladies from her country who HAVE decided to change their mind as soon as they've gotten out of the airport. Same as all the young single girls and men from around the world who get refused because their demographic have a poor history of returning.

Contrary to common sense, having a relative in the US is a negative when it comes to getting a tourist visa and will be for as long as the system allows immediate relatives to adjust.

[jan22 3,056]

The CO knows if people are pretending, . And nowhere of my post saying that they could try pretending. My point was that many people who can't speak English and they were trying to learn it prior their visa interviews, I met some of them in fact they asked me to teach them.

And for your information, all COs that working in the US embassies can speak local languages very good. That's one of requirements. I have met many consular officers from different consulates like from the UK, the US, Germany, and Australia. Most of them told me that COs can speak very well in Bahasa. When I had my B-2 visa and K-1 visa interviews as well, the CO asked me whether I would prefer speaking in Bahasa or English language.

Also some of my friends who were worked at Indonesia embassy in Moscow as consulars can speak Russian very well. That's a living proof that COs has be able to demonstrate they can speak in the local languages.

Edit:

I did not say it will guarantee an approval. I was saying it could help at some point since the OP asked opinion about that. No one can ever guarantee visa approval even the top-notch lawyers.

Not going to argue with you -- but, not all officers are required to speak all of the local languages well -- or at all. It totally depends on the Embassy, how many languages are spoken in the particular country (and by how many people), the complexity of the language, etc. Many interviews are done with local employees who do their best as translators, but they aren't truly trained as translators, so may miss some points.

And, I was not saying that you said they should pretend -- I said some people do try that, whether it's something you recommend or not.

[Boiler 45,519]

For a B2 it is not a major issue, a couple of questions and that is it.

[Dan Nguyen 3]

This realy doesn't tell me anything. What do you mean by it's not a major issue?

[Boiler 45,519]

Some interviews may require in depth conversations, B2 is not like those, a couple of basic questions and that is it.

[Dan Nguyen 3]

Again, this doesn't tell me anything. A couple of questions, then approve cuz B2 is not a big deal or what?

[Boiler 45,519]

The interview is very limited.

The application in most cases will decide the issue.

Approval or denial is another issue.

[Dan Nguyen 3]

Ok, so what is it on the application that will cause either denial or approval?

[Mollie09 1,543]

It basically boils down to employment/schooling, property, and family.

They try to determine if people have enough incentive to come back based on things that are very important to them, and those are the three main categories.

[MacUK 983]

Ok, so what is it on the application that will cause either denial or approval?

There are lots of factors.

Relatives in the US

Previous international travel and return to home country.

Employment

Family ties in home country

At the end of the day all she can do is answer the questions on the DS-160 honestly and be truthful and honest at the interview.

Beyond that there's not much else she can do.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Not going to argue with you -- but, not all officers are required to speak all of the local languages well -- or at all. It totally depends on the Embassy, how many languages are spoken in the particular country (and by how many people), the complexity of the language, etc. Many interviews are done with local employees who do their best as translators, but they aren't truly trained as translators, so may miss some points.

And, I was not saying that you said they should pretend -- I said some people do try that, whether it's something you recommend or not.

I'm not going to argue you as well. I spoke based on my experience and have met many consular officers from different countries related to my job as a journalist. I have had interviewed different consular officers from different embassies in my country as I had mentioned on my previous post. If you have met some of them and can't speak local or at least national languages, I can't argue with you, that's your experience. I am speaking here regarding what the OP asked and I did my best to give insight at my knowledge's level. I won't say anything just based on assumption nor guessing. Let's OP choose what is the best since we are here just giving an input to him.

To OP: I applied B-2 visa back in 2010. I brought all related papers including my letter from my employer, my bank statement, credit card statements, my land certificate, and my insurance papers to show them that I had go back to my country. The consular officer looked at my application and asked what the purpose of my visit. I answered back that I wanted to visit my boyfriend. She suddenly stopped the interview and gave me a green slip stating "consider file petition for K-1 visa". The interview only lasted less than five minutes.

