Same sex interview questions

[kkg325 6]

Hi all,

My wife will have her CR1 interview in Montreal next week. We are so excited! We are a same sex couple, so I'm wondering if the officers ask any different questions for same sex couples that they don't ask for opposite sex couples. Now that same sex marriage is legal at the federal level, I don't antcipate any issues. Just want to make sure we are uber prepared. Thanks a lot!

[Cm84 1]

Well she won't be the only one that day.... I have my interview on dec 1 in Montreal and my wife and I are a same sex couple too! So I can't really answer your question, but helps knowing we are not alone in this process.

[Elf 146]

Ours was an AOS interview, not a CR-1, but the IO made no reference at all to the fact that we were a same-sex couple. All the questions were completely independent of gender - e.g. "so how did the two of you meet?" - and I didn't feel we were treated any differently than an opposite-sex couple would have been.

Our lawyer said that his impression has been that many officers actually enjoy interviewing same-sex couples, because they're aware of how long we've had to wait for equal treatment and they're happy to finally be able to award the spousal and fiance(e) visas that we should have been able to get years ago :-)

[NYCruiser 423]

Hope this helps. My fiance (K1) was interviewed in an African Country US Embassy. The said African Country is quite homophobic though not like Uganda/Nigeria/Zimbabwe or those other banana republics. His interview I am sure was one of the first few. No difference. They actually cannot distinguish between the same/sex and opposite sex by law, though I wish I was the proverbial fly on the wall when they opened the documentation that came from the NVC to them at the Embassy....'Hey Billie Bob...come and take a look at THIS application for a K1'

I do know he dressed very conservatively (no tie or anything, but a white long sleeves shirt and grey slacks/black shoes) with a black folder with all the photos/documents etc. No jewellry or anything just the engagement ring. He now wears both the Wedding and Engagement ring LOL.

Not of concern to you, but we were VERY concerned if any of the other applicants for B2s etc could have over heard. However, those country applicants were themselves scared and never heard anything.

Edited November 22, 2015 by David Hansen

[kkg325 6]

Cm84 - Awesome! Good luck to you two!

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies!

[mallafri76 1,012]

I seriously doubt it. In many countries, and I'm sure Canada is one of them, it's against the law to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation and the US embassies do have to follow the laws in the countries they're in.

A VJ friend of mine is in a same-sex marriage and interviewed at the US embassy in Sweden, he had the same experience and questions as every one else, his same-sex relationship wasn't an issue at all, so I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Good luck with the interview.

[Cm84 1]

Cm84 - Awesome! Good luck to you two!

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies!

Thanks! Good luck to you two as well!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to US Embassy & Consulate Discussion; topic is about this phase of the process.

[tamcloud 92]

FWIW, my fiancee interviewed last week (K1 visa and there's no marriage equality in Bermuda) and she reported no concern regarding a same-sex bias. Her interview lasted about 15 minutes, where they asked about our relationship (how we met, how long we've been together, etc.) and her previous residence in the U.S. (school). Your fiancee shouldn't have any issues.

[Sukie 1,460]

We had no issues. The only question you may face is: Do you have the support of your family?

This question might also be asked of different faithed couples, or different race couples.

Sukie in NY

[ArroTG 22]

I had my interview in Montreal on October 13th, 2015. I was asked where we met (online), who went to visit who first, where my spouse lives (very small town), why my spouse lives there and not somewhere bigger (employment opportunity was there), and that was really about it. No questions came up about the same sex nature of our relationship, and the CO was very approachable and friendly. He remarked we'd known each other since 2012 and that it was 'a while' in a positive way. I felt the interview went no differently than it would have with a heterosexual couple, although I have no proof of such.

One of my other immigration friends (same sex couple as well) had his interview a few weeks later and had an easy time, and both of us were going to Missouri, where equality has been more of an issue than in other states. I don't think you have anything at all to worry about.

[gfcarr1982 5]

Our interview in Kiev went very well. All the questions seemed routine, and I'm sure it helped that I was there. The "greeter" outside the embassy entrance was a local Ukrainian employee, and he asked who I was. When Vladimir told him I was the petitioner, he accepted that without much comment and put a barcode on my passport so I coiuld proceed through security.

Also, we noticed another same-sex couple being interviewed at the K1 windows, and it seemed to go well for them too. Ironically, the rest of the K1 interviewees were female financeés, and they were by themselves. I'm assuming that their husbands-to-be did not come to Ukraine for the interview, and I think that's disappointing.

[zuluweta 250]

Ours wasn't a CR-1 interview but a K-1 SS couple interview at the embassy. At the AOS (green card) interview here in the U.S., the USCIS officer was tougher compared to the visa officer at the U.S. Embassy.

At the embassy interview, we were not asked to show pictures of us (the SS couple) with family members but at the green card interview, we were asked to show those pictures. Thankfully, we brought some with us.

So just make sure you have enough evidence of your relationship - proof of comingling of finances, proof of money transfers, receipts of gifts, photos and boarding passes of travels and flights together, pictures of the couple with family members or friends, etc.

[kkg325 6]

Thanks, all for your input! She had her interview yesterday, and we were approved!! There were no questions specific to our same sex marriage.

Cm84 - how'd it go??

[Cm84 1]

Thanks, all for your input! She had her interview yesterday, and we were approved!! There were no questions specific to our same sex marriage.

Cm84 - how'd it go??

So glad to hear it all went well for your wife! Mine was approved as well, no problems (although the interviewer first used the term husband and I had to correct him, he was very apologetic though). All my questions were the same/similar to the examples I've read on VJ and nothing specific to the fact that our marriage is of the same sex variety.

Congrats again, and good luck with the big move!