Fiance visa interview

We are getting read to apply for the Fiance visa at the New York office. My fiance (UK citizen) would like to do the interview. He's not too keen about being without his passport for any length of time. (We are also, a little worried about him mailing his passport to the US to me or me taking it back with me to the US - I'm currently visiting him in the UK).

My question is......I make the appointment for the interview at the NY office can he attend the interview with me as well?

The web site says...."When completing the request form ensure that you complete all fields. Your name and passport details will be checked on arrival by the security team. The security team has been instructed to deny entry to anyone whose details differ from the appointment list."

The form askes for last name, first name, and passport number, but there only appears to be for 1 person. If I put my details in, and we get there, will security let him in as well to attend the interview?

Any insights?

It is unusual for the entry clearance officer to allow the sponsor to sit in on the interview, but if you let him know that your sponsor is sitting outside he may well ask him in if he has any questions for him.  Security are likely to let him in - there is probably a waiting area for sponsors and relatives.

He shouldn't post his passport overseas - this is a bad idea.  You should take a copy of his passport with you to the interview, ideally a notorised copy.  He doesn't have to attend the office with you, and it won't count against you at all if he stays in the UK.

Victoria

My husband got to go in with me to the Chicago consulate when I applied for my spousal visa.  The appointment was made in my name and they let us both go up. He also went with me to the window when my number was called. I didn't sit down for an interview though. There was an issue with me being denied entry once so I didn't get my visa until the next day. So, they took my binder off me and reviewed on their own. But the woman handling my case spoke to us both when we came in that day and the next day. It didn't seem to bother her that he was there.

Do you actually have an interview?

When my husband (US) and I (UK) went to New York to get our spousal visa we just went to a window and presented all our paper work at this counter. We went in together, no one said anything and I was the one who did all the talking to the lady at the window, even though it was my husbands visa....no one batted an eyelid.

Ahhhh...i see that Michelle just covered that....my typing must be slow lol

Just wanted to add that all the staff at the NY embassy were really nice and friendly 

Do you actually have an interview?

I think it depends on your case. When I first arrived the woman told me that because I'd been denied entry to the UK I'd have to sit down for an interview with a senior officer. But, she didn't realize the stamp had been ammended and I had been let into the UK a month and a half later. She thought I'd never actually entered the UK. When I pointed that out, it seemed to change everything....she told me they'd call up the airport to get my information and then give me a call.

It seems as though there is no sit-down interview if there are no real issues with your case. But, I'm not sure.

The only times I've seen or heard about sit down interviews is for asylum seekers or for mail order brides from like Taiwan.
Like a lot of people probably, before my appointment at the embassay, I imagined this building with differant cubicles and offices and each person had to go in  and have a one on one interview at a desk to get the visa. But it was simply waiting in line like at a bank, I was surprised when it was much easier then a trip to the DMV office lol

Just wanted to add that all the staff at the NY embassy were really nice and friendly

I'll second that - they were wonderful to me and my kids.

and I'll third that. Everyone there even the security guards were so kind and friendly. Before that appointment I pictured them as these mean non-visa giving people. I was so wrong

Interviews can happen, but it is unusual for US nationals with no previous problems.  It is not just the 'mail-order brides' who have interviews though - my friend who applied through Romania, having been with her boyfriend for 4 years had to have one.


Victoria

Thanks for all the replies! I definitely feel better now and more reassured. We just felt going through the interview would be better for us. (on top of him not wanting to be without his passport - but now we know we can use a notarized photo copy of his if he doesn't go  ).

We mainly feel the interview would be better because of my last entry into the UK, I was denied entry, but allowed a temporary stay of 5 weeks which is my return ticket. I was denied because they felt I was coming to get married, when I was really coming in for a visit, but was hoping for the engagement in that visit. But because I was honest had said that, and had said we both knew in the end (a year or so down the road) we would be married, I was denied entry as a visitor. I was told to come back with fiance visa, even though we had no intentions of being married in that visit nor in the next 6 months, and that I would not be allowed back in as a visitor.

We didn't have intentions of being married until end of 2006, but since the visit entry was denied we are now moving up the wedding, and are now officially engaged. We were also told by Home Office for me to come in as a visitor since we have no intentions of being married in 6 months or on that visit. Well, now all that has changed.

I know my fiance would feel better being there at the interview, as would I, in case there are any problems due to the denied entry.

Thanks for all the wonderful and helpful replies!

Let me clarify, we don't actually have an interview as of yet.......we are thinking of making an appointment for the application, I do not know if this is the same as an interview as such.

Thanks for all the replies! I definitely feel better now and more reassured. We just felt going through the interview would be better for us. (on top of him not wanting to be without his passport - but now we know we can use a notarized photo copy of his if he doesn't go  ).

