Poor Hearing Ability- US consulate Interview at Chennai, India

[rayhelios]

Hi There,

My Father-in-law (FIL) Age:73 and Mother-in-law (MIL) together have been scheduled for an appointment with the US consulate Chennai for B1/B2 visa. My FIL has poor hearing ability. Appreciate if you can help answer the questions below:

1) If the consulate officer asks him a direct question, can my MIL answer on his behalf?

2) Should they carry a letter to the consulate officer stating my FIL's poor hearing ability and that my MIL will support answer the questions directed towards him?

3) Can he carry his hearing aid to the visa interview at consulate?

Thanks for your prompt response.

[usvisitor1]

Hi There,

My Father-in-law (FIL) Age:73 and Mother-in-law (MIL) together have been scheduled for an appointment with the US consulate Chennai for B1/B2 visa. My FIL has poor hearing ability. Appreciate if you can help answer the questions below:

1) If the consulate officer asks him a direct question, can my MIL answer on his behalf?

2) Should they carry a letter to the consulate officer stating my FIL's poor hearing ability and that my MIL will support answer the questions directed towards him?

3) Can he carry his hearing aid to the visa interview at consulate?

Thanks for your prompt response.

Your in-laws can carry a letter from a doctor stating that your FIL has poor hearing ability. Usually when it comes to old people or for those who cant speak English, VO allows spouse to answer on behalf of the other. However there is always a possibility that VO will tell your MIL to ask the question to your FIL and have him answer the same. So ensure that both of them are equally well prepared for the possible questions.

After greeting the VO, if the question is directed to your FIL then your MIL can politely request the VO if she can answer on his behalf. If granted then good enough else she will have to act like an interpreter for him. The medical letter should be handed over only if asked for. They will be allowed to carry hearing aid.

Following are some of the questions they must be prepared for:

General / Common
Q. Where are you going and which places?
Q. Who lives in the US?
Q. Why do you want to go to the US?
Q. Who is sponsoring your trip?
Q. For how long are you going to stay?
Q. Anyone else apart from your SIL and daughter in the US?
Q. Where will you stay in the US?
Q. When did you last meet your SIL & daughter?
Q. Will you come back?
Q. Is this your first visit to US?

About SIL & Daughter
Q. What do your SIL and daughter do / Which company do they work for?
Q. What is their company about?
Q. Do they have kids?
Q. How much do they earn?
Q. When did they go there / For how many years are they in the US?
Q. Why did you not apply earlier?
Q. Which visa are they on?
Q. Have they applied for a Green card?
Q. When are they planning to visit India next?

FIL & MIL
Q. What do you do / What’s your income?
Q. What you used to do?
Q. When did you retire?
Q. How many kids do you have?
Q. Do you have any property?
Q. Do you get pension?
Q. Have you traveled abroad / Have you traveled to any other country?

All the best!

[rayhelios]

Your in-laws can carry a letter from a doctor stating that your FIL has poor hearing ability. Usually when it comes to old people or for those who cant speak English, VO allows spouse to answer on behalf of the other. However there is always a possibility that VO will tell your MIL to ask the question to your FIL and have him answer the same. So ensure that both of them are equally well prepared for the possible questions.

After greeting the VO, if the question is directed to your FIL then your MIL can politely request the VO if she can answer on his behalf. If granted then good enough else she will have to act like an interpreter for him. The medical letter should be handed over only if asked for. They will be allowed to carry hearing aid.

Following are some of the questions they must be prepared for:

General / Common
Q. Where are you going and which places?
Q. Who lives in the US?
Q. Why do you want to go to the US?
Q. Who is sponsoring your trip?
Q. For how long are you going to stay?
Q. Anyone else apart from your SIL and daughter in the US?
Q. Where will you stay in the US?
Q. When did you last meet your SIL & daughter?
Q. Will you come back?
Q. Is this your first visit to US?

About SIL & Daughter
Q. What do your SIL and daughter do / Which company do they work for?
Q. What is their company about?
Q. Do they have kids?
Q. How much do they earn?
Q. When did they go there / For how many years are they in the US?
Q. Why did you not apply earlier?
Q. Which visa are they on?
Q. Have they applied for a Green card?
Q. When are they planning to visit India next?

FIL & MIL
Q. What do you do / What’s your income?
Q. What you used to do?
Q. When did you retire?
Q. How many kids do you have?
Q. Do you have any property?
Q. Do you get pension?
Q. Have you traveled abroad / Have you traveled to any other country?

All the best!

Thank you USvisitor1! This information was really helpful. I had also written to the US consulate about this and their response was similar:

Dear Sir:

Your father in law may bring in the letter from the doctor and also wear the hearing aid when he comes in for the interview. The applicant is free to inform the officer about his problem when he comes in for his interview.

Thanks
Consular Information Unit
Chennai