15yo step-daughter's embassy interview

[mme.kante 0]

We're finally having the interview at the embassy for my stepdaughter (now 15 years old). I am a USC married to her LPR father. I have a few questions about what we are bringing to the interview; because of her age no police certificate is required. Please let me know if you think there is anything else we will need or if there is somewhere else I should post this. Thanks!

• 2 passport photos
• her passport
• interview letter
• packet from medical exam
• birth certificate (original and photocopy)
• letter from her birth mother giving permission to immigrate (+ photocopy)
• 2014 tax return for sponsor and joint sponsor

• I-864 updated for sponsor and joint sponsor (it wasn't clear if they only wanted the newest tax return)????
• copy of I-130 application????
• other documents sent in with application to establish beneficiary-petitioner relationship (her father and my marriage certificate, my US birth certificate) ????

Evidence:

• photos
• calling card call log from last year
• her gmail chat/hangout log
• receipt of tablet purchased for her
• western union transaction history

unfortunately we weren't great at record keeping so we have little proof of money, calls, and photos, but I plan to submit everything I was able to get my hands on.

[mme.kante 0]

I have emailed the Embassy several days ago and called during their open consular hours hoping to get clarifications from them but to no avail.

In the interview letter it says petitioner is not required to attend interview and that space may limit who may accompany the applicant to the interview. On the website it said that children 14 and under must be accompanied but since she's still 15 and a minor do you think they will let me in for the interview. That's the big question I wanted to ask the Embassy cause if I'm going to purchase a ticket I want to do it soon.

[aurpol 17]

Allowing USC (petitioner) to accompany the beneficiary during interview is consul-to-consul base, meaning it depends on the consul if they would let it or not. With regards to the papers / docs she will bring, they are ok. When my son had his interview, he was asked who the petitioner is, relation, address of the petitioner and where he will stay when he enters US, the last time we saw, and how we communicate. The CO then ask for a picture where I and him in it. That was it and he was approved. Goodluck!

[mme.kante 0]

Thank you for your response, that was very helpful! I have video chat logs and phone logs but no picture of us together unfortunately. But I hope it will be enough. I still haven't heard from the embassy....

Do you think these documents should go the interview with her too:

• I-864 updated for sponsor and joint sponsor (it wasn't clear if they only wanted the newest tax return)????
• copy of actual I-130 application????
• other documents sent in with application to establish beneficiary-petitioner relationship (her father and my marriage certificate, my US birth certificate) ????

[mme.kante 0]

Update:

Finally got a response from the US Embassy in Dakar. Here is what they said in case anyone else is looking for that info:

They said that as the petitioner, I can attend the interview with my minor (15yo) step-daughter (but I guess this is Embassy specific so don't hold it as a universal truth).

They also said that we should bring both the newest tax-returns and newly completed I-864s from the sponsor and co-sponsor.

Since I just bought my ticket, I will probably bring my birth certificate and marriage certificate to cover our bases.