Visa Interview

[magic]

My Thai GF has an interview at the embassy tomorrow...

just wondering if I should be accompanying her during the interview or lag back in the waiting area, being available if needed..

Do they want to talk to her alone at first? Maybe they do not want to talk with me..

[Lite Beer]

My Thai GF has an interview at the embassy tomorrow...

just wondering if I should be accompanying her during the interview or lag back in the waiting area, being available if needed..

Do they want to talk to her alone at first? Maybe they do not want to talk with me..

They will interview her alone.

[roygsd]

My Thai GF has an interview at the embassy tomorrow...

just wondering if I should be accompanying her during the interview or lag back in the waiting area, being available if needed..

Do they want to talk to her alone at first? Maybe they do not want to talk with me..

Hi,

lite beer's advice is correct, think about it, you are not the person applying for the visa so you have no part to play in the interview.

Having said that I think it is very important for you to be present on the day if only to give your g/f moral support.

You do not mention what type of visa she is applying for so it is difficut to predict the likley outcome of the interview,

best of luck

roy gsd

[magic]

My Thai GF has an interview at the embassy tomorrow...

just wondering if I should be accompanying her during the interview or lag back in the waiting area, being available if needed..

Do they want to talk to her alone at first? Maybe they do not want to talk with me..

Hi,

lite beer's advice is correct, think about it, you are not the person applying for the visa so you have no part to play in the interview.

Having said that I think it is very important for you to be present on the day if only to give your g/f moral support.

You do not mention what type of visa she is applying for so it is difficut to predict the likley outcome of the interview,

best of luck

roy gsd

Going for a Tourist Visa..

Had a previous post with more details about this too:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Us-Visitor-Visa-t210167.htmlPrevious details

[Thanyaburi Mac]

My Thai GF has an interview at the embassy tomorrow...

just wondering if I should be accompanying her during the interview or lag back in the waiting area, being available if needed..

Do they want to talk to her alone at first? Maybe they do not want to talk with me..

Hi,

lite beer's advice is correct, think about it, you are not the person applying for the visa so you have no part to play in the interview.

Having said that I think it is very important for you to be present on the day if only to give your g/f moral support.

You do not mention what type of visa she is applying for so it is difficut to predict the likley outcome of the interview,

best of luck

roy gsd

The U.S. "sponsor" not a part of the interview? If, of course, she's applying for a U.S. tourist visa.

Last time my wife went in for a new 10-year visa, spring of 2006, the ConOff only talked to me? Wanted to assure himself that I/we were planning to return to the LoS, not jump ship and apply for an Adjustment of Status while in the U.S. About the only thing he looked at was my eight year record, at that time, of continual Non-O retirement extensions, altho we did mention that we own our own house and have kids remaining here. BTW, he didn't ask for verification of this latter, tambien ban, chanotes, etc.

Yes, I'd be there for sure just in case the ConOff wants to speak to you.

After the interview could you please comment on:

-- Have they rearranged the waiting room now so only the applicant can get in? I've not been down there to take a looksee for a couple years?

-- When her number comes up, at least when my wife's did, I walked up to the interview window with her. If you are allowed to do so, were you allowed to stick around or were you told to go sit down?

-- Suggest you let your gal take your passport with her to the window with the visa pages flagged. If so, did the ConOff look at them?

Any other comments would be welcome.

Mac

[keg]

Yes they still let you into the waiting room with her but interview conducted alone. While we were waiting for the interview they came around and asked that I not accompany her to the window as she had to complete the interview alone.

She had my passport and they absolutely wanted to see that, but maybe copies of the pages would work.

Keg

[DocJD]

Most recently, I turned up for my girlfriend's interview appointment to offer emotional support. Like quite a few of the girls applying for a visa, she gets very nervous and is likely to cry if rejected. When I arrived at the US embassy, I was politely told "Sorry, but you have to wait ouside of the Embassy. It's a matter of policy."

[DirectorIntegrityLegal]

Very likely, they will not want to talk to the US Citizen sponsor at the interview, although they might, which is why it may be best to simply to accompany her, but wait in the wings while she does her interview. As far as being told to not enter Embassy property, I've never been told that and I go down there quite a bit.

Best of Luck,

Ben Hart

Managing Director

Integrity Legal

WWW.INTEGRITY-LEGAL.COM

[DocJD]

I was a bit surprised when I was asked to leave, because I have been called up to the interview window in the past.

