Will my fiance need to speak English at the interview?

[1123521 0]

Hi. I heard that we might have problems getting our K-1 visa approved because we do not speak the other's language well. Is this true? Is there a possibility that we will be denied our K-1 fiance visa if I do not speak Portuguese well and my fiance does not speak English well? Also, I have heard that the interview will be in English. Will it be a problem if my fiance only speaks portuguese during her interview? Will the interviewer give my fiance a choice of which language to use during the interview? Thanks.

[Ladylethal 12]

You have to show that you speak each other's language enough to prove a valid relationship.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Yes - agreed.

Just curious (and I'm not trying to be facetious)...how have you developed a relationship when you cannot communicate in eachother's language? I've had the deepest, important conversations of my life with my fiance and can't imagine not being able to have those.

Good luck

[Otto 83]

Presuming the interview will be held in your fiancé's home country - I believe much of the interview (if not all) can be in her native language. The question of 'how do you communicate' may very well come up... I don't know what the answer will be, but it is certainly something to be considered.

[Alex+R 0]

In Rio, she will be able to speak Portuguese at the interview, but if you don't speak each other's language very well, that's a huge red flag. (For good reason, IMO. How do you develop a relationship -- much less an LDR -- without a common language?)

eta: You're going to want to stick to posting each question in just one forum. People will start to get mad when they see your topics in different forums are basically the same.

Edited May 18, 2007 by Alex+R

[1123521 0]

We are both in the early stages of learning the other's language. I can read portuguese but I have a difficult time speaking it still. Mainly due to non-use. We can communicate very well using programs like IM Translator and using translation books. We use them to Instant Message and email. If we show our email records then will this satisfy the interviewer? Can you say more about how we can prove that we communicate with each other well? Thanks.

You have to show that you speak each other's language enough to prove a valid relationship.

[Ladylethal 12]

Well, if you're going to be there for the interview you'll definitly be observed, as in they'll expect to see that you can talk to each other, if you pull out a dictionary to do so, it will look suspicious. And even if you don't go they might ask in what language do you two communicate in.

My husband wasn't in my interview and it was asked rather directly, especially since he's puertorican, so it could be that he didn't even speak English. And indeed, I started my interview in English and the interviewer asked if he spoke English as well, or Portuguese, or if I spoke Spanish.

So yeah, it is important.

[Alex+R 0]

We are both in the early stages of learning the other's language. I can read portuguese but I have a difficult time speaking it still. Mainly due to non-use. We can communicate very well using programs like IM Translator and using translation books. We use them to Instant Message and email. If we show our email records then will this satisfy the interviewer? Can you say more about how we can prove that we communicate with each other well? Thanks.

You have to show that you speak each other's language enough to prove a valid relationship.

I'm sorry, but from others' experiences that will not be enough. You can't prove you communicate with each other well because you don't in the COs eyes, usually. Maybe you could postpone the interview to take the time to study each other's language? The only way I see for your fiancee to pass the interview is to lie about your Portuguese level, which is illegal.

[bora bora 1]

I don't understand how your spoken Portuguese would be bad because of non-use -- your fiance is Brazilian and doesn't know much English.

Well, I (the USC) went to Rio to attend the interview with my husband. He doesn't speak English so when we greeted the CO we said Bom dia....he asked me questions about how I knew Portuguese, along with how met, etc.

Most of his questions directed to me were in English but we explained things in Portuguese so there was our proof.

You will have to prove how you communicate. I suggest working on that - good luck