What is the better for interview?

[TBoneTX 43,394]

there is no requirement to prove your relationship is ongoing to the consular officer.

With deference to the excellent Brad, and certainly to all who have recent experience with the Kiev consulate, let me add the general caution that consular staff, policies, and requirements can change overnight and without warning. Accordingly, it is prudent to be overprepared, "just in case."

[Brad and Vika 129]

there is no requirement to prove your relationship is ongoing to the consular officer.

With deference to the excellent Brad, and certainly to all who have recent experience with the Kiev consulate, let me add the general caution that consular staff, policies, and requirements can change overnight and without warning. Accordingly, it is prudent to be overprepared, "just in case."

I agree - better safe than sorry. For Kiev though, just don't sweat the extra stuff too much. We had two binders (no kidding) of supporting evidence, and they didn't even look at it. Interview was over in 5 mintes. TBone, your point is a good one though. Do watch the news, and if trouble breaks out in the country that your SO lives in try to figure out if it will effect the process any. We worry a little about Ukraine electing a pro-Russian government, and a tightening of immigration requirements because of that.

[TBoneTX 43,394]

Do watch the news, and if trouble breaks out in the country that your SO lives in try to figure out if it will effect the process any. We worry a little about Ukraine electing a pro-Russian government, and a tightening of immigration requirements because of that.

Ah -- this is good thinking, too, and it hadn't occurred to me. I was referring to new leadership within the U.S. consulates themselves -- a result of Foreign Service officers' retiring, being transferred, etc. -- with the assignment of new people (for example, a new Section Chief in the Immigrant Visa Unit). A Section Chief who places a priority on anti-human-trafficking, for example, or who has served his entire previous career in high-fraud locations, can have quite a chilling impact on what was previously an "easy" visa-procuring experience. And, we mere mortals don't have a clue as to when the Dept. of State reassigns consular personnel, or why.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Do watch the news, and if trouble breaks out in the country that your SO lives in try to figure out if it will effect the process any. We worry a little about Ukraine electing a pro-Russian government, and a tightening of immigration requirements because of that.

Ah -- this is good thinking, too, and it hadn't occurred to me. I was referring to new leadership within the U.S. consulates themselves -- a result of Foreign Service officers' retiring, being transferred, etc. -- with the assignment of new people (for example, a new Section Chief in the Immigrant Visa Unit). A Section Chief who places a priority on anti-human-trafficking, for example, or who has served his entire previous career in high-fraud locations, can have quite a chilling impact on what was previously an "easy" visa-procuring experience. And, we mere mortals don't have a clue as to when the Dept. of State reassigns consular personnel, or why.

Also interesting. The countries I have visited all have listings for embassy staff on the web, but I never even checked out personnel in Ukraine. Never thought about it.

[TBoneTX 43,394]

Also interesting. The countries I have visited all have listings for embassy staff on the web, but I never even checked out personnel in Ukraine. Never thought about it.

Such information can be tough to find, and outdated when one finds it. I learned that the Section Chief in charge of my consulate had spent the last 5+ years in Washington with the OAS (in anti-human-trafficking, no less), and I presume that he had been yanked from that comfortable locale for another consular assignment, due to personnel shortages throughout the Foreign Service. His professional orientation, and possibly grouchiness at having been transferred to what is not exactly a garden spot in a third-world country, play an undetermined role in the current policies of the infernal consulate there. Sadly, these insights came to me after the fact, when full-blown damage control was already necessary.

[sweet_peach 0]

Hello,

I just like to know what is the better for interview,

Have more trip to my fiancée between NOA1 and NOA2 or be at interview with my fiancée?

I like to do both but I think my boss not let me do this.

I made one trip after we got NOA1.

Thank you,

B&Y

I went for my then fiances interveiw - didnt actually get to go into the embassy for it, but i was in the country.... It was a great experience when he came out of the embassy holding his approval notice..

Oh yeah - if your fiance is told by anyone to not say anything about you being in the country - tell her dont do it. They asked my fiance where i was - the consulate was holding a piece of paper at the time which leads me to believe they ran my passport to see where i was before his interview and was trying to see if he was going to tell the truth or not. So tell the truth........

Good Luck

[Brad and Vika 129]

Also interesting. The countries I have visited all have listings for embassy staff on the web, but I never even checked out personnel in Ukraine. Never thought about it.

Such information can be tough to find, and outdated when one finds it. I learned that the Section Chief in charge of my consulate had spent the last 5+ years in Washington with the OAS (in anti-human-trafficking, no less), and I presume that he had been yanked from that comfortable locale for another consular assignment, due to personnel shortages throughout the Foreign Service. His professional orientation, and possibly grouchiness at having been transferred to what is not exactly a garden spot in a third-world country, play an undetermined role in the current policies of the infernal consulate there. Sadly, these insights came to me after the fact, when full-blown damage control was already necessary.

The only website I ever examined closely was for Belarus, because I interacted with consul, economic, and political officers sometimes. That post is apparently not a popular one, so maybe the names just didn't change that often. Those meetings were interesting, and gave a certain amount of insight into the thinking of members of the diplomatic corps.

[B&Y 0]

Thank you so much for all your thoughts. I knew it's better to be there for interview but I'm so missing her and I was looking for a reason to go and see her ASAP.

Edited February 17, 2009 by B&Y

[Brad and Vika 129]

Thank you so much for all your thoughts. I knew it's better to be there for interview but I'm so missing her and I was looking for a reason to go and see her ASAP.

Have a heart-to-heart with your boss. Maybe it can be done