Consulate Interview for Stepdaughter

[tbmy 8]

Hello Everyone!

 

Extremely new here and very new to the process. Apologies for any newbie questions I might have. 

 

So I filed an I-130 for both my spouse and his daughter (who is 11). I know that this will be super far into the future, but since they are separate cases (technically), they will have separate interviews correct? Would my spouse be able to attend the interview/consulate with her during this interview, or how would the process typically be like for a minor beneficiary who is overseas? Is there anything we need to prepare for? I imagine that the interview will not be as grueling as the interview for the spouse but it would be great to have an idea of what to expect.

 

Many thanks in advance!  

[Boiler 45,467]

Normally they would attend together.

 

Proof that the father/courts is OK with moving is usually the biggest issue.

[tbmy 8]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

Normally they would attend together.

 

Proof that the father/courts is OK with moving is usually the biggest issue.

Thank you. This is what I was hoping. I just got worried because I received two separate NOA1's (even though they were filed together) and was unsure if the process would be different than what I was expecting. 

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

8 minutes ago, tbmy said:

Hello Everyone!

 

Extremely new here and very new to the process. Apologies for any newbie questions I might have. 

 

So I filed an I-130 for both my spouse and his daughter (who is 11). I know that this will be super far into the future, but since they are separate cases (technically), they will have separate interviews correct? Would my spouse be able to attend the interview/consulate with her during this interview, or how would the process typically be like for a minor beneficiary who is overseas? Is there anything we need to prepare for? I imagine that the interview will not be as grueling as the interview for the spouse but it would be great to have an idea of what to expect.

 

Many thanks in advance!  

1.  Hold the 1st case at NVC until the other one arrives there.  Like you said, these are 2 separate cases.

2.  Once, both cases are at NVC, then pay fees and submit documents for both. 

3.  Also email NVC and the consulate and ask that they be interviewed together.  

Edited June 21, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[tbmy 8]

2 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Hold the 1st case at NVC until the other one arrives there.  Then pay fees and submit documents for both.  Also email NVC and the consulate and ask that they be interviewed together.

Thank you for this advice! I didn't realize that you could ask NVC for the beneficiaries to be interviewed together. Much appreciated

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

Just now, tbmy said:

Thank you for this advice! I didn't realize that you could ask NVC for the beneficiaries to be interviewed together. Much appreciated

You can....once you have the DOS case numbers for them both.

[Boiler 45,467]

I assumed you filed them at the same time?

 

2 receipts because you have 2 cases.

[tbmy 8]

Just now, Boiler said:

I assumed you filed them at the same time?

 

2 receipts because you have 2 cases.

Correct. They were filed at the same time (sent via mail). I had assumed that since the case for the minor was contingent on the acceptance of the case for my husband that the cases would be "lumped together" (sounds silly now that I think of it... 😬) and that their cases would go hand in hand automatically. I just got thrown off by the two receipts/two cases and how that impacted interviews and (hopefully) approvals.

[Boiler 45,467]

2 minutes ago, tbmy said:

Correct. They were filed at the same time (sent via mail). I had assumed that since the case for the minor was contingent on the acceptance of the case for my husband that the cases would be "lumped together" (sounds silly now that I think of it... 😬) and that their cases would go hand in hand automatically. I just got thrown off by the two receipts/two cases and how that impacted interviews and (hopefully) approvals.

You could actually file for just the daughter.

 

Always remember who you are dealing with.

[top_secret 2,417]

Once they both get to NVC when you pay the $120 AOS fee on one case, it automatically shows as already paid on the other case which is a good indication that NVC correctly linked the two cases.

[tbmy 8]

4 minutes ago, top_secret said:

Once they both get to NVC when you pay the $120 AOS fee on one case, it automatically shows as already paid on the other case which is a good indication that NVC correctly linked the two cases.

Thank you for this info! Super helpful and I'll keep an eye out for this when the time comes 🤗

[RamonGomez 271]

We went through this process some years ago. We immediately filed my stepdaughter's I130 after we married while my wife AOS'ed. So my stepdaughter went through the I-130 process essentially on her own as a minor.

 

Definitely have your spouse attend the interview, not an aunt or grandma because the officer did ask a few questions that only my wife knew the answers to. The interview was about 5 minutes long, and they mostly spoke to my wife. The officer did show my stepdaughter a picture we included in the I-130 and asked her who the man is (it was me). We got the passport back with her visa in 3 days and headed back to America shortly afterwards.

 

Her biological father did send a notarized permission letter, but it wasn't checked at the interview. My wife did have sole custody so it might not have mattered anyways.

 

Although if you filed the cases together I think you could request the be interviewed together. If they are not able to do this, definitely have your spouse attend the interview with her.

Edited June 22, 2023 by RamonGomez

[mam521 2,062]

We just did it in 2020.  Kid2's interview date was scheduled and the next day they scheduled mine and Kid1's all at the same time.  

 

I took a lawyer notarized letter from their father stating he knew they were emigrating from Canada and that he approved of it.  

 

I did the majority of the heavy lifting with providing the first CO with the required documents, etc.  The CO did call the kids up to look at them to ensure they matched the identities submitted.  

 

The actual "interview", the CO asked some questions of me and then asked the kids a couple of questions.  It was all pretty casual and not like police questioning or anything like that.  The kids were 10 &13 at the time, so your stepkiddo will be of similar age.