We mainly feel the interview would be better because of my last entry into the UK, I was denied entry, but allowed a temporary stay of 5 weeks which is my return ticket. I was denied because they felt I was coming to get married, when I was really coming in for a visit, but was hoping for the engagement in that visit. But because I was honest had said that, and had said we both knew in the end (a year or so down the road) we would be married, I was denied entry as a visitor. I was told to come back with fiance visa, even though we had no intentions of being married in that visit nor in the next 6 months, and that I would not be allowed back in as a visitor.

We didn't have intentions of being married until end of 2006, but since the visit entry was denied we are now moving up the wedding, and are now officially engaged. We were also told by Home Office for me to come in as a visitor since we have no intentions of being married in 6 months or on that visit. Well, now all that has changed.

I know my fiance would feel better being there at the interview, as would I, in case there are any problems due to the denied entry.

Thanks for all the wonderful and helpful replies!

Let me clarify, we don't actually have an interview as of yet.......we are thinking of making an appointment for the application, I do not know if this is the same as an interview as such.

Because you were denied entry, don't expect to get your visa back the same day like most people do. I can tell you what happened to me...

I filled in the application online and printed out my copy. Because it was supposed to send an electronic copy to them, I assumed they looked at this stuff before your appointment but I was wrong. I figured because I stated on my application when and where I had been denied entry, they would get the info they needed from the UK ahead of time. But when I arrived for my appointment it was like, "Oh, you were denied entry. We'll have to get your information from the airport and it could take awhile."

At first she told me they'd have to get it from Heathrow (where I was denied entry) and that it could take a week or more because it's such a busy place. I was due to fly out in 4 days so talk about panicking! Then when I pointed out that the stamp had been ammended and I was let in by an IO in Newcastle she told me that they'd be getting the info from Newcastle instead and I stood a much better chance of getting it done in time for my flight.

They sent me away but took my application, including my passport and my husband's passport. We extended our stay in Chicago and LUCKY me... they got the info the next day and I got my visa. When I went back to pick it up she kept telling me I was very lucky that it happened so fast.

So... if you go in person, I'd expect the same thing will happen with you. They need to get the information from the airport because they obviously can't just take your word on the reason you were denied entry. Depending on where you were denied entry (large airport or small airport) it could take a week or so. They will probably ask to keep your fiance's passport during that time. If he can't be without his passport for that long, make sure you have the notarized photocopy ready.

But don't let all that stress you out. The reason you were denied entry isn't going to be a problem with your application. It's just likely going to take more time.

Oh, and how lucky were you that they let you stay for the 5 weeks anyway? They sent me right back on the next available flight!

Thanks for the info among_the_stars! I got denied entry in Glasgow. I'm currently still in the UK (on my 5 week, ends in 1 week). Immigration at the airport has my passport. I'm hoping mine says something to the same effect as your's, rather then just a streight denied entry, but at least showing something along the lines of getting 5 weeks. Would even be better if it was just stamped as normal, lol

The 5 weeks is because that is my return ticket. This visit was only for 5 weeks, enough time to visit my bf and hopefully get engaged (which we officially did  ). EO just felt I should have been on a fiance visa (shouldn't have mentioned the 'I'm hoping he'll propose' lol ops). I was only denied as a visitor, as I was told to come back with fiance visa and I wouldn't be allowed back as a visitor. He and I both told EO that at some point we have plans of getting married, it just wasn't in this visit or in the next 6 months - but apparently it didn't matter.

My fiance even phoned Home Office before I came to find out if I was a visitor or not, and they said for me to come as a visitor  ..... On my last visit to him, I flew into Heathrow, I was visiting him during the Christmas and New Year holidays....I was asked why don't we get married (EO was a cranky and rude). I told her we were just dating and he hadn't proposed (suppose that would help eh). She said there's nothing stopping us from a fiance visa, and next time there would be more questions. Guess she already made up her mind we had dated enough and decided to flag my passport, geeze.

I was given copies of the notice of "refusal of leave to enter", so I'll take that with me. At least they can't say at the visa application interview, that I really don't have intentions of getting married, as it states right on my refusal notice, that I was coming to get engaged....lol

I was given copies of the notice of "refusal of leave to enter", so I'll take that with me. At least they can't say at the visa application interview, that I really don't have intentions of getting married, as it states right on my refusal notice, that I was coming to get engaged....lol

Oh, yeah! Take those with you! It might help speed things up. I completely forgot. They asked if I had them with me but I didn't. I wouldn't be surprised if they still wanted to wait on the information from Glasgow, but you never know!

Me and my fiance are going in person to apply for a marriage visa in New York next month(After our marriage in Vegas).

She has a denied entry on her passport, so we realise that it will take a few days to get a decision on the visa.

I'm booked to fly back to the UK probably before the visa is issued/denied. Will they want to keep my passport while they make the decision?