US consular officers (or US Embassy officers) are immigration officials. They work under the remit of Department of State (DOS). A consular/embassy officer works for the U.S. Government.
FACTS ABOUT CONSULATE OFFICERS:
• They are not Attorneys
• They are not there to provide you with legal guidance
• They adjudicate and process visas
• They are protecting the US borders against fraud etc.
• They have plenary powers, very broad
• You do not have a right to a visa, it is a privilege
They are not there to give you legal advice.
Their role is to process visas and in doing so are trying to ascertain do you qualify for the visa you are applying for; and have you met all the requirements for this visa. Their role involves adjudicating visa applications and conducting interviews to detect potential fraud and assess eligibility. Consular/embassy officers are not attorneys, they will not give you legal advice. The consulate deals with a lot of fraud; you as the applicant must prove you qualify for the visa you are applying for and are not lying when asked questions.
A US consular officer has plenary powers, this means they have complete and absolute authority over your visa application whether that is a temporary one or a permanent green card application. They can and will deny your visa application if they wish to do so.
Consulate officers are primarily protecting the US borders, hence why the adjudication is stringent and difficult.
At the end of your visa interview you will either be approved, denied or the officer will request further evidence from you before making their final decision.
If your visa application is denied, you will receive a brief written explanation outlining the reasons for the decision (you have a legal right to this so can also request it). Everything you say to a consular officer on the day of your interview, can and will be used against your application.
All our clients are prepped fully by Caro before they speak to any immigration official either inside or outside the US. We encourage you to set up a consultation with Caro so she can go over your case fully with you and assist you before going to the consulate for your interview; or alternatively click on our paid audios.
