Fail to appear at interview...??? please help...

[kolibri]

Dear forum members,
Could you please advice or share your experience regarding the following:
My DH got the e-mail this morning to show up for an interview in June bringing the originals of birth certificate and marriage certificate (if not submitted earlier), along with letters, e-mails, joint account, pictures, etc.
Also, we applied for an extension for him to stay in Canada (he is with me in canada right now), and he didn't get the extension yet.
The problem is that I just quit with my current job a week ago, and aggressively looking for a new one, and unfortunately don't have too much savings to fly over the ocean with my husband. I will be broke if I will do this. And his english is not so perfect, thus he can't go alone to the interview.
Will it be a good idea to e-mail the officer back explaining the situation and asking for local or phone or web interview and sending the originals of requested documents with the fedex? Or request them to provide an interpreter during the interview if he goes by himself? But then will be there any problems to get back for him to Canada? (even if he is from visa exempt country)? Do they make a decision the same day and he might get a visa or it's issued later?

Please, please, help us ....

p.s. the e-mail also says if he fails to appear at the date and time given, they may complete the assessment based on the information already provided without further notice. This may result in the refusal of application.

 

[diddagirl]

Hey Kolibiri

First of all what visa office are you going through? Where is the interview?

There is no such thing as a local, phone or web interview. If your visa office is Buffalo for instance and they request you to go to Buffalo, then Buffalo is your one and only option. CIC really doesnt care about the expense for you...

An interpreter on the other hand is definitely something they can provide. Have your husband contact them to arrange for that...

Yes, there is a possibility that he may not be able to return back to Canada- but nobody is ever guaranteed entry, regardless of their current status in Canada.

 

[kolibri]

Thanks Diddagirl, for reply. I really appreciate the support!
Our office is Warsaw (Poland). Ok, if it's possible we will try to get an interpreter for him.

If he will get an extension before leaving to Warsaw, will it be working when he goes back to me in Canada?

 

[RobsLuv]

Thanks Diddagirl, for reply. I really appreciate the support!
Our office is Warsaw (Poland). Ok, if it's possible we will try to get an interpreter for him.

If he will get an extension before leaving to Warsaw, will it be working when he goes back to me in Canada?

It is VERY important that he attend this interview. Judging by the information they've requested he bring, they have doubts about the "genuine nature" of your relationship and if he does not attend to change their minds, they will very likely refuse the application.

An interpreter is a good idea and should be arranged, but I think you should go, too. You might not be allowed into the interview, but it's very important that you at least be available to help support the idea that yours is a real relationship. Also, it will help him get back into Canada if you are accompanying him when he arrives at the Canadian port of entry. His status extension is not a re-entry permit and while you being with him does not guarantee that they will let him back in, it's likely he would be refused entry if he comes on his own simply because he can no longer prove that his intention is to stay temporarily - being that he has a PR ap in process and a wife in Canada. When you accompany him, you add validity to his claim that he has someone in Canada who is willing and able to support him and who will ensure that he maintains his valid temporary status. While the "implied status" he has from submitting an extension to his current status while it was still valid will go away when he leaves Canada, and his new extension would not be a re-entry permit - it will at least demonstrate that he complied with the requirement to maintain his valid temporary status when he was last in Canada. So it does gives the both of you credibility at the border and will likely help to get him readmitted to wait out finalization of the application. This, of course, is assuming the interview goes well and the IO there is convinced that your relationship is genuine. If the IO is not convinced after the interview, and believes that your husband is using your relationship to get into Canada, you can be sure that he will not be admitted when he comes back. So take strong evidences in support of your "genuine relationship" and make sure he's prepared to answer questions about your background, your family, your likes and dislikes, habits, job, finances, hobbies, and your life together and plans for the future. The best thing he can do is be prepared so that he's confident and not to be intimidated. It will be good for him to let them know that you are there with him - they may then want to meet with you, too, to verify his answers to questions by asking the same of you separately.

 

[kolibri]

Thank you so much RobsLuv for explanation!!! :-*
Well, I guess it's better to go there together. I hope we will be able to manage it....
In that case can I serve as interpreter? If not, how it's usually done to arrange it? Should we hire ourselves or e-mail the officer asking to provide one?
Thanks again for the input!!!

 

[javcil]

We requested my husband's interview be in his native language but they did it in English anyways. He said his interview was easy and they only asked him a few questions. They asked him about our age difference, issues around my previous divorce and children, and our wedding and engagement particulars. They also asked him to identify the people in some of the pictures we sent in. It was very relaxed although we had a lot of red flags.

 

[kolibri]

Thanks Javcil for the reply!
We also got a lot of red flags (his ex-wife and children, etc.) - could you please share what were the questions...?
So as I understand we can just e-mail the officer requesting the interpreter - it this correct? Just not sure if we can/should contact them via e-mail...

 

[RobsLuv]

Thank you so much RobsLuv for explanation!!! :-*
Well, I guess it's better to go there together. I hope we will be able to manage it....
In that case can I serve as interpreter? If not, how it's usually done to arrange it? Should we hire ourselves or e-mail the officer asking to provide one?
Thanks again for the input!!!

