AOS interview - language difficulties

[bora bora 1]

I know I'm thinking ahead of myself - but what if our AOS interview comes along and my husband is not yet fluent in English?

He has done exceptionally well since his arrival 3 1/2 weeks ago, but I don't know that he'll be fluent by the time we have our interview.

I know we're talking about the future here, but has anyone gone through this? Does it depend where the interview is?

Edited April 11, 2007 by Bora Bora

[Jenn! 918]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

[joeyjoey 1]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Hmmm, you are allowed to bring an Interpreter or you MUST bring an interpreter? Fernanda speaks no English now and I am almost certain that she won't be "conversational" in English at AOS interview. Don't they have a Portuguese speaking person at the AOS offices?

[Jenn! 918]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Hmmm, you are allowed to bring an Interpreter or you MUST bring an interpreter? Fernanda speaks no English now and I am almost certain that she won't be "conversational" in English at AOS interview. Don't they have a Portuguese speaking person at the AOS offices?

I don't think there is any hard and fast rule that you *must* bring an interpreter. Of course that makes sense, you have to judge yourself whether your spouse's level of English would be adequate to complete the interview. If it were me, I wouldn't want to chance misunderstandings. And the burden is on you to provide the interpreter - can you imagine how many interpreters they would need of all different languages to accommodate everyone?

ETA:

An applicant unable to proceed with the interview in English must provide, at no expense to the Service, a competent interpreter fluent in both English and the applicant's native language or any other language in which the applicant is fluent. The interpreter must be at least 18 years of age. Neither the applicant's attorney or representative of record, a witness testifying on the applicant's behalf, nor a representative or employee of the applicant's country of nationality, or if stateless, country of last habitual residence, may serve as the applicant's interpreter. Failure without good cause to comply with this paragraph may be considered a failure to appear for the interview for purposes of § 208.10.

(8 CFR 208.10(g))

Edited April 11, 2007 by jenn3539

[athena_ny 1]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Hmmm, you are allowed to bring an Interpreter or you MUST bring an interpreter? Fernanda speaks no English now and I am almost certain that she won't be "conversational" in English at AOS interview. Don't they have a Portuguese speaking person at the AOS offices?

You can't assume they'll have a person speaking your language. If my husband couldn't speak English, we wouldnt just assume our adjucator would be fluent in Spanish (though if biometrics is any clue, they probably would be) - if you don't think they can be conversational, get an interpreter.

[Ladylethal 12]

They probably won't have a peson who speaks portuguese so if they can't speak any English it's advisable that you bring an interpreter.

[Jenn! 918]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Hmmm, you are allowed to bring an Interpreter or you MUST bring an interpreter? Fernanda speaks no English now and I am almost certain that she won't be "conversational" in English at AOS interview. Don't they have a Portuguese speaking person at the AOS offices?

You can't assume they'll have a person speaking your language. If my husband couldn't speak English, we wouldnt just assume our adjucator would be fluent in Spanish (though if biometrics is any clue, they probably would be) - if you don't think they can be conversational, get an interpreter.

Moreover, I've seen it explicitly stated that even if an interpreter who speaks that language is working at that USCIS office, they can NOT be used as an interpreter for your interview. You must bring your *own*.

[fruto123 0]

Bora Bora,

If you are going to start your AOS process in May, you should have at least 6 months waiting time. Get your husband to an ESL class ASAP to learn English during these waiting months.

[athena_ny 1]

Bora Bora,

If you are going to start your AOS process in May, you should have at least 6 months waiting time. Get your husband to an ESL class ASAP to learn English during these waiting months.

While this may be true, I wouldn't always plan on it. Our interview is on day 55 of our journey.

[sleepless in OR 2]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Actually, you can interpret for your spouse during the interview if they are not fluent in English. We had a successful interview yesterday, and I translated everything - from the oath to the very end - for my husband to make sure he understood well what was being said. There was no issue with me translating.

[Jenn! 918]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Actually, you can interpret for your spouse during the interview if they are not fluent in English. We had a successful interview yesterday, and I translated everything - from the oath to the very end - for my husband to make sure he understood well what was being said. There was no issue with me translating.

That is highly unusual from what I've heard. It even goes against their own regulations (see my previous post with the relevant CFR). Part of the reason for the AOS interview is to establish that the relationship is bonafide and was not entered into for the purpose of immigration benefits. A couple communicating amongst themselves in a language foreign to the interviewer would really make it hard to make that determination.

[isleta521 5]

I personally wouldnt take any chances since this is the most important interview you both will have. We definately needed one. Start looking for an enterpretor now and it helps to interview a couple so you are ready. It is nice to have one ready and have confidence in him / her before you begin to scramble for one at the last minute. We found an awsome one at our local university that had done interviews for immigration and he also taught Portuguese here.

Good luck

[athena_ny 1]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Actually, you can interpret for your spouse during the interview if they are not fluent in English. We had a successful interview yesterday, and I translated everything - from the oath to the very end - for my husband to make sure he understood well what was being said. There was no issue with me translating.

That is highly unusual from what I've heard. It even goes against their own regulations (see my previous post with the relevant CFR). Part of the reason for the AOS interview is to establish that the relationship is bonafide and was not entered into for the purpose of immigration benefits. A couple communicating amongst themselves in a language foreign to the interviewer would really make it hard to make that determination.

It doesn't make sense for them to allow the spouse to translate...you could be making up what they're saying for all the AO knows.

[isleta521 5]

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Actually, you can interpret for your spouse during the interview if they are not fluent in English. We had a successful interview yesterday, and I translated everything - from the oath to the very end - for my husband to make sure he understood well what was being said. There was no issue with me translating.

That is highly unusual from what I've heard. It even goes against their own regulations (see my previous post with the relevant CFR). Part of the reason for the AOS interview is to establish that the relationship is bonafide and was not entered into for the purpose of immigration benefits. A couple communicating amongst themselves in a language foreign to the interviewer would really make it hard to make that determination.

Have to agree with Jenn. To the contrary, I have heard that interviews were called off because the USC would try to help exlain during the interview.

[tiberonsuave 0]

Or perhaps the interviewer actually spoke French and was listening in hoping to trip them up. They are sneaky like that.

t

As far as I know you are allowed to bring a licensed interpreter. You can not translate anything yourself for your husband during the interview, so if in doubt, I'd say go for the interpreter. We were in the same position as well, but luckily were transferred to CSC and didn't have an interview.

Actually, you can interpret for your spouse during the interview if they are not fluent in English. We had a successful interview yesterday, and I translated everything - from the oath to the very end - for my husband to make sure he understood well what was being said. There was no issue with me translating.

That is highly unusual from what I've heard. It even goes against their own regulations (see my previous post with the relevant CFR). Part of the reason for the AOS interview is to establish that the relationship is bonafide and was not entered into for the purpose of immigration benefits. A couple communicating amongst themselves in a language foreign to the interviewer would really make it hard to make that determination.

It doesn't make sense for them to allow the spouse to translate...you could be making up what they're saying for all the AO knows.