Please give me some advice on this interview experience

[HelpNeeded101 11]

This is the Guyana US Embassy, I'm gonna copy paste my interview experience from another thread as I am not getting any veterans replying to it, would really like someone who has been through it to give me some insight. Thanks. I know its a long read but I wanted to be detailed so you guys could figure out what it may be.

 

We had our interview and it went the complete opposite of everything I've read here. Number 1 issue is they wouldn't even let me in for the interview at all, which I couldn't believe because I thought in Guyana they let you do that. Next, they asked my wife a series of questions that basically had nothing to do with the actual case like what she was doing in Canada before she met me, why she stopped working in Canada (she hurt her knee), then kept asking about our previous case that was withdrawn, why she was in the U.S for so long before we adjusted status. My wife had come to the US on a B2 on that case and I surprise proposed to her and after getting married 3 months after she had arrived, she went back to Canada to see her family one last time because they were doing permanent residency and wouldn't be able to travel for a couple years. She then re-entered the U.S and that is when we applied to adjust status, the interviewer from my account of my wife seemed to be really interested in why she didn't work while she was in the U.S and my wife answered with the obvious, because she was not allowed to work as she had not gotten a work authorization yet, then they got into about why we came back to Guyana and she explained because of a family emergency ( Her grandma had a stroke and she wanted to see her in case it was life threatening.) which made the previous case get denied/ thrown in limbo and that finally I was able to get it withdrawn and start a new case from Guyana. Then the interviewer seemed to really be on why I came to stay with my wife for so long, its been over 4 years now, and she said that I didn't want to be apart from her for so long ( and at that time we didn't know how long it would take, thankfully I did come because its been way longer than we imagined with all the problems of the first case taking so long to be denied even when she left before the Adjustment of status interview. Then she started asking about our 2 kids and if they have valid passports and are biologically ours and if we plan on moving to the U.S or ever coming back to Guyana, she seemed to think that I actually wanted to stay in Guyana even though every action indicated otherwise. She was questioning domicile at one point and because I wasn't in there to really explain because I had not anticipated that I would not be let in at all and I prepared all the docs and folders that my wife would not know exactly what to show her, my wife kept asking her if I could come in and give her better explanations since I had everything already uploaded in CEAC explaining all of this and had all evidence of domicile, etc...

 

She asked basically no questions whatsoever about our relationship. She asked her my dads name (joint sponsor), where I was born, how did we meet, when did we first meet in person and that's it. She seemed far more focused on whether my wife worked in the U.S and why she went out and back into the U.S before adjusting status which we answered and she seemed satisfied with it is my wife's thoughts. Particularly at the end when she asked if both of our kids have US passports as well as myself, my wife noticed a change in demeanor ( a good one) as she seemed to be being quite tough on her while she was standing with a newborn trying to answer the questions. It's almost as if they did not want me at the interview whatsoever to see if what I wrote in the documents I uploaded on CEAC correspond with what she says without my influence. Finally she said the visa has been approved, kept the passport, gave no white slip or any slip for that matter and said to check our email for when we can pick up the visa as well as a sheet explaining how to pay the immigrant fee for USCIS for the green card after the visa is issued. So After she finally came out the embassy as I was waiting with my toddler outside for over 2 hours, she said we were approved but then gave me a recount of the whole interview which got me a little worried because the whole thing seemed to not even be about whether the marriage was bona fide and genuine and entirely on why she left and came back to the U.S as well as why she didn't work ( which is self explanatory as its illegal to work without the authorization, im guessing this was a trick question) Well after all this I kind of had an uneasy feeling based on the line of questioning, She also asked what my dad does for a living and what I do and how did we survive here so long and she explained that our parents helped a lot and my dad made a deal that as long as I do school online he will continue to support us monetarily. She asked what school I went to and my wife mentioned im working on my Masters at the moment and for the most part was just taking notes and asking random questions out of different subjects at random, it was a young officer so maybe she is new and not experienced.

