Baby at marriage-based interview

[historian]

Hello, I'm looking for opinions ideally from people who've had recent experience with this.

My husband and I finally had our interview scheduled for 11/9 after 11 months of waiting in the queue. Our daughter will be 7-months old then. She goes to daycare part-time and has never been left there for a full day. We live in a small town and need to travel 2h 15 mins- 2h 30 mins one way to the interview center and our interview is at 1pm. I realized that if we leave her at daycare and our interview gets delayed (which I read happens), we may not be able to get back in time to pick her up when the daycare closes... with DC traffic. We only know very few people in town who are quarantining and have no family around.

Has anyone had to take a baby to the interview recently? Did you ask for special permission?

Thank you. I feel like we're in a very tough position and I'm still trying to come up with a plan or at least different alternatives for a plan.

[txip]

You’re supposed to bring proof of a bonafide marriage to your interview.

What’s really bonafide proof?

[Yogomiki]

I think it’s preferable you call uscis and ask them on what to do as regards to your current situation.

[ember]

Can you ask a babysitter to come with you? That serves two purposes: 1. USCIS officer sees your adorable baby and it's great evidence and 2. You do not need to bring your baby into the interview, which can be disruptive and some officers might get annoyed.

I know COVID makes that a lot more difficult...

I also agree with calling USCIS.

Good luck!!

[historian]

I think it’s preferable you call uscis and ask them on what to do as regards to your current situation.

Thanks.

[historian]

Can you ask a babysitter to come with you? That serves two purposes: 1. USCIS officer sees your adorable baby and it's great evidence and 2. You do not need to bring your baby into the interview, which can be disruptive and some officers might get annoyed.

I know COVID makes that a lot more difficult...

I also agree with calling USCIS.

Good luck!!

Thanks. I think I'll call them soon. I came up with one solution so far but it involves leaving our baby behind in our hometown. If everything goes well, it's not too bad, but of course a parent always thinks of the worst scenarios.

If we had a babysitter we were using, we'd of course ask that person to come with us, but finding someone in two weeks who already doesn't have another job, is Covid-safe, and would be ok at handling a baby they don't know seems like a tall order.

[kjm464]

Thanks. I think I'll call them soon. I came up with one solution so far but it involves leaving our baby behind in our hometown. If everything goes well, it's not too bad, but of course a parent always thinks of the worst scenarios.

If we had a babysitter we were using, we'd of course ask that person to come with us, but finding someone in two weeks who already doesn't have another job, is Covid-safe, and would be ok at handling a baby they don't know seems like a tall order.

On the interview notice it says only you and your spouse can attend so you should definitely call to verify and have a backup plan

[hopeful_pro]

Same situation, although I had a toddler. At the field office I interviewed earlier this month, they were quite strict when it came to who could enter the facility, and if someone had brought a 7 month old baby they would have been turned away. So bring your child at your own risk of not being able to interview. Does your daycare have extended hours or something? Sometimes you can pay extra and they'll watch your child for another hour or two.

[aph]

I think it’s centre-specific. We took our 1-month old to the interview and in my opinion that was enough proof of a bonafide marriage. Took us about 10-15mins in all and we were out. Spot approval!

Even though we didn’t call USCIS but just showed up at the interview, you may want to call them as a 7 month baby is, without doubt, more eruptive than a month old.