Spouse from Iraq; Interview in Ankara Embassy (merged)

[Karen2021 3]

I am the petitioner/main sponsor/spouse. I am currently in the USA and my spouse is abroad waiting for the IR1 interview to be scheduled. Will I have to attend the interview or can my spouse go alone, or with a relative?

[Lil bear 3,842]

7 minutes ago, Karen2021 said:

I am the petitioner/main sponsor/spouse. I am currently in the USA and my spouse is abroad waiting for the IR1 interview to be scheduled. Will I have to attend the interview or can my spouse go alone, or with a relative?

The interview at the Consulate is for the beneficiary alone.  Spouses/sponsor/petitioner are not required and rarely allowed in 

[Boiler 43,738]

When I did mine in London spouses were allowed and there was only one there.

[Karen2021 3]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

When I did mine in London spouses were allowed and there was only one there.

But spouses are not required to attend the Consulate/Embassy right? Also, does the Spouse need to be flying into the US airport with the Beneficiary upon their first arrival to the USA?

[Karen2021 3]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

When I did mine in London spouses were allowed and there was only one there.

 

1 hour ago, Lil bear said:

The interview at the Consulate is for the beneficiary alone.  Spouses/sponsor/petitioner are not required and rarely allowed in 

 

1 hour ago, Lil bear said:

The interview at the Consulate is for the beneficiary alone.  Spouses/sponsor/petitioner are not required and rarely allowed in 

Also, does the Spouse need to be flying into the US airport with the Beneficiary upon their first arrival to the USA?

[Boiler 43,738]

10 minutes ago, Karen2021 said:

But spouses are not required to attend the Consulate/Embassy right? Also, does the Spouse need to be flying into the US airport with the Beneficiary upon their first arrival to the USA?

They have to enter with or already be in the US. Most will be in the US.

 

Certainly the Spouse I saw looked very bored and just sat there, I know some like to be outside for moral support whatever.

 

[Karen2021 3]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

They have to enter with or already be in the US. Most will be in the US.

 

Certainly the Spouse I saw looked very bored and just sat there, I know some like to be outside for moral support whatever.

 

Okay so I am in the US right now... that means that my spouse can do the interview on their own overseas, and they can enter into the US on their own since I am already here? 

[Boiler 43,738]

Yes

[TBoneTX 43,422]

In theory, the beneficiary can interview alone.  Sometimes, the country of the beneficiary can matter.  You have no VJ timeline.  At which U.S. consulate will your beneficiary interview?

 

For example:  Awhile back, petitioners were expected to be at Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).  They were apprised of that, as I recall.  Conversely, petitioners were expected at the Guayaquil consulate (Ecuador) but were NOT told that in advance.  

 

There are benefits when the petitioner is on the consular premises or within range.  Some think that it adds credibility to the bona fide nature of the relationship.  Such presence is valuable in a practical sense if the consular officer has questions; the petitioner can be called in or can easily appear the next day to answer questions or provide documents, thus avoiding the issuance of a 221(g).

Edited July 23, 2023 by TBoneTX

[Karen2021 3]

7 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

In theory, the beneficiary can interview alone.  Sometimes, the country of the beneficiary can matter.  You have no VJ timeline.  At which U.S. consulate will your beneficiary interview?

 

For example:  Awhile back, petitioners were expected to be at Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).  They were apprised of that, as I recall.  Conversely, petitioners were expected at the Guayaquil consulate (Ecuador) but were NOT told that in advance.  

 

There are benefits when the petitioner is on the consular premises or within range.  Some think that it adds credibility to the bona fide nature of the relationship.  Such presence is valuable in a practical sense if the consular officer has questions; the petitioner can be called in or can easily appear the next day to answer questions or provide documents, thus avoiding the issuance of a 221(g).

The beneficiary will be interviewed at U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. I may need to email them about this. 

[TBoneTX 43,422]

Is the beneficiary Turkish, or (e.g.) Iranian?

[Karen2021 3]

Just now, TBoneTX said:

Is the beneficiary Turkish, or (e.g.) Iranian?

The beneficiary is Iraqi

[TBoneTX 43,422]

Ah.

See the link "Office Reviews & Info" atop any VJ page, and read any reviews pertaining to Iraqi beneficiaries.

Look through the portal (also atop the page) for Iraq, for reviews.

If you find any similar recent cases, send them a private message for insights, then let us know your findings (in general, without directly quoting a private message).

Edited July 23, 2023 by TBoneTX

[carmel34 3,538]

9 hours ago, Karen2021 said:

Will I have to attend the interview or can my spouse go alone

It's not required that you be there.  I chose to go to the interview with my husband in Rio.  We had some red flags (big age, language, culture, income, and education gaps), and got engaged on my second trip to Brazil.  My husband also asked me to come so of course I went, and was allowed inside the consulate and also participated in the interview.  We were both asked questions so it may have been helpful for me to be there, his visa was approved after a very short interview.  I recommend that you be there if you can.  I hope the interview goes well.

Edited July 23, 2023 by carmel34

[gabluc 171]

On 7/22/2023 at 9:17 PM, Karen2021 said:

I am the petitioner/main sponsor/spouse. I am currently in the USA and my spouse is abroad waiting for the IR1 interview to be scheduled. Will I have to attend the interview or can my spouse go alone, or with a relative?

Depends on the country. I know Haiti and Jamaica both need to be present.