 

The real problem is after getting the verbal approval, we get home and I check the status on CEAC and it says that its in Administrative processing which shocked me at first but after more research saw that everyone goes through that processing and it could be anything from them just waiting on the visa to be printed to background checks, etc... So now we are in another state of limbo and have no idea whats gonna happen, I wish they would have at least let me just be there to explain anything my wife didn't know about like me having all the documents proving domicile ready, it feels like the officer didn't even review the documents on the CEAC website, she didn't ask for any documents and gave no slip for admin processing. So now I just have to hope to god that it was just a formality thing and they will issue it soon but I feel kinda down that the officer didn't seem to question at all whether it was genuine but instead questioned lots of things that really had nothing to do with the case ( why she stopped working in Canada, which was before we even met). Anyway, I'm hoping like what Ive read on other accounts with similar experiences that it will change to issued rather quickly and that there wont be any large delay but I'm not getting my hopes up too high as I've really been ringed out but this system and slowly killing me but I may just be overthinking it and need to relax, its the questions and focus of the interview and the fact that my wife continually let her know I was outside and could answer any questions that she didn't know because I prepared basically everything for her as she has to manage to 2 kids on her own and had no time to look at all the documents etc...

 

Anyway, thats what happened with my case, its been a over 8 hours and still no change in the admin processing status, hopefully within a week that changes, keeping the passport, the verbal approval, as well as giving my wife the domestic violence sheets and how to pay after the issuance of the visa as well as the fact that it seems everyone goes through admin processing regardless of approval has me feeling optimistic somewhat but with what ive experienced in this system, im ready for another limbo so I'm a little depressed about the whole situation, I hope your interview goes different as I don't think my wife said anything wrong and that we may have just gotten a bad officer. It is what it is and Il keep this forum updated on whether the status changes and how soon it does. Wish me luck because its been 4 years of hell and I don't what to do anymore but just hope to god it works out. If anyone veterans here have any knowledge and can read the situation better, please let me know so I can be prepared for any longer delays. Thanks.

[milimelo 4,194]

You're fine. Everyone goes through admin processing. Give it a week or so and don't book flights until you have visa in hand and have verified no errors on visa. 

[Loren Y 2,731]

Keep an eye on the status. once it changes to issued your good, and visa is in the passport. It may switch back and forth a few times to Ready, Adminstrative processing, and a few other things. All that matters is issued, once that happens who cares what happened in the interview, as long as you get the visa. Good that you have notes in case it doesn't get approved, but keep your eye on the prize, all that matters in the end is a visa in the passport.

[HelpNeeded101 11]

4 minutes ago, milimelo said:

You're fine. Everyone goes through admin processing. Give it a week or so and don't book flights until you have visa in hand and have verified no errors on visa. 

Yes I believe your right, im just always worried about everything, especially since Ive been stuck in this country for over 4 years, just straight up scared of another long delay. We have been barely surviving here thanks to our parents help but It cant go on forever. But I cant leave back to the U.S, id literally rather work 15 hours a day for 3rd world wages just to stay with my wife and kids here. Sorry for my emotional outbursts as its just been a really long tough ride. I really appreciate you replying to me. Thank you very much.

Edited March 15, 2023 by HelpNeeded101

[HelpNeeded101 11]

4 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Keep an eye on the status. once it changes to issued your good, and visa is in the passport. It may switch back and forth a few times to Ready, Adminstrative processing, and a few other things. All that matters is issued, once that happens who cares what happened in the interview, as long as you get the visa. Good that you have notes in case it doesn't get approved, but keep your eye on the prize, all that matters in the end is a visa in the passport.

Got it. I can wait a little longer. I check it literally every 6 hours even though its overkill but I cant help it, kind of have OCD with this type of stuff.

[Boiler 43,430]

Consulates vary as to whether they let in the USC, and there are divergent views as to whether it is a good idea for the USC to be present anyway. They were interviewing her not you.

 

Your case has some interesting back story and I can see why she was asked those questions, there certainly could have been inadmissibilities.

 

As others have said she passed that stage so water under the bridge.

[HelpNeeded101 11]

57 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Consulates vary as to whether they let in the USC, and there are divergent views as to whether it is a good idea for the USC to be present anyway. They were interviewing her not you.

 

Your case has some interesting back story and I can see why she was asked those questions, there certainly could have been inadmissibilities.

 

As others have said she passed that stage so water under the bridge.

