CR1 Visa Interview Checklist - Did anyone have any surprises at Interview?

[DaisyJ 35]

Hi All! Me again. 

 

Like so many recent London people who have recently been given an interview date (mine's next week on 10th), I'm scrabbling about trying to prepare for the interview. The official checklist looks simple enough, but I was wondering if anyone who's been through it was asked for something they didn't prepare for from the list? Trying to cover all bases just in case. 

 

Also, does anyone know if the I-864 affidavit of support form you take has to be the original signed copy? It's over with our lawyer in the US and he seems to think a printed copy from what we put onto CEAC is fine. Don't want to be denied on such a small thing!

 

Thanks as always lovely people.

[justkeepwaiting 20]

15 minutes ago, DaisyJ said:

Hi All! Me again. 

 

Like so many recent London people who have recently been given an interview date (mine's next week on 10th), I'm scrabbling about trying to prepare for the interview. The official checklist looks simple enough, but I was wondering if anyone who's been through it was asked for something they didn't prepare for from the list? Trying to cover all bases just in case. 

 

Also, does anyone know if the I-864 affidavit of support form you take has to be the original signed copy? It's over with our lawyer in the US and he seems to think a printed copy from what we put onto CEAC is fine. Don't want to be denied on such a small thing!

 

Thanks as always lovely people.

 

I wasn't asked for my I-864 but I also had just taken a printed copy as the original was filled in and signed on an iPad. Good luck for your interview!

[DaisyJ 35]

1 minute ago, justkeepwaiting said:

 

I wasn't asked for my I-864 but I also had just taken a printed copy as the original was filled in and signed on an iPad. Good luck for your interview!

This is really helpful to know, thank you! 

[sonOfTheParents 1]

51 minutes ago, DaisyJ said:

Hi All! Me again. 

 

Like so many recent London people who have recently been given an interview date (mine's next week on 10th), I'm scrabbling about trying to prepare for the interview. The official checklist looks simple enough, but I was wondering if anyone who's been through it was asked for something they didn't prepare for from the list? Trying to cover all bases just in case. 

 

Also, does anyone know if the I-864 affidavit of support form you take has to be the original signed copy? It's over with our lawyer in the US and he seems to think a printed copy from what we put onto CEAC is fine. Don't want to be denied on such a small thing!

 

Thanks as always lovely people.

We were informed by our US lawyer to bring the original signed signature page to the interview. My parents don't interview until the 16th. Please do update here if you do run into any surprises.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, DaisyJ said:

Hi All! Me again. 

 

Like so many recent London people who have recently been given an interview date (mine's next week on 10th), I'm scrabbling about trying to prepare for the interview. The official checklist looks simple enough, but I was wondering if anyone who's been through it was asked for something they didn't prepare for from the list? Trying to cover all bases just in case. 

 

Also, does anyone know if the I-864 affidavit of support form you take has to be the original signed copy? It's over with our lawyer in the US and he seems to think a printed copy from what we put onto CEAC is fine. Don't want to be denied on such a small thing!

 

Thanks as always lovely people.

There are absolutely no trick questions in London. It’s a short required “chat” they call an interview. You can answer “I don’t remember” if you don’t know an answer and that’s okay. Thinking of the guy who was asked “how many times have you visited the US?”  I dunno. Lots! was his answer. No problem with that.  Just relax and chat with the bloke. He won’t be trying to catch you out. 
 

Surprises have been a few who uploaded a copy of their tax return (not a transcript) and the interviewer said the required accompanying wage statement (W2 or 1099) was not in the file. They were certain they uploaded it at the NVC stage and when they looked online, it was there. But they still had to upload again before the final processing of the visa could be finished. Some had a spare hard copy with them, but the officer insisted it be uploaded (again!). I wonder how it would go if you had a copy on an iPad and said “Well hang on…uploading now. Done!” 

[DaisyJ 35]

5 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

There are absolutely no trick questions in London. It’s a short required “chat” they call an interview. You can answer “I don’t remember” if you don’t know an answer and that’s okay. Thinking of the guy who was asked “how many times have you visited the US?”  I dunno. Lots! was his answer. No problem with that.  Just relax and chat with the bloke. He won’t be trying to catch you out. 
 

