Do Pictures Matter at the Embassy Interview?

[curiousgeorgina 52]

Hi!

My interview is in a month, and I am worried as I have been reading several posts and threads regarding what people show to the Consuls..

Just a little background.

I am applying for a CR1 visa, our marriage was at a courthouse, no pictures were taken but a video. It was an informal one as we both were never the type to actual have our lives in front of a camera. Especially my husband who doesn't like pictures at all. If you were to look at his facebook, he has really limited number of pictures. What I did with the I-130 was take screenshots of the actual ceremony.

We aren't planning to have a church wedding, as much as how other women love to plan these things, I seriously am not one of them. Ever since I was young, I would even hide behind the tallest girls in class pictures (if I can). We are planning to have a reception where we can celebrate with family but that's when I go back to the US.

Last March, my husband visited me here in the Philippines and we didn't have a ton of pictures taken together, maybe I can count the pictures less than 20. It's with my family members, my dog, when we go out. That visit was mostly spent to bond with my immediate family.

What I do have a ton of are fb messages, skype logs (we talk on skype hours everyday), steam messages (app chat when you have a gaming account from valve as we both are gamers). Few screenshots of skype calls, he also stated on his latest tax filing that we are married.

To be honest, we eloped (technically not eloped as both of our parents knew, my parents were on facetime as it was happening and his parents were there) and kept it a secret to other people, though they already know now that I am back here in my country. (when I was in the US we decided to marry as we decided that we are in for the long run and want to start our life together as soon as we can) we were looking at K1 process before, but both of us agreed that CR1 would be the best route for us so he can visit me here while waiting and I can get my affairs in order and spend time with my family before I literally leave and might not come back in a few years.

Sorry for the long post, but it scares me that a lot of people/couples love taking pictures of them together and we don't fall under that category. :\ Just wanted to know if they base it a lot on that...

I just want to be with him soon.

[j&ana 363]

While i think some pictures can help but i do not think you need a lot of pictures. Me and my wife does not lke taking a lot of pictures either but she will take a few pictures of us and some chat and text logs with her to interview in case they will want to see some

I think the most important thing is how the person does at the interview. You could have a ton of evidence but if you are nervous and start answering questions wrong especially easy question then i do not think it will matter how much evidence you have

So be relax answer question as honest as you can.Start going over with your husband questions you might think they will ask.

Me and wife have been doing preinterview sessions on fb cam. I ask her easy question that she will know right away then I ask her harder questions that she may not had know, like what was the name of my best childhood friend. I know they would probably not ask her that,but i just want her to be relax at the interview even if there is a question she might not know

[curiousgeorgina 52]

thank you sir. I might do that too with my husband. That's a really good tip!

If you don't mind me asking sir, normally what questions did you and your wife practice?

Goodluck sir with your wife's interview! I hope to hear her experience!

[John&April 2]

Hi guys,

This question may sound a little dumb but I just registered here today. How do I post a question? Topic? etc etc?

Thanks!

[curiousgeorgina 52]

Hi guys,

This question may sound a little dumb but I just registered here today. How do I post a question? Topic? etc etc?

Thanks!

Hi

Go to Forums (Upper Left), then click on the topic your question is related to, then Press the button Start New Topic found on the right (blue button)

Hope that helps.

[cococacao 14]

So you have tax returns, 10+ photos, and lots of IM logs? Sounds good to me, although I'm not an expert and haven't done the CR1 process (we did K1 fiance visa). For my husband's K1 interview all we had was my travel itinerary emails from visits, chat logs, and 4 photos. For the green card interview we had joint tax returns, 6 photos, a joint bank account, and joint insurance (the last 2 you wouldn't have anyway since you don't live in the same country). Got easily approved for both. Hope that helps!

[curiousgeorgina 52]

So you have tax returns, 10+ photos, and lots of IM logs? Sounds good to me, although I'm not an expert and haven't done the CR1 process (we did K1 fiance visa). For my husband's K1 interview all we had was my travel itinerary emails from visits, chat logs, and 4 photos. For the green card interview we had joint tax returns, 6 photos, a joint bank account, and joint insurance (the last 2 you wouldn't have anyway since you don't live in the same country). Got easily approved for both. Hope that helps!

thank you for your advice! yes, a tax return though it's MFS.. We don't have joint accounts yet as we only got married October last year 2014 then I went home after two weeks.. He doesn't send me money or anything yet as I never had the need to ask for money from him since I work and have savings of my own.

I really hope what I have is enough. I thought I can handle the pressure but as the date gets closer, I feel like I'm a child who just ate a ton of chocolates. My brain is currently on hyper mode.

