Interpreter for AOS interview

[Thunderbolt 172]

Going for the AOS interview next week. In the letter from USCIS it says "If you do not speak English fluently, you should arrange to have an interpreter available by phone".

My wife speaks English, but after reading few stories here we are thinking about getting one. Can we arrange one before our interview with USCIS or we should have our own?

They only say that they can provide one for Sign Language Interpreter. Nothing about other languages.

Thanks

[Timona 4,208]

You can be your spouse's interpreter and avoid paying $$ for an interpreter while you can do the job. Don't you guys understand/ talk to each other?

[Thunderbolt 172]

2 minutes ago, Timona said:

You can be your spouse's interpreter and avoid paying $$ for an interpreter while you can do the job. Don't you guys understand/ talk to each other?

We are communicate in English. However, USCIS says that if you do not speak 'fluent' English. I had no idea that I can be the interpreter. If that's the case, then yes, I would definitely like to do it.

[Timona 4,208]

5 hours ago, Thunderbolt said:

We are communicate in English. However, USCIS says that if you do not speak 'fluent' English. I had no idea that I can be the interpreter. If that's the case, then yes, I would definitely like to do it.

Go for it. Be the interpreter and save $$$

 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

8 hours ago, Timona said:

You can be your spouse's interpreter and avoid paying $$ for an interpreter while you can do the job. Don't you guys understand/ talk to each other?

Usually they don't allow the spouse to be the translator simply because it's hard to detect marriage fraud if one spouse speaks for the two of them. 

[Thunderbolt 172]

That's the thing, I wont be the 'translator' as I don't speak Thai, but if possible I would like to be interpreter

I would like to be interpreter between CIS employee and my wife, not my wife --> CIS employee. She can answer in English no problem, but I worry that she won't understand the question correctly.

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

13 minutes ago, Thunderbolt said:

That's the thing, I wont be the 'translator' as I don't speak Thai, but if possible I would like to be interpreter

I would like to be interpreter between CIS employee and my wife, not my wife --> CIS employee. She can answer in English no problem, but I worry that she won't understand the question correctly.

Ah ok gotcha. Might still be tricky if you get a super strict IO. Maybe have a friend as a telephone joker on hand for that time that you could call if they absolutely want somebody else to do that.

I don't remember who it was but I remember a VJ member who got sent home bc the IO decided that his wife wouldn't understand/ speak English good enough and stopped the interview. They had to wait months for a new appointment. 

 

@Loren Y wasn't that you?

Edited September 2, 2020 by Letspaintcookies

[Loren Y 2,756]

2 hours ago, Letspaintcookies said:

Ah ok gotcha. Might still be tricky if you get a super strict IO. Maybe have a friend as a telephone joker on hand for that time that you could call if they absolutely want somebody else to do that.

I don't remember who it was but I remember a VJ member who got sent home bc the IO decided that his wife wouldn't understand/ speak English good enough and stopped the interview. They had to wait months for a new appointment. 

 

@Loren Y wasn't that you?

Correct, they couldn't get their phone translator on the phone, an even though I'm sure my wife could have made it thru the interview, the IO didn't want to risk it. IO just didn't want to do anymore work that day I think honestly. When we went back for the rescheduled interview, with a live interpreter on hand, we had the interview with the supervisor that day, and even he agreed the interpreter probably wasn't needed, and he hinted at the fact he was doing all these interviews because the first IO was no longer employed by USCIS anymore. He didn't come out and directly say it, but I think the first IO ended up being fired from her job. I don't doubt it the way her attitude was from the start. Had absolutely no issues with the second interview, and had green card in hand a week later.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

22 hours ago, Timona said:

You can be your spouse's interpreter and avoid paying $$ for an interpreter while you can do the job. Don't you guys understand/ talk to each other?

This is incorrect, they won’t even let you talk when they ask your spouse, they sometime separate the couple.

 

OP: any friend can be your interpreter, no close relative though. If the interpreter is not with you at the interview, they will reschedule it. At this pandemic, I don’t know if they would allow more people inside the room.

Edited September 2, 2020 by NancyNguyen

[JasonGG 280]

During my wife's and daughter's interviews in 2018, I was able to rephrase questions in English to help my wife understand.  My wife interpreted for her daughter who was 8 years old at the time.  Prepare yourself by reviewing the list of "yes / no" questions on the application.  At my wife's interview, he rephrased some questions so the answer would be opposite of what was on the form.  Be prepared to talk about your married life and you will be fine.

