To be or NOT be at the K-1 Visa Interview

[sjvr 0]

Hi folks, just trying to get a pulse here. I've heard mixed messages. I have heard some say that you NEED to be at the consulate interview or others state not necessary. I just called the Ecuadorian consulate and they told me I do not need to be there. I will call again tomorrow to ensure I get the same answers.. And curious to others experience. Kindly share

[Dan & Jenni 457]

how can they interview you if you dont go??

[slangofoil 50]

how can they interview you if you dont go??

The OP is the USC.

[Dan & Jenni 457]

The OP is the USC.

haha now it makes sense

[Ben and Jill 37]

Hi folks, just trying to get a pulse here. I've heard mixed messages. I have heard some say that you NEED to be at the consulate interview or others state not necessary. I just called the Ecuadorian consulate and they told me I do not need to be there. I will call again tomorrow to ensure I get the same answers.. And curious to others experience. Kindly share

I think the overall consensus is that the american citizen is "not required" to be there. Most consulates specifically state that the american citizen isn't even allowed to attend and won't be allowed into the consular section. I was there for Ben's interview because I chose to be and wanted to be, and actually made it into the consular section (how I managed this...I have no idea, the guards are just really, really nice When the employees inside the consular section saw I made it that far, omg, they got extremely pissed off, lol, and asked me to go and wait outside. So, it all depends on the country, consulate, personal finances, etc. My personal opinion is that it's better for the couple to be together, but again, sometimes that isn't always feasible. If you can be there ~ by all means I think it's for the best all the way around.

Edited October 26, 2011 by Ben and Jill

[Guinness 3]

If you can afford it Go , it helps

JMO

[Ben and Jill 37]

If you can afford it Go , it helps

JMO

I agree 100%

[TBoneTX 43,401]

I think the overall consensus is that the american citizen is "not required" to be there.

Speak of what you specifically know, please; you have no insight or call to comment on a true hellhole of a consulate.

OP, Guayaquil is lying to you. LYING. This has been their pattern. In the last 3+ years, only a couple of unaccompanied beneficiaries have been granted visas, and this truly appears to be isolated. Everyone else has been placed on 221g status or been refused the visa outright. Read the review by PDXBicycleBoy for one of the worst stories that's been published on VJ -- many, many other comparable stories have not been.

If you choose not to go, it's at your peril. My prayer tonight is that you'll heed this and go.

Repeat to yourself, multiple times, aloud: Guayaquil is lying to me. Guayaquil is not to be trusted. I shall be there, with massive evidence, and be on full alert for monkeyshines. In fact, repeat this to yourself on your plane flight down there.

Be in Guayaquil a full day before the "scheduled time" of the interview. Expect a last-minute call telling you to be at the consulate hours ahead of time, or that the visa will be refused.

If you're not going to listen to the fervent voice of experience, why are you asking now, and for that matter why are you even a VJ member? We're here to rely on the experience of others, si man?

[GringoD 33]

I think the overall consensus is that the american citizen is "not required" to be there. Most consulates specifically state that the american citizen isn't even allowed to attend and won't be allowed into the consular section. I was there for Ben's interview because I chose to be and wanted to be, and actually made it into the consular section (how I managed this...I have no idea, the guards are just really, really nice When the employees inside the consular section saw I made it that far, omg, they got extremely pissed off, lol, and asked me to go and wait outside. So, it all depends on the country, consulate, personal finances, etc. My personal opinion is that it's better for the couple to be together, but again, sometimes that isn't always feasible. If you can be there ~ by all means I think it's for the best all the way around.

_______

I never heard that the american citizen was NOT ALLOWED TO BE THERE, EVER in my years of being involved with this process.

HOWEVER,.. I have been told AGAIN AND AGAIN,... that it really has no affect on the outcome, whether you are there or not. I was told by an experienced counselor who claimed 100 % success with the visas being granted, that YOU SHOULD NOT FEEL PRESSURED TO BE THERE.

and further, HE STATED THAT... those he had helped had NEVER BEEN TURNED DOWN FOR la visa.

