U.S. Consulate pre-determined outcome? (Green Paper theory) (merged)

[Purigorotta8 3]

My fiancé's interview is scheduled for the end of April in Ho Chi Minh and I will fly there to be present with her during the interview. Even though it's not mandatory for me to be there, it helps. My fiancé and I were video calling and rumors she heard regarding the interview is that the U.S. Consulate officer conducting the case interview has already made a decision at this point in time, way prior to us being present for the interview. It's said that, if the interview officer is carrying a green piece of paper during the meeting, he/she will automatically request a second interview at the end of the 1st interview.

 

Is there is credibility or truth to this theory? If so, it's a bit lousy in my opinion, knowing the consulate officer has already made a decision to serve a green paper to reschedule for a second interview. I'm flying to HCM to stay for a few days to be with my fiancé and to be present for the interview with her, if it's only to be there to served a second interview, I will have return and fly back at a later time for a second interview. It's a hassle. Anybody have any thought about this idea?

 

And how long is the U.S. Consulate interview? I've mostly heard 15-20 minutes.  But my Fiancé mentioned that the interview only takes about 2 (minutes), which I find a bit hard to believe. 2 minutes being that, the officer will ask a few questions and take the prepared photocopies of the Affidavit of support, relationship photos, generated timeline, etc. In and out. Is this accurate?

Edited March 6, 2023 by TBoneTX
foul language

[Sarah&Facundo 598]

I can't speak to the green paper or about Vietnam specifically, but yes the officers do review the cases beforehand and likely already have an idea on whether or not they are going to approve it. It makes sense since everything was submitted beforehand. It was clear our officer knew all about our case. The interview itself wasn't that long--just a few minutes,

[Family 4,065]

Your fiancé is correct of the Green Paper Theory. The Officer would know in advance if docs are missing , incomplete or there are questions CO may want answered …so a green paper could already be placed in file. 
 

It’s a good decision you are going, even to just show support for her. Give her your US passport to carry in to the interview and have her show it at check along with statement that you are outside waiting eagerly for the Approval. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

What does green slip mean in US visa interview?

 

 

 

 

A green or yellow handout is given to candidates from whom additional documents are required. When you have the required documents, either from the petitioner, from you, or from both, you should submit all the requirements either in person on given days and times to the consulate or drop them off at the VFS drop box.

[Purigorotta8 3]

14 minutes ago, Family said:

Your fiancé is correct of the Green Paper Theory. The Officer would know in advance if docs are missing , incomplete or there are questions CO may want answered …so a green paper could already be placed in file. 
 

It’s a good decision you are going, even to just show support for her. Give her your US passport to carry in to the interview and have her show it at check along with statement that you are outside waiting eagerly for the Approval. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

What does green slip mean in US visa interview?

 

 

 

 

A green or yellow handout is given to candidates from whom additional documents are required. When you have the required documents, either from the petitioner, from you, or from both, you should submit all the requirements either in person on given days and times to the consulate or drop them off at the VFS drop box.

Can I be in the interview room or area with her or I'm only allowed to wait outside and she conducts the interview alone?

[Family 4,065]

I am not certain if you will be allowed in. You can check through the Consular Posts reviews on VJ, there may be some recent interviews reviews , or others w recent experience there may respond. Perhaps @Crazy Cat or @Mike Ehave more up to date input on being allowed in.
 

Do make sure she has all her documents in place, because if they find anything missing they will turn her away. 
 

 

 

https://vn.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/required-documents/

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Beginning April 12, 2022, the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City will TURN AWAY immigrant visa (IV) applicants who have not brought ALL the required documents to their interview and have not uploaded ALL the required documents to CEAC.  For further information, see here.

[Mike E 11,741]

7 minutes ago, Family said:

am not certain if you will be allowed in. You can check through the Consular Posts reviews on VJ, there may be some recent interviews reviews , or others w recent experience there may respond. Perhaps @Crazy Cat or @Mike Ehave more up to date input on being allowed in.

https://vn.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/preparing-for-your-interview/
 

Surprisingly,

 

Only people listed on the appointment letter are allowed in the Consulate.  Exceptions are made for the following:

• The petitioner

[Purigorotta8 3]

My fiancé's interview at the U.S. Consulate in in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam is set for the end of April. I plan to travel there to be with her for the interview. Will I (petitioner)be in the interview room with her or will I have to wait outside for her to finish?

 

How long is the interview in minutes? I've heard as short as 2 minutes, can somebody verify or estimate?

 

How many questions on average will the interviewer ask? common questions?

[Family 4,065]

20 minutes ago, Mike E said:

30 minutes ago, Family said:

am not certain if you will be allowed in. You can check through the Consular Posts reviews on VJ, there may be some recent interviews reviews , or others w recent experience there may respond. Perhaps @Crazy Cat or @Mike Ehave more up to date input on being allowed in.

https://vn.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/preparing-for-your-interview/
 

Surprisingly,

 

Only people listed on the appointment letter are allowed in the Consulate.  Exceptions are made for the following:

• The petitioner

Thank you for providing the source. ..I overlooked the obvious. 
Is Vietnam one of those posts where they unofficially “ expect” the petitioner to show up ? 

