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In light of the new insipid changes...

Are you guys going to go over for the exit interview now?

Before, it was a slam dunk... of course I was going over.

Now, we are talking about (as I understand it) a trip to Warsaw for the interview, then back home while we wait for the visa, and then back again to fly home with them?

I am not sure if I can get all of the time off of work -- let alone the extra burden of another $1000 plane ticket...

I hear that it makes a big difference to have the man there for the interview...

But if you only have one plane ticket you can get... which will you choose?

... in response to Question for those waiting for exit inte..., posted by MarkInTx on Aug 6, 2002

If you can only afford the time and money for a single trip, I would attend the exit interview.  I think that the potential for something going wrong at the embassy is higher.  Also, your emotional support is important, and as a bonus Warsaw is an interesting city to visit.

Dan

... in response to Question for those waiting for exit inte..., posted by MarkInTx on Aug 6, 2002

As recounted some time ago on this board - when I went to the interview in Warsaw with Olya, we had quite an unpleasant surprise.

* Wait around for several hours till they call her name.
* She approaches the window and I arrive a few moments later to hear the interviewer (a young man in his late-20's) - looking down at Olya's papers - asking her if she spoke English and before she had the chance to answer - telling her that the interview would be conducted in English because in his opinion, "All couples must be able to communicate."
* Upon hearing this, I spoke up and told him (to his surprise and a startled look) that he really *should* conduct the interview in Russian because Olya will understand and respond more clearly - and I will be able to follow as well, since I too, speak Russian.
* He then proceeded to start the interview (entirely in English) and directed nearly all his questions AT ME.
* He asked about how we met, my work in Ukraine, how I found the particular industrial sector I was work in, did I know the ACC President, etc.
* Those few questions he posed to Olya - I interpreted into Russian - she answered, and I fed the answers back to the guy.

You see, I don't think the guy knew Russian, but could not admit it. This is the reason for his insistence on conducting the interview in English - and he never uttered a peep during my translations. The translations were good - and if he knew Russian he would have known that - but I strongly suspect he just didn't have any command of the Russian language and therefore, couldn't have challenged me anyway.

Obviously it did not lead to any insurmountable problems - but I came away convinced that if I had not been present, we would have had the probability of a rejection based on this guy's questioning style.

I have heard of one other poster that probably endured this same interviewer (judging by description) and they too were grilled pretty good, but were ultimately successful.

I am glad I was present - and would make the same decision again.

- Dan

... in response to Question for those waiting for exit inte..., posted by MarkInTx on Aug 6, 2002

Well, I have spoken to many men who did not go to the interview and things went just fine for their girls, many saying their interview lasted all of 10 minutes..

I talked to my girl about it and she said "I'm a big girl and I can do it myself, it's not a problem, it's waste of money for you to come for only one day!  Gotta love her! LOL!

Oscar

... in response to Question for those waiting for exit inte..., posted by MarkInTx on Aug 6, 2002

Mark, if the man is present it is usually a 10-15 minute process, ask a few questions and it's a slam dunk.

If the man is not present it is a 15-25 minute process, ask several more questions and if the K-1 is filed in good faith, meaning legit, she will have no problem.

I think the number of guys going to be with there lady during the interview is going to drop dramatically! If you go now Mark you do not know if you will have to wait 4 days, 15 days, 3 weeks, before the visa is given.

There were a few couples who received visa's the same day and the next day (August 1st and 2nd) but as I understand now there will be no more same or next day visa's granted. I know of a lady who went to her interview in Moscow on Friday and she was told to call back in a week, but an Embassy person told her un-offically she should have the visa in about 10 days.

... in response to Re: Question for those waiting for exit ..., posted by Jack on Aug 6, 2002

I'm thinking of going for the interview.

It is also a chance to see each other again...

I wish I knew if it were only going to be four days or so... Because four days we could wait out.

But if it's going to be 45 days, then she will have to go back home. If she has to go back home, then there is no sense in her taking her son to the exit interview (is there?)

... in response to That's a problem!, posted by MarkInTx on Aug 6, 2002

I am not sure about warsaw, but my wife tells me it was required for her to bring her child to the interview in Moscow. The interviewer even asked my stepson about his name and his age.

My two bits today...

... in response to Re: That's a problem!, posted by Apk1 on Aug 6, 2002

I'm almost certain that it is NOT required in Warsaw but you had better check. Also check out my "things to consider" post below.

Too bad there is not an interpreter/escort service available to go with your fiancee. I'm sure that guys would be glad to shell out a couple hundred bucks to be sure that their ladies got to Warsaw and back safely (and help out with the interview).

Hey Jack, any thoughts of offering this service?

... in response to Re: That's a problem!, posted by Rags on Aug 7, 2002

Not to be a stick in the mud, just passing on facts...