That was .. in Colombia. A little closer to Equador, than Kenya... if that also might factor in, I don't know.

Just trying to help answer the bottom line for you.

no... you don't need to be there.

It's not 'your' interview. It's hers (or,.. his).

I was there, the first time I went through this process, in Colombia, and no one seemed to care.

But, I think she would have been granted the visa without me there (For a 2-minute interview)

BUT,.. IF YOU CAN BE THERE,... WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO?!

Edited October 27, 2011 by GringoD

[Ben and Jill 37]

_______

I never heard that the american citizen was NOT ALLOWED TO BE THERE, EVER in my years of being involved with this process.

HOWEVER,.. I have been told AGAIN AND AGAIN,... that it really has no affect on the outcome, whether you are there or not. I was told by an experienced counselor who claimed 100 % success with the visas being granted, that YOU SHOULD NOT FEEL PRESSURED TO BE THERE.

and further, HE STATED THAT... those he had helped had NEVER BEEN TURNED DOWN FOR la visa.

That was .. in Colombia. A little closer to Equador, than Kenya... if that also might factor in, I don't know.

Just trying to help answer the bottom line for you.

no... you don't need to be there.

It's not 'your' interview. It's hers (or,.. his).

I was there, the first time I went through this process, in Colombia, and no one seemed to care.

But, I think she would have been granted the visa without me there (For a 2-minute interview)

BUT,.. IF YOU CAN BE THERE,... WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO?!

OK, let me rephrase my comment..."the USC petitioner is NOT allowed at the "NAIROBI CONSULATE IN KENYA" as of May 26, 2011. Now that, I know for a fact because I was there, and the papers specifically states that the USC is NOT allowed. I did, however, try to get in as far as I could. So....things do change over the years as just last November 2010, USC's WERE allowed to enter the consulate area in Nairobi. Thank you And I agree with the rest of your post.

[Ed Hall 7]

You don't have to be there but not doing so could very likely cause you tons of grief, delays and being subject to harsh interrogation that's full of illegal questioning. I know this from first hand experience at this horrible consulate. However, it's your choice, but I'm warning you now. Also, make sure you get there a day early. We were scheduled for 3 pm and they pushed it back to 9 am claiming that the consulate would be closing in the afternoon. It was a total lie. I later learned that these types of games are standard practice that this down in the gutter consulate.

Edited October 27, 2011 by Ed Hall

[Ed Hall 7]

Also, make sure you bring tons of evidence. We brought over 500 pictures and 3 reams of paper consisting of emails, online chats and e-cards. It all weighed in around 40 lbs. There is no such thing as too much evidence at this consulate. No matter how much you present to them, their standard motto is "Lack of Evidence". Anyways, good luck and don't become a victim.

Edited October 27, 2011 by Ed Hall

[Aztec&Taino 144]

This is a consulate specific question. You will have better luck in receiving correct answers if you target your questions for members with Ecuatorian beneficiaries who have successfully completed the process. Check with these members directly. Best wishes!

[dierathy 2]

Different countries have different requirements... most of them if the Petitioner is not there the day of the interview the chances for granting a k1 are limited. most of them have to go a sencond time with the petitioner... good luck!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Hi folks, just trying to get a pulse here. I've heard mixed messages. I have heard some say that you NEED to be at the consulate interview or others state not necessary. I just called the Ecuadorian consulate and they told me I do not need to be there. I will call again tomorrow to ensure I get the same answers.. And curious to others experience. Kindly share

I think you should listen to the VJ members who have experience with that consulate. By their accounts, you should make every effort to be there, and be thoroughly prepared.

Also, and this applies to all consulates... never ever take what the consulate's customer service people tell you at face value. They frequently have no idea what they're talking about. If they actually knew anything about the consulate's policies and procedures then they'd have a more important job than answering the phone or replying to emails.