AOS Interview - what does "Fluent in English" mean exactly?

[Bryan and An 23]

Good morning! 

 

An received her AOS interview appointment letter yesterday, for early September - less than 4 months from sending in the application. Yay!! Super excited. However, in reading over the letter, one thing stood out. It says, in bold letters, If you do not speak English fluently, you should bring an interpreter. I'm just wondering what everyone else's opinion is of what they mean by "fluently," or if anyone can share their experience. To me, "fluent" has always meant that you can speak the language almost like it's your native language - that your vocabulary knowledge, pronunciation, etc. are almost that of a native speaker. My wife is not there. She is what I would call "conversational." I speak almost no Vietnamese, yet we have no problem communicating from day to day. Yes, sometimes I have to repeat myself more slowly, or explain what I mean in different words, but mostly we communicate like any other couple. I think she'll be okay at the interview; if there is any question she doesn't understand, I can easily explain it to her (in English) and she'll understand. But again, this may not be what they consider "fluent," and I don't want her to be kicked out of the interview! What do you think? Should we just be safe and try to find/hire an interpreter? Thanks! 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Personally, I'd get a translator. No offence but I don't think the officer has all day to repeat or explain things slowly to her, like you would with her at home. 

[YecaCruz 379]

I've always thought that the day one can call themselves 100% fluent is the day that they think and dream in said language.

 

I agree with the poster above, be safe and get a translator. If he/she isn't needed, great; but better to have and not need than to need one and not have it. The interviewer might make her nervous and less able to understand/communicate because of nerves. Has she mentioned if she prefers a translator or does she think she can manage?  

 

In any case, good luck to ya!

[DavidandJen 15]

I once had an interview with police in a foreign country and even though I was reasonably competent in the foreign language I asked for an interpreter. The interviewing officer even remarked that I clearly understood his questions before they were translated to me, and I replied through my interpreter that, although I probably could conduct this interview without an interpreter, I felt more comfortable knowing that there wasn't going to be a misunderstanding if I couldn't express myself how I wanted.

 

The point of my anecdote is that this is an important interview, and if your wife misspeaks or misunderstands a question her response could cause your interviewer to doubt your relationship. I would absolutely pay for an interpreter so that your wife can relax and answer her questions properly, without getting flustered. She could even explain at the beginning of the interview, in English, why she wants an interpreter. Speaking a foreign language under pressure is hard, so why not make it easier on yourselves?

[Bryan and An 23]

22 minutes ago, JJGussiaas (Gush) said:

I've always thought that the day one can call themselves 100% fluent is the day that they think and dream in said language.

 

I agree with the poster above, be safe and get a translator. If he/she isn't needed, great; but better to have and not need than to need one and not have it. The interviewer might make her nervous and less able to understand/communicate because of nerves. Has she mentioned if she prefers a translator or does she think she can manage?  

 

In any case, good luck to ya!

She said she thinks she'll be fine and isn't worried about it...I tend to agree with the replies here, in that it's better to have and not need than to need and not have (although as I said, I'm sure that anything they would ask that she might not understand at first, I'm positive I could quickly re-explain in a way she would understand...which is just as good as an interpreter, right? Or are couples commonly split up and interviewed separately at these interviews?) Anyway, I would probably prefer to err on the side of caution and try to find one...the only issue is convincing my wife, who tends to be far more frugal than I am, that we're not wasting money  

[b6543 25]

Recommend asking for translator...it will give you peace of mind and help in any challenging questions in english that may be interpreted differently. it is free.  

 

If she does not need interpretation that is fine during interview. But you cannot ask for interpreter during the interview if you did not request one before.  

[Abfim 27]

My wife isn't perfect in English (can understand it better than she can speak it) and we did not get a translator. I thought about getting a translator and it was over $100 an hour. I think it really depends on how many detailed questions are asked. They will probably ask all the yes/no questions on the I-864. My recommendation would be to practice with her to make sure she is comfortable answering questions in English.

[Bryan and An 23]

1 minute ago, b6543 said:

Recommend asking for translator...it will give you peace of mind and help in any challenging questions in english that may be interpreted differently. it is free.  

 

If she does not need interpretation that is fine during interview. But you cannot ask for interpreter during the interview if you did not request one before.  

Wait - they will provide one free? My understanding from the wording of the appointment letter was that we would have to find/provide one at our own expense. It says, "If you do not speak English fluently, you should bring an interpreter." How and when would this request be made (how soon before the interview)?

[Abfim 27]

5 minutes ago, b6543 said:

Recommend asking for translator...it will give you peace of mind and help in any challenging questions in english that may be interpreted differently. it is free.  

 

If she does not need interpretation that is fine during interview. But you cannot ask for interpreter during the interview if you did not request one before.  

My understanding when I got the letter is that we had to provide a translator and not them?

[b6543 25]

I wrote incorrect that interpreter may be free. For AOS one may need to bring interpreter, after all. Maybe a friend that speaks both languages could help.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Just to throw into the mix, we were separated and interviewed for an hour each and if that happens to you she may really feel freaked out

without an interpreter.

[Bryan and An 23]

6 minutes ago, Ebunoluwa said:

Just to throw into the mix, we were separated and interviewed for an hour each and if that happens to you she may really feel freaked out

without an interpreter.

Wow - was your interview in St. Louis? That's where ours is. Was their anything about your situation that would cause them to doubt the validity, or is that pretty standard? I've read some say that the interview was a piece of cake, and others say it was very difficult. Guess a lot of it depends on the interviewer?

 

Side note, I honestly don't even know how we would find an interpreter. We don't know anybody personally who could do it - none of her Vietnamese friends here speak English as well as she does. I've tried Google but can't come up with anything for Vietnamese-English interpreter in the St. Louis area. I'm sure we could find a professional one in Chicago, but I imagine it would cost a fortune in travel expenses to fly them here to do it. 

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

57 minutes ago, Bryan and An said:

Wow - was your interview in St. Louis? That's where ours is. Was their anything about your situation that would cause them to doubt the validity, or is that pretty standard? I've read some say that the interview was a piece of cake, and others say it was very difficult. Guess a lot of it depends on the interviewer?

 

Side note, I honestly don't even know how we would find an interpreter. We don't know anybody personally who could do it - none of her Vietnamese friends here speak English as well as she does. I've tried Google but can't come up with anything for Vietnamese-English interpreter in the St. Louis area. I'm sure we could find a professional one in Chicago, but I imagine it would cost a fortune in travel expenses to fly them here to do it. 

http://indytranslations.com/interpretation-stlouis.htm


 

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

58 minutes ago, Bryan and An said:

Wow - was your interview in St. Louis? That's where ours is. Was their anything about your situation that would cause them to doubt the validity, or is that pretty standard? I've read some say that the interview was a piece of cake, and others say it was very difficult. Guess a lot of it depends on the interviewer?

 

Side note, I honestly don't even know how we would find an interpreter. We don't know anybody personally who could do it - none of her Vietnamese friends here speak English as well as she does. I've tried Google but can't come up with anything for Vietnamese-English interpreter in the St. Louis area. I'm sure we could find a professional one in Chicago, but I imagine it would cost a fortune in travel expenses to fly them here to do it. 

Search a bit more I am sure there are some available, perhaps call USCIS for a suggestion if they know some.

The interview is different for different couples and not really predictable.
We filed in May 2015, interview was Sept 2016, home visit July 2017 . All went well. Still waiting.
For most it is not this dramatic and goes more smoothly.

[Bryan and An 23]

57 minutes ago, Ebunoluwa said:

http://indytranslations.com/interpretation-stlouis.htm


 

Awesome - thank you!