Is it legal to record the CR1 Interview with CO

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You can bet almost every couple from west Africa that doesn't come back after an interview dancing about being approved has been denied. And think of the poor couples that don't have VJ for support

[Jawaree 718]

Sneaking in a recording device would fall under US national security on a embassy compound. a crime

The interview is fast & str8 forward, scribbling would not have you focused on COs questions

Approval is a privilege & not a right , a bonafide relationship should pass the test with both of you there

[HFM181818 750]

One can write anything they wish on a piece of paper, but that is not considered an official transcript. People who don't get what they want often re-write history when writing a letter to their congressman or just posting their unhappy thoughts at this site...anyone can say anything they wish about what transpired during an interview, but that does not make those statements true.

I've had people write their congressman, telling them that I (a) asked their GF no questions (!!??) and (b) 'threw their papers back into their face!'....a pair of statements so ludicrous that it was hard to keep from laughing, especially the 'paper hurling.' In order to have allegedly accomplished that task, one would have to first throw the papers downward, towards the tray or opening at the bottom of the interview window, then apply enough 'English' to then have those papers, after leaving the depression, rise up vertically, then move forward, all in complete violation of the laws of physics. Hmmmm so what does that say about what people often write when they are not happy? Answer: just about anything.

Visa scams abound....and many of the perpetrators don't come from Sweden....one job I had was in Washington, dealing with those very scams...more than 90% of the calls from those who were either scammed or were about to be scammed came from a handful of African countries....I don't remember a single one from Sweden, France, Switzerland, etc...people fell prey to all sorts of nonsense from these scammers....losing money or worse. Not posting such warnings would be disingenuous. It is far easier to prevent scams than trying to restore lost money or emotions. Once again, berate the scammers. They are causing the problems.

Yes, many parts of the immigration process are slow...there are lots more people using the system than there are people to cope with the volume of cases. Get more people, you say? Who will pay for them?

But at the end of the day, a CO's first duty is to the Constitution and other laws of our countries, not to the whims nor wants of a specific individual. They are empowered to make visa decisions, and they should exercise that authority carefully, because approving an immigrant visa application is the first step towards some person eventually becoming an American citizen...I would (and have) make that decision extremely carefully, as it is almost impossible to change if information surfaces later that showed that decision to have been a mistake.

So, if I decided to have the beneficiary provide more evidence, in whatever form, that would convince me of their bona fides, then I asked for it. If instead I got push back or reluctance on the part of either the beneficiary or petitioner, or 'crafted evidence', then the case was not approvable (in my judgment) and I would send it back to USCIS, and let that process take over.

For those who wanted to challenge me, to try and be more clever or devious or whatever, well, my easiest recourse was an addressed envelope to USCIS.

It was a lot of authority, and one that required measured application of it. Are there some COs who might not take their job as seriously as they should? No doubt. It's too bad. Are there inconsistent umpires in baseball and other sports? Sure. Because they are people.

But the constant refrain of alleged rudeness without absolute proof is just noise.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

"For those who wanted to challenge me, to try and be more clever or devious or whatever, well, my easiest recourse was an addressed envelope to USCIS."

Perfect example of how a CO gets to think they are all powerful. This statement shows that of you challenge his godhood he will ignore his duty and take vengeance.

There is nothing against making a transcript of the event. Yes the CO will try to downplay it, but I bet their attitude is different when a record is being created of what is going on. Why does immigration win so often , the got to court with their "notes" from the interview and the other party didn't make notes during it. If both parties took notes then one would not be able to pull that "advantage" over the other.

[Volta-Region 26]

COs dont lie! they just do their job thats all... The responsibility lies on the applicant to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that there is a bonafide relationship.

I'm sometimes tempted to believe all those who are denied do not really give us the full picture of the circumstances they were denied. I vividly remember when i was at the US Embassy in Accra for my DV visa some years ago. Some people who were being interviewed for IR1/CR1 were just a total disgrace.

My only advice is make sure you provide all the necessary documents, answer the questions to the best of your knowledge and leave the rest to GOD Almighty for He will bring smiles to your faces. Thank you!

COs dont lie? LOL dont be silly. You talk as if you know them personally. If pastors can lie than COs can lie. Use critical thinking and stop giving people bad advice.

