To attend Interview or not attend interview (Petitioner)

[sbane12 63]

So as a January filer my estimated date for approval seems to be late next week. I planned around my approval being close to this date because for the most part what I had been seeing in approvals for the months previous to January... who also happened to pay less.. were getting a 94ish day average from NOA1 to NOA2. Well since they hit January they slowed down significantly, and it doesn't look like they are on track to meet anything close to estimated dates (unless you get lucky). At this point I might not even see an approval to mid may to late may...

I had already planned to wait until the interview to visit my Fiance, because I was expecting the interview to be around the end of June. Now that might be more like End of July possibly.
Now I am contemplating just visiting her next month if I don't receive an NOA2 by the first Friday of May, but this will mean I will most likely not be able to be there for the interview.
Even though our case is pretty simple and straight forward, no prior marriages, no children, no criminal records.... is attending the interview as the petitioner a "make or break" scenario? or will them simply seeing evidence that I visited (if I go in May) between NOA1 and NOA2 just as good in their eyes (person giving the interview?

Thanks for any help

[RJandHamid 1,133]

Which country is the interview taking place in? Many embassies/consulates do not allow anyone but the beneficiary to attend the interview, so you may have to wait outside if that is the case. Usually attending the interview is not a "make or break" situation, especially in low fraud countries. If you can provide proof of a recent visit like the one you are planning, that is usually sufficient additional evidence. 

It's really difficult to predict NOA2 at this point. "Average" is little over 90 days, but you could be waiting a bit longer than that or rarely a bit less. 

[sbane12 63]

3 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

Which country is the interview taking place in? Many embassies/consulates do not allow anyone but the beneficiary to attend the interview, so you may have to wait outside if that is the case. Usually attending the interview is not a "make or break" situation, especially in low fraud countries. If you can provide proof of a recent visit like the one you are planning, that is usually sufficient additional evidence. 

It's really difficult to predict NOA2 at this point. "Average" is little over 90 days, but you could be waiting a bit longer than that or rarely a bit less. 

Embassy that the interview will take place is Tokyo, Japan which is low risk. However my Fiance has legal residence in Japan on a Student Visa. She is from Cambodia, therefore her passport is Cambodian.

[RJandHamid 1,133]

So it looks like a few others have attended the interview in Tokyo with their fiance(e)s: 

You might want to double check with the embassy just to be sure however, as seems like there is some confusion. Once your fiancee receives her interview date, she could follow up and ask the embassy if you could attend with her. As you said, Japan is a low risk country, and I don't think you not attending the interview will hurt your case at all. I understand that you might want to be with her for the moral support however! 

[AMW 6]

Even if you can't attend the interview but you're able to be in the country at the time I've heard of people bringing in flight itineraries and passports of their anxious fiance's who are waiting outside the embassy doors - to prove they came for support. It's worth a try. Good luck!

[sbane12 63]

16 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

So it looks like a few others have attended the interview in Tokyo with their fiance(e)s: 

You might want to double check with the embassy just to be sure however, as seems like there is some confusion. Once your fiancee receives her interview date, she could follow up and ask the embassy if you could attend with her. As you said, Japan is a low risk country, and I don't think you not attending the interview will hurt your case at all. I understand that you might want to be with her for the moral support however! 

What about her Cambodian passport? I think Cambodia is a high risk country (maybe?) wouldnt the embassy treat her case similar to high risk?

[Ryan_Chialien 15]

It's not required to attend the interview or visit.  You just have to have proof that you met in person at least once in the last 2 years for K1.  

 

My fiance was from Taiwan.  She visited and met me in the US 3 times prior to our filing for a K1.  The last visit was from June through August.  We filed for K1 in April the following year and her interview was in September.  It was over a year from our last time seeing each other when her interview at the embassy occurred.  I still have never been to Taiwan and we are passed AOS now.    

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

5 hours ago, sbane12 said:

Embassy that the interview will take place is Tokyo, Japan which is low risk. However my Fiance has legal residence in Japan on a Student Visa. She is from Cambodia, therefore her passport is Cambodian.

Due to her being from Cambodia I would try to make it to the interview. It is embassy specific but my experience is that
no matter which embassy you go through you will be scrutinized according to the country of your passport/birth.
If you go before make sure you give your fiance ALL the trip/relationship evidence from the recent visit.
You may want to check both embassy (Japan,Cambodia) reviews and post in the regional forum for feedback.
It will be a gamble either way but in my opinion if they have questions and you are there (even if not permitted inside)

your fiance can always say you are waiting outside and show your passport to the CO. If they want they can then

ask you questions too. The safer option in my opinion.

[sbane12 63]

Thank you for the replies that is what I feared. We have over 500 pictures from being together, many professional ones as well. We have WU receipts from when I send her money every month. Receipts from when I buy her delivery flowers, and conversation records from Facebook Messenger (we chat and video call every day multiple times).
However she is 12 years younger then me, and whilst we have known each other for a long time, we only met 1 time in person which was in December for 2 weeks when I proposed. I feel like the Age difference, the single time meeting in person, and her being from Cambodia (birth) will probably make the need for me to be at the interview very high.

[CubaAndChill 389]

I would recommend to go to the interview as well. Many people have been denied and felt that it was because they weren't there at the interview with their fiance. Depending on the embassy, they can see it as the petitioner isn't serious about the process or marrying the beneficiary if they aren't willing to attend the interview.

 

Best of luck with everything!

[geowrian 22,337]

5 hours ago, sbane12 said:

What about her Cambodian passport? I think Cambodia is a high risk country (maybe?) wouldnt the embassy treat her case similar to high risk?