[cococacao 14]

thank you for your advice! yes, a tax return though it's MFS.. We don't have joint accounts yet as we only got married October last year 2014 then I went home after two weeks.. He doesn't send me money or anything yet as I never had the need to ask for money from him since I work and have savings of my own.

I really hope what I have is enough. I thought I can handle the pressure but as the date gets closer, I feel like I'm a child who just ate a ton of chocolates. My brain is currently on hyper mode.

Yeah, it's understandable that you wouldn't have much since you don't live in the same country and don't have children or joint property. BTW, don't worry about not having a big wedding. My husband and I got married at a courthouse in plainclothes and had our "reception" at Jack in the Box. We don't even have rings. We just had 2 crappy cellphone photos of the ceremony and that was good enough for our GC interviewer.

I think you'll be okay as long as you've got all the evidence you can think of. I know how it feels to be paranoid and stressed all the time about it... and I came out the other side wishing I hadn't worried so much. Try to let yourself relax!

[curiousgeorgina 52]

Yeah, it's understandable that you wouldn't have much since you don't live in the same country and don't have children or joint property. BTW, don't worry about not having a big wedding. My husband and I got married at a courthouse in plainclothes and had our "reception" at Jack in the Box. We don't even have rings. We just had 2 crappy cellphone photos of the ceremony and that was good enough for our GC interviewer.

I think you'll be okay as long as you've got all the evidence you can think of. I know how it feels to be paranoid and stressed all the time about it... and I came out the other side wishing I hadn't worried so much. Try to let yourself relax!

thank you so so much. it feels like we have the same scenario! Our reception was a breakfast at a cute diner near where we live.

thank you to you and J&ana!

[fromphwithlove 3]

Hi!

My interview is in a month, and I am worried as I have been reading several posts and threads regarding what people show to the Consuls..

Just a little background.

I am applying for a CR1 visa, our marriage was at a courthouse, no pictures were taken but a video. It was an informal one as we both were never the type to actual have our lives in front of a camera. Especially my husband who doesn't like pictures at all. If you were to look at his facebook, he has really limited number of pictures. What I did with the I-130 was take screenshots of the actual ceremony.

We aren't planning to have a church wedding, as much as how other women love to plan these things, I seriously am not one of them. Ever since I was young, I would even hide behind the tallest girls in class pictures (if I can). We are planning to have a reception where we can celebrate with family but that's when I go back to the US.

Last March, my husband visited me here in the Philippines and we didn't have a ton of pictures taken together, maybe I can count the pictures less than 20. It's with my family members, my dog, when we go out. That visit was mostly spent to bond with my immediate family.

What I do have a ton of are fb messages, skype logs (we talk on skype hours everyday), steam messages (app chat when you have a gaming account from valve as we both are gamers). Few screenshots of skype calls, he also stated on his latest tax filing that we are married.

To be honest, we eloped (technically not eloped as both of our parents knew, my parents were on facetime as it was happening and his parents were there) and kept it a secret to other people, though they already know now that I am back here in my country. (when I was in the US we decided to marry as we decided that we are in for the long run and want to start our life together as soon as we can) we were looking at K1 process before, but both of us agreed that CR1 would be the best route for us so he can visit me here while waiting and I can get my affairs in order and spend time with my family before I literally leave and might not come back in a few years.

Sorry for the long post, but it scares me that a lot of people/couples love taking pictures of them together and we don't fall under that category. :\ Just wanted to know if they base it a lot on that...

I just want to be with him soon.

I had less than 10 pictures when I had my interview!But the CO didn't even bother to look at them. lol

I was also nervous then when I saw others having literally several albums.

I got approved and got my visa in 3 days. Been in the US since June of last year.

Nothing wrong with having lots of evidence but of course it all boils down to how you answer their questions.

Goodluck!!

[curiousgeorgina 52]

I had less than 10 pictures when I had my interview!But the CO didn't even bother to look at them. lol

I was also nervous then when I saw others having literally several albums.

I got approved and got my visa in 3 days. Been in the US since June of last year.

Nothing wrong with having lots of evidence but of course it all boils down to how you answer their questions.

Goodluck!!

thank you!

do you remember what questions they asked you?

[cococacao 14]

A good way to figure out what questions you'll be asked is to check out reviews of the embassy you have to go to. Select the country next to "Consulate:" and then select the Topic, "IR1/CR1 Visa."

[hon08 13]

According to my niece same visa as yours.. CO didn't even bother to look at it even me when we had our interview.. As long as you can answer all the CO questions honestly..but better to have it on hand in case the CO will ask for it..that 20 pics will do..Date of the events of being together are so important..Good luck!

[Ivy. 113]

At my embassy in Zagreb, Croatia, they wanted to see the pics. They did not care about updated pics, but they did look through my file for pics I sent to USCIS (the consul commented "Ah, here they are" when he found them).