Settlement Visa Questions - Your Experiences

[qpgwmh]

My fiancee and I have seen the lists of possible interview questions that she may be asked and we're confident that there's nothing there that will cause us any problems. I'm posting to ask about your own, or your partner's own, experiences in the (full) interview. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated: length of interview; difficult questions; why you were refused; line of questioning (prepared questions or questions arising from answers given?) etc.

Thanks!

[the scouser]

An interview is liquid. The ECO will go in with an idea of the line of questioning to be taken, and additional questions can then arise from the answers given.

The art of being a good interviewer, i.e. to elicit the most from the applicant, is to ask "open" questions. They shouldn't ask questions which prompt yes/no answers, but those which require some additional info to be given up.

All the best,

Scouse.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Dress smart (both of you), but don't go in with your partner - let her go in by herself.

[GU22]

As Scouse says, the interview is fluid and there is no hard rule on what questions will be asked. Initial questions will be based on the written evidence and any subsequent questions on her replies.

Don't worry, though. The questions are designed to confirm the documentary evidence, fill in any gaps not covered by the documents or explain any inconsistencies between the documents and her previous answers. As long as she tells the truth and doesn't try to hide anything she will be fine.

Dress smart (both of you), but don't go in with your partner - let her go in by herself.

The UK immigration rules mean that sponsors are not allowed in the interview. Should the ECO need to speak to the sponsor then they will do so separately. Edited March 30, 2006 by GU22

[qpgwmh]

Thanks for your help with this. I'm worrying myself silly when it really seems that we should have nothing to worry about. I guess I'm just worried that she'll get an ECO that doesn't like the look of her or is having a bad day - something like that.

Oh, and one last thing: my financial situation isn't great. We included a lot of info to show that we'd have no problems living and that we wouldn't need to rely on public funds BUT I'm wondering whether the fact that she has been given an interview means that the Embassy is happy with this, or whether she can still get a refusal for financial reasons?

So much riding on a 'yes' - I'm going to have to crack open a Singha beer and de-stress!

[qpgwmh]

And Scouser, I see your ID picture(?) has changed so I guess congratulations are in order!

There's not much in this world that can better Gerrard lifting the European Cup!

[the scouser]

And Scouser, I see your ID picture(?) has changed so I guess congratulations are in order!

There's not much in this world that can better Gerrard lifting the European Cup!

Thanks. Here's a photo, for comparative purposes, of the trophies currently held by Liverpool and Manchester United:-

[Rj 81]

I wondered how long that would take to get on this board!