Cambodia is generally considered higher fraud, and they may look at the case with more scrutiny than somebody interviewing from a low fraud country. But where you interview does matter, so doing it in Tokyo is probably for the best. Some extra scrutiny is better than going through the Cambodian COs.

 

27 minutes ago, sbane12 said:

Thank you for the replies that is what I feared. We have over 500 pictures from being together, many professional ones as well. We have WU receipts from when I send her money every month. Receipts from when I buy her delivery flowers, and conversation records from Facebook Messenger (we chat and video call every day multiple times).
However she is 12 years younger then me, and whilst we have known each other for a long time, we only met 1 time in person which was in December for 2 weeks when I proposed. I feel like the Age difference, the single time meeting in person, and her being from Cambodia (birth) will probably make the need for me to be at the interview very high.

Photos are good. But just keep in mind that lots of photos over a short period of time isn't any better than a few photos over the same period of time. Generally, sending money doesn't act as any proof of a relationship, so the WU receipts won't have any bearing on the case. Some others may feel otherwise, but I think sending flowers (receipts + photos) is helpful as that's probably not something a fraudulent couple would do. The FB chats and calls are good as well.

 

The age difference likely won't be a big concern. Only 12 years is not uncommon in Cambodian culture (albeit it may be in Japanese culture a little, but not so much as to raise a concern IMHO). The only one meeting in person is the only flag I see from what you've said. If she was interviewing in Cambodia, I'd be concerned. But interviewing in Japan, I'd be cautiously optimistic.

 

Attending the interview (or giving them your passport to show you are there if you aren't permitted to be with your fiance at the interview) is certainly not required but does help. When possible, I do think it's better to have the petitioner there. Unfortunately, it's not always possible due to finances, getting days off work, or being unable to travel to the beneficiary's interviewing country (like KSA). In your case, if you can make it there, then please do so as I think it would be helpful to your case. Plus, it's Japan (I love Japan!). haha

Edited April 20, 2017 by geowrian

[sbane12 63]

19 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Cambodia is generally considered higher fraud, and they may look at the case with more scrutiny than somebody interviewing from a low fraud country. But where you interview does matter, so doing it in Tokyo is probably for the best. Some extra scrutiny is better than going through the Cambodian COs.

 

Photos are good. But just keep in mind that lots of photos over a short period of time isn't any better than a few photos over the same period of time. Generally, sending money doesn't act as any proof of a relationship, so the WU receipts won't have any bearing on the case. Some others may feel otherwise, but I think sending flowers (receipts + photos) is helpful as that's probably not something a fraudulent couple would do. The FB chats and calls are good as well.

 

The age difference likely won't be a big concern. Only 12 years is not uncommon in Cambodian culture (albeit it may be in Japanese culture a little, but not so much as to raise a concern IMHO). The only one meeting in person is the only flag I see from what you've said. If she was interviewing in Cambodia, I'd be concerned. But interviewing in Japan, I'd be cautiously optimistic.

 

Attending the interview (or giving them your passport to show you are there if you aren't permitted to be with your fiance at the interview) is certainly not required but does help. When possible, I do think it's better to have the petitioner there. Unfortunately, it's not always possible due to finances, getting days off work, or being unable to travel to the beneficiary's interviewing country (like KSA). In your case, if you can make it there, then please do so as I think it would be helpful to your case. Plus, it's Japan (I love Japan!). haha

Thank you everyone including Geo for your help. I guess it is decided. I will wait and go to the interview. It is mainly finances that is keeping me from say going soon and then again for interview, mainly because I want to have the extra cash in reserve for the AOS as well and $1300+ average ticket cost alone for Boston to Japan round trip isnt cheap either. One of the main reasons I wanted to see her sooner is because the government slowing down in the cases kind if makes the stress worse which I am sure we are all victims of. That is also one if the reasons I haven't been as active on this site because it almost came to the point where I worried more about the case and calculating every little progress that it took focus away from the one I love. 

[geowrian 22,337]

11 minutes ago, sbane12 said:

Thank you everyone including Geo for your help. I guess it is decided. I will wait and go to the interview. It is mainly finances that is keeping me from say going soon and then again for interview, mainly because I want to have the extra cash in reserve for the AOS as well and $1300+ average ticket cost alone for Boston to Japan round trip isnt cheap either. One of the main reasons I wanted to see her sooner is because the government slowing down in the cases kind if makes the stress worse which I am sure we are all victims of. That is also one if the reasons I haven't been as active on this site because it almost came to the point where I worried more about the case and calculating every little progress that it took focus away from the one I love. 

I think you're making the right choice. It's hard (and expensive!), I know...but you'll make it through. Good luck!

[USC1961 251]

11 hours ago, CubaAndChill said:

I would recommend to go to the interview as well. Many people have been denied and felt that it was because they weren't there at the interview with their fiance. Depending on the embassy, they can see it as the petitioner isn't serious about the process or marrying the beneficiary if they aren't willing to attend the interview.

 

Best of luck with everything!

In other words it can be make or break, agreed!  Especially if there hasn't been a lot of in person time.  I plan to attend my interview no doubt.  At the very least it will put my fiancee at ease.  At most it will help legitimize the relationship in the CO's eyes if the evidence isn't enough already.  Case in point here is a recent thread about an interview that took place in Manila, considered a very easy embassy:

 

 

[TBoneTX 45,291]

Conserve on funds now by not being on the premises, kick yourself later.

---

*** Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the Embassy/Consulate forum -- topic involves that phase. ***