Parent interview - can I attend?

[Boiler 45,478]

On a more positive side this is well in the future and she has plenty of time to work on her language skills, she will need that for working etc in the US.

[eckoin 211]

Just now, Boiler said:

On a more positive side this is well in the future and she has plenty of time to work on her language skills, she will need that for working etc in the US.

Man, she's lived in Canada since 2003. This has been a conversation for years. She's become a lot more self reliant after I moved away, so that's why I think she's doing better. She has a job where she has to talk to people in English, no one complains. 

 

But she surrounds herself with other Russians, and hasn't done a good job of learning English. Passable, maybe, but not good. It's flabbergasting how she made it this far sometimes... So trust me, I know. I've enrolled her in classes before, didn't go. 

[Boiler 45,478]

That begs the practicality issues of her moving from an environment where she is comfortable, her future work prospects etc etc.

[eckoin 211]

Just now, Boiler said:

That begs the practicality issues of her moving from an environment where she is comfortable, her future work prospects etc etc.

That's why she's set on South FL. Still way closer to us, a day trip away, but the Russian diaspora is certainly there. I'm sure she'll be fine for work, she already has a number of friends and potential clients. But don't get me wrong, English needs to be handled. It's more than a little ridiculous at this point. 

[carmel34 3,625]

There was a similar post on this subject a day or two ago.  If you are concerned, you can bring an interpreter who is fluent in Russian, but check with the Montreal Consulate for their policies to make sure.  From the other thread, when interpreters are allowed, you have to satisfy the IO that they will be unbiased in their interpretation, i.e., it can't be a family member or friend who might change their answers to make them sound more "correct."

[Amadia 711]

The good thing about interviews is they ask the preferred language that the applicant is comfortable speaking in. You may not be able to be the interpreter for your mother. It is not normal for the Petitioner to also be the translator as it would be a biased situation. It also prevents ad-libbing or added responses as the translation must be word for word.

However, USCIS has personnel available or an authorized interpreter can be brought to the interview.

 

Don't waste your time even bothering to contact USCIS about this because they will all give you a generic reply about "following the instructions in the form" which would leave you even more confused than when you began.

[eckoin 211]

@carmel34 and @Amadia

 

You guys are right. I think it makes more sense to get a licensed (?) interpreter just in case, rather than me going with her. Now that I think about it, she'll just default to me answering like everything else in life. On the upside, I learned how to deal with mortgage brokers when I was 13! Thanks all! 

[jan22 3,052]

5 hours ago, Amadia said:

The good thing about interviews is they ask the preferred language that the applicant is comfortable speaking in. You may not be able to be the interpreter for your mother. It is not normal for the Petitioner to also be the translator as it would be a biased situation. It also prevents ad-libbing or added responses as the translation must be word for word.

However, USCIS has personnel available or an authorized interpreter can be brought to the interview.

 

Don't waste your time even bothering to contact USCIS about this because they will all give you a generic reply about "following the instructions in the form" which would leave you even more confused than when you began.

USCIS has nothing to do with the visa interview -- that is conducted by a State Department officer at the Consulate.  I suspect they will not allow the petitioner to attend a parent's interview.  An applicant can take an interpreter, if needed, but that shouldn't be a close family member, let alone the petitioner.

[NikLR 13,227]

4 hours ago, jan22 said:

USCIS has nothing to do with the visa interview -- that is conducted by a State Department officer at the Consulate.  I suspect they will not allow the petitioner to attend a parent's interview.  An applicant can take an interpreter, if needed, but that shouldn't be a close family member, let alone the petitioner.

She would be allowed in and sat in the lobby area which is visible to the interview windows.  Montreal allows petitioners. 

[Lights 56]

Good to know, and good luck OP!!  I will also be filing for my parents soon (Canada).  I became a citizen a few months back. 

 

My parents speak english just fine (they've been in Canada for well over 40 years), but my mom is... quirky.  LOL.  She's a little lady and she can't just...answer a question.  She does, but with a little extra flare that she could likely afford to just leave out this time around.  Haha.  We were planning on making it a family vacation... when I did my K1, I was able to interview in Vancouver (where we all are from) but I think all interviews now go through Montreal.  I use to travel to Montreal a lot for business but haven't been since leaving Canada and my job that I had there, so I'm looking forward to going back! 

[jan22 3,052]

On 4/7/2019 at 7:25 PM, NikLR said:

She would be allowed in and sat in the lobby area which is visible to the interview windows.  Montreal allows petitioners. 

But OP said they didn't want to just sit in the lobby -- they wanted to actually be in the interview.  That is unlikely to happen.

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

Petitioners are not allowed at the interview unless the CO has a query. They'd be asked to have a seat indoors, usually within sight of the interview window. 

[NikLR 13,227]

19 hours ago, jan22 said:

But OP said they didn't want to just sit in the lobby -- they wanted to actually be in the interview.  That is unlikely to happen.

The lobby area in Montreal isnt like a different area though.  That's what I'm trying to portray.   Literally if you wanted to listen in on people's interviews, you could.  And petitioners have gone up to the window they just aren't supposed to answer questions directed to the beneficiary.  But that's with spousal cases and I'm unsure that a child petitioner would be allowed at the interview window. 

[jan22 3,052]

14 minutes ago, NikLR said:

The lobby area in Montreal isnt like a different area though.  That's what I'm trying to portray.   Literally if you wanted to listen in on people's interviews, you could.  And petitioners have gone up to the window they just aren't supposed to answer questions directed to the beneficiary.  But that's with spousal cases and I'm unsure that a child petitioner would be allowed at the interview window. 

That set-up ("lobby", i.e., waiting room is open to the interview windows) is the same at the vast majority of US Embassies.  In most, there is only one private interview space that is used for sensitive cases.

Edited April 10, 2019 by jan22

[NikLR 13,227]

1 minute ago, jan22 said:

That set-up ("lobby", i.e., waiting room is open to the interview windows) is the same at the vast majority of US Embassies.  In most, there is only one private interview space that is used for sensitive cases.

Interesting to note. Thanks