Going to the interview with your honey.

[ghostrider]

Just trying to start some discussion here.

 

I was wondering if it helps to be with your wife/fiancee when they interview at the embassy.

 

At first, I didn't even have to think about it. I assumed that I would go into the embassy with her and at least show my face. I figured traveling all the way to China just for my wife's interview would show that our relationship was true and serious.

 

But then I found out from my wife (who's been talking to other girls on 001) that I wouldn't even be able to go into the embassy with her.

 

So, now I'm starting to worry.

 

I'm worried about this criteria for a "serious" relationship. I've noticed that most people provide phone records to show that they have an on-going, serious relationship. But I don't talk to my wife on the phone. That costs too much money.

 

I talk to my wife on webcam on Yahoo. And it's free. Also, I can see her when I talk to her, instead of just hearing her voice on the phone.

 

I'm a student and I don't have a lot of money to spend on phone calls or plane tickets to China every few months.

 

So, the $64,000 question is does being in China at the embassy (even if just hanging around outside) during her interview make any real difference?

 

Discuss!

[keelec]

Just trying to start some discussion here.

 

I was wondering if it helps to be with your wife/fiancee when they interview at the embassy.

 

At first, I didn't even have to think about it.  I assumed that I would go into the embassy with her and at least show my face.  I figured traveling all the way to China just for my wife's interview would show that our relationship was true and serious.

 

But then I found out from my wife (who's been talking to other girls on 001) that I wouldn't even be able to go into the embassy with her.

 

So, now I'm starting to worry. 

 

I'm worried about this criteria for a "serious" relationship.  I've noticed that most people provide phone records to show that they have an on-going, serious relationship.  But I don't talk to my wife on the phone.  That costs too much money.

 

I talk to my wife on webcam on Yahoo.  And it's free.  Also, I can see her when I talk to her, instead of just hearing her voice on the phone.

 

I'm a student and I don't have a lot of money to spend on phone calls or plane tickets to China every few months. 

 

So, the $64,000 question is does being in China at the embassy (even if just hanging around outside) during her interview make any real difference?

 

Discuss!

Ok, several things there.

 

Look for discount telephone services. www.bigzoo.com and www.onesuite.com both offer telephone services to China for about 2.4 cents a minute. Other services are available too.

 

However, perhaps webcams make that obsolete anyway.

 

Keep copies of E-Mails.

Perhaps also copies of online chats transcripts.

You should be able to build up quite a bit of information over the wait period.

 

As far as does going to China help.

 

No, you won't be allowed to go the the interview. However, you can make your presence know in other ways. Some men have sent their fienacees/wives to the interviews with passports, drivers licenses, etc to show that he is in fact there.

 

The likelihood of getting a pink & blue slip seems to increase significantly if you have only made a single trip to visit your fiancee or wife. It might be equally good to visit at the halfway point as a the end of the process. However, your fiancee or wife might need a little extra support for the interview, especially if something bad goes wrong.

 

I.E. If you can, go for the interview. If you can't, don't stress about it. It will probably be ok, and if it goes bad, you can jump on the plane and be with her when she heads back to the consulate to present the new requested evidence.

 

Afterall, she should be in the USA shortly after the interview, so perhaps it is not necessary to make a trip to visit just before she comes.

 

----- Clifford ------

[hypoclear]

if you are strapped for cash you can do the air courier flight for around $300.00 and if flexable maybe cheaper.

 

this might be a good way to be there for the interview or wait and save it if she doesn't make it the first time.

 

In the end you can only do what you can do and do your best.. than walk away and let the chips fall as they might. No need for either one of you to beat yopurself up about this.. heheh let the gov people do that for you..

soory I just could not resist!

 

Mark and Bea

 

Best of luck

[MoonCarolCafe]

AFAIK...

 

You CAN go with her inside the embassy. Use the secret handshake (show your passport) and in you go.

 

You can NOT go with her inside the interview room.

 

Does anyone know if smoking is allowed in the courtyard outside the embassy?

[dcact]

Hi,

 

Yes, you can smoke outside of the area that is roped off. It is the only area that they will let you go during the interview.

 

DCACT

[frank1538]

Does anyone know if smoking is allowed in the courtyard outside the embassy?

Remember, this is China. Outside the fenced offed area is ok.

 

As to the thread's main question, I am a firm believer that one's presence is helpful. As stated, you cannot go into the interview with the applicant, but you can make your presence known by giving the applicant your passport to take into the interview and make sure the VO sees it. Also, I went into the embassy the day before the interview to sign in, have a look and get some more pages added to my passport. Whether this helped is anyone's guess.

 

You can archieve your Yahoo chats and make sure the applicant brings copies to the interview. You can also take a video of the webcam sessions and bring this too. Phone records are good, and there are some cheap cards out there that will give you good details.

 

Also, build a paper trail with GZ. Make frequent inquires via e-mail asking about the status of the processing and document everything you can.

[keelec]

Also, build a paper trail with GZ.  Make frequent inquires via e-mail asking about the status of the processing and document everything you can.

I believe it is best to only make inquiries when you really need to. Let them have a rest.

 

I couldn't imagine writing every week to Moscow, only to get a message back every week telling me that my application was in "additional administrative processing"... There must be better use of my time as well as those people answering the e-mail.

 

I made enough inquiries elsewhere.... Look at all the 202 numbers on my phone bill

 

----- Clifford -----

[warpedbored]

Gotta weigh in here. Go to the interview. It is that important. I didn't go to Bings and I have regretted it since. She will need the emotional support, it makes a big difference to the VO and if something goes wrong you will be there to correct it right away saving your loved one another trip to GZ after waiting for you to scramble for a visa and plane tickets.

