Question about speaking english at interview

[pkfops]

The requirement is that you and your SO have the ability to communicate.

This can be through very poor English and with the help of translators.

If she doesn't speak a word of English, you may have a problem.

From what I've seen, if she makes some attempt to speak English, the VO will be O.K. with it and will often finish the interview in Chinese.

166889[/snapback]

Steve,

 

I don't believe there is a requirement that states that both must have the ability to communicate or speak the same language. What becomes a problem is when a VO suspects fraud and a sham relationship because of the difficulty in communicating one with another.

 

My SO speaks very good English, but I know there are many whose partners do not. Some have gotten themselves into trouble by saying they can speak Chinese, when in fact their usuage, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar suck. If you aren't excellent at speaking it then I would refrain from making the claim.

 

With that said I think one could be VERY creative making a video showing how the two of you communicate. Only the one made of stone would NOT agree that most communication between loving partners is non-verbal anyway.

166934[/snapback]

I don't think a homemade pornographic video would be in good taste or

professional.

 

A boring tourist video would be a better substitute.

 

Chances are the video thing won't even come up.

[mercator]

Is this a 129F thing, or do we K-3 folks needing to worry about this too? My wife and I speak our own little mix of 'Chinglish' combined with her decent understanding of basic English and my knowing a few hundred Chinese words and the all-too-important-phrase "Wo bu mingbai ni shuo shenme." (which I must admit I speak with almost perfect tones - lol). We can easily talk on the phone for hours and know what each other is talking about, even in the abstract concepts. Analogies, examples we've experienced together, and our dictionaries (we have the same one, so when I massacre a pronounciation, I just tell her what page and what word. It works great! lol).

 

I think when she is interviewed, she will speak English as best she can, and then if she does not understand, then hopefully they will move to Mandarin, or get a translator. I will recommend she bring her dictionary as well. Hell if the VO wants, I will call her and talk to her in front of them to demonstrate. We're not together, so a movie is not possible. Maybe I will be able to record one of our phone conversations, or if we get to the skype stage, one of those, and burn it to a CD and she can play the CD for the guy on her laptop. LOL

 

WHATEVER IT TAKES - I want my baby home!

[Guest ShaQuaNew]

I don't think a homemade pornographic video would be in good taste or

professional.

 

A boring tourist video would be a better substitute.

 

Chances are the video thing won't even come up.

166943[/snapback]

Are they selling these somewhere?

 

[msmckee]

The VO asked Yue which language and she indicated English. After about two questions he decided it wasn't going to work an called in a translator to finish in Chinese. I think she was so nervous that she probably struggled even in Chinese. Well, she passed anyway.

 

You can't let this stuff get to you Scott. Just deal with the crap if it comes. I'm sure Yue could sense my worry and that could not have been much help to her.

[Zingaro]

When it comes down to the interview, I think it depends on which VO conducts your interview. From what I've read here, some VO's are willing and able to conduct the interview in Chinese. Some are not. My SO speaks a little English, and she's working hard to improve it, but asked the VO if she could speak Chinese. He denied the request and told her that she's marrying an American, so she should speak English.

 

SO also told the VO that I speak some Chinese, which I do, and that I have studied it in the US, which I have. That seemed to end the issue. The interview was so brief that language ultimately wasn't a problem.

[fdeitz]

As far as at the new consulate - our interview was on 9/28 (we passed). My fiancee - like what other people wrote - her written English is fairly good, but her speaking and listening skills less so - and she was very worried she would not understand the VO. I gave her the same advice as above.

 

Anyway, she told me, initially an interpreter was present, but once they decided her English was good enough, the interpreter left the room and the interview continued in English. It did not last long -they only asked her 4 or 5 pretty simple questions. She also told me they did not look at hardly any of the huge amount of evidence we assembled.

 

I guess though it depends on the VO - but in this case it was an African American woman (I've seen references regarding her in other threads assuming it is the same VO they are talking about). Anyway, at least in some cases - there is an interpreter initally present at the interview.

 

In my case, I speak no Chinese - so the videotape route would not have worked for me!

 

Fred

Edited November 8, 2005 by fdeitz (see edit history)

[m-coon]

When it comes down to the interview, I think it depends on which VO conducts your interview. From what I've read here, some VO's are willing and able to conduct the interview in Chinese. Some are not. My SO speaks a little English, and she's working hard to improve it, but asked the VO if she could speak Chinese. He denied the request and told her that she's marrying an American, so she should speak English.

