I’m not sure — does a small child have to be present in person at the green card interview? Or can you go through the interview without them and bring them separately later? And for the first entry, is there a requirement that the derivative (dependent) enters together, or can the principal enter first and bring them later?
Children under 14 usually go to the interview with their parents; the embassy almost always requires the whole family to attend.
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Oh, there aren’t many options — every applicant has to go to the embassy interview, and minor children too, regardless of age. Exceptions can be made for medical reasons. I saw a case where a derivative (dependent) entered separately a couple of months after the mother; there were no problems at the border — the main thing is that the visa is active and within its validity.
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Well, a derivative doesn’t have to travel with you — I’ve seen a mom arrive first and the husband bring the child two months later. The main thing is that the visa is valid at the time of entry. And they won’t let you through the interview without the child; only medical reasons are an exception )
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My lawyer explained that they simply won’t let you into the interview without the child — they’ll postpone the date until you bring everyone; the only exception is for medical reasons. Filing as a whole family also slightly raises the approval rate, that’s what they told me when we were preparing. And the derivative can enter separately later — my colleague’s husband arrived with their two-year-old four months after her; they didn’t ask questions at the border. The main thing is that the visa is valid at the time of entry.
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Clarifying about the form — you list children in the appropriate section of your application; you don’t need to register minors separately. For the interview, attend with the full family composition that’s declared on the form — there are basically no exceptions except for medical ones. A friend said that in Warsaw they brought a 6‑year‑old with them — only the parents were questioned in the interview room, but the child was present at the embassy.
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I heard about a case where they tried to arrange to come without the four-year-old — the slot was immediately pushed two months forward and the tickets disappeared. Little kids are usually not even interviewed at the actual interview; they just record that the child is physically present. So don’t try to cheat — it’ll end up costing more than bringing everyone at once.
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Just don’t forget about the visa’s validity — they give six months for entry, so it’s better not to leave bringing the child until the last minute. A friend of mine did the same: she brought her son three months after her; at the border they just checked the visa and let him through. And you really can’t trick the interview — you’ll only lose your nerves and money on rescheduling. Don’t psych yourself out, it’s all solvable)
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