Recording during interviews

[The Bloomies 7]

Has anyone considered asking to audio record their USCIS interviews? My husband and I are not using a lawyer and I get worried about all sorts of things because we’re on our own. Does anyone worry that IOs might misconstrue things said during the interview without any backup evidence? I know USCIS sometimes records interviews but, if they didn’t happen to record ours, would we be allowed to? 

[Just Paul 4,595]

No electronic devices are allowed in the Embassy / Consulate.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Or use in USCIS offices so doubtful. Think you should just relax.

[geowrian 22,337]

Phones may or may not be allowed in the USCIS field office. Mine did allow it. But generally there is no use of said devices during the interview. Not that having a recording would actually help with anything unless there was some sort of outright lie and you challenged it in court.

 

My friend (same field office) tried to show an IO their phone during the interview and she got quite a scolding.

[The Bloomies 7]

Thanks, all. I probably should stop being paranoid.

 

Yes, my field office didn’t seem to mind me having it out when I was waiting in the room right before being called up for my biometrics but an interview is different. 

 

But, if an interview isn’t recorded, it does raise the question of how they use any part of that interview as proof to expect fraudulent marriages. It would surely be fairer if everyone or no one was recorded.

[geowrian 22,337]

1 hour ago, The Bloomies said:

But, if an interview isn’t recorded, it does raise the question of how they use any part of that interview as proof to expect fraudulent marriages. It would surely be fairer if everyone or no one was recorded.

I'm not necessarily against every interview being recorded, but that's not the practice in place today. It's expensive, records are subject to the FOIA, etc. There's a boatload of logistics involved with that stuff when it comes to federal agencies. Disclosure: I work in IT as a contractor for some state & federal agencies.

 

That said, I do want to point out something important in what you said. They don't have to prove anything. It's not their job to show a fraudulent marriage. It's possibly not to their benefit to record the interview in every case. It's the applicant's responsibility and burden to show that they qualify for whatever benefit they are applying for. For AOS due to marriage (or ROC), that means one must show that they have a bona fide marriage. This is a much different bar than USCIS having to show that the marriage is fraudulent.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 hour ago, The Bloomies said:

Thanks, all. I probably should stop being paranoid.

 

Yes, my field office didn’t seem to mind me having it out when I was waiting in the room right before being called up for my biometrics but an interview is different. 

 

But, if an interview isn’t recorded, it does raise the question of how they use any part of that interview as proof to expect fraudulent marriages. It would surely be fairer if everyone or no one was recorded.

Most in that situation will likely go through a second interview (Stokes) which is recorded