Surprise! AOS has arrived!

[ironica27]

I finally got the NOA for AOS interview yesterday. Hooray!Weird thing is I wasn't expecting to find it in the mailbox because the LUD seems to be stuck at 4/29 (approval of the EAD)and then the surprise. Just when I was getting ready to panic and worry that there's a problem whcih was causing the delay.

Interview schedule is July 26 at 7:50 a.m; I'm concerned though because my husband's birth certificate is unavailabe. Only proof we have (which we sent earlier is his US passport). I hope this will be enough, Any thoughts guys? Any other documents I can bring as "back-up" document?

Thanks for any input. Good luck to to everybody who are still waiting..waiting & worried. Patience IS a virtue - I guess.

[patty579]

Congrats! Your interview is two days after mine... good luck for your preparations!

[sgsnathan]

You don't say what is the only proof that you sent already. Good luck at the interview!

[ironica27]

just his US passport. thanks for the well wishes, good luck to us all.

[a_usc]

Congrats and good luck with the preparation. I too had been worried about my BC not being available (I have located it now though)... so I searched the forum and from what I found, it seemed that the BC of the USC (the sponsor) is not so critical. I read from people who didn't have the BC and used their US Passport instead - that worked.
However, I must add that each case is different and what piece of document may become critical depends on the adjudicating officer. Some may never even ask for it, some may ask and be content with just the US Passport and others may make a big deal of non availability of the BC. So I would say - if you can get it that would be the best (it will make one thing less to worry about as you approach your Interview date - cuz even little things starts to take a toll as that date comes closer). If you can't get it, just hope that US passport would work.

Good Luck

[ironica27]

Thanks for the feedback a usc. I read the same thing from other posts- the B.C. for the petitioner is not as critical but I totally agree with you- best scenario is to have all the documents available for the interview. Problem is my husband's B.C. is not available (the ex wife destroyed it among other things) and getting a copy from the Philippines would take forever, so I'm hoping that my luck holds and the officer approves the petition.

I'm thinking of getting affidavits from family members to attest to his citizenship and birthday, just in case. Do you think this will help?

[payala]

you should join us in the forum for all of us with an interview date in June-July

[justnew]

Congratulations

[someitguy]

Why not contact the church or local govt where he was born? You can get a BC same day if you just go there and request it. It's a public record, just go get one

That will ease your mind at the very least.

[sarrebal]

Originally Posted by a_usc

Congrats and good luck with the preparation. I too had been worried about my BC not being available (I have located it now though)... so I searched the forum and from what I found, it seemed that the BC of the USC (the sponsor) is not so critical. I read from people who didn't have the BC and used their US Passport instead - that worked.
However, I must add that each case is different and what piece of document may become critical depends on the adjudicating officer. Some may never even ask for it, some may ask and be content with just the US Passport and others may make a big deal of non availability of the BC. So I would say - if you can get it that would be the best (it will make one thing less to worry about as you approach your Interview date - cuz even little things starts to take a toll as that date comes closer). If you can't get it, just hope that US passport would work.

Good Luck

The BC of the sponsor is required just in the I-130 and just as proof of US citizenship.
In the case, of course, that the sponsor is a USC by birth.
If not, you could use either a certificate of naturalization or a copy of an unexpired US passport, both valid as proof of US citizenship (a foreign BC is not).
I'm going to submit both of them for my wife, just in case.

[ironica27]

Originally Posted by a_usc

Congrats and good luck with the preparation. I too had been worried about my BC not being available (I have located it now though)... so I searched the forum and from what I found, it seemed that the BC of the USC (the sponsor) is not so critical. I read from people who didn't have the BC and used their US Passport instead - that worked.
However, I must add that each case is different and what piece of document may become critical depends on the adjudicating officer. Some may never even ask for it, some may ask and be content with just the US Passport and others may make a big deal of non availability of the BC. So I would say - if you can get it that would be the best (it will make one thing less to worry about as you approach your Interview date - cuz even little things starts to take a toll as that date comes closer). If you can't get it, just hope that US passport would work.

Good Luck

[ironica27]

Originally Posted by a_usc

Congrats and good luck with the preparation. I too had been worried about my BC not being available (I have located it now though)... so I searched the forum and from what I found, it seemed that the BC of the USC (the sponsor) is not so critical. I read from people who didn't have the BC and used their US Passport instead - that worked.
However, I must add that each case is different and what piece of document may become critical depends on the adjudicating officer. Some may never even ask for it, some may ask and be content with just the US Passport and others may make a big deal of non availability of the BC. So I would say - if you can get it that would be the best (it will make one thing less to worry about as you approach your Interview date - cuz even little things starts to take a toll as that date comes closer). If you can't get it, just hope that US passport would work.

Good Luck

Before anything else, good luck on your interview a usc. I will include you in my prayers.

