The National Visa Center just announced a work-around for same-sex couple fiancé visa applicants who are afraid to be interviewed in their home countries due to attitudes about gay people. The NVC already provides a process for same-sex couple immigrant visa applicants to request to be interviewed in a third country if their home country is inhospitable. Now this same protection is offered in the fiancé visa context, provided applicants plan in advance.
The NVC asks that fiancé visa applicants tell them before the fiancé visa petition is approved by USCIS, as early as upon getting a receipt notice from USCIS. Through their attorneys, applicants can write to the NVC and request “special handling” by noting the reasons why the applicant is afraid, including fear of the government, their own family, or community persecution. Applicants are also asked to propose two or three alternate consular posts where they would like to be interviewed. Then, once NVC receives the file, it will already be flagged and NVC will ask an alternate post to handle the interview.