Visa interview questions?

judgeschmails says on Jul 1, 2009, 08:31:

I have heard they will ask if you use condoms. It seems to catch alot of people.
But they are pretty good at telling if you are really married. You are Ok it seems.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jul 1, 2009, 08:49:

Based on my interview experience I wouldn't sweat it. It really was a non event. I would suspect if you have bothered to show up you will have no problems. The truth works. If you don't know...say, "I don't know!"

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mranderson says on Jul 1, 2009, 09:41:

That´s what I thought. I mean hell, I don´t even know my address...well the official address. lol

I can see an argument ensuing with my wife during the interview about the questions and how I always forget numbers and dates.

When was our first date? Who the hell knows?? Well she does..

When she went to bogota for the medical exams she met a guy there who was going through the process too (except with his gf, not wife). She called him this morning and he was denied so now she is freaked out about the interview questions.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jul 1, 2009, 11:31:

you will only be expected to know what takes place as the result of a normal relationship. Favoriate food was one of our question as was name of a pet.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 1, 2009, 11:59:

I would expect you to know her full name and her mum's name.
And your own name. "I don't know" won't be a good answer.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

guacharaca says on Jul 1, 2009, 11:59:

"I can see an argument ensuing with my wife during the interview about the questions and how I always forget numbers and dates."

That's perfect. Just have an arguement in front of the interviewer and the interviewer will then be certain that your marriage is not fake.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

3 funny, 0 helpful.

mranderson says on Jul 1, 2009, 12:02:

Is the interview together or will we be seperated like an interrogation?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

muchacho_escondido says on Jul 1, 2009, 12:13:

I actually went to Bogota for my then wife-to-be's fiancee visa interview.

However, they almost didn't ask anything other than when we met and where I worked. Perhaps the fact that I went there myself was proof enough of the nature of our relationship...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 1, 2009, 12:40:

scumbuster says on Jul 1, 2009, 13:11:

When we had ours they only wanted my wife to interview first, then after about 5 minutes they called me to join and asked me 2 questions to check my wife’s answers.. Where I worked and what my job consisted of. Guess they were satisfied after only that. Most of the morning was just sitting and waiting.

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jul 1, 2009, 13:15:

Mr Anderson,

You will be in a general waiting area. Your name will be called. You will go to a thick bullet proof window and pick up a phone. Think prison visit scene. In my case I took charge and strode up to the phone and answered. I was told to put my wife on the line.

Two minutes later we were done. I asked my wife what transpired and she replied

Is that him?

Where did you meet?

Does he have children?

Very short mundane questions. Then the consular officer proceed to (somehow) toss out all the extraneous material that we had included in the folder as evidence of relationship. It is a case of less is more actually.

You see; if you include 10,000 e-mails as you evidence of a relationship, by the CFR they have to read ALL of them. So bring everything including the kitchen sink if you want; but, only include exactly what they ask for.

At least the conoff was nice enough to return our unneeded photos.

Now if they are suspicious for what ever reason all bets are off.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jul 1, 2009, 20:25:

They didn't ask us anything. All the interviewer wanted to do was see her three kids and match them up with their names. I guess she figured any gringo stupid enough to marry a widow with three kids had to be legit.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

1 funny, 0 helpful.

christobeldawg says on Jul 1, 2009, 20:31:

any opinions, from those who have been through it, on whether or not it is important for the guy from the US to be there, for the interview? Pros and cons...?

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jul 1, 2009, 20:32:

You have to ask?? If nothing else except moral support but no you are not required to be there.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

christobeldawg says on Jul 1, 2009, 20:42:

Well, I can assure everyone that they will not separate the two, and ask about panty colors. It's not the Newlywed Game, unless one of the interviewers is really so bored with his job that heshe decides to have a little fun with it, at the guests' expense.

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

1 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jul 1, 2009, 21:13:

ROTFLMAO

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 1, 2009, 22:28:

Gator says on Jul 1, 2009, 22:45:

my sentiments exactly

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

christobeldawg says on Jul 1, 2009, 22:57:

ok, got it, but then ya gotta consider the price for an additional trip, and how in the world to schedule the flights, since one is not sure when or if the visa is released. and, if the north american doesn't really need to be there, and since he will be seeing her in a few days after the interview, if successful, why go there? I mean, ya can't schedule flights for both, if ya don't even know if, or when, the lady will get the visa in hand.

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Shortiao says on Jul 1, 2009, 23:46:

curious....The FCO only asked us for proof that we'd been living together as a couple for 2 years. Mortgage, bank statements etc etc.

I wish i'd gone to the emabassy in Bogota when she applied for the fiancee visa and it was deferred.

