Who attends the interview at the consulate for CR-1 visa?

[ghanighani 6]

This may be a stupid question, but would I (petitioner) attend the interview with my spouse (applicant)? Or would my husband go alone? If my husband's required to be interviewed alone, could I make the trip to the consulate and wait for him in the waiting room by myself? It's such a high-stress situation, I don't want him to go through it by himself. 

Edited June 14, 2023 by ghanighani

[Troy B 223]

These days unless the petitioner is listed as needing to be there,  they usually are not allowed entry.   So your option if you go to, is it to wait outside.

[Daphne . 1,852]

He interviews alone. You will most likely not be allowed into the building but you can check that with the embassy. 

[ghanighani 6]

Ahhh, I see. I want to go just for moral support, even if I am waiting outside. 

[Redro 4,611]

It depends on the consulate. My husband and I both went to the interview in Seoul. 
Other consulates won’t allow the USC to enter but going and waiting outside is a great way of showing support and showing you’re serious about the process. 

[ghanighani 6]

We will be doing our interview in Warsaw. I though a lot of reviews for the Warsaw consulate seemed like the couple were together, so that's part of why I am confused. 

[pushbrk 12,876]

3 hours ago, ghanighani said:

We will be doing our interview in Warsaw. I though a lot of reviews for the Warsaw consulate seemed like the couple were together, so that's part of why I am confused. 

Note that your question is consulate specific, but you did not mention which consulate until after you got several generic answers.  Depending on the timing of reviews, it may still be the same.  Manila used to let the petitioner in, but they stopped that during COVID.  Usually, it's a matter of whether they have the space.  The visa applicant is the one being interviewed.

 

[TaskenLander 13]

This may be an even DUMBER question (not that I thought yours was at all honestly), but does the petitioner also get separately interviewed at any point? Or is it just something for the beneficiary/applicant? 🤔

 

Thanks in advance. 

[pushbrk 12,876]

23 minutes ago, TaskenLander said:

This may be an even DUMBER question (not that I thought yours was at all honestly), but does the petitioner also get separately interviewed at any point? Or is it just something for the beneficiary/applicant? 🤔

 

Thanks in advance. 

Rarely, but if that happens, it's usually before the petition is approved.   Also rarely there will be (google it) a "Stokes Interview".

[TaskenLander 13]

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

Rarely, but if that happens, it's usually before the petition is approved.   Also rarely there will be (google it) a "Stokes Interview".

Copy that. Thank you for your reply! 

[ghanighani 6]

I didn't know I needed to specify the consulate. I thought (apparently incorrectly) that consulates had a standardized way they would handle it, given it's a federal legal process. 

[pushbrk 12,876]

3 hours ago, ghanighani said:

I didn't know I needed to specify the consulate. I thought (apparently incorrectly) that consulates had a standardized way they would handle it, given it's a federal legal process. 

Now you know. It is a Department of State administrative process.