Interview from hell!
So, it’s finally time for me to tell you about our Greencard interview at the american consulate in Frankfurt. This day is not a day that I love to remember, but I can’t forget it neither! Okay, you know how the day started, so right now we are at the point where Flo and I were again sitting in the waiting area of the consulate. At the time we were waiting, there were three people doing the interviews. I prayed that we won’t get to take to the woman that looked the meanest. But guess what: It was her, who called our number!
Before the interview we had read that you can ask for a translator, but we chose not to, because our english is good. So, we went up to the window and handed over all the forms we had to. The woman started to ask Flo some basic infos and than came to the question that changed all: When did you marry? Flo was very excited at that day and by accident told her a wrong date. I corrected it and with that pissed off that woman seriously! She nearly yelled at me that I did not have to say a word at all, because I was only his wife and that I would get serious problems, if I would again! As you may imagine that didn’t calm down Flo a bit and the interview went on very bumpy! The woman asked some more questions about our wedding, looked at our marriage certifacte and than said that we had to hand in wedding pictures after the interview. She told us that she didn’t exactly believe that we were married for real and that she had to check on that fact!
Than she asked Flo about the money he would bring to the US. He told her (it is a high figure for our age I guess and much more than you need to bring for the application) and the woman seriously had the nerves to laugh and ask us (sorry, ask Flo), if he thought that he could live from that money for real! Before Flo could answer that question, she gave us a very mean look, asked us if we had any more questions and than told us to go, because we were done!
Imagine you standing there like shaking with horror, because this interview could decide about your future and knowing nothing! She didn’t tell us, if we still had a chance to get the Greencard or what would happen to our passports!
As you may see in the post below we do have our Greencards! It actually took our passports about 4 weeks to arrive home – but still this day till now was our worst in this whole Greencard process!
I told you before: This is not how the usual interview goes, so please don’t be scared! But: Prepare yourself for that interview the best you can and take this thing very serious! Because the staff of the american consulate obviously does!
Tags: application, consulate, Frankfurt, Greencard, interview, passport, US
June 21st, 2010 at 3:59 am
Sorry, to hear that you made such a horrible experience. I was in Frankfurt, too, and they were all very nice and helpful. And I only proofed a really small amount of money and the gentleman I had to talk to didn’t mention this point at all. He just asked me what I wanna do in the U.S., where I want to go and if I have already been there. Then he wished me a great time in the U.S. and that was it.
So, it can be a very nice experience, too.
Glad to read, that nevertheless you got your GC!
Oh, and it took also about 4 weeks to send my passport back. But this was because they waited for the medical report. The doctor wrote only the first name that I usually use on it and not both of my first names. That’s why the consulate couldn’t match it to the rest of my documents. So, make sure you tell the doctor all of your first names!
June 21st, 2010 at 9:58 am
I’m glad that you got the GC in the end. My experience was as good as Christianes…. Eventhough my hubby and I got married only 4 weeks before our interview – not one question about that…?
Forget this experience and just focus on the future
June 21st, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Wow that does kind of scare me
I haven’t won a GC yet (I’m really hoping I will in the DV-2012, fingers crossed!) but especially the part about the lady laughing in your face about the money.. whew. That is my biggest worry and you even said you had a large amount, much more than what was really needed!
Then again, Christiane said she only had a very small amount of money and that was no problem.. so confusing! Oh well, first I have to win anyway.. I’m hoping for the best!