Can U.S. petitioner go to interview?

[NAT2016 18]

I am wondering if Guangzhou consulate will allow U.S. petitioner to accompany K-1 at the interview.  I saw old posts saying they would let petitioner sitting in a waiting area in the consulate, is that true?  Thanks in advance for any information.  

[salazardh3 0]

I am a US petitioner was allowed in with my fiance first time i went to interview at embassy but second time i waited outside. The usually have a seating area where people wait. I think it depends... if interviewer need translator or if they are not so busy and have extra seating. ...Hope this helps...

 

[NAT2016 18]

2 hours ago, salazardh3 said:

I am a US petitioner was allowed in with my fiance first time i went to interview at embassy but second time i waited outside. The usually have a seating area where people wait. I think it depends... if interviewer need translator or if they are not so busy and have extra seating. ...Hope this helps...

 

Thanks.  However, I don't think Guangzhou will let U.S. petitioner to be the translator.  I am going to be there at interview to give my fiance support and hope they will let me in, even just in the waiting area.

[rasaco 39]

You definitely can't be there for the interview itself.

 

Looking through some of the reviews of the Guangzhou consulate, it sounds like you can wait in line with your fiancé outside, but only they get to go into the building.  My husband (fiancé at the time)'s experience was that he saw some people waiting in line with their fiancé, but nobody's fiancé was able to go through security.  The consulate is in a nice area though, so maybe you could plan to wait in a nearby restaurant or café?  My fiancé says there's a Starbucks just about 200 meters away, so you could wait there.

 

I wasn't able to be in China during my fiancé's interview--it's great that you can be there.  I remember when we were getting ready for the interview reading that people who were able to be in town said they would give their passport to their fiancé to take in for the interview as further proof of relationship (that the fiancé was actually present for support during the interview time).

 

Good luck!

[NAT2016 18]

2 minutes ago, rasaco said:

You definitely can't be there for the interview itself.

 

Looking through some of the reviews of the Guangzhou consulate, it sounds like you can wait in line with your fiancé outside, but only they get to go into the building.  My husband (fiancé at the time)'s experience was that he saw some people waiting in line with their fiancé, but nobody's fiancé was able to go through security.  The consulate is in a nice area though, so maybe you could plan to wait in a nearby restaurant or café?  My fiancé says there's a Starbucks just about 200 meters away, so you could wait there.

 

I wasn't able to be in China during my fiancé's interview--it's great that you can be there.  I remember when we were getting ready for the interview reading that people who were able to be in town said they would give their passport to their fiancé to take in for the interview as further proof of relationship (that the fiancé was actually present for support during the interview time).

 

Good luck!

Thank you for the suggestion on taking passport to the interview.  

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Randy, Ryan, and Myself all highly advocate for the US Petitioner to make the effort to go to China to be there with their Fiance(e). As mentioned you cannot accompany her inside for the interview, but you can give her your passport to carry inside, and produce as proof of visit, and to help answer the question of "how many times have you met". 

 

My Wife carried my passport in, and when this question arose, she took out my passport, and started counting stamps. After the 3rd stamp, the CO smiled and told her that was enough, told her that she was approved and she was on her way.

[NAT2016 18]

1 hour ago, Chris and ZhiJia said:

Randy, Ryan, and Myself all highly advocate for the US Petitioner to make the effort to go to China to be there with their Fiance(e). As mentioned you cannot accompany her inside for the interview, but you can give her your passport to carry inside, and produce as proof of visit, and to help answer the question of "how many times have you met". 

 

My Wife carried my passport in, and when this question arose, she took out my passport, and started counting stamps. After the 3rd stamp, the CO smiled and told her that was enough, told her that she was approved and she was on her way.

Thanks, Chris.  May I ask what's the best way to answer the question: "Why don't you get married in China"?  I personally think this question is stupid because the answer is obvious: K-1 is there and it's faster to be united with your loved one than CR-1. I don't know if the consular officer likes to hear this though.

[Unlockable 7,314]

The best way to answer a question from CO is always truthfully. Never try to answer with what you think the CO wants to hear. Always be truthful. 

[RandyW 149]

10 hours ago, Chris and ZhiJia said:

Randy, Ryan, and Myself all highly advocate for the US Petitioner to make the effort to go to China to be there with their Fiance(e). As mentioned you cannot accompany her inside for the interview, but you can give her your passport to carry inside, and produce as proof of visit, and to help answer the question of "how many times have you met". 

 

My Wife carried my passport in, and when this question arose, she took out my passport, and started counting stamps. After the 3rd stamp, the CO smiled and told her that was enough, told her that she was approved and she was on her way.

 

 

I would soften that a little bit - the decision as to whether to be in Guangzhou for the interview can depend on available vacation time and how best to use it and your personal situation. Yes, it's good to be there, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.

 

I'll mention that American citizens are allowed into the Great Hall building at any time, although there's a gauntlet of guards you have to run. Co-mingling with the visa interviewees may or may not be possible. It's probably best to let them have your passport to lay on the counter where the Interviewing Officer can see it.

 

You will wait outside - check the pictures and map in a pinned topic including some good restaurants - 

 

 

[Hik07 11]

I went to the consulate with my wife, but did not go inside , she took my passport in with her for the interview. The officer did take it and looked through it and smiled handed back to my wife and told her she was approved. Not sure what impacted it had if any but he did look at it and the pages with entries. I was glad I made the extra trip there, if I didn't and she would of been denied I would of seconded guessed my decision...Saying that a guy I know girlfriend went alone for K1 and was approved. They had only 1 visit and I was sure that they would of asked for more relationship evidence. If you can get the time off and afford to go why not go and tip the scales you come this far and its that important .

[rasaco 39]

10 hours ago, Hik07 said:

I went to the consulate with my wife, but did not go inside , she took my passport in with her for the interview. The officer did take it and looked through it and smiled handed back to my wife and told her she was approved. Not sure what impacted it had if any but he did look at it and the pages with entries. I was glad I made the extra trip there, if I didn't and she would of been denied I would of seconded guessed my decision...Saying that a guy I know girlfriend went alone for K1 and was approved. They had only 1 visit and I was sure that they would of asked for more relationship evidence. If you can get the time off and afford to go why not go and tip the scales you come this far and its that important .

I think it's great that so many people are able to accompany their fiancé, but it is absolutely not expected or required.  Having been through the interview without me being there, my husband thinks that the biggest benefit of the petitioner being in Guangzhou would be that it would help your fiancé relax, and you can hold their personal belongings while they go into the building so they don't have to worry about getting a locker for it.  

 

In the interview, the officer did not ask if I was there or anything like that--it was not at all expected I would be there.  We have double experience with this as my husband actually had to go through the Guangzhou interview phase twice, because he had an emergency that caused him to return to China before we got married, and neither time did the officer say anything about me not being there.

 

Good luck in your interview!  My husband says it's pretty simple, just show up early. :-)

[NAT2016 18]

Thank you all for your suggestions and reminders ( I don't know how to @ each person ).  This will be the second one for us because my fiance failed the first interview when he was nervous seeing consular officer and we didn't prepare well.  This time I will fly over there to support him.