Is it legal to record the CR1 Interview with CO

[lutz 41]

Hello VJ members,

I'm wondering if it's legal to record the interview at the Ghana embassy? My husband has already been denied, but if / when he gets another interview I am going and I want to know if I can record the interview.

Does anyone know?

Thank you.

[TBoneTX 43,019]

No electronic media of any kind are allowed inside the consulates. You can furiously scribble notes.

[lutz 41]

Ah yes! How could I forget putting my phone in the small plastic tray before entry. Thank you. I will scribble.

[dwheels76 5,459]

Hello VJ members,

I'm wondering if it's legal to record the interview at the Ghana embassy? My husband has already been denied, but if / when he gets another interview I am going and I want to know if I can record the interview.

Does anyone know?

Thank you.

Don't even think about it unless you like Ghana jails. I doubt they will let you take notes. Don;t piss them off even more. What is there to write down?

[strongmyk 51]

Hello VJ members,

I'm wondering if it's legal to record the interview at the Ghana embassy? My husband has already been denied, but if / when he gets another interview I am going and I want to know if I can record the interview.

Does anyone know?

Thank you.

Why would you think about doing that?

[lutz 41]

Someone in an earlier post recommended taking notes as a way to hold the COs accountable for their decisions.

[dwheels76 5,459]

Someone in an earlier post recommended taking notes as a way to hold the COs accountable for their decisions.

You taking notes if you could would be just hearsay evidence. That doesn't make anyone accountable because its your take on what was said. You standing there taking notes like you are a CO is not an advised idea. Be kind courteous ask questions when asked but please don't piss them off. Ghana is not planning with folks. Don't play with them.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

They may not like it but it would be near impossible for them to stop you as it is not against any written rules for you to write notes. The USC usually isn't in the room so the beneficiary would have to take notes. If it makes them angry so what, they have a duty to execute a function no matter what their mood. If they get angry be sure to add it to your notes. This should basically be a business meeting. You have a petition open and they are looking at the validity of the evidence. Even in US courts the accused is allowed notes. Also it isn't hearsay , it is a record of what you directly heard and said.

[lutz 41]

OK, thanks for the input. I want to be prepared for them in any way I can.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

They may not like it but it would be near impossible for them to stop you as it is not against any written rules for you to write notes. The USC usually isn't in the room so the beneficiary would have to take notes. If it makes them angry so what, they have a duty to execute a function no matter what their mood. If they get angry be sure to add it to your notes. This should basically be a business meeting. You have a petition open and they are looking at the validity of the evidence. Even in US courts the accused is allowed notes. Also it isn't hearsay , it is a record of what you directly heard and said.

But they could just lie and say that it never happened and deny the visa, could they not?

[strongmyk 51]

But they could just lie and say that it never happened and deny the visa, could they not?

COs dont lie! they just do their job thats all... The responsibility lies on the applicant to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that there is a bonafide relationship.

I'm sometimes tempted to believe all those who are denied do not really give us the full picture of the circumstances they were denied. I vividly remember when i was at the US Embassy in Accra for my DV visa some years ago. Some people who were being interviewed for IR1/CR1 were just a total disgrace.

My only advice is make sure you provide all the necessary documents, answer the questions to the best of your knowledge and leave the rest to GOD Almighty for He will bring smiles to your faces. Thank you!

[MrsBonsu 138]

It would be a waste to write anything, for one they may not let to stay at the window during his interview KM didn't even wanna talk to me so I could'nt stay at the window, and Mrs.Gurski chose a window farther down the next day and had the guard escort me to a seat and my husband to the window, so no this Emabssy isn't playing when she wanted to chat with me she had the guard take my husband to a seat and walk me to her window ?????

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

COs dont lie! they just do their job thats all... The responsibility lies on the applicant to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that there is a bonafide relationship.

I'm sometimes tempted to believe all those who are denied do not really give us the full picture of the circumstances they were denied. I vividly remember when i was at the US Embassy in Accra for my DV visa some years ago. Some people who were being interviewed for IR1/CR1 were just a total disgrace.

My only advice is make sure you provide all the necessary documents, answer the questions to the best of your knowledge and leave the rest to GOD Almighty for He will bring smiles to your faces. Thank you!

If only that were true.

OP, don't do it, it will tick them off. Take an extra supplement for memory and sniff some rosemary essential oil, very good for memory.

Focus on listening, you could miss something if you scribble and it looks odd. Interact if they let you and help convince them, not make them

raise an eye brow. It's not a lecture in a class room, it's a "let's get this done and bring him home" kind of thing

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to US Embassy & Consulate Discussion.

[REM4ALWAYS 18]

I think all interviews should be recorded, because the Ghana embassy is notorious for denying K1 and CR1 visa. I think their system is very biased. If you look through the department of state website, most of the African countries have romance fraud warning posted, yet they are not posted on other countries website. I think this is a clear bias and people are being discriminated against. I would like to see the number of denials the Ghana embassy has compared to approvals. The system clearly needs to be fixed. Why turn in all the documentation and and wait a year and a half or so to have someone turn you down on a hunch or feelings. Secondly, there needs to be a post review process. Why should one person be allowed to reset the whole entire process. The system is already slow and congested. Sending it back to the US for 6 more months of waiting is beyond ridiculous.

US immigration operates at the 3rd world country pace. It's truly sad.

Edited October 14, 2015 by REM4ALWAYS