[Kissima123 11]

You can read other’s timeline info about their experiences. I wrote mine below a 10 mos ago:

We entered the consulate for my wife’s CR1 interview in a line with about 70 others. I was expecting to go where I had done notarisations before, but this was a much larger area with 19 service windows. The line first queued to a single window to receive service numbers. Then each case sat down waiting for their number to be called and displayed. Upon being called to one of the 19 windows people were asked for the documents required for their case. We gave documents quickly while others seem to fumble for up to 15 minutes. We organised as directed on consulate website so it went quick. Then sat again waiting to be called for interview. 

Five windows were open for the interviews. We watched and tried to listen. We could tell some people struggled for answers to some challenging questions about their bona fide relation. We saw sad blue slip faces, but smiling faces too after interviews. One particular window #15 was taking much longer to process cases and asked more questions than other windows. As our number approached we were cheering and hoping against getting #15. We got #15. 

The officers, one Caucasian one Asian, asked me to let my wife answer questions herself. 1. How and when did we meet. She answered wrong by two years, 2017 instead of 2015. From there her timeline got off track a bit. 2. When did i first visit her he asked, also she missed by two years. At which point I asked to help because she was nervous, he gently told me it was ok, that he was more interested in her presentation. 3. What did I do for a living, and 4. where will we live in the US? She nailed both. 5. Who was watching my place in US while I lived here? She fumbled a bit about me selling my home in the US, but recovered to explain that my sister was living and watching the home I own that we are traveling too. She mentioned my sister’s name in her answer. The officer said thank you and wished us good luck, our visa would arrive in a couple weeks he said. #15 wasn’t too bad after all. We will have dinner and drinks tonight.

[Dashinka 24,635]

It has been a while since I went with my now wife for her K1 interview, but I do know that everything is consulate specific.  In our case, only she was interviewed, but the CO did it at a window where I could sit a few feet away and hear everything.  I would email the consulate in HCMC and let them know you wish to attend, but it is up to them.  As to the length of time, I would expect anywhere from 2-10 minutes for the actual interview, but the time checking in, and waiting can make it a longer stay.  I think we were in the consulate in Moscow for about 3.5 hours total.

[JasonGG 280]

8 hours ago, Purigorotta8 said:

Can I be in the interview room or area with her or I'm only allowed to wait outside and she conducts the interview alone?

Yes, you can go into the consulate and wait with her in line outside (have your passport ready), go through security, and sit in the waiting area together.  After security, she will go through a line while you wait off to the side on one of the benches.  She will get her interview number from that line/window after which the two of you can wait together on benches in a different part of the waiting room.  Pay attention to the signs and announcements.  The announcements can be difficult to hear.  When her number is called, you both go to the window.  The CO will decide if you will stay together at the window or will ask you to sit nearby.  In 2018, the interview took less than 10 minutes - longer than others on that day simply because our petition included 2 children and their associated documents.  The CO had clearly gone through our documents, made notes, and already had the approval paperwork when we went to the window.

 

Best of luck to you - Jason

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

11 hours ago, Purigorotta8 said:

knowing the consulate officer has already made a decision to serve a green paper to reschedule for a second interview.

I think it is perfectly normal for the officer to have already done his/her homework and made a decision in most cases (missing documents, etc).  The actual personal interview has its own purpose. 

Edited March 6, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Purigorotta8 3]

6 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

I think it is perfectly normal for the officer to have already done his/her homework and made a decision in most cases (missing documents, etc).  The actual personal interview has its own purpose. 

Of course I understand if anything is missing, a second interview would be required. I prepared and accounted all my files neatly and made sure all evidence were sufficient.

 

I'm referring more to the idea that even if all documents are accounted for, and the officer who has a bias will force a second interview simply because he/she wants to. I'm referring to that as lousy. My fiancé has a knack for finding information and I believe her more so, and she says in HCM more than half, or about 8 out of 10 interview are called back for a second interview. That's a high recall rate, and the officers do it simply because "they can."

Edited March 6, 2023 by TBoneTX
foul language

[MMDG 106]

It’s absolutely predetermined.

[SalishSea 17,970]

4 hours ago, Purigorotta8 said:

Of course I understand if anything is missing, a second interview would be required. I prepared and accounted all my files neatly and made sure all evidence were sufficient.

 

I'm referring more to the idea that even if all documents are accounted for, and the officer who has a bias will force a second interview simply because he/she wants to. I'm referring to that as lousy. My fiancé has a knack for finding information and I believe her more so, and she says in HCM more than half, or about 8 out of 10 interview are called back for a second interview. That's a high recall rate, and the officers do it simply because "they can."

Not surprising, it is a very high fraud consulate.

Edited March 6, 2023 by TBoneTX
foul language in quote