My infant daughter is accompanying me to the US on a J visa, from the UK. Will I be allowed to bring her with me to the Visa interview? Or will I need to arrange child-care?
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Are you also applying for a J-2 visa for her?– kruboApr 23, 2018 at 12:43
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Yes I will applying for a J2 for her. My wife is also applying for J2 at the same time.– bobmcpopApr 23, 2018 at 12:50
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1Why do you think you can’t take your child with you?– Hanky PankyApr 23, 2018 at 13:46
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1A colleague told me that they told her to keep her child at home. She thought the reasons was because babies would disturb the interview.– bobmcpopApr 23, 2018 at 14:01
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4One possible outcome is they could even fast-track you, letting you skip the whole waiting queue as you're with an infant; at least, I once saw an American consulate do this.– bipllApr 23, 2018 at 14:16
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1 Answer
I'd bring her along, especially if she is also applying. We unfortunately found that many US consulates behave quite inconsistently. We had multiple occasions where the information provided during the appointment process: "no problem, your kids do not need to be here" turned out to be irrelevant during the actual visit "no, I can't do this, because your kids are not here".
In one case we actually got a written appointment confirmation that explicitly stated that the kids did not need to be physically present. However, the confirmation letter arrived two weeks after the actual appointment, so it didn't help.
It's unclear whether the consulate have any set of rules or guidelines for kid's being present, but even if they do, they often won't follow them or just make it up on the fly, and there is nothing you can do about it.
Your best bet is to be as prepared as possible: bring all family members and any conceivable documention (birth certificates, driver's licence, a few utility bills, letters/communication with the school, attorney, etc.)
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3Thank you! My question now seems a little silly in hindsight. I was more concerned that they'd say "that infant is too disruptive and cannot come in the interview room" in which case I'll have no where to put a 3 month old baby.– bobmcpopApr 23, 2018 at 14:03
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14Perhaps the safest course of action is to take the child with your, as well as another non-applying friend or family member who can care for her should the interviewer not desire her presence. Apr 23, 2018 at 15:32
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@Mehrdad: unfortunately this was one of the more harmless things, US consulates have done to us over the years. I have plenty of example of unprofessional, incompetent, or plain old mean behavior.– HilmarApr 24, 2018 at 15:39