interview (Seoul)

[stevelo]

Well, after months of overtime waiting (14 months; avg was 7-8 when we started) we just found out we have an interview coming. We called our consultant, who has handled according to her thousands of cases through Seoul office, and this is the first time someone had to go have an interview.

Hard to feel encouraged in this scenario. They asked us to bring Korean entry/exit record, and valid proof of status for staying in Canada.

Anyone else have had an interview where it highly appears the odds are stacked against you?

The other problem is, when we filled out the application form we didn't know there was such a thing as an entry/exit record. As a result not all our information is completely accurate (off by a month or two). What can we say in defense that we filled out the information as best as we knew it but ignorance is not a good defense right?

 

[PMM]

Hi

Well, after months of overtime waiting (14 months; avg was 7-8 when we started) we just found out we have an interview coming. We called our consultant, who has handled according to her thousands of cases through Seoul office, and this is the first time someone had to go have an interview.

Hard to feel encouraged in this scenario. They asked us to bring Korean entry/exit record, and valid proof of status for staying in Canada.

Anyone else have had an interview where it highly appears the odds are stacked against you?

The other problem is, when we filled out the application form we didn't know there was such a thing as an entry/exit record. As a result not all our information is completely accurate (off by a month or two). What can we say in defense that we filled out the information as best as we knew it but ignorance is not a good defense right?

1. The interview is probably to determine the bona fides of the relationship, I suggest your order your GCMS notes to determine what the problem is: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/release-info.asp
2. I would take what your consultant says with a "pound" of salt. Since Seoul only processes about 300 spousal applications a year, I doubt that s/he has processed "thousands"

 

[stevelo]

Thanks PPM; I was feeling lonely with no responses :'(

Yeah I really don't like our consultant; what's the use of pushing us further over the cliff of depression? That's like kicking us when we are down. But since she's our agent we cannot really say anything bad to make her mad.

I intend to prepare for all the possible questions others have posted on the forum. Admittedly we haven't got a whole lot of pictures taken of ourselves the past few months (deep depression mode) but we can probably gather enough from friends/family...

As for GCMS notes, coincidentally we got called for an interview 1 week after asking for GCMS notes the 2nd time. And coincidentally, they nitpicked our request for notes (exact same application as 1st time) and asked for evidence we are in Canada (which we did miss; but it's a bit of coincidence the interview and GCMS refusal/request for supporting info comes on the same day)

I am intrigued by what some people were talking about with regards to procedural fairness and getting the CIC branch's "program manager" (is that the correct term) involved? On the first GCMS notes they pointed out "peculiarities" like an age difference of 6 years (a lot of people on this site has more right?).

 

[canadianwoman]

On the first GCMS notes they pointed out "peculiarities" like an age difference of 6 years (a lot of people on this site has more right?).

You must have a difficult visa officer if he/she is pointing out an age difference of 6 years! Even in cases where it is the wife who is older than the husband, 6 years would not usually set off alarm bells.
The best thing to do is to prepare very well for the interview. They will expect the applicant to know everything possible about the sponsor. If they ask about the age difference, just point out that to you, 6 years is not much of a difference.

As for your dates being wrong, if they ask about this, I would just explain that when you filled out the forms, you did not know the exact dates (because you didn't know there was such a thing as an entry/exit record, you had lost your passport with the dates, you only found the information after submitting the application, whatever the reason is.) It should be OK.

 

[stevelo]

Thanks for your response canadianwoman. The only thing I could think of about age and other things is that outland immigration offices, do they hire officers from the locality? i.e. for Seoul office would a lot of the officers review the evidence be Koraen citizens? If so, it would explain a bit about the 6 yrs (she's older). Other comments from the 1st GCMS include things like doubts about the applicant marrying a non-Korean (which would make most everyone disqualified?? Why have spouse immigration if the spouse should be Canadian). (Sorry, need to vent..)

I hope the officer who is interviewing is a different one from the one(s) that raised the "not the usual case" concerns but one that realizes not every couple fits inside the same small box but can be just as qualified.

Any idea when I accompany my spouse whether I will be allowed to attend the interview? Or (as my consultant was on a mean streak and decided to scare us sh**less) the officer will have separate interviews with both of us and compare the answers like they do in a crime drama interrogation scene? I think either way we are good but it is better to know the possibilities in advance than be shocked at the moment it happens.

thanks again for your reply!

 

[canadianwoman]

The only thing I could think of about age and other things is that outland immigration offices, do they hire officers from the locality? i.e. for Seoul office would a lot of the officers review the evidence be Koraen citizens? If so, it would explain a bit about the 6 yrs (she's older).

They do hire Koreans; however, the visa officer interviewing you and making the decision is a Canadian foreign service officer. Of course, it could be a Canadian of Korean ancestry. And of course, they certainly do take the cultural norms of the society into consideration. In Korea it is unusual for a man to marry an older woman, even one who is only slightly older. Your wife should be ready to explain that since you are not Korean, this cultural belief does not apply. You come from a culture where 6 years is not considered a big age difference. And in any case it does not matter to you two. If you have any proof that it is not a cultural belief that matters in her family (or your family), she should be prepared to show it. For example, if her sister is older than her husband, or her mother is older than her father (or any relatives this applies to), show this evidence.

Other comments from the 1st GCMS include things like doubts about the applicant marrying a non-Korean (which would make most everyone disqualified?? Why have spouse immigration if the spouse should be Canadian).

A couple where the Canadian was of Korean ancestry would be more acceptable to this visa officer, and actually more acceptable in Korean society. To get around this, your wife will have to be ready to explain why she chose to marry a non-Korean. She could even use her age as an excuse, if she is old enough. For example, one friend of mine in Korea was over 30 and unmarried - very uncommon in Korea. Her father finally said that he would agree to her marrying a foreigner, because he knew she wasn't going to have much luck getting a Korean husband. If this doesn't apply in your case, then she just has to stress that she loves you. Get proof that her family approves of the match (if they do). A letter from both of her parents saying that at first they did not want her marrying a foreigner, but after getting to know you and seeing you are a good person who treats their daughter well, they decided that you were an acceptable husband, would help your wife answer the visa officer's concerns.

If you go with her to the interview, they will probably have you come in and will interview you separately. They may not, but it is best to be prepared.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Hi stevelo,

Before the interview, I would suggest you go through all the information you and your wife have submitted and ask yourself what might seem out of the ordinary to someone whose job it is to assess your relationship and your wife's admissibility (and be skeptical as they do so) so that your wife can prepare to take the relevant documents with her.

Regarding your relationship, from what you've shared previously, your wife had applied for a student visa which was denied. Your wife appealed, didn't attend a meeting, and as a consequence the appeal was denied. An impartial observer could question the timing of your marriage and visa application and question how the denial of her student visa influenced your marriage and sponsorship.

Regarding her background, they may also ask about items on her background check like the defamation suit you have mentioned that she paid a fine for. So, ensure she takes relevant documents you may not have submitted related to this event.

There's also the question of you both moving to the US and then entering back into Canada after the VO questioned your eligibility to sponsor your wife given his/her questions regarding your intent to move back to Canada. While you have proven your intent to return to Canada, they may question why you moved to the US instead of just staying in Canada in the first place. So, take any documents you have that can address your motivation to do so and why you thought the path you took along the way was the best answer.

Your GCMS notes may also give you a sense of the items that may come up.

The logic to address any out-of-the-ordinary components of your application would be similar to those discussed upthread on the age difference: take the relevant documents and be prepared to explain the intricacies of the situation to a stranger.

I hope (you and) your wife has (have) a wonderful trip and get a chance to catch up with family and friends while you are in Korea. Good luck

 

[computergeek]

I'd also suggest working together on the questions and answers - I know there are other threads on the forum that discuss interviews and potential questions. So work together asking the questions and giving the answers, because that will make her more comfortable.

I would expect the interview to be conducted in English or French, so I hope she is comfortable in one of the two (often langauge barriers are cited in relationship concerns).

I hope the interview goes well for you. Good luck!

 

[stevelo]

Thanks Computergeek (congrats again!), OhCanadiana, and Canadianwoman.

Very insightful; I am thankful for people like you guys who can look at it objectively; I try to be but I think that is very hard to do when it is about yourself, your wife, and your own future.

We will have to spend some time preparing the answers to these questions. For example, about status I am sure we could have extended it after our marriage and stayed in Canada; but for my job we had to move to the US. Anyway, a few things that could happen but don't normally happen to normal people, happened to us.

Oh I hope our trip will go from nerve-wracking to the best trip ever (if the officer can be kind enough to accept our relationship and also let us know a positive result).

OhCanadiana have you had to go through this sort of situation yourself? Anyway you have good memory as I posted those details months and months ago (even I forgot I posted that).

Thanks again guys for the comments!