 

Good Luck - Jason

[Thunderbolt 172]

10 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Correct, they couldn't get their phone translator on the phone, an even though I'm sure my wife could have made it thru the interview, the IO didn't want to risk it. IO just didn't want to do anymore work that day I think honestly. When we went back for the rescheduled interview, with a live interpreter on hand, we had the interview with the supervisor that day, and even he agreed the interpreter probably wasn't needed, and he hinted at the fact he was doing all these interviews because the first IO was no longer employed by USCIS anymore. He didn't come out and directly say it, but I think the first IO ended up being fired from her job. I don't doubt it the way her attitude was from the start. Had absolutely no issues with the second interview, and had green card in hand a week later.

I remember your story, that's why I'm little nervous. My wife had her interview, got the job and was working there with customers. I think her English is good enough, but I don't want to take any chances.

 

27 minutes ago, NancyNguyen said:

This is incorrect, they won’t even let you talk when they ask your spouse, they sometime separate the couple.

 

OP: any friend can be your interpreter, no close relative though. If the interpreter is not with you at the interview, they will reschedule it. At this pandemic, I don’t know if they would allow more people inside the room.

On the interview letter it says to arrange interpreter available over the phone.

 

12 minutes ago, JasonGG said:

During my wife's and daughter's interviews in 2018, I was able to rephrase questions in English to help my wife understand.  My wife interpreted for her daughter who was 8 years old at the time.  Prepare yourself by reviewing the list of "yes / no" questions on the application.  At my wife's interview, he rephrased some questions so the answer would be opposite of what was on the form.  Be prepared to talk about your married life and you will be fine.

 

Good Luck - Jason

That's all I would need, just to rephrase the questions if she would be confused by them.

 

Thanks all for your suggestions.

[Timona 4,208]

3 hours ago, NancyNguyen said:

This is incorrect, they won’t even let you talk when they ask your spouse, they sometime separate the couple.

 

OP: any friend can be your interpreter, no close relative though. If the interpreter is not with you at the interview, they will reschedule it. At this pandemic, I don’t know if they would allow more people inside the room.

Times may have changed, it seems. My MIL was the interpreter for my FIL. This was 2017 September.

 

[rasaco 39]

On 9/1/2020 at 9:16 AM, Thunderbolt said:

Going for the AOS interview next week. In the letter from USCIS it says "If you do not speak English fluently, you should arrange to have an interpreter available by phone".

My wife speaks English, but after reading few stories here we are thinking about getting one. Can we arrange one before our interview with USCIS or we should have our own?

They only say that they can provide one for Sign Language Interpreter. Nothing about other languages.

Thanks

How did the interview go? Did you end up bringing a phone interpreter? We are in a similar situation (Interview in October, we are at the ROC phase, not AOS, and my husband does speak English in his daily life, but this is just way too important of an interview to risk him misunderstanding a question). If you did end up using a phone interpreter, did you choose a friend or a professional? What was the process like of how you got them on the phone once you were there? Thanks so much!

[Thunderbolt 172]

On 9/9/2020 at 11:31 AM, rasaco said:

How did the interview go? Did you end up bringing a phone interpreter? We are in a similar situation (Interview in October, we are at the ROC phase, not AOS, and my husband does speak English in his daily life, but this is just way too important of an interview to risk him misunderstanding a question). If you did end up using a phone interpreter, did you choose a friend or a professional? What was the process like of how you got them on the phone once you were there? Thanks so much!

Hi,

 

Just got back home from the interview. It was pretty simple. We got to the office 15 minutes before the scheduled time. Waited in line to get to the building.
When we got to the waiting room it was maybe 10-15 other couples. Social distancing.

IO were coming in and calling the names. We were waiting about 15 minutes before my wife's name was called. We followed the IO to his office.

He asked for documents verifying our identities etc. The questions were to both of us, but when he asked my wife about something that she didn't understand, I've asked him to rephrase it. He was happy to do it and other questions that my wife wouldn't understand he would explain some other way. He was super nice.

We had our translator/interpreter on stand by waiting by her phone just in case, but we didn't have to use her.

The questions were just about her job, our marriage and IO wanted to see original documents (passports, marriage certificate, etc.).

We were done in under 30 minutes. Received print out that they will review the documents and make a decision in the next couple of weeks.

 

Again, I can't stress it enough, the whole process today was very pleasant. We were expecting 'bored' government workers, but we've got very nice and pleasant employee.

 

Also, I've looked at all these people coming in, and they had maybe one folder of documents. We had a tote bag with 7.4lbs of documents I was covering all the possible bases. We don't need more delays and RFE.

So far, following the VJ guidelines and help from other members, we haven't had even 1 RFE from the first time we've applied for K-1 visa

 

Thank you all for the guidance!

[Thunderbolt 172]

Woke up this morning, checked the case status and I see:

New Card Is Being Produced

On September 11, 2020, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number MXXXXXXXXXXXXX, and will mail it to the address you gave us.