Can/should spouse petitioner attend IR-1 interview?

[EKT 117]

Apologies if this has been asked recently. I did a search but couldn't find a specific answer... I'm a USC spouse/petitioner for my husband who has applied for an IR-1. We live together overseas and it would be relatively easy for me to go to the interview with him. It sounds like couples sometimes do go together from what I have seen on VJ, but I recently read the interview instructions for our Consulate (Auckland) and now wonder if the petitioner is even allowed to come. I will clarify with the Consulate, but is there any benefit to me going if I can? Wording from travel.state.gov below:

 

The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter:  Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors:  Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview.

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

8 minutes ago, EKT said:

Apologies if this has been asked recently. I did a search but couldn't find a specific answer... I'm a USC spouse/petitioner for my husband who has applied for an IR-1. We live together overseas and it would be relatively easy for me to go to the interview with him. It sounds like couples sometimes do go together from what I have seen on VJ, but I recently read the interview instructions for our Consulate (Auckland) and now wonder if the petitioner is even allowed to come. I will clarify with the Consulate, but is there any benefit to me going if I can? Wording from travel.state.gov below:

 

The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter:  Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors:  Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview.

Depends on the Consulate. I lived with my husband overseas but they didn’t allowed him to be with me. 
 

[EKT 117]

2 minutes ago, PaulaCJohnny said:

Depends on the Consulate. I lived with my husband overseas but they didn’t allowed him to be with me. 
 

Ok, thanks! I will email to check. I find it strange they specifically state that attorneys can't come but don't mention petitioners at all!

[SalishSea 17,841]

3 hours ago, EKT said:

Ok, thanks! I will email to check. I find it strange they specifically state that attorneys can't come but don't mention petitioners at all!

They obviously don't allow attorneys for specific reasons.

 

Allowing a spouse inside the US consulate for an immigrant interview may be a thing of the past with Covid.  If your spouse  will be with you in Auckland anyway, you can try.  If security says no, no harm done.

[EKT 117]

3 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

They obviously don't allow attorneys for specific reasons.

 

Allowing a spouse inside the US consulate for an immigrant interview may be a thing of the past with Covid.  If your spouse  will be with you in Auckland anyway, you can try.  If security says no, no harm done.

Ok, thanks. I didn't think about it being a Covid thing. My husband is the applicant and we live in the South Island so it would be the cost of the flight up. He has been to the Consulate before for a few H-2B interviews but is understandably a bit more anxious about this one. I'm also the one who is all over the documentation side of things, but if everything is well organised I can't imagine it will be an issue. Ugh, just want it to be over!

[carmel34 3,635]

Check with the embassy/consulate before making the trip.  Rio allowed it so I flew to Brazil to be there with my husband for his interview and I think it helped, they asked me some simple questions at the interview.  That was pre-COVID so things may be different now, but it is specific to where the interview will be done.  Good luck!

[P0907 127]

Just chiming in my experience. My wife (USC) and I lived together overseas and our embassy (Naples, Italy) did not allow her to attend the interview. 

 

I do understand that this may be an embassy/consulate specific thing, however with Covid they are probably limiting this across the board.

Edited August 2, 2021 by P0907

[little immigrant 801]

Germany allowed it in 2010

[pushbrk 12,901]

20 hours ago, PaulaCJohnny said:

Depends on the Consulate. I lived with my husband overseas but they didn’t allowed him to be with me. 
 

Yes, and even places like Manila where spouses traditionally COULD accompany the visa applicant to the interview, cannot do it now, because of COVID 19.

[hannysgrammy@gmai 13]

16 hours ago, EKT said:

Ok, thanks. I didn't think about it being a Covid thing. My husband is the applicant and we live in the South Island so it would be the cost of the flight up. He has been to the Consulate before for a few H-2B interviews but is understandably a bit more anxious about this one. I'm also the one who is all over the documentation side of things, but if everything is well organised I can't imagine it will be an issue. Ugh, just want it to be over!

My daughter wasn't allowed in with her husband in Egypt 

[SalishSea 17,841]

20 hours ago, EKT said:

Ok, thanks. I didn't think about it being a Covid thing. My husband is the applicant and we live in the South Island so it would be the cost of the flight up. He has been to the Consulate before for a few H-2B interviews but is understandably a bit more anxious about this one. I'm also the one who is all over the documentation side of things, but if everything is well organised I can't imagine it will be an issue. Ugh, just want it to be over!

Auckland is not a difficult consulate, at all.  If anything, they probably wonder why any kiwi would want to leave NZ for the US 😉

 

Do you have your domicile stuff sorted?  We did a K-1, so that was never an issue.  I'm not sure how domicile is dealt with in Auckland.

[EKT 117]

25 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Auckland is not a difficult consulate, at all.  If anything, they probably wonder why any kiwi would want to leave NZ for the US 😉

 

Do you have your domicile stuff sorted?  We did a K-1, so that was never an issue.  I'm not sure how domicile is dealt with in Auckland.

It does seem to be very quiet up there! And, yes, lots of quizzical looks when we tell people our plans to move to the US. I'm really looking forward to it though, especially seeing my family more.

 

For domicile I have US bank accounts and several recent transfers from NZ, detailed shipping quotes (belongings and dog), evidence that we plan to sell our house here, school and job inquiries. I recently started applying for jobs and have a couple of second round interviews next week so that should help even if I don't end up with an offer before the interview. Honestly there's only so much we can commit to before he gets his visa! It's a weird process when both spouses are living together overseas.

[EKT 117]

Thanks so much to everyone for your responses. Sounds like a mixed bag! I will check with the consulate and get the final verdict.