Does the U.S. spouse need to attend the interview for CR1visa??

[baduk 0]

We are finally at the last stage of CR1 visa. My wife is scheduled to interview at the US embassy in Seoul. I hear some rumors(?) that they are more likely to reject you if you don't come with your spouse. Do I need to fly to Korea just for the interview ?? Our case is very solid and I can't see how they will reject just because the spouse is not present ??

[VN12 2]

We are finally at the last stage of CR1 visa. My wife is scheduled to interview at the US embassy in Seoul. I hear some rumors(?) that they are more likely to reject you if you don't come with your spouse. Do I need to fly to Korea just for the interview ?? Our case is very solid and I can't see how they will reject just because the spouse is not present ??

The spouse being there should improve the chances of getting an approval. It shows you actually care about your spouse. People on here have said that it does help.

[Cathi 5,609]

The spouse isn't required to be there. Most beneficiaries attend without their SO. I think being there will improve the chances, I don;t think the visa will be denied merely because you don;t show up, as long as you have a strong relationship and you can prove it. As you stated you have a very strong marriage.

Edited December 30, 2012 by mimolicious

[Cathi 5,609]

The spouse being there should improve the chances of getting an approval. It shows you actually care about your spouse. People on here have said that it does help.

There are many many spouses who care who are simply unable to attend

[matteo66062 1]

We are finally at the last stage of CR1 visa. My wife is scheduled to interview at the US embassy in Seoul. I hear some rumors(?) that they are more likely to reject you if you don't come with your spouse. Do I need to fly to Korea just for the interview ?? Our case is very solid and I can't see how they will reject just because the spouse is not present ??

Yes, it is helpful to be there with your spouse as well as extremely comforting for them.And yes, I am sure it does look good. I actually reside in the Philippines so I was able to attend the 2 minute interview with my wife very easily. However, I fully understand that some people just can't be at the interview. If you can't attend, I WOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT IT AT ALL!!!! It is definitely NOT required. Especially if you have a solid case. Don't believe the rumors. I too had the same question and found no where on here that someone was denied for their spouse not attending. If someone did claim that, I would seriously suspect they had other issues pending. The #1 cause of denial of a CR-1 IR-1 visa according to the Department of State is failure to comply with the Affidavit of Financial Support (form 864). As well, it's not listed on any official US Government website that the spouse need to be there. Find globehoppermama on here as they are currently going through the process in Seoul as well. So if you can't go, relax, then let me know that you got approved!

[baduk 0]

The spouse isn't required to be there. Most beneficiaries attend without their SO. I think being there will improve the chances, I don;t think the visa will be denied merely because you don;t show up, as long as you have a strong relationship and you can prove it. As you stated you have a very strong marriage.

Thanks ! I thought so too.

[jdba 22]

The spouse being there should improve the chances of getting an approval. It shows you actually care about your spouse. People on here have said that it does help.

Well, I care but I don't plan to attend my husbands interview. I only get 4 weeks of vacation a year. I plan to go after he gets his visa and fly back with him. I think that is a better use of them and so does he. Not everyone can make lots of overseas trips either they can't get the time off work or they don't have the money and I am sure the person doing the interview understands that.

[TBoneTX 43,020]

Well, I care but I don't plan to attend my husbands interview. I only get 4 weeks of vacation a year. I plan to go after he gets his visa and fly back with him. I think that is a better use of them and so does he.

It may be an irrelevant plan if the embassy questions your absence, and the visa is refused as a result. You could be ordered to attend a second (Stokes) interview. In general, if the petitioner is on the consular premises during the beneficiary's interview, it can turn a possible refusal into a fighting chance, or a borderline decision into a positive one.

Not everyone can make lots of overseas trips either they can't get the time off work or they don't have the money

True.

and I am sure the person doing the interview understands that.

In many instances, this is very, very untrue. And, have you talked with that person? Edited January 2, 2013 by TBoneTX

[jdba 22]

It may be an irrelevant plan if the embassy questions your absence, and the visa is refused as a result. You could be ordered to attend a second (Stokes) interview. In general, if the petitioner is on the consular premises during the beneficiary's interview, it can turn a possible refusal into a fighting chance, or a borderline decision into a positive one.True.In many instances, this is very, very untrue. And, have you talked with that person?

