caeremonarius

Thank you for your quick replies! 
Yes, I am back in the UK now! It was only a quick two week visit to the USA this time! I have work commitments here etc. But yes, we literally were walking down the street and saw couples in wedding clothes and we were like...lets do this, got a marriage license and went for it! But, now we are married and apart! That sucks! : ( 
I feel reassured now after reading the responses. I also wasn't sure if i could go and visit whilst the visa is pending, when we actually come to filing it, so thanks for answering that question for me as well! 
 

That CAN BE visa fraud but certainly wouldn't be in this case because the OP states they got married ON A WHIM.  So, either way, no problem.  No special visa is required in order to get married in the US.  You either get an immigrant visa afterwards, or you stay and adjust status if that's both applicable to and workable with your circumstances.

read this first.. https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship 
then basically when you get all the documents and fill the forms you can sent it either online or the regular way to the center according to your location!! the payment has to be sent with the documents 

There's nothing that excludes you from being an interpreter, but that doesn't mean that must be accepted as one either. The officer makes that determination based on all the information available to him/her. You seem to have a strong personal interest in the case, which is a conflict of interest for the officer to consider. The applicant seemed to understand proper English already, which is part of the consideration as well.
 
The officer made a mistake in not completing the paperwork and informing the applicant with the option to proceed, use an alternative interpreter, or reschedule the interview. This was subsequently resolved via having a second interview.
The officer was entirely within his power to disqualify you as an interpreter, though.

they did another interview. 

You're right. That should have happened, but they eventually relented and gave you the second interview. 
 
It's up to you whether you think it's a good idea to push back on this whilst at the same time pursuing your mother's case. 

3. Impartial and Unbiased Individual  
The interpreter must be impartial and able to interpret without bias. An impartial and unbiased individual is one who does not have a predisposition or preconceived opinion about a matter. A predisposition or preconceived opinion may prevent the individual from interpreting information accurately, literally and fully or making a reliable interpreter declaration.    
Officers must consider potential conflicts of interest between an interviewee and his or her proposed interpreter, as well as any other circumstances that might interfere with the interpreter's ability to provide an accurate, literal, and full interpretation. Interpreters and the interviewees must disclose any relationship, predisposition, or preconceived opinion that could affect the interpreter's objectivity and consequently his or her ability to provide impartial and objective interpretation during the interview. For example, some friends, family members, or persons with financial connections to the interviewee (e.g. business partners) could have either actual conflicts of interest with the interviewee or have a strong personal interest in the interviewee obtaining the immigration benefit at issue such that the proposed interpreter is not able to provide impartial and unbiased interpretation services.9 As such, family members will generally be disfavored as interpreters if there is another qualified interpreter available to the customer. Upon disclosure, the officer must use his or her discretion in making a determination as to whether the circumstances will interfere with the interpreter's ability to interpret objectively and provide an accurate and truthful interpretation of the information conveyed during the interview. If the officer determines that despite the relationships or other circumstances disclosed, the interpreter can still provide competent, impartial and unbiased interpretation, then the interpreter may normally be accepted.10     
 
As your wife, your interpreter cannot be impartial or unbiased.  She's married to you, and what affects you, will affect her. 

You got off really easy with only an RFE. Time to start being grateful you got a very patient interviewer.

Geowrain is correct. They did let you use an interpreter. Yes, at first they said no, but then it was a yes. So what is the complaint about? Because they said no at first? Anyway if you are that upset about this you can mail a letter to the supervisor at that specific office. Or go back via infopass and hand it to them in person. It wont change the decision- but it should cause the supervisor to review the case which may work for you or against you.

I don't see the misconduct here. There's no evidence the interpreter was refused solely based on the relationship. The officer used his discretion and determined that the totality of the circumstances did not warrant one. You can try to argue that the decision was incorrect, but that's an exercise in futility IMO. And the interpreter was permitted eventually, so this whole thing becomes moot.
 
Move on and respond to the RFE.

Just so you are aware, embassy interviews in other countries prohibit the spouse from being present during the interview as well.  For example, in Stockholm, I was allowed to sit within earshot for the interview but could not be within sight of my husband or communicate with him during the interview.  That is fairly common.  Whether you thought that she could be your interpreter or not isn't the issue, you should really not assume that a spouse should be allowed to be present during the interview for any reason.   Was your lawyer not bilingual?

You were given a second interview in which you used your interpreter.  Therefore, you were not denied use of your interpreter.  Maybe you misunderstood something the interviewer said, after all you are pretty much claiming you needed an interpreter.  Anyway, you asked for an opinion so here it is.  Better to put it behind you.  Respond to the RFE and just move forward and forget about it.  It's not worth the hassle and you are not going to win any battle with them.  In fact, the more attention your draw to it, the more likely everything will be looked at more intensely.  