Despite a shit load of proof - they wanted 'more'...so in the end we just forged a load of stuff.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jul 2, 2009, 04:17:

Shortiago,

Not a great idea if applying with USCIS. Supplying false information on an application is one of the few offences that will get you rejected or even deported ten years after the fact. To then post that you did so on the internet?

Perhaps it is okay with Colombian immigrations.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Corey3368 says on Jul 2, 2009, 09:12:

Go to the following link http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Colombia&page=1&dfil.... These are person's experience at the Embassy in Bogota. You can find some great information there. I think you should prepare yourself and you wife for any and all questions that might be asked. Even if not needed you and your wife will feel extremely confident at the interview. This will no doubt ease any nervousness the two of you might be feeling. Better to be over-prepared then under.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 2, 2009, 10:26:

Shortiao says on Jul 2, 2009, 13:11:

Not a great idea if applying with USCIS. Supplying false information on an application is one of the few offences that will get you rejected or even deported ten years after the fact. To then post that you did so on the internet?


**************************

I guess the FCO will be hot on the case for someone called 'Shortiao' now.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

0 funny, 0 helpful.

muchacho_escondido says on Jul 2, 2009, 13:25:

>any opinions, from those who have been through it, on whether or not it is important for the guy from the US to be there, for the interview? Pros and cons...?

We were getting a fiencee visa (know nothing about marriage ones).

Theoretically my presence wasn't required but right around the time of the interview I read a couple of horror stories from neighboring Latin American countries where the interviewer would decline the visa and ask the woman to bring the man (for an interview to be scheduled months later). I panicked and went to Bogota on a short notice...

I don't know the background of those horror stories, perhaps there was a huge age difference or something...but I didn't want to risk it and went. I don't regret that for a second-- good experience in my life.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jul 2, 2009, 13:31:

In my case I wanted to be there to comfort my wife if she was rejected and to celebrate if sucessful. We flew home the afternoon of the interview.

Everyone's case is individual. If you have done your homework you have a pretty good idea of the possibilities of rejection. In my case I had waiver already filled out in my brief case and was prepared to file it on the spot.

It is very similar to the argument of whether a K-3 is better than a K-1.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

muchacho_escondido says on Jul 2, 2009, 13:52:

>We flew home the afternoon of the interview.

That's great, but people should be aware that they don't give visas right in the embassy anymore. They are shipped with DOMESA and that takes several days. Therefore, it only makes sense to buy the ticket when the lady has the physical visa.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 2, 2009, 15:57:

Shortiao says on Jul 2, 2009, 23:41:

The FCO, indeed all government agencies are notorious bullshitters, they wouldn't expect anything less that a few embellishments.



I think the Embassy deferred her visa because they WANTED some forged info. Applications probably don't look the same without a bit of computer magic.

funnily enough - MI5 called last night looking for 'Shortiao'. I said he was out buying a packet of fags. Not sure I can hold them of much longer though.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jul 3, 2009, 06:46:

CG I am not surprised that things have changed. Hell immigrations changed their name three times during the course of my ordeal. They also changed DCF policy 11 days prior to my wedding date. Incidentally, it was also official policy that they weren't issued same day when we filed. I just asked and was granted a request.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jul 3, 2009, 07:30:

They didn't ask me a single question. Only told me to put "her" on the phone. Congratulations on the azul pasaporte!

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mranderson says on Jul 7, 2009, 18:59:

Quick update:

Had our interview appointment yesterday. It was for 7am but we spent all morning and part of the afternoon waiting.

First we had to wait in line and they gave us a folder with instructions on what to put inside. Then we waited until they called my wife. She went up to a window (not an american consular) and gave the woman the folder. She asked my wife who the names were that were on the forms (my sister´s and mother´s names were on them). Then we had to pay 400 usd and wait again.

They finally called her early in the afternoon so we both went up to the window. The consular asked my wife to sign something then immediately asked to speak to me. She didn´t ask my wife a single question.

She asked me 5 questions. Where did I meet her? How long have I lived with her? When did we get married? Why did I come to colombia? Why am I going to the states? I gave her short simple answers and that was it. She never asked for any proof of our relationship and she was very nice the whole time (2 minutes).

Visa approved.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jul 7, 2009, 19:01:

Pretty typical.Thanks for the update. Congratulations!

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Papi de Alejo says on Jul 7, 2009, 19:48:

Congratulations mra!

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mranderson says on Jul 7, 2009, 20:40:

Thanks guys. Azunoman I´ll give you a call tomorrow.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

christobeldawg says on Jul 7, 2009, 20:44:

congratulations, and best of luck, Mranderson

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 7, 2009, 20:55: