Need opinions - Language used at the Interview

[mdzcpa 58]

I have a question about the interview process and language. My understanding

is that the interview will only be conducted in one language. Is this true? My wife speaks

very little English (she has been taking classes for a year but has a long way

to go), so we are going to request the interview in Spanish.

The problem is that my Spanish is only mediocre. If people in the Dominican speak

slowly and I have the opportunity to ask them to repeat or clarify, I can usually understand

everything pretty well. My wife and I understand each other perfectly as we

have been together for 2.5 years and we've developed our own Spanish. We started off using smartphones translate, but over the 2.5 years, 20+ visits to see her in the Dominican, and our countless hours of Skype, we need no longer need any type of assistance in understanding one another.

The way we communicate is kind of cute and the family jokes that we speak "Espanol de Mike" as my Spanish is not correct and I make a lot of errors. But no one teases me. Rosalit and her family

understand me just fine. As do most people on the street in the Dominican. But

the problem is that at times I do struggle hear everything well and understand her family and others

when they speak fast, use slang, or use words I don't know because its a new

situation. We laugh sometimes because Rosalit will often times translate what

others are saying for me using the basic Spanish and words I know.

Now that the interview is coming, this has gone from cute to worrisome. Do you feel this is going to be a problem? We know we communicate perfectly fine, but a CO using new words and speaking fast might trip me up. And I'm unsure if Rosalit will be able to translate for me. What are everyone's thoughts here??

Edited November 19, 2014 by mdzcpa

[tonyb919 107]

I am waiting on some good opinions for this topic, I am in the same exact boat. With my NY spanish and her Dominican english along with each others bodys language we understand each other very well over the past 3 years.

This is funny to me as this posting is one that I could copy and paste myself as all the comments by the original poster relate to me and my SO.

Please someone give us some guidance.

[Gracenp2 14]

Not to worry it should be in Spanish. When we had our interview the CO was very cordial and he actually ask the questions to my wife in Spanish. I on the other hand kept answering in English.. Don't sweat it guys everything will turn out fine!!! You've made it this far, remember that these questions are simply to confirm what you have already provided in you evidence submittal... Good luck to you

[GinaYCarlos 1]

We had our interview just a few weeks ago and it went very well. The CO spoke to us in english and spanish. My spanish isnt that great so she talked to me in english and my fiance in spanish. We had no problems. You guys will be fine. Good luck!

[NikLR 13,227]

As mentioned, the government officials should be bi-lingual.

[mdzcpa 58]

Thank you so much for these comments! I feel better. We know our relationship and evidence is super solid. It was only the language of the interview that had us worried.

Again thank you. VJ has been an incredible source of information during this process.

[ktered 4]

We are the same. An American friend who is bi-lingual said she was unsure but when she saw us communicating it was clear we understood each other very well and had developed our own system. I say we have the best communication because we are always asking each other "Do you understand?" and saying things in a different way if the other one doesn't understand.

Everything I've read (and asked) has indicated that we will be able to do our interviews in two languages. I am in the same boat - I understand when they speak slowly but new words trip me up and I speak like a 5 year old - always the wrong tense!

Best of luck!

I have a question about the interview process and language. My understanding
is that the interview will only be conducted in one language. Is this true? My wife speaks
very little English (she has been taking classes for a year but has a long way
to go), so we are going to request the interview in Spanish.

The problem is that my Spanish is only mediocre. If people in the Dominican speak
slowly and I have the opportunity to ask them to repeat or clarify, I can usually understand
everything pretty well. My wife and I understand each other perfectly as we
have been together for 2.5 years and we've developed our own Spanish. We started off using smartphones translate, but over the 2.5 years, 20+ visits to see her in the Dominican, and our countless hours of Skype, we need no longer need any type of assistance in understanding one another.

The way we communicate is kind of cute and the family jokes that we speak "Espanol de Mike" as my Spanish is not correct and I make a lot of errors. But no one teases me. Rosalit and her family
understand me just fine. As do most people on the street in the Dominican. But
the problem is that at times I do struggle hear everything well and understand her family and others
when they speak fast, use slang, or use words I don't know because its a new
situation. We laugh sometimes because Rosalit will often times translate what
others are saying for me using the basic Spanish and words I know.

Now that the interview is coming, this has gone from cute to worrisome. Do you feel this is going to be a problem? We know we communicate perfectly fine, but a CO using new words and speaking fast might trip me up. And I'm unsure if Rosalit will be able to translate for me. What are everyone's thoughts here??

I am waiting on some good opinions for this topic, I am in the same exact boat. With my NY spanish and her Dominican english along with each others bodys language we understand each other very well over the past 3 years.

This is funny to me as this posting is one that I could copy and paste myself as all the comments by the original poster relate to me and my SO.

Please someone give us some guidance.

[mdzcpa 58]

I am waiting on some good opinions for this topic, I am in the same exact boat. With my NY spanish and her Dominican english along with each others bodys language we understand each other very well over the past 3 years.

This is funny to me as this posting is one that I could copy and paste myself as all the comments by the original poster relate to me and my SO.

Please someone give us some guidance.

It's comforting to know I'm not along here. I guess it should be easy to presume here on VJ that there must be numerous similar situations. But most of the embassy reviews I read typically don't touch on language. So it appears never to be an issue for anyone else.

We are the same. An American friend who is bi-lingual said she was unsure but when she saw us communicating it was clear we understood each other very well and had developed our own system. I say we have the best communication because we are always asking each other "Do you understand?" and saying things in a different way if the other one doesn't understand.

Everything I've read (and asked) has indicated that we will be able to do our interviews in two languages. I am in the same boat - I understand when they speak slowly but new words trip me up and I speak like a 5 year old - always the wrong tense!

Best of luck!

LOL. This made me chuckle. I know I'm right around the 5 year level as well.

Good luck to everyone on the thread and I hope for everyone's CC soon.

[abby12 13]

They do speak spanish. Our interview I was asked if I speak english, I said yes, so the interview was in english. Only at the end, when explaining the IMBRA pamphlet, she did it in spanish.

They can ask you how you both talk to each other, i mean what language you both use...in our case it is only english.

One thing, if rosalita feels that she may get nervous, she can chose to have the interview in spanish so she can understand better the questions and answer appropriately.

Everything will be fine, good luck

[tonyb919 107]

Thank you so much for all your replies, it appears every response is the same, so I will cross that off my list of things to worry about