Is it worth it to attend consulate interview?

[OCman 12]

4 hours ago, givionte said:

Guanzghou is pretty strict about the one-person interview policy, except in situations where they have some suspicions about a bonafide marriage and may need to interview both.  The Chinese security is also very high, so the best you'll be able to do is wait outside at the Starbucks nearby, they don't allow loitering around the consulate outside, since it's busy around there.

 

From my research a common question always is "Where's your spouse right now" or "When did you last see your spouse?".  Could it be helpful to say he/she traveled to the consulate together and he's waiting outside the exit?  Yes, perhaps.  But if all your records your spouse brings to the interview are complete and organized, that is far more important than anything.  Also, the interview can be in the language of choice, so just get comfortable with all the evidence, look it over a dozen times until familiar with it.

 

China Eastern flights to GZ are uber cheap right now, you always have the option.

Thank you for your knowledge of the interview process in Guangzhou.  

We have been together more than five times, including once earlier this year when I went to see her for 2 weeks, which is why I feel another trip to GZ may not be that critical.  

If I do go, I will want to spend about 2 weeks of time there, so we could spend some meaningful time together.   

 

Direct flights to GZ for next month, which is when our interview is scheduled, are all over $1000 round trip.  

Maybe the price will come down as the time approach, but then it's the summer travel season.  

 

Edited April 21, 2019 by OCman

[OCman 12]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

Canton is a non stop for me out of SFO. Really one of the easiest places to reach from the USA. 

 

Anyway, I went to Myanmar to support my fiancée.  I wasn’t allowed in the consulate. The CO asked her when was the last time we met. She said he is waiting outside.  Visa approved. 

 

Go to Canton if you can.  

 

You make a good point.    I'll try to be there.  

 

[Pitaya 2,577]

21 hours ago, OCman said:

Yeah, June is certainly hot and humid in Guangzhou. 

But I don't mind wearing next to nothing when we are sleeping together.

 

As for strained relations, I just hope it doesn't carry over to the visa approval process too much.  

I know many visas have been denied, so we are getting quite anxious as well.  

 

 

I hope for your sakes that the recent souring of Sino-American relations won't affect your chances for visa approval. Hard to gauge how much the recent  bilateral saber-rattling and posturing has affected diplomatic and immigration affairs. The climate between the two countries is markedly different today than when we were in the visa approval process seven to eight years ago.

 

Regarding the language choice during the visa interview. Yes, I recall my wife telling me that the consulate officer (CO) asked my wife if the wanted to conduct the interview in Mardarin or English. She answered, "In English, of course!" I remember complimenting her on her good tactical decision. If her answer would have been Mandarin, the obvious question from the CO could have been, "How do you communicate with your fiancé?" A potentially damaging faux pas, depending on the follow-up response.

 

My stepson related that he was basically there watching the interview. He said that the CO pretended to be fiddling/typing with his laptop, but he was actually looking at their eyes when he was asking a question and they were responding to the question. Certainly an interesting interview technique.

 

I recall that we certainly had a nice celebratory seafood dinner with champagne that evening after their visas being approved. It wasn't anything fancy, but it sure tasted great, present company included. 

 

Best wishes on your impending interview. 

Edited April 21, 2019 by Pitaya
punctuation

[OCman 12]

2 hours ago, NikLR said:

Even if they're allowed in, they're not allowed to be interviewed.  So regardless the USC can't explain anything even if they're allowed in!  Anything that needs an explanation should either have one attached or not be included if it can be misinterpreted.  The CO will be fluent in English and able to read everything provided to them.  They do not have to look at anything brought to interview however so everything should have been included at the USCIS or NVC stage.  

Yes, the CO will be able to read my documents in English, but what if they still have questions?  My wife won't be able to respond because she doesn't understand my documents in English. 

 

If you read what others have posted earlier in this thread, you will see questions could pop up one way or another, even after USCIS and NVC have checked everything.  I hope they are not looking for a reason to reject someone, but you never know.  

Edited April 21, 2019 by OCman

[AfricanQ 241]

On 4/20/2019 at 7:07 PM, Mrsamoah2019 said:

His interview is May 30...I cant take off work....and the flights are outrageous...I want to go sooooo bad 

U can get deals to Ghana from  south Africa airlines. Is a straight flight and I got a round trip for $817.00.

[NikLR 13,227]

1 hour ago, OCman said:

Yes, the CO will be able to read my documents in English, but what if they still have questions?  My wife won't be able to respond because she doesn't understand my documents in English. 

 

If you read what others have posted earlier in this thread, you will see questions could pop up one way or another, even after USCIS and NVC have checked everything.  I hope they are not looking for a reason to reject someone, but you never know.  