Surprises have been a few who uploaded a copy of their tax return (not a transcript) and the interviewer said the required accompanying wage statement (W2 or 1099) was not in the file. They were certain they uploaded it at the NVC stage and when they looked online, it was there. But they still had to upload again before the final processing of the visa could be finished. Some had a spare hard copy with them, but the officer insisted it be uploaded (again!). I wonder how it would go if you had a copy on an iPad and said “Well hang on…uploading now. Done!” 

This is really helpful to know thank you. I had seen some of the comments about the W2s - I have been into our CEAC account a few times since being DQ'd and its all definitely there - will be interesting to see what happens! Do you have any insight in regards to the I-864 form? The checklist for London doesn't specify that it has to be the original signed copy (elsewhere its really clear where originals for each thing are needed) but it doesn't necessarily say it can be a copy either. Flicking through, a few experiences I've seen seem to say they wanted to see the Tax Returns and W2s but didn't ask for the I-864 form. I just want to get this right. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, DaisyJ said:

This is really helpful to know thank you. I had seen some of the comments about the W2s - I have been into our CEAC account a few times since being DQ'd and its all definitely there - will be interesting to see what happens! Do you have any insight in regards to the I-864 form? The checklist for London doesn't specify that it has to be the original signed copy (elsewhere its really clear where originals for each thing are needed) but it doesn't necessarily say it can be a copy either. Flicking through, a few experiences I've seen seem to say they wanted to see the Tax Returns and W2s but didn't ask for the I-864 form. I just want to get this right. 

I want to say no, you do not bring your I-864 to the interview, but where the website used to explain that is rearranged so can’t give you a reference from the source. I know they accept scanned and emailed I-864s and I-134s and the income proofs in London for people who do not process at NVC like fiancés and DCF spouses. So if the only copy those people bring can be scanned copies, I can’t see why they would need an original from you. 
 

 

[Southernboy123 21]

There is no requirement to take an I-864 if you have scanned and uploaded to CEAC.

Just check uploaded Civil Docs on CEAC and take the originals with you and you will be fine. It really is as simple as that. Basically do not overthink it all. 

Edited September 2, 2021 by Southernboy123

[DaisyJ 35]

For the proof of relationship, our main piece of evidence is probably our whatsapp video call logs. Is it wise to print out the screenshots or is it acceptable to show them the actual log on my phone on the day? 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, DaisyJ said:

For the proof of relationship, our main piece of evidence is probably our whatsapp video call logs. Is it wise to print out the screenshots or is it acceptable to show them the actual log on my phone on the day? 

There is no proof of relationship at a London interview. Zero. 

[DaisyJ 35]

3 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

There is no proof of relationship at a London interview. Zero. 

While this may the case for peoples' experiences, it is on the interview checklist for London, so it feels remiss to not take/prepare anything! (see below from the current list) - this is also why I was asking about the I-864 form!

Edited September 4, 2021 by DaisyJ

[Wuozopo 4,293]

26 minutes ago, DaisyJ said:

this is also why I was asking about the I-864 form!

The Dept of State website says:

 Gather Documents Required for the Interview

Every visa applicant, no matter their age, must bring certain documents to the interview, including photographs, and the original or certified copy version of all civil documents submitted to NVC. You do not need to bring your Affidavit of Support or financial evidence you submitted to NVC.

[meaghanpk 27]

This is super helpful, especially as we are struggling to figure out how to download the I-864 as uploaded to CEAC. It's saying because it contains sensitive information, it can't be displayed. 

[meaghanpk 27]

22 minutes ago, meaghanpk said:

This is super helpful, especially as we are struggling to figure out how to download the I-864 as uploaded to CEAC. It's saying because it contains sensitive information, it can't be displayed. 

Welp, I have no idea how to delete a post--but I found the signed I-864 in my email (still couldn't figure out how to download it from CEAC, but ho hey, still have it for the interview). 

[DaisyJ 35]

Does anyone know if the passport photos will be accepted if there is a small amount of damage in one of the corners? My post office doesn't have professional cutters for the 5x5 size required, just tried using a paper cutter and its caught the image in the corner lifting up some of the colour