Yeah I can definitely see where you're coming from. Its a complicated backstory, so I do see now why she may have been asking those questions, thinking of overstays, working when not allowed, etc... Hopefully your right and that she passed that stage and its nothing to worry about. Thanks for the reply. Really appreciate it. The only reason I thought I would be allowed in with the interview is because from my research the Guyana consulate has always for as long as I can find back years and years ago allowed the petitioner, if not wanted the petitioner to be there. I think they may have changed that rule recently so it came as a great surprise to me.

[Rocio0010 5,562]

15 minutes ago, HelpNeeded101 said:

questions, thinking of overstays, working when not allowed, etc...

No, to me thats not it. The main issue is that she came on a B1/B2 visa while apparently she was planning on adjusting. 
 

But that’s probably water under the bridge.

[HelpNeeded101 11]

1 minute ago, Rocio0010 said:

No, to me thats not it. The main issue is that she came on a B1/B2 visa while apparently she was planning on adjusting. 
 

But that’s probably water under the bridge.

She wasn't when she came in at first, I had a surprise proposal for her when she came. I guess technically when she left to canada and back still on a B2 then yeah that would be coming in while planning on adjusting. I hope that is not a problem though. I had asked about this years ago cuz i was worried about it since I realized it could be a problem and everyone said it wasn't a big issue since it was a previous case that was withdrawn or because I think ( I may be wrong here) that there is a law that doesn't allow refusal of the visa based solely on coming in on a B2 while planning on adjusting status. But its a little different since she wasn't actually planning that when we actually got married, she just didnt think anything of going to canada to see her parents one last time before they would be stuck there and then coming back. I hope this is not a big problem.

[Family 3,477]

3 hours ago, HelpNeeded101 said:

was able to get it withdrawn and start a new case from Guyana. Then the interviewer seemed to really be on why I came to stay with my wife for so long, its been over 4 years now, and

 

3 hours ago, HelpNeeded101 said:

all the documents proving domicile ready, it feels like the officer didn't even review the documents on the CEAC

The focus of the interview was to determine any

1. misrepresentation/fraud by your wife during her past entries and stays… example let’s say she was questioned by CBP on entering from Canada about her work..those answers will be compared to her answers during this interview.

 

2. public charge scrutiny…as they are now looking at your past 4 years w no income, 2 young USC children ( who cannot be denied public benefits the moment they land in the US )..I know daddy helps and is a Joint Sponsor..but you securing a Job Offer Letter would have helped.

 

3. They did review your intent to re establish domicile, just wanted to get a sense of what is “real” as in husband and wife talk/share future living plans and what is theoretical/ paper evidence…thus direct questions to your wife.

 

4. With 2 children born during the marriage, you living w your family overseas, and evidence you submitted during the CBRA ..there was no need to question the bonafides 

 

5. The delay is unfortunate, but mostly due to mistakes / missteps. Once your wife abandoned her I-485, all you had to do is file I-824 to send I-130 to Guyana..not start “fresh”..Thee was no need to wait for notice from I-485 withdrawal.

 

Pointed these things out NOT to make you worried, rather give you a chance to look at the interview questions with a more realistic filter. 
 

 

 

Edited March 15, 2023 by Family

[HelpNeeded101 11]

27 minutes ago, Family said:

 

The focus of the interview was to determine any

1. misrepresentation/fraud by your wife during her past entries and stays… example let’s say she was questioned by CBP on entering from Canada about her work..those answers will be compared to her answers during this interview.

 

2. public charge scrutiny…as they are now looking at your past 4 years w no income, 2 young USC children ( who cannot be denied public benefits the moment they land in the US )..I know daddy helps and is a Joint Sponsor..but you securing a Job Offer Letter would have helped.

 

3. They did review your intent to re establish domicile, just wanted to get a sense of what is “real” as in husband and wife talk/share future living plans and what is theoretical/ paper evidence…thus direct questions to your wife.

 

4. With 2 children born during the marriage, you living w your family overseas, and evidence you submitted during the CBRA ..there was no need to question the bonafides 

 

5. The delay is unfortunate, but mostly due to mistakes / missteps. Once your wife abandoned her I-485, all you had to do is file I-824 to send I-130 to Guyana..not start “fresh”..Thee was no need to wait for notice from I-485 withdrawal.