 

SO also told the VO that I speak some Chinese, which I do, and that I have studied it in the US, which I have. That seemed to end the issue. The interview was so brief that language ultimately wasn't a problem.

167179[/snapback]

Is this a fact that the VO does not have to speak chinese??? If this is a fact - how can this person properly do his/her job and give a fair chance to the SO's? And they do not have to request a translator to be present? This just blows my mind!!!

[warpedbored]

When I went to the american citizens hour a year and a half ago the consul officical who conducted the meeting said "there is no requirement that you speak each others language. Occasionally an interviewing officer may question the validity of a relationship based on the ability to communicate. In these cases you only need prove you can communicate. This can be with paper and pencil, pocket translator, smoke signals or what ever as long as it works". At that time you could not talk about specific cases so I never got the chance to ask him why they specified on the blue slip I had to make a video speaking and writing Chinese. Besides at the same time Bing was going through her overcome interview and since we were in the same building came and found me to tell me she was approved. I quickly lost interest in the american citizens hour.

[Mick]

Li's entire interview was conducted in English as she has excellent language skills. According to Li, the VO asked if she could speak English and, when he found out she was fluent, never spoke Chinese.

 

Now, this was over three years ago (August 2002) so, I don't know how they do things these days.

[natrigon]

As for us you can see our timeline below. At the interview my wife was 40 years old with only 6 months of english in her entire life. Her english was terrible. She went to the GZ interview armed with phone records, pictures, my receipts from 3 visits and many emails that we translated back and forth using bablefish free email translation. If anyone wants more info please ask.

 

There is a thread on CFL of about 100 questions that may be asked at the interview. I scanned those in and emailed them to my wife. She got help learning those 100 or so questions. I also helped her as we talked almost every night. It was fun, she also taught me chinese and now I can speak (like a pregnant yak) and she understands me.

 

At her interview she was asked about her english, she was honest and prepared with a "stack" of relationship info. She got lucky and got a nice interviewer, was asked 5-6 questions, he did not look at anything. Not a picture, not an email, not financial records... nothing.

 

Sometimes I think from reading the different stories when the fiance/wife arrives prepared to the best of her ability with everything possible MOST times the interview lasts less than 5 mintues.

 

Louis

[notrevorich]

HI,

 

In reading the most recent denial of Richard and his SO - I become even more paranoid.

 

In this long thread - there was mention that his SO could only speak in chinese at the interview - this is the topic of my question.

 

My wife can speak a little english. But she understands spoken english even less. Therefore the VO would have to speak in Chinese for her to be able to understand the questions - and then perhaps she could answer many of the questions in english.

 

Can you all give me your opinion and experience on this topic? Is this going to be acceptable? What if she gets a VO who does not speak Chinese? And what advise can you give me that will help her through this delima?

 

Thanks so much all.

 

Richard - I am deeply sorry for your denial!

 

Scott

166868[/snapback]

HI,

 

In reading the most recent denial of Richard and his SO - I become even more paranoid.

 

In this long thread - there was mention that his SO could only speak in chinese at the interview - this is the topic of my question.

 

My wife can speak a little english. But she understands spoken english even less. Therefore the VO would have to speak in Chinese for her to be able to understand the questions - and then perhaps she could answer many of the questions in english.

 

Can you all give me your opinion and experience on this topic? Is this going to be acceptable? What if she gets a VO who does not speak Chinese? And what advise can you give me that will help her through this delima?

 

Thanks so much all.

 

Richard - I am deeply sorry for your denial!

 

Scott

166868[/snapback]

Hi Scott ,

 

There is some confusion about my SO's English speaking ability

She has a Master's in English and communication

She speaks , writes ,reads English -She can talk faster on the phone in English than any one I have ever been around -she's just a little slower than the Guy in the FedEx commerical !

So Speaking English was not the problem

Her Daughter the wizz kid also speaks/writes/reads English very well

she scored 640 out of a possible 660 on the Toppel -foriegn student college admission test

So There certainly wasn't a communication issue .

[david_dawei]

Let's remember, this is an American embassy... so a VO who cannot speak Chinese should not be a total surprise. IT seems to me that fewer translators are used than I can remember. Not sure if more beneficiaries are do the interview in english or more VOs know chinese.

 

With the new location and added VOs.. I suspect they brought in more biligual VOs..