I find it a little disturbing (for lack of a better word) that our futures in this country lies in the hands of a single person in that very crucial interview. Will he/she be in a good mood? is he she happy at home?happy at work? Does he/she have a tootache? stupid questions,maybe or maybe not -because it could affect whether or not the petition will be approved or am I just getting paranoid?

[ironica27]

Originally Posted by someitguy

Why not contact the church or local govt where he was born? You can get a BC same day if you just go there and request it. It's a public record, just go get one

That will ease your mind at the very least.

He is a naturalized USC which he acquired through his parents when he was about 12 yrs old. Naturalization docs also unavailable. I'm really, really, really hoping that the US passport will be enough coz I'm not sure what I can do if its not.

[sarrebal]

Originally Posted by ironica27

He is a naturalized USC which he acquired through his parents when he was about 12 yrs old. Naturalization docs also unavailable. I'm really, really, really hoping that the US passport will be enough coz I'm not sure what I can do if its not.

I really think that a foreign birth certificate is useless as proof of your husband's US citizenship (unless he's born as a USC from US parents abroad).
Copy of US passport is more than enough.
They don't need proof of date of birth for him as they already got that when he was naturalized.

[ironica27]

Thanks Sarrebal. Makes me feel a whole lot better. Makes sense, how could he get a US passport if his birth certificate was not submiitted back then... I just hope the officer thinks the same way.

[sarrebal]

Originally Posted by ironica27

Thanks Sarrebal. Makes me feel a whole lot better. Makes sense, how could he get a US passport if his birth certificate was not submiitted back then... I just hope the officer thinks the same way.

USCIS mentiones BC first because it's much easier to get a BC in the US than in most countries and also because birth in the US=US citizenship.
But Certificate of naturalization and US passport have the same validity as proof of US citizenship.

[a_usc]

Originally Posted by ironica27

Before anything else, good luck on your interview a usc. I will include you in my prayers.

I find it a little disturbing (for lack of a better word) that our futures in this country lies in the hands of a single person in that very crucial interview. Will he/she be in a good mood? is he she happy at home?happy at work? Does he/she have a tootache? stupid questions,maybe or maybe not -because it could affect whether or not the petition will be approved or am I just getting paranoid?

Thanks a lot Ironica... I guess we're gonna need all the best wishes that we can get for the interview. I read the interview experience of one Joony from just 2 days back and the ease with which he got approved made my mood upbeat and positive, but then I read Fedup's experience yesterday. The way she was treated by the adjudicating officer is so wrong and unacceptable. It goes on to show what you said - that the fate of the applicant may depend on what kind of start to the day did the adjudicating officer have.

Last night my husband and I read Fedup's experience and then later sat down to go over a few things about the interview, but we didn't know what to prepare. How can you prepare yourself when you see the interviewer's whims turning out to be more important than all the evidence you furnish.

At this time, we do not know what and how we can prepare for the interview... we are just leaving it in the hands of the Almighty and hoping for the best $$ (~fingers crossed~) - 4 more days to go!

Thanks again

[patty579]

Please don't worry about your interview a_usc. It's gonna be fine. I know fedup's experience was outrageously unfair and scary, but she was really unlucky and I don't think that a lot of people are as evil as her interviewer. Plus, she didn't get denied, and she will get approved after she sent in more proof. They did keep her I-94 right?

I know it's easy for me to say all this, I still have a couple of weeks: But it's gonna be fine. You are very well prepared, and there ain't more you can do. So in four days, wear a smile on your faces and don't let yourselves be intimidated.

[a_usc]

Pat,

thanks for those words... I appreciate it I hope I will have good news to share on Tuesday.

[ari4u]

Originally Posted by a_usc

Pat,

thanks for those words... I appreciate it I hope I will have good news to share on Tuesday.

Good luck, get some sleep and go for the interview relaxed. :-)

[Singhsmiles]

Originally Posted by someitguy

Why not contact the church or local govt where he was born? You can get a BC same day if you just go there and request it. It's a public record, just go get one

That will ease your mind at the very least.

[ari4u]

Originally Posted by a_usc

Pat,

thanks for those words... I appreciate it I hope I will have good news to share on Tuesday.

And oh, If you get Officer Sam in the mornings, you are lucky. He is a no-fuss nice-guy but kinda-serious officer who wouldnt bother you much. Just give him what he asks and he will make you feel at ease.

[a_usc]

Thanks Ari,

Whether its officer Sam or someone else... I just hope that our officer is nice n kind and the most important thing - he gives us that stamp

Btw, how and when does one get to know the name of the officer. I would think that only USCIS knows about it until you arrive for the interview and then they give you the name and ask you to wait. But I vaguely remember a couple of posts where poster seemed to have known the officer name/number even before going to the interview.