 

Pointed these things out NOT to make you worried, rather give you a chance to look at the interview questions with a more realistic filter. 
 

 

 

We did secure a job letter, its in CEAC, but the interviewer never asked for it, CBP never questioned her about anything as well as Customs when re-entering the US the second time. I gained a bachelors and masters degree while living here, so although income is 0, I have high chances of doing well when going back. Plus my dad has literally over a million dollars in his accounts, so I don't think the public charge was ever considered. This is just from my point of view but I completely get what ur saying, thats why I wish I was in there to atleast get a chance to explain these things but it is what it is.

[HelpNeeded101 11]

The reason I didn't do i-824 was because the estimated wait time was the same as a new I-130 from abroad. It didn't work out that way because, our case went into limbo where they didnt deny it or acknowledge my first set of withdrawal letters, then they denied it one year later, they they reopened it and it sat for 1 year, then after numerous calls to USCIS, our case was apparently misplaced and put in the national records center that basically left it in limbo, finally at that point i was able to send withdrawal letters to the correct place and it was withdrawn a week later. This was why things happened the way they did. Very complicated and unfortunate circumstances. But we've made it through, hoping this is the last small hurdle. Thanks for your input.

[HelpNeeded101 11]

3 minutes ago, HelpNeeded101 said:

The reason I didn't do i-824 was because the estimated wait time was the same as a new I-130 from abroad. It didn't work out that way because, our case went into limbo where they didnt deny it or acknowledge my first set of withdrawal letters, then they denied it one year later, they they reopened it and it sat for 1 year, then after numerous calls to USCIS, our case was apparently misplaced and put in the national records center that basically left it in limbo, finally at that point i was able to send withdrawal letters to the correct place and it was withdrawn a week later. This was why things happened the way they did. Very complicated and unfortunate circumstances. But we've made it through, hoping this is the last small hurdle. Thanks for your input.

Also, at the time i had received information that if both I-485 and I-130 were submitted together, they will not approve the I-824 or  I-130 until the I-485 is denied or withdrawn first. This is why I didn't do the I-824 as well. Just all a big headache.

Edited March 15, 2023 by HelpNeeded101

[Family 3,477]

excellent !

 

Edited March 15, 2023 by Family

[Alex&Nayden 91]

6 hours ago, HelpNeeded101 said:

This is the Guyana US Embassy, I'm gonna copy paste my interview experience from another thread as I am not getting any veterans replying to it, would really like someone who has been through it to give me some insight. Thanks. I know its a long read but I wanted to be detailed so you guys could figure out what it may be.

 

We had our interview and it went the complete opposite of everything I've read here. Number 1 issue is they wouldn't even let me in for the interview at all, which I couldn't believe because I thought in Guyana they let you do that. Next, they asked my wife a series of questions that basically had nothing to do with the actual case like what she was doing in Canada before she met me, why she stopped working in Canada (she hurt her knee), then kept asking about our previous case that was withdrawn, why she was in the U.S for so long before we adjusted status. My wife had come to the US on a B2 on that case and I surprise proposed to her and after getting married 3 months after she had arrived, she went back to Canada to see her family one last time because they were doing permanent residency and wouldn't be able to travel for a couple years. She then re-entered the U.S and that is when we applied to adjust status, the interviewer from my account of my wife seemed to be really interested in why she didn't work while she was in the U.S and my wife answered with the obvious, because she was not allowed to work as she had not gotten a work authorization yet, then they got into about why we came back to Guyana and she explained because of a family emergency ( Her grandma had a stroke and she wanted to see her in case it was life threatening.) which made the previous case get denied/ thrown in limbo and that finally I was able to get it withdrawn and start a new case from Guyana. Then the interviewer seemed to really be on why I came to stay with my wife for so long, its been over 4 years now, and she said that I didn't want to be apart from her for so long ( and at that time we didn't know how long it would take, thankfully I did come because its been way longer than we imagined with all the problems of the first case taking so long to be denied even when she left before the Adjustment of status interview. Then she started asking about our 2 kids and if they have valid passports and are biologically ours and if we plan on moving to the U.S or ever coming back to Guyana, she seemed to think that I actually wanted to stay in Guyana even though every action indicated otherwise. She was questioning domicile at one point and because I wasn't in there to really explain because I had not anticipated that I would not be let in at all and I prepared all the docs and folders that my wife would not know exactly what to show her, my wife kept asking her if I could come in and give her better explanations since I had everything already uploaded in CEAC explaining all of this and had all evidence of domicile, etc...

