Organizing Documents for the Interview

[paciencia y fe 2]

Hi all,

I've been working on organizing all our documents for the K-1 Visa interview we have Jan. 13th. We heavily front-loaded the original petition submitted late September with tons of relationship evidence. I'm looking for advice on how to handle organizing the new stuff as well as possibly the old stuff.

- do you think we should resubmit all the evidence included in the original petition?

- should we comingle the old stuff and the new stuff, or keep them separate?

Would love to hear how others may have handled the submission of evidence at the interview after having front-loaded the original application.

Many thanks!

[TBoneTX 45,469]

Yo, K.! We didn't front-load (and later paid for that), but: [1] Bring copies of all of the "old" stuff (including originals, purely in case someone wants to see them), and [2] bring the new stuff, organized (SEPARATELY from the old) into (for example) fotos, e-mail logs + sample printouts, phone logs, receipts/shared hotel reservations, etc.

They will certainly request the new stuff, so plan to cram this through the small, curved slot under the Plexiglass that keeps enraged applicants from wringing a few necks. Have the old stuff with you, just in case it's requested. Whatever you slide under the window, announce aloud what it is, and ask "Do you acknowledge receiving this segment of materials of our 'evidence of relationship?'" after you submit each portion.

A helpful "extra" to provide would be a separate tally-sheet that lists your e-mail/messaging history (total from NOA1 date through the present, average number per day), and a sheet for your phone calls (total calls, total PHONE EXPENSE) for the same period.

If you haven't already, get the "support letters" from your people & his, in accordance with the steps in the separate thread in the Embassy/Consular forum (if you can't find it, I can try).*

*EDIT: Found & bumped, si man.

Before you & L. interview, carefully review all of the old & new stuff that you have submitted or will submit. Confirm important dates -- when you met or began communicating, when you visited & for how long each time, places where you went, people whom you met -- all possible who/what/when/where/why/how" information.

If either the Foreign Service National (native Ecuadorian who collects your stuff & who may partially interview you) or the consul asks you about your sex life, state that this is borderline harassment, the question has no place in a K-1 interview, and what is the person's NEXT question, please.

Interestingly, more than one couple has found that the consulate cares little, if at all, about the I-134 financial stuff.

At the interview, please remember to ask specifically, and to insist on an answer, whether Phil Linderman is still the Immigrant Unit Section Chief.

Si, man?

Edited December 30, 2009 by TBoneTX

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi all,

I've been working on organizing all our documents for the K-1 Visa interview we have Jan. 13th. We heavily front-loaded the original petition submitted late September with tons of relationship evidence. I'm looking for advice on how to handle organizing the new stuff as well as possibly the old stuff.

- do you think we should resubmit all the evidence included in the original petition?

- should we comingle the old stuff and the new stuff, or keep them separate?

Would love to hear how others may have handled the submission of evidence at the interview after having front-loaded the original application.

Many thanks!

Front loading makes NO difference in how you prepare for the interview. The guy at the consualte isn't going to appear at the window and say "OK, we have everything we need" and hand over a visa. He isn't evemn going to acknowledge you front loaded anything. Front loading serves ONE purpose, and that is it prevents the consulate from refusing previously submitted information. This may be helpful in an appeal for a denial, for example.

Your interview will (or should) proceed as normal. Bring everything you can, old, new, borrowed, blue. DO NOT leave anything on your kitchen table in the USA. I have found the best way to organize things is a 13 pocket expandable folder. Put the relevent documtns into the pockets to separate them and hand them over as asked. They will put anything you have into their own folder so any attempt to bind the stuff together will just result in frustration for you. Keep it all loose, handy and segregated so you can easily whip out whatever they ask for next.

[VivaBaños 2]

I don't have much advice since we didn't interview for a K-1, but I do want to wish you both suerte at the interview.

[TBoneTX 45,469]

suerte at the interview.

Definitely si, man. Also: Please describe for us the CO with whom you interview -- complete physical description. This will help others connect the experience (what to expect) with the person. The female CO is already drawing some negative reviews, for example, but if there's more than one female CO, people need to know. Gracias, si man.

[paciencia y fe 2]

thanks everyone! and happy new year! hope 2010 brings happiness and good things to all of you.