Rights to Native Language Interview (Tunis)

[HollyDaniela 6]

My fiance does not speak English well. I speak very simple English with him so he can understand me and I have a way of understanding him enough so that it works. He is just beginning with the language. When all else fails, we use our friends who speak English to translate.

My question is what are his rights to a K1 visa interview in his native language (Arabic). I have heard that sometimes consular officers will ask questions in English to test English skills to see if the couple can communicate.

What are his legal rights in this circumstance?

[JimmyHou 611]

My fiance does not speak English well. I speak very simple English with him so he can understand me and I have a way of understanding him enough so that it works. He is just beginning with the language. When all else fails, we use our friends who speak English to translate.

My question is what are his rights to a K1 visa interview in his native language (Arabic). I have heard that sometimes consular officers will ask questions in English to test English skills to see if the couple can communicate.

What are his legal rights in this circumstance?

Others can correct me if I'm wrong, because I'm not really experienced with this, but I believe that he can request an interview in his language, but the consular officer can hold his inability to speak English against him. This is not because speaking English is not a precondition for the visa, but because it is an indication, as you said, that you will not be able to communicate as a couple. This can give the interviewer the impression that the relationship may not be fully legitimate. If he was applying for a tourist visa instead, language really shouldn't be a consideration.

If he didn't speak any English, but you spoke Arabic and were able to communicate with him fluently, his language skills would not be a concern. On the other hand, if you two didn't apeak the same language but you'd been living together for years, then the language issue wouldn't cause any problems because it will be obvious that you have a lasting relationship. Basically, the language issue will not kill his application, but will be one more hurdle in the mind of the interviewer.

Edited January 15, 2015 by JimmyHou

[HollyDaniela 6]

Yes thanks, that is pretty much what I had already gathered. Thanks for your response.

[CowBoE 429]

Though not specific to your country,

I know many Asian (mostly old parents) that somehow (?) made it through the interview with

not even a little English, so there must be some accommodation

being made by some consulates.

Good luck.

[Ms Hogan 295]

Though not specific to your country,

I know many Asian (mostly old parents) that somehow (?) made it through the interview with

not even a little English, so there must be some accommodation

being made by some consulates.

Good luck.

But the parents are not being scrutinized over the legitimacy of their relationship with a spouse. It's a little different. The accommodations will be made but the challenge between the couple communication is what is being questioned.

[HollyDaniela 6]

Yes, thank you, I do realize all of this. I am just wondering what are the legal rights to a native language interview. That is my question if anybody has an answer.

[JimmyHou 611]

Yes, thank you, I do realize all of this. I am just wondering what are the legal rights to a native language interview. That is my question if anybody has an answer.

There are no legal rights at all because there are no laws related to this at all.

This is a matter of State Department policy, which, as others have said, allows an applicant to be interviewed in his or her native language. This does not stop the interviewer from asking questions in English to test his language skills.

The reason I say there are no legal rights is that if the State Department decided to change the policy tomorrow, there is nothing stopping them from doing that.

Edited February 4, 2015 by JimmyHou