Very rarely do they ask questions of the petitioner documents. I can't remember that last time someone mentioned it.  Regardless you arent interviewed and couldn't clarify if you wanted to.  Even in Montreal where the petitioner is allowed, they sit in the waiting area, not at the interview desk.  

[Bengoj 133]

I will definitely be there for my husband’s interview.  

[Mrsamoah2019 593]

23 minutes ago, AfricanQ said:

U can get deals to Ghana from  south Africa airlines. Is a straight flight and I got a round trip for $817.00.

What!??...flying from Atlanta?

Edited April 21, 2019 by Mrsamoah2019

[Kastrs 723]

4 hours ago, NikLR said:

Even if they're allowed in, they're not allowed to be interviewed.  So regardless the USC can't explain anything even if they're allowed in!  Anything that needs an explanation should either have one attached or not be included if it can be misinterpreted.  The CO will be fluent in English and able to read everything provided to them.  They do not have to look at anything brought to interview however so everything should have been included at the USCIS or NVC stage.  

I think this might actually be embassy dependent

When I attended with my husband, the CO encouraged me to provide answers and in the end I would say I probably did more speaking at the interview than my husband did

 

To the OP, I would always encourage you to go to the interview even if not allowed inside the embassy, it can never hurt to be there

[Ryan H 3,812]

***Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to US Embassy and Consulate Discussion; topic is about this phase of the process.***

 

**Moderator hat off**

 

OP, I made the trip and IMO, it was worth it.

[TBoneTX 45,293]

My interview contemporaries and I were all hosed by the rogue Guayaquil consulate when we didn't accompany our fiancees/wives to their first interview.  It was an unspoken expectation that we petitioners should have been there (thanks for not having told us).

 

Until a couple of years ago, and perhaps even still, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) strongly preferred that the petitioner be on the premises.

 

I have since learned that the chief factor affecting a petitioner's invitation into the consular area is space for them.  That said, it's still not a bad idea for the petitioner to hang around the consular premises, within range, in case the CO has a question that can be cleared up then and there without the need for a 221g, as in the personal example described earlier.

[OCman 12]

On 4/21/2019 at 9:50 PM, TBoneTX said:

My interview contemporaries and I were all hosed by the rogue Guayaquil consulate when we didn't accompany our fiancees/wives to their first interview.  It was an unspoken expectation that we petitioners should have been there (thanks for not having told us).

 

Until a couple of years ago, and perhaps even still, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) strongly preferred that the petitioner be on the premises.

 

I have since learned that the chief factor affecting a petitioner's invitation into the consular area is space for them.  That said, it's still not a bad idea for the petitioner to hang around the consular premises, within range, in case the CO has a question that can be cleared up then and there without the need for a 221g, as in the personal example described earlier.

Thanks for your valuable advice and insight.  I think the unspoken rule is what every petitioner need to worry about.  

[Pitaya 2,577]

On 4/23/2019 at 6:02 PM, OCman said:

Thanks for your valuable advice and insight.  I think the unspoken rule is what every petitioner need to worry about.  

Well, did your wife have her Guangzhou consulate interview yet? Can't tell from your timeline, it is missing......

 

Don't know about the new GUZ consulate, but the old one wouldn't allow the USC to attend the interview, due to space constraints (so I was told). It is relatively easy why they say some consulates are tougher than others. They are trying to ascertain the truth, rule out fraud and deceit during a short interview. I recall the big throng of people that started swarming in the plaza at the door the consulate at opening time. The local police had a mobile police station set-up to keep order. The plaza was cordoned off with teller lines. A lot of people had their sheaves of documents,  doing their business, many trying to get a chance to live the US, with their loved one. The police presence was necessary to keep the keep the din to a mild roar.  My wife said when they got in the door for their appointment, there were Chinese consulate workers there at the outset. These workers were asking, in a kind of berating manner, why my wife wanted to move to the US and leave her homeland. I never saw that, I was sipping on an espresso, cooling my heals......around the corner at a Starbucks.

 

I would strongly encourage the USC partner to try to attend, or be in the area, when your loved one has their visa interview. Can you imagine the stress for your loved one, going into a foreign government consulate to be "interrogated?" The outcome of which will may likely determine their life and your future together.  Being there, if only to lend moral support would have to be a big boost for the beneficiary..."Hey, he really wants to be with me, and is here to support me in any way he can!" That speaks huge for a relationship, and hopefully bodes well for the relationship in the future. 

 

If you can go, go !!

[OCman 12]

20 hours ago, Pitaya (火龙果) said:

Well, did your wife have her Guangzhou consulate interview yet? Can't tell from your timeline, it is missing......

 

 

Yes we did.  It went pretty well.  My attendance definitely helped a lot.  

 

The consulate is in a very nice are part of the town.  

It's worth while to just walk around the area during the interview.

 

But I was kind of depressed by the ordinary people who were rejected for visa applications.

I felt bad for them.