 

She asked basically no questions whatsoever about our relationship. She asked her my dads name (joint sponsor), where I was born, how did we meet, when did we first meet in person and that's it. She seemed far more focused on whether my wife worked in the U.S and why she went out and back into the U.S before adjusting status which we answered and she seemed satisfied with it is my wife's thoughts. Particularly at the end when she asked if both of our kids have US passports as well as myself, my wife noticed a change in demeanor ( a good one) as she seemed to be being quite tough on her while she was standing with a newborn trying to answer the questions. It's almost as if they did not want me at the interview whatsoever to see if what I wrote in the documents I uploaded on CEAC correspond with what she says without my influence. Finally she said the visa has been approved, kept the passport, gave no white slip or any slip for that matter and said to check our email for when we can pick up the visa as well as a sheet explaining how to pay the immigrant fee for USCIS for the green card after the visa is issued. So After she finally came out the embassy as I was waiting with my toddler outside for over 2 hours, she said we were approved but then gave me a recount of the whole interview which got me a little worried because the whole thing seemed to not even be about whether the marriage was bona fide and genuine and entirely on why she left and came back to the U.S as well as why she didn't work ( which is self explanatory as its illegal to work without the authorization, im guessing this was a trick question) Well after all this I kind of had an uneasy feeling based on the line of questioning, She also asked what my dad does for a living and what I do and how did we survive here so long and she explained that our parents helped a lot and my dad made a deal that as long as I do school online he will continue to support us monetarily. She asked what school I went to and my wife mentioned im working on my Masters at the moment and for the most part was just taking notes and asking random questions out of different subjects at random, it was a young officer so maybe she is new and not experienced.

 

The real problem is after getting the verbal approval, we get home and I check the status on CEAC and it says that its in Administrative processing which shocked me at first but after more research saw that everyone goes through that processing and it could be anything from them just waiting on the visa to be printed to background checks, etc... So now we are in another state of limbo and have no idea whats gonna happen, I wish they would have at least let me just be there to explain anything my wife didn't know about like me having all the documents proving domicile ready, it feels like the officer didn't even review the documents on the CEAC website, she didn't ask for any documents and gave no slip for admin processing. So now I just have to hope to god that it was just a formality thing and they will issue it soon but I feel kinda down that the officer didn't seem to question at all whether it was genuine but instead questioned lots of things that really had nothing to do with the case ( why she stopped working in Canada, which was before we even met). Anyway, I'm hoping like what Ive read on other accounts with similar experiences that it will change to issued rather quickly and that there wont be any large delay but I'm not getting my hopes up too high as I've really been ringed out but this system and slowly killing me but I may just be overthinking it and need to relax, its the questions and focus of the interview and the fact that my wife continually let her know I was outside and could answer any questions that she didn't know because I prepared basically everything for her as she has to manage to 2 kids on her own and had no time to look at all the documents etc...

 

Anyway, thats what happened with my case, its been a over 8 hours and still no change in the admin processing status, hopefully within a week that changes, keeping the passport, the verbal approval, as well as giving my wife the domestic violence sheets and how to pay after the issuance of the visa as well as the fact that it seems everyone goes through admin processing regardless of approval has me feeling optimistic somewhat but with what ive experienced in this system, im ready for another limbo so I'm a little depressed about the whole situation, I hope your interview goes different as I don't think my wife said anything wrong and that we may have just gotten a bad officer. It is what it is and Il keep this forum updated on whether the status changes and how soon it does. Wish me luck because its been 4 years of hell and I don't what to do anymore but just hope to god it works out. If anyone veterans here have any knowledge and can read the situation better, please let me know so I can be prepared for any longer delays. Thanks.

They can really ask about anything. It can be about your relationship or not. They mostly want to vet the beneficiary to see if they would be a good candidate for a visa so that's why they can be thorough. I always say that if your relationship is real, there is nothing to worry about in the interview. Just answer honestly (which she did) and that's all you can really do.