Help me settle a petty argument about visa interviews.

[AliaAlia 9]

I did 99.99% of my visa paperwork myself. All I needed from him was some documents from his employer and his signature. I wrote whatever that I needed from him in very specific details.  I've been managing my immigration journey on my own since 2012 when I started my K-1 journey until my naturalization. After each submission, I would explain to him what was done and what is to be expected. We didn't have to go for an I-751 interview (was waived) so he didn't have to deal with any of the USCIS folks in person 😅 But he was there with me to every visit to the USCIS (I had to make several trips for something)

 

But as to settle your argument - like what the others said, no, visa interviews are not like job interviews. They ask specific questions, you answer truthfully and be concise about it. They don't really give you much room to ask questions - at least from my experience. They're not usually very chatty, they just want to see that you're not fraudulent. So the more you say, the more they'll scrutinize you if you accidentally blurb something.

Edited February 22, 2020 by AliaAlia

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

I have been in two visa interviews for myself as the applicant, one as petitioner for an immigrant visa at a Consulate, and one USCIS interview. Also been in many job interviews both successfully gotten the jobs and not, as well as I have interviewed and hired plenty of people. I gotta tell, visa interview is NOTHING like a job interview. The purpose is different and methods are different. A job interview is used to access a couple things: do you have the ability to do the job and how well can you fit in with the current team. A visa interview is to determine whether a person meet a pre-determined set of criteria for said visa. Two completely different goals. 

[bakphx1 789]

At the time of the interview, the decision has already been made.  Unless something very unexpected were to turn up to cause a reversal of approval or showing up with missing paperwork.  

[TBoneTX 46,063]

Bring to your interview a full set of copies of all paperwork that was submitted to USCIS.

Be familiar with it, without overstudying.

Bring original copies of birth certificates and (if applicable) divorce certificates; sometimes these are requested.

I wouldn't expect that an interview in Montreal would be a stressful or "grilling" experience.

 

In addition, familiarize yourself with every further step of the immigration process -- it sounds as though you will be the one responsible for compiling the materials and navigating the journey.

[jeanieCZ 228]

I had my interview in Amsterdam. It was absolutely not like a job interview at all and it wouldn't occur to me to approach it that way. 

My interviewing CO was quite matter-of-fact, wouldn't make eye contact and just look into my papers or at the computer screen as he was asking me questions. I was actually looking fwd to kindof telling a story of how we met and our relationship but it was soon clear to me fro his attitude that he didn't care to hear all that, so I just answered his questions and added some extra info here and there. 

On the other hand - as I was waiting for my interview, I overheard a whole interview of another family-based visa applicant who was interviewed by a different CO and the conversation sounded as a pleasant and very friendly chat, in which the applicant was telling a lot of stories about her husband and kids and both her and the CO were laughing. 

So I guess it depends on the CO how personal, relaxed, chitchatty or boring they make the interview. 

In any case, you are right, you're not there to interview them, so I don't think that taking the lead the way your fiance was suggesting is a good idea. NL being the emancipated country it is, I do have a lot of problems with the "shut up and listen" attitude but unfortunately, that's what it is about in one's immigration process....whether the embassy interview, the immigration officers at the border, and most people one deals with in public institutions and offices, too.

 

Good luck!

Edited February 22, 2020 by jeaniecz

[NikLR 13,232]

Your fiance is wrong.  It's an interview just like when you ask for admittance to the USA.  You answer the questions as asked, provide the information requested, and carry on.

 

[yuna628 9,712]

23 hours ago, ledingham said:

Hey!

I am waiting on a K-1 visa right now and my fiance in the USA seems to believe that visa interviews are the exact same as job interviews. It's to get to know each other and for some odd reason he seems to believe that the individual being interviewed is supposed to ask questions about the visa and what comes next. I have no idea where he got this idea as he has done little to no research about this visa. Wouldn’t it look odd to the interviewing officer if the person they were interviewing didn't know much about their own visa? He also believes that, just like a job interview, that I SHOULD have questions to ask the interviewing officer because it will “increase my chances of getting a visa and it makes me look good”. I don’t believe they care at all about what comes next and whether I know it or not, they probably only care if I have the right documents that they need to be looking at. However I could be completely wrong. I have read through many of the consulate reviews, specifically Montreal, and none of the posts indicate that interviews are going to be like a job interview. So, does anyone have any insight into this? Feel free to laugh as well, I know this is goofy.