No, you won't be able to serve as an interpreter because you have a conflict of interest. In addition, if you are present during his interview, you cannot be a credible witness to verify the answers to his questions about your relationship, etc.

I don't know how one goes about getting an interpreter for an interview. Is there information in the interview request about how to arrange for an interpreter if one is needed? Also, as javcil says, asking CIC for an interpreter - even if they provide that service - doesn't mean you'll get one. This seems to be an area where CIC really pushes limits as I've seen lots of reports/complaints from people when interviews went badly that part of the problem was that they or their sponsored partner were not furnished with an interpreter, even after they asked, and they felt that put them at a disadvantage with the interviewing officer. Not providing an interpreter when one is asked for (or not allowing a hired interpreter to be present) could be a "tactic" they use to intimidate or upset an applicant - it certainly doesn't comply with procedural fairness guidelines but, unfortunately, an interviewee at an overseas visa office doesn't have much hope of stomping their feet and insisting on "procedural fairness" when they arrive at an interview and find no one is being allowed or provided to interpret for them.

Best thing you can do, again, is help your husband prepare. Go over the questions that might be asked, help him with his English so that he can understand the question put to him in English and that he can answer, if not perfectly, at least with confidence. Let him know that it's okay to ask them to repeat a question if he doesn't understand. Let him know that if he feels an officer is trying to confuse him, or bully him, he can stop and take a deep breath and calmly ask the officer to repeat the question in another way. The most important thing he can do is be polite and remain calm. There is nothing in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or Regulations that says an applicant is required to know and speak perfect English or French - so he is not required to be able to understand them, but he's obviously at a disadvantage if he can't. If your husband really can't understand English well enough to interpret on his own what's being asked of him, and reply accordingly, then I would NOT depend on CIC to make any allowances, or any arrangements for interpretation. You should find out about hiring someone dependable to be present, and find out in advance what the requirements are for someone like that to be admitted to the embassy and allowed into the interview room.

 

[javcil]

Form IMM 0008 Generic has a specific question that asks "Language you prefer for interview". We wrote "Turkish", but either they didn't read it or didn't care because the interview was done in English. Fortunately, his English is pretty good. I had just stated Turkish because of the importance of the interview (didn't want any misunderstanding).
Because he is in the military right now (mandatory service), and phone / computer correspondence is limited there, I haven't really had much time to discuss his interview with him. He just told me the basics. I know, they asked him my parent's names and my children's names and birthdates. They wanted to know why he had never spoken with my parents and also one of my children (he is 17, going to school and has a job, so he's not around much to chat with!). He has chatted with my youngest child a few times on MSN.
They also asked him about his refused visas in the past, in particular the one we forgot to include in the application (they obviously found it anyway). They asked him if he was 'concerned' about the age difference (15 years) and my previous marriage. They asked him the date I was married before and the date of my divorce. They DIDN'T ask about cultural or religious differences (I thought they might have but apparently this wasn't an issue for them).
They asked him to verify some wedding and engagement details (where it was, who was there, etc.). And as I said before, he had to identify people in pictures we sent ... I'm sure to verify they weren't 'staged' pics.
The important thing to remember is ALWAYS tell the truth, and be relaxed!! All will go well, I'm sure

 

[kolibri]

RobsLuv, Javcil,
THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS!!!!
I really really appreciate your support...I'm just freaking out... it's so hard when you don't know what to expect...
and I'm afraid to fly - thus I wasn't at home myself for more than 7 years :'(

Well, we have to do what we have to do I guess... just scared if I can manage that...
Thanks again for sharing your experience!

 

[kolibri]

Oh, one more question, please...
I've noticed on trakit that some people have interview on one day and are approved on the next.
So just to plan ahead how many days should it take - interview on one day and if everything is OK than to come and pick it up on the next? Or the same day?
I was receiving mine in the US while I was an international student over there and I had to leave my passport with them, and got it back in several days in the mail.
Since Poland is not his native country, I don't think they can hold his passport that long...

 

[kolibri]

Please, can anyone tell me ? I just need to get tickets and don't know for how long we should stay there so I don't know what return date should be? I don't want to stay more than necessary- ideally to fly back the same day, but if they ask to come next day? Is it possible????
Please please...I need your advice...

 

[javcil]

My husband's visa was supposed to have been ready the same day, but when he returned for it, it wasn't finished yet. They mailed it to him the following day. Must have been by courier because he received it the following day after that. I don't know if all visa posts operate that way though; I can only say about our experience. When I looked at trackitt.com, all the Ankara-based visas were issued the same day as the interview. Check the Warsaw applicants and see what their timelines looked like. Or maybe some senior members could give you some better information.

 

[kolibri]

Thanks, Javcil!
Unfortunately on trakit there are only 3 other people and noone had an interview
Well I guess I had to plan an extra day then to stay there , just in case...