There is no way to draw the lines where at the point CO will approved the visa. One of my friend's mom, she was from small village in my country, could not speak English at all, but got approved whereas the other one got rejected at third times even though she had a good job at government agency before retired and spoke English very fluent. I gave you an example and you can try to get an idea from the stories that I told you. And one more thing, never lied on any papers otherwise you will lose the chance. Good luck!

[GoatDreamingPig 0]

Hi, I'm applying for tourist visa on behalf of my wife's mother. Could someone tell me what she can expect at the interview? Is interview for seniors different or are they the same? She's 61 years old. Live in the country most her life. Not very educated. She can answer simple questions, but probably won't be able to answer questions such as what our address in the U.S.

She just a simple country woman. She has no job, bank account, etc..

Would she be denied base on this?

Also, what kind of documents should she bring besides the require documents?

What prevents your wife from applying for Citizenship and then sponsoring her Mom (according to your timeline, she should qualify to do that by now)? It'll take LESS than one year for her to come here living for as long as she cares (and she can still come back to Vietnam anytime she wants as long as she cares to remember coming back to the State once in a while to maintain her legal LPR status)

You need to tell your wife learn to adapt to her new living environment, not the other way around.

PS> You seem to have the "attitude". Tell your Mom-in-law not to be like you. Or she'll be denied that tourist visa quicker than she can blick her eyes!

My Mom-in-law owns NOTHING, and is a country-living woman. But she passed the interview since we were having our first child back then. A perfect valid excuse for her visit. She NEVER stepped her feet outside where she has lived most of her life. She didn't attend high school, even though she could read and write just fine.

What's your in-law's?

Now you got the answer to your question?

BTW, as long as your wife remains a LPR, she will be the BIGGEST obstacle to prevent her mom to come here on a Tourist Visa since the US CO knows she (your wife) can NOT legally petition her Mom to come. On the other hand, if she becomes a USC, the US CO knows there's an alternative to a Tourist Visa.

In short, tell your wife to learn English and pass that USC Naturalization test!

Edited August 13, 2014 by GoatDreamingBig

[GoatDreamingPig 0]

I would not recommend waiting for the interview to prove your case. If you can't prove strong reasons for her to return to her home country when submitting the petition you will most likely get denied. In almost all cases the decision is made long before you get to the interview stage. Most non immigrant visa interviews last 2 minutes or less.

I strongly disagree with that statement. For K1/CR1 cases, decisions have been made PRIOR to the interview. But for Tourist Visa cases, the decision will be made by the interviewing officer AFTER the first question is answered.

And most of the times, that question will be "What is the reason for the visit?". And it better be a good one since everyone knows the people from the US can fly back to visit the other country.

Mom/Dad needs to visit the US because they miss their daughter/son probably won't fly in the CO's book!

Edited August 13, 2014 by GoatDreamingBig

[Dan Nguyen 3]

What prevents your wife from applying for Citizenship and then sponsoring her Mom (according to your timeline, she should qualify to do that by now)? It'll take LESS than one year for her to come here living for as long as she cares (and she can still come back to Vietnam anytime she wants as long as she cares to remember coming back to the State once in a while to maintain her legal status.

Yes, I'm sure the CO would know this also.

Thanks for telling me what I already know.

[Dan Nguyen 3]

I strongly disagree with that statement. For K1/CR1 cases, decisions have been made PRIOR to the interview. But for Tourist Visa cases, the decision will be made by the interviewing officer AFTER the first question is answered.

And most of the times, that question will be "What is the reason for the visit?". And it better be a good one since everyone knows the people from the US can fly back to visit the other country.

Mom/Dad needs to visit the US because they miss their daughter/son probably won't fly in the CO's book!

People from the US can fly back to visit the other country is not the same as people from other countries visiting their relatives IN the U.S.

If your mom coming to the U.S. to visit your newborn child is a perfectly good reason, coming to visit their sons or daughters is not?

Edited August 13, 2014 by Dan Nguyen