It is mandatory for both the interpreter and the interviewee to sign the "Declaration of Interpreted USCIS Interview" form ("Declaration"). See attached Form G-1256. There are no exceptions to this requirement. See also Section (d), The Interview, and, Section (e), Disqualifying an Interpreter.   Do you provide this form prior to interview?

Seems like a super legitimate reason to deny you the interpreter. 
 
People need to understand the difference between needs and wants. 

See part 3 of the link you quoted.  3.  Impartial and Unbiased Individual
 
Do you really think a spouse can be impartial and unbiased as an interpreter?  It's also up to the interviewer if they are willing to accept a family member as an interpreter.
 
Does the RFE correlate to anything with interpretation?  
 
 
 
 
 
 

Having your wife as your interpreter creates a conflict of interest because you can be told in your language how to respond to the questions without the interviewer knowing what was said to you.  If you felt you needed an interpreter for the interview, you should have gotten someone other than your wife.

Looks like it was restored. Woo-hoo! I notice a gap in posts from 11/21 to today. I contacted an administrator last night; I don't know if that had something to do with the thread coming back. Regardless, glad to see it's reinstated.

The guidance regarding dual citizenship is more concerning when you are traveling to a country that you are a citizen of.  The US will not provide assistance for you in that case.  I travel on both of my passports depending on which is easiest at the time.  It isn't a big deal.

Thank you. That's exactly what happened. 24 hours after the e-mail notification the interview letter was uploaded. Interview is scheduled for January 2, 2018. I will be out of the country, however. Will have to send the letter back and request another interview date...

Almost 4 years ago i came to the united states on a K1 VISA from Ghana.My fiancee who is now my husband filed the K1 visa for me.Its been a long and duanting road to this day,  but thankfully  our immigration journey has come to an end.2 children with a third due in february i am glad to say i just became a naturalized citizedn two days ago .The road has been long but its been worth  it atleast now i can rest without looking out for immigration letters.Am blessed and thankful to God.I have earned my citizenship..its been long its been hard but its finally come to an end,with two kids and one on the way soon we are glad happy thankful and excited to welcome a 3rd member of our family.I am also scheduled to start school in Havard in July .So excited so blesed and so pleased.I wish you all well in this journey and a little advise i can leave for you is never give up have faith be true and sincere in your application..i never struggled during my application process i just submitted documents and recieved notices i hope the journey would be easier for my fellow Ghanaian folks out there .Lots of love and Prayers .ADIOS AMIGOS 
 
Adwoa 

I have told our story on here many times when people ask about traveling abroad on AP or with an extension letter for ROC.   Upon checking in for our flight home from a vacation to Mexico, Frontier airlines refused to issue my husband a boarding pass while traveling with the AP/EAD combo card.  At the time the combo cards had been in use for about a year but frontier airlines in Mexico was not familiar with them so they would not issue him a boarding pass to return home.   They told us they would only accept an unexpired green card.
After filing many complaints, what I learned from this was that even with proper documents, the airline does not have to let you board if they have any reason to think there is any possibility you will be turned away at the border. 
I always advise people to make sure the airline they are traveling home with is familiar with the documentation they will be traveling with.
 
You are wasting your time and energy expecting some kind of recourse from the airline or USCIS.   
 
 
 

send her ### back. she played you. why should you question it? whats fair is fair, whats not is not. 
EXACTLY!

By definition you are conspiring to commit benefit fraud against the Federal Government.  DANGEROUS... Don't Lie....False misrepresentation of material fact = jail. 5 years jail for YOU....Those charged with marriage fraud may also be charged with visa fraud, harboring an alien, conspiracy and making false statements. As of this moment she is guilty of marriage fraud, (A foreign national defrauded a U.S. citizen who believed the marriage was legitimate.)  If you don't turn her in 1. someone else will for sure turn you in or  2. The GOV agent will pick up on it and arrest you both - consult a lawyer , ask here at top web site... 7 bucks and you'll know what u need to know - .......One thing for sure..... if you lie at AOS you willfully (knowingly)-  commit a federal crime... 
 
The most direct way to report fraud is to contact the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division. They are the police force for immigration. You can contact them by phone and remain anonymous - 1-(866)-DHS-2-ICE or visit the website at "ice.gov". These hotlines are specifically designated for reporting immigration violations.
You could also contact the USCIS directly at 1-(800)-375-5283. When you speak to a live representative, you can make sure your information is properly recorded. You could also schedule an InfoPass appointment to personally meet an USCIS official to discuss the marriage sham.

Law Dictionary: How To Report Immigration Marriage Fraud  
 

I’d hang her out to dry brother. After that kind of betrayal how could you even consider letting her benefit from her manipulating you?

Be careful brother. She can start the process for a wawa. Don't be with her in the same room. Pull the affidavit ASAP even today, send an email to USCIS and copy the Embassy of her country on this. Sometimes, they approve the Green Card without an interview. Of course, at the 2 year expiry she will need you again with documentation so she will try and file a WAWA against you, so don't have any contact with her ever!!