Regardless, after you get into the compound, there are young women wearing red shirts at the 'triage' desk right before you get into the building. I originally blew right past them, but they eventually caught up with me and told me I couldn't stay. New policy or mis-informed staff?

Very likely, they will not want to talk to the US Citizen sponsor at the interview, although they might, which is why it may be best to simply to accompany her, but wait in the wings while she does her interview. As far as being told to not enter Embassy property, I've never been told that and I go down there quite a bit.

Best of Luck,

Ben Hart

Managing Director

Integrity Legal

WWW.INTEGRITY-LEGAL.COM

[SaigonDaze]

If you're wife/and you have everything in order and it's all legit, you don't need to be there (other than to celebrate outside when they are approved). I doubt they will ask you to come in and explain things (but I guess they could?).

[dingdongrb]

Sorry to disagree with some of the responses here but when I got my wife to the USA on the K1 Fiance visa back in 2003/2004 (?) we went to the USA embassy in BKK together. We didn't go into any type of room for the interview, we were called to one of the windows. After the Immigration officer spoke to both my wife and I for just a brief few minutes describing the process to us he told me to take a seat, which I did.

He then spoke to my wife (in fluent Thai) through the window while I was seated far enough away not to hear. He spoke to her for about 5 or 10 minutes. My wife then came to where I was sitting and told me that he wanted me to now go to the window. I approached the window and he was very polite and asked me about 6 or 7 questions. These questions, if I recall were:

1) Where and when did I meet my wife.

2) Had I met my wife's family.

3) How often have I visited LOS and how much of this time was with my wife while I was there.

4) Where did my wife's sister live.

5) What type of work did my wife's sister do.

6) What is the name of the company I work for and what type of business where they in.

7) What hotel was I currently staying at and what was the room number.

After I answered his questions he told me to take a seat next to my wife. About 5 minutes later he called us both up to the window and let us know that he was granting my wife the K1 visa and we needed to be back the next day between such and such time to pick it up. We were elated as over a year had been by since we first began the process. Likewise there were about 12 other Thai girls there that day going through the same process. Only 2 others had their significant others with them. My wife and only three other girls were granted the visa for that day. Two of the other three were with their sponsored boyfriends.

After the process was over we immediately went outside and aggressively hugged and held each other over our happiness. When we settled down we asked each other what the immigration officer had asked each of us when we were separately at the window. Surprise...... We were both asked the same questions. It was his way to know how much we actually knew about each other, each other's lives, and how much time we spent together. They are reluctant to give visas to the 'fly by night' relationships where meeting your teeluk happened just last week at the bar or at the Internet dating sites.

I say, go with your lady to the interview, if things have changed then possibly they may have you wait outside. But in my personal case I am glad I made the effort to be by her side especially when I feel it did make a difference.

Choke Dee!!!!

[DirectorIntegrityLegal]

DocJD, as far as being told you cannot be there. Probably misinformed staff, but they might just leave me alone because they know I'm an Immigration Attorney. At the same time, its US Government property, they can't bar you from being there unless you are causing a disturbance so I don't know where this is coming from.

Overall, I think that it can't hurt to have a husband or fiancee present at the Embassy for the interview, although its very likely that they may not even speak to the US Citizen.

(Prepare for Shameless Plug) For those US Citizens with a Thai fiancee interviewing at the US Embassy in Bangkok who cannot be there to assist, we offer the service of escorting them to the Embassy and dealing with the Consular officials should they need more information, example: 221 (g) requests. Basically I act as a surrogate and since I'm a US Attorney, unlike a "visa agent," they will be more willing to deal with me.

Best of Luck,

Ben Hart

Managing Director

Integrity Legal: US Visas from Thailand

[DocJD]

(The following was sent to my inbox when I requested clearification on the policy in question):

"Only the visa applicants themselves are allowed inside the Embassy for the visa interview.

Thank you,

Visa Unit"

DocJD, as far as being told you cannot be there. Probably misinformed staff, but they might just leave me alone because they know I'm an Immigration Attorney.

dingdongrb,

I had a similar experience 2 years ago. That is, I was called to the interview window to answer some dually posed questions to verify my relationship with my girlfriend. And thes was for a simple tourist visa, not a fiance visa. I think being present at the embassy really helped my girlfriend's chances of visa approval.

Edited November 19, 2008 by DocJD