This is a direct quote from the US EMBASSY web page re: fiance k-1 visa:

All children of an alien classified K-1 must be listed on the K visa petition. Failure to do so will cause a delay in visa issuance.  The children (under 21 years old and unmarried) also must be at the interview. The child of a K-1 principal alien may be accorded K-2 status if following to join the principal alien to the U.S. even after the principal alien has married the American citizen Petitioner, and acquired lawful permanent resident status. The cut-off date for issuance of a K-2 visa is 1 year from the date of the issuance of the K-1 visa to the principal alien. After 1 year, and provided that the alien qualifies, the filing of an immediate relative or second preference immigrant visa petition would be required.

... in response to Embassy rules re: children, posted by Apk1 on Aug 7, 2002

according to the US web page from the Warsaw Consulate-  The link is below.
Like I have said, it's like dealing with the IRS, nobody can truly give you a definitive answer on just about any of it!!!!

"Minor children under 14 do not need to attend the interview. We open at 8:00 a.m. and we accept cases until 10:00 a.m. We do not assign individual appointment times. The Embassy's address is Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw."

http://www.usinfo.pl/consular/iv/fiance.htm#Fifth Step - Interview

Oscar

... in response to Children under 14 do NOT need to attend ..., posted by Oscar on Aug 7, 2002

I think you and Mark and all got into a pissing contest with someone a while back, and you know, they were correct.  (Maybe it was Dan? and maybe it wasn't even Mark... Not sure).

Maybe Warsaw does not require the child to be at the interview for a woman that has to go through the embassy there, but in MOSCOW, it DOES!

This is why it is important to be sure that you disclose details in your post, ie, "This pertains to fiance's from the Ukraine" or whatever... Simply posting that warsaw don't want'em or need'em can be misleading to some dummies, (including me previously), and can really make mountains out of molehills for some folks, and could lead to some serious complications.

Just be careful what you sign off on as absolute info, if you wanna give it, try to clarify the exact details in your post.  I know you're a one man army and I for one am really looking forward to see the results of your efforts with your K1, (I followed your list etc, but not all of your same procedures), however, ya might want to be sure that some fool from takhinastan don't read this and think he don't need the kid there.  Some guys will actually go into this thinking that the fsu is like the usa.. and everything applies everywhere.

It just don't.

Talk to you soon.

... in response to Oscar.., posted by BrianN on Aug 8, 2002

Brian,  I said this was from the "Warsaw" consulate web site.  I also said that there seems to be differing info depending on where you look, like with the IRS.  So I do not think I was saying "it is this way or the highway".

... in response to Re: Oscar.., posted by Oscar on Aug 8, 2002

never mind.  Oh not... In your subject line you said no kids were required...  check again... you didn't qualify anything in your response.

... in response to Re: Re: Oscar.., posted by BrianN on Aug 8, 2002

Brian- Give it a rest ok?

In my post I said, quote-

Children under 14 do NOT need to attend interview ACCORDING TO THE US WEB PAGE FROM THE WARSAW CONSULATE- The link is below. (I posted the LINK for anyone who wished to check it, could do so!)
Like I have said, it's like dealing with the IRS, NOBODY can truly give you a DEFINITIVE answer on just about any of it!!!!

I think it was a perfectly responsible post and I stand by it.  It was not posting misleading information in any way.  It seems to me you are looking to cause a problem where none exists Brian.  Have no idea why..  

Oscar

... in response to Re: That's a problem!, posted by Rags on Aug 7, 2002

We done this about a half dozen times. Once the lady get's to Kiev we have escorted ladies to Warsaw and back to Kiev.

... in response to Rags, posted by Jack on Aug 7, 2002


Well why don't you speak up? I'm sure that there are guys interested in making sure that their fiancee gets to Warsaw and back SAFELY. With the delays in getting a visa issued I would think that this is truely the best option rather than staying over there for an indeterminate amount of time after the interview. I know if V hadn't had a friend to go with her to Warsaw that I would have approached you to find someone to escort her there and back.

Maybe you are being too modest as to services that you can provide but guys should know that if you can't get it done for them, you know someone who can!

... in response to Re: Escort to Warsaw and back, posted by Rags on Aug 8, 2002

Rags, at one time I did mention it on the website, as well I have mentioned it before on the P-L board that we have escorted ladies to Warsaw for there fiancee visa. But you are correct, I probably should, and will, indicate this as a service we can provide.

... in response to That's a problem!, posted by MarkInTx on Aug 6, 2002

What if she goes to Warsaw without her child and there is a problem with the child's medical papers?

... in response to That's a problem!, posted by MarkInTx on Aug 6, 2002

I think you just have to wait and see how long it is taking the ladies to get there visa's after interview when your lady goes for her interview. It would be wonderful if it were 4 days, but I would not bet on it as I think the time of wait is going to get longer, not shorter for the time being. So if it is going to be any length of time then I could not see her taking her child to the interview.

... in response to Question for those waiting for exit inte..., posted by MarkInTx on Aug 6, 2002

Was gonna, (even though she kept telling me its a waste of money she can handle it..) now, there is going to be extra money needed for an extended stay in moscow. (She lives in VLAD and there is no way she is going to fly back for a month and back again.. may as well stay) so I guess that is where the money is going to go. Its really a bummer.

dex