[calengineer 4]

Hello VJ members,

I'm wondering if it's legal to record the interview at the Ghana embassy? My husband has already been denied, but if / when he gets another interview I am going and I want to know if I can record the interview.

Does anyone know?

Thank you.

Highly illegal, please avoid it.

[lutz 41]

Who said anything about sneaking anything in. And for the commenter who questions the denials....we provided all paperwork and more our relationship is real and my husband was denied. Just submitting everything obviously isn't enough. People feel bad enough about being denied and their relationships questioned.

[lutz 41]

I really do hope karma gets these cos that play with people's lives like this.

[AB loves AG 54]

Who said anything about sneaking anything in. And for the commenter who questions the denials....we provided all paperwork and more our relationship is real and my husband was denied. Just submitting everything obviously isn't enough. People feel bad enough about being denied and their relationships questioned.

If submitting everything was enough, then by that logic everyone would get approved.

[lutz 41]

We submitted everything....above and beyond what was called for. I believe the CO didn't like how my husband was answering a certain set of questions.

In any case, something is not right when we hear about couples that have been together for years, even have a child together and they are either denied or put into endless AP.

Not everyone in Africa wants to get into the USA. My husband wasn't even that keen on it, it was me who wants him here. There are issues in this country like anywhere else, it's not heaven.

Of course it's a privilege and not a right. The reason people are upset is that it seems Ghana is unfairly targeted for more suffering than people from other countries. Yes, there is fraud here, but there is also fraud in the Phillipines, and look how quickly old white men can get a young Filipina here. Not much of a problem.

But turn the tables, and all of a sudden it's fraud.

[strongmyk 51]

COs dont lie? LOL dont be silly. You talk as if you know them personally. If pastors can lie than COs can lie. Use critical thinking and stop giving people bad advice.

Show yourself some respect when you commenting on public forums. how can you tell someone you do not know "dont be silly"?

secondary if pastors can lie what has it got to do with COs? if you have evidence that a CO has lied, gather your evidence and make a complaint to the Department of State... ranting here will give you no solution to it.

What do you mean by "use critical thinking and stop giving bad advice"? are you serious? i don't even have to waste my time replying to these

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Show yourself some respect when you commenting on public forums. how can you tell someone you do not know "dont be silly"?

secondary if pastors can lie what has it got to do with COs? if you have evidence that a CO has lied, gather your evidence and make a complaint to the Department of State... ranting here will give you no solution to it.

What do you mean by "use critical thinking and stop giving bad advice"? are you serious? i don't even have to waste my time replying to these

A former CO on this thread has already said that they do in fact lie.

[Volta-Region 26]

Show yourself some respect when you commenting on public forums. how can you tell someone you do not know "dont be silly"?

secondary if pastors can lie what has it got to do with COs? if you have evidence that a CO has lied, gather your evidence and make a complaint to the Department of State... ranting here will give you no solution to it.

What do you mean by "use critical thinking and stop giving bad advice"? are you serious? i don't even have to waste my time replying to these

Lol I think it's "secondly", not secondary. Anyways, my friend, you made a bold statement that "COs dont lie, they just do their job!"

How do you know they dont lie? do you know them personally? Do you stand over every single COs in the world and watch every case they handle?

I just pointed out the fact that your statement was reckless, I was not insulting you. Admit when you are wrong and move on, no big deal.

I said you use critical thinking because a person who thinks critically would not make such reckless statement, was just a piece of advice, don't take it personal.

[Ryan H 3,834]

***One post violating the TOS (personal attack) and another post contributing nothing to the discussion removed. This will be the only warning, future TOS violations in this thread will result in Moderator attention you won't want.***

[strongmyk 51]

Lol I think it's "secondly", not secondary. Anyways, my friend, you made a bold statement that "COs dont lie, they just do their job!"

How do you know they dont lie? do you know them personally? Do you stand over every single COs in the world and watch every case they handle?

I just pointed out the fact that your statement was reckless, I was not insulting you. Admit when you are wrong and move on, no big deal.

I said you use critical thinking because a person who thinks critically would not make such reckless statement, was just a piece of advice, don't take it personal.

whatever... secondly yes just a typo....

and if you think you're right about COs lying, why don't you submit your evidence ....

i guess you are the one who uses critical thinking.... why don't you issue yourself or whoever a visa and give us a break from all these ranting and baseless whining