Obviously this post goes out to ALL visa types that have interviews and if I posted this in the wrong forum I apologize. 

Nope.

They do the question asking and you do the truthful answering.

It is not like a job interview. For less stressful consulates it is kind of like a friendly chat while answering questions. I'm sure there are other consulates where the experience has been harrowing. I think it would be a good idea if your fiance tries to learn how the process actually works, you've got many parts of the process left to go through even after you arrive.

[NikLR 13,232]

As a side note, for everyone who says "oh your petitioner should be on here." They don't have to be.  I did every piece of paperwork for my immigration journey.  My husband got the information I asked of him, signed on the dotted lines, and did the physical mailings.  Since I was the one making the move and I am a planner, we both felt it would be better if I handled the paperwork and understood the process.  He trusted I knew what I was doing. The petitioner doesn't have to be super active in the process.  It's definitely helpful when the beneficiary doesn't have english has a 2nd, 3rd, or not at all country though.  But Canada isn't that. 

 

[jeanieCZ 228]

58 minutes ago, NikLR said:

As a side note, for everyone who says "oh your petitioner should be on here." They don't have to be.  I did every piece of paperwork for my immigration journey.  My husband got the information I asked of him, signed on the dotted lines, and did the physical mailings.  Since I was the one making the move and I am a planner, we both felt it would be better if I handled the paperwork and understood the process.  He trusted I knew what I was doing. The petitioner doesn't have to be super active in the process.  It's definitely helpful when the beneficiary doesn't have english has a 2nd, 3rd, or not at all country though.  But Canada isn't that. 

 

Well, indeed, he doesn't HAVE to be on VJ.

But I do think the petitioner should know how the visa process works. Not only because the petitiioner signs important documents, but also because he/she is a part of the couple who are inthe visa process. Just share things with your significant other. 

Having said that, I have done most of the research of my visa journey myself, but I did involve my partner in everything. 

[NikLR 13,232]

4 minutes ago, jeaniecz said:

Well, indeed, he doesn't HAVE to be on VJ.

But I do think the petitioner should know how the visa process works. Not only because the petitiioner signs important documents, but also because he/she is a part of the couple who are inthe visa process. Just share things with your significant other. 

Having said that, I have done most of the research of my visa journey myself, but I did involve my partner in everything. 

Everyone's relationship is different.  They should know how it works but they don't need to get on VJ or read VJ to know.  If they trust their beneficiary they can learn that way. They should read the instructions on forms and know what they're signing. But none of it requires them to be on VJ or to be the one who fills out the forms themselves. 

[jeanieCZ 228]

34 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Everyone's relationship is different.  They should know how it works but they don't need to get on VJ or read VJ to know.  If they trust their beneficiary they can learn that way. They should read the instructions on forms and know what they're signing. But none of it requires them to be on VJ or to be the one who fills out the forms themselves. 

I feel like that's what I said

[NikLR 13,232]

1 hour ago, jeaniecz said:

I feel like that's what I said

I was agreeing. 

[TBoneTX 46,063]

On 2/22/2020 at 9:19 AM, yuna628 said:

there are other consulates where the experience has been harrowing.

Guayaquil, 2008.

Bunch of us petitioners (albeit ultimately successful) are still angry.

Montreal will never compare.

[ledingham 68]

Sorry guys I was away for the weekend!

I dont think that he is very interested in learning about our immigration process unfortunately. It would be nice if he could learn more about it not only so that I am not carrying all of this weight myself but I find that he tries to explain the process to others but ends up spreading misinformation because he doesn't know a ton about it and explains what he does know incorrectly. What seems like a lack of interest is making me feel somewhat like I am going through this process alone.

 

Thank you all for confirming my knowledge on how the interview works. It was more so for my own peace of mind as no matter what I say, he will still continue to believe that it is the same as a job interview

I appreciate you all and VJ as a whole.

[NikLR 13,232]

My husband really doesn't know how the process works either and we went through it already.  All he knew was we needed to prove we were a genuine couple which meant sending things he didn't want to send because he's private.