Well, When I started this process I emailed the Embassy in Ankara. I was told I could not go to the interview and it would be a waste of my time to go because I would not be allowed to attend. I know that each Embassy is different. You need to know what your Embassy will allow/want. It is not going to be the same for each interview / Embassy. I am not worried either way. We have a strong file. And I am using a very good lawyer.

[baduk 0]

Thanks ! I thought so too.

I decided to fly there anyway to support my wife. As you said, I am 99.999 sure my wife would have been approved anyway, but me, a US citizen being there did make the interview much smoother... It cost me $1500 for airfare, but my wife did appreciate it...

[baduk 0]

Yes, it is helpful to be there with your spouse as well as extremely comforting for them.And yes, I am sure it does look good. I actually reside in the Philippines so I was able to attend the 2 minute interview with my wife very easily. However, I fully understand that some people just can't be at the interview. If you can't attend, I WOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT IT AT ALL!!!! It is definitely NOT required. Especially if you have a solid case. Don't believe the rumors. I too had the same question and found no where on here that someone was denied for their spouse not attending. If someone did claim that, I would seriously suspect they had other issues pending. The #1 cause of denial of a CR-1 IR-1 visa according to the Department of State is failure to comply with the Affidavit of Financial Support (form 864). As well, it's not listed on any official US Government website that the spouse need to be there. Find globehoppermama on here as they are currently going through the process in Seoul as well. So if you can't go, relax, then let me know that you got approved!

I decided to fly to Korea for the interview anyway. My feeling is, as most stated, my wife would have gotten the visa anyway without me being there. However, a US citizen spouse taking the oath together with the wife did make the interview much smoother. The interview was so short and smooth, it was just a formality. My wife was careful, but I exchanged jokes with the officer in a friendly manner... This information will all be irrelevant with Obama changing the absurd immigration law in 2013...

Well, When I started this process I emailed the Embassy in Ankara. I was told I could not go to the interview and it would be a waste of my time to go because I would not be allowed to attend. I know that each Embassy is different. You need to know what your Embassy will allow/want. It is not going to be the same for each interview / Embassy. I am not worried either way. We have a strong file. And I am using a very good lawyer.

Yes, I was worried about that, but my wife asked around and found out they allow the spouse to be there in Korea.

[LilyR 7]

Well, When I started this process I emailed the Embassy in Ankara. I was told I could not go to the interview and it would be a waste of my time to go because I would not be allowed to attend. I know that each Embassy is different. You need to know what your Embassy will allow/want. It is not going to be the same for each interview / Embassy. I am not worried either way. We have a strong file. And I am using a very good lawyer.

I had heard the same thing ..... that the USC is not necessarily allowed in.

[oohpartiv 484]

i think it really depends on the embassy/consulate. a lot of people are saying that USC doesn't have to go, or even isn't allowed in, but i've heard a lot of horror stories from people who filed here in ecuador and whose spouses went to the interviews alone, and were denied solely because the USC wasn't present. they had to schedule a new interview, the spouse had to be dragged down to south america, etc etc. i'm definitely going to my husband's interview, just in case - and i've heard that in morocco, it's a similar story with casablanca - but i think it really depends on where you are. in south korea, it might not have been a problem.

Edited January 21, 2013 by oohpartiv

[speedwell 224]

I had heard the same thing ..... that the USC is not necessarily allowed in.

In London they do not expect the USC to attend. In fact you must make a special request to put the USC on the list of people allowed in the door. This sometimes results in a miscommunication where the USC's name is not on the list and they have to stay outside. It doesn't seem to make any difference in practice whether the spouse is present in London or not.

[LilyR 7]

In London they do not expect the USC to attend. In fact you must make a special request to put the USC on the list of people allowed in the door. This sometimes results in a miscommunication where the USC's name is not on the list and they have to stay outside. It doesn't seem to make any difference in practice whether the spouse is present in London or not.

Thanks for the info! My husband and I happened to be discussing this issue this weekend, so your reply helps us understand things a bit better.