[kimnjake]

go if you can, (who wouldn't want to be there??) but if you can't- like i couldn't, then don't sweat it.......that is not a/the only determining factor....there are a lot of other issues(evidence) to worry more about than that.....get it all in order, keep it straight, and tell/encourage your girl/guy to have confidence!!! the can do fine with or without you!

[sylinchinastill]

This is where I think the importance of writing a letter comes in- if you are strapped for cash- write that in the letter- if you email- keep every email- have all the pictures from when you went to China- I think what Sam said on his post is right- having a ton of evidence- even in a folder if you don't use it- totally helps. If you can go then do- especially if you haven't had much time in China- but if not- be prepared.

[Dean Hall]

My personal opinion _ no offense to others who differ:

 

This is your Wife, your future, the rest of your life.

 

This final passage is one of the main events to the rest of your life.

I wouldn't have missed it for anything. And I can't imagine my wife making a 30 hour trip to America with limited english on her own.

 

After arriving here, she has to go through immigration, find her way to the airline in a huge terminal with only english signs and directions.

At this point your extremely tired, scared, and excited.

 

Before the interview - stay alone, or have your husband/fiance there reasuring you and coaching through the final hours.

 

When I was there, the interviewing officer knew I was there, and told my wife specifically that it did make a difference, as well as the number of times you had visited.

 

I made friends with the head security officer, (white consulate shirt) that walks around outside the ropped off area. He told me not to worry and escorted her inside to wait. (We were also early - 6:30. Early in early out - got the visa the same day (Mar 18/04)

The US citizen can go with the spouse until they go in the door. I went to the window with her to pick up the visa.

 

Will you be there for the birth of your child?

Will you be there for the baptism / christening ?

Will you be there when they get sworn in as US citizens ?

 

Will you be there for her visa interview?

 

Personal choice.

 

I worked 3 jobs for a year, but I was there, I'll never forget it, I'll never regret it.

 

Dean

[carhil24]

Hello all,

 

To this day I firmly believe that one of the determining factors in our having no problems with the interview, despite the fact that my wife (fiancee at that time) could not speak very much English at all during that time, was the fact that I was at the consulate, and she had my passport with her during the interview. We did not produce a video, and even though I can speak enough Chinese to communicate fairly well with her, I was not asked to prove so. The officer did ask her about her English, and she said that I could speak Chinese, and he asked how many times I had been to China, and she replied, "4, and he's outside waiting right now." The officer asked her, "He's outside right now?" She confirmed that, and he immediately approved the visa and began stamping the paperwork. At no time did he look at any other proof of our relationship, even though we brought everything we could think of, including emails, phone records, greeting cards, and I even think the kitchen sink was in there somewhere. And to weigh in on another question that I have seen posted here recently: we pre-purchased the round-trip tickets and we actually flew out of Guangzhou the next day at 6:30 pm, less than 2 hours after picking up the visa at 4:30 pm. Maybe we were very lucky, but I think that me being there not only helped convince the officer that our relationship was legit, but I think it went a long way in helping my wife not to be too nervous during the whole ordeal. Actually, I was the one pacing up and down that street the whole 3 hours that she was inside. And I had every intention of demanding to see somebody in charge if for some reason her visa was refused, or even delayed. After all, it is our consulate, and those employees do work for us, even though they tend to forget it sometimes. At any rate, I think it just helps solidify the proof of the relationship. I think it is important enough to do whatever is necessary to accompany your fiancee to the consulate, even if it means upon your return to America, that you both are eating pork and beans for a few months! And one more thing I would like to add to this discussion, I will never, ever forget the smile on my wife's face when she came out of the consulate with the approval slip in her hand. It was a priceless moment, and one that I will remember for the rest of my life, and well worth every penny I spent in making that trip over there. Years from now, the fact that I spent all of my savings to make those trips to China will mean nothing to me, but all of the memories of what we went through to be together will be forever in our hearts, creating a foundation of love that pales in comparison to whatever amount of money was spent. For those of you still in the process and waiting for your loved one, please remember that your journey does have an end, and even though it may seem hopeless at times, the day the visa is approved will be one of the happiest days of your lives. And I can truly say now, even though it was a nightmare at times during the process, I can look back with somewhat fond memories of that period, all of the phone calls, the emails, the visits, and the tears, and think, it was well worth it, and I would gladly do it all over again if necessary. And although my wife never goes onto this site, I just want to tell her that I love you very much, and you have made me the happiest man in the world! In fact, I need to go tell her that right now! Bye!

[ghostrider]

Well, it definitely seems to me that going with my Siegfried to the interview might help in regards to getting her visa approved.

 

I always knew that it would help her emotionally and whatnot. And, of course, I would want to be there just to support her.

 

The reason why this question came up in my situation is because I didn't know if she would get her visa right away or not.

 

Pleading poverty (and my school situation) again, I can't just hop on a plane and fly to China every few months.

 

So, I thought that I had to make a choice between being there for her interview or being there after she got her visa so we could fly back to America together.

 

Now I understand that she can get her visa (if approved) right away or within a very short period of time.

 

So, I should just plan on being there for her interview and coming back to America with her.

 

That's a nice thought.

[cqhk]

Prior to me finding CFL, we discussed if I would go when she has her interview. At that time we decided I wouldn't go. After finding CFL and following different posts/story lines, we decided I better go. We've known each other for almost four years now, but who knows what can happen at the interview. Carl and Bing's encounter with the interview sealed it for us. I've spoken to my employer already, they know once she gets the interview date I'll be making plans to be with her. My employer is very supportive of my decision to be with her. I'm lucky to work for a great person.

 

So I'll definitely be there. Just have to wait our turn.

[cosmiclobster]

Carhil24: Very well said !!

I was planning to go anyway, but after reading your post, I'll be waiting with my camera poised to get that first smile as she emerges with her approval.

Thanks for your post!