K1 Fiance(e) Interview — Attend or Don’t Attend?
Part of the K1 visa process in almost all countries that Americans sponsors from is a formal interview conducted by the US State Department facility that has responsibility for that country.
Most often it is the US Embassy for the spouse-to-be’s home country.
A question many sponsors have id should I make a trip back to his/her home country to attend the interview with my fiance(e)? My quick answer is, no … but there are times you may feel you must, so let me give you a few of the pros and cos so that will help you make an informed decision.
Attend Interview Pros:
- S/he will get a warm fuzzy, knowing you care and want to help him/her over the tough spots
- There may be occasions when your presence before the interview can be a big help in getting last minute updates and organization for the paperwork required for the visa.
- According to a few people I have helped with this process, their presence seemed to help the flow of the interview.
- You do get a vacation from your regular cares and a chance to be with your intended and his/her family again before the big day that the visa comes through and they have to say goodbye to home, hearth and friends.
Attend Interview Cons:
- The US State Department does not care about you and the interview is not for or about you ,,, or the pair of you as a couple. The interview is designed to allow the Consular Officer to make a judgement on the truthfulness, suitability and background of the spouse-to-be to begin the process of becoming a US citizen or long-term permanent resident.
- Attendance at the interview is strictly up to the individual Consular Officer. S/he may allow you to sit in, may allow you to sit outside and say or do nothing or even instruct you to leave the building. It has happened, believe me.
- At any interview it is perfectly normal to worry about saying the wrong thing’. The Consular Officer deals with prospective new spouses day in and day out. S/he will take their natural nervousness and confusion into account. If you are there and are allowed to participate you have just doubled the chance that something may be said that can be misconstrued as something negative. I don’t think it is worth the substantial expense to take that risk.
- Your intended is going to have to go through things more formidable than a simple office interview more than once in your life together. Why not build his/her confidence by navigating this step on their own rather than running in to take charge in something you really can not control?
And as a final thought … it would be a much better expenditure of time and money to go for a visit after long-awaited visa gets issued, spend time with the spouse-to-be’s parents and friends and then be a helper and companion on the likely long and tiring flight back home.
In the end, it’s certainly up to you, but think the process through carefully before you decide.
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