Visiting the Embassy Pre-Interview

[cloclo2 3]

I was wondering if anyone has done this. We have our interview coming up in 1 and a half weeks. I am the USC (living abroad) and I am petitioning for my husband and step-daughter. According to several people I've talked to, I will NOT be allowed into the embassy for the interview. This makes me so nervous since I'm the one who is more organized and knows all of our paperwork by heart (although we are doing daily practice sessions )

So I had this idea that I could make an appointment at the embassy this week and just go in and ask a few simple questions about my case. Then I would know all of the embassy procedures and what not so my husband can be more prepared.

Is this a good idea or am I overthinking this whole thing?

[Gorkhali 213]

Show up at embassy with ur passport with ur family for interview ... Even if they won't allow you to go in give ur passport to ur husband and make sure her shows that's to co and tells him u are waiting for them outside ... This will be positive approach

[cloclo2 3]

That's a really good idea, bunny&ninja.

Does anyone else have any thoughts about the USC visiting the embassy before the interview just to check it out?

[TBoneTX 43,059]

The embassies and consulates are U.S. soil, so they can't deny you entry. If anyone tries, play the "American" card: "Are you a U.S. citizen? No? Well, I am. You will kindly let me enter my own embassy."

Even if you're not allowed in the interview itself, surely there's a waiting area. The above advice, of handing your passport to the beneficiary to show to the consul, is outstanding, and it might result in your being invited in to the interview. Even if it doesn't, it scores points beyond belief.

[cloclo2 3]

The embassies and consulates are U.S. soil, so they can't deny you entry. If anyone tries, play the "American" card: "Are you a U.S. citizen? No? Well, I am. You will kindly let me enter my own embassy."

Even if you're not allowed in the interview itself, surely there's a waiting area. The above advice, of handing your passport to the beneficiary to show to the consul, is outstanding, and it might result in your being invited in to the interview. Even if it doesn't, it scores points beyond belief.

That's interesting. I never thought about demanding to enter- I guess I'm worried about getting on someone's bad side haha. The embassy explicitly states on the website that even USCs can only go in with an appointment. I'll have to decide how far I want to push it.

And I agree, giving my husband my passport to show is an excellent idea and one I never would thought of!

[jan22 2,898]

The embassies and consulates are U.S. soil, so they can't deny you entry. If anyone tries, play the "American" card: "Are you a U.S. citizen? No? Well, I am. You will kindly let me enter my own embassy."

This is just not true. You can, in fact, be denied entry to a US Embassy if you do not have business to conduct there. Most Embassies require you to have an appointment in order to enter for consular services (even American citizen services like renewal of your US passport). This is for both crowd control (to ensure there are not too many people for the inside space) and security (so they know who is supposed to be inside the Embassy). Demanding entry from a guard who is not authorized to grant it will get you nowhere. At most, they would have to pull an American officer away from the cases there with appointments in order to decide whether you have an emergency for which you need to enter. Not a way to win points.....

Even if successful, you would gain entry into the American citizen services area, not the visa area. They will not be able to discuss your visa case with you. Better that you study the Embassy website carefully, make sure you both understand all the points available on the process, your fiancee is as familiar as possible with all of your paperwork and informatin, and know that there will be lots of people inside the Embassy who will be able to explain things in the local language. You can, as others indicate, be outside the Embassy, waiting, in case they want to call you in to clarify something.

[cloclo2 3]

This is just not true. You can, in fact, be denied entry to a US Embassy if you do not have business to conduct there. Most Embassies require you to have an appointment in order to enter for consular services (even American citizen services like renewal of your US passport). This is for both crowd control (to ensure there are not too many people for the inside space) and security (so they know who is supposed to be inside the Embassy). Demanding entry from a guard who is not authorized to grant it will get you nowhere. At most, they would have to pull an American officer away from the cases there with appointments in order to decide whether you have an emergency for which you need to enter. Not a way to win points.....

Even if successful, you would gain entry into the American citizen services area, not the visa area. They will not be able to discuss your visa case with you. Better that you study the Embassy website carefully, make sure you both understand all the points available on the process, your fiancee is as familiar as possible with all of your paperwork and informatin, and know that there will be lots of people inside the Embassy who will be able to explain things in the local language. You can, as others indicate, be outside the Embassy, waiting, in case they want to call you in to clarify something.

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like I'm best off just prepping my husband as much as possible and then wait outside during the interview!

[TBoneTX 43,059]

This is just not true. You can, in fact, be denied entry to a US Embassy if you do not have business to conduct there. Most Embassies require you to have an appointment in order to enter for consular services (even American citizen services like renewal of your US passport). This is for both crowd control (to ensure there are not too many people for the inside space) and security (so they know who is supposed to be inside the Embassy). Demanding entry from a guard who is not authorized to grant it will get you nowhere. At most, they would have to pull an American officer away from the cases there with appointments in order to decide whether you have an emergency for which you need to enter. Not a way to win points.....

Even if successful, you would gain entry into the American citizen services area, not the visa area. They will not be able to discuss your visa case with you. Better that you study the Embassy website carefully, make sure you both understand all the points available on the process, your fiancee is as familiar as possible with all of your paperwork and informatin, and know that there will be lots of people inside the Embassy who will be able to explain things in the local language. You can, as others indicate, be outside the Embassy, waiting, in case they want to call you in to clarify something.

She does have business there. Good points otherwise.